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SCREEN 



STAGE 



I'uhUahed 'Weekly at 154 \7est 46th Street, New Tork, N. T„ by Variety, Inc. Annual euUscrl Hon. f(5. Slngla coplos, 15 cents. 
Kntered as second-class niatter JJecember 22, 1905, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the act ot MarCli i,. 1879. 

COryRIGHTM»37, VAKIKTY, INC. / KltiUTS HlCSEKVKD 



Vol. 126. No. 8 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1937 



64 PAGES 



SEE.FILM P EACE THIS WEEK 

■• -r-. ■ • . .. : ■ • »■ ■ - • ■■ — ■ 

lUied %iiiMNi Ndw in lombn 
at Fete Will Mean to Show Biz 




XiOndon, May 4. 
The Coronation Is responsible, it 
Is daimed here, for 800-pOO new faces 
Jj^V^ding the London horizon. That 

may be so, but the fact remains that 
there have been a lot of cancella- 
tions^ of bookings and accommoda- 
tions) . And a lot of people \vhp 
thought they w6re going to clean up 
are not" sure at the moment. 

Influx divided, according to es- 
timates, ■ this way: 300,000 from the 
colonies, 200,000 from the- continent, 
150,000 from the ' 150,000 
Americans. 

Bulk of . this infl.ux is still liate in 
arrival, but the hotels and apartment 
ho.use renters are confident they'll 
^hi»v iip, ■ Meantime, there's consid- 
iferiible behind-the-scrcen squabbling 
onimoney. ;HOtel nien have agreed to 
stick on" a 50% rise on rates, but not 
inore. Flat^uildings are asking two 
or three .times normal rates. Apart- 
ment owners seem to be going at it 
whole' hog, getting in some cases as 
much as. 1;000% increase oyer nor- 
mal. Or, perhaps 'getting . isn't the 
word. Perhaps aski is a better 
■word. 

On the othier hand, prices of seats 
to view the Coronation are dropping 
along with quite a few . cancella^ 
tioiis of .sailings from America. 
. Theatrical people are pessimistic 
about the first week of the . Corona- 
tion, basing their outlook on- the last 
coronation, in 1910 (cati they remem- 
ber it?) and the Jubilee, two years 
(Continued on page 62) 



Right Again 



Joseph Hergesheinier, novel- 
ist, ..was in Florida recently, 
stopping at the ssime hotel with 
the N. . Y. Giants. Someone in- 
troduced, him to Carl Hubbell . 
, in the lobby and the author i 
nocently asked: the pitcher what 
he did for a living. 

'I pitch;* answered Hubbell, 
Whereupon, the author said, 'I 
Syon't apologize to. you for rtiy 
ignorance; you probably are not 
aware. What I do, either,' 

And Hubbell wasn't 




AS A 





As Wall St. Goes, 
So Go Actors, 
The Tape Tells 



Wall Street is accounted for a 
number of ragged performances on 
Broadway this past week. It was 
noticeable to many from out front 
that some of the funny people didn't 
act spontaneously as they should. 

Show-wise ihfprniants, knowing, 
how hooked some of the Broadway 
legits have permitted themselves to 
become, a§ far as the rnaricet is coii- 
cerned, blamed it all on the jittery 
quotations. The personnel itself ad- 
mitted that they couldn't give i their 
all, nowing that the market (since 
improved, of course) was giving 
' them financial heebie-jeebies. 

Legit biz itself reflected the mar- 
ket, as did the niteri 



, London, May 4. 
West End and show business 
roughout the country in general 
is shot to pieces, with the biggest 
sliimp in years attributable ,to tliii 
budget; 

When the stock market experi- 
enced a waye of frantic selling it 
Kayoed all amusements. 



Soviet Russia, barred from 'buy- 
i ' in the United States by 

action of the government, will take 
the latest thing in Americati-made 
television equipment instead. A tele- 
vision- transmitter of the most ad- 
vanced design was completed this 
week at the RCA Mfg. Co.. plant in 
Camden and is now awaiting ship- 
ment to Moscow. 

Althoiigh tight-lipped as to the 
actual hour of shipment, officials of 
the company said the apparatus was 
merely part of a^ large order of ra- 
dio material; tontractod for by Rus- 
sia about two years ago. The order 
was understood, to i . . an ex- 
penditure of fh'ore than $1,000,000 by 
the Soviet Government, The tele- 
vision transmitter., is reputed to have 
a power capaii'oy 'St 7.500 watts and 
to be si ilar in operati to onie 
(Continued on page 49) 
-. — ■ 

ROBERTA SEMPLE'S 
HOLLYWOOD TESTS 





Burlesk's Ban Viewed as Wi 
For Ae Biz; Yesteryear s Standards 



Lack of Fifiancial Support 
May Cause It to Collapse 
— -Producers-Actors 'Pow- 
wowing Today (Wed.) — 
Minor Players to Get 
More Consideration — SUE 
Replaced by I A Workers 



PARLEYING 



Hollywood, May 4. 
From jnside sources it is indicated 
that the strike ,qf Painters and 
Makeup and Scenic Artists will be 
over before the end of the current 
week. Support that had been cal- 
culated upon from others in the 
Federated Motion Picture Crafts and 
the Screen. Actors Guild did riot ma- 
terialize. Action of lATSE. in filling 
spots left vacant by strikers also no" 
help for walker-outers. 

Screen Actors. Guild niet with a 
producers' committee tonight (Tuesr 
day) to 'talk over possibility of an 
agreement. Producers were repre- 
sented' by Joe Schenck, £ddie Man- 
nix, Sam Briskin and Hal Wallis; 
actors by Robert Montgomery, Ken-- 
neth Thomson, Franchot Tone and 
Aubrey, Blair, Pat Casey declared 
that actor demands were not unrea- 
sonable and that he anticipated. no 
trouble ,in reaching an agreement 
with them. 

It is believed that producers ill 
concede to numerous demands so 
(.Continued oh page 2) 



Paderewskfs New Opera 
For H'wood, Not the Met 

Geneva, April ^25. 

PaderewSki, coiivalescing • at his 
Swiss chalet and with his life story 
out of the way, is working on an 
American opera: ith Hollywood in- 
stead of the Met in mind. 

Paramount is interested i the 
opus and has Victor Young at the 
studio end to keep the thing "hot. 
Pianist promises to have thie score 
ready' by late fjall. 



Symphonic Baseball 



Minneapolis, May 4. 
On condition that the Mi 
neapolis Symphony orchestra 
agree to play 'Take Me Out to 
the Ball Game' at. one of its 
semi-classical concerts, Mi 
Kelly, president - of the Min- 
neapolis American Association 
baseball clu^, subscribed $50' to 
the $140,000 fund being raised 
here tq insure the Orchestra's 
continuation^' Orchestra Con- 
sented. 



KY. GOV. GIVES 
THE COLONELS 
A BRUSH-OFF 



Hollywood, May 4. 
Roberta Sempie, daughter of the 
eminent Ai havi won a libel j 
.suit from her mother's attorney after j 
bei red from the front office of ■ 
Angelus Temple, is being offered for 
pictures. Stills of hallowed flap dur- 
ing the trial were unifoi-mly good 
and two studios, have tested her for 
dialog. 

Only .script around the .studios that 
could fit her is one being fingered 
by Cecil De Millc called 'Half Sister 
of the Lord.' 

Mrs. McPherson herself is due to 
defend another libel suit soon, one 
for $1,800,000, instigated by Rheba 
Crawford, former co-worker at the 
Temple who is usually billed as the 
•Angel of Broadway.' 



Add: Barrymoreiana 



oUywood, May 4. 
laine Barrymore, ivorccd 
from John Barrymore, is being of- 
fered for personals at $3,000 A week. 

John Barrymorc.'s current price is 
still $3,000, yvhich must have given 
the latest cx^Mr.s. Barrymore her 
idea of what a Barrymore is worth 
in the open market. 

Hei: act i.-5 a lo-minute comedy. 

Ethel Barrym'o'ue is . in town look-, 
ing for a spot and likely to get it. 
with Selznick International. 

Lionel Barrymore, only hiembei* of 
the royal family who hasn't enjoyed 
a layoff i , is taking one. 



Because of apathy Ken- 
tucky Colonels by that commen- 
wealth's Gov, A. B. Chandler, this 
year's banquet for colonels, held 
every year oh the night before the 
Derbi', may be called off. It has 
been custom for Colonels to con- 
gregate in. Louisville the day before 
the race for a shindig, ith the gov- 
ernor as guest of honor. 

Gov. Chandler, who tried to elimi- 
nate the kernels shortly after he 
took ofTice, has riot issued a single 
diploma. 

After Louisville was hard-hit by 
floods last winter, colonels, mostly, 
in show business, raised $100,000 for 
flood relief. 



By EPES W. SARGENT 
Recent attack of the Legion of De- 
cency, headed ,'by Cardinal Kay-a^ 
and the Catholic, contingent, against 
burlesque^ in general and the strip- 
tease in partlcultir, has hit the bur- 
lesque managers .a solar ' plexus 
blow that- has. them gias'ping. No 
matter what the outcome of the 
present legal procedures, they seem 
to feel that what is left of burlesque 
is not only on the way out, but al- 
ready half-way through the door. 

Maybe it is; and yet it well rnay 
happen that the handwriting on the 
wall will be found eventually to 
spell a message of good cheer rather 
than of desolation. It'is largely a 
matter of whether or not the hurley 
manager^ -can read. It may very well 
happen that what at the moment 
appears to be the coup de grace ad- 
ministered to a dying ventiire is in 
reality .a. signpost pointing to better 
thirigs and a new prosperity. 

That may seem too optimistic, yet 
it is true. Burlesque has been skid- 
ding for a number of , yeans toward 
the brink at the bottom of which lie.s 
oblivion. Burlesque has reached the 
point where a single strip-tease 
would be regarded as .short-chang- 
ing, and even the . joint efforts of 
half a dozen clothes shucker.s are re- 
(Contlnued on page 48) 



Stops Picture, 
Tunes m Radio 
Comics as Test 



CANNES' NUDIST BIZ 
SEES BANNER YEAR 



Cannes, April .24. 
Anticipating a banner season due 
primarily to the new rate of ex- 
change, Dr. Andre Durville, founder 
of the famous He du Levant i Isle of 
the Rising. Sun) nudist colony, lias 
i stalled accommodations ' 500 
cxtr suhworshipei's urin ■the 
.spring and summer. 

Ordinarily: the camp J.s 
around 1,000, but the Ger s- 
ical culturi.st, belng^ a bLLslness laih 
as well as a riiusclc builder, is- 
ing the successful Rlvioi.a winter 
season as a barometer and ' expects 
enough paying cu.slomer.s durinij the 
good weather to justify addi- 
tions.. 

The camp Js on oiie of the Cl!(ildon 
Islands otT the Riviera. Di*. urville 
owns half, of it and rents the olhor 
half from tlie French government. 
.It is far enough away from tlic co.'ist 
to make it safe from the oglcis and 
close enough to reach the mainland 
in half an hour by speedboat. 



Los Angeles, May 4. 

Manager of El Rcy theatre iu Los 
Angeles is meeting Sunday night 
radio competition, by; amplifying, th 
programs of Eddi Cantor and Jack 
Benny, prime fays in ' neighbor- 
hood, in the house. Artipii.rtcation I.s 
riiade standard set and the 

picture is stopped while the pro- 
gram carries on. He is alternating 
Tinny arid Cantor and if the rout- 
ine clicks he'Jl add other '• shows 
that have a followirig'in .his. vicinity. 

Patrons arc. asked to name their 
favorites and those polling the Vvigh- 
est count will be used. Other thea- 
tre operators re keeping clos 
watch on the experiment and nvjy 
u.se the. airings on, dull nights. 



Chorine Shortage 

hicago, M->y t. 
earth of chorus girls in Ciiicuso 
is exemplified in the i/Tjculty IK 
Chez Parec is having ' Obtiiining 
a line, 

La.s week the nitery spiint $100 i 
help wanted ads iii the Tribune, 
American and ICxaniiner, ri-.)H\ wliich 
there wore only some 25 r(;|)Uo.^*■• 
{irul of tlie.^o. tiot one girl v.v suit- 
able. 



)5 



9 



r 



VARIETY 



PICtURES 



Wednesday, May 5, 193-7 



Holywood Peace Foreseen Tins 
Week; Players-Studios in Accord 



(Continued from page 1) 
far as wbrkirig conditions and. wages, 
for bit pliayers go, but will balk 
at declairirig Unloh-shop for' the 
actors. Protiucers. take the stand- 
that they %ill big glad, to arbi- 
trate any differences but could hpt 
grant' the closed shop as they have 
a contract with the Acaderiiy, which 
has another year to riin, and that 
they v^ould under no circumstances 
walk out on the con'tractuai agree- 
ment, feeling that th? Academy con- 
tract 5(ow in use by studios js an. 
okay talent .deal. 

Studio tJtility Employees joined' 
the strike Monday (3) but their 
pliaces had been filled by men- with 
lATSE cards before- the walkout' 
actuialiy becalne'' effective. M&ny of 
the Wqrkersi^were ' recruited 

from the ranks .of the SUE, 

All picket ; lines at studios ' ^ar« 
noticeably thi.' Ing, tefiectihg' 9 
falterinig attitude"* ol thd strikers; 

Off ifcials of the Lite?ftation^l , A1-. 
liahce' b^^tlieatS■i(ial^S^ge Empi^^ 
Busy ' passing'^'ouf* caifds ■ to 

inters, scenic artists, niakeup men 
and have se^'ved hptice'' .on studio 
. utility . employeis to h&vie the catrds. 
by Thursday (6) or they will not be 
allowed . to worlc'. . MoSt-workers oU 
fered the lA; cards are .reported ac:- 
cepting^'them. 

The strikers committee " has: called 
a mass • meeting - to -which the 
pOblic has been, inyited "folr tonight 
(4) in the American Legion stadium, 
in HoHywood. Move 'is seen as a 
id fo^ public Sii^port, , "- 

. Early end to the walking was seen . 
when carpenters and actors refused 
to stHke, Abe Mliilr, cJirpenters '* + 
ternatiohal v-p; ibid members that 
their ideal and the interniational of-' 
fleers: had. negotiated and signed: a 
contract with .the producers. He 
said members: should . adcept. this 
agreement^, and tjiat if they were not 
satisfied with it, :Ui<^y should ask the 
international to reopen, negotiations 
with ,the .. producers and < sei^^ to 
aihehd the existing, .cphtract. 

tTnderstanding is that the -interna^: 
tional will be petitioned to alter the 
present arrahgements . with pro- 
ducei;s and that carpenters Will iseek 
tp ieclaiiA a 10% wage, boost, they 
Ipjst, last year when; pay of pther 
(brafts in basic. agreement was hiked. 
'Shortage of manpower and 
finances were repprted. making it 
di icult for strikers to throw out eif- 
fective picket lines. Strike leaders 
expected moiral . and mphetary id 
from .aptprs and carpenters. When.it 
was npt fprthcpming they were at a 
loss to s^clirer funds. In the nxean^ 
time the IATSE ipxpai^(j(ed itis juris- 
diction in the ind^^&ry, iiisujihg Vork 
cards to laborers, painters, miake-rup 
and scenic artists. 

Strike vote by the Screen Actors' 
Guild 'was delayed oiie week fplr 
lowihg the meeting Sunday niftht in 
Hollywood Legion Stadium, attended 
by 2,500 film players. Resolution for- 
bidding members to replace striking 
makeup artists and hair dressers was 
adPpted.. Crpssing of jpicket lines was 
lef t'_ td the discretion' pf . individuals. 

Leaders, we^^e directed to, wash up 
nejgbtiatip.ns with producers for rec- 
ognition and union shop by May d^, 
MaJPrity of , members favored not 
crossing picket li although ho 
vote was taken. 

Meinbers were, read a letter from 
Pat' '.Casey announcing fprmatioh. of 
a cpmmittee to negotiate with the 
Guild hot later . than 5 p;m. Wednes- 
day (5).. Meihbers gave unanimous 
apptPyal tp the Giilld's-demainds for 
fecdgriitipn, union .shop, wiige in- 
creeise; iot[ extras, bit ^players, small 
comract players;: revisioh ^pf single 
pictur^] contracts, ' 12 hours'' notice 
of cancellation studio calls« improved 
working conditions and hbiirs . for 
contract , players, free-lanici and 
extras. 

Activities of assistant .directors 
eame in for considerable discussion 
atid curbing their authprity ..will be 
■ demanded^ Another geheral memr 
bei-ship; meeting scheduled fbr May '9, 
]'n; the Legion Stadium, wheh the final 
report' Will be maide to the 'member- 
ship. Vbte will then be taken 
whether strike actibri will become 
necessary and oii (jiiestion of affiliat- 
ing; with the Federated Motion Pic-, 
ture CfaftSk Any- jstrlke pi'd^r would 
requii^e' a 75^ vote, and a 60% vbte 
necessary lor FMFG alignment Th« 
senior; 'Screen Actors'^ Gull^^hbs a 
mertibeirship ht 1,200, with a junioi' 
rositer' wellinff the total ' to 5i.«00. 
JS^tdi bailot is required under -thiB-' 
CrUild Constitution Several leaders 



cautioned against any hasty : strike 
call, as such action at this time 
wPuid . allow them no appeal, tp the" 
National Labor Relations Board 
should the negbtiatipns eoUiapsei, 
Robert Mohtgomery presided at the 
meeting Suhday and addressed , the 
membership from the platform. .Other 
speakers were Frank Morgaiii and 
Kenneth Thpmspn, executive secre- 
tary of the S.A;G. 



Strike Stymies Avdish 

HbllywpPd^ May 4. 

Parampunt's special tialeht ; review 
ran iptp the strike — and folded be- 
fore opening. . ♦ 

Sixty flash and specialty acts were 
to be runoff, before studio execs, on 
9, spiecially built stage* 

BRIT7W"MEN 




.Strike call for the Brotherhood Pf 
Painters, DecPratprs , & Paperhang- 
ers .. of America : was issued by 
Charles Lessing at 2;20: p.m; last 
Friday (30), effective at the end of 
the .6 p.rn, shifts, and nearly two and 
a half hourS: irfter the '12 o'clock 
deadline given producers in which 
to grant recognition and union shop 
to the crafts.. Painters, make-up 
artists, hair dressers; draftsmen and 
scenic artists were -notified by tele- 
phone to, quit, at 6 pjn, awd to report 
to headquarters, for pieket assign- 
ments'. 

The 'walkout ojfdeX. Was^ mjsunder-' 
stbpc^ at -United .: Artists and braft. 
members quit . imiriediately. Th6 
other eight major studios/ where 
walkout order wajS.'no.5ted^ are Hal 
Roach, -Wjlrnersj ■ Universal, • Paria-i 
mount, Metro, , RK6> 20tb-Fox and 
ColUmbi 

Picket lines; were tetablished: In 
f ronti 6.1. the- studios .at -6 " a jn. Satuc-. 
day (1) ' krtd members of -various 
crafts affiliated with the new Fed- 
erated Mbti6n Picture .CraftSj organ-, 
ized by tessi were requested not 
to cross the 'pickbt lines. Memljers 
of $tudio .Utility Employes, Local 
724, were ordered by their business 
representative, I'f'C. Helm, not to 
cross the. lines.. Statiphary engineers, 
plumbers .and cpbks^also .refused, to 
cross the lines. Several volunteered 
for picket dufy» 

While, the stri. . order applied 
Only to .studip painters, makerup 
artists, hairdressers' and scenic- ar 
tists, . leaders - claimed nearly -3,000 
were idle, including. Uhionvmen who 
would hot cross picket lines. This 
niimber was disputed by the produc- 
ers, who "said many pf the workers 
had refused to heed the strike order 
and had crossed the picket lines tp 
report for work. 

Extra!s As Hairdressers 

Studios dispatched calls for aux: 
iliary. make-up , artists and extra 
girls were . enlisted: as haiirdressers. 
Producers claime.d .the situation was 
well in. hand and that the strike 
would liot' interfere with production 
schedules. 

iStrike leaders said it would re- 
quire several days to get the picket 
lines firmly established; that pickets 
would be placed in .froht of all the- 
atres, and that productiPn wpuld be 
at a standstill in less than a week if 
the strike continued that long. 

Members on locatipn . were wired 
transportation, by uhioii leaders Sat- 
urday and instructed to return at 
once. Paramount- postponed a loca- 
tion trip to Catalina Island Saturday 
(1 ), . but' the p'rodubtioA manager said 
delay was npt caused by the strike. 

Extra police were on duty S)t.all 
studios, but, the early picketing, was 
orderly. 

The strike order had hardly 
reached the studios when the inter 
hatibnai Alliance of Theatrical Stage 
Employes, member of the producer, 
labor, basic agreement; moved in and 
offered work cards, and. free initia 
tlort to strikers who preferred tp re 
main at work. ■ 

More than 300 iaborers, a^liated 
with the SUE, Local 72i4, were initi- 
ated and given wage boosts f rpm 60 
cents per hbur'to'82%« cents. They 
were iven rating of Class B jgri 
lATSE Steps In 

lATSE also offered work permits 
and immediate wager boost to paint- 
ers, make-Ups' and haiirdressers Who 
Would join brganization immediately 
instead of heeding strike call. Many 
were signed up before leaving lots, 
especially iat 20th-Fo;c and Metro. 

lATfiE leaders indicated their men 
would ignpre the picket lines and 
said prganization Was ready to take 
oyer all wotk done by the strikers. 
Painters were;- offered bbost from $7 
tP $7.70' per day^ With, similar hikes 
for ' other drafts. lAT'SE was ; co- 
operating With producers to keep 
production movinjgi 

; Strike followed demands of crafts 
afiRliated With FMPcJ tbr immediate 
recognition and union, shop. ' The' 
producers, through Pat Casey, 'Wbor 



Lpndpri, April 26. 
Strike action is threiateniwi by film 
printing and laboratory employees 
through their labpr. union, ^he Asso- 
ciation bf Cine^Technici ; i^PVi*^ 
has been in progress several months 
ph general cpnditipns 'and hburs pf 
wprki but . r the companies have 
col.iecti\^ely agreed to refuse hego-! 
tiations of any 

' Repeated requests by 'A-C./T;. have 
i^et wit^ either 'profcraktinatlbh or 
blank refiiisal, iand' f'ecii'ritly'relatib^s' 
were additipnalll^' sti^lhed" by ''far- 
ther pTpposals "Of piWdudeYs; labbra^ 
tpry cpmpanieS 'ahd . others, tb form a 
trade - associatiPh fp^ pirptection of 
their interestsi 

A. C. T. reply to this is a definite 
threat of .Withdrawal of labor and a 
manifesto now'issued states: 'The as- 
sociatibn will not hesitate to enforce 
any mandate frpm its members if. 
emplpyers insist bn theiir present un- 
fortunate attitude: It sincerely tirusts, 
however, the laboratory companies 
will not fbrce a labor dispute, upon 
the' film industry, but will foUoW 
the. "example of emplpyers of - labor 
in aimpst aU other important indus- 
tries and recognize' and negotiate 
with the tride Union representatives 
pf their .eniployees.' 

Reference to a maindate indicates 
a resolution passed by ballot of 
members with a 90% majprity sup- 
porting strike . action, if necessary. 
Strength of A. C. T. threat may set 
immediate testing, as all heWsreel 
units, with the Cprohation immedi- 
ately ahead, are processed by af- 
fected cpmpanies. A stoppage of 
woi:k at this time might prov^ disas- 
trous from that point bl view. 

General deriiands of employees , in- 
' elude 44-hour Week pf five and, pne- 
half days, with adequate nieal breaks 
and limitatibn bf continuous Work- 
ing, adjustment of salary rates on 
general:basic Wage bf $17>50.a week, 
together .with recogni^^ed overtime 
and night work rates.;- ' ' 



H^i^lits of fa H w ood Strike 

Collapse of the FMPC walkout was foreseen late last night as 
picketing dwindlcA and lack of support by tbe lATSE and the SAG 
further weakened the FMFC eauie^ 

Laat niffht was ler* hour for the meeting between » producers' 
ooinnilttee, ehalrmfthcd by Joe Schenck and Including Eddie Manhix, 
Hal Wallls and Sam Brlskln; to m^^^ with the Scrieen Actors' Giiild 
Committee, consisting of Robert MOntgoiUery'* Kenneth Thomson, 
Franohot Tone and Anhrey Blair. 

Screen Actors Guild's vote on a walliout with, and kctlve support 
•f^ the Federation of iaotion Picture Crafts? demands, has been post> 
-poned until next Sunday^ (9). In the. Holly wood Legion Stadium where 
the first SAG meet was held this past Sunday; 

Fat Casey, labor conoiliator for the producers, opines the situation 
Is 'satisfaetory* and doesn't think the Walkout threat Will spread. 

/on distribution Warner Bros; and lOthr Fox alone haVe. any appre* 
elable advance alignment of pictures.. Others, due to this past wiii-' 
. ter's Holly wood epidemic of colds, etc.; are behind In. their contracted 
delivery of product. An average of 35% of promised pictures imust 
yet be delivered* 

Theatre operators are faced ' With heeessHy of reverting: Immedi- 
ately to single-billing Of features if Hollywood labor troubles curtail 
releases. Film exchanges, are dusting oif single reels, long idle for 
lack of playing tiime; In case .fll^^^ 



CONVENTIONS FORCED' 
BACK TO N.Y. BY STRIKE? 



. Repbrts to home, off ices, of picture 
(Companies planning, to hold .annual 
sales, conventions ,in Los Angeles- 
werfe that any spread :of San Fr'ah-, 
^isco's: hbtel: strike to, L. A. itiight 
(jauSe several ' c'bmpaiiiesi" lb*' me'et 
elsewhere. 

If so, sessions would shift from 
.L.-A. tb:N. 'Y^:.' ' ^■:-' '- 



GiHihore DidnH Make 
H'wood Hop After All 

rank Gillmore was scheduled to 
plane to Hollywood. Saturday . (1) to 
address Equity members there, 
many of Whpm belpng tp the .Streen 
Actprs Guild. After talking by' teler 
phPne tp the Cbiast Friday night, the 
trip Was called because of the 
SAG sessibh Sunday; 

General - Equity, meeti the 
Coast for discussion, purposes was set 
back for about two weeks. Gillmore 
may attend then 'although he will 
be present .'during the American 
Theatre Council convention dated 
for May 24. 



Costumers on Own 

HpliywPbd, May 4; 

Associated Motion^ Picture Cos- 
turners' local has delayed fpr one. 
Week a vote ..of its members on af- 
filiatipn With the FMPC. 

Costumers opened sepiarate hego- 
tiatibns Tuesday With Pat Casey for 
■producer recognition and approval 
of Wage scale wprkifijg?^<St)ndit^ons, 
'etc. '- ' " "''i k ' 




Labor 
la An Slow Biz 




contact; offered to negotiate these 
demands, but asked that wage scales 
and' working conditions be debated, 
at the same time.. Union leaders re- 
fused, stati wages and working 
conditions would be negotiated lifter 
the producers had recognized the, 
crafts and granted a union shop. 
Casey's Persuasion Fails 

Casey called Lessing and other 
strike leaders to his office .at 5 p.m. 
Friday in ah effort to halt the 
threatened strike, but the men 
marched out after one niinute and a 
half, refusing to call :off the strike 
unless their demands w^re met ini- 
mediately. 

While br seven small crafts 
have . officially aligned with the 
federiation, others ha.ve not sub- 
mitted the question to a -membei'ship 
■vote. ^ '■ 

Uhdeif the constitution pf the 
FMPC each prgahizatibn Would re-, 
tain its autonomy but would hot. ne- 
gbti contract that w.puld be 

detrimehtal to the other- or^ahiza- 
tion. The FMPC would act in a 
supervisory capacity and in ah 
emergency, could call for united ac- 
tion by all: thember crafts. 

Constitution adopted by the affili-r 
ated' crafts wo^ld invest the execu- 
tive secretary with the authority to 
function as cpptdinatPr and solie rep- 
resentati've of the FMPC in all busi- 
hess relations with the producers^ A 
provision has also been made in the 
setup for each' local- union -to paiy 
into the treasury each month a per 
capita tax, computed on basis of ac- 
tual expense in maintaining the. or^ 
ganization and $100 esich month for 
an emergency fund. Charles Lessing 
has been, installed as the tentative 
head pf the *grotip. 

Voting power in the FMPC would 
be on the basis of . bne delegate for 
each 100 membership up tp 1,000, ^ith 
an additibnal delegate 'fpr each .250 
members after that Officers WPuld 
'be elected for one" year," with excep 
tion of the executive secretary, who 



Would serve for. twq years. . Lessing 
has . already been tentatively se- 
lected for the post of executive sec- 
retary, 

rganizatiPns Which have either 
jpined or signified their intention, to 
align with the FMPC are the paint- 
ers, makeup artists,, hair dressers, 
scenic artists, draftsmen, machin- 
ists, plumbers, cooks, stationary en- 
gineers, molders, sheet metal work- 
ers, laborers, blacksmiths, sheet 
iron wprkers and riggers and Screen 
Actprs Guild. 

18,000 Workers Unaffected 

All of the crafts are outside the 
basic agreement, and have npt been 
recognized by the producers^ Nearly 
18,000 studio' workers in the . basic 
agreement are not affected by the 
strike order. These organizations 
include the carpenters, lATSE, elec- 
tricians, musicians, arid chauflfeurs 
and truck driyersi ' 

The paintei-s Wera invited tb join 
the basic agreement, but refused be- 
ciaiuse offer did not include makeup 
artists, hair dressers .and scenic art- 
ists. Producers, also offered to in- 
clude the SUE, Local 724, in the 
basic agreement, but gave this union 
30 days to adjust the jbb dispute 
with the lATSE. The lATSE 
claimed Work done by laborers on 
film productions should be handled 
by grips. 

When line of demarcation . could 
nbt be agreed upon, the lATSE an 
nbunced it .Would take over all the 
Wbrk done by. SUE members and 
started : issuing Class 1^ work cards. 
The SUE, Lpcal 724, appealed tp the 
National Labpr Relations Board but 
'Dn Towne. Nylander, regional di; 
rectpr, refused to entertairi 'a juris 
diction dispute unless speciflcially 
directed to do so by the NLRB 
members in Washington. Charges bf 
SUE leaders that men were "being 
coerced into joining the LATSE 
"have been forwarded to Washington 
tor decision. 



.• , Paris, ^P'"^!. 

Soiling poi of Jkipr trpu^ies ha^ 
bubbled Pver plenty 
causie lossiSf incpnyeni.entes and un- 
eertaintyi 

tarting .with a strike .which tied 
up cinemas and music halls .for twb 
days,., causing . an- estlmated loss .bf 
$65,000, the musicians union pulled a 
lohg-facfe effectively enough to get 
all the night clubs closed for 
night' a W^l^ and how Wiaiters i 
cafes and, restaurants and hotel em- 
ployees kre threatening to walk, out 
-H)r sit. in-r-imless. they get a 40- 
hour week. 

.Settlement pf the flirst strike is- go- 
ing tp cut down profits to a still 
thinner margi for theatres and 
cinemas, already bperating under an 
alrnoist overburdensome tax. Agree- 
nient with the musicians is going to. 
shut out one night's profits entirely 
and if the waiters get what they 
Want cpsts of operation WiU take an- 
other jump. 

On the other hand, the Union bf 
Hotel Managers has cbuntered with 
the threat that, if they are forced to 
grant a 40-hour week to aU em- 
ployeesj 'they will close their estab-. 
lishments. 

This tensity, which threatens 
.flare into open conflict in .the near 
future, is heightened by a threat by 
cinema, mahagers to close their doors 
just before the/-expo opens, unless 
the government grants them relief 
froni high taxes. 



Westmare's lOG Pamage 



Hollywood, May 4*. 

Major strike violence pccurred 
Monday ' night . ; when , five . men 
slugged the watchman of thje West- 
mbre beauty salpn in, HPllyWood 
and poured creosote over rugs, 
drapes and other, furnishings for a 
Ipss estims^ted at arpund $10,000. 

Westmbre brpthers said they re- 
ceived threats because of refusal, 
jpin walkout bf ihakeup artistis. 

Another act bf , sabptage .detected .; 
by the pplice during the union 
squabbles Was the evidence pf sugai' 
having been pPured intb gas tanks 
pf cars located around RKO studios; 

Mixture fprms a corroding acid 
and just about wrecks motpps. 



lemands. 

Denver, May 
With 24 new members, the hew 
Denver Filnf" Emj^lbyes Union, is 
now 66 strongs Organizers plan to 
organize emplbyes iU: theatres. 

Memberis, pf the linibn ha:ve met 
with miahiagers of the ejcchanges, -and 
terms were discussed. Wages asked 
by the union include head shippers, 
$35; assistants, $25; head inspectors, 
$22; other inspebtPrs, $20, 



Wellesley's Union OK 

' London, April 20, 

Letter from 'Gordon Wellesley. of 
Fanfare Pictures, to the Association 
of Cine-Technicians states produc- 
tion creW of 'The High Command; 
fejTiurin^ Lionel Atwill, was alrrio.st 
li)0% union. 



Wednesday, May 5, J937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 




1 



FORCING 





1936-37 



(This table shoMis the status of ail the national distributors, tvith respect 
to their feature releasesi, other tha.n westtirns and action iilrtis- sold iii 
smes, as of May 1, wjnbh mdrfced the end 6f the ihifd quarter of the 
current season. Any interruiption o/ p'rodtictipn would seriously delay 
t?icas.e», whicli at present are running viqre:than a month.behind schedule 
due to early season studio' delays caused by illness of mariy- stars and 
featured players, and to HoUywxtqcL's '^ iiiter -weather.) 

Salancie 

Actually- Released to1>e rele. 
Distributor Will deliver to May i. by July 31 

Columbia 40 24 

Gaiimoht- 24 
Orahd Nationail 29 
Metro 

Par • . •■ ^ • • t i • 
EKO-Radio 
R^publip 

tjniteci Artisjs ...>.,...; . 
Universal ^ . ^ . '.' • • •■• • •.• . . . •■ 

W9r«er?s 



483 



285 



15 
11 
16 
11 
12 
22 
13 
11 
9 
10 
17 

148 



• Does not incUide westerris and acti icturis. sold in -series. 



STRIKE MAY BE 
ABREAKFOR 
FOREIGN FIX 



Any extended continuance of 
Jabor trouble on : the : Coast would 
prove a :bbon to; British ahd foreign 
production. That is.'the opinion held 
by industry leaders, - who admit that 
U. is. distributors naturally would 
seek film products from other na- 
tions to maintain the stream of pic- 
tures into theatres. 
, Some picture company officials 
fbi'ssee the reopening of studios in 
Englartd which recently were closed. 

'Whea Thief Meets Thief/ made 
by Criterion Films, Ltd., firm iri 
\v ich Doug Fairbanks, Jr. is inter- 
ested, has been received by United 
Artist^. Will be released June 4, 
Fairbanks, Jr. and Valerie Hobson 
top the cast. 

Ji , MacFarland, formerly top 
flack at the Music Hall, N. Y., has 
joined UA to exploit Criterion start- 
ing with Thief.' 



W IN CASTING'S 
CORNER ON COIN PLEA 



Hollywood, May 4. 
Recirds of Central Casting for last 
year show that of 242,000 calls for 
extras and bit players, only .27,000 
.were above the $10 bracket, accord- 
to the Scr^ien Actors Guild, 
ich is supporting pleas of the 
small fry for more money. 

Of the 242,000 total, 62,000 calls 
were for $7.50 each, 71,000 for $10, 
and 27,000 for $15. 



1 Walks, Goldwyn 
Balks; Puts 3 in Work 



H^oliywood, .May .4. 

Two film luhiinai-ies showed differ- 
ent attitudes toward the union when 
^lissa Landi refused to pass; the 
picket lines at:Metro and Sam Gold- 
Wyn reversed that stand to stairt pro- 
ayction on three filrhs to cost about 
53.500.000. .Miss Landi landed the 
bulldog editions this morning ( 
aay) With :lier declaration. She is 
under contract to Metro but is not 
working: at present. 

Goldwyn move: marks first ti'mei in 
nis career' that he lias had a trio 
01 pics in the works simultaneously.: 
*Hms are 'Hurrican6,"Stella Dallas," 
and 'Dead End.' 

..Samuel Goldwyn's fllmlrig of Dead 
*'"d got .going Monday (3), with 
^^^':^'a Sidney, Wendy Barrie, Joel 
^tcCrea and Humphrey Bogart in 
leads. 

Si 'tough ki from the New 
Jfork' stage play cast arrived last 
inursday (29) to take the same roles 
Jnay enacted in^'the play. They are 
"Illy Halop, Huntz Hall, Bernard 
' «n.sley, Bobby Jot-dan, Leo Gourcey 
»«a Gabriel Dell. 



Carpenters Ordered 
To Cross Picket Lines 




While Furore of Hollywood 
Situation Lasts, Film Book- 
ers Resurrectinfl^ Shorts, 
Etc;; to Round Out Bills 



FEAR SHORTAGE 



Hollywood, May 4. 

An order the 
picket lines was io car- 

penters at a meeting May 2 in 
Hollywood American Legion sta- 
dium. A strike vote was speedily 
tabled when it was explained that 
such acti.ipn required the sanction of 
the Ihterhatiohal executive board of 
liniteid; . Brotherhood of Carpenters 
and Joiners of America. Members 
were reminded that they they are 
under a flve-yeai: tudio basic agree- 
ment sighed Avith producers by their 
local and the International officers. 

The meeting was enlivened by de- 
mands of many members seeking 
affiliation with one of the established 
central unions. Members differed, 
with some virahting lATSE connec- 
tion, while others soughT The newer 
CIO hookup. 



UTHE EFFECT 
ON FIX SO FAR 



Hollywood, May 4. 

Craft union walkout is having lit- 
tle effect on production arid major 
studios report .no curtailment or 
slackening of work on pictures now 
before the lenses. All plants are far 
enough ahead on the season's prod-' 
uct to ..coast long, for a couple of 
weeks if necessary without worry. 
Most of the major plant execs antici- 
pated the union move and arranged 
their schedules accordingly to avoid 
any imniediate difficulty. ^ 

The absence of makeup workers is 
putting^ minor actors on their,, own 
for the grease; applications. Sinte 
most makeup, artists are under con- 
tract to the stu ■ , legal heads 
served notice on them to fulfill the 
terms of-.tbe obligations and; cross 
picket llrijs for work. . re now 

concentrating on pri players 
and those used rin closeu leitting 
the lesser lights attend themselves. 

Picketing .is being carried on in a 
desultory fashi , ith not more, 
than 50 at any one studio, Metro 
drew the heaviest ^complement of 
paradcrs; due to the .attendance of 
the convention mob. There- are oiily 
about 25 at the other plants and nohe 
is attempting to stop workers. Pick-, 
ets are wearing armbands with let- 
terings FMPC (Federated Moti ■ - 
ture Crafts). 

NYB's PhUIy Music Peace 

iladelphia. May 4. 

Battle between Warner Bros, and 
musicians' local, growing out of 
hurry-up agreement drawn after pit- 
boys walkout last fall, wa-s settled in 
musicians' favor last week.. 

Agreed circuit cannpt pull band 
iiom Fo.v during sumnier and must 
pay local scale in nabes. Meetirtfi 
was held with Jo.seph N. Weber, 
pro/, of Musicians' International ('28), 



interruption of feature prb- 
ducti in the Hollywood stii ios 
caused by labor troubles, or any 
other reason, would seriously and 
imrnediately affect .the nation's mp- 
ti icture theatres, it was declared 
this, week by heads of distrrbution 
departments and operators of affili- 
ated and -independent circuits. 

"There is practically no reserve.'Of 
feature films on which distributors 
arid exhibitors could rely iri the 
everit that production were suspend- 
ed for any protracted, period. It 
never has been the policy of any of 
the major corhpanies to tie up lai'ge 
inVestriients in completed, but iin- 
released, pictures. Of the large.r 
studi , only Warners and '20th 
Century-Fox have completed their 
full quota of pictures for this sea- 
son's release " schedules, which ex- 
pire on July 31. Not all pf these, of 
course, have been shipped to the: 
film exchanges and any general diis- 
turbance in Hollywood might retard, 
it is said, the flow of positive, prints 
from the laboratories to the branch 
distribution offices. 

First reaction to arty slowing up In 
delivery of films to theatres, would 
be the immediate cessatiori of double 
billing in' thousands of houses, it is 
saidi Somie of the. major circuits 
this season adopted the dual jprogram 
policy iri all situations ,with the re- 
sult that .a condition of shortage pf 
pictures has prevailed in. scores of 
territories ever since last fall. 

Distributipn managers already have 
sent circular letters to their branches 
to obtain analyses of. unplayed 
business on short subjects. A re- 
turn to single features immediately 
v/ould stimulate the booking of car- 
.toons, short comedies and trkvel 
films. Hundreds of prints of shorts 
have been in film exchanges for 
mpnths without any active circula- 
tion. 

33% Tet to Go 

A. survey of the various distribu- 
tors reveals that whereas three- 
fourths Of the i-eleasing sea.";on has 
passed, there remain actually one- 
third of the total pictures contracted 
for eJfhi itiPn awiiiting release dur- 
ing the rtext three months. Early 
(Continued on page 46) 



Mere 135 Out, Casey Insists; Cites 
Producer Labor Dealings as Fair 



Painters' Demands 



Hollywood, May 4. , 
:• Painters have arinpunced new 
wage scale arid working conditions 
asked, for in their demands io stu- 
dibs.- "They seek an increase of from 
$7 to $8 for day men, $9 for night 
shift after 6 p. m., $9 for shift after 
midnight, and $10 for crews before 
6 a.:m. 

lipping, alsp asked for sign y/riters, 
marblers, grainers and alrgun men. 
They are now earning from $8 to 
$10 daily and seek another $1. 
Grpiips are also asking for a 12-hour 
notice on cancellation of calls and 
an agreerrient for ^Workers tobchired 
-through ai union' hiring-hall iristead 
of direct calls to home?. 



lA Theatre Drive 
May Be Coincidental 
With H ' wood Campaign 



Drive of the International Alliarice 
of Theatrical Stage Employes to or- 
ganize!, .theatires not. now unionized 
may be made cpiricidental with strike 
moves on the Coasts Should any 
drive of the lATSE prpve inci- 
dental with drives in Hollywood, or 
be timed with action taken on the. 
Cpast, the strike threat would bo- 
cotTie national and afTect not only 
the ^source ot supply of film but the 
retail point as well. 

The lA is going forward with plans 
tp orjganize the various workers in, 
theatres, of all descriptioris, includ- 
ing legit, preparatory to dernandihg 
recognition and after that, negotia- 
tiptis for contract? with the various 
locals to be set up. While in the 
studiPs the. unions which are signa- 
tory to the five-year basic agreement 
and earlier this .spring obtained 10% 
increases rnay not Walk out With, 
others in sympathy, in the ihealros 
there is little doubt that siich .sym- 
pathetic striking wouldn't occur 
since the operators and stage hatids 
Eire chartered by the I A. 



33 IN WORK AS 
WALKOUT CAME 



Hollywood, May. 4. 

Major studios affected by the 
strike had 33 pictures in work when 
the call came for the walkout Fri- 
day (.^0). ^ 

Metro had five features and one 
short, including 'Madiarrie Walewska,' 
*The Firefly,' ^Saratoga,' 'Vouni Be 
Married by Noon' and 'Broadway 
Melody of 1937;' 

Paramount had eight in produc- 
tion. 'Angel' has 20. days to feo; 
'Souls at Sea' (added Scenes); ^Last 
Train From Madrid,' a week to gO; 
'Exclusive,' three weeksj 'Artists and 
Models,' three to four weeks; 'Easy 
Living,,' four weeks; 'Forlorn River,' 
two Sveeks, and 'Wild Money,,' three 
weeks. 

Samuel Goldwyn's. , tella Dallas' 
had been three weeks in production, 
arid 'Dead End' and 'Hurricane' were 
ready to roll Monday. Columbia had 
'Once a Hero,' a week to go; 'Taxi 
War,' 10 days to go, and 'Professional 
Juror' three weeks to go. At 20th- 
;Fpx *YPu Can't Have Everything* 
and 'Armored taxi' were in: work. 
Selznick-Internatlorial had *The Pris- 
prier of Zerida' ith four weeks to 
go. 

Larry Darmour has three weeks' 
shooting on 'Black Torrent' for 'Co- 
lumbia relea.se while Hal Roach had 
nearly wound Op 'Topper.' 

U Pair in Work 

At Universal .'West Bound Lim- 
ited' and *Lpve In a Bungalpw* were 
in work, the former on location at 
Santa Cruz with a week to go be- 
fore returning to the studio; 'Bunga- 
low' was scheduled ir) wind up next 
Wednesday. U had skedcid '100 Men 
and a Girl' to start this week with 
six weeks' shooting schedule, and 
'Channel Crossing.' due to roll for 
four weeks starting next Thursday 
(6). ■ • • 

Warner.s had si in work in- 

clu ing 'Varsity show,' 'Mr. Todd 
Takes the Air,' 'Life of Emile Zola,* 
'That Certain Woman,' ' ngle Shoot 
ev'. arid .. Gentleman After. Mid 
night'; also three set to start 'hext 
week; 'First Lady,' Kay Francis 
.starrer; Perfect Specimen' nd 

'Alcatraz.' 



SUE'S Walkout 



Hollywood, May 4. 
tility Employees Local 24, 
with a reputed membership of 1,700, 
called a.walkout at its meeting Sun 
day night (2), and ordered workers 
to report for ickel duty at 5 a. m 
Monday (.3). 

Strike vole, sai be a three-to- 
one cleci.sion, was ordet;ed, by Joseph 
Marshall, internationat Vice Vesi 
dent Pat Casey refused it 

recognition' and a union shpp. 

.Walkout of- the slationai-y en- 
gineers, culinary workers, boiler- 
nriakers arid welders was announced 
by FMPC after lost ot;the members 
had been off their jobs, sirice Satur- 
day (it, Strikers refused to cross 
pjckcl line established by painters, 
makeup artists, hair dressers and 
scenic artists. 



Hollywood, May 4. 
Pat Ca.sey, producers contact, 
said at noon Tuesday that one- 
third of th« 200 strikers, othfl« 
than painters, had returned,: to 
w6rl(. 

He said the .lATSE omdals 
are not aoMriff as;a hirlnr arency 
but 'are .carrying out an an- 
iiounc«d plan in a membeirBhlp 
drive. Casey said 150 moil 
have been hired to replace' 
walkouts. In reply to reports ■ 
current that strikers would ally ' 
with the Committee for Indus- 
trial Orranlnation,, Casey said 
the John L. Lewis outfit cpuld 
:not do any damage here as the 
.five chief crafts heeded for stu-.; 
dio production are in the studio 
basic agreement. 

Producers claimed that not more 
than 200 workers responded to the 
strike orders at the nine major 
studios. 

Pat Casey, producer labor contact, 
i.ssued the following statement after 
receivi reports from productioii . 
managers: 

'Our check-up with the^ major 
studios ]ndieate.s that not more than 
200 persons responded to the strike 
orders. 

'Production In all studios Js pro- 
ceeding as usual and none of the 
studios Is planning any curtailment 
of existing work schedules because 
of strike conditions. 

'The situation is not regarded asi 
critical and I believe that we shall 
reach a reasonable and sensible so- 
lution of the difficulties. At the 
most, not more than 1,500 of thQ 
more than 40,000 studio workers are 
involved in the present dispute; 

'No questions relating to wageii 
or yprking conditions have been 
submitted to me. 

'The producers are not taking an 
arbitary position by any inean.s, and 
it should be obvious to all concerned 
that neither side can take such a 
position successfully. 

Explaininfi the Situation 
'In order that the general public, 
as well as members of the unions 
(Continued on page 23) 




FptiNDPip nr snyr i silvkrman 

riilillHlietl, Weekly hy VAItlKTV. Inc. 

.Sl() Slivcrmon. Prcnldent 
154 Went <flth Street, Now Vork City 





SUBSCRIPTION 




Anhunl. . , 


.....10 


Foreign. . 


,. ..»7 






..,14 


.Conta 


Vol. 120 










8 



INDEX 



Burlcsciue 
Chatter 

Concert ., 

Dance Tours. , . . . ...... 

Exploitciti 
15 Years 
Film . 
Fil 

Forum ' ............. 

House Itcviewis 

In.side— Legit 
Inside— rMusic 
Inside— Pictures 
iri.side-- ic) 
International 
International 
Lcfiiti ifi.te 
Literati 
Music 

New Acts',-. ........ .. 

News fi'om the Dailies. 
Nitc lu.bs . ........... , 

Obituary 
Outdoors. 
Pictures 

Radio_ . . , . .;. .......... 

Radio— Pacific Notes. . . 
Radio Reviews. . . . , . , , 

Radio Shownmiiship. . . 
, iSport.s ., . ,\ ........ ^ 

Units u 

Vaudeville 

Women 



,12- 



49 

.'sa 

00 
5B 
44 

4U 
20 
Ki 
«» 
-51 
56 
44 
21 
35 
•13 
57. 
-.50 
.58 
..43-45 
51 
. 6jl 
., 48 
(12 

(H 
£5-27 
...28-'' 2 
. 30 
3« 
. 42 
. (52 
5i 
. 4IJ.48 
4 



VARIETr 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



MPTOA POLLING NATION'S EXHIBS FOR 
GRASSROOT MANDATE ON PK-RADIO 



Walter Vincent'i Committee in Action on Miami 
Convention Reiolution— $ig Powwow of Exhibs 
and Air Reps in Ni Y. 



serious move to thie 
controversiial radio issue 1 the 
^open is qnderway with the Walter 
Vincent 'committee of thie Motion 
P'icture Theatre Owners ot America 
preparing to get to the bottom of 
the radio-pictures alliance by as- 
sembling facts and tjien determining 
-whether a divorce or other deniands 

should be made. 

That positive, ultimatums will be 
niade upon producer-distributors or 
upon radio broadcasting agencies; 
appears certain. But first the MPTOA, 
committee on radio competition is 
going to coUi^ct evidence. 

The basis for complaint was laid 
at the March MPTOA: convention in 
Miami when exhibitprs entered their 
pleas against broadcasting by stars 



Non-Metro Pubfishers 



iOespite Metro's own Robbihs Mu- 
sic sind Feii$t Music publishing firms, 
the recent and forthcoming series of 
Metro operettas are proving a wind- 
fall for the. G. Schhrmer, Inc., and 
Witmark music companies. 

'May time,' already released, and 
the ' forthcoinihg Frlrol operettas 
which Metro is also prbducing-^'The 
Firefly/ 'High Jinks' and 'Some 
Time'— are all Schirmer copyrights, 
'M llef Modiste' (Victor Herbert) 
wilflall to Witmark'3 renewed bene- 
fit from the screen i;>lugging just as 
'Will You Remember?' but of 'May- 
time'' is currently becoming a best 
and n^aterlal from films on the air I seller all over , again for the Schir- 
and. Unanimously demanded that mer^ company. 



WINCHELL-BERNIE LOOK 
m FOR ANOTHER PIC 



imilarly, Metro's screen operetta 
versions of -Rose-Marie' and 'Naugh- 
ty Marietta' (MacDohaldrEddy co- 
starrers, akin to 'Maytime') proved 
clicks for the basic copyright bvvh- 
ers, and did not register on behalf 
<it Metro-Rpbbihs-Feist, as would be 
the case if they Were screen ori i- 
nals. 



stejps for protection be taken. Radical 
action was suggested. With this asr 
signnient, Vincent's committee, which 
includes San Pinanski, Arthur . .H^ 
Lockwood and Lewen Pizor has de- 
cidied to go after all facts. 

Cdtnpnittee Plans Polls 

The group of. four will first funcr 
tion as. fact-finding committee, 
.reserving any personal opinions. But 
the committee has a mandate to point 
out to producers that the air and 
screen are. so greatly at variance 
that remedies are imperative. • Com- 
mittee will take, a comprehensive 
poll of theatre, operators and owners 
preparatory to holding a round-table 
meeting in New York with producer- 
distributors and radio broadcasting 
reps. 

'■ The latter would be included either 
to hear demands backed by theatre 
strength, plus sonie likely producer- 
• distributor support, or to be told 
that definite reforms will be. neces- 
sary in presentation of film material 
ion the air if the practice is to be 
continued. 

" Although exhibitors attending the 
MPTOA Miami conclave dietermined 
no quarter should be given in ia 
battle to keep films off radio to the 
detriment to theatres, it is. under- 
stood the Vincent committee will 
isisiie a questionha||re and get ex 
hibltors attitudes in writing. 

To avoid any charges in defense of 
radio that only a certain class of 
exhibitors oppose radio, .operatoris of 
all types of theatres will be can' 
vassed. When the .results are in, the 
committee will. have something con- 
crete to present In the case entrusted 
to It by Ed L. KuykendalH president- 
ot the MPTOA, a stout diefender of 
exhibitoriB who resist radio. 

Regardless of the personal opinions 
of the Vinceht committeemen, ex- 
pectation is that it will be duty- 
bound to proceed entirely in line 
with what IS' shown to be the con- 
census of opihibh of operators when 
the questionnaires are received. 
FaEBinc: Vp The MFPDA 

After the exhibitor poll, the con- 
ference, ■ . New Ybrk will bring in 
as , many . producer arid , distributor 
representatives as possible. Presum- 
ably representatives of the Hays* 
office, will .be invited but the Mo-, 
tioh Picture Producers & Distribu- 
tors of Aiwerica will not be included, 
so it is said. ' ' '■' 

During, the winter a committee 
to study the radio-pictures situation' 
was suppbsed to have been Appointed 
thfAiigh the' Hays' office^ but it. never 
' materialized. s(nd nothing was dbhe. 
Committee was to have been M. N. 
: Schencti Harry M. Warfier and M. H. 
Aylesworth. 

The . Vincent committee is said to 
feel . one demand will be certain. 
That is that il picture rpebple con- 
tinue on the air, they, iriust be pre- 
sented, as efficiently on the ether .as 
they are in pictureis ' so there can 
be no detraction from their screen 
appearanceis. ; 

Moreover, any scenes of portions 
from pictures must be done with 
the same care as at studios where 
millions are spent putting scenes 
together. Casual appearances, of 
players on the air would be out and 
the radio people would be required 
to match the efficiency of studios. 
This is reported to be the tentative 
opinion of the Vincent committee in 
the event any compromise lis to be 
reached. 



Ben Bern! , east for, his Ameflcah 
Can radio programs^ states that he 
and Waltei- Winchell will probably 
start anothier one for 20th Century^ 
Fbx in August; although technically 
they haven't yet been notified that 
the option has been taken up; Win- 
chell and Bernie are committeld to 
the studio for three years, options 
resting with 20th, of course. Deal 
call^ for one or two pictures annu- 
ally... 

Bernie states that it looks like an- 
other picture, of course, as Jack 
Yelleh and Harry Tugend. are al- 
ready working on a sequel,, and Win- 
chell is also, trying to think up some- 
thing to contribute oh the scripting 
end. 

Winchell reportedly received $75j- 
000 for his first film chore, 'W;ake Up 
and Live,' Bernie :collected 

$50,000. 

From Beverly Hills, Winchell li - 
wise confirms that, technically, he 
hasn't been optibhed. 



SAILINGS 

May li9 (New York, to London) 
Sol Hurok (Normandie). 

May 19 (London to New York) 
Jack Thompson Veltch (Queen 
Mary). 

V May 15 (New York to Naples) Mr. 
and Mrs. John Byram (Conte di 
Savoia). 

May -13 (London to New. York) 
Senator Murphy: (Normandie). 

May .8 (New York to Hollywood) 
Mr. and Mrs. Abel Green (Santa 
Paula), 

May 7 (Los Angeles to Honolulu) 
Dolly Tree (Malolb). 

May . 5 (London to New York) 
Alexander Korda, S. R, Kent (lie. de 
France). 

May 5 (London tO New York) Os- 
car Homolka (Aquitania). 

May 4 (New York to London) Mr. 
and Mrs. Artur Rodzinski, Mr. and 
Mrs. Serge, koussevitsky, Igor tra- 
vinsky, Nadia Bbulanger, Eric W. 
Korhgold, Mr. and M.^s. Sam Dush- 
kin, Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Sachse, 
Olga Petrbva, Trudi Schopp Ballet, 
Angna Enters, Tharhara Swerskaya,. 
Si^ur Leeder, Terry Lawlor, Diavid 
Liffidins, Dario and Diane, :' Merrill 
Abbott Dancers (Paris). 
, May. 4 (New York to London) 
Vyvyan bohner (Bremen). 

Miay' 4 .'(New York to London) 
Charlotte Greenwobd, Martin 
Broones,' Lib by Holman, Mary 
Roberts Rinehart, Gertrude Law- 
fence (Queen Mary).. 

May 4 (New York to London) 
Peter Maurice, Gfacie Fields, 
Jimmy Phillips (Berengaria).* ' ' 

May ,3 (New Zealand to Lbs An- 
geles) Sir Harry Lauder (Mbrttprey), 
April 28 (Los . Angeled to Hono- 
lulu) Gloria ^ Stuairt (Marij^osa).. 



Water Under die Bri(^«; 
MDrphy's Then and Now 



Hollywobd, .May 4. 
Only dead pan at ^ound-breaking 
for $2,000,000 CBS studio on Sunset 
boulevard was Joe Murphy, who 
came to Hollywood with Dave 
Horsley iand .Al Christie 26 years 
ago. 

On the exact spot Where Donald 
W- Thornburgh, ' v.p. of Columbia 
chain on the coast, dug in his shovel 
while Al Jolson, Jack Oakie, Harry 
Einstein, Victor Moore, Shaw and 
Lee, Bobby Breen led 2,000 peasants 
into giving three rousing cheers. 
Murphy did a similar ditch-digger's 
routine on Nov. 2, 1911 for a picture 
studio. 

Picture studio has gone the way of 
all flesh, and by next November 
fadi chain expects to be fairly 
ready for action. Studio will have 
a theatre, a 1,050-seaterj f pr palm- 
slammeirs. 

-First picture, Ironically, Murph's 
mob made in the picture studio 
which is no more, was called, 'The 
Best Man Wins.' 



Going Places 

By Cecelia Ager 



Hollywood's Candled Candor 

'A Star is Born' is the first heart-to-heart about Hollywood that's shown 
any regard for the sensibilities of the fans. It has the cbnsid(sration, j 
telling all, to tell all the way they like to hjear it.. Tenderly bearing i 
mind that the fans won't march upOn the box office to have their feeirigs 
hurt and their beliefs belittled, with loving kindness it rebblsters their 
idols and reaffirms their dreams. 

Procedure of letting down one's hair need involve no. more -than; 
pinninjg the prettiest curls. It is possible to be frank and still not ciit 
everybody up; When 'A Star Is Bofh' confides how" naughty some ifani 
can. be* clawing for iautbgraphs iftt funerals^it only goes to show how 
hijshly it esteems its own fans; it can talk t9 then! like a brother, for they- 
are hot that sort, in pointing but the blabk-heartedness of Hollywood 

}ress agents and column chatterers, it's only showing up the wicked 
prophets of those other fans— its own fans 4on'yfs|lI for prophets; they're 
too. intelligenti they know too much to be taken in by yokel-blufTi 

hey're in oh the inside. . 

. Nice bright people that they are, , they rate, and they shall get, the best. 
They shaU see in Technicolor the Hollywood they've imajgined, it shall be 
actually demonstrated to them that they're right— that it's more important 
to; be a picture star than anything else in the world. They shall witness 
traivelbgue that is not bontent to reveal merely for hispfically accyrate 
background the spots nbw hallowed for all time because it has-been re- 
corded in fan mags, and columns that sometimes they have been granted 
the presence of the Hollywood gods— they shall exult to the sight of these 
}lessed shrines in action^ see each sacred place play Its own special part in 
the plot, watch , each one provide with its ovm peculiar significance and 
relative importance, progressive motivation and build-up fbr this con- 
temporary, but none the less iiispiriattionail, Pilgrim's pfogfess. Thus a 
symphony concert. in the Hollywood BowL comes early , (good), the fights; 
at the Holly wood. Legion Stadium midway (better), the premiere at Gr.au- 
ihan's Chinese last (best)i 

Yes it's true— everybody's kind in iloUywood, everybody's earnest; 
everybody's bright, everything is beautiful. Np less lovely and gracious 
a lady than ^eggy Wood discourages you at Central Casting, lio less charm- 
ihg and indulgeht a fellow than Adolphe Menjou can be persuaded to give 
you a break. Even a star, on the wane is as engaging, as honorable, as 
clever, as handsome, as altogether attractive as Fredric March. In fact 
in this dreams-cbme-true Hollywood, Fredric March— waning, mind you— 
has never been sb appealing, while Janet Gaynof, ascending lickety-split, 
acquires i .clear-cut stages right before your eyes, poise, presence, dig- 
nity, chic, a sense of "humor, the ability to think up and toss off . smoothly 
jrightly jpointied lines. Without sacrificing any of her basic gentlenesis or 
nobility of character. As nice % girl as you could possibly imagine, and 
at the same time as glamorous as they ban get. Fine people in a fine 
production convincing lots and lots of fine fans that they're fight, they've 
always been right— heart-to-heart, Hollywobd and picture stars surpass^ 
even, their idealism of it all. 



N. Y. to L. A. 

Charles Curran. 
Ned E. Depinet. 
Abel Green. 
Mrs.-Rufus Le Malre. 
Rarrett S. McCormack. 
Bob Millford. 
Oscar F. Neu. 
Tomniy Rockwell. 
A. A. Schubart. 
Joseph N. Weber., 
Henry Wilcoxon, 



ARRiVALS 

Jeannette C. Power, .Mary ick 
ford. Vera Engels; John L. Day, Jr., 
Harlan Thompson, J. J. Shubert, 
Russell Crbuse, Dr. Herbert T, Kal 
mus. 



Radio FiLtn Broadcasts 



New Trend in Fictional Q-Popping 

Taking cognizance of the fact that these days proposals of marriage 
are hot hangihg. from , every tree, all the best pictures now present their 
own proposals the hard way, too, (A trend.) In, 'a Star is Bbrn,' Janet 
Gaynor can. scarcely hear Fredric March's honest offer, so tumultuous is 
the prizefight sequence in which at last it's wrung from him. 

Arriving a little later, and therefbre with the very newest developments, 
'Cafe Metropole' proves' how deeply it's probed into current mores i 
coming out with the discovery that indeed^ it's up to the girl to pop the 
question, if anything sahctioned's going to happen. As a matter of fact, i 
arranging for Lor etta Young to ask Tyrone Power, and putting it amidst 
surroimding screaming and .yelling, 'Cafe Metropole' has created its most 
life-like scene, in its alert fieport on contemporary behavior, 'Cafe Metro- 
pole' haii found that a girl's got to clear her way to the altar, fighting 
every step. 

While it may seern strange that a girl as starry-eyed 9S Miss Young 
should be compelled to put up such ia battle, to naiil Mr. Power; consider 
the dusky eyes, the soihnolent lids, of Mr. Power hiinaeif.. . They are said 
to be a: popular , subject for spring musings. 'Furthermore, though perhaps 
he does over-do the lock tumbling boyishly over his brow, Mr. Power 
has the advantage of looking at ease in his perfect clbthes, wheriesfs Miss 
Young is -never quite sure about hers. They are more dramatic than Miss 
Young's been used to, and they scare her a little. She tries to compromise 
with them, pinning a clip here, adding some veils to her hat there, timidly 
seeking to assert her authority over them, but she doesn't quite make it. 
For all her gestures are in the direction of : bad addition, while the cos- 
tumes themselves are so powerfully sweeping in line, subtraction alone 
could subdue them. 

This conflict, coming on top of her inajor ' engagennjent, harasses; Miss 
Young into not always giying the best that's in her. Helen Westley, for 
example, has no such problems, and sb everything she says and does 
hits the very center bf the mark. 



L. A. to N. Y. 



'A star Is Born' 

Recipient of radio buildup via . Campbell Soup's 'Holly wbod Hotel' last 
Friday (30) oyer CBS: was 'A Star Is Born' (Selznick-tJA). impressive 
ciast was,, hauled before the mike, Fredric March, Janet Gaynor, Adolphe 
MenjoU, May Rbbson, Aftdy Devine and William Wellman' (director) taking 
parts they had in pic. 

Altogether,, it was punchy radio ..entertainment and seems likely to re 
alize whatever b.o. hypo may be found in the ether miediurh. Presenti 
of course, is that, inevitable question, of how much success of such a pro- 
gram is. attributable! to the treatment given it by the radio, producers and 
how much to the inherent qualities of the story itself. In this case, 'Star 
Is Bbrn' appears tO; be well suited to radio adaptation. / 

Acting was distinctly convincing for most of the period As the. rising 
fllm star horoine of the yarn, Janet Gaynor was vibrantly persuasive. 
That was all the more noticeable considering the strangely constrained 
perforhiance bf Fredric March, as the. ebbing pic star, Only in the love 
scenes, near the close did actor let himself go. Adolphe Mehjou, May 
Robson and Andy Devine, all were creditable in brief parts. 

'A Star Is Bbrn' was compressed intb the time requirements satisfac- 
torily, if anything, the radio versibn may have unveiled too much plot. 
If it didn't explain the ehding at any length, it at. least offered morb than 
a hint of the .denouement. Wellman, who directed the pic appeared on 
the show to lay groundwork for dramatization. Part stretched much too 
long, however, becoming running comment throughout the action. 'Star Is 
Born' is in its second week at Iladio City Music Hall, N. Y. 



L. F. Alstock. 
Ethel Barrymore. 
Don Becker. 
Russell Bif dwell. 
Larry.Blake. 
George Deitibow, 
Diouglas Fairbanks. 
Gracie Fifelds. 
Robert Gillham. 
Ben Hecht. 
Arthur Hornblow. 
Barbara Kepn. 
Jack kihgsbetry. 
Fred Kbhlmaf; 
Miyf na Loy, 
Herman Robbi 
Eddie- Selzer. 
David 6. 
J. J. Sullivan,. 
Harlan. Thompson. 
William Wellnrian. 
Eleanor Whitney. 
Jock Whitney. 



Etherize 
Reviews of the New Fix 



Robert Garland, film critic of The 
N, Y. American, is reported going on 
the air doing reviews bf the new 
pictures. 

Eileen Creelinan, . fllni crick of the 
Eve. Sun, did recent auditions for 
the air to feature Hollywood film 
gossip, sponsored by the makers of 
Pyrocide ' toothpaste. Nothing has 
been closed with her as yet. 



KERN AlUNG, DUNNE 
ASSIGNED 'RIO RITA' 



Hollywood, VL^y 4. 

Jerome Keyn's heart ailiiieht. has 
caused liKO Raldio to sidetrack the 
entire' Kefh-pofothy Fields-felix 
Young prpductipn unit. It, was to 
have been the Irene Dunne starrer. 
Insteid, she Will make 'Rio Rita.' 

Medicos told the veteran 
pbser, Kern, to take it easy for . . 
months, hence the indef pbstppne- 
ment. 



Air Names Dominate 
Cast of Par's This Way' 



Hollywood, May 4. 
: I*aramount is stressing radio per- 
sonalities in the cast of 'This Way, 
Please,* which Mel Schauer wju 
produce with Robei-t Flprey irect- 

Already lined. "day 
Rogers, Shirley , ibb^'^ 
McGee: and ,Molly, latter making 
their screen debut. .Negotiations 
are on for. Mary Livingstone (Mrs. 
Jack Benny); 

Cameras fpll next Monday (10).^ 



HOPE HAMPTON'S U TEST 

ilollywopd. May 4. 

Hope Hampton, considered for • 
rnusical at. Universal, has had c^c- 
tensive tesiing. 

Warbled five try-out numbers. 



-J— ^""^ 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



ONLY 




PIX STOCKS 




ADeged Advertising in Fix Irks 
Exhibs' ZOth-'Fox Issues a Denial 



icago^ May 4. " 
Asserted growing practice of pro- 
ducers to insert commercial shots is 
vexhi. itors locally, v Allied, 
in annual convention in Milwaukee 
thii month will discuss this 'seem- 
ingly unintentiai commercialism*, of 
pictures. 

^hile exhibitors agree they have 
BO proof that commercial inserts are 

deliberate on the part of the cotii' 
panies, or are paid for by adver- 
tisers getting the pluig, they insist 
they resent the commercial aspect. 
What's more impdttaht, picture-go- 
■trs have openly sqiiawked, they 
•ver, 



. 20th Fox Warns Exhllbs 

Taking cognizance of action by a 
Xlew England group of indie exhibs in 
passing, a resolution condemning a 
sbene in 'Wake Up aihd Live- as ad- 
vertising through an arjrahgement 
with General Motors, 2Qth Ceritury- 
. Fox has demanded a retraction; At- 
torhciys for 20th-F6x threaten -to 
hold Independent Exhibitors, Inc., 
Responsible if a retraction is not 
made and if the resolution is again 
published in exhibs' monthly bulle- 
tin. Scene complained of showed 
Broadway with advertising signs, in- 
cluding G.M.. ad. 

Twentieth-Fox noted in ^ letter 
sent Independent Exhibitors, Inc., 
that the resolution urged members 
to eliminate the advertising sign ,by 
a slight misframe. The .film com- 
pany called attention to the stand- 
ard contract which forbids altering 
any part of a print. 



Hollywood, May 4. 

Doris kenyon has been s^t for 
Lucky Strike'is iradio program July 
1 and will also play the lead in a 
techhicolor corhmercial short, to be 
produced at Selznick-International 
studio, to exploit Luckies for the 
American Tobacco Co.. Roland Reed 
clirects. 




21-f OX LA. Meet; 
Sdienck on Deck 



Hollywood,. May 4. 
' Returning to the Coast last Friday 
(30) from two months in Havana and 
Miami, Joseph M. Scheiick announced 
plans for the, company 's ianniial con- 
vention to be held here Msy ,30 to 
June 3. iSchenck voyaged through the 
Panama canal oh his new yacht, sail- 
mg from New York with Jay iPaley 
and Mr, and Mrs. Lew Wertheimer 
as guests. 

Business sessions will be at the 
Ambassador hotel Where viisitih^ 
salesmen and executives will be 
quartered. "A special train from New 
York will bring a large eastern con- 
tingent, including reprieser^tatives 
from Australia, South and Central 
America, Canada, reat ritain, 
Gontihental Europe and. Far 
East; 

From overseas ^yill come W. J. 
Hutchinson, foreign manager, Lon- 
a?n; Sutton Dawe&_British sales 
ajrector, London; ' S. Crick and 
Charles Mun^o, Auistralia; Dell Good- 
j»an, Far Eastern manager; W. W. 
a^ullivan. A.: Paucker and T. Isdahl, 
•EUropiean sales managers. 

The New York delegatipn will in- 
clude John b. Clark, general sales 
manager; AV. C. Michel, executive 
vice-president; Sidney Tbwell, trea- 
surer; : Felix A. Jeifcins, general 
counsel; Spyros Skouras, E. W. Ham- 
ii^ons. Jack Skirball and Harvey Day. 

J°tal attendance will run batwcsn 
«Q0 and 500 making it the bi.^cst 
sales .Ret-together ever staged by 
20th-Fox. 



LithoHng the Boss 



Hollywood, May 4., 
Samuel Gbldwyn studio has 
put put a one-sheet blurbing the 
Satevepost's biog titled 'The 
Great Gbldwyn,' by Alva John- 
ston starting May 8. Describing 
Goldwyn as 'Hollywood's Fore- 
most Producer,' the postei: adds 
come-on that Johnston's opus 
will be 'the :loWdown on the 
motion picture industry.' 

Square-foot halftone pf Gold- 
wyn embellishes the sheet. 




Sharp Wall St. Sell-Off Last 
Week Saw Amusemehti 
Not So Badly Hit — Only 
3 of 12 Below Their 1936 
Figures. 



APPRECIATION 



8 MUSICALS ON 




pllywood. May 4. 
Warners has eight musicals listed 
for the coming seasop. the most am- 
bitious li ever scheduled by the 
company,' 

Roster includes 'The Singing Ma- 
rine,' now cutting; 'Varsity. Show', 
and 'Mr. Dodd Takes the Air,' shoot- 
ing; 'Hollywood Hotel,' ith Benny 
Goodman's band; 'French, Dark /and 
Handsohie,' the next Fernand Gravet 
starrer;. 'Campus Scandals,' 'Radio 
Jamboree' and the 1938 edition of 
'Gold Diggers.' 



STATUS QUO ON 20TH, 
MG, GB; KENT EN ROUTE 

London, May 4, 
idney R. Kent,, president of 2bth 
Century -Fox, sails for the States to- 
morrow (Wednesday ). 

In so rar as can be ascertained 
there is a deal in the making be- 
tween the American" film interests 
in Gaumont-British and local par- 
ties concerning the disposal of the 
American-owned shares in GB. 
Whether one has been consummated 
is not Indicated, The latest angle 
would have John Maxwell interests 
trying to purchase the Ostrer hold- 
ings again. That's a strange twist 
on the whole situation. 

Kent, who has been on general 
20th-Fox company business, while 
here, has also been listening to local 
offers for. the purchase: of his com- 
pany's GB shades, and those owned 
by Metro-Gbldwyn-Mayer. J. Robert 
Rubin, Metro general .counsel, also 
has been listening along with Kent. 
Just what has transpired definitely 
is not known, 

What is known, .however, is , that 
the John Maxwell interests renewed 
their bidding for; the purchase of' 
the combined 2bth Cehtury-Fox and 
Metro shares in GB; The Maxwell 
bid was $7,000,000 to $8,000,000. 



Due in New York Tuesday , (ll')* 
Kent plans to leave the Coast 
May 15 or 16 for opening of the 20th- 
Fox' sales convention there May .,30. 
He will be. accompanied west by John 
D. Clark, general salef manager, and 
Charles E. McCarthy, advertising- 
publicity director. 

IMARCH OF TIME' HAS 
FEATURE PROD. YEN 



March of imc, loc, is serious 
about, making one or more features. 
Execs have two stories under con- 
sideration. ; No production will be 
undertaken until fall. 

'March of. Time' monthly releases 
will be as usual. Releasing medium 
is not set ias yet on the features. It 
appears doubtful that any short sub- 
jects such as 'Life' will be tried. 



market 

islump and climactic selli wave 
last week, icture company issues 
conti generally to hold their 
heads well above prices being quoted 
z year ago. Of 12 film .company 
stocks, only three were .seUi 
low theii^ quotations while 

seven were listed at U or more, 
points abovie prices in si ilar period 
last year. 

Just how strong, picture issues are 
currently, as compared with a year 
ago, is Vividly shown by their enor- 
mous appreciation in value during 
that pieriod. The 12 representative 
stocks now reveal an appreciation 
of $168,748,787 over the low prices 
recorded in comparable period of 
1936. This is only slightly below 
the appreciation figure sho\yn at the 
close of 1936 as compared with the. 
quotations-oi| 12 months before. 
. Of the film stocks, checked, Loew, 
the three Paramount issues, Warner 
Bros, preferred, arid both 20th Cen- 
tury-Fox shares were selling $11 Or 
more above the 1936 figures. And 
two others, were quoted at 3 or 
more points above this ti last 
year. 

Leader in point of advance and 
also in appreciation among the . com- 
mon, issues was Loew, always classed 
as the bellwether of the picture 
group. At the close of last week, 
Loew was quoted at $76.25 per sharie 
or $33.25 above 1936 price. This rep- 
resented an appreciation of $49,795^- 
200. Paramount common,, which was 
up 14 points from the price of a 
year ago, showed a tilt in valuation 
of $33,194,000. 

Paramount's first preferred, which 
boasted the . sensational gain of 93% 
jpoints over 19.36, brought an appre- 
ciation fiigure. of $18,675,000. This 
stock finished the past week at just 
below. $155 per share, despite its 
heavy slump, while a year ago it was 
quoted at $61.50. 

Col. and U. Off 

The three stocks that turned up 
with a small, loss were both Colum- 
bia Picture, issues and Universal pre- 
ferred. In the instance of both com- 
panies, special . situations affected 
the stock values. Wall Street classed 
all three stocks as having had ex- 
cellent moves while other picture 
issues Were not doing anything on 
the Upside. . Columbia Pictures cer- 
tificates (commp.n) were pushed up 
to nearly $100 per share before the 
stock was split up on a 2-for^l basis; 
A new preferred stock also was Is- 
sued. Both actions have .figured .in 
holdi them back in the market. 
Universal preferred spurted to well 
above .$100, and only- recently 
dropped below the . century mark; 
Even though selling below, the prices 
quoted a year ago, ^11 three stocks 
showed a total monetary decline of 
less thaii $l,OOOiOOO. 
.. The recent declines in ihe stock 
market were not exactly a surprise 
to traders in the street who have 
kept account of financial .affairs on 
^ yearly basis because there was a 
similar slump at this time in 1936 
with the peik of selling reached also 
in the final week in April. Only re- 
markable part is that picture issues 
have held ground so well since the 
film companies soon .will be entering 
the so-called slow summer months. 
In numerous previous years, stocks 
of film companies have begun, to 
falter, in discouhting the box ofTicc 
slump by this time of the year. 

That numerous shares of picture 
companies have resisted general 
market weakness is perhaps i\ clear 
indication of the changed Wall trcet 
attitude towards the film industry. 



Wall St Ming a $5M 







Partnership Ideas; Confak Due 



Gordon's Plaint 



Hollywood, May, .- 
'We're making money, but in 
the wrong era",' is Max Gordon's 
now quite w. k. Hollywood war- 
cry. This is whenever Unclie 
Sam and taxes come up for 
iscussion, 

Gordon is returning to Broad- 
way legit production but, ith 
Harrjr Goetz, he's still retaining 
a film production interest when 
'The Women' is ready to be 
filmed. Distrib not set yet on 
it. , Gordon meantime has washed 
up at RKO and his Mervyn 
LeRoy production deal has been 
sidetracked. 

— ^ — > -■■ • ■ ■ — —r 



METRO'S 44-S2 
NEH SEASON 



Hollywood, May 4. 

Metro-Gpldwyn-Mayer at the an- 
nual sales convention in session here 
today annoiiniied for thie exhibition 
season of 1937-38 a minimum of 44 
feature pictures and a maximum of 
52. There will be in addition 194 
short subject releases. New distribu- 
tion schedules, start August 1. 

Largest star roster the company 
ever has assembled also is announced 
for appearances in the various, pro- 
ductions. . Outstanding in the new 
year will be Rudyard Kipling's 
'Kim,' co-starring Freddie Bartholo- 
mew and Robert Taylor; 'Tell It to 
the Marines,' with Jean Harlow. 
Taylor and Spencer Tracy; 'Rosali ,' 
with Eleanor Powell and Nelson 
Eddy; 'Three Comrades,' Erich Re- 
rharque's . sequel, to 'AH Quiet .on the- 
Western Front'; The Girl of the 
Golden West,' with Jeannette Mac- 
Donald and Nelson. Eddy; 'Idiot's 
Delight,' with Clark Gable,, and 
William Powell and Myrha Loy in 
'The Return of the^ Thin Man.' 

Bonuses and cash awards amount- 
ing to two weeks' salary were 
passed out by W. F. Rogers, sales 
chief at Metro,, to branch offices 
winning last billing competition. 
Two topnptch district managers also 
shared in the spoils. 

High exchanges were Chicago, 
Portland, Buffalo, Salt Lake City 
and Cleveland. Basepl on last sea- 
son's results, Charlotte, N. C, was 
named the best distribution .ispot in 
the MG exchange lineup. Gravy, 
went to. Lou Amacher, Portland, 
and Maurice Saffle, Salt Lake City, 
for cleaning up territory with only 
one account unsold. 

Thirty-two cities in the United 
States and six in Canada are repre- 
sented by 262 executives, district, and 
resident managers, salesmen, book- 
ers and others who arrived last Sun- 
day (2) for the five-day poWwoW; 
Eastern and midwestern contingent, 
including most of the home office 
delegation, arrived Sunday morning 
via special train over the Santa Fe, 

(Continued on page 61) 



There are bankers dbwtitowh who 
have been considering the possibility 
of . a financing arrangement for 
United Artists, but the indications 
are that this matter is rather re- 
mote at- the moment. Whether such 
a question shall Come up at. the an- 
nual meeting of United Artists 
shareholders is one of those open 
things with nary an official wink 
about the situation's possi Uities^ 

It. has been known in the trade 
for some time that downtown batik- 
er.s had been thinking of a plan 
whereby, to offer production coin to 
topnoteh and qualified producers se- 
lected by U.A. for association with 
this company. The amount of money 
involved was put at around $5,000,000. 
That's the sum which, was to have 
been available. 

At the same time there was talk 
about a possible public flotation on 
behalf of U.A;, and it is this angle 
which has the, trade and downtown 
circles talking ' no\fr: 

U.A.'s distribution has that appeal- 
ing angle for the money men but 
whatever does happen, and if it does, 
the action would have to get the 
approval of U.A.'s five owners. These 
are Charles Chaplin, Dougla^^ Fair- 
banks, Mary Pickford, Alexander 
Korda and SamUel Goldwyn. 

It had been mentioned that certain 
of these shareholders had been of- 
fered as much as $1,000,000 to 
$1,500,000 for their individual ends 
in U.A. 

Chapli , however, la figured not 
to dispose of his, interest regardless, 
and so far as known the other share- 
holders are 'of the Same attitude. 

United Artists once had- a produc- 
tion financing affiliate known as Art 
Cinema, which firm was headed by 
Joseph M. Schenck, until liquidated. 
What niay be contemplated in the 
minds of bankers and others regard- 
ing U.A. now looks to be something 
along this same line. 

" Selznick's Yen 
, Selznick-International is known to 
> be . interested in becoming a pro- 
ducer-owner in .United Artists Dis- 
tributing Corp., with which it now 
has a releasing arrangement, but 
whether the iriterest could be bb- 
(ContihUed on page 62) 

Police Gazette Squawkjs 
Because of 'Klondike^ 

Because Mae West was shown 
reading the Police Gazette in the 
picture, 'Klondike Annie,' Paramount 
Productions, Inc., was named defen- 
dant in an infringement action filed 
yesterday (Tuesday) in the Federal 
Court, N. Y. 

Plaintiff is the National Police 
Gazette Corp. and complai its 
sheet was exhibited without consent. 
Asks the usual Injunction, account- 
ing damages. 



Poe Out of Melody 



Holly wood. May 4, 
, Maurice Conn ■ has purchased the 
interest of Coy Poe, personal maur 
ager of Pinky Tomlih in Melody Pic- 
tures. Corp.* for a reported $12,500. 

Poe remains with Melody ag music 
department chief until third musical 
starring Tomlin is completed. 



Summary 







Dollar 


. Compainy. 


Last Week. Change. 


ApprecUiloa. 


Col. Picts. . . 


'.4 — 1",V 


X$548.450 


Col. Picts. pfd. 


-—4 


x300,000 


■Loew ..... i . 


33 y 


49J95,200 


Paramount 


14 


33,194,000 


Paramount 1st pfd. . . 


93% 


18,675.000 


Paramount 2d pfd.. . . 


iiy4 


7,233,750 


RKO 


3 


7,732,662 


20th-Fox ..... 


14: 


23,828,000 


20th-Fox pfd. 


14% 


14,548,625 


Universal pfd. 


—1 


xl26,000 


Warner . . Bros. ! . . . . 




13,419,750 


Warner Bros, 




1.296,250 


Net Total 




$168,748,787 



X Decline in value. 



J. 



VARIETY 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



Summer Comes to L A., Biz Goes 
Hooey; Ufake Up $27 jOO, 2 Sites; 
'Woman Cbases $12^ Into TiOs 



Los Angeles, May . 4. 

Siuhiher weather has set in with a 
vengeance, cutting 46wri trade, ma- 
terialijf. . Grosses generally 'are off, 
but this is to. be expected as locals 
require . f r6m four to six weekS; of 
thei ordinary siimmer weather before 
they are ready to pass up the moun- 
tains and the beaches in favor; of the 
ir-dooled picture houses. 

'Walce Up arid Live* is headed for 
a combined ^7,500 at the State- 
Chinese, while Paramount is de- 
pending largely oni a name 'stage unit 
to draw 'em in currently. Colum- 
bia's twO-a-day road show! 'Lost 
Horizohl' at the Four Star, is biegiri- 
iiih'g to f all offi in common with, rest 
of town, and three or four more 
weeks should. ' see i windupr . . ■ 

Widely i)Ublicizea ' 'Woman Chases 
Man' is faring, oke at the day-date; 
Warner hpuse& 

Estimates for This Week 
bhihese (GraUman) (2,028; 30-40- 
55-75)-^'Wake Up and Live' (20th) 
and 'Song of the City' (MG) dual; 
Biz off,- in keeping %itti re$t of town 
but at $12,000, oke. Laist Week, 
'Star Is Born* (UA). solo^ brought 
. $13,400,. several hundred better than 
anticipated. 

, Downtown (WB) (1,800: 30-40-55- 
65 )t^' Woman Chases Man' (UA) and 
'Men In Exile' (FN) dual. Sam 
Gbldwyn's hoke pic drawing average 
trade here at $5,500. Last week, 
'Call It a Day' (WB) and 'Penrod 
and Saitl'. (FN), below expectations 
at $5,200. 

Four Star (Fox) (900; 55-83-$!. 10- 
$1.65— 'Lost Horizon' (Col) (8th 
week). Starting to: fieel the strain. 
Last .weiek, seventh, satisfactory, 
$6,200. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 30-40-55- 
65)— 'Woman Chases Man' (UA) and 
*Meh In Exile' (FNX dual. Trade a 
little better on the. bouleviard .than 
at day-dater dovmtown. but at $7,000 
far. from big. Last week, 'Call It a 
Day^ (WB) and .'Penrod tqld Sam' 
(Ffj^), just a trifle below $9,800. 

Orpheiuii (Bdwy) (2.280; 25-30-35- 
40)— ^Circus Girl* (Rep ) and 'A Fam- 
ily Affair' <MGA)> dual, and vaude. 
Will be lucky to hit . $6,000, not so 
good. . 'Last weeki 'Her Hasb&nd: Iiies' 
(Par) and 'Navy Spy' (GN) i<with 
Giis Yah topping ' vaude show, fair, 
$6,400. 

PimtaieB (Pali) (2.700; 30-40-55)— 
•Woman I Love* (RKO) aud. 'Too 
Many Wives' (RKO), dual. Stepping 
out..:this week and will hit. nifty 
$8,000 on ei^t days. Last week, 
•23% Hoiu-s Leave* (GN) and 'Girl 
Loves Boy' (GN) very poor $3,600. 
. Paramoaot (Partmar) (3i595; 30- 
40-55 )-r'Racketeers in Exile' (Col) 
and stage show. Buddy ' Rogers: top.- 
ping stage, show, with Connie Bos- 
well .as-'adde'd attraction, but' hot so 
hot. at $13,600. .Last week, .third of 
*Waikiki Wedding' (Par), brought 
iBweet $14,000< . , 

RKO (2,950; 30-40-55 )r-^'Woman I 
Love' (RKO) and Too Many, Wives' 
(RKO), du3l. At $9,000 on eight 
days will be profitable* Last week, 
'23% Hours Leave' (GN) and 'Girl 
Loves Boy,'. $3,300, lowest take^jin. a 
long time and plenty of grief. 

State (Loew-Fox) (2,024; 30-40-55- 
75)— 'Wake Ud and Live' (20th) and 
'Song of City' (MG), dual. Pretty 
consistent trade here and at $15,500 
will be plenty okay. Last week, 
•Star Is Born'. (UA), solo biUed, $15,- 
400, as expected. 

united Artists- (FoXrUA) (2;i00; 
30-40-55 )^'Star Is Born' (UA) and 
'You're in the Army Now' (GB), 
dual. ■ On moveover for continued 
£rst run, with second feature added, 
should be okay at |5,500.' Last week 
'Personal Property* (MG) arid 'Mid- 
night Taxi' (20th), weak $3,200. 

Wilshirc (Foxy (2,296; 30-40-35-65) 
•Star Is Bom' (UA) and 'You're in 
the Mmy. Now* (GB) dual. . Biz 
jumping around fduf grand ibr neat 
$9,000. . Last week . ■j'Persorial Prop 
er' (M(3) and 'Midnikht Taxi (20th ), 
pretty weak $5,000. 



D'Or'say in person. ; Cjoiftbo is doirig 
bang-up biz at. $16,000 pace.. Last 
wefek, 'Ready, Willing* (WB)» with 
help of an all-girl Bowes amateur 
unit, got terrific $17,000. 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 25-35-40) 
—'Night Must Fair (MG) and. 'Way 
Out West- (MGr). Dual okay at b.6?;' 
good $7,000. Last week, 'Woman I 
Love' (RKO) and 'Song of City' 
(MG), fair $6,000. 

Paranioimf (Fox) (2,000; 25-40)— 
'Silent Barriers' (GB) and 'Step 
Lively, Jeeves' (20tn). Good enough 
$2,500. Last week, 'Head Over Heels' 
(GB).,and 'I May Live' (20th), fair 
$2,000. 




1st Runs on Broadway 

- A ... 

(Subject to Change) 



•Wike Up,' 

Ifcnver's BO, Pacer 



Denver, May 4, 
'Wake Up and Live' is the stand-r 
out currentiy, .but other first-runs 
are also okay; 

,. : Esti maties . for Thts: Week 

Aladdin (F6x) (1,500; 25-46 )^'Hit 
Parade' (Rep). Nice biz at $4,000, 
and moves to Broadway for second 
week: Last week, 'Fifty Roads* 
(20th) igot big $5,000. 

Srpadway (Fox) (1,500; 25-40)— 
*Fifty Roads' (20th), following a 
week at' the Aladdin. Fair $3,000. 
Last week, 'Good Earth'- (MG), sec- 
ond and last week of roadshow, got 
good $6,500. 

Deniiam (Cockrill) (1,500; 25-3&- 
40)— 'Love from Stranger'^ (UA). 
OI:ay- eririu*?h at $6,500. 'Last' week. 
'JrVnes^'(i'a):), fair $S;0.00. .■ 

-^ortve* (Fpx) (2,500: 25-35-50)— 
•Wake Up dhd Live* (20th> and Fifi 



San Francisco, May 4^. 
*A iStar Is Born' is drawing s\yell 
biz at th6 United Artists, , where the 
new Seiznick pictuire opened Thurs-. 
day (29), Janet Gayrjor and .Fredric 
March weJi jqced in this one," which 
is regarded t>y local crix ias the best 
tint job yet dohe by Technicolor, 
. Estimates for This Week 

Embassy (C!ohen) (1,512; 30-35)— 
'Tundra' (All-Star) and 'Follow My 
Heart' (Rep)- Getting some Marion 
TaUey . fans with the second picture 
which has been on the sheU fqr^ 
monthis waiting, for a flrst-nm book- 
ing/ but not enough.' to. .raise take 
oyer $2,000/ poor. -House. 'may go 
dark after- [.this wee!(c. -Last week, 
^Transatlantic Merry-Go-Rourid' (tJA) 
and 'Call, of, Wild', KUA), struck a 
n;^W low for the hdu$e at $1,500. 

Fox (F^Wfc) •(S.boOf 35-55)— 'Wake 
Up and Live' (20th) and 'Song of the 
qity' (MG) (2nd wk): Should do 
fine $13,000 on the boldover, which 
is better biz thah some first weeks 
in this housei Last week, same, pic, 
big $22,000. 

Geary (Lurie). (1,200; 50-75-$I- 
$1.50)-.'Lost Horiiori'/ (CJol) (10th 
wk); Reriiark^ble jstrength of .'road- 
show has iriaide it, ri^cess^ry tot 
Geary , to . poistpone. opening of 
'Brother Rat.* Last week pic got 
$7,000,. good. 

Golden Oiite (RKO) (2,850; 40-55) 
—'Woman I Love' (RKO) and vaude. 
(2nd wkr). Luckir to get so-so. $10,000 
on the 'holdover. Althodgh pic has 
good b.o. 'nahii^s -in Hopkins arid 
Muni, theme of thje story is too de 
pressing. Last week nice $16,500. 

Orpheum <F&M) (2,440; 40-55)- 
'Let's-Get Married' (Col) and 'Night 
Key' (U). Upped admish responsible 
for fair bl o. showing of $6,500. Last 
Week 'Thunder in City' (Col) and 
'California Straight Ahead' (U), dis 
appointed at $7,500^ 

Parambant (i'-WC) (2,740; 35-55 )— 
'Hit Parade' (Rep) and 'That I May 
Live' (20th), The topper On this bill 
is first Republic release to :.get break 
in a class first-run in a lorig time. 
Looks headed for fair $13,000, Last 
week, 'Good Old Soak' (MG) arid 
*Doctor"s pi ' (Par), $13,000, fair, 

St. Francis (F-WC) (1,400; 35-55) 
— 'Ciood Old Soak' (MG) arid 'Doc 
tor's Diary' (Par). Good $5,000 in 
sight for this bill, which isi move 
over from, the Paramount. Last week, 
'Marked Woman' (WB) arid 'A Fam 
ily Affair' (MG) (3d run), $4,500, 
good. 

Uhited Artists (Cohen) (1,200; 35- 
55)-r-'Star Is Born* (UA). Indicates 
reaching great $11,000. Hblding them 
out at the matinees as well as at 
riight.. Last week, 'Fire Over Eng- 
land'- id considerably less tlian $5,- 
OOO, poor. 



IE BARON'S CUNARDEB FIG 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Williarii LeBaron will produce a 
Piarahiount feature based on the his- 
tory of the Cunard-White Star Line. 

Tentative title is 'Ruler of the 
Sea.' 



Week of May 7 

Astor — 'Captains Courageous* 
(MG) (11). " 

Capitol— 'Call It Day' 
(WB). 

Central— 'That I May 
(20th) (8). 

CriterJati— 'Make Way for To- 
morrow' (Par) (8). 

Globe— *L05t Horizon' (Col) 
(lOth wk)V 

Music Hall^'A Star Is Born' 
(UA) (3d wk). 

. Farajmount — 'Interneis Cari't 
Take Money' (i*ar ) (5). 

iftialtb— 'Way Gut West' (MG) 
(3). 

Rlvoll — 'C a f e Metrbpole' 
(20th) (2d wk). . 

Roxy-r-'Wake Up and Live' 
(20th) (3d wk). 

Strand ^ 'Pr;ince arid. 
Pauper' (WB) (5). 

Week of May; 14 

Astor^'Captains Courageous' 
(MG) (2d wk). 

Capltol-r'They Gave HimT a 
Gun' (MG) (13). 

Central-^'23% Hour^ to' Live' 
(GN) (15). 

Globe — 'Lost Horizon' (Col) 
(11th wk). 

Masic Hall-^'Shall We Darice' 
(RKO) (13); , .J • V; ; 

Paramount ?jl^t^rnes ^Cari't; 
Take Money v:xJ*?r ) ^^^Jdjwk ), a 

Bialto T-^ 'Mountain - justice* 
(WB) (10). 

Bivoll 'Cafe Metropole' 
(20th) (3d wk). 

Roxy—r'Talk About the Devil' 
(GB). 

Strand. -^ 'Prince arid the 
pauper' (WB) (2d wk). 



raly Scripts Pons* Pic 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Hans Kraly is wilting the screen 
play .for 'Born. to . Sing,' starring Lily 
Pons, for RKOi 

Jesse L. Lasky produces. 



6;B^ Circus, Etc., 
M Cincy Fix; 

Bette mMm 



Cincinnati, .-May '4. . 

Beaucoup bpposish for pix .trade 
currently has.; combined: biz. of ace 
houses .at sb-so ■ level;". 'Marked 
Woriian' isi the frade pacer, chalking 
up $11,000 for the . Palace, nearly a 
grand ahead of ■ Woriian, !■ tiove*. at 
the Albee. . 'Good Old Soak' is prov- 
ing, a nifty for Keith's at $5,500 
'Soldier and Lady'.ib an egg-deposi- 
tor' for the Lyric - at $3,200.- , 'Lost 
Horizon,' on roadshow basis, is miss- 
ing out. ... . ■ ' . 

Theatre opposish over wfeek^end 
included Rfids-Pirates' ball games, 
Saturday (I) and' Sunday (2 ).■ show- 
ing of HagenT3eck'^Walla9^ ■ .cjrciis, 
first tent outfit here this sea'sbri;: and 
sell-but for .Nelsori Eddy recital Sun 
day (2) night at Ihe 2,500 seat Taft 
auditorium. For last half* Music Hall 
will have the bi«nnial May- festival,' 
ffiUS^c event of national impOrtarice. 
Estimates for This Week > 

Albee (RKO) (3,300; 35-42)— 
'Woman I Love' (RKO). Ordinary at 
$10,000. Last Week, 'Top of Towri' 
(U), $10,500, ri.s.g; 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 35-42)— 
'Personal Property' (MG) (2d j:un). 
Good $5,000/ Last week, '7th HCaVeri' 
(20th) (2d run), $3,500. poor." 

Family (RKO) (l.OQO; 15-25)— 
'Gold Racket' '(GN) and ^Breezing 
Hbme' (U). Split. Dandy $2,500. Last 
week, 'Trouble in Morocco' (Col) 
and 'She's Dangerous' (20th). split, 
$2,600, good. 

Grand (RKO) (1^200; 25-40)-> 
•Waikiki Wedding' , (Par) (5th wk). 
i^trong $2,800. Last week, $3,500, 
great. . , 

Ktm'i (Libson) (1,500; 25-40).— 
'Good Old Soak' (MG). Very good 
$5,500. Last week, 'King aiid Chorus 
Girl' (WB) (2d run), $4,000,. fair. 

Lyric (RKO) (1.400; 35-42)-^ 
'Soldier,arid Lady' (RKO). Nose div- 
ing at $3,200. Last week, 'Thurider 
in City' (Cbl)„ $5,000, okay.. 

Palace (RKO) (2,600;- 35-42)— 
'Marked WomanV(WB ). . Satisfactory 
$11>000, Last week, 'Personal Prop 
efty' (MG), $14,000, swell.: ' 

Shubert (RKO) (2,200; 55-83-$l.i0- 
$1.50 )-^'Lost Horizon' (Col). Doing 
limp biz in'first week, but will linger 
for a second. Last week, 'tjood 
Earth' (MG), concluded fortnight's 
stay for. lowly $4,500; following oke 
$9,000 on first week. 

Wallace Still Pursues 

Hollywood, May 4. • 
Frank Wallace has started action 
in Los Arigfeiles to liave:the court de-. 
terriiine his . asserted .marital status 
With Mae West. Vaude player con" 
tlnues to insist he married the flliVi 
actress 25 years ago. 

The N. Y,- courts recently tbssed 
out ' his plea for a similar ad- 
judication. 



Lombardo Rases 'Thunder' to Smash 
$31^ in Del, But Other B.O.S Dull 



No Lombard- Astaire 

Hollywood, May 4. 
Carole Lombard is unav.aUable lor 
Fred Astaire's. next. RKO starrer, due 
to other comniitments. The Gershr 
wins are again, doing the tune;. 

Another femme' ' lead ijs being 
sought ^s thQ studio wants to get 
away from: the. Astaire-Ginger Rogers 
twosome. 



HORIZOIT 
$7,5WIN 
K.CDAYS 





Kansas City,' May 4. 
Wet weekend eriiptied the ball 
park and gave pic houses .tB nice 
pliay. Tower's vaude bill, headed by 
Faith Bacbn, giving that house ex- 
cellent takings. Pic is 'Fifty Roads.' 
'Woman I Love' atvMainstereet is 
okay. 

• 'Hbrizbn' wound up . 10-day stay 
with' pbor $7,500. 

Estimates for This Weeic 
Mainstreet (RKO) (3,200; 25-40)^ 
'Woman I Love' (RKO) and March 
of Time. Although Kansias censor 
board reversed its ruling on . dele- 
tion of Sen. Wheeler's speech in Xh& 
Time release the hoiise is advertis- 
ing 'hear the speech deleted iri Kan.- 
sas.' No b.o. effect noticed. Week 
iaugurs okay $9,000. Last week 'In- 
ternes' (Par) i)lus 01sen and Jbhnsori 
stage rbvue, nice $14,000. . 

Midland (Loew) (4,000; 25-40 )t- 
'Romeo and j;uliet' (MG). Floperoo 
on roadshowirig last January at Up- 
town, pic sets- in at popular pi-iCes 
hbre to similar returns. It's ■ a rave 
in the newspapers, and ragged at the 
wicket; $7,500. poor. Last week 'Old 
Soak' (MG) ai]|d 'Song of City' (MG), 
$8,000, under average. 

Newman (Par) (1,900; 25-40)-^'In- 
terries' (Par) (2d run) moved from 
Maihstreet, with 'Melody for Two' 
(WB) added. Fair $5,000. Last week 
'Man of H(* Own* (Par) (reissue) 
and 'Crime Nobody Saw' (Par) 
$5,s00, oke. 

brphenm (2,000; 55-83-1.10-L50)— 
'Lost Horizon' (Col). Street in front 
of 'house torn up for repairs, bad 
weather and too close on heels of 
last roadshow in'this house added up 
to poor biz for this two-a-day road- 
showirig.'^ Mike Roth,. Columbia ex^: 
ploiteer. in as : house mana'ger and 
head-holder; 10 ' days wheezed tb 
$7,500. 

. Tower (Fox) (2,200; 25.-40)— 'Fifty 
-Roads' (20th) and vaude. Fine 
xday. for $13,000. Last week's inno- 
vation bf day-andrrdating 'Wake Up. 
and Live' (20th), Uptown and Tower, 
turned out rosy^ $11,500. 

Uptown (Fox) (2,020; 25-40)— 
'Wake . Up and Live' (20th) (2d 
week). Close to initial week ' at 
$4,000. Last week, $5,000, swell. 

IN!>m. ON UPBEAT; 
'SOAK' GOOD $7,500 

Indianapolis, May 4.. 
Biz is generally, satisfactpry. in the 
downtown sector this week with the 
little. Apollo's holdover session' of 
'Wake Up and Live' holdirig a 'strong 
and steady pace. 'Good Old Soak* at 
Loew's and 'Night Key' plus Fats 
Waller's unit at the vaudfilm Lyric 
are. other' centers of activity" this 
week.. 

Estimates for This Week 

Apollo (Fouirth; Ave) (1,100; 25-40) 
"Wake Up arid Livie' . (20th) (2d wk). 
Will hit dandy $6,000/ Same piclure 
last week did $9,000 in its ^ opening 
stanza, plerity of coin at this spot. 

Circle (Monarch) (2,800; 25^40)— 
'Wbiri'an I LoveV (RKO)vand 'Her 
IJuSband Lies' (Par); Former pic 
plugged with national assist ads, but 
gross Will, be just, riioderate $5,000. 
Last week dual of 'Internes Can't 
Take Money' (Par) and 'You're iri. 
Armv Now' (GB), $5,000, riioderr/, 

Indiana ( Uman). (3,100; 25-40)^ 
'Smashiri.fl! Vice Trust' (.Capitol). Sex 
picture given circus-.v campaign arid 
opened big, but: faded after bein?.* 
lambasted by critics.' Gross w.iK 
tbuch $5,500, fair. . Last wieek house 
was used for- concerts by muisic 
•clu^i 

Loew's (Loew's) (2,600; . 25-40)— 
'Good Old Soak' (MG) and 'Elephant 
Boy' (UA). Former given all atten- 
tion, good $7,500^ Last week; 'Romeo 
and .tuliet' (MG) a disapbointment 
at $5,000. mild; . . 

Lyric (Olson) (2,000; 25-30-40)— 
'Ni.-'ht ' Key' (U ) and Fats Waller 
barid on stage. Latter half of - bill 
given credit for pulling- natives, intb 
a tune of $10,000, sweet. Last week. 
'Mountain Justice' (WB) arid 'Stars 
and Stripes' on stage took $9,800. 
.good 



Detroit, May 4. 
Doesn't look like vaudeville ' 
strictly dead yet With a weakie, 
"Thunder in the City,' as support, 
Guy Lombardo band is setting the 
town afire at the Fox this week; 
surpassing his record here three 
years ago. Otherwise.town is over- 
stocked with poor iproduct arid 'con- 
tinues: in dbldrums. 

Estimates for This Week 
Adams (Balaban) (1,700; 25-40)—' 
'Night Key' (U) plus 'You're in the 
Army' (GB), dual. Average at. $5,500. 
Iwist Week, 'Top of Town' (U) (2d 
wk) plus 'Girl Overboard' (U), 
formei: film being moved here froin 
Fox, fair $5,600. 

Cass (Indie). (1,400; $1.65 top)-^. 
'Good Earth' (MG) (2d wk). Biz 
holding up. Cvot nice $.ll;SOO in fir^ 
five days and should . itick at least 
tour weeksv 

Downtown (Krim) (2,800; 40r65) — 
•polygamy' (Unusual) and 'Silks and 
Saddles' (Victory), dual. Oke at 
$5,000. Last week, '.CapUve of Nazi 
(aermany' (Indie), got around $3,500y 
oke. 

Fox. ie) (5,000; 30-40-65)^ 
'TJIhunder: in City' (Gbl) with Guy 
lombardo band Oh stage. Band sole 
draw, and lUehty at $31,500, surpass- 
ing -Lombardb's. previous marlt here 
three years agOi Lafet week, 'Wake 
Up and Live' (20th), plus Benny 
Meroff band on stage, nifty $28,000. 

Madison (United Detroit) (2i,00O: 
30-40-65)— .'Lov? frorii Stranger' 
(Trafalgar). Fair $5,300 and; won't 
hold. Light $5,000 last stanza on 
'Woman I Lbve' (RKO), riioved here 
from Michigiani' . 

Michigan (United Detroit) (4,000; 
30-40-65)—' Internes Can't Take 
Money' (Par) ^ind California Col- 
legians topping vaude. " Weak flicker 
will be lucky to . do $16,000; Last. 
Week,- 'Persorial Property (MG) C2d 
wk.) and 'On the Levee' unit. Ficker 
riioved' here from UA, an experiment 
duet to ic shortage, . got $18,^00, 
light. 

State (United Detroit) (3,000; 25- 
40)— 'Murder Goes to College' (Par ) 
plus 'Her Husband's' Secretary' 
(FN), dual. Normal - $7,900. Last 
week, 'King and Chorus Girl' (WB) 
(2d wk): and 'Don't Tell the Wife* 
(RKO), good $8,000. 

Uhited Artists (United Detroit) 
(2,000; 3,0-40-65)— 'Night Must Fall' 
(MG). Oke $12,DOO. Last week 'Old 
So^k' (MG), weak $7,000. 

Nags the niiDg in ryflle; 
1)ld Soak' Okay at $7,^ 

Louisville, !May 4. 

Spring race meet at Churchill 
Downs, which opened Saturday (1) 
currently copping interest of na- 
tives and visitors. Climax will be 
Kentucky Derby Saturday (8). and 
in meantime, attention is centering 
on form sheets rather than pix. " 
Estimates for This Week 

Brown (Fourth AvOi-Loew's) 
(1,500)— 'Personal Property' (MG) 
and 'Motor Madness' (Col), dual. Tay- 
lorrHarlow opus moved over from 
Loew's State, and 'Madness' set in as 
secondary film. Headed- for $2,800, 
fair. Last week, 'Good Earth' (MG), 
at roadsihow prices, accounted for 
mild $5,200. 

Kentncky (Switow) (900; 15-25)— 
'Black Legion' (WB) and 'Holy Ter- 
I'or' (20th), dual, splitting with 'Fair 
Warning' (20th) and 'Outcast' .(Pir ). 
dual. Fair enough at $2,100. . Last 
week, 'Lloyds* (20th) and 'Off to 
Races' (20th), dual, splitting with: 
'Secretary! (Col), arid 'Wings of 
Mbrrti '. (20thi, dual, average $2,i00, 

Loew's State (3,000; 15^25-40)— 
'Old Soak' (MG) iarid 'Women of 
Glamour* (Col), dual. Beery faris; 
plentiful arid cticks ftiellOw in their 
praise; pointing to good $7,500. Last 
week, 'Hit Parade' (Rep) and 'Killer 
at Large' (Cbl), dual, pulled nice 
$6,500. 

Mary Anderson (Libson) (1,000; 
15-25r40)— 'Mbuntairi Justice' : ( WB ). 
Hillbilly pic not pai-ticularly forte 
and will be fortunate to grab $3,400, 
bclov/ average. Last week, 'Call It 
Day' (WB), .ace high With, cricks 
but a b.o. weakie;' light $3,200. 

Ohio. (Settos) (900; 15)— 'Mafried 
a Doctor' (WB) iand '13 Hours' (Par), 
dital, splitting with 'Louis Pasteur' 
(WB) and 'Times Square Playboy' 
•( WE). ; Will take, ample $1,700- Last 
wee!:. .'Anythirig Goes' (Par) and 
'Poripy' (Par), dual, splitting 
'Mi.nions in AirV (Par) and 'Bri 
X..'"--'- (FN), dual, hit 
$1,500. 

Rialto (Fourth Ave.) (3,000; 15-25- 
40)— 'Woriicn I Love' (RKO) and 
'Jeevec' (20th). dual. Fair $6,000, 
Last, weak. 'Wal:e Up and Live' 
(20i,h) arid March' of Time, got 
C9,500, tro;-.' -.ndOu.T. , 

Stramr (Fourth Ave. ) (1,500; 15- 
25-'10)— 'Wake Uo and Live' (20lh) 
and March of "rime. Moved, over 
froQi Rialto and looks sft to cop 
good $3:600. Last -week, 'Plough and 
Stars' (RKO) and 'Don't Tell Wife 
(RKO), dual, mild $3,400. 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



PkcTURE GROSSES 



VARIETr 



Fix Don t Mix with Heavy Chi Rain; 
Astaire-Rogers, $30M Strong Biz, 
HoMst Nude Helps Robinson, 15G 



NICE B.O. IN B'KLYN 



Chicago, May 4. 
Heavy raiins washed out the open- 
ings of most theatres' Friday (30); 
Only the Paliace got aSvay with a fair 
weather break due' to the fact that 
it started 'Shall We Diance' one day 
ahead schedule, shioivihg that 
flicker in on Thursday (29): 

However, there is a much' better 
- aiira of box office strength in the 
loop currently, than last week. 
United Artists gets an all-time rec- 
ord- when 'May time' . closes Friday 
(7) after a six-week run, making the, 
■ TviacDohald'^Eddy flicker the lone-run 
• record holder for the house. Pre- 
vious long stay was by 'San Fran- 
cisco' (MG), which Went live weeks 
and one day. 
At the Palace, 'Shall We Dance' is 
gured for four weeks at least on its 
early pace.: It's the first genuine 
box office session ho.use has had in 
i)e?rly three months. 

'yiTaikiki Wedding' remains in the 
-idop, now in its sixth week at the 
tiny Ga^ricki 'Wake lip aind Live' 
held up to a remarkable second week 
gross at the fioosevelt and also holds 
over. Erlanger returns to roadshow. 
' flickers Sunday (9), when " 'Captains 
Courageous' (MG) comes in. 
Estiniates for This Week 
Apollo (B&K) (1,200; 35-45-55-65- 
7j)_*king and Chorus Girl' (WB). 
Back in loop afteir previous run at 
Chicago. Okay at $6,000. Last week, 
'Sevienth Jieaven' (20th) finished 
fortnight to satisfying $5,800. 

Chicago (BMC) (3.400; 35-55;75)— 
, ♦C:all It Day' (WB) and Casino Par- 
' iSi^H unit on stage. Pace is building 
bw jonly looks good for $25,000. 
Laftt" week, 'Internes' (Par) and 
stage show, $27,000, oke. 
Garrlek (B&K) (900; 35-45-65-75) 
Waikiki* (Par). In its sixth loop 
week and ^till . powerful enough at 
the wickets. Its $5,000 currently is a 
ice mark after $5,000 last week. 
Oriental (B&K) (3.200; 35-45-55-65) 
-^'Sortg of City (MG) yanked aftei: 
first day: replaced with Thunder in 
City' (Col), plus 'Hollywood In- 
genues' unit with. Corlnne. Nudie 
Cdrinne getting half . the billing for 
the stage and accounting for $15,000,' 
fair, hist week. '5(^ Roads' (20th): 
and vaude .good $18,900. 

Palace (RKO) (2,600; 35-55-65-75) 
— 'ShaU We Dance* (RKO) and 
Vaude.' 'Strong pic and vaude line-. 
. up, with the Astdire-Rogers flicker 
figured for . holdover easily. Best , 
money this house has ogled in a long, 
■ long time at $30,000 for first seven 
diys. Last week, 'Love Is Young' 
. (U) and vaude, lasted only six days 
and yanked to sad $10,100. 

Boo8ev«lt (B&K) (1.500: 35-55-65- 
75)~'Wake Up' (20th) (3d week). 
Holding up well; likely to get good 
: $11,500 ciirrentiy. Last week, second, 
sock $16,000, 

Siafe^Lake (Jones) (2,700; 20-30-. 
40-55)— 'Espionage' (MG) and vaude. 
- House holds to steady gross "week 
after week, and again running to 
neat profits with $13,000. Last week, 
'Doctor's Diary' (WB), fine $13,800. 

United Artists (B&K-MCJ) (1,700: 
35-55-65-75)— 'May time' (MG) (6th 
<nr d final Week ) . Six weeks makes 
this the record long-run flicker for 
th-! house. Touched $11,900 last week, 
excellent, and will finish to over 
Sin.ooo current, week.. Last week, 
filth, got $11,900. 'Star Is Born' (UA) 
in Sat. (8). 

Erlan.?er (1.200; 55-83-$t.l0-$1.65) 
--'Ciaptains Coutageious' (MCJ). In 
Sunday (9) for two-a-day run. 

Heaven' N. G. 4C, Port.; 
Fair Big $7,500 

Portland, Ore,, May 4. 
^Leadihg houses are in thie money 
this week with strong product. 'Night 
Must Pair is. a wow at Piarker's UA. 
K-ing and Chorus Girl' answering 
to several weeks build-up bally for 
tna_ Paramount. 

^ Seventh. Heaven^ at the Orpheum, 
nowever, is;; n.g. at . the ,b.o, 

stimates for this Week 
Broadway (Parkier) (2,0d0; 30-40) 
--Good Old Soak' (MG) and 'Song 
. Of City' (MG). . Answering to ex- 
Pioitatiqn for good $7,500. and may 
nold. Last week, 'Top of Town* (U) 
ana 'Husband's Secretary' (WB). 
$9,000^^ days altogetheir for good 

' QA%.y^a''i" (Parker-Evergreen ) ( 1,400; 
f^-jO 'May time' (MG) (6th wk.). 
patting fair $2,000. Fifth week, $2,200. 
«<ii ^^^'^^ weeks piled up terrific 

.«9«Pheuin (Hamrick - Evergreen) 
'SeventhHeaven' (20th) 
and Off to Races' .(20th). Combo do- 
ing pootly; $4,000 best in sight. Last 
i^eek. 'Quality. Street' (RKO) and 
^ancy Steele'. (20th), closed with 
oidinary $4,700. 
paramount (Hamrick-EVergreen) 



(3.000; 30-40) 'King arid Chorus Girr 
(WB) and 'Man Who Found Him- 
self (RKO)., Getting results on ter- 
rific pre-release campaign for good 
$7,000, Last week, 'Waikiki Wedding' 
(Par) and 'Time Out for Romance' 
(20th) .(2d wk.)/gobd enough $4,800. 

United Artists (Parker) (1,000; 30- 
40) 'Night Must Fall' (MG). Looks 
like a big winner, for this'hOuse arid 
should hold, first week doing great 
$7,500. Last week, 'Romeo and 
Juliet' (MG). collected raves but no 
qOin; poor $4,400;. 




Baltimore, May .4. 

Biz on upgrade here in spite of 
holdovers and daytirrie opposish from, 
races.. Swell line-up of film fare 
putting hypo into b.o.'s. 

Town's trade top being hit by 
combo Hipp with 'Shall We Dance?' 
(RKO) and Happy Fel ton's orch on 
stage, combo indicating a very hey- 
hey $19,000, which means sure, hold- 
over. Loew's Century, returning , to 
flesh to put on. fifth annual edition 
of 'Okay Baltimore- revue of locals, 
in tie-up with local News-Post, added 
to 'Hit Parade' (Rep), getting a fair 
play at $12,500.. 

Estimates for This Week 

Cehtary (Loew's-UA) . (3.000; 15- 
25-35-40-55)— 'Hit Parade' (Rep) and 
fifth annual '.Okay Baltimore' local 
revue sponsored by local Hearst 
papers. . Maintaining steady pace for 
fair $12,500. Last week, 'History 
Made at Night' (UA), $6;300,. weak. 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,300; 
15 -25 - 35 - 40- 55- 66) — 'Shall We 
Dance?' (RKO) with Happy Felton's. 
brch on. stage.' . Looks likd very big 
$19,000 and h.o. Last week, 'We're 
on Jury' (RKO) and Jan Garber's 
orch, disappointing at . $10,6001 

Keith's (Schanberger) (2.500; 15- 
25-30-35-40-55) —„* Waikiki Wedding' 
(Par) (3d week). Going strong, in- 
dicating profitable $7,800, Last week, 
second,, okay $10,200' following a 
bang-up opening session of $13,100. 

Maryland (McLaughlin) (1,570; 55- 
83-1.10-1.50)— 'Lost Horizon' (Col) 
(2d . week). Final session of two- 
week road ' show run. Got so-rso 
$7,300 in first. . 

New (Mechanic) (1,400; 15-25-30- 
40-55)— 'Wake Up and Live' (20th) 
(2d week). Holding up at merry 
p;ace for second week, which ends 
tomorrow (Wed,), tO $7,200, ample 
profit for this house. Will undoubt- 
edly go into third stanza. Got swell 
$10,000 first week. 

Stanley (WB) (3,450; 15-25-35-40- 
55)— 'Marked Woman' (WB) (2d 
week). Holding." excellent start to 
$8,000, which is nice going for this 
deluxeh Last week a pleasing $10,-^ 
700. 



/Molhents' dual $14^00; 'Swing High' 
H. O. Okay 

Brooklyn, May 

City of Churches was .certainly 
made aware of show biz >past .few 
days, what with burlesk ci'usade on 
page one of all local sheets, Ringling 
circus paper plastered: all over toWn 
(show due May 10), WPA musical 
at Majestic theatr , concessionaires 
/reopening Coney^ and better than 
average flicker fare on deluxei' 
screens in downtowh area. 

Estiniates for This Week 

Albee (2,500; 2i5-35-55)— 'Our Mo- 
ments' (U.) and 'Soldier and Lady' 
(RKO).' Brace will get satisfactory 
$14,500. Last week, 'Top of Town' 
(U) and 'Quality Street' (RKO), 
$16,000, good. 

Fox (4,000; 25-35-55)— 'Song of 
City' (MG) and 'Night Key' (U). 
Weak $13,000 at best. Last week, 
'Silent Bai-riers' (GB) and 'Crime 
Nobody Saw' (20th), $15^000, ice. ■ 

Met (2,400; 25-35-55)— 'Personal 
Property' (MG) and 'Girl Over- 
board' (U). Good $15,500.. Last 
. week 'History Made at Night' (UA) 
and 'Breezing Home' (U) $14,000, 
Olcay. 

Paramount (4,000; 25-35-55)— 
*Swing High' (Par) and 'Racketeer's 
in Exile! (Col) (2nd week).. Twin- 
ners holding up well, in second and 
last stanza; $15,000 in view. Last 
week, fine $21,000., 

Strand (2,000; 25-35-50)— 'Motoi- 
Madness' (Col) and 'Men ;in Exile! 
(WB). Pair setting okay $7,000. 
Last weeki 'House of Secrets' (Prin) 
and 'Girl Loves Boy' (GN), $7,500, 
good.- 



BUFF. BIZ BLAH; 
'ROMEO' FAIR 

$8,500 



Buffalo, May 4. 
pic wickets are sluggish currently; 
Warrii weather and daylight saving 
are the b.o. deterrents. 

Estimates for This Week. 

Buffalo (Shea) (3,600; 30-40-55)— 
'History Made Night' (UA ). Getting 
top gross for the week, but. not above 
average, $11,000. Last week, 'Wake 
Up and Live' (20th), strong $17,500. 

Century (Shea) (3,400; 25-35) ^ 
'Murder Goes to College' (Par) and 
'Park Avenue Logger' (RKO). Looks 
like another, week of under $7.000, 
weak. Last week, 'Woman Wise' 
(20th) and 'Crime Nobody Saw' 
(Par), $6,000, poor. 
. Great Lakes (Shea) (3,600; 30-50) 
—'Romeo and Juliet' (MG). Indica- 
tions point to only fair $8,500. Last 
week, 'Woman I Love' (RKO), some- 
what better than expected, but still 
so-so, $8,000. 

Hipp (Shea) (2,400; 25-40)— 'Wake 
Up' (20th) (2nd week). Here for 
second stanza and looks like very 
nice $7,500. Last week, 'Soldier and 
Lady' (RKO) and 'Off to Races' 
(20th). $4,500, poor. 

Lafayette (Ind.) (3,400; 25-35) 
•Silent Baririers' (GB) and JHappy 
Go Lucky' (Rep). Dual looks to do 
poor $5,000. Last week, 'Promise to 
Pay' (Col) and 'Let's Get Married' 
(Col), very nice $8,000. 



Wash. Biz Gone With Cherry Blosspms; 
lake Fair 16G; 'Properly,' Vaude, 25G 



Washi May 
With . cherry -blossoms arid tourists 
gone, theatre biz ■ is staggering. 
'.Keith's taking : it on the chin 
through being Unable to. get print 
of 'Shall We Dance' until today 
(Tuesday) nd having to hold 
'Woman 1 Love' four and half extra 
days. Pic was good for seven, but 
no more. 'Personal Property' is the 
easy winner, with 'Wake Up and 
Live.' which had critics spouting 
adjectives, for week following pre- 
view, taking far from big. gross. 
Estimates for 'This Week 

Capitol (Loew) (3,424; 25-35-60)— 
'Personal Property' (MG) and vaude. 
Art Shaw's band interesting some 
jam fans, but it's Harlow and "raylor 
that are getting 'em for sock $2o,0Q0; 
Last week. 'Hit Parade' (Rep) and 
Leonore Ulric ,on stage, took light 
$17 000 

Columbia (Loew) (1,583; 25-40)— 
•Chan at Olympics' (20th),. Should 
get iEair $4-,500. Last week, .'May- 
time' (MiG) (2d run), collected swell 
$5„'>00 in fourth downtown week. 

Earle (WB) (2,244; 25-35-40-60- 
70)— 'Mountain Justice' (WB) and 
vaude. Dames no like title even 
with Roger Pryor on stage. Won t 



better light $12,500 against opposi 
tion. Last Week, ''Internes^ (Par) 
arid Horace Heidt band, clinibed 
over estimates to; big $21,500, 

Keith's (RKO) (1,830; 25-35-60)— 
'Woman I Love' (RKO*) Forced 
holdover will give, brutal . $2,000 for 
four and half days. Last week 
same pic got . good $10,000, 'Shall 
We Darice' (RKO) opened today 
.(Tuesday). 

Met (WB) (1,853; 25-40)— 'Thunder 
in City' (GB). Headed for nice 
$6,500. Last week, 'Marked Wonian 
(WB) (2d run), good $6,000. 

Palace (WB) (2,363; 25-35-60 )— 
'Wake Up and Li. e' (20th). Critics 
giggle-crazy, but paying '■customers 
won't boost it over fair $16,000. Last 
week, 'Waikiki Wedding' (Par) (2d 
week), good $10,000. 

Rialto (Indie) (1,100; 25-30-40-55) 
—'Private Worlds' (Par) and 'If I 
Had. a Million' (Par; (revivals) 
Hoping for average $2,G00. Last 
week, 'Star of Midnight' (RKO) and 
'Lost Patrol* (RKO) (revivals) 
slipped to same figure, 

Belasco (1,100; 25-35-55)— 'Ecstasy 
(Cummings) (2d run). Third week 
Of return rriay milk curious for weak 
$1,000. Last week same pic got! fair 
$1,500. .^"i 



'Star Is Bom 
Wk, lake Up 
'Metropole 







on 2d 
Best on B ' 





Only, four" picfijres obtained road- 
way first runs this week, biit hone' of 
them is in the sriiash class. The hold- 
overs, led by 'Star Is Born,' at the 
Music Hall, and 'Wake Up and Live.* 
iat the Roxy, are getting the bulk of 
a waning spring play. 

Best of the new pictures is 'Cafe 
Metropole,' which alighted at the 
Rivoli Wednesday (28). arid, on its 
first week is good at $30,000, holding. 
'Night Must Fall,' robstlng at the 
Capitol, isn't doing as. well and will 
iave to be satisfied, with only about 
$22,000. While in gross the figures 
do not look high, 'Way Out West' 
will be doing over average at the 
Rialto at around $9,000 . arid thus 
rates good for Arthur Mayer's isniall- 
seater. Other new one is 'We. HaVe 
Our Moments,'^ which is linked on a 
double bill at the Palace With 'Sol- 
dier and Lady' on second run. House 
Won't do $7,000 on six days, poor. 

Both 'Wake Up' and 'Star Is Born' 
are very .strong on theljp holdbvers 
and. go a third, week, ; 'Star.' which 
got $102,000 the first Week, is no 
doubt benefiting, from much word of 
mouth in: yieW of a pace that i.s: so 
close to that of the first seven days 
hat this week (2d) Will be $100,000. 
With the bicture topping the control 
figure of $64,000 first four day,s on its 
second week, the Miisic Hall is 
obliged to hold it over for another 
seven days, 'Wake Up' is equall.v 
potent at the Roxy. where it got 
$61,700 last week (1st) and on the 
holdover will be very steady' at 
$48,000. 

Third week for 'Swing High, Swing 
Low' and Louis Arriistrong biahd at 
the Paramount good at $24,000. New 
show today (Wed.) is 'Internes Can't 
Take Money' and the Xavier Cugat- 
Dixieland bands plus Mary Sriiall. 



HUB^ BUST BIZ 
HOMEO; TWO 
SP6b, 25G ' 



Boston, May 
Fairly tepid week all around, 
with considerable interest In the 
pop price opening of 'ROmeo and 
Juliet' at the two Loew stands. Just 
so-so trade for the latter, however. 
Scollay is proportionately better off 
than other houses with 'King and 
Chorus Girl' and 'Marked Woman' 
on dual bill. 

Estimates for This Week 
Boston (RKO) (3,000; 25-40-55)— 
'Hit Parade' (Rep) and 'Outcasts 
Poker Flat' (RKO)* dual. Opening 
straight film bill for. summer season 
is very pleasing at $10,000 gait. Last 
week nice $19,700 for 'Breezing 
Home* (U) and stage show. 

Fenway (M «e P) (1,400; 25-35-40- 
50)— '50 Roads td; Town' (20th) and 
'Silent Barriers' (GB), dual. Got a 
lot of whoc p-de-doop advance pub- 
liqity push, but trade only iair $5,000. 
Last week, 'King of Gamblers' (Par) 
and 'Melody for 2' (WB), dual, $4,500, 
off, ' 

Keith : Memorial (RKO ) (2,000; 25* 
40-55)— 'Woh:ian I Love' (RKO) and 
'Have Out- Moments' (U), dual. H, O. 
for four days will hit around- $9,000. 
oke. Wednesday (5) brings in 'Shall 
We Dance' (RKO) for run, solo. 
First week of 'Woman I Love' and 
'Moments' very sood $22,000, 

Metropolitan (M & P) (4.300; 35 
55-75)— 'Mountain Justice' (WB) and 
stage, show. Ve -^* weak at. $15,000, 
Last week, 'Wawe Up and L've' 
(20th) and stage show, wow $29,000, 
Orpheum (Loew) (2,900: 25-3.S-40- 
50 )— 'RorirteO and Juliet' (MG). Pale 
!>> 13,000 indicated. Last Week, second 
for 'Personal Property' (MG) and 
'Devil's Playground' (Col), dual. 
$10,500, fair. 

Paramount (M & P) (1,800: 25-35. 
55)— '50 Roads to Town' (20th) and 
'Silent Barriers' (GB); dual. So^so 
$7,000, Last week, 'King of Garii 
blci-s' (Par) and 'Melody for 2* (WB). 
dual, $7,000. ri. ft. 

Shubert (COl) (1.590; 55-85-$1.10- 
$1.65)— 'Lost Horizon^ UCol): (iih 
week). Roadshow is slumpi ire 
week $8,000. n. s, R. 
: Scollay (M & P) (2.700: 25-35-40 
50)— 'King and Chorus Girl' (WB) 
and 'Marked Woman' (WB) .(2d run) 
Veiv favorable here at $7,800, Last 
wsek, 'Waikiki Weddirt»»' (Par) (3c 
run) and 'Circus Girl* (Rep) (1st 
run), double. $6,000. poor. 

State (Loew) (3.300: ?.5-35-40-50)— 
'Romeo and HiiH^t' (MG), Aiminc? 
at medium $12,000, Getting better 
olay from liotown trade than from 
shonoers. in OrDhfJum district. Last 
week, h, b, of 'Personal Property' 
(MG)and 'Devil's Playground' (Col). 
$9,000, fair. 



•Thunder in the City' showed 
nice istrength at the Critetion the 
first week, close to $18,000, but on 
ioldover is petering. It. will be re- 
tairicd nine days for -about $10,000 oh 
that period, with 'Make Way for To- 
morrow' opening, Saturday riiornirig 
(8). Paramount is putting plenty of 
advertising , money behind this one, 
spending between $12,000 arid $15,000. 
'Marked Woman,' on the final Ave 
days of a. fourth week, about $7,000, 
hot bad, and .tonight (Wed.) gives 
way td 'Prince and PaupeT;' Nice 
campaign behlrid this one. 

•Good Earth' goes out of the Astor 
Monday night (10), after 13V2 weeks, 
while 'Lost Horizon' will, be leaving 
the Globe very shortly now. It is ex- 
pected. Last week (13th ) for 'Earth* 
showed considerable of a dip to 
$9,000, while 'Horizon' also felt the 
pressure of an extended run and 
ispring weather, its. ninth Week being 
also reported at. arourid ^9,000. '(jap- 
talris Courageous' opens on a tWo-a- 
day run at the Astor the night of 
May 12, while the G16be,\ on exiting 
of 'Horizon,! will return to a grind 
policy under operation- of Harrv 
Brandt. A Warner picture, 'Call It 
a Day.' coriies into -the Cap tomor- 
row (Thurs.). 

Estimates for This Week 
Astor (l,6i2; 55-$i:l0-$1.65-$2.20) 
—•Earth' (MG) >(14th week). Got 
$9,000 last week '(13th) and closes 
down Monday night (10) after profit- 
able run of 13'/^ wbekst 'Captains 
Courageous' (MQ) opens on a twice- 
daily engagement 'Tuesday evening 
(It). 

Capitol (4,620; 25-35-55-85^$1.25)-^ 
•Night Must Fair (MG). Unable to 
raise a gallop, not more than $22,000, 
disappointing. Last week 'Good Old 
Soak' passed but completely, only 
$12,000. 

Criterion (1,662; 25-40-55 )— 'Thun- 
der In City' (Col) (2d week). Got 
nearly $18,000 first week, good, and 
gbes nine more days, but weakening ' 
considerably, bnly about $10,000 for 
the nine days. 'Make Way for To- 
morrow' . (Par) opens Saturday 
morning (8), backed by a heavy ad- 
vertising campaign. 

Globe (1,274; 55-$1.10-$1.65-$2.20) 
-^'LOst Horizon' (Col) (l6th week). 
Slowing up noticeably, around $9,000 ' 
last week (0th) and probably out in 
two or three weeks. House then, re- 
verts to a grind policy undex* direc- 
tion of Harry Brandt, owner. 

Palace (1,700; 25-35-55) —'That 
Man's Here Again* (WB) (1st riin) 
and 'The Woman I LOve' (RKO) 
(2d fun), dualed, open today (Wed.) 
after six days of 'Soldier and Lady' 
(RKO) (2d run) and 'We Have Our 
Moments' (U) (1st run). This brace 
not. very braCin?. under $7,000, 
poor. Last week 'King and Choirus 
Girl' (WB) and 'Quality Street' 
(RKO), both 2d run, dualed, $9;000. 

Paramount (3,664;. 25-35-55-85-90) 
—'Swing, High' (Par) and Loiils 
Armstrong orchestra, in pit (3d 
week). Did swell throughout the 
21rday run, getting $24,000 final (3d) 
week, ending last night (Tues,), for 
total on three weeks' run of $114,000, 
which isn't hay. Second week was 
$33,500. 'Internes Can't Take Money' 
(Par) and Xavier Cugat arid Dixie- 
land Jazz bands open today (Wed.). 

Radio City Music Hall (5,980: 40- 
00-85-99-$l,05)-^'Star Is Born' (UA) 
and stage show (2d week). One of 
the Outstanding spring smashes, With 
business so strong it will run to 
$100,000 this week (2d), forcing pic- 
ture to go a third. This is mighty 
close to the $102,000 tabbed the first 
week. Only six pictures previously 
in history of Music Hall, have held 
three weeks. 

Rialto (750; 25-40-55)— 'Way Out 
West' (MG), Laurel and Hardy al- 
ways good here and their latest is 
no exception, maiybe $9,000 ort week.. 
Ld.st week 'Outcasts ol Poker = Flat* 
(RKO)* $7,000, under average, but 
profit. 

Rivoli (2,092; 25-55-75-85-99)— 
'Cafe, Metropole' (20th). At $30,000 
first week ending last night CTues,), 
good takings and holds. Final foUr 
days on second week of 'Love, frorii 
Stranger' (UA) brutal, under $6,000. 

,Roxy (5,030; 25-45-55-75 )r-' Wake 
Up' (20th) and stage show (2d week). 
A packer-inner and very strorig on 
the holdover (2d) week at $40i000 
after first seven .days of $61,700, 
making picture another big 20th-Fox 
i,'roh;ijev this house was fortunate 
enough to get. Goes a third week, 
with 'Talk of the Devil* (GB) td 
follow. 

Strand (2.707; 25-55-75) .-'Marked 
Woman' (WB) (4th Week). Final 
Ave days . on fourth Week ending 
tonight (Wied.), about $7,000. not bad 
this far ddwri on run. Third wieek 
."^n.OOO, good 'Prince and Pauper* 
(WB) operis toniijht (Wed,). 

State (3.450: 35-55-75)— 'History Is 
Made at Ni.Rht' (UA) (2d run) and 
vaude headed by Mitchell . and 
Durant and Tito Guizai:. Btisiness 
off a ways, only about $22,000. Last 
week 'Maytimc' (MG) (2d run) and 
Cab Calloway band, $30,000, good. 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, Mny 5, 1937 



VdK Uf),' Good IIG, Amoi^i Muuie s 
ftigher B. Ol's; 'History Fair $(^ 




Minneapolis, May 4. 

Due t6 stronger box-bff ice aminu- 
nitioni grosses ;are headiiig upward 
c urrfen tly after several weeks of 
rockrbottom takings. 'Wake Up and 
Live;' in particular, . is ..a patronage 
rouser, and promises to bring back 
iprosperity to the huge, Minnesota, 
wliich has been deep , in the dumps 
for a fortnight. 

Estimaies for Tbis Wecik 

Aster (Publix-Singer) (900; 15-25) 
— ^'Espionage' (MG) and 'Too Many 
Wives' (RKO), dual, split with 
•Parole Racket' (Col) and 'Man Found 
Himself ' (RKO), dual. Headed for 
gbod $1,200. Liast week, 'Great 
O'Malley' (WB) and 'Sea Devils' 
(RKO) (2d runs), split with 'China 
Pasisage' (RKO) and 'Park Ave. 
Logger' (RKO), dual first runs,- 
$li000, fair. 

Century (Publix-Singer) (1,600; 25- 
35-40) 'Call It Day' (WB), Coimedy 
well liked, and should, build. Looks 
like nice $4,500. Last week,.'Internes' 
(Par), $5,000, pretty good; 

Minnesota (Publix-Singer) (4,200; 
25-35-55 )—:'Wak(e Up and Live' (20th ). 
Lots of ballyhoo and bang-up. ex- 
ploitation, picture's merits aloiig 
with cast names stirring up trade. 
Pretty good start, and should build. 
Heiaded for g6o4 $11>000. Last week, 
'Persohal Property' (MG); $7,000, 
poor. 

Orpheum (Publix-Smger) (2,890; 
25-35-40 ) .— 'History Made Night' 
(UA). This; one apparently better 
box- ice thaii recent film offerings 
at this spot. Fair $6,000. in prospect. 
Last week, 'Woman I Love' (RKO), 
$5,000. poor. 

State (Publix-Singer) (2,300; 25- 
40)~'Nobody?s Baby' (MG) and 
♦Crack-Up" (20th), dual. Considerr 
ing: grade of pictures, twin bill per- 
forming isatisfactorily, fair $3,000. 
Last week, *No Man of Own' (Par) 
(reissue) and 'Meade's Woman' (Par), 
dual, $4,000. good. 

Time (Berger) (290; 15-25)— 'Bar- 
bary Coast' (FN) (reissue). Poor 
$700 indicated. . Last wi^iek, 'Marines 
Coming' (Rep ), $800, light 

Uptown (Publix) (1»200; 25-35) 
•Swing High' (Pat). First habe 
showing en route to good $3,200. 
Last week, . 'Mrs. Cheyney' (MG), 
$3,500,. good. 

World (StelTes) (350; 25.^35-40-50) 
—'Nine Days a Queen' (UA). Ap- 
pealing to limited -class trade. Mild 
$1,200. indicated; Last week, 'Mir- 
acles' (UA), $1,000, light. 

DPPED SCALES NEGATE 
SPRING'S DENT IN PROV. 

Providence, May 4. 
Fiirst week of real spring weather 
keeping a lot of patrons outdoors, 
but at that the exhibitbrs are going 
to be all right because of a surprise 
boost Ih^rices among the first-run 
stands. Town now has 50c. top, in- 
cluding tax. Boost was not advei'- 
tised beforehand, natives getting it 
cold.' 

All things considered, the film fare 
is okaiy. Best bet of week seems to 
be 'Star Is, B6rn' at Loew's on a 
dualer: Majestic second with *Wake 
Up and Live' also ori a diialen Nar 
ragansett Track now open and very 
likely to draw biz away from the 
atres, , 

Estimates for "This W^ek 

Fay's (2,000; 25r35-50)— 'That ^ 
May Live' (20th) and vaude. Should 
be well up around $8,000, oke. Last 
wieek, 'What Price Vengeance' (U) 
arid Uncle Ezra Stebbins* 'Barn 
Dance Frolic' on stage, fair $7,400, 

Loew's State (3,200; .25-35-50)-r 
•Star Is Born' (UA) and 'Racketeers 
In Exile' (Col). This spot will bene- 
fit ; plenty from tilt in pirices. De- 
spite long show and other elements 
agains;t it, heading for swell $16,000: 
Last week, 'Old Soak' (MG) and 
•Nobody's Baby' (MG), sb-so $11,300. 

jMajestlc (Fay) (2,200^25-35-50)-^ 
*Wake Up and Live' (20th) and 
•Chan at Olympics' (20th). Plenty of 
activity; should be close to '$10,000, 
nice. Last week,: 'Marked Woman' 
(WB) and 'Melody for Two' (WB), 
$8,800, good, 

RKO Aibee (2,300; 25-35-50)— 'Hit 
Parade' (Riep) and 'Outcasts of 
Poker Flat' (RKO). While not as 
strong, as other houses, $7,500 will be 
oke. Last week, 'Wornan I Love' 
(RKO) and 'Miracles' (GN), tepid 
$6,400. 

Strand (Indie) (2,200; 25-35-50)— 
•King of Gamblers' (Par) and 'Back 
Stage' (GB). Not up to istandard, 
but .house not kicking at anticipated 
$7,600. Last Week, 'Internes' (Par), 
arid 'Circus Girl* (Rip), fine $8,400. 

MG Studio Club Gains 

. , ij . • 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Metro's Studio club now boasts 
2,915 members, 300 new: ones having 
been garnered in campaign jiist con- 
cluded. ~. 

IdW R. koverman, chairman, and 
,Wi K. Graig, president, entertained 
the membelrship committee at a vic- 
ttNQr breaklBst.- 



Plugged Into ^A^ Pic 



. What a song can do for a film 
" is evidenced by 'My Little 
Buckarob' fromi Warners 'Clier^ 
okee Strip,' . which, a B prb- 
. duction, has been getting A; 
.' playdates through exhlfb inttir- 
est inspired, by the song. 

Warners wanted to change the 
title otb 'Buckarpo' but the au- 
thor held biit for an additional 
$2,500 stipend which nixed that. 





OVERPHILLY 
$17.IIM 



Philadelphia, ^ay 4. . . 
Only one of the* new 'batch of pix 
in downtown hoiises looks like a sure 
thiiig for big coin, and that's 'Star Is 
Born.' iPic is figured good for three 
weeks, Aldine has a couple of other 
United. Artist releases in reserve, but 
weather will have much to do with: 
their showihg, as this, house isn't air 
cooled and generally closes by June 
1... 

The two houses with, stage shows 
are still in the imcertaiii class as far as 
this week's . biz . is concerned. The Fox. 
has Dave Apolldn's linit plus 'The 
Hit parade.' Earle has Milt Britton 
On the stage and '50 Roads to Town' 
on the screen. 

- Daylight saving plus '~ the usiial 
bimch of sports events has already 
started to curtail 'attendance in the 
downtown sector, with only 'Wake 
Up , and Live' of last week's , group 
rating a holdover and' still strong. 
'Lost Horizon' clOsed three weeks' 
sts^ at the Erlanger Saturday (1) 
an^ 'Captains Courageous' is slated 
to wind up three weeks' stay , at the 
Locust this Saturday (8), thus lend- 
ing roadshow competition. 
. Estimates for Tbls Week 

Aldine (1,300; 40-55-65)— 'Star Is 
Born' (UA). First week and Ibokis 
very big After a batch of rave no- 
tices. Three weeks figured, with 
first at big $17,000; length of film and 
daylight savibg keeping gross down 
some. Last yreek, 'Love from a 
Stranger' (UA), vso-so $6,500 in six 
days of second week. 

Arcadia (600; 2^-40-50)- 'Maytime' 
(MG) (2d run). Ought to be as big 
here as elsewhere and will probably 
outstay a week; $3,000 indicated. Last 
week 'Family Affair* (MG) (2d ruii), 
out after three diays; ; then 'Libeled 
Lady' (MG), also for three days, 
with poor $1,400 total. . 

Rbyd (2,400; 40-55)— 'Woman I 
Love' (RKO). Reviews tepid and 
so Is biz; so-so $10,000, ihebbe. on 
names. Last week, 'Call It a Day' 
(WB), $10,500, fair. 

Earle (2,000; 25-40-55)— 'Fifty 
Roads' (20th) and vatide. Milt Brit- 
ton headliner, pliis six-day bike 
racers Mbnday (3), .so-so $12,000. 
Last week, ^When's Your Birthday' 
(RKO) and vaude, Rogef Piyor 
headliner, $13,500, a little above ex- 
pectations. 

•Erlanrer (2,000; 55-86-$1.14-$1.71) 
— 'Lost' Horizon' (3d week)'. Closed 
final week here Saturday (1), gross- 
ing $7,500. 

Fox (3,000; 40-55-65)— 'Hit Parade' 
(Rep) and stage .show. Dave Apol- 
lon unit headlining. This light miisic 
and, dance. comho still on dividing; 
line, but ought to make $14,000; fair. 
Last week, 'Quality Street' (RKO) 
and stage show, just managed to 
climb above $14,000, fair. 

Karlton, (1,000; 25^35-40)-T'Time 
Out for Romance' (20th ). Looks only 
fairish $2,000. Last week, 'Top of 
the Town' (U) (2d run), little over 
average $2,400. 

eith's (2,000; 30-40-50)— 'Personal 
Property' (MG) (2d run). Ought to 
get $3,000. Last webk, 'Marked Wom- 
an' (WB). (2d run), $3,200, good. 

Locust (1,300; 55-86-1.14-1.71) rr- 
'Captains, Courageous' (MG). Start- 
ed third and last week Sunday (i). 
Last week's gross was $11,000,^ satis- 
factory, but manageriiertt hoped for 
more; 

Stanley (3.700; 40-55)— 'Wake Up 
and Live' (20th) (2d week). Still 
big, with $14,000 possible. First week 
got almost $18,000. 

Stanton (1,700; 30-40^50)— 'Silent 
Barriers' (G-B)i Not so forte for 
this house, with poor $5|000 looked 
for as tops. Last week, 'Her Huis- 
barid Lies' (Par), $5,400, so-so. 



30,000 Mort'l Fanilie»^ 
TrekUos Ihrts Pk Va; 
'Wake Up' $6,500 



Montreal, Maiy 4. 
Exceptiohal weather, plus the an- 
riual moving treh; in this city in- 
volving some 30,000. families, is pull- 
ing down grosses currently. 

Estimates for This Week 

His Majesty's (CT) (1,600; 30 )U 
'The Gdpd Earth' (MG). Good re- 
vibws plus rep of hbuse putting: It 
over to big biz; $7,000, very gbod. 
Last week, 'Hbad Over Heels' (GB) 
and 'Man Who Lived Again' (GB) 
hard hit by weather; $4,000, poor. 

Palace (CJT) (2,700; 50 )^'Wake Up 
and Live' (20th) aild 'Fali- Warning' 
(Brit.). Rather light $6,900. Last 
week, 'Romance in Paris' (WB), poor 
$6,000. 

Capitol (CT) (2,700; 90)— 'Way Out 
Wesf (MG) and 'Song of the City' 
(MG). No better than $5,500 in 
sight, fair. Last Week, 'Live Only 
Once' (UA) and 'Nobody's Baby' 
(MG)j $6,000, good enough. 

Loew's (M. T. Co.) (3,200; 50)— 
^Melody for Two' (WB) and 'Penrod 
and Sam' (Re^i) with Cab Calloway 
revue). Looks like $12,0 00, ■ gbod. 
Last weeki 'Men in Fxile' (WB) :arid 
'Too MJiny Wives' (Col), with Sally 
Rand revue, topped everything in 
months at $l4,000. 

Princess (CT) (2,300; 50)^'Man of 
Affairs' (Brit.) and 'When Love Is 
Young' (Col); Below average, $4,500. 
Last week, 'Sea Devils' (RKO) and 
'We Have Moments' (Col), $5,500, 
good. 

Ciiiema de Paris (France-Film) 
(60O; 50)— 'Koenigsmark' (3d week). 
Moving time hitting this hard; poor. 
$1,500. Last week sJso poor at same 
figure. 

St. Denis (France-Film) (2,300; 34) 
— 'Mehilmontant' and 'La Feati .d'un 
Autre.' Estimate $5,000, good; Last 
week, . 'La -Pocharde' and 'L'Ange du 
Foyer,' $5,500, good. 



LEWIS IN SHORTS 

Hollywood, May 4. 
Joseph H. Lewis washes up exec 
dtities with George A. Hirliman 
June 1. 

He plans to produce a series of 
sport shorts. 



Seattle ie Dpidnmis; 
Muiii--Hdpkiiis K G. 6G 



Seattle, May 4. 

Biz off all over town. Maybe its 
spring imrest or the weather, which, 
however, has been dark and gloOm- 
ish arid more designed for indoor 
recreation than outdoors. 

Hsiimates for This Week 

Bine . Moose (Hamrick-Evergreen; 
32-37-42) — 'Wake Up , and Live' 
(26th) and 'Murder Goes to College' 
(Par). Former a moveover from 
Fifth, latter a hew one replacing 
'Man Who Found Himself (RKO). 
Indicated $4,000, good. Laist week, 
'Wdikiki Wedding' (Par) and 'Pen- 
rod and Sam' (FN), $2,200, fair for 
fourth week. 

Coliseum ( H a m r i c k-Evergireen) 
(1,900; 21^32) 'One in Million' (20th) 
and 'Rembrandt' iUA) dual (2nd 
wk) three days only. Anticipated 
fair $1,100. Last week, same films, 
$4,300, good. 

Colonial (Sterling) (850; 11-16-21) 
•—'Romance and Riches' (GN) and 
'Gun of Pecos' (FN), dual. Fair 
$2,200 in sight. Last week, 'Grime 
Nobody Saw' (Par) and 'Navy Spy' 
(GN), $2,200. fair. 

Fifth Avenne (Hamrick-Ever- 
greeri) (2,400; 32-37-42)— 'Woman I 
Love* (RKO) and 'Man's Here Again' 
(FN). Combo not so forte at b.o.: 
poor $6,000. Last week, 'Wake Up* 
(20tb), and 'Man Who Found Him- 
self (RKO), $9,100, okay. 

Liberty (J-vH) (l;90O; 21-32-42)— 
'Accused' (UA) and 'Promise to P&y' 
(Col). Poor biz ior this dual, $3,300. 
Last' week, 'History Made Night' 
(UA) and 'Let's Get Married' (Col), 
fifth week, so-sO $3,400. 

Metropolitan (University Theatres) 
(l,4i0; 58-1.15)— 'Good Earth' (MG) 
. (2rid week). Holding up nicely; 
Last week, first, had great night biz 
but light matinees for big $10,800. 

Music-~ Box (Hamrick-Evergreen): 
(900; 32-37-42 > — 'Marked Woman' 
(WB) and "Romance' (20th). Moved 
frbm Orpheum and heading.for only 
moderate $2,500 here. Last wieek 
'Maytinie' (MG), six days of fifth 
week, $l,90O, weak. 

Orphe.um (Hamr ick-Evergreeri) 
(2.700; 32-37-42)— 'Mountain Justice' 
(FN) and 'Way Out West' (MG). No 
draw; $4,500 will be poor. Last week, 
'Marked Woman' (WB) and 'Ro- 
mance' (20th), $6,100, good. 

Paloniar' (Sterling) (1,450; 16-27- 
37)t— 'Circus Lady' (Rep) and vaude, 
Betty Burgess-Sonny Lamont head- 
linirig. Only (fair $3,700. Last week, 
'Hahley; Detective' (Rep) and vaude,' 
$3,600, fair. 

Paramount (Hamrick-Evergreen) 
(3.106; 32-37-42)— 'Night Must Fall' 
(MG) and 'Love Is Young' (U). Not 
much; $4,800, Will be poor. Last week, 
^Good Old Soak' (MG) and 'Hus- 
band's Secretary' (U), $5,100. 

Roo.seveH (Sterling) (850; 21-32)— 
'God's Country' (WB) and 'Ready, 
Willirig' (WB). Fair $2,500. Last 
week, 'Maid of Salem' (Par) and 
'When's Your Birthday* (RKO), 
$2,600,. fair. 




trV title Jitters 



Hollywood, May 4. 

.Universal Is . having title jit-, 
iers seeking hew handles for 
eight pictures Current or .pre- • 
paring. Present titles are: 'As 
Before Better Than Before,' 
'Man Who Crief Wolf,' 'Scoop,' 
'Channel Cjros$i ,' 'Night Pa- 
trol,' 'Heather of the High 
Hand,' 'New Orleans' iahd 'Syn- 
thetic Gentlemari.' 

Studio personnel is offered 
the customary $25 for each new 
title: accepted. 



'Romeo' At Pops 
No Qeve. Pamc; 



Cleveland, May 4. 
Hipp waking up and for a change 
is copping all the gravy with *Wake 
Up ^nd Live,' also stealing all bally- 
hoo honors. 'When Love is YoUng,* 
backed by strong vaude, doing things 
lor Palace, while 'Romeo and Juliet,' 
at State at pop' prices, is disappoints 
ing. 

'Lost Horizon' opened road-shbw 
xun at Hanna, legit house,^ Sunday 
(2). 

Estimates for Tbis Week 

Alhambra (Martin Printz) (1,200; 
20-30-35 )— '23% Hours Leave' (GN) 
and 'Mamma Steps Out,' (MG), dual. 
Ordinary at $2,200; too much com- 
petish. Last week, 'Hats Oil' (GN) 
and 'Women of Glamour' (Col)j dual, 
got $3,100, fair. ^ 

Allien (RKO) (3,000; 25-40) ^ 
•Promisb to Pay* (Col). Okay tralde 
at $5,50P. Last week, 'Marked Wo- 
man' (WB) shot in frorii Hipp for 
second week, $4,500, nice. 

Circle (Marmorsteiri) (1,900; 15-35) 
—'History Made Night' (UA). Special 
one- week shift into second-ruriner, 
with (iuick build-up to possible 
$3,000, fair: Last week 'Wings of 
Morning' (20th) and "Time Out for 
Romance' (20th), $2,300, pobr. 

Hanna (Carl Hanna) (1,435; 55- 
$1.65)— 'Lost Horizon' (Col). Road- 
show opened two-week run Sunday 
(2) with strong ballyhoo and news- 
paper raves. 

RijPP (Warners) (3,700; 30-40 )r^ 
—•Wake Up and Live' (20th). 
Looks like a record-buster for this 
£^t. Certain to catch great $19,000, 
with a move-over .to Allen. Last 
week, 'Woman I Love' (WB) had 
trouble, $13,500, fair. 

Palace (RKO) (3,200; 30-75)— 
Xove Is Young' (U) and vaude. Winl 
Shaw and Billy House in flash sec- 
tion pushing up figures to neat 
$19,000. Last week, 'Call It a Day' 
(WB) reversed the order by carry- 
ing so-so 'Slums of Paris' unit to 
$19,000. 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 30-75)— 
'Romeo and Juliet.' Going a little 
better than in road-show run at 
legit Hanna, but still not so forte at 
fair $14,500. Hike in house prices is 
slight evening damper. - Last week 
'Hit Parade' (Rep) got extra support 
from Ted Lewis' orchestra-revue on 
stage, ending with excellent $20,400. 

Stillman (Loew's) (1,972; 25-35)— 
•Her Husband Lies' (Par). Nothing 
very, salable in this case, probably 
$6,500, sorso. Last week 'Men Not 
Gods' (UA), $5,500, poor. 

JANillNGS' NAZI AWARD 

Berlin, May. 4. 
Senalpr" Eiriil : Janriirigs has been 
given the iirinual governmental prize 
for the. best filrii acting work of the 
year.: .■ 
' Prize - specifically mentions is 
work in 'Der Herrscher' ('The Vic- 
tor'), just released. 



Fifi D'Orsay V Collapse 

Dcriver, May 4; 

Fifi D'Qrsay, maki . . personal 
appearance at the Denver, theatre^ 
collapsed when she lost her voice in 
the midst of her second song.v 

Doctor was calleiJ,. and for the 
other shows she only talked. She 
spent the night in a hospital. 

IT'S Campus Scouting 

Hollyvvood, May 4. 

Lucille Ryman, Universal talent 
scout; has hit out for the east in 
search of 15 btairty beauts among 
f emme college attendees. Girls will 
get roles in Bud(^ De Sylva's forth- 
coming 'Yoiing Man's, fancy.' 

Femme Bopner. will overlook pro- 
fessional pretties and confine her 
hunting to schools. 



■ ' .ittsburgh, .May.4.' 

Mid-summer weather and dayli 
s,avings cutting in only on 
weakies. The others aren't bei 
bothered at all. 

Sock weeks are in sight for Penn 
and Stanley. At former site, 'A Star 
Is Born,' is running prbtty close to 
'Maytime' figures and will stick 
downtown for second week at 
Warner, whUe at Stanley, combo of 
'Call It A Day' and Ina Ray Hut- 
ton's band, while oflt somewhat oyer 
recent sessions at this deluxer, is 
coming through with highly profit- 
able stanza. 

Talk of trio of road-show pix, 
'Captains Courageous.' 'Make Way 
for TomorrbW' and 'Souls at Sea,' 
braving hot weather for two-a-day 
showings at Nixori but more .than' 
likely they'll hold off until eprly fall. 
House has no cooling plant; 
Estimates for This Week 

Alvin (Harris) (2,O0O; .25-35-40)-^ 
'Nancy Steel* (20th). Oft and on 
policy of duals here, with manage- 
ment deciding, to let this one go on 
itsf own, a wise: move. Alvin doing 
likewise w:ith 'Wake Up arid Live' 
(20th), opening Thursday (6) With 
expectiations of going at least- three 
weieks. 'Steele' looks like $6,000, fair 
enough. Last Week, "Two Wise 
Maids' (Rep) and 'Time Out for 
Romance' (20th), so-so $4,700. 

Fnlton (Shea-Hyde) (1.750; 25-40) 
'No Man of Own' (Par) (2d wk). 
Second week for this, reissue falling 
way off, but wUl get at least $3,800, 
faiir. Last week, 'Man' got sensa- 
tional $7,500, more than flicker got 
on original run almost five years ago. 

Penn ° (Loew's-UA) ' (3,300; 25- 
35-50 )^'Star Is Born' (UA). Push- 
mg through to one Of top grbsses of 
year, only slightly under elegant 
'Maytime' (MG) figures. Looks like 
pretty close to $20,000, and that 
means a switch to the Warnei: fot" a 
downtown second session. Last week, 
'Romeo and Juliet' (MG), finished 
fairly strong but still pretty much 
of a disappointment at $9,600. 

Stanley (WB) (3,600; 25-40-60)- 
'Call It a Day' (WB) arid Ina Ray 
Hutton's band. This combo doing all 
riight for itself. Several grand under 
house's recent figures, but $18^000 
r«>reserits a neat profit. Liast week, 
'History Made Night' (UA) and 
Major BoWes unit felt effects of 
flood scare and had to be coritent. 
With aroimd $22,000, good. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 25-40)— 
'Man's Here Again* (FN) arid 'Doc- 
tor's Diary' (Par). Not much in this 
duaL Will be lucky to top $4,000, 
pbor. Last week, 'Maytime' (MG) in 
second stanza here and third down- 
town, still pretty husky at $6,00p. 

3 Roadshows in Lincoln, 
But AD of 'Em N. S. fi. 



Lincoln, May 4. 

Roadshow fever hit towri this 
week; three Of them on tap and none 
of them very strong. Varsity set i 
'Lost Horizon' for a week, and Or- 
pheum immediately played tag, put- 
tirig in 'Gbod Earth' for two days 
and following it with Mrs. Martin 
Johnson in person with her 'Jungle 
Depths of Borneo.' Stuart, in the 
pop price fleld with 'Personal Prop- 
erty,' seems to have the most friends. 
Estimates for This Week 

Liberty (LTC) (1,200; 10-15)-- 
'Ghost Patror (Pur) plus 'Clive of 
India' (UA) split with 'Park Avenue 
Logger' (20th) plus 'Mary Burns 
(Par). Just fair $800. Last week, 
'Santa Fe Bound' (Rel) plus 'Mighty 
Barnum' (UA); 'Crime Nobody Saw^ 
(Par) plus 'Rio Grande Romance 
(Victory), and 'Vice Racket', (De^el), 
for three changes, $1,700, bi& 

Lincoln (LTC) (1,600; 10-20-25)- 
'Top of Town' (U). Slightly better, 
than average $2,400. Last week, ?50 
Roads' (20th ), $2,800, 'okay. 

Orpheum (LTC) (1,350; 10-15-.20' 
25)— 'Step Lively, Jeeves' (20th) 
with stage show, 'Swingtime Follies, 
split with 'Good Earth' (MG) pa 
roadshow basis (two diays) tollpwed 
)jy 'Jungle Depths of Borneo' with 
Mrs. Martin Johnson in person; Only 
fair $2,900 in sight: Last two are 
scaled 55c to $1.65. Last week, 'No 
.Man -6f Her OWn' (Par) plus 'Sea 
Devils' (RKO), oke $1,600. 

Stuart (LTC) (1,900; 10-25-40)-- 
'Personal Property' (MG). Good .spot 
for this Taylbr-Harlow picture. WUi 
get $3,700» good. Last week, 'Wake 
Up and Live' (20th). $3,600, gpodi 

Varsity (Westlarid) (1,100; 10-1.5- 
20-25-55-83-$1.10-$1.65) — 'Lost Hon;- 
zon' (Col). Take looks light for 
this one-week roadshow date. . Lasi 
week, 'I Promise to Pay' (Coi;r 
$1,100, average. 

Par's Byram to Europe 

John Byram of Paramount's home 
office editorial boiard, accompanied 
by Mrs. Byram, sails for Europe 
May 15. Byrams go to Naples 
first 

]Syram may visit Vienna and 
Budapest in seiarch of screen ma- 
terial. 



f 



^ednesdny, Maj 5^ 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



Phoney Studio Setup Pianned To 

from Real Thing 





Hollywood, May. 
Los Angeles Chamber b£ Com^ 

'jnerce is looking for way io ap- 
pease tourists barted from sets while 
pictures are in work. The chamber's 
publicity and exploitation comimittee 
Appointed its chairman, DUrward 
Howes, head of a subcommittee to 

'find a substitute that will. Satisfy 
Visiting fliremen and. chili the 
squawks. 

The only plati devised up to now 
is to operate a synthetic studio, a 
sort of imitatiori of the real thing, 
and route the peepers through it. 
Other committee niembeirs point put 
it has obvious difficulties. . 

it . was suggested all the idle 
stand-ins around town be herded 
together, and con the yokels that 
they had seen Garbo, Grawfprdv 
Gable, et '., but. the danger of 
Such -a -rib is obvious.. 

LAEMMtE EAST BEFORE 
STARTING mo m 

(Carl Laemmle, Jr., will commute 
between Broadway, Connecticut and 
Atlantic City during his eaistefn stay, 
with an eye meantime to new film 
talent. Since set, althoujih not for- 
mally sealed, on the Metro lot as an 
associate producer. Laemmle. is lin- 
ing up his first picture. 

It will .prbbably be 'The Amazing 
Dr. Clitterhouse' whith he purr 
«hased^!for his first picture. Has a 
. -European i>lay as. an alternate, hut 
if he gets. William Powell, as. seems 
likely, he'll dp 'Clitterhouse' pronto. 
•-Bed Hershon, writer, is east with 
Laemmle. 



Fields' Original 



HoUywoodi May 4. 
W. ields wiled away th« 
houts .TeGuperating frpfh pro- 
tracted illness, at Las Encinaa 
sanitaritiin. in Pasadena, collaib^ 
bing with. Jack Cunningham oii 
anori 

Comic,, niuch improved, 
back, in; Bel Air .and Para- 
mount is . readyi is new pic- 
ture, 'That Man's; Again/ 



Judge Goddard Looks 
For Story Piracy in 
Peek at WB's V 



Holly wood, May 4. 
V-Agrieerinient has been w:orked . out 
by Carl Laemmle, Jr.-, . and Universal 
per ittihg Director James Whale to 
letUriii to the stUdiO: for additional 
scenes to "The Bioad Back* that may 
be required and to supervise cutting 
the pietUre. . 

.Whale, under contract to Laemmle 
.for one, has 18 months to go on a 
two-yearer with U. His obligation 
to Laemmle was to start two days 
after completion of 'The Road Back' 
(20 L Since Laemmle lis not cur-, 
rently producing, he cdnsiented to 
ITs call on Whale should further 
'Road Back' takes be necessary. Di- 
rector will -then be available for 
Laemmle. 



Moriel Hutchison's 

Paramonnt Tenner 

Muriel Hutchison^ of "The Amaz- 
ing br. Clitterhouse,' at the Hudson, 
N. .Y., has been signed by Paramount 
and goes to the Coast when show 
closes. Deal was set by Mildred S. 
Weber, of the Morris office, without 
any tests being made. Contract is 
^or five years. 

l*ony Bickley is being tested this 
Jveek by Rko. Appeared in floppo 
'Arms for Venus' at John Golden, 
N. Y. couple of months ago. Han- 
dled by Lelahd Hayward. 

Hersholt*8 Road Work 

Hollywbpd, May 4. 

Jean Hershblt goes back to Canada 
next fhonth for his ahual romp- with 
the DiPhne .quintuplets. 
I To get him in shape for the main 
event, 20th Century-Fox is giving 
him a workout with Shirley Temple 
"* 'Heidi,' classic of Swiss moppets. 
Allan Dwan directing 'Hei * ■ 

tamoiir for -Hurri^jane* 

Holly wpod, May 4. 
Withdrawal of Marg6 from the 
cast ^ of Samuel Goldwyn's 'Hurri- 
cane* puts ■ Dorothy tamour in top 

femme- spot in the John Ford pic- 
ture. 

Miss Lamour i^pes ti3 Gpldwyh on 
n from Paramount, 



, N. Y. Federal Judge Henry W. 
Goddard visited Warner Brps. yes- 
terday Ctues.). to view privately 
'The. Mayor of Hell,' film/pVer which 
Albert Bein, playwright, is siting 
Warners charge of infrihge- 

ment. 

Beih seeks an accounting, damages 
atid'aii injunction. ' 

Beiii, on the stand, claimed Ed- 
ward Ghodorov took material from 
his bopk, 'Youth of Hell,' and from 
a play he had written, "Little Ol' 
Boy.' The two described his ex- 
periences after iservipg a term in a 
Misspiiri prison and then jumping 
freight to the'Cpast.\ Oil the Coast 
he turned his writings over to 
Chodorov, he .claimed, for Jhe latter 
to put in scenario form. He asserted 
the ' scenarist Utilized the material 
for "The Mayor of Hell.' 

ChodOrpv, for the defense, denied 
Bein's claims. Judge Goddard de- 
cided tp see the. film and compare it 
with the script of Bein's bpok aind 
play. Trial is expected to end Fri- 
day (7). 



RKO'S B'WAY LEGIT 
TRY; DEVAL'S PLAY 

Hollywood, May 4. 
RKP's first vehture with the N. Y. 
lejgit stage will be 'Amstel,' ja three- 
acter by Jacques. Deyal, aiuthor of 
'Tovarich,' npw current pn Broad- 
way. 

Story has a rench countryside 
background aind will be produced by 
Paindro Berman after its N. Y. stage 
run. 



Welles May Go WB 

Warner rps. ickering with 
Oi'oon Welles for a term contract, 
^eai hinges Pn length of periods 
actor will pass in Broadway legit 
Between pix. Also there is a ques- 
iwn about stories, v/ith Welles cur- 
rently reading three scripts. 

Actor ■ has the . title part - in r. 
*auslus.' WPA show at the Maxine 
*^liott, N. Y. 



Vic Myers' 20th-Fox Suit 
Settlement Indicated 

Seattle, May 4. 

Just how much per word was the 
damage to Vic Myers, this istate's 
lieut-gov., who swings a wicked bar- 
ton when he leads his ja^z band. Is 
still a mystery. He asked for $10,000 
per word, in a suit for libel against 
20th Century-Fox, for the wisecrack 
in 'Thanks a Million' about the fplks 
up in this state electing a jazz band 
leader, and thUs proving the people 
would vote for anybody. 

The suit for $250,000 libel has been 
withdrawn upon stipulation of both 
parties to the action, with prejudice. 
This means it can't be brought to 
issue agai , and it means that a set- 
tlement was made, out pf cotirt. 
However, if and how much, is not 
divulged. 

Meyers is reported to be in L. A. 
or Oklahoma at this time. His at- 
torney is out of town. And the at- 
torn.ey for the defendants refers 
sundry and all persons to Meyers* 
attorney. 



Howards' Metro Date 



WiUie and Eugene Howard left 
Thursday (29)) for the COast and a 
5Pot in Metro's 'Broadway Melody.' 

Set for four weeks at $2,500 
weekly, through Curtis & Allen 
office. i 








Money is persuading United Art- 
ists execs that color has a distinct 
added valUe ' foreign spots and 
producers for the cPmpany are more 
bullish on tinting. But Sam Gpld- 
wyii is puzzled about putti 'Gold-? 
wyn Follies' into hues. , 

He set a $1,500,000 budget but 
color costs $600,000 mpre. So Gold- 
wyn has not made a decision. 

Significance of color on foreign 
distribution is statement that 'Gar- 
den of Allah' (Selznick), a Techni- 
color, will get more foreign than do- 
mestic gross, with a world total of 
more than $2,7001000. 

'Star Is Born,' UA's latest color 
release, stands , its jproducer, David 
O. Selznick, $l,4p0,p00. Additibnal 
Selznick pictures will be done in 
color, Walter Wariger is turning out 
'Vogues' in hues and Alexander 
Korda will do tinters. UA expects 
to be a leading distributor, on cplor 
this year. .■ 
• An outstanding black and white is 
Charles Chaplin's 'Modern Times. 
World gross has. passed $4,000,000. 



CAGNEY SET FOR GN 
TUNER, 'DYNAMITE' OFF 



Hollywood, May 4. 
. Grand National has set musical, 
•Something to Sin'g About,' as James 
Cagney's next, scheduled late in 
May, Victor Schertzinger directing; 
Prpductipn combines budgets planned 
for a Cagney. feature and a Schert- 
zinger musical. 

New . setup shelves ilichard Row- 
land's 'Dynamite,' also skeded for 
Cagney. iSchertzinger collaborated 
with Austin Parker on the 'Sing' 
script. Story has Cagney as leader 
pf a swing baiid. 

This 'assignment dispels rumors 
that Cagney will quit GN. There 
have been reports anent a pPssible 
reconciliation with Warner Brps. 



No. 2 Santa Anita Now 
Looks CoU on Coast 



Bergerman Loses 60G 
Commish Suit Vs. Landers 

. Hollywood, May 4. 
tahley Bergerman loist his $60,000 
.cbrnmission suit against Lew Lau- 
ders, RKO director, in Superior 
Court, Monday (3). Landers testis 
fied. the. agent failed to make good 
■a. promise of- a. Universal job, hence 
he rescinded his. contract. 

Amount asked by Bergerman 
would have accrued over term of 
seven>-year contract. 

North Out of RKO 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Robert North checked out as a 
Paramount associate producer after 
six month.s on the Par lot. 

He came oyer to Par from 



Sacramento, May 4. 
Using the Roosevelt technique of 
trying to increase the racing com- 
mission from three to five in order 
to pUsh through- their plans for a 
second race track in the L. A. sector, 
backers took a cropper in legislative 
committee and scheme is now cold. 
Lpts of picture money was behind 
the venture, with Jack Warner, Bing 
Crosby, Howard Green and others 
pushing for. a second ti'ack in Ingle- 
Wood. 

Santa Anita track has . been a 
cleanup, icture stars who put in 
$2,500 for shares before track was 
built two years ago now finding 
their stock is worth $25,000. 

Hal Roach has Hearst support on 
the Santa Anita thing and while 
Hearst' and Warners are like that on 
pictures they don't add the same 
way around the feed box. • 

Bookies numbering 250 around 
L. A. figure they handled $150,000,000 
last year- and. doubt if ahother track 
could up that much. 
• Second-trackers argue that such a 
figure looks big enough to go around, 
but the whole set-up from reform- 
ers down to conrtmissioners is against 
such largesse. 



Latest H wood Distraction Is Bally 
Electing a New Los Angeles Mayor 



Ploughing Theiii ' Under 



Hollywood, May 4. . 

Sales manager of New York 
publishing house was visiting 
Jim TuUy; After lunching at his 
three-acre estate, on TOluca 
Lake, Tully took the passion, 
peddler to another place of hiis 
of 89 acres where he grows 
alfalfa and makes $8,000 a year 
frpm his crops. Magnificence 
of the haciendas left the pub so 
slap-happy he began talking 
like Benny Baker. 

'Gosh,' he gasped, id you 
get all this frpin writing books?' 
. 'No,; countered truthful Tully, 
*I got it from not writing 
boPks.' 



Announces Norma 
Shearer Stays M-G 

noliy,wbod. May- 4. 

Norma Shearer will continue in 
the Metro fold, according to an an- 
nouncement rnade .May 3 at a Metro 
luncheon in the studio,, presided over 
by Louis B. Mayer. ' . 

Miss Shearer told the gathering 
that she preferred tP reinain with 
M-G, but did not disclose when she 
would start work. ' However, it is 
understood that she ill. get going 
some time. during the summer on her 
first; .which will prpbably be 'Marie 
Antoinette.' Hunt Stromberg will 
produce.. 



Betty Bronson Back for 
Pic Re-entry at Republic 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Betty Bronson,' featured player of 
silent films, is returning to pictures 
in 'Singing Kid from Pine Ridge' at 
Republic. LeRoy Mason, also a fav 
olsilents, is .cast opposite. 

Others in the picture are Jack 
Daugherty, Gordon Wickland, Tom 
Smith, Dick Hartmans, Ken Cooper, 
Jack Ingraip, Henry Hall, Frankie 
Marion, Charles Middleton, Loren 
Riebe, Bud Osbpme, and the Ten-, 
hessee Ramblers: 



Gloria's Col. Solo 

. Hollywood, JVIay 4. 

Columbia . signed Gloria Swanson 
to a oneVpicture contract over the 
transatlantic telephone. Actress is 
how in London. ■ 

Film will be called 'Second Mrs. 
Draper,' from unpublished novel by 
Noel Pierce. Goes into '.work in. six 
vi/eeks. 



Jackie Cooper's 'Boy' 

Hollywood, May 4. . 
Jacki Cooper has signed' with 
Sdptt R. Dunlap, Monogram produc- 
tion executive, to star in 'Boy pf the 
Streets.' 

Writing: chore oh 'Boy' likely will 
go to Marion Orth, who recently 
completed adaptation of 'Paradi.se 
Isle' for Mono. 



Schulberg's Par Wa?hup 

Hollywood, .May 4, 
B. P. Schulberg has set the fol- 
lowing starting dates on three re- 
mai ing pictures u)ider ' • Pai'a- 
mount deal: 

'Let's Talk of Love.' with Ann 
Dvorak and John Trent, tomorrow 
.(5); 'Stranger Than Figti '' follow- 
ing Monday (10); 'Bunatiza,' with 
Edward Arnold. Georg? Bancroft 
• and John Trent. Richard Wallace 
directing, June 1. 



Wilkersons Part 

^ Hollywood; May . 41 
t Seward, . film actress, an- 
nounced a separation frofh W. R; 
Willcerson. publisher of the Hplly- 
wood R.eJ)ortei-- arid her plans are to 
institute a divbrce action. 

• married little over year 

ago.'. 



Loy, Hbrnblow East 

, May .4. 

Arthur and his ife, 

Myrna .Loy. ined east Monday 
(3) for three weeks' vacati 



'GENT' AWAITS BETTE 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Due .to vya.sh up 'That Certain 
Party' .at Warners around May 10, 
Bette. Davis goes into 'A Gentleman 
After Midnight.' 

Leslie Howai' in the 

latter. 



KOHLMAR BOOKEING 

Fred Kohl of Samuel Gold 
wyn'.s. sta(T i.s in Ncvy York on a 
periodic talent quest. 

\yill be east a moiilhv 



1 Hdllywood, May 4. 

Hollywood, which has more ap- 
peals to the populace than a South 
American leiDtiblic, has had another 
one today; This tline. it's a mayor. 
With the studios up to their ears in 
work, pouring oil over labor trou- 
bles, the added distraction of pieking 
between incUnibent Mayor Frank L. 
Shaw of Toronto, Canada., and John 
Anson Ford,. pf Belpit, Wis., 
anything but a hit, ' 

Only comedy relief of the . cam- 
paign was the rt way Shavian 
forces picked up stu ip. technique of 
the Dunning process in order to dun 
the peasant put of his vote. Boys 
plastered town ith piclureij • 
zoner ing i car 
the Prez and Mrs* .Roosevpltv 
show what a pal the mayor was i 
everybody around the White HpCsa. 

Capitol dome was Superimposed aj? 
a background to the still, but Un- 
fortunately Arthur De Titta, Fox 
Movietone cameraman, rocD'jnzed 
himself between the celobs 
car and the capitpl dome. .. 
time he had his picturo" tnk 
Hizzoner arid the Pr ' , 
was at the Coliseum when tha praij- 
idential aity visited, Los Angeles 
in 1935. 

So while it was true the mayor 
had entertained the Prez, it vyasn't 
true that the Prez had returned the 
complinrient, and so the photograph 
showing them all riding down Perm- . 
syivanla Avenue was a process shot, 
designed for dunning the peasant put 
of his vote. And that's why ' ' ^ 
called the Dunning Process. 

Pop. of L. A. now a-.^bund 1.500 000; 
with boom-it-up boys clai ing that 
makes therri fourth la"*:ot city in 
country, but Norris J. Nelson, prez 
of Junior C of C of Hollywood,, 
claims nobody, ever heard of L. A. 

Nelson, running for tity council- 
man, tPok time out between thc T)ri- 
maries and the finals (thrca wcoks) 
to hop to Washingtori arid talk Jim 
Farley into giving Hollywood back 
its own cancellation :stamp. Hs said 
it's bad enough for people in Holly- 
wood to have to pay taxes to Los 
Angeles without having th nai 
slapped all over their outgoing let- 
ters. 

'Hollywood,' he argued,' 'Is famous 
all the world, but nobody 

knPws where .Los Angeles is.' 

It . struck the Postmaster ehcral 
as a whim, but hei doesn't know Hol- 
lywood. They ; have a wh im of . iron. 
In the end he. said okay. 

John Anson Ford al.so is from 
Hollywood. He represents the tpv/ 
as a .county supervisor, but Shr.w, 
Jim.Dayis, chief of police, arid Cuy 
McAfee, an ex-cop, really run the 
town, arid are liked, because they 
keep outside racketeers out. 

The Hollywood C'tizen-News ke«ps 
pounding against this trinity, but tlis 
downtown dailies like it, so it st".y.s. 
Even so, running off an election 
about something every month pr so 
takes a lot of time and some produc- 
tion has tp pay fpr that, 

A free-for-all for all offices at lh3 
.same time the presidential elecf,)ri 
is held and then a four-year lay 'IT 
would be a welcome solution f )r 
production managers. 



$60,000 PIRACY mn 

ONU'S 'SMART CMS' 



Hollywood, May 4. 
it was filed in superior court 
here Thursday (29) by .Edward" du 
Domaine charging p>laglarlsm agai ii.st 
Universal in production of 'Three- 
Smart Girls' and see.ki $60,000 
damages.' $50,000 for ass; 
of the ^tory • $10,000 
16.SS of screen crod it. 

CompUii . speciliGS that , 
mai registered story titled 
'Bringing Up Father' 'ith the Screen 
Writers Guild prior to Aug. 1, 1935. 
This, stoi-y, according tP du Domai 
was blTercd to Univerisal and re- 
jected. He claims/material was basis 
of- 'Three. Smart Girls.' 



Revive Qrig Lindbiergh Film 

,riginal motion pictufe, cpmpil-jd 
by Hays organization on Charles A. 
LindbQvgh'.s flight .Ivom N. Y, 
Paris, will be screened 'ain when 
aviation officials celebrate the 10th 
anniversary of his exploit. ITele will 
be at the Waldorf-Astoria, May 20-21. 

Film. vvas. turned out in May, 1.927-, 
in cooperation with nowsi'cH cini.- 
panics. 



10 VARIETY Wednesday, May 5, 1937 




Time devotes cover and 2,000 word write-up! Mauch Twins are Guests of Honor on coast-to- 

American features the life story of the Mauch ^oast Youth Week broadcast with direct appeal 

Twins -advertises it nationally - posts 25,000 *<> ^oy Scouts assuring full local cooperation! 

placards on nation's newsstands! 71 Hollywood Hotel stations broadcast Errol 

Life tells the story in pictures with a complete F^ynn and Mauch Twins in Coronation scene! 

"Prince and Pauper" section,' Big Brother Organization dramatizes highlight se- 

th addition to record fan magazine coverage! quences— and continues it for a second broadcast! 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



VARIETY 



11 



HE WORLD TODAY IS THE CORONATION 




t^n the movie page and in the news^ection 
^ith full and half -pages of pictures and stories! 



Hits a new high for outdoor display with 30 solid 
days of 24-sheeting in 1500 nation-wide cities! 




at the peak of the greatest publicity 
l>ush ever organized for picture promotion by BROS 



1 « tARranr'S' xondon orrtcE, 

8 St. Hattia'i) PlHce^ TrafalKar Sffunre 



INTERHATIONAL FILM NEWS 



Cable Addresn: TABIXTTt LONDON 
T«IepIioii« Temple. Bar 6O41-0O42 



No New Tdm on British Fim Biz 
Despite Heavy Armaments Budget 



London, April 26. 

Budget ahnduncernent. indicating 
no .further import duties pr-oved a 
great relief to ;the nxotibn picture 
business, particularly in view of re- 
cent Parliamentary hints that the 
Board of Trade was eyeing the film 
import ^situation. ,! It was feared, the 
heavy, armaments commitments of 
the li. K. would rriean drastic in- 
crease$ in . taxation on all sides, 

Though no . direct levies come the 
'way of the film industry, yet affect- 
iing it in common with all commer- 
cial undertakings is the tax on rising 
profits, knovirn: as the National De- 
fense Gontributibh. This will bief a 
graduated tax, ranging from 20 to 
33 1/3% Oh growth of profits in ex- 
cess of $10,000 a year, expected to 
ield $10,000,000 this year. 

Hit by the nieasure - particularly 
•will bei American distributors, 
whose coUeicti Vie; earnings from the 
U. K. market are estimated at 
$35,000,000 and inore in a year. 

■Tax is estirnated. as equivalent to 
an addition ot-Vk% oix the income 
tax already : levied on industry. 




IHSIKIBS' WAR 



London, April 25. 

Differences between . British pro- 
ducers and distributors are likely to 
lead to , a blow-up. Studio concerns . 
.are complai ing the tenter has a 

isprdportiiphate share, of the rev- 
enue from films they, produce, aiid 
threaten to break, away and under- 
take their own distributipn. 

Question is one of the fundamental 
problems discussed 'at tiie industry's 
current joint' conversations, but a 
: wide gap separates th? two bodies.- 

Alexslnder Korda is said to- be . a 
foremost rebel, his recent utterances 
having proved him at viariance with 
distributors oh basic trade principles. 
Meetings of the federation of Brit- 
ish Industries ^Producers' Group 
have ' fostered the discontent, with 
the threat of tierminating Existing 
distribution arrangements likely to 
be a real menace to renters. 

Fact that distribs . are dependent 
•h the studios for quota require- 
ments renders the position more 
piquant, and an early , showdown is 
anticipated. 



COIN JAM HOLDS UP 
m m IN JAPAN 



"Tokyo, April 16. 
. Gaumont- iffi- 
cult time getti istri- 
butiOh here. 

Several months ago contriadt 
was .niade with U.' Onb & Co. where- 
by it was to become the G-B agent 
for Japan. arid .his backer, T. 

Yostiida,! had; a. falling out and Yo- 
shida worked the deal ardundi - so 
that he became the agent. Ypshida, 
not being equipped to handle the 
physical end 6i the biz, theiii at- 
tempted to peddle the G-B product 
to Empire Film, Distributing Co., but 
no dice. 

First two ;pix under the original 
Ono .& Co.. setup have been in Ji5i- 
pan for. som^ time but are stilt in 
bond at custonis. Two subjects are 
'Secret Agent' and 'It's Love Again/ 
with the. , latter standing ' a . good 
chance of . being badly mutilated by 
the censor. No reasons, have been 
advanced why the two pix are not 
taken out and prepared, but guess 
is that it's on aciciount of anticipated 
censorship difficulties on the mu- 
sicdl. Under the original Onp con- 
-tract, no provision Was. made- for 
credit^or bahnied pix and no allow- 
ance was. provided: for i case of 
subject being mutilated. . 

E,, . Hewitt, here . for ritish 
Acoustics (G-B sub^id) is attempt- 
ing to straighten but the matter. 
■While it is expected that the exist- 
ing contract will.be carried out un^ 
der the new deal between C. M. 
WOblf and G-Bi, so far nothing has 
been heard from General Films on 
the subject. 



Lopert's New Pax Film 
Fetching in Foreigns 
For Englisli Dubbing 

I. E; Loperjtj';;dtibbing expo.rt; for- 
merly' in t1(t6x%p of that diepiartment 
for PararhoUnt in Paris, and now. es- 
tablished in New York,, has formed a 
company for importing and distri 
ing foreign-made films, in thb U. S. 
New company called Pax Films, has 

that title, 

witii^ rank 

-Kassler, , fornierly working with 
Lopert in Paris, is siecretary and gen-- 
eral manager, thers iassociated are 
William Weismahn, jEd Simmons; A. 
S. Fiisher. 

Enterprise differ^, f torn the ' usual. 
Will specialize, as far as possible, 
in films Which ciah be . dubbed into 
English, feeiinig being this form of 
jproduct can make headway hei:e. 
Lopert sails libxt wieek for Paris to 
look- over the available product and 
will tie , up, if he; can* three or four 
pictures, ; plan being not to handle 
more than that number yearly^ 

outfit ill: ship . put some - pix as is, 
•with English superimposed titles, 
but wiir concentrate ■ mostly on the 
larger dubbed product, handling the 
dubbing itself and attempting to turn 
the finished product over to regular 
distributing channels here. 



New B. A. 2,760-Seater 

Buenos Aires, April 19.' 

Cine Metropolitan, city's newest 
pictulre palace^ with a seating ca- 
pacity of 2,700, has opened. 

le is located in Calle Corriehtes, 
almost in front of the .Cine Opera, 
/City's other de luxe picture house. 



Nippon's Ace Cihema 

Drops U. S. Pictures 

Tokyo, April 14. 

Nippon Gekijd, Toho's ace spot, 
has changed, its policy, going to Jap 
pix exclusively, instead of rUnning 
a mixed program, as in the past. 
This is a serious blpw tb foreign 
product as the spot is the largest and 
finest in town. Americsin distribs 
affected are Paramo u n t, , HKO, 
Warner, Columbia and Universal, all 
of whom are tied, to the Tbho chain 
for release. 

Other downtown release house 
controllbd by Toho is Hibiya Gekijo, 
but can't possibly accommodate all 
the product of the five distribs. 



'ROSE MARIE' IN SYDNEY 



Aussie Btz Oke — ^'Plainsman,' /God- 
frey' Dofiis Wen 



Sydney, April 13. 

'Rose Marie* (MG) came, in when 
biz was at ai marked low, but quickly 
shot up to top trade .and. looks liice 
a smash. 'The ' Plainsman* (Par) is 
also in the heavy coin and likely to 
return a solid gross. 'My Man God- 
frey. (U) is a laugh hit and sure to 
make top grade, but 'Charge* (WB ) 
took a' dive , will soon quit. 
'Lloyds' (Fox) is going ahead nicely 
and should continue to gbod biz. 

■ 'Show Boat', (U) " its 11th 
month and still rollin' .along. 'Jt 
Isn't Done; (C). goes intb the fifth 
week, but. has weakened. 

Rest includes, 'Winterset* (RKO), 
*His Lordship*^ (G-B), 'Oiice a Doc- 
tor* (WB), 'Criminal Lawyer' 
(RKO), 'Mad Holiday* (MG) and 
'Women are a Trouble', (MiG). 



Melbourne, .April .13. . 
Wet Easter gave the boys a hice 
break, but ..biz has eased somewhat: 
how. Lineup includes, 'Swing Time' 
(RKO), 'Rangle River' (Col), 'It 
Isn't Done' (Cinesound-), 'The Plains- 
man' (Par), 'Mary of Scotland* 
(RKO), 'His Lordship' (G-B), 'Rem- 
brandt' (UA) and 'Romeo and 
Juliet* (MG). 



New Zealand, Apriil 12.! 
Easter in Auckland, Wellingtdn, 
Christchurch and Dunedin was oke 
and American pix took the tbp spots- 
Features include; 'Rainbow oh the 
River' (RKO), 'Soft Lights' (GB); 
'Libelled Lady' (MG), 'Piccadilly 
Jim* (MG), 'Tarzan Escapes' (MG), 
and 'Girl of the Ozarks' (Par). 



Actor Sues for Full 
Payoff Despite Nix 
Of Permit by Got'I 

Vi , April 25. 
tto Wallburg, exiled .German 
comedian, is suing the "Theatre an 
der Wien management. He had 
signed a contract to apjpear i the 
comedy 'Das Duell' for four weeks, 
but received a permit for only one 
week. 

Court will haive to decide whether 
or not a theatre manager is respon- 
sible for nOn-receptioh of a -worker's 
permit. ' -a problem which has 
come up many times in the past . In 
various European countries without 
ever- being, solved. In this case, of 
course, it gains importance because 
of Wallburg's big name in cdhtTial 
Europe and the Nazi innuendos in 
the background. 



Italy Socks New Tax on DuNbing 
Of % S. Films Despite Hays Pact 



REICH NIXES 'PR ATER*; 
MONDIAL LOSES lOOG'S 



Vienna, April 24, 
Mondial, film company suffered a 
loss of apprbxinnately $100,000 by 
CJermany's i-efusal to admit its pro- 
duction rPrater* in the Reich. Ger-j 
man film chamber said the ban was 
because of the film's poor quiality 
and not fdr pdltical reasons. 

Though it is generally admitted 
that 'Prater*' was one of the .Weakest 
productions of Austrian film art, it$ 
rumdred that the German chamber 
retiailiated after the films 'Condot- 
tieri*. and 'Togger* were banned in 
Austria because of alleged Nazi 
leanings. 

Mondial will pow need inore finan- 
cial, backing. 



CAIRO FEARS 





Propaganda in European FOms 
May Help U. S. Indies in Japan 



Tokyo, April 15. 

European pix which havb been on 
the upgrade here for the past two 
years, in the future will Undergo 
considerably closer scrutiny before 
being purchased for distributipn in 
Japan. Propaganda angle is the .rea- 
sbh, the Japs being out of sympathy 
with th^. present tendency of Ger- 
man and 'Freiich productions in that 
direction. 

Russian pix have alwiays been a 
headache fdr Jap : exchanges^because 
of censorship difficulties, but the 
situatibn became so bothersome dur- 
ing the ; past year that Saneisha, 
principal importer of Russian, sub- 
jects, decided to discontipue han- 
dling them altogether. Previously, 
that company brought in an average 
of four a year. Japanese fear of the 
red doctrine is so great that sub- 
jects had to be reviewed by nearly 
all government departments, includ- 
ing the Army and Navy, in addition 
to the regular police cenSdr. Rus- 
si£\h trade commij^sion here fre- 
quently burned at Army censorship 
because a. White Russian was con- 
sulted. 

German productibns have not suf- 
fered greatly at the hands of the 
censor, biit both Towa :Shoji and 
Saneisha, principal buyers, complain 
that overdoses of propaganda, no- 
ticeable in recent importations, 
makes them dubioiis fare. Situation 
takes on a peculiar angle due to the 
get-together of the- two governnriehts 
in an ai^ti-red pact, Japan doiesn't 
relish Nazi propaganda through 
films, but doesn't like to appear Un- 



friendly via liberal use of shears. 

Criticism of French pix- isn't so 
niuch from the prbpaganda . angle as 
from ah alleged letdown in .quality. 
Distribs here attribute this tb the 
unstable .financial position of most 
French producers, 

ritish pix, heretofore, unpopular 
here, are beginning to command 
more respect frdm both exhibs and 
fani. 'Things to Come,' '39 . Steps,V 
'Iron Duke' and others, while ;not 
offering very -stiff competi^h for 
American product, paved, thfe way 
for a larget nuihber of importations, 
Laughtdn's 'Rembrandt,' now play- 
injg iat the Odeohrzaj Yokohama, is 
giving a .good account pf itself and 
exhibs are showing conisiderable inr 
terest in 'Firie Over England,' djue 
to arrive in the hear future. , 

. Opinion of principal, distribs seems 
to be that, with German and French 
subjects becoming less desirable, 
British supers and possibly, the best 
of American indieis will be used to 
fill the gap. Deals oh these are hot 
going to be as easy tb close as i 
the past,. ho\yever, because Jap ex- 
changes are now iihowihg a tendency 
to have a look befbre buying. Rea- 
son for wariness is. due tb the cen- 
sorship angle and to the fact that 
iliany subjects imported in the past, 
without streenihg, have been so un- 
suitable for the market that they 
didn't bring back their print cost. 

■ I>uring ' the past year several 
American indies have tried to. break 
into this market. . Grand National 
has been dickering for some time 
(Continued oh page 55) 



■Caird', April 18. 

General fear prigyails here that the 
screws will be tightened on foreign 
film firms iii general and IT. S; films 
in particular When the results of the 
capitulations conference at Montreiix 
are known. .Purpose: .of the edh- 
ference ' is to put the finishing 
touches to Egyptian independence by 
shaking oft "fiscal immunity'* of the 
f oreii^ community. 

Egypt has been; a paradise..; for 
foreign' firms to. date rhost of them 
hiaving to pay only nominal taxes, 
if any. Claimed now that this im- 
munity was ah injustice to the coun- 
try, which, has silffered keenly on 
account . df a revenue dearth. 

Current "amusement .tax," which 
was enacted in 1933 and mddified 
twd. years later, . is imposed bn en- 
trance, to i-ace nieetings, theatres, 
cinemas and varibus other forms of 
sport and entertainment if held 
w;ithin . the limits of Czvco, There is 
no corresponding tax outside of the 
city. 

Tax; is collected from the public 
by the house managers, who are held 
respdhsible by the Treasury Depart- 
ment. Charge aniounts tb !abbut 25c. 
first , class and half that foi^ second 
class in so-called 'Parimutuel enter- 
tainments.* For other entertainment 
it is a half cent, cent, cent-and-a- 
half, etc., on entrance fees up to' 25c. 
and 5c. on every 50c. or fraction. 

AH persons holding a taxable en- 
tertainment must give notice of it in 
prescribed foirms at least three days 
bfeiforehand and to see that those ad- 
mitted pay up and are given tickets. 
Privately printed tickets have to be 
presented for the revenue stiampl 
Gbvernment prints tickets for the 
aimounts of various taxes, which are 
purchasable aiid obviate the neces^ 
sity of red tape, 

Nbn-payment is penalized by Ad- 
mi istrative Seizure. -Heaviest penal- 
ties are a $5 fine, a week in prison 
and l5-day close-dowri. 

There aire now considerable mis- 
givings in pix circles, where itis be- 
lieved that with the collapse bf cap- 
itulations, . there will be. considerable 
withdrawal of . fbreign capital .from 
Egypt.. Business has already sharply 
decli and a number Of picture 
places may be. forced tb dose. En- 
couragement given the native: Misr 
Filmis and a general exodus of 
foreigners from the cbuntry. which 
has already started, make the out- 
look glbomy. 

: Total annual import of products 
ior . use in . photography and: cinema- 
tbgraphy in 1935 exceeded $580,000 
in value a considerable part of which 
wis Americani "Total of $10,000 
worth bf films wias imported frorn 
the U. S. via Palesti , and the fig- 
ure is classified under imports from 
Palesti 



NeilFs English Tieup 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Roy William Neill has signed a 
year's contract ,witl Gaumont-Brit- 
ish to direct, his .initial assignment 
being a George Arliss picture. 

Former ColUmbie irector has 
been in England working for Bxitish 
International l^icturcs the last six 
months. He has ssnt for his family. 



Rome, 

U. S. pix in Italy suffered a sever« 
blow last week when Italian authdt- 
ities decided definitely to up the tax 
on dubbing, thereby destrdyihg inost 
df the advantages .wdn for the iAmei- 
icatts by Will Hays* personal negotia- 
tions here a few ihohthis ago. 

Where tlie diibbing tax heretofor 
had been about $1,500 flat for all 
categories bf pix, it has how been 
moved to aiblDut $2,500 for the lowest 
earning category of films; that is, 
films with box-offic^ receipts of 
about $125,000. Above that category 
the' dubbing tax becomes abdut $750 
mdre fbr every additional $25,000 of 
box-office receipts. This staggiered 
dubbing tax 'goes from the minimum 
of $2,500 to the maximum of $5,500. 

Italian ^^authorities maintain that 
this new. regulation in no Wr 
changes the terms of the Hays agree- 
ments rejgardihg American imports 
into Itcily,, but repiresentatives 
American pix here claim that it. does. 
Hays was promised practically un- 
limited importation' of American 
films,, which is now being curtailed 
by putting: such a high; price dti (dub- 
bing that it will pay to import' only 
the surefire b.o. successeii. Further- 
more,.' it means, that American prd- 
ducers will .be f breed to spend even 
more of theii' earnings on; Italian 
taxes'than they -had before. 
.. Americans made repiresentations to 
thevltalian authorities while the new 
regulation was under discussion, and 
achieved some modification; of the 
tdrms originally drafted; but, now. 
that the regulation has gdne through, 
the Americans entertain, little hope 
of its . being : changed any more in 
their favor. 



CHINESE BAN 

FIM OF m 



Shanghai, April 15. 

Chinese government censors ban . 
and mutilate pix badly. 

y^Theodora Goes Wild* (Col) was 
entirely banned because the Japa- 
nese valet, Toki, resembled a Chi- 
nese seryaint, and hothihg menial or 
derogatory re .the .Chinese is allowed. 
All sequences of 'Polo Joe* (WB) re- 
ferring to China were cut. Result , 
was no cbntinuity and the pix as 
shown had to be pulled in two days. 
Joe E, Brown is unusually popular 
with Chinese audiences. 

'General Died at Dawn* (Par ), has 
been held up in Nanking since De- 
cember, although Gen. Tu, an offi- 
cial gpvernment adviser, assisted 
productibn. 

Distribs of Chinese pix, thoug 
'Good Earth* (MG) is not yet here, 
are moving heaven and earth.to have 
it banned. If passed it will be dne 
of the biggest b.o. pix in history here. 
Again Gen. Tu was the official ad- 
viser in Hollywood. 

Local Fox office is cutting Shirley 
Teihple's 'Stowaway' before subriiit- 
ti it to the. Nanking censors. Still 
questionablb Whether the board will 
dk it, however. 

In spite of the fact that the Cathay, 
theatre had bdoked 'It's Love A.ga\n' 
the Board.of .censors shijiped the film 
to .Hangchow. where Chiang Kiai- 
shek is recuperating, for • a private 
showing. Theatre and distrib ; have 
no recourse, suffering tWo days' 
bf extensive business.; 

Shanghai ; Settlement censdrs. 
banned -We Who Are About to Die* 
(RKO) after the Chinese had ok'd 
it. 



Lord Portal Fed Up? 



London, May 4, 
, Lord Portal, commercial magnate 
and chairman of General Film. Disr 
tri utors, the Charlies M. Woolf par- 
ent organization, and a director of 
the newly-formed Jatk Buchanan 
Film Corp., is reported resi ing 
from all his pix directoirafes. 

Understood his film investments 
total at least $5,000,000 and now said 
tb have told intimates he has no 
faith in future of British pix indus- 
try. Portal is heavily interested in 
Woolf 's ' participation in Universal 
and also iri all ■ other Woolf enter- 
prises. 



•tARIETT'B' LONDON OFFICE, 
S St. Mwrtla'« JPlMv, Tntfilvar Bqw 



IMTBRNATIONAL FILM NEWS 



Onltle AddrnNA: VARIKl'T, LONDON 
Telephone U'emple Hmr SiMl-IHHft 



19 





CONTROL? 




[ Ace Berlin Director, 
Flees; Nazis Seize His Bankroll 



Berli , May 4. 

Aeinhoid Schuenzel, generieaiy: 
considered top director now in 
Germany, who, megged 'Amphytrion' 
'Maedchen Irene/ has beeni 
secretly . skiddoo.ed , by the gov6rn^ 
mcnt. iReview of his newest picture 
for Tobls-Bpta, 'Land pf Love/ rie- 
sulted in, the film being .nixecj 24 
hours before opening. Schuenzel 
was given mairchihg orders. 

Unofficial explanation is that all 
of Schuenzel's picture^ contained 
numerous ..sly gibe? at. the ..present 
regime. No explanation is made &s 
to why these .gibes were never pre- 
viQUsly. .recogiiizei 

Oiitcomie of the buisiness; from. 
Schuenzel's standpoint, since .he is A 
non-Aryan, is, a confiscation ot all his 
financial holdihgis. 

Schuenzel. is. understood to have 
quit the country before the officials 
descended on him. In that . case he 
will never be able to reclaim any of 
his holdings here, nor pick up any 
of his bank savings. Doubtful 
whether he took any of it, with him 
since it is very di icult to take 
money out of the country. He is sup- 
posed here to be heading Hollywood- 
ward. 



TOHO^HOCHKU 
m CONTINUES 



Tokyo, April. 19. 

Dispute between Tpho aihd Sho- 
chiku, rival producers and distribs,. 
continues to hold the boards here, 
atid present indications point to the 
eventual involvenient of; nearly , all 
factors in the biz. Shochiku has been 
busy the past week lining; up small 
Indie producers to play ball with the 
Shochiku: block; composed of Sho- 
chiku, Nikkatsu, Shinko and Daito. 
So -far, favoralsle responses have 
been^teceived from ICoyo Eiga Com- 
pany, ;Kyokuto Production: Co.. and 
Makirto " Prods., Zenshp Kinema Co., 
is on the fence biit expected to de- 
cide next week. 

Being able to rely on product froni 
these, indies, Shochiku feels it will 
be in a position to siicbessfully resist 
any boycott instituted by Toho 
against Shochikurcontrolled spots. 

Toho's recent raids on talent ..of 
Opposish studios ct»me home to roost 
last week whien Shochiku hired lour 
of Takaraziika Girls' Opera (Toho) 
.stars for use i ictures. Thbugh 
inexperienced in pix, ^irls will have 
a certain draught in' the big cities, 
where opera has played. 
, Up to .the present thie Toho-Sho- 
chiiku scrap hasn't brought any new 
biz to forei ' , although it is' the 
opinion of some , exchange managers 
that it's, jjouhd come, if the rift 
continues. Feelitig is that when Sho- 
chiku houses in the country realize 
the weakness of jap indies, they will 
demand better product and turn to 
foreign l.ms:; 

"Toho received a set-back in its tiff 
with Shochiku when 300 members of 
the Kwanto (eastern. Japan) Cinema 
Guild passed a resolution censuring 
Toho for tactics pursued in hiring 
talent away from opposish studios, 
Underlying idea seemed ,tb be that 
exhibs fear an! increase in filin 
"ritals if Toho persists in boostinig 
talent stipends by open Warfare. 

BefoVe. adjournmenti meeting went 
on record as favoring rnembers con- 
iOg product to Shochiku, 

inko; Nikkatsu arid Daito, now 
i^nowrt as 'the big four:' 



Lothar to U. S. 

Vie)ina, Api'il 26. 
Lothar., manager of .Tosef- 
stadt theatre leaving for 

N. Y. 

Wilt work thert on two 6f his 
J^ooks. 'Romance in F Sharp' ' and 
.Mother of Justice' to adapt them for 
nim scenarios.' 



Harry Day, M. P. 



London, April 29. 

There's a guy in Parliament 
heire who has. constituted him- 
self an. unofficial champion oC 
the motion picture business, 

Name is Harry Pay, and he is 
always to the fore at quesiioa 
time, popping. his little 
queries which appear to have 
the effect of keeping the House 
of Comnions film conscious. 




Meet Called for 
Uf a, Tobis Reorgs 



Berlin, May 4. 

Minister Goebbels has 

called a meetirig of all film. folk here 
for tonight (Tuesday), probably for 
disclosures concerning the future o< 
UFA. Facts wiU be decided on dur- 
ing, an afternoon meeting of the head 
boys, and. disclosed at nigbt. 

Selection of a board of . irectors 
is ohie of the major items involved 
and information points to an ingress 
of actors , here. Probability js that 
Eugen iPloepfer, Paul Hartmann and 
Mathias Wiemann will be .made 
directors, paralleling the new setup 
on Tobis with. Fmil Jennings, Willy 
Forst and Gustav Gruehdgrens as the 
board. 

Recent Tobis upheaval involved 
some, important changes aind staff 
swapping. 

Dr. Hans Henckel and Dr. 
Fritzsche have . resigned from the 
Board of Directors of . both Tobis 
Europa and Tobis Rota Film. New 
board consists ^of the Messrs. Schef- 
fler, Mslinz and Jung; 

From the staff, Dr. Herbert . En- 
gelsing, formerly .head of the Boa^d 
of Managers at Tobis Eurojpa, has 
switched to Tobis, Incj as produc- 
tion supervisor, while Dr. Hermaiin 
Schwerin has left his job as director 
of the managing committee at Tobis 
Rota to handle all contract and lejkal 
questions for the Tobis production 
management. 

Hans Fischer is stepping into the 
vacancy made at Tobis Europa as 
vice manager and Wilhelm Bruening 
is holding down ; the same post at 
Rota. 



lEGION' BAN STIRS 
PARIS NEWSPAPERS 



Paris, April 24, 
Banning by the censors here of 
•Black Legion* ( WB ) has caused the 
press to unloosen; a. vitriolic iattack 
on the boys, demanding that the 
censor be suppressed entirely, 

Most every paper in the town was 
at one • on the assertion that, in 
turning thumbs, down: .the pic; the 
censor bverstepiped his duty, 

it is argued that there is no cen- 
sor for books or plays in this coun- 
try and that: there should be 
one for. films either. 



Pix CHina 

Shanghai. April 16: 
Best b.o. pix here now are 'Re- 
union' (20th), 'eamille'(MG).. 'God's 
Country' (WB), 'Three Smart Girls' 
( ), 'Girl. From Paris'' (RKO),' 'One 
in Million'' (20th). . Spanky' 
(MG), 'Ifs Love Again' (GB) and 
'Great Ziegfeld' (MG ). 



B.asil Dean lent Denham 

London, April. 20- 
Basil Dean is going on loan to 
Denham to direct irst and Last,' 
fi-6m a John Galsworthy play. 

Cast, includes Leslie Banks. .Vivien 
Leigh and Laurence Olivi 




Inlra-OrgAnizatidnlal Battle 
for Doininance— Several 
F a «. t i o h a 1 - Group*' — 
Hutchinson'* Ho|fts 



KENT TRIP SOON 



Sydney, May 4. 

There's a good deal inore to tlie^ 
Greater Uhion-Hoyts' . General The- 
atres tahj^e than appears on the sur- 
face.. Behind the curtains, it is now 
pfficially I6arped h^fe, .is 20th Gen-: 
•tury-Fox,.. way Qfl^/in New York, 
pulling strings which may yet even- 
tuate in that American company get- 
ting control of the wibiole business. 

Principal characters In what Is 
now adniittedly a battle for control 
are Stuart F. Doyle, managing di- 
rector of Greater Union; Charles 
Muhrp, managing director of Hoyts; 
Norman Rydge, chairman of the 
board of directors of Greater Union; 
and Ddyle and Muniro as co-directors 
of General Theatres. Plus, of course, 
20th-F6x, which owns majority con- 
trol of Hoyts. 

Between them, Hoyts and Greater 
Union have a practical nvonopoly of 
the market here, and both are power- 
ful outfits. But, when the; world mar- 
kets went blah in 1930, bankers 
forced a consolidation into one 
powerful chain for the entire con- 
tinent: This was fine while it was 
necessary, but- debts are now cleared 
lip, profits are piling lip : and neither 
Munrp nor Doyle, are anxious to play 
ball together any longer. Each would 
prefer to be alone. 

After arguing ith each other 
about it for some time, Doyle made 
a: trip tb England about seven months 
ago and laid the first f pundatiohs for 
reorganization of , his ov/h chain on a 
separate basis. . He got the offer C(t 
all the coin he wanted there, picked 
up some more in New York and was 
set to go.' Returning here he,.bumped~ 
into .unexpected opppsitibh ,6n his 
own; board, several" members of 
Which wanted to know what was the 
matter with local money. 

While he was thinking up ah an- 
swer to this one, returning thie Eng- 
lish bankroll with polite thanks and 
writing in the home coin, Hoyts wa* 
not , sitting still. Munro had ideas 
of his own, and they consisted of 
building up his chain, erecting the- 
atres, refurnishing, polishihg, .etc. 
Doyle stopped his financial maneuv- 
ering to enter into the building com- 
petish. 

That made a curious position. 
Here •Were two /partners in a giant 
enterprise manipulating their per- 
sonal ends within that enterprise. 
While this was g.oing on, Asprey sud- 
denly rushed pff to New York and 
London. Asprey . is head of Doyle's 
board and was supposedly 100% for 
Doyle, but suddenly it turns but :he 
has ideas of his own and these ideas 
consist strictly of making the most 
profit, individually or \yith pai:tners. 
. What exactly Asprey iaccpmplished 
in New York isn't known, but sud- 
dehly it became evident that the two 
comipanies, all set to go !their sepa- 
rate ways in Decernber, might .not 
do So, They might tiry another year- 
or so as partners. And Aspreyv in- 
stead of going right back, -has r,e- 
miained quietly in New York, wait- 
ing silently, but hot talking; 
New Tangrents 
, hew tangents creep 
Walter HutchihsOn, foreign manager 
of 20th-Pox, looks ,.ovir the A'u.s- 
tralian market, on home soil and 
rushes b.atk, to report to Sid. Kent, 
20th prexy, .ithout giving, out aiiy 
Statements, kent sends, for Miihro! 
and Munrp ill. ' shepherd both 
Hutchinson and Kent ba6k. to Syd- 
ney iiijsixweek.s. Why should Kent 
have t,o m^ke .a trip to . Australi ? 
Why should Hutchinson rhake two 
trips here in a. year? ., Why should 
Munro rush oyer to .talk' to them 
first? ' Why should Asprey' spend 
four months in "New Yprk? 

Nobody knows the answers — they 
say. But from behirid the screen, a 



Gov t Declares Itself Definitely 
Ih Favor of Quota Prolwigation ' 
In Enfjand on a ll^Vear Basis 



London, April 27. 
: Pronouncement ia Parlianient that 
the Goyernmetit is definitely in fa-; 
yor of ia further 10-year motion pic- 
ture quota tbrows the matter of new 
legislation into sharp fpciis, and in- 
dicates the basis on which all fur- 
thier trade negotiations must be dis- 
cussed. 

Till now all representations haV.e 
been niade in the dark, with ho in- 
dication, of the Gov't attitude, al- 



Quota Battle 






Sydney, April 16. 

Dirty linen ia commencing to creep 
out on the Quota line as pressure 
is being put on the American dis- 
tribs. Latest, airing slaps at the al- 
leged stranglehold over exhibs in tbe 
Victorian nabes by certain Arherlcah 
distribs. Stated that British pix are 
kept out of these spots by the 
Americans because of tieups with the 
exhibs, and that even should a ilrit- 
ish pic be played, the Americans 
grab a share of the takipgs. 

Metro and Par are operating in a 
considerable way ih the Victorian 
habes by supplying their pictures ex- 
clusively to around-20. houses, called 
'Independent Suburban "rheatres.' 
These are operating' mostly against 
the Hoyts chain of nabes, and came 
about during a film war some time 
ago, Metro-Par tie here has been a 
sore point with many interests for a 
long; period, and from time to tiipe. 
government interferience has been 
threatened. i 

It was this same film war which 
started Metro and Par looking for 
city theatres, after they had refused 
to make deals with the major units. 
Today Metro has its own thpatres in 
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, 
with Par running in Melbourne and 
having ace outlets in Sydney and 
other centres. 

, Both Metro and Par. have denied 
that they were financially interested 
in these nabe theatres; denying also 
that they were against British pix, 
simply stating they were supplying 
pix wherever possible. 



Metro Looks Set at The 
Denham Studios, London 

London, May 4. 

Negotiation for Metro to enter the 
production field here in the newly 
constructed but unopened Paiil 
Soskin's Amalgamated .-Studios is 
now cold. 

Every likelihood riow that Metro 
will accept the favorable terms from 
Prudential -to pr-pduce at Denham; 



veiled but authoritative voice ;says 
the contract for General Theatres to 
continue as a merged conripany " ill 
bc; renewed and- for a 20-year period. 
WhetherJDoyie likes it or not. 



Charles Munro in .New York 
waiting.- for. talk's with Kent and 
Hutchirison about things. .He'll be 
able to explain the situation -more 
.fully, he thinks, in a short time. He 
sai|s back to Australia. on June -23. 
Hutchinson, arid Kent will- foUow him 
a moiVih or so lat6i'. ] 

Koivt is ' currently abroad but is 
due back May 18, ih time for 2p-i'0x's 
convention in Lbs Angeles, May 31_. 

Asprey says he isn't ih a .position 
to di.scuss his New York- business at 
present. But soon, he think.s, there 
may be a statement. 



though it \ya9 generally felt in the 
trade that the general recommenda-' 
tlons of Lord Moyne's report .would 
riecieive favor in Parliament, ; 

Revelation, came fronri Walter 
Runcinriain, president of the Board 
of Trade; who Indicated in. a House 
of Commons reply to questions, that 
the Gov't supported continuation, of 
the qupta and wpuld .' introduce the. 
necessary legislation bcfpr the end 
of the. current year. He was vmable 
to. give a lead On what scales of 
quota .would be imposed, 

More peliberWtloiiaf 

Also made clear by,Runciman v/as 
that no bill would be drafted with-., 
out further intensive dcUbcratldns 
with trade Interests. 

Simultaneously with the House of 
Commbhs .statement came discussion 
in the House Of Lords on the same 
5'ubject, when members of the Upper 
Chamber supported a motion that 
all step>$ should be taken to a.ssist 
foundation of the vBritlsh . mpti , 
picture Industry on a firm basis,. 
Features of that debate were an Ap- 
peal for reciprocity in the United 
States, together with a statement 
from ohe Peer that British' produc- 
ers, should citltivate the 'nocc.ssary 
blatancy' to assert British ideas on 
the screen. 

^ Reciprocity angle was stressed at 
a meeting of important national inf 
terests when a rcisplutipn was 
passed urging 'allowance ih new 
quota legislation If or representing 
the national point of view in motion, 
pictures. Meeting decided to' form 
a British Films Advancenient Coun- 
cil, with a view to emphasizing the 
cultural importance of British films. 

It , also.' will seek public siippbrt 
for 'such legislation or' mcasuries as ' 
may be necessary to assure to Brit- 
ish films fair trfea.tnient in ail. coun- 
tries which market fllnrts ' the 
United Kingdom.' 

Jofnt Trade Meets 

These new turns in the general 
situation will not affect the geiieral 
course of the joint trade conversa- 
tions, which are being resumed 
within a few days, though the Gov't 
statement gives .sorhethlng definite 
to talk aboyt. . Actually, the parties 
concerned have something more im- 
mediately affecting them on. their 
mlnds'-T-the problem of determining 
a ^>asis of understanding ' between 
exhibitors and distributors on one 
side, as opposed to the producers on 
the othen 

"Trouble is that the prpducers arc 
demanding a, bargain as the price ot 
their ' partfcipation in joint talk.s, 
that price. ))eing a concerted drive 
for reciprocity in the U.S. nrtarkct. 

Exhibs and distribs have .so far 
viewed the discussions as a matter 
of domestic adjustment only, and 
jointly declare that the: producers' 
.demand is. outside the scope of the 
present set-up. Unless a bbsis of un- 
derstanding can be reached at the 
next session, tiie fabric of the Whole 
convcrsatiohs may crumble. 

Other eadacties 

ther problem affecting 
smooth, progress of the talks is 
where exhibs and distributors can 
meet oh the matter of functions of 
a joint trade arbitraiion comrnitteCi 
Exhibs still declare in favor of a 
body . with statutory power of ap- 
peal- to the. Gov't as final arbiter of 
tradfe ifferciices; distribs, however, 
declare they will sutjgost machinei-y 
for handling defaulters without ro- 
.sort to iaw. , 

Exhib.s also rourldly affirm thoy 
will not bie content, with ah ree- 
.ment 11 ;lou to the quota .;niatter; 
they desire an, uncier.standing on all 
hrialters tliat have irked tliei" . over a 
pei'lod oli years, In brief, they sec- 
this as their opportuiiity Of break- 
ing down the front which, tlie dis.- 
tribs have solidly preserved lot the 
past 10 years in dictation of tradi 
policy. This tl\ey see as the lair 
price to the demand of the distribs 
in return for support, on the quota 
problem. 



14 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



OJ^.' 0/1 



- 

I:/ 



km 




jr^-'^V-t'- 



Paramount^s 



MAKE WAY FOR 



TOMORROW is 



so 



human 



that 



it hurts! 



Los Angeles Daily Neivs 



> Produced and directed by LEO McCAREY, 

who made "Ruggles of Red Gap". . . defied studio 
chiefs with famed '^Gettysburg Address" scene 
by Charles Laughton . . . offered to tear up his 
contract and work for less than his salary just to 
make *'Make Way for Tomorrow". . . and won! 



Cpa mmount 




Wednesday, Miiy 5, 1937 



VARIETY 




"MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW is a Critic's Picture! 

"One of finest motion pictures to emerge from Hollywood in many 
seasons!" writes enthusiastic Douglas Churchill in New York Times 
{Sunday, May 2nd) . . ."Another 'Over the Hiir and 'Stella Dallas'!" 
says Los Angeles Times ... "90 minutes of most soul- stirring drama 
screen has seen!" says Daily Variety. . /Teems with human drama," 
says Motion Picture Daily. . "Will keep audiences happily balanced 
between smiles and tears," says Hollywood Reporter. 

"M%kf irilrfOR TOMORROW' ii (Ninon's Pjcturaf 

Read these comments from leading national clubwomen, educators, 
organization leaders*:"Hope everyone in America will see it at least once" 
. . ."Stirs heart and mind"i.."Has tremendous appeal"... " Wish every^man, 
woman and child could see it"..."Recommend it heartily*\.."Magnificent!" 

''MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW is a Man's Picture! 

Read what men in East and West Coast preview audiences said about 
it* : "Grand, richly deserves success" . "Human and appealing" 

. . ."Should be one of season's outstanding successes" "Tremeridous 

moving panorama of life". . ."You'll want to see this a^ain and again." 

''MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW is a Mass Audience Picture! 

Trade paper previewers peg it as box-ofl&ce in any theatre for every 
audience: "Bring in handsome returns . . . refresh large audience," 
says Hollywood Reporter. . ."Will b^ widely discussed . . , have stimu- 
lating effect on box-office," says Daily Variety . . ."When a picture has 
heart, public is quick to rally to its support. *Make Way for Tomorrow' 
has heart appeal," says Motion Picture Daily . . ."Puts Paramount on a 
new high standard," says Box-Office . . "Can easily stand alone," 
says Showmen^s Trade Review . . . 

^Original copies of signed statements on file. 



MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW 

with VICTOR MOORE 



BEULAH BONDI • FAY BAINTER * THOMAS MITCHELL 

Produced and directed by Leo McCarey • a Paramount Picture 



16 



VARIETY 



FILM REVIEWS 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



CAFE METROPOLE 

1 )h ;Cent<)vy-Fox release of Nunnally 
JohnKon. pniiluctlon. Stars Loretta Youns, 
'XJ'i-one Power, Artolphe. Menjou. jFeatures 
Giesory Batoff. ChurJca Winnlnger, Heleii 
■W-cstley; -Dlicctcd by H. (Irlrtlth. Scr6e](i 
play, Ja<'.<inen Dcval .from original by 
IlHtofTi 'Canicrn. Ijuclen Ahdrlot; asst. dl- 
ifclor; "William Forsyth; nim cdttcjr, Trejie 
Mori a; musical rtlrectlon.LoulH Silvers. At 
llivolt, N. Y., wceli April 28, '37. Bunnlng 
i liJle, Si in Ins. 

I^iiuia KlilKeway. . . .:. , . i .Lorclta. Young 

Alexis. . . ; . . . . . .Tyrone Power 

Monsieur ViOtoV. .......... . Adolphe Menjou 

Th ul • Gregory Ratoft 

.TosMili Rldgewny. ....... ClVnrle.s "Wlnnlnger 

MniKHret. Rldgeway. ...... .Helen ; Wcstley 

Monsieur Leon Mpnnet . . . .,»..,.... ... . 

Fei-dlnand GottBdhalk. 
JMoNl Schin'ner........ Christian Bub 

Multle. WHoteJ . . .... . . . .GeorffOB. 'Bnnavcnt 

Att^'ndant .Fredrlk; Vogedlng, 

Arllst, . . . .I-eonfd Klnskey 

Arthur Thorndi ke, . . . ..Hal. K.. Dawson 

Gendarme. , . . . : . • . . . ..... . .Albert Contl 

,1an Hublnl .Thcmselve.s 
t'oiler. ..:>.....;. ... . . . . . . . .Leonid Snegoft. 

Hoin Manager.... ..........Arnriand Kallz 

Police OWclal. ...... Porcasl , 

'Cafe Metropole' is an above aver- 
agfB fil It's smarti sophisticated 
(not too much so); has the proper 
romantic ingredients, atvd will please 
♦iem^alniost anywhere: The rriarquee 
is more thiin iadequately taken cafe 
of;- . -..^ 

.. The Parisian background is . solid 
stiiff for the fans," and there's enough 
of the high society backgrounding 
arid intrigue to hold. But most im- 
portant are the. technical niceties 
which weld it together, ranging firom 
Nunnally Johnson's production and 
Edwrard H. Grriffith's direction to an 
exceptional scripting job by Jacques 
Deval. This French playwright has 
captured the American cinematic 
. idiom in grand manner, so much so 
it is to wonder at his linguistic agil- 
ity as regards some of the idiomatic 
phraseology. There's a terrific tag- 
Jine which climaxes the proceedings, 
and it's strictly an Americanism. 
Which, of * course, brings up the 
thought anient Nunnally Johnson's 
dialogic coiitributioh. 

The story is more than a '.Grand 
Hotel' of a smatt Parisian cafe. 
Action moves in and out of the smart 
eatery jtsuggesting Maxim's), and is 
' interspersed with , a flock of . spar- 
kling twists and' nuances, 

Gregory Ratofl authored the orig- 
inal, and while he didn't overwrite 
himself a fat pprt it's a; pat chatacter- 
izatiph which 'he carries off neatly. 
When he sheds his mienial cloak as 
a waitet" in the Gaife Metropole, and 
makes Menjou, the Boniface of the 
joint, , kowtow io the waiter-pf -to- 
day - who - was-arR'ussianrnoblemah- 
of-anothef-day, it's' a isterling piece 
of directorial and histrionic jockey- 
ing. 

Menjou is consistently the scoundrel 
but his ' skullduggery well nigh 
makes him walk off with the cake, - 
Loretta Young id cast as the head 
strong American heirpss; Power is 
the pseudo-Russian lirince, put in 
that spot through a gambling , scrape 
with . Menjou, which th?it perpetual 
Echeriier seeks to , capitalize. Miss 
Young, if at times, running a bit ber- 
serk on realisrii, is given more than 
adequate support by Wi inger and 
Miss Westley, capitally personating 
her wealthy parents. 

Deval, who authored the play 'To 
varich,' again mixes up Russian roy 
alty with the bourgeoisie stuff, this 
time interpreted , for the screen. It 
generally counts for heavy returns. 
The touch where Ratoff, metamor- 
phosed from waiter to royalty, lights 
his cigaret with a 1,000-franc note- 
after but a few minutes before be 
ing in service, is deft direction, So 
is the running gag with the leap- 
yearing heiress and the phoney ar 
rest of the American millionaire on 
the boat-train to Havre. 

A lapse in creduity, seemingly a 
cutting deficiency, is a Latin quarter 
cafe scene where^ the romantic, leads 
are . shown ,in^ a romantic buildup, 
But in totd it's light and the gen 
eral romantic flavdr makes it pleas- 
antly sea5>onal film amusement. ' 
■ Support; while incidental, is adept 
throughput. . Lucien Andriot's cam- 
era is siiave, Louis Silvers' musical 
setting is pleasant, and the general 
decor big league. So is the picture 

Abel, 



■ ■ • . ■ /• 

formed in a brief prolog of the bby's 
crimes, the script then being con- 
cerned with a re-enactment of the 
killings, giving an alleged insight 
intP the psychology of the murderer. 

The film treatment eliminates the 
prolog and tells the story on a who- 
dunit formula. Latter does not 
heighten the entertainment angle, 
and sacrifices some of the patholog- 
ical intevest. 

Studio hias introduced a novelty 
touch, however, in aissigning Robert 
Montgomery,': heretofore of the com? 
edy brigade, : to characterize the 
killer of 'Night Must Fall.' He dupli- 
cates, to the smallest i)iece of busi- 
ness, the interpretatiPti of the same 
role as played by Williams , on the 
stage. His is a realistic imitation, 
3Ut such, fan support, as Montgpniery 
has gained likely to be missing 
when this picture is shown. .. The 
sudden contra.st of his, role as a mur- 
derer is very sharp. The appearance 
of Montgorhery in aj part which is the 
antithesis of his pattern may be art,, 
but it's riot box offictf; Vic Mac- 
Lagien' found the same condition 
When h6 switched over. 

liosalirid Russell is' co'Starred., If 
lef part is vaguely defined in some 
respects, it has been . written that 
way. . She intuitively siispects . the 
youth to be the murderer, but be- 
comes fascinated and then infatuated 
3y his consummate ' nerve as • he 
brazenly faces his accusers. Finally, 
it is she who exposes him, Miss 
Russell' portrays feat, horror and 
revulsion. Not pleasaht, thotigh well 
done. 

. Dame May Whitty and Kathleen 
Harrison, of the original Liondon and 
N(pw York stagie casts, repeat excel- 
lent performances.. In lesser parts 
are Alan Marshall* E, E, Cliv.ei Mat- 
thew Bbul tori. Merle Tottenham, and 
: Beryl Mercen 

Picture sp^lendidly produced 
while there is finesse in the direc- 
tion of Richard Thorpe. 

Locale is an English . village :arid 
quite a few British players have small 
bits which gives them all a. ch'ance 
to spread the cockney" pretty thick, 
and with vai-iatioris. They should 
get together on one set of signals. 

'Night Must Fair, will have plenty 
of box pffice trouble. Flin. 



WAY OUT WEST 

Mitro release of Hal Boach production. 
StarB Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. , Di- 
rected by .Janies W. Home. Screenplay by 
Charles Rogera, Felix Adler. and Janica 
Parrott from original by Jack Jeyne.and 
Charles Rogers;, musical director, Marvin, 
Hatley; camera, Art Lloyd and Walter 
Lundln. At Blalto, N. Y., week May 3, 
'37. Bunnlng tlmis, W m\ng. 
Stanley ; . . . .'. V . ." ................ Stan T>aurel 

Ollle- ...... . . ........ i .. . .. .'. .Oliver- Hardy 

Lola Marcel. ............. ....Shtiron Lynne 

Mickey Finn. ; . . .. ; ..... . . :.Taines Flnlayson 

Mary Roberta. ............ Roslna Ijawrence 

ShierllT. . . . . . . . . .... ... .Stairiley Fields 

Sheriff's Wife ........ .... .Vivien Oakland 

The AVivloh Boys. .'.Themselves 
Dinah .Herself 



Miniature Reviews 



♦Cafe Metropole' (26th). Very 
pleasing romantic comedy with 
good names. 

'Niffht Must Fall' (M-G). Robt» 
Montgomery as a murderer. 
.Too . long and not bpxoffice. 

'Way Out WtSst' (Metro )i 
Laurel-Hardy clpwriing in 
western, atmosphere for thin 
returns.. For added feature on 
dualers. 

^We llave, Our Momeirits' (U). 
Mildly . entertaining, romantic 
comedy which ireunites Sally 
Eilers arid James Dunn as a 
team. Okay as No. 2 feature ori 

ins. 

'Motor Madness' (Col). An- 
othei: thr-illei: for the dual list, 
with Allen Brook, newcomer, 
showing promise. 

'Soils: of . the City' (M-G). No 
marquee strength. lemental 
•stuff with some nice photog- 
raphy but heeds bolstering idt 
io.o. allure. 

•Men in Exile' (WB). Melo- 
drariia will provide stalwart 
support on double feature piiro- 
^ifam; ;Dick Pufcell and June ;. 
Triavis in leads. . 
; 'RParin' Lead' (Rep.). ifty 
mesa dtamai ith allure foir 
adialts and ki ori the mul- 
tiples. 

'Outcasts Fliai' 
(RKO). Slowrriioving. versipa- 
of Bret Harte epic with Pxestpn 
Foster and . Jean . Miiir; best 
where two - features pirevail. 



W^ Have Our Moments 

Universal reledse tt Edmund Grainger 
production. Stars Sally Eilers, James 
Dunn, Mlscha. Aiier, Features .Warrcii 
Hymer. . Marjorte GatesOn, Thurston Hall. 
Directed by A^f^ed L. Worker. Story, 
David Belderi and Fredrick . Stephanl; 
adaptation.. Bruce Manning and Charles. 
Grayson; film editor. . Frank . Gross;- camr 
era, Milton Kraaner. At- Palace. N.-Y.j on, 
dual bill week April 2tt, '37. Buiinlng time, 
W} mtns. 

Mary Smith ...Sially Ellcrs 

John Wade '.-...James Dunn 

GilUnd ..i......... David NIvcn 

Enrico Musscttl Mlscha Auer 

Sniacksey Warren Hymer 

Mrs. Butherford Marjorle Gateson 

Rutherford Thurston Hall 

Miss Klotz Virginia .Sale 

Clem Portef .; . Grady Sutton 

The Captala .... Bay Brown 



handled. Otherwise, 'Mptof Mad- 
ness' is only lively entertainmieht lor 
double programmers. 

Th^ time-worn plot of a small boat 
manufacturer who must win a^ big 
international cup race to prove his 
worth has been further complicated 
by having the customary crooks 
operating frorii a gambling ship (aii 
old custom off the Galifornia qoast). 
By doing this and also, spotting thein 
in the role of assisting wanted crimi- 
nals past the. 12-mile zone the, au- 
thors have riianaged to stir, iip plenty 
of action besides the thrill of watch- 
ing zooming niotor boats. 

Not only does the film ishow the 
way for Allen Brook, but it further 
establishes Georgp Ernest as one of 
the rising moppets. 

Brook, of . course, the hero 
mechanic, who „ falls in with , the 
gangsters, but attempts to correct his 
wrong step the . rest of the film. 
Rosalind Keith makes an effective 
heroine, with little to 4° except get 
injured and then recover in time to 
straighten put the' romantic twist. 
Joseph Sawyer, as , a coast guaird 
officer in love with the girlj proves 
sufficient in a subsidiary role.' 
George": Ernest, cast in the role of an 
orphan lad, supplies human interest 
arid lighter moments without going 
precocious. Riemairider of cast is 
standard. - 

Direction is adequate considering 
material. Production values are con- 
fined to gambling ship interior and 
.hospital scenes, but satisfying for. 
tjpe of picture. Dialog is in keep- 
ing with plot and at times shows 
sparkle. Wear. 

SONG OF THE CITY 

(V^tH iSONG^) 

Metro-Gbldwyn-Mayer release of Lucien ' 
Hubbard 'and Michael Fessler production. 
Features Margaret. Lindsay, Jeffrey Dean, 
J. CuiToll Natsh, Kat. Pendleton. \ Dlrecte^ 
by EiTol Taggart. Original and screenplay 
by Michael Fessler; 'music. Dr. .William 
Axt; songs, Gus ' Kahn; . camera, Leonard 
Smith. At Fox, Brooklyn, dual, -week April 
:iO; -lfla7. Running tlme« 7a imlns. 

Angelina. . ..<;...: ^ .Margaret Lindsay 

Paul errick. ^. Jeffrey Dean 

Mario. . . ■. ; .' . .' J. - Carrol I^lah 

Behveiiutd., . . . . . . Nat Pendlbton 

Xomnriy. . . ... . .... ... .-.> .Sta.nley Morner 

Jane Lansing...... Maria Shelton 

Mrs, Ramandl., ... .',., . .Inez Palange 

Mr. Baihahdl. .-.r. Ch&rles Judeli^. 

Guldo Edward Norrls 

Marge .- Fay Helm 

Tony ; , rank PugUa 



NIGHT MUST FALL 

^Ietro.-GoJd^yyn-Mnye^ TcleaBe of Hunt 
Stronibei'K prbductlofl; Stars Robert Mont- 
KOhici'y Hnd Bos'allnd Russell. Featured, 
Danie May Whitty. Merle Tottenham,. Alnn 
War.shall, Kathleen . Ha^^rlson. Directed by 
Blchurd ThorjiP. Screen play, John von 
Drutcn from stage piny by Emjyn 'WII- 
lliirn.s. Photography, Ray June; flim editor, 
Jlobrit J. Kern; .Score, Edwnvd W/trd. At 
Capitol, N. Y., . ,week April 29, ' '07. .Run- 
ning ilmje, 110 mins. 

Donny ....... ,V .... . . .-1 . .Robert Montgomery 

.OllVi'ii J ...... . . . .Rosalind Russell 

Mr- HHunHon. arht'.Miiy \Vhltty 
•1 uHi in . . . . . Alan Marshall 

D'oi.i ..^Morle Tottenham 

Wi-.M.-' 'r«Mori('( .'. ....... . ..K.ithleeri Harrison 

HH,sl!;f . , . ..'..MnttliV'W Bnulton 
Ndiho. . . . i, . ,Eily 'Malyon 

«ui<U'. . .'. i .R TO. Olive 

.Siilt'.sliia-y. .-. . . . . . .,, . . .... ; . .Beryl MeiVer 

iVIi-j). iiui lu. . , ..... ... .... . ."Winifred Harris 



There is no, reason to anticipate 
any greater popular success as a 
film for this translatibn of Emlyn 
Williams' stage shocker than the orig- 
inal enjoyed during its brief Broadr 
way engageriient last autumn. It's 
tedibus, slow (runs almcit two 
hours), and even dull in spots. Nor 
is it a very convincing analysis of 
the merital processes of a youth who 
has just murdered one, woman and 
is planning to kill another. Show 
ran a full year in London. 
In the play the audience was in- 



Latest Laurel-Hardy opus just 
about extinguishes the good results 
achieved in 'Our Relations,' previous 
effort. 'Way Out West' will do, most 
of its pibneering.on.the lower side 
of doubl<i-bill teams. Picture may 
gain a share of patronage through 
the comedy team's showing made in 
preceding releases,, but after that it 
will be tough sledding. 

Manner in which this comedy fal- 
ters and stumbles along is probably 
due both to formula direction and 
scripting, . Three are credited with 
the scenario and two for the original 
story. Seemingly too many took a 
hand; plot, reads that way. 

In general pattern the latest Lau- 
rel and Hardy' entry follows closely 
the old hiethods .iised on their feat- 
ure ishortsi There's too much driving 
home of gags. Sevieral of them are 
new or are given new twists, but the 
ponderous way in which they are 
put Over washes oiit their expected 
effect. 

Laurel and .Hardy sing and dance; 
in . this one, both to neat returns.. 
They fail to follow up the advantage 
achieved in , their preceding film by 
not talking again or working their' 
chatter in effectually, .Instead, this 
looks like a. series of gags loosely, 
strung togelhier. 

The two boys are -commissioned to 
deliver a deed. to a gold mine. They 
find put. afteir handing ,'that 
the valuable paper has been given to 
the wrong girl. Hence, the mad race 
to readjust miattens. On. this thin 
frariiework hang- all. of the quips. 
And Oliver: Hardy falls into a pool 
of water for the third tiirie as the 
eventual fadSout arrives; 

For the Laurel-Hardy ifans, who 
howl at anything the pair does, they 
may appear as comical as ever; They 
wear their usual costume's, despite 
the cpwjjoy-western surroundings., 
Sharon Lynne comely blonde, w.orks 
hard to gain , prbminencie in a rOle 
that might well have been made 
more of. Instead, James Finlayson 
again is ca.st as villaih-straight man, 
which, further slows up the action; 
Rosiha Lawrence, he^roine who's sup- 
posed to . inherit the gold mine, .ap- 
pears only for fleeting glimpse.'?. 
Stanley Fields, in thie role of s'hieriff; 
is totally wa.sted: The Avalon -Boys 
contribute a few bars of harmony for 
added production value. 

Slari Laurel is given, partial credit 
for being producer, Which probably 
proves that he is best as a comic. 
Several. <;mart lines creep into the 
.spar.sity of dialog, but most of it is 
fundamental wordage. Wcor. 



Sally Eilers and, James Dunn are 
reteamed in this light programmer, 
which- as the No. 2 feature on dou- 
bles, will manage to get by. In, sin- 
gle feature territory, it represents a 
hazardous b;o. Undertaking because; 
of its lack of entertainment force 
and the fact that neither Miss Eilers. 
nor Dunn is strong enough to pull it 
across. 

Production and story follow tried- 
and-true foutirie: lines, but in the di- 
rection of some sequences fair com- 
edy value has been obtained, ided 
not . a little by the jperf ormances - of 
some of the cast, notably Mischa 
Auer, as a French detective, lahd 
Warren Hyrher, who does an Amer- 
ican crook. In the deyelopmeint of 
the plot and the love' Interest, both 
the action and dialog frequently get 
very commonplace, at the same time 
slackening tip the pace. 

Edmund Grainger's productipn is 
built around the effprts of an Amer^ 
ican trio which' is going to Europe 
to dispose of $100,000 in hot riioney 
With a detective on the boat hover- 
ing over themi they Cache the loot 
in a trunk belonging to a school- 
teacher who's going abroad on a va 
cation. Efforts to. retrieve the money, 
in addition to' the romance built up 
between Miss Eilers and Dunn, car 
;ries the action along to cohven 
tional close. 

i)unn. plays . the detectiVe-rp- 
mancer in "familiar, stereptyped 
manner. ' He's riot as likable in the 
. part assigned him (.here as iri some 
he' has previously,'; played, being a 
smart-aleck, roiighiieck type of cop. 
Miss Eilers gives an eVen perform- 
ance that's puickly forgotten; Auer 
is the standout, while good support 
comes from Hvmcr, Marjorie Gate- 
sOn, Thurston Hall and David Niyen 

Char;. 



MOTOR MADNESS 



Colnnibla. prodnrtlon 
tiircs: no.saDtld Kpllli. 
rrclf-d -;by I). Uoss T.,0(1 
KrPd NIblp. .Tr..:and (ir 
Allen (t. . .SlPi:ler. ,Al 
.wcfik April 'Jli. ' '.'17, on 
nliig liiiic. 01 ir)ln.<:. 

Pogpv McXc-ll.- ; . 

,7bo Dun . . . 

Rbilf-r ; , ; .-. . .-. 

c;ivcn.^. 

Ciii) Mc'NVil. .'. . ; ; 

Lui>lfy -nMynion.!) . 

.StPvn Dolaii 

Piihcho 

.Tir'ff . ...... . . ; . 

Prip Hiillpy. . ... , , . , , . . .- 
'Sllkc Bn'ms.' . . . ... . . . . . 



and relf.'iHe. Fp.i- 
AlVrn - Bi'ook. T.li- 
(.•rm:'in. Siirrenplny,- 
U'O Neville; cfmient,- 
. ."SI nitVI,' Hm()Ulyn„ 
dbii'Ule'. 111. u 

... .Tlo-snli hil KoiHi 

AlW'n--11mok 

, . . ,-Miivo Liiwrfncn 
. . .-. . . Ulc'lKU-d 'l^i ry 
. . , ,'J. M. SKorrigim 
. -. . .\. . >.Artbi)r -Tjiifl 
, . . . ..'lo.>,en)i .f>rt\vypr, 
. . .-. .(feoi'Kp vrrnf.if 

: , ..M llill 

, V . . ..Tobn .'ryri-pll 
. . . iKalril) Jtynl 



A swiftly . rrioyingi but loosely 
joihled story of racing rhotorboats 
and crook.";, thi.s picture serves as 
introductory vehicle for yoiing Allen 
Brook. As such, it shows him as 
Ohe of the more promising young 
leading men to hit the Hollywood 
horizon. Reading his lines well, 
Brook should go places if properly 



This picture is going to require 
bolstering almost everywhere be- 
cause it not only lacks marqueie 
strength but in trying to' be vig- 
orous it makes a presiimptuous story 
of what might have been a nice, 
homey tale of the Italian fisherfolk 
quarter in San Francisco. It's riot a 
'Song of the City' at all, but a jsong 
of Frisco Bay. - The city end of the 
film is dull except for a riomejit or 
two of levity. 

Story relates ho-w the Italian fisher- 
folk" pull a social sOf tiie out Of Frisco 
Bay and ia'dopt the weakling to make 
some kind. of , a man out of him; The 
lad, with nice manners but no char- 
acter, is broke and fell into the bay 
while drunk. 

What follows is simplle. The so- 
cialite bends for the singing daugh- 
ter of the happy Italian family. This 
is a peculiar family . in wihch the 
dialecticians sometime forget,, their 
dialects altogether, Margaret. Lind- 
say lis the daUghtei*, a rixirse; study- 
ing and hoping to- be an opera singer. 
Mixed up With all this is a racket- 
eering incident, equally unrealistic. 

Miss Lindsay's voice is pleasant 
when she sings but - some of those 
musical moments barge iri little con- 
sideration for story proprieties. 

J. Carroll Naish', as the philan- 
thropic localite, doesn't jell, which 
is an unusual thing for Naish, but 
the dialog's too much against him. 
Charles Judiels as the kindly papa 
attracts a "sympathetic interest, re- 
gardless. Jeffrey Dean, the society 
lad, is veneer stuff. Shan^ 



POLICE MONDAINE 

(FRENCH MADE) 

, iParis, April 19, 

Film.'! J. .Sefert relcafie of tJolbelt Pi-6t 
duollOn. Features Charles ,Vanel, Pierre 
r.arquey, Jean Ixsuis Barrault and Alice 
Field. Directed by Mlcher Betnhnlin And 
CiTcl.Stlah Chamborant., SJtory, Detective 
AShelbe; adaptation, Paul Bringuler;' imi- 
sic, Jan Bos; camera, M. Tsnard. At Agi'l- 
cuUeursi Boheparte and Cine-Opera, Paris. 
Running lime,- 75 ■ mlns, 

Salyiiiil . . cjiarlea Vanel 

PIcard I Pierre T.Arciue,v 

Sdoppa an Loiils Burrauit 

.Sylvia . . .... . . . Alice: Field 

Luclp'nne Junle' A.stor 

Philippe Oa court . ,iin Ser^•al3 

Siro . ..',;..- . . .... . ... i,.- Aliei .Licqnln 

Biiron-'Dartilont .. . ... , . ». . .'. CUmllle Bert 

In.speclor I'aul Aiulre' Iloanne 

Nenette Jlelenc Pepee 

{In French) 

Attempt to. make this a gangster 
thriller falls, shbrt and is a' ■weak 
effort modeled after the Arnerican 
tough guy cycle. Will do fair in 
this- country, but doubtful elsewhere. 

Some good- acting gbes to waste 
in 'a stbry- 'woven, around the drug 
traffic in Paris arid attempts Of the- 
police to round up the riiig; Variel, 
as head of the largest gang,: plays a. 
forceful enough bad man, as does 
Barrault as the scherning muscler-i \ 
but rest of the cast makes poor 
attempts at showing gangsters in ac- 
tion, Larquey is a patient police in- 
spector whose investigations end in 
success. 

There is .nothing oulstflnding in 
the photography and musical accom-. 
paniment. Hugo. 



MEN IN EXILE 

■Warner BroB. releaB« of First National 
production. Feutureer Dick Pur<:ell and 
Jun« Travln. Directed by John Vlliieva 
Farrow. Screenplay, by Boy Chansiiir 
based ion ideas of Ifarle Baumer and lluiisl 
ton Branch; camera, Aithur Todd. At 
Strand, Brooklyn, week April 2t>, '37; on 
doable ■bill. Running iinie,' -Oft 'mlns; 
Jimmy- Carmodyi. .Dick PurrfU 
Sally Haines.. June TdivIb 

Danny. . , ... . ; ; , , Alan Baxtt^r 

Mother Margaret Irving 

Colonel ... i ...... .', ,,Vlot4)r- 'V«rconi 

Jones;. . . . V . . , ..... ... .OUn Howland 

Blta. . ..;.-.-.'.'. .. .Veda Ann Hhrg 

Rocky Crane.... ......,,.,.;NormHh WIIIIh' 

General -Alcatruvi. ... . . . ; . .Carlos DeValde? 

Limey ... . , , Alec Harford 

Wlnterspoon .'. .Tohn Aloxrt luip'r. 

Aide -of Gomez.. ........ Demltrls liriianiiel 

Trim little mfelodrama. that assi 
the cinema fortunes of June Travis- 
an,d Dick Purcell, 'Meri in Exile'; 'will 
find, most favor in dual-land; Fits 
nicely irito such set-ups because it 
will bolster, a bill where the main 
feature is dull and deVoid of action. 
Producers obviously intended it for 
such! spots, .yet have given it neat 
production, excellent ' casli arid 
splendid direction. i- 

The story of a community where 
criiriihals from all sections of the 
imiverSC: seek- refUge has found its 
way to the screen on previous occa- 
sions.. Here , it is glyen a different 
twist by making the machinations of 
a revolutionary group the chief 
motivation. There's the usual Weak- 
willed brother,, the beautiful gal aid- 
ing her hard-boiled mother in oper- 
ating an inn, and the diligent coni- 
mander of gendarmes oh this ' Latin- 
Aniencan island. 

Production , is noteworthy fpr its 
speedy tempo and thei' suspense in a 
minimum anibunt of tiirie. Director 
John Villiers Farrow takes thie bows 
for the numerous exciting, vivid epi- 
sodes vhei has compressed into such 
limited footage. His near-execUtion 
scene comes close to being perfect.: 

Dick Purcell, as the former con^ 
vict ■who iniioceritly gets into a jam 
in America, makes the role an . in- 
fectious one despite thin stOry back- 
ground. June Travis furnishes prin- 
cipal roriiantic interest as the- inn- 
keeper's daughter, playing the . char- 
acter with* proper shading and never 
going overboard on the emotional 
side; Margaret Irving again, chips 
in with a convincirig bit as the 
mother. 

Victor Varconi, cast as the island's 
police chief and ruler, rates billing 
along with Purcell and Miss Travis 
fpr his suave interpretation, Veda 
Ann Borg, as ttie ex-gangster's wife, 
shows proriiise. Norniari Willis ig 
okay as the former gangster. Other 
stalwart contributions are made by 
Alan Baxter and Clin Hbwland. 

Wear. 



DR. KNOCK 

(FRENCH MADE) 

French Motion Pictures release of Palhe- 
Natain production. Features Louis Joiivet, 
Directed by Joiivet and Roger GoupllUeres. 
-Stage and screen plaiy- by Jules -RomalnR. 
Music by Jean . Welner. At Cinema de 
Paris, N. T., week April 30, '87. Bunnlng 
time. 7'i mIns. 

Dr. Knock'. ; — .............. .Louis Jouvet- 

Doctor Parpalald. , ,' , , . , .'. . .Palau 

Mousuet -..'..'.., V Igfi n 

School Teacher. Moor 

Town Crier, i . . . . . , . . .■: ......... Tx»r<iupy 

Half-.wlt .-. Aleaxntir© B'I'gnauIt 

Sclpion . ;.'. , . , . ...Sorge."! 

Baftalons .-. . . . Zelbis 

The Maid; : .Miigdelelne Ozehiy 

Madame Parpalald......... Germalne Albert 

Madame Bemy...!.... Marguerite Ducouret 



(In French, ujith Enfllish Titles) 
It is not really apparent why the 
N, Y. censors for a stretch blockaded 
entry pf this French flick. It does 
Spear some sharp satiric shafts into 
the professional fronts put. on by 
many a medico, and into a not un- 
known practice by many physicians 
of groundlessly alarming patients 
into thinking they have some strange, 
ailments, as a means to consequently 
make IPng-timie big-paying custom- 
ers out of 'em. But the film cerr 
tainly does not discredit the medical 
profeshj nor does it riiake any star- 
tling revelations as to hbw some un- 
scrupulous doctors hypo their 
comes; 

Film closely follows form of the 
play that was a hit for author Rb- 
main.s when his piece was first pro- 
duced. It contiains the ' same deep- 
sinking satire dressed, up with creamy 
comedy that characterized the orig- 
inal. It is one of the best- Frenchies 
to touch 'iJ. S. shores iri recent years, 
and certain to display b.o: iriipact 
in the spots suited for it. 
; Yarn is siihple. Dr. Knock CJbuvel) 
buys , a practice in, , small rural 
townshio from lazy old medic 
whb thinks he is;yery slick in palm- 
ing ■it off to" a naive- and -much 
younger man. Knock riioves , right 
in, and by sly innuendoes, pminous'lY 
lifted eyebro^w.s, frightening charl.'^, 
impressive equiprrierit and pro-: 
nourtcements soon has raiade the en- 
tire region hypochondriacs. By the 
time the , old doc corned to the burg 
for the first-quarter collection of the 
coin promised by Knock, almost the 
Avhole village has been transformed 
into a health center to Which swarm 
patients from surroimding territory: 
The old medico arrives believing he 
sees th rough it artd figuratively fliailr 
ing hiriiself for letting Knock in on 
such an Opportunity, but before he 
has spent a night, he, too, is: under 
the .spelljiand blanketed, in bed fenr- 
irig the worst. 

t It's a simple yarn, with all the hu- 
hibr. and satire sleekly sly and 
spotted just sufficiently under the 
surface not to make it too obvipus. 
(Continued on page 27) 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



17; 




MAX 

CASE e smi 




? Dispute between Max leischer 
Studios and Commercial Artists and 
Designers' Union regarding closed 
, Svorkihg conditions, higher 
vrig^s and other demands is still 
deadlocked, with meeting ot two 

^eroups scheduled for tomorrow 
(Thursday) afternoon. Union has 
already filed complaint with Na- 
tional Labor Relations Board that 
studio rief uses to bargain as required 
by the Wagner Act. Has . also peti- 

JtiWd "^^fiional board to conduct 
election' to determine right of the 

• CADU to represent majority of eiri- 
♦plbyees. 

^ Meeting was held last Thursday 
(29) between Fleischer officials, and 
' CADU reps in offices of Loiiis Nizer, 
studio attorney, but only iagrcernent 
reached was to hold tomorrow's hud- 
dle. Report that union members 
among Fleischier femployees are con- 
^'ducting 'slow-down' strikes as pro- 
test, against studio's 'dilatory tactics' 
could not be confirrhedJ tjriion head- 
duarters had 'nothing to. say'; regard- 
ing any kind of strike, and Fleischer 
office claimed to know nothing of it. 
It yras reliably repiorted, however, 
that strike hai^ slowed down studio 
prbductioh about 50% first day, Fri- 
day (30). • \ ^ ^ ■ 

Dispute was precipitated by union 
. for Fleischer's allieged discharging of 
Anthony Pinelli, an artist, for 'union: 
activity.' Union, affiliate of A. F. L;, 
demands reinstatement of Pinelli, 
recognition of union, 35-:houF waek, 
double time for overtime, legal holi- 
days, vacations and sick leave with 
pay, cWsed shop, elimination of 
•speed-lip' system,, and readjustment 
of the wage scale, pi 135 artists (em- 
ployed by Fleischer, CADU claims 
membership, of 110. James HuUey is 
union i>rez, Arthur Post is organizer. 



New B&K Single BjU 
Clearance Swap Likely 



May 4. 

Talk along, film tow is that a 
'deal' by Balaban Katz ;circuit 
will eliminate double features from 
the Chicago territoty and a return 
to the single feature policy in ex- 
changie for a full week of .clearance 
between the 'C week hous6s at 3bc 
top and the first week of general 
release at 25c. 

Aaron Saperstein as chief of the 
Allied, independent exhib group, 
states .that , he is- willlhg to listen to 
any proposal B&K may makie, biit 
that it's hot regarded as likely that 
the independent exhibitors would 
accept: this extria week clearance as 
a fair exchange. 

Indies' insist that if B&K wants 
that extra week of protection for its 
key nabe houses, then setup should 
be worked only through this crea- 
tion of an entirely new release 
'week' "oh Chicago's release sched- 
ule; that is, by . creating, a week at 
35c top . admjsh between the. present 
' .week at 40c 'C'i week 

at 30c. 



Mren, Edythe 

in Ho 



tiester Zi , former U-P- and 
Vamety correspondent in Madrid, 
and now on the 20th-Fpx payroll as 
a writer, will he married tp Edythe 
Wurtzel In .Hollywood next week 
Miss - Wurtzel is the^ daiighter of 
Hariy 'Wurtzel, agent. 

Couple met in Spain just before 
ihe revolution there. -After a few 
ihonths of, war reporting Ziffren fol 
lowed Miss Wurtzel to the Coast, 
'arriving there a month ago. 

Trying Settle Frances 
Farmer's Managerial Suit 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Counsel representing Frances 
Farmer and Shepard Traub are ne- 
gotiating a settlement of Traub's. 
managerial contt-act -with the actress 
.Miss Farmer signed with Traub when 
he discovered her in Ne>y York 
about two years ago. A year ago 
after she had been placed under con- 
tract by Paramount, she: sought to 
terminate the agreement. 

Traub recently was niade assistant 
to Moe Siegel, president of. Republic. 

Garhett Gases 'Stand-In- 

Hoily wood. May 4. 
^ Tay : Garnett is currently reading 
'Stand-In' from the Satevepost hovel 
for Walter Wanger. It's > tesiie 
Howard sta.rrer. 

Director then goes into the jRirst of 
his produ.ctions, 'Trade Wiiids,' with 
Honald Cblman, for United Artists 



S&M Would Like to 
Sell lis Chi Circuit; 
But Hold Out for 350G 



Silenced 



Chicago, May> 4. 
11 trailers made, here for 
midweist points, are being turned 
out as silents, due tp the ruling 
of the Chicago FederatiPn \6f 
Musicians controlling the mak- 
ing of i-ecordings by ntusicians, 
Figiired it's better than to 
arrange with the Musicians 
Union. Miisicians ruling also 
includes dubbed melodi 



indies' New Make-It-Hot-f or-Hays 
Squawks Revive Hobbs' Inquiry BiO 




icago, May 

Despite rumors' of ; disposal of the 
Simansky &; Miller .. .circuit of six 
hoiises, Jack Miller and Simon.. Si- 
mansky Temain; in possession* though 
the houses are acknowledged tP be 
on the inarket at a price!. 

Simansky is believed , be the 
leading factor in the sale, as it is 
reported he's ready to retire. Miller 
states . he wants to remain. 

Miller and Simansky are reported 
ready to dispose oiE their circuit for 
$350,000, plus a rental deal. It^ is 
known they have been offered 
$225,000, plus rent. Lidp theatre and 
property cost $635,000 when built by 
S&M: A. J. Balaban and Sam Myers 
are reported among those . negotiat- 
ing for the circuit. 



. Major distri roused over- 

hew limitations on pictures sent into 
the Republic of Panama. Officials 
there have dragged out an olid law 
and- given it. a hew interpretation. 
New. twist, wpuld force U, S. dis- 
tributors to pay $10 per- reel , on re- 
leases to ' Panama Republic ex- 
hibitors. 

Pending . a'djustment, each 
distributing company is hpliding 
back, entry of aU pictures. .Filin 
execs do hot rate the business as 
warranting the $10- fee. 

Colon and Pa.narria are only , siz- 
.able cities in the republicv 

Hays office official^ ar-e attempting 
to adjust the difficulty.. 



AMPA's $1,667 Take 



Selling 444 tickets to annual ban- 
quet-dance; the Associated Motion 
IPicture Advertisers grossed $i;667 
and after expenses, there is a net of 
between $700-$750. Herb . Berg, re- 
tiring treasurer, is the first in years 
to leave profit on the so-called Naked 
Truth diniiers of the. AMPA. 

Affair was held at the New Yorker 
and expenses were curtailed. Win- 
ners of AMPA awards were Metro 
for best press book on 'The Great 
Ziegfeld'; Joseph Tisman, Warners, 
for best poster on 'Black Legion'; 
Alec Mossi Paramount, for best trade 
paper ad and Ralph . Rolah, of March 
of Time, for best ad to thp public. 

Ralph Rolan, general manager of 
'March of Time' reel, was elected 
president of AMPA .at the meeting 
last week, tester Thompsbh, head 
of advertising code division of the 
Hays, office, was chosen secretary. 
Paul Lazarus, Warner Bros, ad exec, 
was narned vice-president and Paiil 
Benjami , of National Screen Serv- 
ice, was made new treasurer. 



Par Tags Middietpn 

Hollywood, May 4. . 
. Parannioijnt signed .Ray Middietpn, 
.baritone, who recently completed ;a 
tour with Jose Itur 1 and the. Phila- 
delphia Syinphony OrcheSti- 
Np. assignment yeti 

ERWnJ'S .NEXT AT GN 

Hollywood, May 
tuart Erwin'^ next featuvP. for 

rand l^ational, 'Face the Facts,' 
■"'jll get under \vay late this month 
with Andrew L.'Stoiie at the. pro- 
duction helot, ilm will be dcvel- 
?>Ped from Clarence Budingtoii Kel- 
land's ori inal story. 

Sciijit is. being written by Betty 
i^aidlaw and Robert Lively. 



Payroll Escort Sticks 

Sacranrientoi May 4. 
"Ah. asserribly •.cprnmitteev killed a 
bill forbidding thieaitre mianagers to 
transfer :money to banks under, es- 
cort of state or. rhunicipal police 
officers. 

Measure icture 
lobbyists. 



RECEIVERSHIP OF PAR'S 
OLYfflPIA CHAIN ENDING 



Improved conditions in New Eng 
land and marked progress on a ' final 
adjiistnient of claims has put Para 
mount's large Olympia Theatres sub 
sidiary near a ppint where it will 
emerge frPm receivership. In New 
York last >yeek, Sam Pinanski, co 
receiver ith Martin J: :Mullin, 
stated, the receivership! should end 
quickly. 

This rieorganization be the 

last of thfe many Par siibsids which 
went into receivership. It has been 
in receivership since 1932. 

It is likely. Paramount ill cPn 
tinue Mullin and inanski as pper 
ators or create a partnership in 
New England. In the latter event, 
it appears certain a partnership will 
be made with MuUin and Plhanski 



hdustrisds Up 100%, 
Booms Pathe Lab Biz 



. Addition of laboratory business 
from Monogram and United Artists, 
plus a pick-up in industrial work 
is booming Pathe Films lab opera 
tiohs. Pathe also prints for RKO 
and .Grand National. 

Lab printing for industrials is 
more than 100% higher than in 1930, 
This business enhances gross- intake 
of company because it brings a com- 
paratively higher rate per foot. Cost 
is greater because of involve? 
process. An 35-milli.rneter .negative 
must - be printed, and then reduced 
down to 16 mni. Demand for in 
dustrial. pictures has soared in the 
last 12 months. 



Fields in Par 'Broadcast' 



Par's Roadshow Dept. 

, Pairarnbunt may~. set up a road- 
show department .th 1 kimmeri^ ith 
three: pictures lined up. : . .■ 

These are 'Souls - at Sea- likely 
openin in June; "High, Wide and 
.Han for July, a.ii 'Angel' 

later.. 



Shep Fields has been, .set for Par 
arnpunt's annual fall edition o£ 'The 
Bi roadcast.! He leaves for the 
Coast around Oct. 1. 

iirrehtly banc! is oh. tpiir playing 
theatres and one-hiterS; Opeiis 
Eaple theatre,: Washington, May . 7, 
and Stanley theatre,. Pittsburgh, May 
21. Oh May 28; he opens.sca.spn for 
Surfslde Beach .eiub; Atlantic, each, 
for. si Week's. 



Washington, May 4.i 
Hpuse Judiciary ' Com', 
iniitee today Crues.) .approved 
the. Hpbbs resplution tor an in- 
vesti^ation of the picture Indus'- 
try and the Hays' pf Ace; Jhis 
action . meaning: pat on . the 
back for the biiii which, tech- 
nlcaliy, is pending, before tlie 
House Rules Committee. Ap- 
proval by the' rules committee 
Is necessary to brinp the meas- 
iire out. In okayingr the bill the 
Judiciary Coihntittee g:ives it 
encouragement to .the extent 
that now the rules commHtee .. 
Is asked to vote ph it. 

Mailbag battle over need for Cbn- 
gressional investigation of film busir 
hess.is under Way in perennial war 
between independent exhibitors and 
the majors. ' 

As the Justice jpepartfnent 
tinues unPnding study of sqiiawks: 
about anti-trust law violations,; Con- 
gressmen are being: deluged with let- 
i:ers from theatre-pwning , cohstitu- 
entg. urging support for the pi'Pposal 
of Rep; Sarriuel Hobbs of Alabama to 
turn the. heat, on the MotiPn Picture 
Producers & Distributors Associ ^ 
tion. Indie groups are adopting new 
technique to. put distributors and 
chain exhi itors on the griddle. 

indie groups appear to have ,em- 
oarked on a nation-wide crusade tP 
inject life into the Hobbs resolution, 
which is sleeping i flies pf: the 
House rules committee. Lawmakers 
say. letters pointing tP this, need for* a 
new study of film industry practices 
bear the customary indicatidns of 
having been inspired, 

Leaders in the indie fight are the 
militant Southern California theatre- 
owners who are bombarding mem- 
bers of the House ;from; their state. 
But legislatoirs from other sectors 
also report appeals for their support 
and requests that they h^lp bring 
the Hobbs i\}easure out of the com 
n^ittee room. 

The indies give the appearance of 
having abandohed hope that the JuS' 
tice Departmeiit will start a trust 
budtin^ .attack on the majors.. Pessi 
mistic note is seen in the correspond 
ence which points nut that a vigor 
bus .investigation > is imperative . tp 
throw light on asserted cpnspiracy of 
the. Hays org. in. the past, the in- 
dependerit groups have concentrated 
pressure on the ttor ney General, 
feeling that sustaiined agitation would 
wind Up in eventual prosecution ol' 
major distri . With the failure of 
the St. Louis criminal cases and 
slowness 'with Which the D. 'J. has 
moved in intervehlhg months, the 
major fprcie want to stir up agita- 
tion in Congress which might stJniilr 
ulate the legal branch of the govern- 
ment. 

Report Judiciary Okay 
The Hobbs resolution, Which is a 
new apprpach to the issue of monop- 
oly, has attracted slight attention so 
far but Is believed likely to receive 
approval toward the end of the ses- 
sion. The indie lettei-s; at. least have 
the effect of getting iawmakers to 
read the prpposal, while the judici- 
ary committee, ;which would conduct 
th© suggested inquiry, is reported to 
be inf.. /or of action diiring the fall 
recess; 

Although the matter is relatively 
quieti looks like Hobbs has a better 
Chance of gaining his objective. than 
any the. other lawmakers -Who 
have gbhe tP bat for the indies. His 
prbpositioh— which' overcomes one 
s-ripiis obstacle at the outset by not 
proppging ' special inve.stigating; 
committec-^seerhs likely tp escape 
most of . the objections ^yhich killed 
the SiroVich resolution, several years 
ago. The pther indie scheme, 16 oyt^ 
law block^bookirig by rneahs of the 
:PettengiU or Neely bill, i.s stalled and 
now seems unlikely to get attention. 



partnient of Justice 111 conirnence 
prosecution, of natiphai distributprs 
and the Interstate Circuit i.n the. 
'HoblitzellP caset' This action aKso 
is anciierit . histpry and has dragged 
itsplf through two dismissals in the 
state courts before the gpvernmeht. . 
took a hand in the prosecution. Le- 
gal points seriously affecting the mp- 
tion picture: industry are irivolved. 

The cortiplaiht alleges illegaV re- 
straint ;of trade, asserting Hoblit/elle 
and distributprs ■entered into con- 
tracts which established box office 
pirice " flxing : for cPrnpeting - theatres 
Where films played subsequent run 
to the Hoblitzelle houses. 



.HpUy wood, Mi^y 4. 
Albert J. Law, special. a.ssi.staht to 
Horner S. CummingSi, U. S, attprney : 
general;: is hearing completion of Hi 
Government's- investigation 
chargPs of yiplation .of the Sherniaci 
anti-trust law and the fiederal con- 
sent decrees of 1930 and 1932 witlv. 
respect' tp illm disti^ibution and exr 
hibitioh.' ; ^ ' 

Inquiry turns next to production 
and motion picture. ;OhanclnR. ' Law 
expects' tp -flhish questioning of ihdi 
exhi itors by Saturday (8). 



Federal Bureau, of Investigation' 
repprtcd inquiry into film, industiy 
arid likely , look, into the Hays, orr 
ganization ' is, hothing novel for the 
Motion Picture. Producers & Dis- 
tributors Association. Haysians' con- 
tend they have, been under .scriitiny 
by the. FBI and federal ihvestigatora 
for eight years. 



VERSUS VENOM 
PACKS THl 



^Seattle,, May , 4. 

Local Indie cxhib haying lost hi 
second,, third and .fourth run fran- 
chises to a big circuiti thought up: 
a series of contests amphg screeiji' 
personalities. For 'pash honprs ha 
pitted: Clark Gable vs. Robert Tay- 
lor; JeanetteMacDonald and Grace 
MoPrp for Queen of Song; Jean Hac- - 
low and Mae West contended, for 
the leading hard-boiled femme; 
Shirley Teinple vs. Jane. Withers fPr. 
.favorite child; Frank ; Morgan and 
Edward Everett Hpr.ton for .screen 
comedian; .Nelson Eddy Vs.. ins 
Crosby for male warbling title. 

With the exhib showing pics, with 
these stars on dbiible bills, his idea 
became a sensation, audiences i$cram- 
bling to vote ' on their faves. Biz 
bullish until, the exchanges called 
a halt. 



BRITISH^MADE 'CITY' 
DISPLACES M-G 'CITY' 



Chicago, May 4. 

After orie day (Friday) 'S.png of 
the City' (MG) was pulled off th^ 
Oriental serpen by Balaban & Katz 
and replaced with Thunder In the 
City,' a British-made flicker released 
by Columbia.. 

'Sohg' was found to laclt marquee 
names and :h- o. strength, .while it 
was figured that Edward G, Robihsori 
in 'Thunder* would be better at tlie 
gate. Weekcnii biz strengthened 
thrpu the replacement.- 



gaal's quota aUICKIE 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Franciska Qaat, Hungarian actres.s.' 
Cro.s.scd the border to Mexico Fi'iday 
.(30) to remain^ three days; and then 
return under a' qiiota . number . a.s first 
step toward citizenship. Number per- 
mits her to stay indefinitely. 

Next picture will be - in C. . o 
Millc's, 'Buccaneer! at Paianiount. 



Gillham Returns East 

Hollywood, May 4. . 

Robert' , head of Para- 

mount publicity, arid advertising, left 
for New York l.ast Sunday (2; after 
a: week's stay. 

He contcrred h.efe oa cxploitali ii 
for for.thcPming . pictiires ith 
Adolph Zukor arid William LcBaron, 
and made plans for entertaining 
.sales and executive delegations at 
the company '.s. convention here next 
month. 



Dallas, May 
igwig legal talent frorn New 
York is expected here this ' month 
a.s. observers and eonsulter. ' . anti- 
trust suits . to be heard U, .S. 
District. : Court Pf Texas involving 
nearly air major distri 
panics. 



Gus Schaefer Gets U 

ointment 



First action 
suit . against. Sol , 
JelTcrspn Amuse! 
affiliate. Frels 
the Texas towns 



the Ruberi Frels' 
Gordon, head of 
a Paramount 
IhC'ati'esi .- in 
•Victori -El 



Appoirilment of Gustaye J. Schae- 
fer as cjcport manager for Universal 
Pictiires has been announced .by 
■'H. Cochrdhc, prcsiderit; Schaefer' 
suines riew ppst (17)' date 
coml i. i.x\';ignolipn..frprh'''Pa"faTriount \f 
' ehic.t: .fo'r, western, and. c'critraL' 
rope, 

Schaefer,. in film biz since 
was .ifianagcr. for. Par exchange in 
Boston before .'goini; abroad; 
cecds N. L. ' Marihcinv, rccciilly r.j- 



Campo, Yoi-ktown and Gblunrvbu.s. He i .si 'npd, at. Uhi versa!, 
rallctje.? .Gordori: opened theatres in 
opposition arid deprived, him 61 film 
through Gdrdon's purchasing povver 
because of . his larger number of 
theatres. Frelis' complaint w; 
missed in state courLs. 

Interstate Action Next 
I Following the Frels ca.sc 



CONN TAGS NEILAN 

Hollywood, May 
Mai-shall Ncilan lins been xigno 
rhrccl. for IVIaurii'o C'pMiv. 

■■i.r.st n.ssigiuTiclit 
ori 'iiial. 



18 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



BIG BOX-OFFICE NEWS ON THE 
PREMIERE CRACKS CHICAGO PA 

scores of 
gayly set 




Wednesday* May 5, 1987 



VARIETY 



19 



WAY. 



fl 



. . AS ASTAIRE-ROGERS 
FOR STANDOUT BUSINESS! 

ortunate firsf runs all over the country 
for openings this week and next . . I 





XO^N WITH COLOn 



S 



"A SURE-FIRE HIT" 



"Joy reigns uhrestrainiNi (witness the laughter and applause!) at the Palace 
Theatre. For Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are entertaining again. And how 
the fans love them! . . m 'Shall We Dance?' comes pretty near being a perfect 
vehicle for them. It's a lavishly staged, charmingly costumed, astutely directed 
affair that tells a light, surprisingly well-rounded story. A sure-fire hit." 

—Mae Tinee, Chicago Tribune 

"DUE FOR LONG RUN" 

"Opening day audiences at tfie Palace Theatre Thursday applauded and cho- 
rused 'Yes!' • . . when Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers asked, 'Shall We Dance?' 
• • . It was a lively audience that responded with gay abandon and delicious enjoy- 
ment to the superb dancing, the Gershwin music and merry drollery . . . peak 
entertainment calibre . . . due for a long run."— Rob Reel, Chicago American 

"ASTAIRE-ROGERS NEVER BEHER" 

"The answer to 'Shall We Dance?' is— definitely yes! . . . This latest of the Astaire- 
Rogers pictures is a mite more elaborate than some of the others, as breezy and 
full of sparlcle as you'd expect. . . It's all (rand fun. . . Mr. Astaire has never 
danced better. . . Miss Rogers has never looked quite so delectable as she does 
here."— Doris Arden, Chicago Daily Times 



IRK 



6/ 



k K o 

RADip 

PICTURI 




with 



EDWARD EVEREn 
HORTON . . 
ERIC BLORE 
JEROME COWAN 
KETTI GALLIAN 
WM. BRISBANE 



and 



HARRIET HOCTOR 



Olrected by 



MARK SANDRICH 
PAHDRO S. BERMAN 



Production 



20 



VARIETY 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



FILM BOOKING CHART 

(For information of theatre and film exchange bookers, Variety presents a complete chart of feature releases of all ike American distributing companies for 
ihe current quarterly P^^^^ Date of the reviews as given in VAmtTY and the ruming time of prints are i^ 

CPPYBIGHT, 1937^ Bt VAiuETt, IN ALL BIGHTS BESEBVED 



YVSEK 
OF 

^"belease- 



TITLE 



DliSTBD. 



TTPE 



TALENT 



DIHECTOB 



WHEN 
TDHE BEVIEWED 
MINS;. ' BT VABIETY 



a/19/37 



TBOVBLE IN MOBOCCO 
TBOUBLE IN TEXAS 
PEBSONAL PBOPEBTY 
HEB HUSBAND JiilES 
CHINA PASSAGE 
GET ALONG LITTLE DOGIES 
BILL CBACBiS DOWN 
TIME OUT FOB BOMANCE 
BEB HUSBAND'S SECBETABT 



Col Col Drama 

E. .Finney GN Western 

J. W. Considine MGM Drarna 

B. P: Schulb^rg Par Drama 

Cliff Reid BKO Melodrama 

A.. Schaefer Bep ■ Western 

W. Berke Bep Draina . 

M; Feld 2Mli Rom-Com 

WB. WB Rbm-Com 



Jaek Holt 

. TcK Bitter 
Harlow-Taylor 
Cortez-Patrick 
V. Haworth-C; Worth 
Gene Autry 
J. Wlthors-J. Allen 
C. Trevor-BL Whalen 
W. Hill-B. Boberts-J, Mair 



E. Schoedsack 
IL N. Bradbury 
W. S. VanDyke 
E.' Ludwig 
E. Killy 
J. Kane 
W. Nieh 
11. St. Clair. 
F. McDonald' 



75 
11 



3/17 

4/21 
3/24 
4/21 



s/ri 

3/24 



3/26/37 



LET'S GET MABBIED 
23f^ HOUBS' LEAVE 

MATTIME 
WAIKIKI WEDDING 
QUALITT STBEET 
TBAIL OF VENGEANCE 
SEVCiNTH HEAVEN 
WE BtAVE OUB MOMENTS 
KING AND CHOBUS GIBL 



E. Riskin Col Com-Dr 

D. McLean . GN Comedy 

H. Stromberg MGM Musical 

A. Horhblow Far Musical 

P. Berihan BKO |tom-Dr 

A. W. Halckiel Kcp Com-Dr 

R. Griffith 20tli Rom-Dr 

.C. Rogers U Rbni-Com 

M. LieRoy WB Musical 



Denny-Lupino 
J. Ellison 
BlacDoaald-Eddy 
Crosby-Bayc-B. Burns 

Hepbnrn-Tone 
J. Travla-W. LiTinKston 
Simone- Stewart . 

Dunn-EIlers 
Gravet-Blondell 



A. £. Green 
J. G. Blystohe 
R. Z. Leonard 
P. TutUe 
G. Stevens/ 
S. Newfleld 

H. King 
A. L. Werker 
M, LeRby 



68 
73 
132 
88 

M 
loe 

66 
95 



4/14 

3/24 
3/31 
4/14 

3/31 

5/5 

3/31 



4/2/37^ 



MOTOR MADNESS 
BACKETEEBS IN EXILE 

BACKSTAGE 
—^IBL LOVES BOY, 
HITTIN' THE TBAIL 
SONG OF THE CITY 
MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF 
LIGHTNING CBANDALL 
MIDNIGHT TAXI 
mSTOBY IS MADB AT NIGHT 
WHEN LOVE IS YOUNG 
MBN in EXILE 



H. L. Decker Col Com-Dr 

Col Col Melodrama 

H. Wilcox GB Drama 

B. Zeldman GN Rom-Com 

E. Finney GN Western " 

L. Hubbard MGM Drama 

C. Reid ' BKO Drama 

W. Haickel Bep Western 

M.Feld:: 26th Melodrama 

W. Wanger UA Rom-Goni 

R, Presnell U Rom-CQni-. 

WB WB .Dram^i 



. Wllson^C. Qniirlcy 
Baiiicr6fi>V«nablo 
Nagel-Tracy 
E. Llqden-C. Parker 

, Tex. Bitter 
J. Bean-M. Lindsay 
J. Beal-P. Huston- J. Fontaine 
Bobby Steele: 
Dlhehiart-Donlevy 

Boyer-Arthur 
V. Briuce-K. Taylor 
D. Pnrcell-J; Travis 



D. R. Lederman 
E..C. Kentoii 
H, Wilcox 
p. Mansfteld 
. N. Bradbury' 

E. Taggert 
L. Landers 
S. N^wfield 

E. Forde 

F. Borzage 
H: Mohr 
J. Farrow 



61 
«6 



5/5 
4/14 

4/28 



4/7 
3/31 
4/21 
5/5 



4/9/37 



TWO GUN LAW 
THE GOLD BACKET 
GtBL FBOM SCOTLAND YABD 
TOO MANY WIVES 
SOLDIEB AND LADY 
JIM HANVEY, DETECTIVE 
FIFTY BOADS TO TOWN 
MABKED WOMAN 



Col 
Condor 
E. Cohen 
W. Sistrom 
P. Bermah 
A.. E..Xiev6y 
R. Griffith 
WB 



Col 
GN 
Par 
BKO 
BKO 
Bep. 
20th 
WB 



Melodrama 
Western 
Mystery 

Rom-Com 

Melodrama 
Mystery 
Com-Dr , 

Melodiramai 



Charles Starrett 
. C. Nair«I-'E. Hut 
K. Morley-B. Baldwin 

Shirley-J. Morley 
A. Walbrook-E; Allen 
Kibbee-T. Brown 
Ameche-Sbthern 
Davls-H. Boeart 



L. Barsha 
Im. Gasnier 
R. Vignola 
B, Holmeis 
G. Nichols 

P. Rosen 
N. Taufog 

L. Bacon 



4/16/37 iJWO WHO , daBed 

MAN IN THE .MIRBOB 
BOMEO AND JULIET 
WAY OUT WEST 
HILLS OF OLD WYOMING 
INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY 
OUTCASTS OF POKEB FLAT 
GUNS IN THE DABK 

NAVY BLUES . 
STEP LIVELY, JEEVES 
LET THEM LIVE 
THAT MAN'S HEBE AGAIN 
CALL IT A DAY 



E. fi'renke GN 

J/Hageri GN 

I. Thalberg MGM 

H. Roach MGM 

H. Sherman par 

B. Glazer ' par 

R. Sisk RKO 

W. Hackel Eep 

B. Kelly Bep 

J. Stone t%th 

E, Grainger; u 

WB WB 

WB WB 



Drama Steh-Wileozon E. Frenke 

Comedy . E. Hortbn-G. Tobin M, Elvey 

RomrCom Shearer-Howard 1 G. Cukor 

Cortiedy LaureKHardy J. Home 

Western WUliam Boyd N. Watt 

Drama McCrea-Stanwyck A. Santell 

Western P. Fost«r-J. Mfilr CT Cabatlne 

Western J. M. Brown S. Newfield 

Comedy • Parcell-W. Hyme: R. Staub 

Comedy Treacher-EHis E. Forde . 

Drama J. Barrett-J. Howard-N. H. Young 

Comedy M. McGuire-T^ Brown L. King 

Comedy De Haviland-Ian Hunter A. Mayo 



61 
83 
71 
«0 
96 



4/28 
4/14 



130 
64. 

76^ 



10/26/36 

5/5 



5/5 



477 
4/21 



4/23/37 



I PBOMISE TO PAY 
SPEED TO SPABE 
THUNDER IN CITY 
SILENT BABBIEBS 
KILLEBS OF THE SEA 
GOOD OLD SOAK 
NOBObyS BABY 
KING OF GAMBLERS 

WOMAN I LOVE . 
GUN SMOKE BANCH 

HIT PABADE 
WAKE UP AND. LIVE 

ELEPHANT BOY 
TOP OF THE TOWN 

NIGHT KEY 
MOUNTAIN JUSTICE 



M. Connolly 
R. COhn 
Atlantic 
GB 
R. Friedgeh 
H.' Stromberg 
H. Roach 
R. Florey 
A. Lewis 
S. Siegel 
N. Levine 
K, MacGowan 
A. Korda 
Li, Brock 
R.. Presnell 
WB 



Col . Drama C. Morrls-H. tfack-Carrillo 

Col Melodrama C. Qoffley-D. .Wilson 

Col ' Com-Dr E. G. Bobihson-L. D^ste . 

GB Drama B. Arlen-L. Palmer 

GN Outdobr Capt W. CasswcII 

MGM Drama W. Beery- J. Beecbier 

MGM Comedy P. Keliy-B. Amutronir 

Par t)rama A. Tamlroff-L. Nolan-C. Trevor 

BKO Rom-Dr Muni-Hopkins 

Bep Western' W.Livingston 

Bep Musical.. F. Langford-Pj^ Began 

20th Musifcal Wlnehell-Bcrnle-Fayc-Haley. 

UA Outdoor W^ E. Halloway-D.iJ. WiUianis 

U Musical D, Nolaa-G^ Mnrphy-H. Herbert 

. U Mystery B. Karloff-J. Bogers. 

WB Melodrama G. Brent- J. Hutchin$on 



D. R. Lederman 
L. Hillyer 
M. Gering 
M, Rbsner 
R. Friedgen 
R. Thorpe 
G. Meins 
Robert Florey 
A. Litvak 
J, Kane 
G. Meins 
S. Lanfield 
R. Flaherty 
R Murphy 
L. Corrigan 
M. Curtiz 



4/30/37 



CRIMINALS OF THE AIR 
KING SOLOMON'S MINES 

JUGGERNAUT 
tllGHT MUST FALL 
MAKE WAY FOB TOMOBBOW 
SHALL WE DANCE? 
BOOTIN' TOOTIN' BHYTHM 
ESCAPE FBOM LOVE 
THAT I MAY LIVE 
A STAR IS BOBN , 
KNIGHT WITHOUT ARMOB 
CALIFORNIA STBAIGHT AHEAD 
SLIM 
MELODY FOB TWO 



Col 
GB 

J. Hagen 
H. Rapf 
L. McCarey 
P. Herman 
A. Schaefer 
Ij, Landau 
;S. Wurtzel 
D. Selznick 
A. Korda 
T. Carr 
WB 
WB 



C«l Action ' C. Qolgley-M. Keith 

GB . 'Spectacle C. Hardwieke-Bi Yoong-P. 

■ ' ■ Bobesbn 

GN . Melodrama Boris Karloff 

MGM. Comedy B. MehtgOmery-B. Bussell 

^ar Comedy V. Moore-P: Hall 

•BKO Musical Astalre-Bogers 

Bep Western Gene Autry-Araild* 

20th RomrCom G. Stuart-M. Whaleh 

20th Rbm-Dr R.' Hadson-Bobert Kent 

UA itom-Dr. Cteynor-BIareh 

UA Rom-Dr. Dietrlch-Donat 

iJ Action J. WayncrL. Latimer 

WB Drama P. 0*Brien-H. Fonda 

WB Musical J. Melton-P.' Ellis 



C. C. Coleman 
' R. Stevenson . 

H Edwards 
J. W. Ruben 
L. McCarey 
M. Sandrich 
M. E. Wright 

E. Forde 
Allan Dwan 
W. Wellman 
J. Feyder 

A..Lubln 
R. Enright 
Louis King 



80 

91 
81 
8C 

68 



3/3 



4/28 



4/28 
4/7 
3/31 
4/21 



lis 

90 



5/5 



/28 



5/7/37 



FRAME UP 
THEY GAVE HIM A GUN 
GUN LORDS OF STIRBUP BASIN 
CAFE METBOPOLE 
IT HAPPENED OUT WEST 
WOMAN CHASES MAN 
AS GOOD AS MARRIED 
PBINCE AND PAUPER 



R. Cohn Col Com-Dr 

H; Rapf MGM Rom-Dr 

A. W. Hackel Rep Western 

N.Johnson 20th Com-Dr 

S. Lesser 20(h Western 

S. Goldwyn UA Comedy 

E, M. Ashifer U Co^-Dr 

WB WB Rom-Dr. 



P. Kelly- J. Wells 
Tracy-Tone-G. George 

Bobby Steele 
A.' Menjoii-L.. Young 
. Kelly- J. Allen- J. Arthur 
' Hopklns-McCrea 
J. Boles-D; Nolan 
E^ Flynn-Mauch Twins 



D. -R, Lederman 
W. S. VanDyke 

S. Newfield 
E; H. Griffith 
Hi Bretherton 
John Blystone " 

E. Buzzell- 
W.Keighley 



5/9- 



70 
76 
115 



5/14/37 



VENUS MAKES TBOUBLE 
NON-STOP NEW YOB& 
. FOBEVEB YOUBS 
THIBTEENTH. CHAlB 
. NIGHT OF MYSTEBY 
YOU CAN'T BUY LUCK 
TOAST OF NEtV YORK 
AFFA1BS OF CAPPY BICKS 
, MICHAEL O'HAI'LOBAN 
GREAT HOSPITAL MYSTEltY 

■david habum (reissue) 
love from a stranger 

wings over honolulu 
cherokee strip 

dbAegebman courage 



W. McDonald Col Com-Dr 

GB GB Drama 

Alberto . Giacalone GN Musical 

J. J. Cohh MGM Melodrama 

.Par Par Roih-Coih 

M.' Cohen RKO Comedy 

- E. Small RKO . Drama 

B. Kelly Bep Com 

H. Schlom Rep Rom-Dr 

S; Wiuizcl 20th Mystery 

S. Wurtzel 20tb Comedy 

M. Schach UA Melodrama- 

E. M. Asher U R;bm-Dr 

: WH WB Western 

B. Foy WB Rom-Com 



. ' , j. Dniin-F. Ellis 
A. Lee- J. Loder-D.- Tester 
■ ' Benlamlno Glgli- 
M. Evans-H. Daniell 
B. Ksms-H. Burgess . 
.0. Stcvens-H. Mack 
E. Amold-C. Grant 
,W. Brcnnan-M, Brian. 
W, Glbison- Jackie Moran 
J. Darwell-S. Rumann 
W. Regcrs-L. Dresser 
A. HardihgrB. Rathb'one 
R. MlllandrW. Barrie 
D. Foran-J. Bryan 
J; Mdir-B. MacLanc 



G: Wile? 
R. Stevenson 
Stanley Irving 

G. Sictz 
E. A. Dupoht 
L.Landers ' 
R,y. Lee 

Carl Brawn 
J. Tinling 
J. Criize 
R. V. Lee 
H. C. Potter 
Noel Smith 
Louis 'King' 



5/21/37 



DEVIL IS DRIVING 
SINti; COWBOY, SENG 
A DAY At the RACES 
TURN OFF THE MOON 
TOMORROWS HEADLINES 
COME ON, COWBOYS . 
CHAiRLIE CHAN AT OLYMPICS 
THE GO GETTER 



Col Col MeUer 

E. Finney GN Western 

L. Weinjgartien MGM Comedy 

Miss Fanchon . Par Musical 

Cliff Reid BKO Com-Dr 

Sol Siegel Rep Western 

J. Stone 20th Mystery 

Cosmo WB Rom-Dr 



B. Dix-J. Perry 
Tex Bitter 
Marx.Bros. 
C. Baggles-E. Whitney 
Lee Tracy-D. Gibson 
B. Llvingston-B. Corrigan 
W. OlahdrK. de MUle 
G. Breni-A. Louise 



H. Lachman 
R. N. Bradbury 
Si Wood 
Le\v Seller 
R. Rosson 
Joe Kane 
. B. Huifri'stone 
B. Berkeley 



8t 



4/21 



5/28/37 



LEAGUE OF FRIGHTENED MEN 
GANGWAY 
EMPEROR'S CANDLESTICKS 
I MET HIM IN PARIS 

THIS IS MY AFFAIR 

UNDER THE RED ROBE 
DREAM LIPS 
KID GALLAHAD 



E.. Chodorov' 

GB 
J.. Considine 
W. Ruggles 

K. MacGowan 

R. T, Kane 
M. Schach 
WB 



Col 
GB 
MG 
Par 



20th 
UA 
WB 



Drama L Hervey-W. Connolly 

Musiciil J. Matthews-B. Mackay 

Rom-Dr Powell-Rainer 
Rokn-Com Colbert-Melyyn Douglas- 

R. Young 

Musical. R. Taylor-B. Stanwyck- 

V. TcLaglen 
Drama C. Veidt-R. Mass«y 

Rom-Dr E. Bergner-R. Massey 

Drama E. G. Robinson-B. Davis 



Al Green " 
Soniiie Hale 
G. Fitzmaurice 
W. Ruggles 

W. 

V. Seastrom 
Paiil Czinner 
M. Curtiz 



101 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



PICTURES 



VAKIETY 



21 



Inside StuI-^Pictures 



Metro made ..the short currently being shown on behalf Of the Will 
Rogers ilemorial Hospital drive, lofmetly the NVA Sanatorium, Saranac 
take, N. Y; Robert Taylor is the topper-offer with the appeal for the 
'passing-bf-thie-baskets among the: audiences. Gary Cooper, Harry Carey 
and Allan Jones participate in the forepart in characteristic mesa makeup 
and backgrounds including Jones* vocalizing of a cowboy ballad. 

In between the, governor of Oklahomai is shown bHefly and; news clips 
from: Rogers' fdrimfer Fox films are reprised, . includihg -David Harum,'. 
'State Fair,' *County Chairman,' 'Life Begins at 40' and 'In Old Kentucky.'. 
And of coutse Rogers' greatness as a humanitarian and artist is. painted. 
Ail kept within 10 minutes. Coinsid6ring Rogers- former Fojf connections, 
the' trade may; Avohder why Metro did the physical production although 
atware that Taylor and Jones are MrG stars. Cooper is Captioned as 'By 
coui tesy of Sarhuel 6bld^yyn,' and Carey via RKO-Radio Picts. 



Action of the Kansas ceiisors is cracking down on 'March of Time,' and 
then voluntarily releasing the reel for shbwihg handed 'M. of T.' reams 
pf publicity. Officials of 'Time* silbjesct checked and estimate now thkt 
the front page of nearly every important newspaper carried the yarn and 
that 85 editorials were written ph the topic. Recalls the time that the 
Jtansas board mutilated 'Frankehstei so badly that the distributbrs re- 
fused to relesise it. Censors took it all .back subsequently, using only at. 
.minimum'of shearing after the newspapers launched a heavy campaign 
of criticism. - 



Sameness of war scenes and fact- more adequate :coverage has been 
supplied frorn- the Loyalist (Madrid government) side has discouraged 
newsreel^ ji'om uisirig Spanish revolutionai'y material in recent weeks. 
ISome American . hewsreels continue to get footage , from Loyalist arid 
Rebel sides of conflict, though predominance; of Loyalist views has prompt 
ed many neMvs weeklies to forget the whole thing. iFigure that it would 
give . prej udiced slant. .' 

One newsreei found. ish front is a 

ing of -the past. 

Salary publicity, provisibh of the income tax' laws was halfrCrased last 
weiek when the house passed the Doughton bill to prevent publication of 
sucker lists. Measure xequires senate ; concurrence,, which is unlikely; 
•The bill, which drew stubb.orh opposition from a handful of liberal leg- 
islators, would .end annual reports to Congress showing persons, whose 
.earnings exceed $15,000. For the past, two years .hanies of scores, of film 
figures, including execs, directors, writers and technici as well as 
talent; have been headline fodder under the present ' ■ 



Souvenirs of days when Caspar W. Briggs and ; Charles . T. Milligan 
.turned. out..magic lantern sliprsl ides to give the^nation its first taste of 
celliiloid drama .are on exhibit at the Pennsylvani istoi'ical . Society in 
Philadelphia. 

Exhibit honors Briggs' 96th birthday, displaying a collection of early 
lantern slides, still and' moving, from 1840 to 1875. Included are first 
•. -Stereoscopic pi introduced in 1850 by Langenheim brothers and. early 
itemperance sli -slides. 



James Cagney and Warners are coy.- over talk that outsiders are at 
tempting to arrange a kiss-ahd-make-up scenei Warnef spokesriian says 
studio policy is silence until the Calif prnia supreme court hands down flna 
opinion on concern's pending lawsuit. Lower court here; sustained . Cagney 
who sought freedom from his. pact a year ago in argument over billing 
Cagney representative said Warners , has proffered olive branch and desire 
an out-of-court settlement. Grand National. points ' but that Cagney is tied 
^for two more pictures, for that company's release. 



Hollywood studios expect to grab stock footage for libraries May 3-5 
whien .United States Army opens its biggest peacetime airplane concen- 
tration to rhotioh picture and newsreei cameramen at Moroc Dry Lake 
March Field, and at other air bases. Total of 4,000 planes will do air 
maneuvers to perfect a plan of aerial defense for Los Angeles and en 
virons. Is the first time the government has opened up picture-taking 
pfivileiges without Washington red tape. ' \ ' 



While no attempt is being made to send films into Spai , American 
distributors have some prints in circulatio.h within cities controlled by 
goverhmerit troops. These are being, distributed on a makeshift, plan at 
little or ho profit. However, distribs are shifting the prints from spot to 
spot to prevent the government from stepping in- Authotities have threat 
fined to take over the distribution if civilian firms fall down, according to 
word to New York headquarters. 



Avalanche of . favbred femmes -with recommendations from various 
studio execs threw a monkey wrench into LeRoy Prinz's selection oJ 
beauts for Paramount's 'Artists and Models.' Dance director had picked 
18 girls on his own and ordered them to report when the 'must' candi 
dates, began filtering in, expecting preferred listing. 'The 18 first choices 
were told by Prinz to await developments. 



Cfaasen's Beef 



Hollywood, May 4. 

Dave Chasen, Joe . Cook'S 'old 
stooge, who opened a bitc-and- 
beat-it blocks from, ainy studio 
and , looked $et to starve to 
death in a nice quiet way, has 
nioved up to the caviar class. 

Price for steaks chez Chasen 
is $3, coffee; extra.. Steaks are 
presumably : flown; from New-'^ 
York daily. Ace prbducovs like 
the .place because there's ah 
iron rule against buttonlibli 
by cither talent or agents. 

; To: keep riff-raJt put, cheapest 
Chasen steak is $2,50, It's called, 
the B steak. Ground up, , it he- 
cdines the second feature. 



HeeMhe-Manager, or Reissues 
^et the Fans Seeking Him Out; 
Favor Oldies Over New Shorts 



Slight RKO Reorg 
Plan Changes May 
Aid Gen^l Creditors 



Lehman Bros. Swaifs 
Par Debentures; Sells 
65,000, SEC Reports 



Washirigtbni May 4.: ■ 
Sale, of Paramount debentures by 
Lehman Bros.,, in which John HertZj 
Paramount director, is a partner, 
came, to light Monday (3.) ' the 
semi-monthly report of the Securi- 
ties & Exchange" Gpmmissipn. 

Topping, all . bther reports of 
transactions • filrh industry insid- 
ers, -Lehmian-,' ros: repprted svyap- 
ping IGTiOOO'' % debentures , for an 
equal number ,bf 3J,45c; debentures 
and then sellirig 65,0D0 of the batch. 
L^hiriian wound up; IVlarc'i \vith 6,000 
shares pf P'ararhount comrnori.' ,8,000 
six percent second preferred,- and 
102,000 three and bne-qU i-ter per- 
cent 1947 debentures- 
Sale of 2,000 shares of Consolidated 
Film Industry preferred January, 
193.6, w^^s 'revealed in report on holdr 
ings of Setay Co.j pers anal. Invest-: 
merit flrm pf ;Herbert Yates,. Conspl 
prez. Belated statement ishowed 
Setay disposed of 1,600 shares com- 
mon in November, 98 shares of pre- 
ferred in February and 2,000 pre- 
ferred, in a dozen transactions, dur- 
ing • January last year, Latest figure 
on contents of Yates strong-box is 
154,173 , common^ and 98 preferred. . 
Smalt Sale by U . Corp. 
The Selling of 100 Shares of Uni- 
versal Common by tlhiversal Corp., 
holding .corripany pwhed by picture 
managenient, Was reported. Cuts 
execs' pbrtfplio to 228,927 cornmOn 
and 20,000, second preferred. 

Late report on holdings; of General 
Theatre Eiquipment insiders dis- 
closed Earle G. Hines of New York, 
officer and. director, owned 1,000 
common when G.T.E. . paper was 
registered early in the year. Only 
other fllmi bi2 statement Showed Leo 
Spitz held no Keith-Albee-Orpheum 
stock in Brest interest when put pn 
the board last year. 



Chances ate a" . ai^ehded- plan of 
reorganization will be submitted on 
behalf of RkO on H^y 12; wlicn 
hearings on the fbasi ility of the rcr 
pfgaiiization plan resume before 
Special Master Georg,e W; Als ;. 

Changes to be made are . those' the 
tr'ade .has been anticipating for some 
time. In general, these chang s 
Contemplate .axi improved position 
for general, creditors., Thi-s, of 
course, wpuld alter the posllioi) or 
debenture holders iahd stbckholclars. 
However, ' the mai , the: altera- 
tions will not, affect the brpad piin-^ 
ciples . or . the essential piirppses of 
the plan- as it , stands. 

W^ere sponsors of the plan able to 
cpnclude their presentation ;, in the 
prpceedings . beforie Special Master 
Alger, May 12, as hoped, RKQ's 
chances , of- erherging from, its "7715 
situation will have 'been greatly ac- 
celerated. 

Itiearings were adjourned alter a 
mbrning session Monday (3) to per- 
mit attorneys for the spohso|rs to 
gather certain -statistical and oper- 
ating data. Attorney H. C^ Rickaby 
Is , hahdliiig the; situation for the 
sponsprs. 

Poter , fprmer Atlas Corp. 

official, was examined Monday and 
cros^-examined . later by. Attorney 
Carlos Israels, attorney lor general 
creditors. Rathvon's testimony re- 
lated to the manner in Whicfi llie re-. 
: organizatibn managers arrived at 
certain conclusions now incorpor- 
ated in the plan; 



orations 



A film reviewer's feud with a Pittsburgh man^ser is becoming a seria 
Manager's latest burn Came when reviewer panned Universal's reissue of 
'My Man Godfrey/ which gave his house seven weeks. He retaliated with 
sassy ad saying 'wrong as usual.' Manatger then beefed because his stufl; 
did not make the reviewer -s page^ Reviewer's m.e. told reviewer to tiell 
the manager off. He di , so the ad came out. But fbr one editioh only. 

ividends received from Dti .Pont Film Mfg. Co, boosted Pathe Film's 
net profit for the March quarter to $59,372, which was almost, a 40% 
pick-up bver the initial quarter last yean Pathe's net profit from opera- 
tions amounted to <inly $12,920 before this, coin was added from Du Pont; 
the company in Which Pathe holds a .substantial ihteirest. C^^ also 
obtained. $1 1,442 from sale bf securiti 

Considering the Coronation impbrtant from the fashion, angle, Fox- 
Movietone is going after footage oh this angle, alone, -Vyvyan Donner* 
F-M'5 fashion editor, sailed Tuesday (4) to direct the newsreeling oh this 
phase pf the show arid will also ritish desi;gners for Worthwhile 

materi 



' Reelection of Robert R; Young and Frank F. Kolbe as djJ^:.ectors to Pathe 
Film Corp. came. ithe day iafter they bought control pf railroad, and real 
estate securities .of ■ Midamerica Corp., along with A. Kirby. Young; 
and Kblbe have beenl active in Pathe managerhent since the re-capital- 
izati 



, ; Claims at United Artists execs are that last week was the largest played- 
and-earned week in histbry of the cbmpahy. Some exchanges, including 
New York. : broke every existing played-and-earned record. Week marked 
the last 6f the George J. . Schaefcr sales- drive, irst drive UA ever 
ducted: 



Arthur DeBray has moved his quarters in the Hays organization Into 
the office formerly occupied b.y J. J. McCarthy. However, he is not taking 
oyer , any .duties in the advertising code department. Roger Allbright, 

ide to DeBray, moves into DeBray's old office, 

Studio manager at indie plant, new to his job, has agcnt^ for brother^ 
in-law and is relying on latter f.or advice relative to employment of per- 
sonnel and situation is causing plenty of talk. Placing clients of relative's 
agency in studio is the basis for the offside palaver. 



RCA'S HRST QUARTER 
UP $1,000,000 OVER '38 



Net profit of Radio Corp.^ of 
America for the first quarter of 1937 
Was nearly $1,000,000 higher than in 
the comparable period, last year, the 
of ficial statement this week revealed. 
The company's net profit for the 
March "quarter totalled -$2,243,056 
against $1,286,691 in 1936; iSurplus as 
of March 31 was $16,787,705, an in- 
crease of about $3,500,000. 

Statement from RCA showed gross 
income of $25,109,349 or approxi- 
mately $2,600,000 more than In siml- 
ler; quarter last yiear. Rejport showed 
interest charges had been cut about, 
$20,000 and that, money set aside 
for depreciation had been trirnmed 
almost as miich. Provision for fed"; 
eral inconie taxes rose abbul $150,000 
to $327,900. 

iStrortg surplus was made despite 
the fact that the company paid, out 
$790,000 in dividerids :. . the pire-. 
ferred Stock in, the quarter. This 
cbmpares with only $431,148 Paid oh 
the old . Preferred A stock in 1936 
quarter. 



See Extra LoeW'S 



Another extra- melon-cutting is 
anticipated " Wall Street for 
Loew's . cbrrimon shareholders when 
directors meet todaiy (Wed. ). thi 
is , the usual iyidend I'meptiivg for 
Lbew's, , Inc.. with , doubt- as tb^ 
maihtaing- $2 annual 

cash rate. 

In addition to the 50c declaration 
for the quarter on the .corninon, the 
Stlreet is looking for- a cash extra of 
50c to 75c.; Either, or a large pay- 
.mfent would be justified by Ihp .per. 
share earnings rate being su.slaincd 
However, the directorate proFjably 
will follow Customary conservative 
policy. This is taken to mean a 50c 
extra melon slici 



»«r York Broudcantlnfr NyNteni, i«i>.. 

^lunluiUan; scn.eral bL-oadcaHtlnK- IjuhI- 
ness; capital stoclf, 10 dhareii, mr j-nr 
vdlue. IncorDoratorH: Warren P. Jtr-dold- 
ilclc, .Tames T; Gallaghor, Marie Wiilllii, 
all of 2 Colunibua Circle, . New York Cltv. 

T<lebllne-'\Voo<l InOi, ; ManhatliUi ; tlio- 
.atrical 'buslnesfi; capital ntock, SOO -flLnrpft, 
Tio par valuo, Inrbrporatora: .WlllUim 
Tiloblfnt; nnfl , Audrey .Wood, y>a\\\ oi' 
IlockefcUer .I'laV.a, New York C'ltv; Kd- 
ward .E.' Cohen, 220 West 42nd airccl. 
Now York City. 

North Tnrrytowiii Canatllaii Aninrlcnn 
9 porting Ciub, lnc„ North TarrylovVii; 
operate recreation Ivull.t, etc ; t-upHiil 
.slock, 300 BharcB, $10 par^ value. In- 
oorporatorn: JoHeph, J*crrbi), 0 HtiriiUftri. 
Avenue, North Tarrytown; Vnrmklas r.o:< 
Hnrrt, IflB Cortlnnd .Btreet, Nortli Tnt-i-y- 
town; Hubert Forest. 21 BarnUarL ave- 
nue. Nottli Tdrrytown. 

Itr»IllHonit Sceblc Corp., Klngn; thnnti'i- 
<*al scenery; etc. ; capital ntock, 100 bIiiu'i'm; 
¥100' par .vrilue. Iricorpbrato'rH: Mfjllli- 
Iloll and I.sldoro Bell, both of 2ir. West 
lOlift. Htreet, New York City; .SopJilfi 
Saltzmnn, 1G7 Kutter aventiis Brooltlyn. 

I'oHtuire fttunfipM Movlen. Inr., ;^liiii}iiii - 
tan; motion, picture bUHhicH.t; cmx'Ii.'iI 
Kt<)ck. 00 HhareH, flOO par- vhUio; lii- 
corporatorfl: Thn Henly, 11. WuHt r..<l|Ji 
Htreot. New York. City; Anna M. Ciillp- 
Kor, 311 Krtst 27th Htreot, New York Clly; 
Anne .Sleln, 1? East 41»t aLrcci, * w 
York City. 

I'lfldy AniuHeinent Corp., T\lr<f;H; . imli- 
llc aiiiuso.ment re.Horta;, cai)li/il Hlofk, KiO 
shnro.M, no ' prtr value. • Ihi-onmriilor.-^ '. 
■Miiurl'-e. .Slicrib,; Manny. B. J<evln« nd 
T.cbn Moiir; air of 26 Cuurl. slrpcl, 13i' ok- 
lyn. 

rus Film, Iii<;.,, Manhattan; mbUon iilc- 
ture -bufllneHs; capital -Hlock, 100, Hlirin>H. 
no par value, ■ IncorporalbrH: - Jlprtry 
Uubln;; MolHo .fjtrelr'K'r,:, Tternnrd. ICrdwni'.v. 
aD.of 270 Uroiidwhy; Now. York C'liy. 

Iliirt-M'lilt* Teller l-^iit<>rprlN<',<«, nr.. 
ManlinUn.n; t^eiitrical bUblnnxs; cnvlivil 
c'toclty -200 fiharoHi no par value. Incor- 
iioratorfi: , I''rank' Teller, Oreji t Norliiem 
Hotel, New ;. York City; iillnM .Hurl 
While, nit7. Carlton Hotel. New Tori 
fllty; .sally I./ T)rolHpn, 004 Wtst IOIhL 
street, New- York City. 

I'liixii Ar4'nai Inc. Queens; boxlnc'.. e:^- 
hlt,>ltlpiiH.. etc.; Capital /fttock, CO Hlinres. 
.S100- liar v/ilue. " Incorporalr>rl<;. . Jilbi-d' 
l'.t>."e, J 1 0-21 T.lrd ron,<l. .ForeHtH lllH. J.. T. ; 
'Miarle.M. (.'rinoro;' 1441 Hohar.t • ave.nne,. 
T)i-oi^; .taeU Oerjiteriluiber, 111 Hast Uri.Di 
• atr'^'^t. New York City. ' 

I'nHy TliontreH f'«r|).> MnjOuiliiin; 
thcnlrienl buxiricHfl; .'.ipltnl ..hIoi'I.c. .. I.'.O 
slinre;;, no par., vallie. Ineor-puriitoi-fi;. 
MM'lon E. Jf^Tinel.steln. Robei'l, ■GoldHleln. 
.lB''<|ues .T. ■ Ben.lan-ili), all of uO-. I'lno 
iitreei. SvW York' CltV.....' ' , -,• 

Selling yortliftrii . Corp., OlbverHvlll".; 
theatri.eii,! ' biislTicHs'; .capital ' hIocIc. 10' 
Hliiires;' no par- val.iie. ' Inforponitni'sK 1-*.' 
!>.- 'rl'oVu|).«'>h, M; C,loeKu«r, ..l''; H:irlfr-. 
iill (if ..-in North ' Malt! Btrcet,- Glavci:: 
Villi", ; , V. . • ': 

- I'"ro<l . Fisher -MiiHlc- Co., , .. 'M,in1ini 
.Uin. Hitlfii' ': (luWi.-ililiigr , buslne. , ,; c.-i iiiJ-il 
.Htiick. inn Bhnre. ,'$100 -: pai' ' v.ilue. . ■ I n-: 
r6i-poralor>s; TV . 'mln Starr, 1K4 yarel 
HU-eot., llnirjlj'irn ; Albert Sliest a el;, liKlii 
tOii.<^t IStlt .olreet, Hrooklyri: Mor-vlu 
S!lwMtaek; 21 ns l«)ast 2lHt stroft. -Bro'oljly ii. 

.'':<.iTii>Kritin . DlNirlUiitliifc ('»r|ii.,-' MV'ti- 
h.'ili.'fin. nioUoii liit^ture l>i'i.sliif*Hi<: ('aplijil 
siiK'k. 1 no- ffharen. .jio par Value; - liieor- 
:'i6rnlo,r!'; Tilir.iibeih AVondH. . Mfiri.iiiie 
>'iii)er. Sydney M, Spe.clor, nil oC r,;:n. r-'irtJi 
nveiir S'ew 'nflt City. 



Chicago, May 

With . the . coming of double fear, 
tures, the headache of shorts is agai 
causing plehty of bickering between 
exhibitors and exchange.s, the thea-. 
tres trying :.tb get thrpugH sojne kind 
3f agreement with the 'distribs fbr a 
substantial r ,i y i leg e of shorts- 
oliminatibh. Clainx that they -can't 
possibly Use the shorts in conjunction 
Avith twin bills which arc runhiiVg 
ovcrlortg as they are. But the cx^ 
ohtihgcs haven't budged enough 
rnalce the' theatres ppy. 
. , Best that the. exhibs ' ; sen 
able to get from the e::changes . js a. 
0Qn'2ral okay- on a 2Sr:) ciimihation- 
on shorts, but only on tlia condition-, 
that the cxhibs tal:e the full output 
of; the exehahges' fcaituro catal'^g. 
Hownroels aren't included in ; the 
fihovt'j deal and a.s .. 2i.;'j!i iire not 
witliih the' ruling, of the 26":^ elimi- 
nation, 

H-jv/ever, orie. ite in, the business 
■.•\v.s received a torriflc impetus bor 
•^au:; Of the shorts jamirup; and 
that's the sudden revived, interest in 
reisjuss. bid pictures, some five and 
six years of age, -arc biing brought 
but of hiding dnd slapped oii the 
.^qreen;• , . : 

This . is. due th.e fact that the 
exchanges . are permittinlg the Ihoa:-, . 
trcs. additional climinayi'jn cf sh-;>rt3 
as long asHhoy are trc o .iTjr th 
r;?ime. amount of coin, in rcissivos- 
This tradin^T Iceejis the total gvoss 
i'evcnue pf rthc cxchfiniicii up cn tlie 
r.aine level, which makes the slibrts; 
tradc-^in for reissues oltay with the 
distributors. And the thcatrcj find 
that thoy can use the reissues well 
onou,gh; whei*a it's impossible to 
make use of the sh-jrls. In this . 
manner the theatres ore .rnaha,'^"i^g to 
'^et . their shorts contract do\yn to 
G.")";, or ' 50% of the ■ total 

demand. 

01dle9 Have B.O.: 

is ; that a good many of 
tiiase - Tcis.su.es proving -box- 

ofiice. Metro: is le'ad.irtg on thc nlun* 
bcivof reissiies on ths local Scrcons, 
with' Paramount second, and 201 
Century-Pox,. RKO, WarhCr.. Unl- 
vor.sal a;id United Artists following. 

Among, the lctui"$s for v/hich 
thlre is a big- reissua demand av 
such foi-mer clicks, as 'BiT; Ilo.uiie,* 
•After Oflice Hours,' 'Robinson 
Crusoe.' 'Cleopatra.' 'If I Had a 
Million,' 'Ruggles of Red ea'\' 'Tlie 
Chamn.' 'Cimavron,' '' lilv Vc -+or- 
day.' . 'Back Street.' 'One V/ay Pns-. 
sage,' 'Monkey ,' 'Horse- 

feather.s,' 'Bulldog brummond.' '.lii 
of Madeloh Claudet.' • ilin' 
Tliroujih.' 'Los Misera'ple.'i.' ' rrn'ceh- 
steirt,' 'Fugitive Irftm a Cliain Gang.* 
Most reissues asked for are hcnvy 
drama.s. Little . or no asking for 
-musical stvff, due to the ,'?ft;vr.-al 
agreement that the songs and dances 
(Continued on page 27) 



son, PIilI T. itcnder.qon; .Tone').') A., 
•ret, Oscar A, Trlppet. Cni>ltni 
$r>nn,nno, noho suhflcrlbeil, 

>IC,\ \H\HtH, ^.U\., tlicnirloal i\-'('\^-v. 
Direclorn! .TuIch jC. .Stein, T-ri M. 
Sfjirolbcr and N, .lOHnnli. Cnnllnl, r,l| 
•IrireH. pat valiic, '$100. Perniiltcd to 
in iin .(in fiiiareH,. ■ 

Ciiiiliibrlii FIIwh;', .imtlon' pi"lii."e '>r 
duclngr. .Director „ Jnime dei .Anv 
Vranee!) del Aino and - Kim'enio '('(ild'or 
('a)'iltnl liOOO Hliare.H,. no par. (.•nn'.lli.' 
. to iHBue 2i'>0 Hliaro", 
. Alex Kojiipiier, Ine.'i .taletit fi5f'e'>">', 
reclor.s; Ale .'K.e'inoiier, >l>)rton <1'ii'l)\'Hi 
•.lulletio C;<rr. -Ciiriltal' HlbeU .100 n''a/"H, 
nbrtn fMhscrlbod, , 
- Cltierfilor,. Iii'r, Ire.''lor)<i. A. 
C'nrnilek, V. Hea'cock, :Trow(ird (.'. 
Wllllniri I'rynne, ,A. OiindelAnfriSr. 
I>OH '.. Anffeie"'. CjipUal st'or.k,' 
niiiie.xtibfie.ribed. ■.' _ 

■ fJenernl Fljm .Co, : (mbllon p'eii-" 
•>ni)'i'lii(5). DlrectorH: tleri'lloriiii, Lmvr" ".(♦ 
I'*, . Kox . \(r., Helen McClnle\v Air.-ed 
Wricrlit, Oor(Vin Hall.. 1r., Kraheesi JV 
r.iiMer, Capllel. lO.ono. . chaveN.. - n, 
VfiTue .m. . Verr-sufe-i to r.OO - '•"'n •• 

■ l^iin lleruiirdlno ('Inoii^H Corp; 'filif>.'t'i'is 
'>• I'riit 'n;.;V. Dlrfoto"".:- M^n-iv J'V'l('."t''l'i. 
lV'ir>iett WofilfHon, Tai'l I'»'letr|ch. V-. N. 
.Vlf-knI.M, 13,. r. .«?W(eto\v, .l.r, SehW'l., ■(••■> I- 
la.l, l,.nnn Hhnr.cH, no ptii'.- - permuted 1 
I;,..,.,, i.nno f;bri<.'«>s. 

, IHpleyV,' Oil'iirtorlii'",,, Inc.i ani"<ie"iont. 
''."vfcpN, ■pire''i(>''H; ' -Sr. rook, fi.vL'e i,.. 
.Wood. ,0. , f, Calll.Mnh, dwnrcl' Cire.v.ii'iil 
II, .T; Tjiine,- .CaDital, 350' wharew; 'Ift* 
''ii'c crvedi par SlOO, and • 2r>0 ' common, 
j)';iii' .tl. ..Perinltted. to Ip-Oe' nll,- 
... .Vielropolltini I'li't'-rc*. Iiie,; v>')tlcin .'>'<>•- 
"lure, nronuct Ion.' pirocvtorx-' Niniv ''i'l-e, 
,.\i-nril(i Tlpron.tteln. .TMV.^CxoMrc-r. .-^'ia 
(Tciier. llnrriev'A. Ooo'diWan and Mi'i'.n 
\*'-i:'-(in. Capitnl. 250 jjlinrc^^ rtir.JIO. 
!'c>i''i'iilttcd- lo iH.rue (! Rhnr.'eH.' ' 



ALIfOHNJA 

Sacrii iiw.'nt.i.. 
I*iin-I': , liM'., iiT 1,1: 

Aiife'eics; rd W. llondiM 



f!iitve<<,l«;ii, 

Ilowery,- Iiir., nall.TH; fireive.-lni.M i>. 
' iieii I't-ical .n^t.i: (•ni)|tal Hf.O'-ix, 
!-'lii-\loy CJrali ' I.oruino Hu.ij: 
II. Ali'.Mahon, ■ t- 

For<'lRii IVrn^IlM 
CriHvii tlieiitret* Corp... ttelawiirer (.pevn 
.'iiiij.^if' ; cat>lt)il--'.>ilo''lc, *J,Oon; hoin'- oTr 
'ililaliVihv.i C IV,: Ida,; Texas drfli'' 
i'li'utci; atreni. N'jilda 'I'-'iley, ' 

^le\llHl^pr Film Co.. up' ' vi a re ; !*dver« 
ii.-^lu'-: riipli.-il .stocit, $;;;iO.'i.'''i ; 'ui've of- 
\\i \>. ( 'ii*oi'aiifi .Siirlim.". dd". : Texas of- 
lir , inillaa;, at'i'iit. J. C. Harris. 



22 



VARIETY 



Wedniesdaj, May 5, 1937 



AS 




''Smart showmen will do well to 
drow d ring around this picture 
on their progrqm schedules.. • 
audience entertainment every 
foot of the ¥f€iy...d showman's 
shpw that gives managers 
plenty reason to become en- 
thusiastic • • has appeal for 
classes and masses • can be 
billed OS a lough show I " 

JMof ion Picture Herald 





"Enhanced by bright dialogue 
and leading roles performed 
with charm • picture should 
attract -attention # hits new 
angle I" — Daily Variety 



Strictly top flight.. .exudes class 
and captures laughter .. .from 
beginning to end it will ring a 
merry chime at the till on all 
theatre levels • . . scintillatingj . . . 
top quality . . . spdrkling . . . it is 
just about perfection r' 

— Hollywood Reporter 





AS GOLD! 

'^ Hollywood Reporter 

^'Should be a box office stand- 
out • • . the sort of thiiig word- 
of-mouth advertising sells • • 
has those delightful qualities 
that made such hits of 'It 
Hoppeiied One tiight', 'Theo- 
dora Goes Wild' and the like 
laughs galore.. .in every sense 
if c<ih well be ternried , grand 
entertainmenti" 

— fifm Daily 




M » 






It 



Should provoke word-of-mbuth 
advertising . • . first rate I '' 

—/Motion Picture Daily 

Brightr snappy comedy-romance 
...certain to please •• .fast mov- 
ing . . . clever . . . fine I" — Fifm Curb 



Sparkling . . . clever .• .amusing 
. . . top flight . . . sprightly. . .ex- 
cellent . . . zippy . • . delightful 

a welcome feature for any 
theatre I" 

—Showmen's Trocfe Review 




New Universars 



As Good As Married 



with 

DORIS NOLAN • JOHN BOLES 

Walter Pidgeon * Alan Mowbray ■ Tola 
Birell Katharine Alexander Mary 
Philips * David Oliver Esther Ralston 
Ernest Cossart Walter Byron 



DIRECTED BY EDWARD BUZZELL 
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER E. M. ASHER 

CHARLES R. ROGERS 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER 




Weduesdaj^ May 5, 1937 



PICTURES 



fARIETY 



23 



A New H wood Feud A-Borning? 

Set-Designers Vs. Dance-DirectorsT-^Camera 
Angles Vs. New Terps. 



.Hollywood,; May 4. •.; 

Set-designers are beefing, because 
producers keep pressing , them for 
irtbre dance, noveltiies And ask What; 
about, riding the, dance-directors for 
a cbanse? . 

Desigriers' contention is that, 
camera liiiiitations beiiig what they 
ate, they can't keep building up 
steps forever, and it's about tinie the 
danc? directors built some .steps 
themselves. 

. D^nce directoi-s .say their work 
exids in' routining the chpri , but 
-the designers, have an; answer for 
that^ one also,. They contend that 
the Ballet Russe Would still be a 
buck-and-wihg nunnber tpnfined to 
the Omsk ircUit if other dance di- 
rectprs thought that way. ; 
. Dancers poiiat. to their modern 
Dance Guild to prove they, can do' 
deft stu in their bwn time arid oh 
■their own money, and ask the de-- 
signers- what iD~a.ghlieff eyer did that 
was better than . fudfr. BVu'roughs', 
•Gredo.' ,' -Niegro Cycle' and 

•Li ttle Fiigue of Baqh?'; 

Scenic designers say sure-seater 
BppliaUse is ho sigh pt skill, , Lel,tho 
:dahce directors get' that sott. of stuff 
in 'Top of the Towh' and things likie 
that befoirie taking bbWs for; biravery 
under ire. 

piP.'s say rucp Burroughs id 
get a Chinese sw:brdsman bit in 
'Town', and, besides, they .dbh't,' - 
trol production, they only contribute 
tb It. 

: . Nbt . coh tend the S.D.'s, 

whp their scenery moves 

around hrbre than do the d!d.'$ 
dance routines.' 



Finney's GN^ales Bait 



Hollywood, May 4. 
Edward Finney, advertising arnd 
publicity ief for Grand ./National, 
is staying over to supervise com- 
pany's 1937-38 sales annou^icemeht 
book. 

Tome, a 24-page cplpr supplement, 
will be distributed at GN's cbnveri- 
tibn opening at the Ahibasadbr May 
15, Ten thousarid books' will* be 
mailed exhibitors. 



LaRpc^ue's 'Shadbw* 

. Hbllywbod, May 4. 

Rod LaRocque has the lead in the 
first of Grand .National's hew who- 
dunit series featuring 'The Shadow,' 
now in work with Lynn Shores di^ 
recting. Max Alexander produced. 

. Lynn Anders, femme lead in the 
fllm,^as been optioned for three 
more.. Supporting cast includes 
Kenneth Harlan, James Blakeiy, Cy 
Kendall, Walter McGrail, Jack Car- 
navale,. Nbrmah Airisley and Wilson 
Benge. 



May 'Gasino' in June 

J. jllywood, May. 4, 

Casi ' rolls at Warners June 1, 
Joe May dij-ecting. 

Cast includes Ruby Keeler, Joan 
Blondell, George Brent, Warner 
Baxter and Patric Knowles. 



STORY BUYS 

.„ ^ \ Hollywood, May 4. 

by Mildred Cram, 
bought by Republic. 

High Voltage,' original by J; Robt.' 
»ren, Hal Long and Kathlieen Shep- 
nerd, sold to Mfetro. 
T -^'^wellyn Hughes' story,. 'Circus 
7ooA« ^°"Sbf by Monogram for 
- W7-38 program. 

Umversal bou.i?ht 'Mightier Than 
the^Sword/ by William Rankin. 

He. Had to Fight,' by Phil 
acquured by Maurice Conn. 
,^4ed Buell bought .'The Roaming 
boy,' original by Bennett Coiien. 
_Alfred Prowitt, , Chicago Daily 
^ews reporter, spld 'Mr. Nickelby 
Sits Down' to 20th-Pbx. 
^^^^orge Hirlimah purchased 'Fools 
?om "°vel by J. D. New- 

Golambia acquii-ed 'Flash,' original 
Py George Clarke and Guy Trosper. 

TITLE CHANGES 

ft 

, Hollywood, May 4. 

Universal changed title of Buddy 
UeSylva's production. 'Broadway 
Jamboree,' to 'Young Man's Fancy.' 

The Reluctant Bachelor' at Re- 
Lbve^ i.s .now 'This Business of 

P^vid L. Loew changed title of Joe 
Brown starrer from 'All is Con- 
tusion' to iRiding on Air.' 

Grand National has changed 'Some, 
t-all It Love' to >Maybe It's Love.' 

Hadio switched from 'Mexican 
Quarter* to 'Border Cafe.' 



Pic Flacks Whirl Around 



. ^ Hollywood, May 4. 

Switches, and ..additions .'in studio 
publicity; departmehts brought many 
realignments last week, 

Phil : Gersdorf and Dick. Ittinger 
jpiried Harry Brand's dfepartmcnt j|t 
2pth-Fox, Gersdorf came from David 
L. iioew Productions. Pittinger was 
last at BKO.*Nap' Harrison upped 
from press book staff to Pittinger's 
spot. Merviri Hoiiser and Phil Evans 
have bach added to the rko staff. 
; Al .-Par resigned from. .20th- 

Fox to jpin 'fbrn. Baily at National 
Screen Service. 



Flagg's Waiver 



Holly wobd, Miay 4. 
James Montgomery Flagg, 
leavihg tPwn after doing por- 
trait of Madeleine Carroll, re- 
galed his pals with this blurb 
i^niblazoned on new stationery:. 
. 'Jas. M. Flagg; High Class 
Illustrations, Magazine coyevs 
under pirotest. Occasional cpin- 
mercial work , "at exorbitant 
prices.. Snappy hand-painted 
oil pbrtraits doh^ ph pi'ej 
lightly -soiled originals 
:sale Pr giyen away. Special at- 
tenti tlaid to Rich Pflbplis. 
How's yoiic radio? 'Mi 's Oi K. 
340 West . 57th street near 
avenue ',. N€>w. York 
Telephone, Circle 7-3513.': 



Hendrick years 
manager pt Warner Ihoatre, 

Memphis, has gone to HpliyW'ood to 
jpin the Warher studio publicity 
staff there..; He is joint.- author, with. 
Howard Waugh, of the recently pub- 
lished Encyclopedia of Explpitati , 



Court Lifts Mindlin> 

Plaster ; Suit Sticks 

Summons in. an attachment action 
by Michael Mindlin, agent, against 
National ; Prbvi Distributors, 
Ltd., . pf London, was vacated- Friday , 
(30) by N. Y, Supreme Court Jus- 
tice; Frankenthaler.biit; the suit was 
permitted, to stand. 
. Mindli ■ -suing asserted 
breach of cpntract ihg firm- 

oWed him $7,000 oh an agreement 
sighed last .October .to run a .year. 

He claims he contracted to dis- 
tribute the National's piictures in the 
U. S. at a salary of $150 a week, etc. 
In February, he states^he was fired 
and sited .bh the remaining .40 weeks. 
When C. N.. Wilkinson, a director 
df the firm came to N. Y., Mindlin 
served him. The .pburt held Wil- 
kinson- not responsible. Mindlin is 
seeking tb attach company's 'The 
Mill on the Floss' and 'Stardust,' hbw 
in New York: 



Irs. Fox, leitstem 

Must Show Or Else 



Cartideh, N. J.. May 4. 
istrict Judge. J. Boyd. Avis 
signed an order here; Friday. (20 ) 
jiidginj Mrs\ William Fox and Heiv 
bert Leitsteih, Fox's sspretary, in 
contempt of. court: Sentence was 
niade provisional on further refusal 
to . testify i Fox's $9,535,000 bank- 
ruptcy, being heard in Atlantic City 
by. Referee Robert E. Steedle. 
■ -Judse Avis said Mrs. i'ox rnust 
face sentence- Juhe 4 unless she ap- 
pears, before Steedle prior to that 
and follows instructions. . The 
order was the same for Leitstei ; 
with date set for June 18; 

Mrs." Fox,-. Was adjudged in cow- 
tempt by Jiid^ie Av^s March 29 after 
she .. left the Atlantic City \-)ceed- 
ihgs, after one'daiy, pleadin'T illness. 
The Ju said ishe have 
testified. 



Lefty Gets 4 Days Picture Work, 




By Joe Laurie, Jr. 



Casey Says 



(Continued from page 3) 



AutryV 8 Mesquiters 

Holly wopdi May 4, 
Armand Schaefer, who produced 
Republic's Gehe Autry si ing west- 
erns last year, been placed in 
charge of the lo's features for 
1937-38. 

Sol Siefiel \yili produce the eight 
Autrys on the coming seasoh's pro- 
gram in addition to eight 'Mesqui- 
tfeers' and four serials^.- Stories for 
the productions are being readied 
for announcement at . the Republic 
sales convention here June 1:%- 

GONTKAGTS 

Hollywbod, May . 

Warners handed Edmund C?buld' 
ing a termer. Ditto for Joe Mdy, who 
directed 'Confession.' 

.Murray Cutter, musical conductor 
and irector, renew for Metro, 
stretch. 

MetrP. optioned Dolly Tree, stylist.' 

Karen DeWolf signed as 20th Cen- 
tury-Fox scripter. 

Arthur Rbsenstel wpn Metrp ex- 
tension. 

Harry Ruskih ticketed at Metro 
for 'My Girl, Friday' script.' 
- Robert Livingstone's, actirig con- 
tract to run another year at Re- 
public. 

Houston ranch sighed to ■ develop 
stpry idea fpr J. .J. Cphn .at Metro. 

David Niven 'rew new. ticket with 
pay hike, from Samuel Goldwyn. 

Marjorie Gatesbn . P.acted by War- 
ner's for featured femme pdrt in 
Tirst Lady.' ; 

Joseph Schildkr at 
20th-Fox. , 

Aben Karidcl tagged by Walter 
Wanger , to script Vincent Shieean's 
'Personal Histbry.' 

Metro Dptibncd George Zucco. 

Richard Meibaiim handed a Metro 
writing co'ntipacti 

•Mcl"p ticketed Jack. Conway to 
new termer to direct. . 
. Harry Sherman has piicked up- -, 
tion on William Boyd, featured in 
Hopalong .Cassidy Westerns.- 

Sam ,G. Ehgle, 20th-Fbx associate 
producer reneWed for another year. 

Max Steiner given termer at. 
Warners, tecs off with special score 
fbr 'The Life of Emile Zola.;* 

Paramount rChewed Miss Fan- 
chon's producer pact,: Next ill be 
•Summer. Romance.' 

Martha Raye won reqewal at 
Paramount with salary tilt. 

Paramount optioned ; 
nioopet. 

Geza Herczeg tied to personal pact 
by Winfield R; Sheehan alter wash- 
ing up ait Warners. . , „ 

Alexander Brothers optioned Rod 
LaRocque for three more in 'The 
Shadow' series at Victory. 



involved, may have the true picture 
of the labor situation In the stu ibS 
as it exists today, I believe. 'that they 
should know and understand the at- 
titude of the studios ; and a little of 
the past history of; the relations; be- 
tween the studiPs and the Painters' 
Studio llnibhs.. 

'In the past all union agreements 
governihg local, studio employes 
have been negotiated between a 
committee consisting of the resi- 
dents of thie International ions 
cbhcerned and a cpmmiittee consist- 
ing of the presidents of the studio 
corjporations involved. The.se amic- 
able he^btiatibns: brought about the 
1926 ' basic studio agreement, tp 
which ' the International Unipri of 
Painters was." a party, and whel'ein 
it was understood that the local Stu- 
dio Painters' Unions were to be the 
medium through which the Interjia- 
tipnal IJnipn ■ wioiild : carry out the 
terms pf the agreement.' This agree- 
ment was signed on Nov, 27. 1926, 
by the Intematiohal Brptherhbod pf 
Painters, . Decorators & Paper 
Hangers of America (as well as by 
other international, unions), which 
is the. parent body of Local. Union 
644, Studio Painters; Local Union 
621, United Scenic Artists, and Lo- 
cal Ufnibn 731, Makeup Artists.. 
International Pulls Out 

'In . January,. .1932, this interna:^ 
tibnal withdrew from the .agrocmcht 
because of demands by Ihp Studio 
Locals of Painters, and Sccni Avt- 
ists for recognition of additional un- 
related crafts, and temporary refusal 
of su'ch recofjnltion by the Produc-. 
ers' LabPr Committee, this action 
being; taken ith the <listinct nd 
recorded understandin .that the 
Painters' Ihternaitional cbiiid at any 
timc; rc-cnter the agreement under 
the ; same cqnditipnis .which prcv ilcd 
prior to withdrawal, ' inclu ing 
.studio painters, sign mar- 
blers and grainers, furniture, firiish- 
ers. scenic artists and assistijnts. t 
the joint conference of the Interna^ 
tional Unions' cpmmittce and ; the 
pj-oducefs' labor committee bh; April 
4, 1937, both groups agrocd to ac- 
cept the appliciation of the Painters' 
international for re-entry into the 
agri-jement, in accordance with the 
abbye liriderstahdi ' . also being 
Understood that the possible iiiclu- 
sioh of the disputed crafts would re-! 
mai " subject; to subsequent ncnotiar 
tions between the. Paj ' Inter- 
national Union and the Producers. 

'{Subsequently, howevier, the Paint- 
ers' local studip representatives, con- 
trary to the prior agreement, of their 
internatibhal, insisted lupioh rccdgni- 
tioh of the disputed crafts, and were 
isupported in this contention by their 
international. This was a direct re- 
verscl of the Painters' International 
previous Stand, despite the fact that 



Hollywood, May 4; 

Dear; Jo^:— 

Well at last I got a break. I met 
Lew CantPr and he told me about a: 
.studib lopking fbr a guy vtO: play a 
detective, so .1 gets there early be^ 
fbre the casting director's eyes were 
really open and he bkays me. I-m 
playing the part of an assistant de- 
tective, just got a if ew . lines like 
'Okay, bp5s' 'Oh yeh?' and 'Nb: you 
don't?' The. boss-detective in the 
picture has got all the snappers, but 
.withbut me feeding him \v ith. looks 
he wbuldn!t get any laughs. Hie points 
all his / Wise . cracks at me mostly, 
and Bbrne of the boys on the set 
showed.me how to take it away from 
him just by what they call 'double 
takes,' but 1 don't believe in that 
stuff,- I say live ..and let live, and 
anyway he is the. star of the pic-, 
ture and if he thinks I'm stealing it 
he'd have hie fired; 

Right now the main part is to get 
a bankroll together, then ;I Can sit 
back and ipll 'chv pleHty, The castr 
ing. irector told ;m:e it 'W'ould be a. 
4-day job, but the .assistant director, 
thinks it vvill last ai week ph account 
of the star is a slow study. Well, 
no matter who is right, I'll end up 
with a little wrinkle rempvci;. It's 
tunny what hahdling a , -bMck 
does to Aggie's face, .It re'mbyes her 
.wi'inkles quicker thah. an;^thi If 



two Agencies ^it Up 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Agency partnership of Ben Jack- 
sen and Harold Lcylon was dissolved 
Saturday ( 1 JaCkscn reenters, prpr 
ductipn hilb Ley toil cbiitinUes; ih 
the percentery as Lcy.tpn, Inc. 

Norman Froscott has severed with 
Frcscbtt-Sedgwick and is on his own, 



Hunter'a Plea 

Holly wood, May 4. 
. , Suit for declaratory relief ; was 
filed, in Los Angeles, May 3, by C. 
Roy , Hunter agai Consolidated 
Film Industries. Plaintiff claims to 
haive a four-iyear contract calling fpr 
him to run the laboratory ior CFI, 
and questions the right pf Herbert J. 
Yates to. farm him out as camera and 
sound head for Republic studios. ' 

CPurt has been asked fpr a ruling 
on .the matter. 



FILMING IXAOSTAJ) 

Harlan Thompson,' 'Par iprodiiceri 
and two writers from the studio, 
Russell CrpuSe ahd Howard Lindsay; 
arrived yesterday (Tues.) by boat 
from Hollywood to film sciehes in 
New York for 'The Big Broadcast 
of 1938' which will feature Kirsten 
Flagstad, Met opera soprano. She 
sails for England after the scenes, 
scheduled for the Astoria^ L. I. stu- 
dio, are done May 14-15. 

Thompsort, Crouse Indsay 
will then return west. 



had they abided by their original 
agreement; it would haye granted 
their dcmahdfi ,in the stiidibs, in- 
cluding an automati 10% increase 
pvci' the present ba^ic wage of; $7 
for a 6-hour day. ith time and ohe- 
half for overtime arid Sundays and 
double; time ipi; holidays, ipr. the 
followi .ations: S t u d i.p 

pai rit'crs, mai-blers and 

.gvai ,. itur fihish<ivs,: ic; 
artists and assistants. < 
Carry Oh V'lth NRA 
•Despite the ; fact thpt the NRA 
was nullified by ruling pf the 
supreme court,' the motion picture 
industry has continued to . observe 
NRA conditions; for all- employes not 
covered by the basic studio rec- 
ment including paihters, scenic art- 
ists, etc. We challenge any other 
corpora^iph, emplpyor or erhplpye to 
;shbW where, better wage scales and 
working cpndition.s f or . aH .employes, 
•prevail in any industry, in the entire 
cbuntry. 

'The jhoti ./picture industry is 
leaning backward in; the effort to be 
fan- and just in its relations With 
its employes, and it is otjr earnest 
desire, in , accordance \vith oiir past 
record of failr ' that the pres- 
ent labor di may be adi 
justed over conference t?ible 
rather than on the .[/icket line, We 
have done cycry thing reasonably 
within our pOvifcr to avoid the latter 
eventuality.' 



I ever shbw her 
time she would 
Temple; 

. You kiiow me and Aggie, have been 
through an awful, lot -the past five 
years, and I foiind out that worry 
is wbrse thai> bei , hungry^ of 
course if you're not hungry Vthore'^ 
nothirig, to. worry about; Paying rent 
isn't the worry being hiin.^ry ' 
■'cause you got the landlord heljiii 
you worry, , He has to v/brry if he's 
gonna get it and; you only have to 
.Worry if you can raise it, sb I call. 
it a 50-50 Worry. Anyway we're Itv- 
inig in a trailer and it's swell, , 
cept when yovi lose anything, it's 
hard . find, bacaiise . there ar so 
few: places tb look fbr ■ it In a trailer, 
Biit we ain't got nothing to lose, 
that's another worry oft*en. bur itii 

•There's anothcv worry though that 
I just got. Thoy're talking about a 
big strike out here in the studios. 
That would be just my luqki .1. jiist 
am learnirtg .how to 'walk . ' and 
some, guy will come alaivg and ask 
me to 'walk out.' Weil, mo and Aggi 
can take it Wp've been laying ott.' 
sp lPhg we nearly fprg:pt what busi- 
hess we're in. Anyway t hppe every- 
thing will blow over, but it's a 
hcluva time to call a strike when 1 
get four days work. But that is life. 
Just as you thirilt you're all set to 
ride, you gotta walk. 

I see by the papers that the bur- 
lesque managers; have worries too 
in New York. Well, it's their own 
fault being closed lip, I am plenty 
sorry, for all; the pdrformdrs 'h every- 
body It throws out of Work", because 
it aint their fault. They just did what 
the managers told ^cm to, and the 
stuff they told them to do cycn kids 
stopped .writing pn fences. Maybe 
they'll put back the real burlesque 
shows like Gbrdpn ahd North had, 
and Max Spiegal, Louis Rol>ic, Bar- 
ney Gerard, Charles Waldron, Harry 
Bryant and Hurtlg;& iSeamoh had, A 
first part and a last part ahd a 5-act 
olio. That would help vaudbvlUe 
come back , too, and would give a 
chance tb the ,gobd comlcj to show 
their stuff;., not the strip-teasers. 
There's plenty of. good talent in bur- 
lesque if they got a Chance. 

Well my -pal, Tom : Phillips, presi- 
dent of 'the A; B. A„ will straighten 
things out. He knows all the angled, 
if real burlesque comes backi me and 
Aggie will get plenty of jobs. Of 
course she can't ' wear, tights any 
mbre because the gams aint what 
they used to be, but . she's a good 
character woman and I. can put on 
baggy pants with the best of them. 

Everybody seems to be worrying 
these days, the guys that are work- 
ing ^Vith. me on the lot chew thie 
fat all day about the mistakes and 
waste 'oevcry thing in the Icture 
business and. the whble business Is 
going to hell, and all that kinda 
talk. Well, mc and Aggie went to 
see a picture called 'A Star Is Bprn,* 
the pthcr night, and ais far as we're 
concerned,, we don't care hpw many 
mistakes thpy make if they can pro- 
duce pictures like this one. It pays 
off for all their foolishness. It's one 
of the greatest pictures I ever saw. 
That Selznick; guy deserves plenty 
of , credit for producinfi this one. 
Every end of it is gppd. The story, 
the acting, the photography, direc- 
tion, music 'neyerythlng is' S.weU. It 
has you laugh in' and cl-yi ' and it's 
full of swell lines and great pieces 
of.' busines.s.. Get a , load of , Janet 
Gaynor and Fredrlc iw;arch and that 
guy Mehjoii. they're; al.way.s good but 
this time they're better than igreat 
Don't fail to pe^this one,. Joe;; it'll 
pay your eye.s and rs bfi; I .only 
hope the picture I'm in is half as 
gobd. 

.1 got a letter from Nan and Taddie. 
Lyrich, you. remember them, used to 
be Keller- isters and Lynch? Well; 
the two girls are doing a double now 
at . the State : in New Yprk, so get 
a load of them because they're swell 
perfprmers.. They're another ..good 
bet , pictures because they got 
plenty of looks and . shapes.; Also got 
a letter from the Great Gorsbri; he's 
playing around With a unit thats got 
50' people ih it, including the au- 
dience. "They played. 10 Weeks and 
ar^e now waiting fpr mbr .; houses 
to be built. 

Well, I hope, everything is straight- 
ened put, as the agent ssaifl tb the 
contorti ist act. Give best tb 
the gang. 

Your Pai. 
■' ■ Lejly. 
P.S. The suti is shihinii every day 
I and I'm getting sick of it. 



14 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



NOW IT'S NEW YORK'S RIVOU 

REVEUN6 IN A 2O111 HIT i 



Ushers rush and cashiers wilt, as long waiting lines 

storm the Rivoli doors. And that romantic duojr Tyrone 
Power and Loretta Young, implant themselves deeper 

than ever in the hearts of audiences. while thousands 

tough and cheer ! 

The crttics keynote the sentiments of the crowds: 

Doily Variety: "Should fore handsomely at the boxoffice. Has the show ele< 
ments which appeal beyond class limitations. Loretta Young never so lovely; 
Tyrone Power splendid I " 



LOREHA 



TYRONE 





ADOtPHE 





HoHyvvdod Reporter: "Topnotchl Provides class amusement, for all classes I 
More strength for Young-Power team I" 

Film Daily: "Bright and witty show. Glamour love-team of Young and Power 
score strong. A cinch the femmes will go for them I" 

H. Y. Daily Mirror: "Miss Young and Tyrone Power in a gay romance to the 
demonstrated delight of their followingl Yesterday's audience signified box- 
office success 1" 



tth 



r O R i O OR Y A TO f P 

drtARlLE^ WtNNINGER 
HELEN WESTIEY 

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H. Y. Doily News: "Sure to please any audiencel Tyrone Power and Loretta 
Young carry ^on the splendid teamwork they commenced in 'Love Is News'." 



H. Y. American: "Here-s another 'yes' one. Definitelyl Loretta and Tyrone at 
their most engaging] Glides along merrilyl" 



N.Y. Eve. Journal: "One of the season's most amusing comedies | A charm- 
ing vehicle for a group of charming playersl" 

• 

N.Y. Eve. Sun: "Light-hearted and laughing comedy in a gay mood. Tyrone 
Power and Loretta Young have proved themselves an excellent comedy team." 

'•- 

N. Y. World-Telegram: "Recommended to your attention^ Over-bountiful with 
funny lines. Loretta Young altogether sparkling. Tyrone Power at his bestr' 

Showmen's Trade Review: "Big nqme cast for top grosses. Young, Power, 
MenjoU and Winninger great. DePmitely a class A production!" 





THE KEYSTONE i 
OF YOUR f MTURC 



'.•.'.v.'.'.'.S'.'.'. 

N'.V.'.'.'.', 



Lii^t m\\m Tff MiniHlW 



wnile just a block away- 



WAKE UP AND LIVi IS 
AFTER SETTING A NEW 



HELD OVER AT THE ROXY 
WEEKLY GROSS RECORD! 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



PICTtlRES 



VARIETY 



23 



EXPLOITATION 



By Epet W. Sarsent 



Photo Contest 

On^ of the most successful contests 
•worked by a small house recently 
was one in which prizes were offetett 
for the niost absurd portraits or 
noses made by amateiirs. To show 
what he meant the imanager oifered 
the familiar teet first pose in which 
foreshortening gave huge feet and 
an flpple-siz6d hea'd. 

As a, result nioist of the prints fol- 
lowed the same lines/ but there was 
a sufficient number of, different 
poses to yield a supply and for six 
weeks every change of bill offered 
four lantern slides made from the 
siibitiissions, and some of them 
rocked- the house with laughter. At 
the end of the contest of the 10 best 
Were thrown on the screen and an 
audience vote taken. , . Meantime, the 
isubmissions not put on slides Were 
showm in lobby frames and most of 
the town filed into the lobby twice 
a week, to look, the displays" over.; 
Cost of .making the slides was isriiiall 
• as compared . with the business 
drawn, and stiirtt is down for an early 
repeat; but with a slightly.; different 
angle. 

Next tim.e it is gdmg to follow 
newspaper lines on. 'My ihost em- 
barrassing momient;' poses to illustrate 
the phrase. Sample print for this 
will be a gjiri all dressed up, but 
with, one stocking down around her 
anftleV acknowledging, the salutation 
of a fashionable boy friend.- .Will 
take a little more thinking-up, , but 
manager expects .to jget some prints 
good enough to c^ash tha news- 
papers with; Also; figures that he 
can promote the prizes .from the 
local photo . dealers, . who will get 
most, of the .developing and printing. 

Figured that a purely Ibcal angle 
stunt will bring in as niuch business 
as a china giVe:aWay — ahd:Cost less. 



and got 800 replied whi<»h amply 
satisfied: latter doubt. • 

Only string was that women whb 
were mailed passes should indicate 
on accompanying card if they 
wanted more of same type of pic. 
Cards, which were left at theatre 
as they left, indicated about 65% 
liked show, rest evenly split be- 
tween no like and no reply. In 
view of response, theatre had upped 
number of passes to 500» 30% . of 
the bearers buying extra tickets. 



Pitt Grosses Dampened 

i*ittsijurgh, May 4. 
High waters last week- cost five 
Golden Triangle spots around $15,000. 
Most of it represented charges for 
flood . preparations. 

Iggest loss was .'in Ipciped grosses. 
Customei:^ were afr id to.; venture, 
downtown. 



Fountain Stuff 

, Bill Hendricks' hew Encyclopedia 
. of Exploitation gives, a number of il- 
' lustrations of rimnihg water effects, 
most of which depend on the stream 
of water covering a glass feed pipe, 
but "he overlooked one, . which.! 
formed the basis of ^ one. of. Thurs- 
ton's earliest illusions, In his ef- 
fect he dipped a half cocoanut shell 
into a tank, filling it with, water, and. 
emptying it again, then presently 
raised the shell a couple of feet 
above the tank with the shell 
streaming an apparently inexhausti- 
ble water supply. 

It was worked on the saime gen- 
eral lines except that it callied for ho. 
glass feed tube. Instead a solid jet 
of water was forced through a nozzle 
and, capped, by the shell, the water 
mushroomed down the sides to hide 
the central , stream. ■ The idea calls: 
for a small jet under heavy pressure 
to supply sufficient water tb mask, in 
falling, the feed supply. The cup 
should be exactly cehteted to split 
the flow evenly, and . the shell can 
be so mounted that theire is ho pos- 
sibility of feeding through the sup- 
port. Provided with a^ pump it can 
be worked without hoSe conrtection.s 
and prove more mystifying than the 
better known variants. 



, WB>s 'Pauper' Bally 

Warner .Biros, have wbirked up an 
unusual campaign for 'Prince and 
the Pauper,' tying current . release 
with next week's Coronation cere'r 
mbnies .in. . London. . .Banking oh 
probaibility bf icameraiheh being 
barred from iactual ceremonies of 
George ATI's: crowning in Wesitmin- 
ster Abbey j WB haveV issued series 
of Gororiatibn scenes from. the pic,' 
including virtually every vital func- 
tion pf the event. Servicing them to 
several hundred hews p a p e r s 
throughout the. U. S; Claim already 
to have received numerous requests 
for the stills. j> 

Campaign Ijy ; Charles iEinfeld 
stresses film's tirnely treatment of., 
story of the crowning of the young 
king of England with George VI's 
coronation,- skedded for next 
Wednesday (12). Pic will by thiat 
time be playing first runs. It opens 
today^ (5) at the N. Y. Strand; 
■ Irving Windisch,, of the Warner, 
N. Y., Strand, hooked "The Prince 
and the Pauper' to the Corbnation 
angle through a hook-in With, the 
N. Y. American which takies care bf 
itself. 

American's stamp departrhent will 
give 50 sets of Cbrohatibn stamps to 
the 100 words on why I liked 'The 
prince and the Pauper.' Winners 
can have a pair of tickets, instead, of 
they prefer. ; 

Things don't cpme much, softer 
than this— but you have- to think 
them up. That's the catch. 



It Was McCormick 

Leon, J. Bamberger, who recently 
was . credited with the very nifty 
press . book on RKO's 'Shall We 
Dance?' writes that it was the work 
of S; Barrett McCorinick. He's en- 
titled to all credit on a super-super 
job. 



Theatre Changes 



Nebraska Halts Banko 
As Lottery; Writ Ends 
Cash Giveaways Pronto 



Lincoln, May 4. 
Banko is a lottery in. . Nebraska. 
Cash giveaways were , ruled illegal 
(29) in Judge .Messmbre's court at 
IBeatrice, where: the test case of the 
state attorney general's of ficb . against 
the Beatrice .Theatres Corp., a Fox- 
wesbo subsi ,: was aired. 
:. Appeal Was made by bank night 
counsel to the supreme court, . but 
a permanent iiijunctioh was granted 
Which, will Wot the practice in Ne- 
braska pending the supi^enie court's 
decision. Banko attorneys included; 
John , Mullen and BilV Wright, of 
Omaha, plus S. L.. Halpern, of Min- 
lieapolis; . Attorney. General. Hunter 
was assisted by Paul Chaneyj.Frahcis 
V. Robinson, and .Barlbw T^ye. 

Hunter ruled shortly after taking 
oiffice that baink night was a lottery, 
said the fact that- it was . unnecessary 
to buy a ticket was only a isubter- 
fuge. Banko forces refused to abide 
and Hunter selected Beatrice for the 
test. Whole argument in the case 
was arouhd consideration necessary. 
Hunter contended a man's pres- 
ence, at the theatre' at drawing time, 
or effort i istratiOn, Avas con- 
sideration, was upheld. 

Judge Messmpre put the ban in 
effect May 3. 



Scheduling the No. 1 Pic on Dual 
Setups Presents New Headaches 



Bard No Bargaiti 



Lbs Angeles, May 4. 

.Suburban exhi thought a 
British-maide pictuire on secpnd 
half of his dual i)ill so bad that 
he offered his customers a rain- 
check for. the following night. 

Film was .an adaptation of a 
Shakespeare play> 



DETO SEES BIZ BOOM 
AS SIT-DOWNERS RISE 



Tip Bpstoii Way 

Lbew's State and Orpheum, Bos- 
ton, day-dating, have been doing 
plenty for 'Maytime.* Joseph A. 
DiPesa, Joe and Al Longb went at 
things in an intensive way, including 
two; full page portraits of Jeanette 
MacDonald in the Evening American 
and one on Lynne Carver. This is 
:a regular stunt of the American 
and probably^ did not. require as 
much effort as a single rotb page 
in the Sunday ' Globe, „the latter 
showing five stills, with some adver- 
tising fill-ins. There were also black 
and whites in the Globe. 

They. . crashed / the radio sections 
of all newspapers, arid got the elec- 
trical transcription on. five local sta- 
tiohs for a number of repeaits. They 
also tailed the Hollywood hotel 
^ayti ' ..broadcast With; a^^station 
break announcing the picture was 
currently, nlaying the two houses. 
Between 150 artd.SOO windows were 
obtamedi partly through the national 
..hook-ups and -in part throti'^h ' - 
aividual' stunts. -There were 65 tire- 
covers, .oh. a taxi fleet, and got the 
poston Music Go. to get out a special 
'"JDi'int on- the accessory herifild; 
With major mention of the the-atres 
and a. plug for- the sheet music. They 
also got 5,000 copiies bf a new coat- 
Pocket magazine and split these be- 
tween the operetta and 'Personal 
Property.' With smaller; stuff., such^ 
-as imprinted bags and .similar stuff 
Jhey managed to keep the box office 
trqm: blushing. 



Badio Tiybut 

■Washington. 
_Frank LaFalce,, Cap WB boss pub 
{"an, killed two birds with One stone 
last. week. Wanting, to find out defi- 
2'tely if 'Mountain Justice* held any 
^ppeal for dames, since it wasn't 
gettmg 'em, and Whether WOL, 
weal Mutual station, had the audi- 
ence it claimed, he picked up phone 
?nn station tb announce first 

women who wrote 'in wouJd pot 
''■ee dUcats. Brief ofl;er went on 



. St. Louis. 
Rodgers Circuit to remodel old 
Lyric, Anna, III. 

" Thomas Berta will replace Wilton, 
Wilminton, III:, recently destroyed 
by fire, with modern theatre building. 

Majestic, Belviderb, 111., to be re- 
opened after being thoroughly re- 
modeled by ' oWner, Edward Zprn, 
who also operates Apollo at ;Belvi- 
dere. 

Charles Schlef fler new adv. sales 
mgr. for Paramount here, replacing 
William Sharpe, upped to supervisor 
of 19 eastern exchanges. 

Rex Barrett, operator at Columbia, 
Mo., elected mayor of town. 

RKO has taken term lease on new 
building, on film, row being • erected 
by Dr. ' Meyer Weiner and Mrs. 
Hymar Lpwenhaupt. New home will 
be several blocks from present office. 
This is second hew exchange bldg. 
started recently. . New quarters for 
Warner Bros, will be ready for occu-^ 
pancy soon, also on film roW- 

Thomas M. Campbell, Terre 
Haute, opening new Pulace, Newton, 
111. Its opposish will be Star, oper^ 
ated by K. ,W. Rought. 

Trenton, Trenton, 111., operated by 
J. M. Block, dark. No date for re- 
opening announced. 

John Dickson, Duquoin, . 111.., rer 
cently sold State at- Duquoin to A. 
Froririb and the Vogue; .Palestine, 
111., to Bi Temporius and J; S, FoXi 

Gem, Richland, Mo->. transferred 
tb D. F; Atkinson by R. Parson. 

Rex. Lilbbui'he, Mo., disposed of to 
N. D. Fielder by Ni E, Gately. 
. Okaw, Fihdlay, ni., ribw owned by 
J -F. .Jansen, who also is' manager. 

V. Kiavsfelder has transferred 
Grand. Robinson, 111., to Glenn 
Sdriarr. . ■ „ , 

Striin . formerly . Tuscola, 
111., taken over by Barber, 
"Tuscola. 

oston.. 

Graphic Circuit has appoi.i^ed twp 
new managers from the staff of the 
Keith Memorial here. Charles Pat- 
terson, from press department, goes 
to the Brandbn,. in Brandon, yt. 
Carroll Wilson, chief of service, takes 
over the Campus, MiddlebMry, Vt. 



Detroit, iMay 4; 
After three months of auto strike, 
which clit grosses 25-50%, biz is on 
the upbeat. 

. Something like $70,000,000 in 
wages was lost to \yorkers, but ex- 
hibs -believe there should be a rush 
for theatres with the millions of in 
creased pay. 



Interstate Is One 
Circint WUch talw^ 
Its Shorts Seriously 

Probably the most cbnlplete bbpk- 
let ever, gbtten out: ph the shprt sub- 
jects is being sient the managers of 
the Interstate Circuit, in. Texas and 
the sbuthwest. It was . prepared - 
der the supervision , bf R. j. Q'Don- 
nell, . who shares with Kairl . itiob- 
litzeile the . conduct ■, of thi chain, 
and. is a combination of the printed 
page and mirrieograph; whichever 
best lends itself to.the .reprbductioh 
desired. 

Interstate is one bf the few major 
circuits which, has not gone, in for 
double features,, and recognizes the 
imporlarice of the . short as stipple- 
merifal attractions and npt . merely 
a filler;.. It uses shbrts to help sell 
the showSj arid this booklet is a 
chief means to that bnd. It describes 
:;he. set-up pf the . shorts department 
(apprbpf lately enpugh headed by 
Mrs. Besa Short), gives an exact 
and detailed summation of its oper- 
ation and then goes on tb tell the 
resident, managers hpw to extend the 
campaigns ■ laid out by MrS; Short. 
It shows them .how to make money 
with what most theatres regard as 
exceiss baggage. It is an achieve- 
ment. ' 



Soft Drhik Plug Shows 
Gurgle in L. A. Theatres 



.iios Angeles; May 4. 

Four nabe houses have taken sec 
ond group of advertising shpws 
sponsored by Bireley's; Inc., prange 
ade distributors, following successful 
try-out in three local theatres; 

Shbws are underwritten by Bire- 
ley's for three weeks, at $1,535, in 
eluding $220 weekly for theatfe 
rental, $255: for gifts, and $150 for 
arhateur arid semi-prp talent. . 

First group at Fox. Belriiiont, Ar- 
lington and Oriental theaitres Hit i 
take equalling the house rental fig 
ures, Theatres also shared iii nightly 
Bireiey radio plugs. , Houses in sec- 
ond series include the Fox Califor 
nia at Huntington Park,' Fox High- 
land, ' Regiha-Wilshire and Bard's 
Adams. 



Moss' B'wajr fiQO^Seatejr 



B> S. Moss has taken' over the site 
of what was orice Church ill's restau 
rant at 49.th St; . and Broadway and 
will recoristruct building .into a 600- 
sbater for two-a-day policy runs. 
Building was la-st - location bf Joy 
Yoeng's chowrheinery. 

Two-stpry interior per its easy 
rebuild! of" the. spot into a small 
theatre.. stimated that $100,000 will 
Be spent. peris some ti in. Sep 
tember. 



'HARD FEELINGS^ 



Pittsburgh. 
Wariiers upped Carl Bechdel frbm 
asst. at Belmare to manager Pf the 
Liberty. Dpriora, Pa. Latter hpuse 
wais recently opened on full-time 
basis after being on part-time opera- 
tion fbf couple, of years. 

Lbu Rosenberg, freelance outdopr 
advertisi iriian for flock of . local 
nabe houses, has checked put pf toWn 
f'.vr summer to hit road in advance 

^^^^^ V... bf Bantly's All-American Shows, 

twice Friday, at 10 a.m. and noon, opening season May 1 in DuBois, Pa. 



Union Nixes Swlnff Contest As Film 
Exploitatiori Stunt 



Columbus,. May 4; 

Local 103 pf the Musicians' Union 
has nixed Palace Theatre's plans for 
swing cbncert on Palace stage v^s tie- 
up with Fred Astaiire-Giriger Rogers 
film, 'Shall We Dance?' 

■ Idea, was to bring lucal. ban s in 
nightly to play swing times from 
stage, with a prize of some s:n-t for 
the 'best swing band in Columbus.' 

Union, figured contest would bring 
the bands nbthing but hard feelings 



Scheinberg Unloads 



Los Arigeles, May 4. 
With the sale of his 500-seater in 
Fillmore, Calif., Nate Scheinberg 
washed up his indie theatre inter-- 
ests and will confine himself to 
Fox-West Coast alliances. James 
Edward and Ralph Perkins bbught 
the Fillmore house. 

Scheinberg recently disposed of a 
half-interest in his two Van Nuys 
houses to F-WC and is negotiating 
a deal for the sale of his Canoga 
Park . theatre. F-WC and Scheinberg, 
operating in puirtnership; have ac- 
quired a site for another hbuse in 
the. San Fernando valley. 



6 Friday Pix Openings 
Dizzies Detroit Critics 

Detroit, May 4. 
tate theatre to Friday 
openings, putting six of town's 
seven first-runners on that schedule, 
has crick's, in a whirl. 

Fridays now mean. 17 hours, of 
crickingi 15 devoted tp pix and twp 
to stage siiows at Fox and; Michigan, 
six hours , each for the three Free 
Press reViewer.s, Len Gr .Shaw, 
James S.- popler and Ella H. M.c- 
Cormick. For th.e two Times cri , 
Ralph Hoirries and Charles Gentf-y; 
it's about nine hours each. ittb for 
News crick , I Weit'schat arid John 
Finlayjsori. 



Double bills look to stick 
something stronger blows thcni: out, 
in the bpi ion pf showmen, but both 
chain and iridepcriderit. operators are 
beconiing nibre and. more disturbed 
over hbw to, maintain duals and 
make them pay the mo.'it. 'i'lie pu 
lie, paradoxicallyj, despite its leaning 
tovyard, db.ubles, patroriizes film 
hbuses in many ci»ses just tb see the 
^0. 1 feature, passing the other one 
lip. This fan apathy toward the sup- 
porting feature is definitely nbted, 
theatres having conclusive prppf of 
it through the. large, nuriiljef of .. 
phbne calls which, inquire as tb what 
tiriie the top filni is gping pn, 

Kno\y ledge that the custbmors are 
starting to shun the second feature 
is not only creating the fear, . that- 
theatres are not gettiri noi-mal 
value of icturos in line with 

rentals pai iving inanagers op- 

eratirig hca in mdlting up 

schedules. 

Theatres figured, that they 
scheduled the No. 2 feature at the 
better theatre hours and the No. 1- 
picturc, representing the .majority of 
draught, at off hours, the turnover 
in admissioris would be better. But • 
now thete is considerable question, 
as to whether that policy is Ise. 
While the' cftort was directed toward 
getting' more play for the support- 
ing feature, makin.s', it pay better at 
the windows?, it isi feared thiil. busi- 
ness might bo. lost altogether if corn- 
ing on at the p(T hours,. sUch as at. 
the di or at .16 p.m., or 

later, which would get fans put too 
late. . Of late,, calls to thcatrei^ have 
left the ■impression that a cu.^lomer 
wbuldri't come because 'the picture 
went on at an inconvenient time. 

Forthconiing seoson is expected ta 
witness a vigorout; conflict batwceii 
those favbririg doiibiq bills and i 
terests advocating a general return 
tb the single-feature standard. On 
one side, the dual program devptees, 
will be exhibitors Who still think the 
public craves, bargains in entertain- 
ment while pitted against this group, 
will be civic and club brganizations 
and those producers who apparently 
are convinced that the best way to. 
persuade theatres to get back on the 
single standaird is to improve the 
quality of their short features. 

With abbut 50% to 60% of, the ex- 
hibitors . in the S. still seeking 
cheap pictures to go with their' top 
(higher priced) feature for a dual 
bill setrup, trade or.rjarii^.atipn ob- 
servers contend that the bulk, of pro- 
ducers will continue to make a cer- 
tain number of inexpensive' or Grade 
B films to fill this, demand. 
' A: recent check' reveals double- 
billing. has about rearhed the .satura- 
tion point, meaning 'tliat thor i.s lit- 
tle rema.iriin.n: lor ritoiy into which 
dual bilKs, could cxlend. While there 
is no indication: that the exhibitors 
would retreat from the double-fea- 
ture habit immediately, at least the 
trend toWaids incren.siric; the number 
of houses going off' th single-bill 
.status has been halted. 



Par Writers Assigned 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Writing assignments were passed 
arbund . on ictiires at Phra- 

rriourit last week. 

Brian Marlowe draws scrjien play 
ol 'Murder Goes . Jail.^ Ciadys 
Unyer prepares original Cor Anna 
IVIay VVohg. rancis. , Martin rid 
Walt . eLebn "do anothci" ai' 
with college backgroUn ,. , !VI. 
Coates Webstar scripts 'Ensoiiada.' 



Worries PhiSiy Indies 

Philadelphia, I^ay 4. 

■Local indi exhibs are Iri an u 
'raittcd state of lather now that War- 
ner Bro.s. has made the plunge into 
the 'game* raclrct. Np action has 
been taken o(Tici.i,)lly but .somcthi 
may blow off any hour. 

Seventeen key 'WB houses; have 
annqiinced. bank nighls: the . Sedges 
widki Strand,' Germantowri. Wyhh 
Beriri'. Manor. Cross Kcys; , ' -dmore. 
Cadet. Frhnkford, llftfth'ijTy, K^^rit.. 
Strand' (Readi ' . iaUo . .(West 
Chestev),: Seltzer (Palmyra. J.). 
Majestiic (Gjettysbiir.'^.)/ £ind" 
(Hanpyer). 



NF WMAN aUITS EKO 

Holly .•; 'd. V-^y A,. 

Norman Newman, .whr» S'rt;ted 
with .the:' local ..Rudio 'E;cc'irn:;e 12 
years a-'ro - when it w:'. FBO. h'i.s, re- 
signed to outer hu.si ' self 
in Chica'c^ 

No sucf;;'.s:> >r 



CLEV. VARIETY CLUB'S $1,200 

Cloveland, Miiy \: 
Variety Club'.s campaign to bring 
picture :progi;ari).s' \ii hospital shut- 
ins went ' over the top .finariciaily 
through committee. vO'prk of Harry 
Goldstein, in charge of raising 
money for projectors, and Moe B. 
Horwilz, chief barker arid originator! 
of the charity idea. 

More than $1,200 was raised by 
dub members. 



RICP's New Mt. Vernon Spot 

Mount Verri . N, .. May 4. 

Locw's pui'cha.se of iiu' Ciimor), i 
New Upcholle,: rwjxipli^d ilKO ' to 
lc.a.se the,; Fled wriodi liOp.-seatcr 
Mount ' Voi'non. . eal clo.-^ed 'by 
Russell EnidG, ohii Sq'ui'er.^ retrri 

Charles. Oelrich, Proctor m'ana;^ 
bLTOmes city manaiitM'. Jack .Schnai.- 
dor, formerly his as.iiHtaMl, takes' 
over the hou.so." Will bp renamed 
RKO. Fleetwood. 



26 



VARIETY 



Wednesday* May 5, 1937 



M-G-M REPRESENTATIVES KNOW 
WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT! 

They went direct to the Studio for the Most Important 
Convention in film history! And theyVe bringing you 
the happy facts about M-O-M^s Greatest Year of Hits, 
1937-1938* What a Product Message they've got. Put 
Welcome oa your mat for the boys of M'G-Ml 




Wednesday, May .5, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



27 



Ftltn Reviews 



PR. KNOCK 

•from page 16) 



Jouvet, in the lead, -does the best 
work of his celluloid career, playing 
the title role seriously. : There is no 
suggestion at any time that Knock 
is a quack; there. is no proof , that he 
did not benefit those healthy coun- 
try folk he talked into becoming pa- 
tients; but there is no suggestion that 
he does 'em good, either. 

Film is devoid of love interest, and 
it is iiot missed. Requires a- little 
time gaining momentum, but once 
underway it scoots iilorig like a Ber- 
muda sloop, and holds right till the 
surprise fadeout. ; 

Jouvet is credited vv:ith half-a-hand 
irk . the directing. Others in the cast 
have all subordinate parts and i - 
diyidually not. inany feet before the 
lenses; They're all 0. k., standouts 
being Palau as the old raedick, Rig- 
nault as a village addlspate, and 
Iza R:eyner as ai wealthy- arid robust 
farmerette. Beit. 

ROARIN' LEAD 

Repubtlc release of Nut Levi nroliic- 
tlon. Sliirs -Three MesquUfeers; . !oli 
Ineslon, Hay • ■ Corrlgan,. Max ' T6rln'i'.e. 
Directed "by Mack Vi Wriffht, Sum New- 
fleld; Adaptation. Oliver Dr.tUe, .T:ck 
Natteford; .oriBlnal, AVUUam Cold ' Mac- 
Donald; eamera, ■ WlHiam .Nobles. • At 
Arena, N. .Y.. dual. May 3-4, '07. 
■nlngr .tlme, .01. iiilnutes. ' 
Stony Brooke. 

Tucson. Smith 

Lullaby Joslln. 

Doris . . . . .■ .• 

Hackett.', . . .'. . , 

.Canary,.. 

Gardner. 

Bobby. i , ; 

•Blondle..; 

Baby Mnry . . . I . . . 

Prima Dbrina 

Apache tismcei- . . . 
Apache Dancer. ... 
..Dancers.'. . .'. 



.., Robert LIvlhKsl.on 
, . . . .... Ray ■ CorriSi'.iv 

;Max .Terhuiie 

.C'hrl.stlne Mnple 

....<,. Hooper' Atchley 
. . .Yakima .G:inui:t 
. . . '. . Gcorffe Chesebro 
; , . 'i ; .' . .Tommy Bupn 
, .•. ■. . . . . Mary Russell 
mark Lynn IvnufTm.-in 
i . ..: . . ... Beverly fMfi 
. .Tjieodore Ji'rye 
. . , . . . .Kfitherine VO'e 
, , . . . . eelln Kiddies 



This is. a robust alfalfa portrait 
good enough to adorn any of the 
puUriian programs. Picture will do 
the right thing for the customers be- 
cause, next to good action, it has 
kindly humor and several kid pei'- 
formers, making a triple-barrelled 
allure although light on the romantic 
end. 

Aptly named, niciely scehed . and 
the male leads fit the rol6s cut out 
for them. Picture rups a fast action 
pace which sustains, interest. , At 
least two ot those Three Mesquiteers. 
are likely to be heard from in bigger 
things, in the future. 

Of. course, even this western, a 
nifty for the type,,compels its plains- 
men pugilists to ' do their, knuckle 
busting without ever having their 
clothing ruffled. Those sombreros 
must be glued down to the boys' 
craniums, because they just never 
come loose, no rnatter how rough the' 
battle. 

Story is pretty nice. Three heroe.<; 
are trustees of an estate. Part of the, 
income is devoted to suppoi^t an 
orphan asyluni.. Estate, also is the 
majority" stockholder in the cattle- 
men's protective society. G.m. of 
this society has been grafting 
through fake rustling. He wants to 
close down the asylum and the girl 
in charge puts up a vain squawk. 
Mesquiteers arrive in the nick of 
time on . a call Of inspection. They 
take charge of things pronto and 
soon the action, hums. 

There's lots of riding, diving, 
jumping and shooting, plus the kid 
entertainment, and the finale has an 
inference that the orphans' pretty, 
super has fallen for Stony, chief 
Mesquiteer. . 

Camera stuff is good all the way. 

Shah. 



Outcc^sts of Poker Flat 

RKb-Radio release of Robert Sil.sk pro^ 
duction. .Star.s Prt-sion Foster. Kealures 
,iettn Mulr. Dlrcc.led by Chrl.stv Cnbanne. 
bfreenplay by .Tolin T.wlHt and Harrv S'^fjall: 
inusicHl supervl.slun.by Roy \Vcbb;"canirrii, 
Upbert DeiirasVi<. v\,i Rliilto; N. y.,^ week. 
April L'l.i, rtuiniirip time. .70 mins.- 

.Oakhur.'it; rcslon Pester 

"f ;v ; • . •Joan Mulr 

Hev ■ Siiniui-r Wuod.s.... Vim . Ilenin 

■'"^'K \-ivt,'jnl'4. Weldlcr 



■J'he ]Ju<-bes.s. , 

Kcdri.iril,'.- 

ICeiiluciv , '.: 

Stympy ...... 

I'lide .iJili.v. ... 

.Soniiiii; ; . ; . 
l-li.i;b-tii-;uii'; . . 
Indian ■Jfliii;-. . . 
(.'harlcv. . . 

wiiues. ;. . . .:. 



.. a.rKarei ^rvlns 
.,. . Oranlc At. Thomas 
;....i;i Me'nUs 

.DiOk Kilicilt 

..AI .St. .loliu 

.' linidl(-y TaKe 

'.,...,. iohard Lane 

. onlp. .Jilup' 

. . ... . ... .Hilly OUhrn 

... . .Dudley' C'lemenls 



CONDUCTOR 
VIOLINIST 
Sn«l jreat^Slien'» 
ItulTiilit 




"Opening day audiences gave iiltiiHy 
of ailpIaiiBe fur Arno'H oihnibuM of 
pieces .whlcli Is the beHt lie Ua» 
.rl veil lis yet."— Buffalo Tlmett. 



BRUCE M. DENHAM 

Please communicate with me 
at orice with reference to. Jolinn.v 
Epport accident August, 193C, 
Important. Pinkriey Grissom, 
1801 Republic Bank Bliie.. DalinH, 
Texas. 

~ ADVBRTISEMHiVT" 

Astrologer 

RJemberi Astrologoh*' Guild of Amprlcw 

Xearn What 1937 Holds for You! 




**>HD p. roST, Jfotel An»oiUa, N. «. 



Despite two rather v convincing 
portrayals, this screen versibn of 
Bret Ha!rte's 'Outcasts of Poker Flat- 
fails badly either . as draimatic or 
western fare, Thd picture: is af- 
flicted with verbose early passages 
that hcarly establish a hev/ low in 
lack of action for outdoor epics; 
Production boasts the .•names of 
Pifeston Foster and Jean Muir, which 
doesn't help much for the houses 
where they go lor adventurous at- 
tractions. Undue length is another 
weight that will keep it in double- 
feature locations. 

Because ' so much attention has 
been devoted to early happenings, 
littlie is left to devote on the more 
eventful journey and doom of the 
five .outcasts from the town of Poker 
Flat/ This obviously is. a weakness 
because highlights of the Harte piece 
were wrapped up more decisively in 
the affairs of this quintet. Failure 
of scripters and producer to recon- 
hize it hurts the sincerity of the 
feature. 

Seldom does the film grasp the 
true: western atmiospherC . or living 
characters intended for that period 
in the California 'gold rush days. 
Even with the central figure of Oak- 
hurst, big gambler, which is overly 
stressed here, tbere is little that 
smacks of genuineness. Other char- 
acters are overdrawn, often becom- 
ing mawkish. 

Preston Foster, as the gambling 
king and saloon operator, does a nice 
bit of acting though, he never seems 
suited for the part. Only in his 
wavering between the newcomers to 
his community and the old-timer, 
giin-stooting element does he really 
shine. Jean Muir, aS the school 
teacher just arrived in town, dis- 
plays marked restraint and registers 
her customary clean-cut perform^ 
iance. 

Margaret Irving, who plays , the 
'Dutchess* character with verve, alsO 
contributes outstanding thespian ef- 
fort. Virginia Weidler also clicks 
as the obstreperous child, *Luck.' Van 
Heflin's ministerial character is too 
good to be true, and not up to his 
usual standard. Si Jenks does a 
highly burlesqued 'Kentuck,' while 
Al St,. John, alumnus of the slap- 
stickers, shows . up better as Unclie 
Billy. Monte Blue, an Indian, and 
Bradley Page, in the role of Sonoma, 
furnish the villainous foils with some 

skill. , . ^ ^■■■t 

Apparently, the scripting team of 
John Twist and Harry Segall were 
attempting to go symbolic the way 
they juggled around the child, Luck. 
Too ineffectual. They also failed to 
concentrate the main theme on threie 
or four characters. Instead the film 
is cluttered with meaningless , in-, 
dividuals who fail to figure in the 
eventual climax. Dialog varies from 
crisp to epigramatic, , 

Christy Cabanne's direction is not 
as sturdy as anticipated from this 
vetetan though the script may be 
partially to blame, Robert Sisk has 
given the picture strong production 
values but they're wasted. Wear. 

Sullivan East on 

F-WC Buying Deals 

.Hollywood, May 4, 
. . Sullivan entrained for -New 
York Friday (30) for several weeks 
on his annual film-buying expedition 
for Fox-West Coast. 

Buyer will clean upi F-WC deals 
for the 1937-38 season with Warner, 
Radio, Columbia, Republic and. First 
National. 



20th-Fox Gets 'Borneo* 

Hollywood, May 4. 
Osa Johnson signed with, 20.th-Fox 
for company to , distribute 'Borneo.' 
last .adventure film shot by her hus- 
band, Marti Johnson, jungle: ex- 
plorer. 

Johnson., in a Coast 

plane crash. 

Segregation 
. Albany, May 4, 

N. Y, State Senatie today passed 
the bill introduced by George F. 
Rogct-s of Rochester extending to up- 
state the provisions now applying to 
N. Y. City picture theatres, under 
which separate sections are set aside 
for ildren unaccompanied by 
adults. ill now goes to Assembly. 

Diinnigan Bill extending powers 
of Coriimissioner Paul MosS over 
theatre licenses is still in committee 



BOOT FOR THE BIZ 



Pasadena Suburb Wants No Part of 
Theatres 



• May. 4. 

Ordinance recently adopted by San 
Marino, snooty Pasadena suburb, 
prohibits building of theatres within 
600 feet of a residence or school 
building thereby putting up bars 
against all film and theatrical enter- 
tainment. 

Ordinance forbi iveaways khd 
restricts advertising; .drastically 
that exhibs claim operation would be 
riiinous. Town becomes the first 
Southern Calif or ia community to 
legislate out exhi ition; 



GN Reieasing 'Spy' 

Hollywood, May 
'Spy of N.at)oie6n,' Ksior P'roduc 
tiohs rhish-ninde film, will be dis- 
tributed in U. S. by Grand National 
Richard Barthelme.ss and Dolly 
Haas have the lead.s. 



ION YOUNG'S MONO PIC 

Hollywood, May 4. 
Lbn produce 'Tele 

phone for Monogram 

starting Scott . l)unlap, 

Monogram v.p. in charfto of produc- 
ti , has assigned. John Krafft to the 
script. 

Ki-afft recently coltnpleted 'The 
13th M;an,' which i:plls today CTues 
day) with Voting .produci 



S. R. NEWSBEELEIl SET 

Grand Central's riewsreel theatre, 
242-seater located, on station's upper 
train level, opens May liZ. House 
plans 60-minute program and will 
use cartoon -comediesj short features 
and occasionally previews. 
. John Sloan, ' a member of N! Y, 
State Racing Commission; Donald 
Bayne, W, W. .Lyon and Harold 
Ley head company: operating. 



GOAST MONO-ITES TO CHI 

Hollywood; May 4. 
Ray Olmstead,- Howard Stubbins 
and Al Goldstein pulled out for Chi- 
cago today (Tues.) to attend the an- 
nual Monogram ■ sales convention 
opening .there Friday (7). 

Goldstein is Seattle branch mana- 
ger for Olmstead-Stubbi Coast 
franchise holders for Monogram. 



20-FdX WRITER DEALS 

Hollywood, May 4. 
Bess Meredyth haS been signed to 
a 20th-century Fox writing contract 
on an eight weeks deal, Henry John- 
son and Max Magnus have joined 
the same studio as vvriters on a 
week-tb-week basi 

Ralph Homnieras, studio techni- 
cian, signed a one-year ticket. 



PERT KELTON'S 'BACHELOR' 

Hollywood, May 4., 
Pert Kelton has been .set for the 
lead in .'Reluctant Bachelor,' Re- 
public comedy. Colbert Clark is 
producing. 

Ralph Staub is direct! ic rolls 
tomorrow (?). 



CHANSLOR'S FIRST AT M-G 

Hollywood, iHay 4. 
Iloy Chan.slor's initial assignment 
under his hewvMetro writing ticket 
is to dish up a screen play for 'The 
Gravy. Gang,' 
Tom Reed will produce. 



CHURCHILL'S CHORE 

Hollywood, May 4, 
Ed Churchill, Paramount" flaCk, 
stepped in as technical adviser on 
'Exclusive,' newspaper pic. 
Af Hall is dirieclihg; 



Reissues 



(Continued fronri page 21) 



in the music flickers would be. too 
dated. Tear-jerkers such as 'iSmilin' 
Throiigh,' 'iiCs Misijrables' and 'Back 
Street,' get the. femmes flocking back, 
remembering the^ good cry they had 
when first gandered. 

It has built up. the •greatest meet- 
the-manager. wave in: the history of 
local theatre opeifa.tion, with a large 
number of customers hunting up the 
manager or hou.se-owner to make ..a 
request that the house book a certain 
picture out of the old files. Many 
houses are putting blackboards up in 
their lobbies and holding a general 
voting campaign among the cuS 
tomers to find out what reis.sues the 
majority of the customers would likie 
to see agai 



Hunky-Gory 



Arthur Mayer, self-styled 
Merchant of Menace exhibitor 
at the Rialto, N. Y., specializes 
in the biood-ahd-thunder pix, 

\yhen. the b!o. is good, the 
ushers haye their own coded 
way of expressing it.' 

'Biz is hunky^gory,' 



More Minn. Theatre Bldg. 



Minheappli.s, May 4. 

Wave Of independent theatre coh- 
structi is sweeping territory, PcrT 
.mits are asked fOr two how iiabcs, 
Avalon, seating 1,000 aiid costing 
$100,000, is nearing construction. 

Eddie Ruben is completing a house 
at Montevid6o,.Minn., and the Frank 
circuit one at Hutchinson, . Minn. 



*WiW' One for Jiine 

HoUywbod, iviay 4. 

'Wild an Woolly,' new Jane 
Withers starrer, at 20th4Century 
Fox. gets starting signal May 10, Al- 
fred Wericer direct! John tone 
produces. 

Walter ie Searl 

go in. cast. 



COMEDY SERIES ROLLS 

Hollywood^ May 4, 
Production started la^t week at 
Radio oni flrist :of , a series of, ix 
musiqal comedy shorts to be pro- 
duced by Bart Gilroy .with. Jean 
Yarborough directing; 

Gene Austin tops the cast with 
Candy and Coco. Bryan Sisters, Jane 
Shirley and Whities Ferguson also 
spotted. 



CONDOR'S SHORTS RELEASES 

Hollywood^ May 4, 
Condor closed a deal to release 

26 shorts through RKO with Louis 

RantzL assigned as associate producer 

by George Hirliman. 
Louis. Gasnier directs . the first, a 

water polo sport reel. 



CHI EXHIBS ON 
NEW GIVEAWAY 




" ' May. 4, 

ild bigger Ibbb ies, boys. That's 
the cry along film i*ow'. With bahk 
night, screeno and other games oiit, 
and with double features maldng it 
a matter of quantity, local exhib- 
itors are beginning v/hat appears 
to be ah abnormal ivcaway cam- 
pa i.ijn. 

Since running time pveyenLs giv- 
ing away rnbre than three hours of 
pictures, though .ic hou.ses, such 
as the Rosewood,; have 'hit as high 
as five hours of picttires for a single 
admi.ssidn. the exhibitors have dcr 
eided they'll add to 'quantity' bar- 
gain by the prerniuins route. 

In the few weeks bank night and 
single features .have been out, mi- 
nor premiums, such . aS kitchenware 
and table;yare, have been wsished 
up as too weak. Exhibs arc being 
forced into giving away furriiture, 
autbniobile accessjories,. clothi 
.sjporting goods, etc. 

Various merchant associations In 
the Midwest have passed resoIu< 
tions condemning these elaborate 
giveaways by the theatres. 



WILSON SHORTS GROW 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Metro has added two more Carey 
Wilson ; psychology shorts to the 
(current, prograit). 

First will, start next week. 



SHINE ON <JUNE MOON' 

Hollywood, May 4, 
George Archainbaud is collaborat- 
ing with Lillie Hay ward on screen 
play of 'June Moon' at Paramount. 
Archainbaud .will direct. 

i^mil*!!'"™""""""""" ' l'»™"ii''«M>»m«M»«iniMii«jMii.iu,iii iliiiiiiiliiiiiiilliliiiiiiiimMtiltmniiiiiiiiiiiiniii liiiuiininiiimiiiinMaj 

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li 

= a 
s3 
£3 




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CAPITOL m 



Robt MONTGOMERY 
Rosalind RUSSELU 

'NIGHT MUST FAU' 



STATE Kif::^ 



Chas. 
BOYER 



Jean 
ARTHUR 



^'HISTORY IS 
MADE AT NIGHT" 



riuH?— 1UG NTAflK SHOW 



Worlil I'rrilmlnr* - Tonifclit, >,M. 

"THE PRINCE AND 
PAUPER" 
OICKOTj FLY^N hild (lie 
MA ten 'l'WIN8 

I 'NEW 




|C to OncriM 
nrondwu.v S( 47tli 8t, — -SliiliklKlit Kliuiv 



EDWARD G. 



2nd WEEK! 



ROBINSON 

In lUn iirentaiHt Kole Nlnc-« 

THUNDER IN THE CITY 
riterion iAMi 

DMri open 9 .ti.i]n,— : Idnloht Sliowi' 



25c 

to I P.M. 



PARAMOUNT.rA% 



BARBARA 

STANWYCK 
JoelMcCREA 

"Internet Can't 
Take Money" 



In Person 

XavierGUGAT 

MARY SMALL 
DIXIELAND 
JAZZ BAND 



"CAFE 
METROPOLE" 

Lorett4 Young, Tyrone Power 
Adolphe Menjou 

UNITED piY O L I 



ARTISTS. 



ROXY 



ALL OK* TO 
I^Y I P.M. . 



•tBATB* 



iiitr.i) ov'K 

"WAKE UP 
AND LiVE" 

On Ui« 

JOHN STRKTiK 
mVESi Ht UOVKR 



'Hurricane's' Horizon 

Hollywood, May 4. 

United Artists Will take oyer In- 
ternational studio for 60 days on a 
deal with Ralph Like for production 
of miniatures, process and trick shots 
for Samuel Goldwyn's .'Hurricane.' 

To rush process work, UA is dick- 
ering space at other rental lots. 



MUSIC HALL 



IIICM> OVKK 



"A STAR 
IS BORN" 

IN TECHNICOLOR 
SpvctacuUr Stags Productions 



A S TO R 

Bway. tt 4Sth 8t, 
All Beiti R«iarv«d 

r.wlc« Dslly, 2:45. 8;4S, 
Hun. A Ifol.. ?,:OtS, 
6:00. 8:15. Mldnlte 
Htinw Hnl. I'rlon (pliii 
tnx); Miiti. (ex. Hnt., 
Hwii. tt tial.l r>nr to 
$i: KvM r.iir to %'■!■ 
Hitiirdtr kllilnlle tiid 
.SuiKlijr 0 I>.M., COr to 



\ 




28 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 




Legal depjt. of NBC has liixed use 
of th^ word 'sustai ihg' on the Ed 
EastWalph Dumke program heard 
locally only W JZ, ■ Wew York, 
under Kellogg sponsorship. Fearful 
of laying the' company open to even 
a hint of 'advertising misrepresenta- 
tion' the NBC , ban . followed.: the 
initial broadcast. Program is now 
referred to in the continuity as 
•Eddie and Ralph's own program.' 

Based on the satiriciil idea that 
two goofs are happy susl " ihg >hc| 
continually, refuse' fromi 
the Kellogg company sponsor 
them, the program has worked put 
this artful . method of getting the 
'commerci over with: a reverse 
twist. But actually descri ing them- 
selves or their program as sust iners, 
is verbotien.. ' 

•This part of the Kellogg account 
is \vith Kenyon & . Eckharclt. It is 
plso unique ' in that one, of its pro- 
duction men, Jack Nelson, lives in 
Florida and gets "the scripts; by mail 
tor going, over. NelsDn is the former 
New;,YOrk radioiie \vho is learning 
rieal estate uiider his lather-in-law. 
His continVed connection with the; 
East and jOijimke show is . due to 
having beeh in on the auditions prior 
■to his ietireinent'frOm radio;. " ' 



See Forum TUs Week 



letters of interest; 

Curirent week's 

is-an officiail interpreta- 
tion from • Robert Huse, asso- 
ciate, directot of Informational 
Sefvice, on Social Security. 

Another is station sales rep's 
attitudie on chaih;-breaks and 
how. they, have encouraged big- 
ger radio cgimmercial .g^ccounts, 



Carl Haymond Seeks Net 
Alliance f or KIT^ Yakima 

Yakima, Wash., May 4. 
Carl E, Haymond, general man- 
ager of . KIT, is i Sah Francisco 
seeking chain affiliationi, 
^KIT has just had its wattage 
upped to 500, has changied to new 
regional channel, and is erecting, a 
new transmission tower. Those ate 
the selling angles Haymond is iising. 



Realign NBC Personnel 
In Artists Service, N. Y.; 
Fred Niblo as Pii Man 





Sail VersusU^R 




WMCA-WHN Clash Again; 
Farley from Ciiicy' Was 
Balked for N. Y. Banquet 



WMCA, N. Y., got put in' an em- 
barrassing • spot last .Thursday (27) 
by ' the qbmmiite^ in charge of the. 
banquet tossed for S^m Fassler, 
N. Y,'s Comhiissipner of Bldgs. Poist- 
thaster itn Farley was .ciarded as-, 
honor speak-guest; so station several 
■weeks in advahce arranged ; to; run 
In a wire arid air. 

, M«anv/hile WHN, , ?»h-- 

lipUnced that it was carrying: Farley 
from Cincinnati, , wherie WLW was 
leediiig out a;;mess of Midwest post- 
ih?sters. 

Radio, eds on the N. Y. dailies were 
confused by both dating Farley from 
difi!erent points, same, hour, same 
day,;, arid kept boriibairding both 
broadcasters with pleas to straighten, 
matter. Stations checked their 
sources, and wfere both given, go- 
aheads 'till: the night before . liie 
speech, when the Fassler /com'mittee 
admitted they were not going to have 
tht Postriiaster. 

. it was too late .In many instances 
to correct the inf b already sent out 
by WMCA, for Which the station is 
mumbling in its -beard and blushing. 
WHN is peeved, oh thef other hand, 
because thoiigh it really served un. 
the Farley spiel frprii Cincy, some, of 
the papers, bOred with the bickering, 
credited in advance WMCA and let 
it ride, at that. 



.United Press has until toniorrow. 
(Thursday ) to file an answer -to the 
summons of a' :5uit which Transr^dio 
News Service has begun in N. Y. su- 
preme court, asking $50;0p0 damages 
for alleged malicious libel. It makes 
the second piece of litigation Which 
Transradio has pending against the 
UP, the other being the $1,170,000 
conspiracy in^ Restraint of . trade ac-^ 
tion .which is due to coriie to trial in 
the Federal Court, New York, -With- 
in the next few weeks. 

Transradio based its latest suit 
iagairist the UP on the contents of 
a promotional brochure which the 
latter is allieged to have distributed 
among broadcasters and advertisers; 
Transradio claims that the stater 
ments not only sought to discredit 
it . but were cbmriierciaUy damaging. 

l^ariied With the UP in the con-, 
spiracy ; action are the Associated 
.Press, the International News Ser- 
vice,; NBC, CBS and the American 
Newspaper Publishers' Association, 



NiBC Artists Service is shifting 
around duties of its staff. Larry Fitz- 
gerald, who has been doing general 
cohtact work,, will handle peddling 
of concert .and operatic talent direct- 
ly and exclusively to ad agencies. 

As yet NBC has not replaced Rubey 
Cowan who left April .1 to join Para- 
mount ias radio contact in, Hollywood, 
and it looks likely that no one will 
come in to fill the. gap, rather others 
dividing up - the work since outfit 
has a:dded Fred Niblo to* do pic con- 
tacting and Billy Hillpot, to assume 
Fitzgerald's old duties. ' 

Chester Stratton aind Jack -Von 
Tilzer are splitting Cowan's old 
duties selling vau^e acts, and shows, 
while Jack Potter has ;assuriied soriie 
of the brunt of the Ulin : coriiacting, 
Which .hie is divi ing with the newly 
arrived Niblo: 

Johri J. Colli moved from 

Artists Service over to Auditioris 
Dep|t.v !where he ' assisting Ernie 
Cuttihg. 



LA. CATHOUC SCHOOL'S 
'0ONT LISTEN' RULES 



ianapolis, May 4, 
WIRE'waS all set for mike spiel by 
eniocrat head man Jim Farliey, who 
came to Indiana for conference with 
state party leaders, and to see how 
the neW postof flees at Franklin and 
Danville looked. WIRE had spent 
the ;coin. for the 20-riiile wire, but 
Farley sperit so much time at Dpn- 
ville that he rnissed tiie Franklin air- 
In?- altogether. 

Time -of broadcast rolled around, 
arid Jack StiLwell arid Al Beverid.qe. 
Jr. had .a mike open, and broadcast 
to ; do, ith no wiay of getting, in 
touch .with hipme studios, 20; miles 
away. . And " no Farliey airrived. SO 
the b0ys( chased iip and doWn the 
street for one of those misin-on-the- 
street airings, while awaiting the 
friissirig celeb. Hieavy rain started to 
Qomiplicate matters. That drove 
most of crowid off the s.treet; and 
WIRE annbuncersi got their mike in 
frorit of the Masoriic Home band of 
;Franklin (Ind. ). Band blared forth 
inartial ' ■ , which, due to' unpre- 
pared open-air and rain set-up, came 
out in corny style. 



Itos Angeled, May 4. 

Censorship of radio programs has 
been instituted by Catholic schools 
in Southern Californi . Lists are 
compiled at freiqUent' intervalis and 
studes told what shows to avoid and 
those in favor. Youngsters at one 
parochial . seat, of leairning were i - 
structed to spin the dial away from 
isgript shows with gangster themes. 

Among those nixed are 'Crang 
Busters,' 'Calling All Cars' and 'Court 
of Human Relations.* 



13 YEARS IN RED; 
FINALLY AHEAD-$S4 



Atlantic City, May 4. 
After. 13 years of spending the; tax- 
payers' payers' money. Municipal 
Station \WPG boasts of its first profit 
-r-$54.?l. This was revealed when 
the March . statement of income and 
expenses was submitted to the City 
Commission. The $54.31 profit coni- 
jpares with.a.$953 loss for the same 
month of 1936. 

■ Station cost more than $1:50,000 to 
build and up to 1936 had been leased 
to CBS for five years when, the 
city found itself ^unable to mai in 
the station. CBS lease was on a 
profit sharing lefad, but always 
operated at a loss. 



L A. Local Appfoyes 
Air Band Limitations 



Clem ' McCarthy, visited last "week 
with L. B. Wilson, head of WCKY, 
Cincinnati, whilei. en route to Lex- 
ington and Louisville tracks for a 
war,m-up on atmosphere prior, to 
miking the Kentucky Derby' at 
Churehili Downs, May 8, 



Holly Wo o d, May .4.. 

biriectoris of- Local 47, American 
Federation of Musicians, have ap- 
proved restrictions voted on by the 
membership covering radio employ 
ment and the restrictioris will be- 
come effective at midnight, June 27. 

As of that; date ^imitations will 
be in effect regulating the number 
of broadcasts that riiay be played 
by Union rriusicians in any one week. 

Objective of the lieW regulations 
is to spread employment over a 
larger proportion of the member- 
ship. 



Housebrealdng Announcers 

By Hal Block ~ 



Arihouncers should npt get familiar with ..the artists, Fbir instance, after 
Toscani conducts a. particularly stirring symphony such, exjiressio as 
'Attaboy, Arturp': 'Wow, Was dat sumpi ' are to be discouraged. 



Iii case a short wave broadcast is interrupted in the middle^ the an- 
nouncer may fill in with, a maximum pf 65 seconds of double talk/.. pro- 
viding he is adept. If at the end of tha;t period the connection is hot made 
there will be an organ ready arid waiting with ;a waltz arrangement df 
'Moonlight and Roses.' 



Arinounceris , should try to keep awake during broadcasts as . much as 
possible. A snore 'sourids like a razzberry over the air and is discpncei'tirig 
to the artists. 



AnnpiihCers;. should eliminate the personal elemerit in announcing, as 
it may sound conceited to use such phrases as 'Youf arinouncer has been 
Claifde Elki , thie .Voice of a Million.- Friends.' Such practicie would soon 
lead to. personal squabbles with other- announcers and eventually louse 
up the air. 

In announcing 'This is the Consolidated ..iBroadcastirig Cprporation' , the 
aririouncer will \york up giently from the key pf C' on 'This! ^ , . throiigh. 
the. chrpriiatic scale till with a heroic criescendo, ieler hits SOLidat^d.'- 
This shOiild be deaf eni The rest doesn't mattier. 



There must be no swing versions of . the. tar Spangled Banner' Pn our 
programs. Also ;n6 riiedley Inclu 'Bells bf Saint Mary' arid 'Hold That 
Ti ■ .'■ 



ith sponsors may 



Announcers should try to dress according, tp the projgrams they at'e on. 
For instance, pn a . symphonic program forri^al attire is -in order; oh a 
cereal program .the; aririounicer m wear a pair of pajamas, ph a soap 
program the spieler might , add ;a bit of color by donning an old laundry 
wrapper (or a reasoriably eicact facsinlile) and if the announcer is pn a 
comedy pirogram and the star decides to come dressed as this Eriipire 
State Building it hiight be jolly for the announcer to cOnie as a hydrant. 



The following s.ongi^ can be played but not sung: 
'You showed me; the gate. . . .now we're gonna sWi 

'Aggravatin' poppa be sure you . ; ■ — — ^ — • — 

'POLLY MVOLLY DOODLE ALL THE DAY.* 
'Put it under the door.' 



The following songs can neither be played or .surig: 

My daddy s—^ 1 my r d. 

R &• m but g r^. — r-^ke. 

Shrmtzvk Vrghljings Restjvnerlhxssol Blues. 

Gxhsyteirm Degdfy Razzmatazz s^ 1 in C sharp major. 

Fresdfxtyerisx: yinfseitu Refhjiokdfeiurtx (from the picture of thC: isame 
name). ' 



Any departures frorii above rules wilt lead to instant disniissal or. loss 
pi job,' or both. 



WSIX TAKEOVER FENDS 



Expect WSM , Nashville, to Acquire 
Smaller Station 



. Owners of WSM,; Nashville, had 
not up tp Monday (3) closed for ia 
,coritrolling interest, in WSIX, local 
lOO-watter. ;Negotiati6ns, it.is un- 
derstoPd, have been on tot . &ome 
time, with SteVp Cisler, W!5l5C 
manager, nieanwhile ..checking with 
WSM oflEicials pn divers important 
businesis angleis affecting the smaller 
outlet. 

Mutual is expected to ti in on the 
deal in sp far as' it will- make avail- 
able tinie for Mutual commerciajs 
whenever the schedules are shut 
tight on WSM. 



Doernbecher Dies 

\ Tacoma, Maiy 4. 

E». M. Dperribecher, President pf 
the Puget Sou]Ad Broadcasting Cow, 
owners of KVI (CBS>, died in 
Seattle April 27. He was 54 and a 
jpioneer of the radio industry in the 
Pacific Northwest, 

Was ill at Seattle hospital since 
February. Funeral services and in- 
terment in Tacotna* 



Admen Ga-Ga Over Film Names 



Radio Eiitertainers Get Nomihal Fees> While 
Big Doiigh Goes for Cinenia Personalities 



Mrs. Schneider to You 



MPM'S $150,111111 
IN6M0S.FR0M 
WAXINGS 



. Seattle, May 4. 

With Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevielt 
here visiting her spri-iri-law and 
daughter, Mr, and Mrs. John Boet- 
tinger for a few daySi radio prpduc- 
tion and publicity meri fronri major 
studios keeping the First Lady busy, 
each trying to beat the other on a 
guest hookup. 

In an effort to surprise the family 
here she took the name of .:Mrs, 
Schneider pn her plane, trip . expect- 
ing to drop in uriexpectediy but the 
news boys as Well as; the radio 
hounds knew, pf 'her . coniirig and 
were. at the field When she arrived, 



Talent cOmplai that ad 

agencies and accounts important ^iri 
radi devieloped film-name 

complexes td| ' where it's 

become almost iriipossible to sell 
them on ariybody from -another field, 
Mike material, say the agents; is be- 
ing measured more i terniis of 
screen association and'less .in eriterr 
tainrijerit value. Singers with estabr 
lished reputatipnis on the air, but 
without filrii glamour .must either ac-: 
cept $200 or thereabouts fpr a brpad- 
cast, or. they don't , wiork. 

In support of their conterition that 
the trend among advertisers toward 
HoUyWood as a source of. mike siipT 
ply is stronger -than ever the talent 
reps .cite ., a recent statement by 
Myrpn Kirk, v.p. in Charge of radio 
for>Ruthraufl St Ryan, the set policy 
of F. Wallis arid the latest Coast- 
ward hioveihent of its prograriis by 
the J. Walter Thompson agency. A 
fourth agency cited in the argument 
is Benton & Bowles, whose aoe pro- 



gram. Maxwell House Showboat, is 
s6dn to ■ iri the ranks of Coast de- 
fenders. 

.Kirk recently made the prediction 
that 75% of the major program will 
originate frpni Hollywood within the 
next two years. Armstrong agency,. 
wJiicjh: handles: the Campbell: Soup; 
account, won't consider taki oil 
any , per^oriialiti uhless ; they are 
from pictures, -while in. the case of 
the; Thompson ageripy the westward 
trek seems tO haive just got started. 
With the Nash and Chase & Sanborn 
Coffee programs already, added to 
the Hollywood -contingent, Thoihjpson 
has two others set to come from that 
area, the Rudy Vallee-Royal Qella- 
tin - Hour and the new Bakers' 
(Fleischmann) PrOgrarii headed by 
Edward ' Everett Hprtori. It will 
make seven Thompson shows Ori i- 
.nating from the westcoast and six 
from New Yprk. Latter includes 
Jergeri's hand lotion (Walter Win- 
.chell), which shuttles back and 
forth. 



Jiidy Starr's biVorce 

Judy Starr, singer oh Vallee. pro- 
grarri, has filed for a divpr.ce .fronri 
John Walton Marti .in Clarksburg^ 
W. Va.j ailegi incompatibiiity and 
neglect. 

Case win be hieard May 10. Martin 
is a glasswprker in Clarksbur 



Saviti From Manhattan 

Jari- .Savitt and his' Tpp Hatters, 
tooting three-a-week 
over the NBC red 
Philly, slated to ori " 
in couple of weeks. 

Bankrolled by Hud n u t, 
B.B;d.&0. agentirig. 



dansapation 
from KYW, 
• WEAF 



ith 



Hob Barrett Heads East 

Chicago, May 4. 
Robert J. Barrett, Jr., manager of 
the local WOR office^, going East 
pii an official visit. 

Will confab with the WOR execs 
on general spot business fpr summer, 
and the coming fall season. 



M(fechanical rights bureau Of 
Music Publishers' Protective Associ- 
ation estimates that it will: do. $150.- 
000 in transcription royalties 
the iSrst . six months of 1937. This 
is exclusive of the royalties paid for 
works controlled by the Warner 
Bros, publishing combine, which 
does its own licensing. 

MPPA took in $97,800 for the. first 
halt oit 1936, while the entire year 
brought $225,000 from radio disc 
sources. It is figured that the MPPA 
overturn on transcription licenses 
this year will exceed the $300,000 
mark,^ while the WB publishing 
group is expected to do around 
$70,000. 



FUNG FOR YOUTH ON 
WILLIAMS' SHOW BOAT 



Hollywood, May 4, .. 

Promising .talent new to radio, will 
bo given the preference for the 
guest spotting on Max wfell House 
Show Boat during' Its' Coast origina- 
tion, starting July 8. Herschel Wil- 
liariis trained in last Friday (30) 
and started his taleri.t .roundup. 

Williams, whp produces for Ben- 
ton .& Bowles, id that no decision 
had yet been reached to move Paim- 
oiiye Beauty Bpx to Hollywood, 
.also scotched reports, that negbtin- 
tipns had been :Undei'. .way; with Bill- 
Bacher to take over product! of 
the .two shows. 



Riehl to KVOO, TuUa 

Nashville, May;4. 
J. liver Riehlj production mana- 
ger at WSM for the past two years, 
becomies musical director of KVOO, 
Tulsa. He resigned at WSM last 
month. 

He is succeeded at WSM by Peter 
Brescia, a musician at WSM for sev- 
eral years, Brescia conducted a num- 
ber of seasons in West Coast thea- 
tres.- 



Wednesday, May 5, 19ST 



RADIO 



29 




The hnportai^ 



Taking a birds-eye view ot broadcasting tKe chairman of the A.N.A, 
radio session last iyeek itemized reasons for the importance of radio 
and Its problems. He. mentioned: 

25,000,000 hornc sets 
5,000.000 duta sets 
$133,000,000 gross billing 
$2,000i000 for haseball 
Scripts part of fans' 
Films use iair for plugs 
Mags solicit , subs by , radio: 
Unions sponsor programs 
Radio a flood hero ' 




Not Including Stock Divuleiuk 



Washington, May | GUEST STARS ON THE FARM 



Three . partners .' of sales rep ifirra 
of Edward Petry .& Go. banked well 
over $i0Q,006 last year. Total does 
hot include dividends,' upon . which 
the three have an absolute monopoly, 
owning every sharie of both the com- 
mon and the preferred stbck, Head- 
' ing the list is. the firm prez, Petry,. 
who is. majority stockholder. . ther 
two partners, with less than half the 
common and two-thirds of the pre- 
ferred, received identical compensa- 
tion. 

Salary .fligure for Petry is $27,083, 
or more than $500 weekly. In addi- 
tion to. dividends, on 51% of common 
ahd 33%% of preferred, he also 
dvagged down a $10,000 bonus. 

Henry I; ; Christal, secretary-treas- 
urer, who juist returned from Euro- 
pean j Mnket, and Edward E. Voynow, 
the Chicago, partner' who is vice- 
president, each get $23,333 annually 
in salary— approximately $50 a week 
under Petry— and a $10,000 bonus. 
Christal has. 44% of the common and 
one-third of the preiferred, while 
Voynow represents the remaining 
5% common and last thitd of pre- 
ferred.":' 

While the Petry trio paid them- 
selves an average of $34,000 in sal- 
ary and bonuses the dividend split- 
up has generally been considered in 
the trade as running their individual 
incomes up into filmi star brackets, 

Prosperity of some-^nbt all— ^ales 
reps has become a part of the bUrh- 
up of broadcasters that was person- 
alized last week when Walter Damm 
of WTMJ, Milwaukee, took a sar- 
castic jab at Christal's European va^ 
cation in mid-winter. 



BOWES BACK INTO 
NO. 1 SPOT ON C.AJJ. 



Major Edward Bowes hopped back 
last weieic into No, 1 spot among the 
full, hour shows tabulated for popu- 
larity by the Cooperative Analysis of 
Broadcasting. It's a return after ^evr 
era! months pegged at lower ratings. 
His present percentage tally is some- 
what lower, however, than Jack 
Benny in the. half -hour group who 
remains the pace-setter for com- 
mercial network shows. 

Bowes is still toying with the idea 
of going to the Coast this isummer. 
Large staff would need to be trans- 
ported west to handle the Chrysler 
programs out there and it is un- 
certain if the move can be worked 
out practically, 

yCold at present iis the prospect of 
road dates with personal appeeir-' 
ances for Bbwes. That loomied as. a 
maybe .if the western trip (largely 
social in motivation with the Maj) 
materialized.. 



Bob Hope's Ticket 

Contract of Bob Hope, who goes 
on for Woodbury Soap this Sunday 
(9) over the :NBC blue .(WJZ), guar- 
antees In im 13 weeks and contairts 
the usiial options for thi-ee more 
such cycles. 

. Shep Fi and Frank Parker 
continue on With the program. 

wpf"** G«re, baritone, back at 
WELI. New Haven, after several 
month's absence. 



Bedtime Also Figures In Findings 
of Special C;A:b. Siurvey 



Latest :special survey of ttie Co- 
operative Analysis of Broadcasting 
relates to farm listening habits in 
contrast with metropolitan listening. 
Reduced .to charts and graphs *he, 
survey Was 'previewed' last week by 
A.. W. Lehman at the spring session 
of the A.N.A. and when completed 
and given more detailed analysis the 
survey will go forward to G.A.B. 
subscribers. 

First rural sury.ey of its kind ever, 
made by an impartial body in riadip 
the latest research study .finds many 
points of similarity in city and coun- 
try program likes but ernphasizeis 
the importance of bedtime among 
the cows and chickens. 

Light, ' also thrown upon the 
question of rural: audience xeactioh 
to guest stikrs. ' 




Frank' Discussion of Chain 
Break 'Evil/ Coverage 
Mapis; Mounting Talent 
Costs Heard at Hot 
Springs Convention: 



TIME COSTS 



Sun Oil Spartcaster 
Opposite Own Sponsor 
Three Nights a Week 



Schenectady,' May 4. 

Protest from Roche, Williams & 
Cunnyngham of Chicago has can- 
celled' Jim Healey's sports series oh 
WGY for Perm Tobacco. Healey, 
broadcasting locally three nights a 
week for Sun Oil, was opposite an- 
other Sun Oil program, Lowell 
Thomas, for the tobacco company 
the other three nigbts of the week. 
Agency squawked and Healey ill 
be off after two weeks notice, 

NBC sold Healey to Ruthrauff Sc 
Ryan for $150 weekly. 



KXBY Plays Host 



KXBY, Kansas City, has extended 
an ihyitatipn to . New York and Chi- 
cago agency, men to be. the station's 
gu'ests pyier the comihg week-end 
when the outlet dedicates its new 
studios. 

Acceptees w^U be planed tp and 
from. Kansas City, with all expenses 
underwritten by KXBY. 



BOATLOAD OF RADIOITES 



Sea-Goinr Week-End roadcast 
Employes Forecast 



i'g boati biist-out of the year 
for radio folks will be the five-day 
spurt down to Bermuda - and back 
on thiB Statehdarn oyer Decoration 
pay week-end. T6 date 125 persons 
frorti agencies, networks, talent lists 
and artists' bureaus h secured 
reservations. 

Quite a show is being lined up. 
and when completed will probably 
be. as- pretehtiplJS a layout as ever 
played the cruisertime.. To date 
Harry Hirschfield, Belle Baker, Eric 
Titus and Ottilie George, and Nat 
Brusiloff'S band have been, set; foiir 
other acts are yef to be inked in. 



Why Air Advertisers Read Ifariety 



introducing Variety's spokesman Bob Lahdry, at the radio ses-^ 
, sion of the Association of National Advertisers' convention last week, 
D. P. Smelser of Procter ii Gamble said: 

'Stix Nix Hick Pix--that was a headline in . yARi^^ . . Tuesday 
to some people is the day the SatuVdlay Evening Post comes in. 
Friday to others is the day Time arrives. -To a great many people 
Wedheisday, or out in the stick$ Thursday, is the day Variety arrives. 

■Why do radio advertisers read Variety? Some of theni read it to 
find but what the program critics of Variety have to. say about our 
programs.. But moist of :us read it to find out what we are going to 
do next.' 

i . . . ■ _ 



Lauder's Radio ^Yien 

Sir Harry Lauder sailed Monday 
•(3) from New Zealand for Los An- 
geles after, a tour' of Australia.' ." 
* He's coming to the U.S. in search 
of u radio spot. 



Radio got a going-over last' week 
at Hot.Spirings, Va., by the men who 
pay the blHs— the sponsprs. Scruti- 
nizing cefemphies were m.c.'d by 
D. P, Smelser,. fact-finder and radio 
authority of Prpcter & Gamble; who 
presided as- chairman of the radio 
session of the spring convention of 
the Asspciation of National Adver- 
tisers. 

Question period was . 'off the riec- 
prd' but the general tenor of sponsor 
opinion and thinking was pretty 
clearly articulated by Dr. . Smejser, 
who itemized many of the . points of 
controversy; He took a strong posi- 
tion against chain-break announce- 
ments and also ridiculed coverage 
maps. 

'This station coveragie propositiPn 
is the greatest piece of bunk that 
has ever been put over on us,' Smel- 
ser told his feliow-spphsors. 'When 
you look at the map of the United 
States- as far as coverage is con- 
cerned, as put put by each of the 
three chains, you think you. are cov- 
ering the ^country. I happen to know: 
of instances where programs have 
been on a coast-to-cpast chain; and 
in addition. .have beeii on 75 stations, 
and' haye produced no results in 
dozens , and dozens of counties of the 
United: States.' 

Thiat the mpunting cost of talent 
and production is disturbihjg to spon- 
sors was clear froni the general com- 
ment of the advertisers both in and 
out of the convention hall. Allusion 
was also made to the gradual push- 
up of station and network time. 
Sale of stations for big prices, ^com- 
petition between networks for local 
affiliations with ; time rates used as 
a bargaining factor by .the networks, 
all were seen as raising radio costs 
to the advertiser. 

Time. Scarcity 

Soapman Smelser, a prime advo- 
cate of daytime radio, summarized 
his various cpinrnents as follows: 

(1) Generally speaking, all of the 
hours ■ which we ' have heretofore 
thought of as being the most valu- 
able time for broadcasting; are sold 
by the chains and in most cases are 
being considered as. valuable fran- 
chises by the advertisers pwhing 
theni. To take care of . additional 
sponsored programs the broadcastT 
ing companies will, have to experi- 
ment With the. possibilities of using 
other . hours of the day and pight and 
will have .tp determine the tela tive 
value of such hours. 

(i2) Forrnation of hew chains will 
not. solve is probiein. Theoretic-: 
ally, the greater number of pro- 
grams on the air at a given time the 
greater the isize ;6f the total audi- 
ence^ but there, is a natural lirriit to 
this. Generally speaking, each :time: 
a new chain is, formed the audience, 
to the : other chains is decreased/ 

(3 Cbmpetition between programs 
at the same hour becoming more 
intense. This -has led to, the idea 
that only the most expensive talent 
can draw . an audience and advertis- 
ers have bid ri. iculpus prices for 
talent being used by other adverti.s- 
ers. All of this has resulted in such 
a marked increase ' co.st of 

talent that radio, especially tii.cjht- 
time radio, is not available only to 
thPse able to use blue chips. 

(4). For some time we. have felt 
that the rate structure of the chains 
was based pn information wh'i^h was 
cohs(iderl>.bly put of date. To say 
that ' 'each hbui of the night was 
Worth the Same as any other hour 
of the night and to say that each 
hour of the day was Worth the same 
(Continued on page 3G) 



Combo Raid-Screen iarch of Tinie' 
Gives A.N A 




Karol on Showmandiip 



Karol, director of market 
research for. CBS, was one of the 
three guest speakers at the A. N. A- 
radio session. He discussed 'How to 
■rest a New Radio Program.' 

Qpeni ith the statement, 'Radio 
program research is no substitute for 
brilliant showmanshi or creative 
gehius, but it sometiitles can be a 
usef ul tool in the building of success- 
ful programs,' Karol . detailed con- 
sumer jury and other experimental 
methods of pretesting programs^ 

. H, I). Weld of McCann-Erlckspn 
reported to the A. N, A. radio session 
on status quo in' •'.he Committee of 
15's efforts . to standaTdjize research 
methods. ' 



Alfred Vanderbilt Orders 
Publicity for Race Track; 
Includes Waxed He-Runs' 



Baltimpre, May 4. 

Alfred Gwyh Vanderbilt, who re- 
cently bought in on Pimlico race 
track here, is turning to radio to 
popularize rehabilitation historic 
course; tying up with station WFBR 
for daily airings direct from track 
arid a nitely re-ruh of races yi 
cprdings made at tlnie of running. 

WFBR; only station here equipped 
with portable short wave pack, uses 
this setup, WX30, for 15 minute 
period daily^ to pick up color and 
randorn interviews handled by 
Nancy Turner, station's fa.s'hion 
spieler, and Henry Hickman of 
nouncing staff; 

Rebroadcast races nightly at 
10:30, irs recor ing of actual rupr 
ning as ithcs-Sed by track 
nouncer giving rostilt.s and prices. 
Understood tic-u ill also permit 
aii-ing of famous rcakness May 15^ 
although actual funning of thin' 
classic been . sold- as coitimef qiaj 
to American Oil Corapdny, via 
WBAL, track, officials figurl 
con ict involved. 



An ex-vaude villa! , Poug^ Merser- 
vey, how adyettising nianager pf the 
du, f*orit cellbphane division, ran the, 
entertainment r that climaxed the 
A.N.A, banquet in Hot Springs last 
week. Part of the show was; Prpfesr 
sor Quiz, brpadcasting twister-upper,. 
vfho preserves incognito while 
strongly., suggesting somebody that 
used, tp play the Gus Sun circuit. 
Anotijlpj; part of the shoW 
prbfessibiial model from Ni 
bro.tight: down as a stunt to play-act 
at the art of Gypsy Rose Lee and 
causing a little mild worry until the 
audience realifsed that innocent . sug» 
gestiori rather than realistic demon- 
stration' ^vas her a.<)signed role. .The 
show was topped and stolen by 'The 
March of- Time,' 

Two-way open circut from 'CBS i 
New York tp the hot?l in yitei ' 
permitted synchronizing the pro- 
prpgranri's. regular announcer, V, H, 
Van . Diver, talking at the- banquet 
with , actprs^. musicians and sound 
effects corps , in network headquar- 
ters. Part-radi , part-newsfeel, all 
in the typical whammy style and 
kettle-drum histrionics of 'Time/ the 
stunt kidded advertisers and prod- 
ucts. And did :both slickly. Roy 
Larsen and Howard Black were 
slightly tense laugh-clpckers fpf the 
home team. . 

Soupy skies kept the conventipn 
indoors. A few braVe golfer's dredged 
up the juiciest divots this side of 
Pago-Pago. It was the bi 
turn-out. of membership for a spiring 
coriyentiort of the A.N.A- ' nine 
years according to a nPse^couht of 
245. S.R.O. on several occasions in 
the 'club' which ■Virginia's llniited 
license system makes mandatory, 



no 



Sealtest at 10 P.M. 



ill take over the 10: to 
11 spot on ' NBC red (WEAP) 
link Sunday nights starting ,23, re- 
placing the Uriitcd Ice pealefs 
America, Latter abcount. washes up 
next Sunday (16). 

It's been using Gladys Swarthout 
and Frank Chapman from 10 to 10:30. 



CANADIAN PROGRAMS 



41 From East, 49, From West and 
American Exphanges' 



Winnepeg, May 4. 
nadiari Bfoadca.sting Corp. wilil 
release 106 shows a week this suni- 
mcr to ihe national and riiidwell 
nclwprk.'j, .with 41 coming from the 
caste,rn .part of the Domi ion and 49 
from, the west. Remai Ing 13 will be 
exchange programs, nine frorn/l^BC 
and four from Mutual. 

Program's 'whiqh . are being added 
to the schedule for. the warmer 
months show a sharp swing to con- 
cert musi 



CECIL UNDERWOOD TO 
' DIRECT 'FIBBER McGEE' 



Hollywood, May 4. 
: Cecil UndcrWbod has been sign 
by Needham. Louis & Brorby agency 
bf Ghicago tP produce 'Fibber Mc 
and Molly' program for Johnson 
Wax Holiywbod; Likely remainder 
of prescht seri€|5 will ai.r froni here 
as Paramount has other pictiJcs " 
mind for Marij)n and Jim 41rdan, 
comedy team.JUnderwopd r^ently 
with Ruthraura & Ryan as producer 
on .Al Jolsoh AoW here. 



CM. Mulls Wincben 



Walter, Winchell is being olTcrccl 
around for $5,500, or twice What, he 
his been getlinfi from Jergen's. Lat- 
ter also wants to renew. 

General Motors is reported 
interdstcd. 



Lawrence's Sanka Off 

Peal between Gertru icnce 
ahd General Foods for a ricis next 
fall under the Sanka .Coffee label 
has gone cold, 

VPung..&; .Rub'icam.,aHencyj on. Ih 
account, is working on another 
gram tor the account. 



Patricia Norma h's C 

Patricia Norman n 
'Hit Parade' ~ peri 
Strike over C!iTfS an 

Its's Misfi Nonr^iui's 
commercial; 



so VARlETr 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 




F. C C POLICIES FORSEEN AT CAPITOL 



Recent Deinand for $tock bistributioii Data Signifi- 
cant— KSFO, Sari Francisco Case Fociises Atten- 
tion—Gary Passes Complaint Back tp Cpmmish 



Washi atay 4. 

Tighter regulation of thie internal 
iaftairs of broadcasters, accompanied 
by firomulgatioii of clearrcUt policiies 
Which . ill eliminate most of the 
uriceirtaihty about, gpyernment at- 
titude toward the industry^ will; be 
the reply of the Federal: Coni-. 
ihunications Commission to repeated 
charges of liax administration of the 
ComiriuniGations Act,. 

With' first results of the mora! re-; 
form AVaye now becoming visible, 
the F.G.C., last week^ was s^en ready- 
ing tp; crack down on licensees who 
havie beien shooting the. government 
and . taking ■ steps to apj^ly more. 
.Btririgeiit control to station opera- 
tion. Commish is on the verge of 
getting tough about sales, leases, 
stock deals, .and othier matters In . a 
way which foreshadows end to the 
era of favoritism -and-. casual super- 
Vision of .the ' industry's conduct. 

AltKpugh the. F.C.C. still is re- 
Epondinig only slowly to agitation, for 
k.'. Congressional investigation, the 
bddy is reaching the point where 
it seems inclined to ' offending 
industry^ members: wbocf-shed 
treatment. Simultaneously, an * - 
ternal house-'cleahing in the Gom-^ 
mish. is gai ing speed, with the 
Broadcast Division becoming more 
independent and aggressive^ 

Following developments all have a 
direct bearing on- the. matter , of gen- 
eral regulatPry principles and Com- 
. iriish concept of its .pdwers- arid 
duties: 

First, recent call for data about 
■ coritrdcts affecti --station operation 
and ownership. 

Secondj consideration of a uniform 
yardstick to be -applied in iregulating 
license tranfers. 

Third, imminent showdpwn- on 
long-term lease policy. 

Fourth; ifts of examiners and 
lawyers. 

. ' .Fifth, growing sentiment for 
longer permits^ 
.Sixth, sudden side- ing of 
Robeirt .r. " Berger in the secretary 
ship race. 

Most ^ important trend, froin the 
Industry viewpoint, is in the direc 
lion of a concrete stand regarding 
sales and leases. Promulgation of 
deflnite policies on these' matters 
looks just around the corner, as a 
result of. the amount of discussion 
ift Congress' about monopolies and 
Jaw evasion. 

Legal Aiigfles 

As a starter toward the adoption 
of a standard principle, the Commish 
recently called upon all licensees tP 
furnish information required under 
Broadcast Order No. 2 arid demanded 
from General Counsel Hampson Gary 
a discussion of thie legal fiactors in 
volvied in passing upon license 
transfers arid .stock shifts. Amend- 
ment of regulations requiring sub 
mission of various typeis of data is 
possible in the immediate future. 

Most iriiportant event, in the recent 
series of trend7<;hb\yi Irici 
w.as the call for Gary's views on the 
licfense-trafficking contrbyersyi Glven 
a severe dressing down for failure 
io buitlirie a general policy Gary Fri- 
day (30) turned in cprifiidehtial 
ppinipri, several pages long, in which 
he passed the problem i-ight back to 
the broadcast division. Leaders in 
the movement to crystallizie the 
slant toward high-priced transmitter 
swaps' are. reported to be Commis 
ioners Nprriian S. Case, one of the 

roadcast divisionites,. arid' . Irvin 

tewart, vice-chairman. 

While the Gary memp is describee 
as inconclusive, it. ill be the me 

ium for a shPw-down on the vague 
policy tinder which the Commish has 
been ratifying station sales. Chief 
counsel reported there are no bind 
ing principles: established by qourt 
decisions but pointed put that the 
same general ques'tiorts confronted, 
by the ,F. C. C. in' prptecti the 
public interest have come up in ad- 
mi istering other Federal statutes 
which have been taken to cpurt. 
None of Covemment's iz! 

The Broadcast pivisipn asked 
Gary's views in its search for a for- 
mula by whiph .to measure the 
reasonableness of payments for 
transmitters. Group is seeking a 
middle course between the view that 
the price paid for a statipn is none of 
the government's business and the 



idea that a statiori cannot be sold for 
more than its physical value. Merii- 
bers are in a quandary about allow- 
ing for going-Cpricern yalue and 
charge for good will and at the same 
time preventing transjactions iri 
which the iggest item appears to be 
the right to thife franchise: 

Related jinatter of policy on leases 
will coine tp a head in- thei near fu- 
ture when the Brpadcast Division is 
called upon to act pn Coluriibia's re- 
quest for permission to take over 
KSFO, Sari Francisco. Show-down 
was ririade virtually unavoidable last 
week when CBS was disclosed' as 
likely to file, exceptions to report pf 
Examiner Hyde which' riecomriierided 
denial of the applie^tion. 

While some .web execs are disposed 
to let the matter: driftj Columbia is 
expected, to. force a test by challeng- 
ing Hyde's findings in several res- 
pects. Fundamental legal question'' 
may possibly be presented with; C6S 
attacking the Commission's power tp 
deriy conserit to a lease and bringing 
up . the issiie pf jurisdiction. In in- 
dustry circles, and. also within the 
Commish, there is hope that Colurii- 
jia ill fpllow this course and, in. 
the everit of a tui*n-down, go to court 
so a positive ruling, may be obtained. 

Both the leiase and sale issues are 
)ehind the Commish letter of April 
20 to all license-holders prdering in\- 
mediate filing of copies of . all con- 
tracts neg9tiated since Jiily 15, 1934, 
'which miay in anywise affect the 
control of your station' and- supple- 
mental dope about stock owriiership. 
In this regard, the F.C.C. is likely 
to appily the paddle to stations whidh 
have been riegligent in the past three 
years about complying with terrris 
of Order No. 2, wbich is ' for 
stiffening. 

The -survey ivas istairted after cer- 
tain comniissipners learned the files 
are lipt Up to date and that; relatively 
little- data, has been received since 
the order. Was adopted Aug. 21, 1934. 
AlthPugh the rule requires copies of 
every subsequent contract which is 
pertinent, slight attention has been 
paid tp this pbligation duririg the in- 
tervening two arid onie-half years, 
liikewise, corporate license-hPlders 
have been negligent about reporting 
every transfer of stock, althpugh 
semi-annual renewal pleas are sup- 
posed tp be accompanied by lists of 
stock-owners. 

There are several objectives be- 
hind the April. 20 letter, which re- 
quires that oral contracts be re- 
duced to. writing and positive 
stateitibnt eyen when nO strings are 
tied to the transmitter. Response to 
the call Will have considerable to do 
with future policies, while revision 
of the rule is probable if it is found 
that much specified information has 
been withheld.. , 

Network' Influence 
First purpose is to- find out just 
bow much control the networks have 
gained .oyer affiliated stations. Com- 
misK 'wants to be. in imposition to 
give precise an.swers to any Con- 
gressional inyestigaitors, besides be-: 
ing posted Pn its owh account. Mem- 
bers reali could not make 
ppsiUvje responses from the-, ilricss: 
stand in. event inquiry js authorized,, 
and are awa.i'e of reports that webs 
lately have been taking more dicta- 
torial position in arranging to sup- 
ply program seryice to independent 
statioris. 

Another purpose is to. see just 
•what has happened to minority 
blocks of stock. While the Commish 
passes upon, -trarisfer of majority 
holdings arid other deals which riiay 
result in shifts; of .station control, it 
has paid scarit attentiort to where 
the little .lipts of paper go. . ittle 
consideration has been given to con 
trasting each sixrmdnth statement, 
with result that, the Cpmmish has 
been surprised recently on several 
occasions to find put just who is in 
terested i 

Options 

The third priricipal ireason Is to 
check ori rumors that there are. top 
inariy verbal and written options 
which may haVe the effect of per 
mitting outside domination of sta 
tions. Go,<?sip has reached Commish 
ears about informal understandings 



between competing license-holders 
which. may constitute: disregard for 
both the public interest and the gpy- 
ernrnent. 

With the sale and lease problems 
gro\ying .inpre acute, there is mpre 
talk .about extending the life. of 
licenses^.. Certain factions withm the 
Commish .resolutely against 

lengthening -the six-month period,, 
but others feel. that regulation wPuld 
be rnpre effective if piae or even two- 
year frarichises werb granted. On 
thisi pointj argument is made that the 
frequency pf " rehewals imposes a 
heavy clerical burden which .effec- 
tively. thwai:ts close siipervi Siort.- 
Under . present conditipns, with a 
batch of libenses cpming due every 
three months, it is imppssible. to 
make ais thorpugh a study as is con- 
sidered advisable. Iri consequence, 
renewals are practically autonrtatic, 
Uriless sbmle cpnipliaint has beeri re- 
ceived, the facilities are irivplved in 
a controviersy, or a change of assigri-: 
ment is pending. 

•The inner i^eriovatipn .has resulted 
in. several personnel shifts which ..ari 
designed to counteract political iri- 
fluences as well as iricrease effici- 
ency. Some .morith.s ago the first: of 
these occurred when Examiner 
Ralph H. Hyde , was' named acting 
chief of the dPcket section. Within 
the piast few days another took place 
when Tyler- Berry of the legal staff 
changed places with Ralph Walker 
of the exariiiriing division. 

Just how far-reaching the. reform 
movement is probably will be seen' 
within the next few weeks,. . since 
there are several pending cases 
which will invplve tests of cm^oI 
pf Comriiish pPlicy, Mpre pe^Bal 
feuds witbin the C 
pprted to wind u; 
balance pf power 
headed by Chairm 
to the sp-called 
which, is Iposely 
Vice-dhairman St 



mish ai:^ve 
shift owthe 
Th the faction 
nning S. Prall 
ressive group' 
anized around 
rt. . 



irst 
tion o: 
Commii 
disapp: 
fizzlei 
Col 
'wil 
swa 



Another CDngfessiohal Blast 

Vashingtpn, May . 
Another .charge that the current radio 'scandaU is as bad ss, the 
Teapot 'Dome oil sensation ^yas heard in Congressional circles last 
week wrhen Congressman Thprnas R. Amlie of Wisconsin circularized 
coristituerits with lengthy blast ait Federal Cbmriiunications cbm- 
tnission. . 

Devoting vi^hple qf his weekly 'Cpngressional .News Ijetter' to radj 
Amii one of .the anti-chain liberal's, roasted the.F. C, C. for eye- 
:blihfcing. at trafficking in licenses, repeated an accusation that only, 
three fair-haired law " firms c^an .'get any results before the Commis- 
assailed the bill of Rep. G; . Arthur- Anderspn of Missouri for 
.^ve-yealr licenses, and declared the ether: is dominated by a radio 
trust. . 

'Teapot Dome was. a noisier scandal than the administration , bf the 
Federal Commuhications Cpriiniissipn, but it doesn't smell any .worse,' 
Amlie told folks back hbraie, adding", in cpnclijsion, 'The chairman of 
the Federal.Communications Comrinissibn is Mr. Annirig S. Prall, for- 
mer Tammany: member of .Congress.' 

Wall Street domination of 'the pnly great respurce left in the. hands 
of the people' was .ilayed.iri the circular. Amlie pointed out that the. 
three networks accpunt for 93%, of the. wattage arid jpbinted out the 
NBC is pwned by 'a Morgah Corporation,' while CBS is controlled by 
Wall, Street finance.' 

In reiterating complaints that the F. C. C. has not prevented ped- 
dling of . frequencies, Wisconsin lawniaker referred to price paid by 
CBS for KNX, Los Angeles and Hearst Radio' buy of KOMA, Okla- 
homa .City* 



Much Buzzing in Washington Apropos 
Dark Horse Winner of F. C. C. Jch 



Pacific Coast Notes 



'Femlnin'e .Parade,' new thrice- 
weekly quarter-hour program on 
.KFRC, San' Francisco, is being pre- 
sented by Shirley Benstock,' re- 
ceptionist and steno at the Don Lee 
station. 



Myriia Bay, NBC Hollywood n\usic 
librariaii, en route to. New York after 
a stop-over in San Francisco last 
week to 'o.o. the •niet'work's w'estern 
headquarters and check 
Clare Patrick on mvisic rights 
lems. 



Worth Hale is new at Bre\ 
Weeks agency, San Francisco, 
merly with C. Bentinck Comi 



Ed Franklin, director of ope 
at KJBS, San Francisco, has | 
newscaster, airing the 
'Fontana NWs Extra' nightj 
Sunday. 



Locy Cuddy adaptingi 
'Idylls of the King* into/ 
for a new series of 
starting Miay .9 over , 
web from San Francj/ 
producing. 



>n's 
Iprpse 
airers 
tS coast 
Morgan 



■Washingforiy .May 4. 

which raises the 'ques- 
ederal Communications 
n power to approve or 
e high-priced station sale 
onday (3) with disclpsure 
and Southland Industries 
draw request for permit to 
AI and $825,000. cash. 

t was decided upon foUow- 
w-up of efforts to arrange 
rms and revise the contrac 
some months back drew, 

ream from Examiner R 

Counsel for the '\\j|flpTcl 
alff, principal WOi^APier, 
ik the Cpmmish t^^Hn back 
plication for li^^HRransfer, 
[ting, the unf^fRle Exam^- 
report witho^Bnallengihg the 
pipwer tr^JBrxjn transrnitter 
arid w^^Pr forcing a show- 
ori.^^pia policy. 

thdi^BF is expected: tp receive. 

tion, ; although in sorne . 
lad been hoped CBS arid', 
vvouid: fight through, A test 
been desired by attorneys and 
cel^in Commish people principally 
to see how the Brpadciast Divisiori 
reacted to Seward's reasoning. ..This 
would .have paved the Way for estab- 
lishment of, a ipolicy, eliminating un- 
nty about how far license-hold-, 
'ight go in gettirig all the traffic 
ear. With tlie WOAl case ash- 

d, the Commish has no current 

e. for establishing set of ' - 
relative to what consideration 
e .given to intangibles. 



Johtl- Ribbe, 

Francisco, anc 
Mortenseri, sy/ 
bining pleas 
auto jaunty 
While ai 
Standarc 



from 



ducer in !5an 
ife, Modesta 
violinist,, cbmi- 
id biz during an 
Pacific Northwest, 
ibbe is producing 
ihony Hour broadcasts 



and Portland. 



Coj 



[illsbury Show 5 Yrs. Old 

Chicago, May 4. 
/ill be five yeairs -for. 'Today's 
preri' show on NBC for Pills- 
Flour shortly. 

3gram has been renewed by the 
fii'm, throtigh-the Hutchinson 
cy, for another. 52 weeks start- 
lay 29. Continues to ride each 
-day mprning on the NBC red 
''out of Chicago.. 



'an Cleve, recently in Salt 
ity, has been added to sales 
'it KJBS, Sari Francisco, Other 
S appointments include Wallace 
Gade, program director; "Van Con- 
nors and Dick De Angelis, annbuncerT 
producers, E, P. Frankli , former 
program director,, is np'W in charge 
of general operations. 



Patricia Morgan of the rnusic 
rights staff at NBC, San Frartciscb, 
is taking dictation from -Meredith 
Willsoa while Amelia; Kennedy 
yacashes. " ' ' ''k 



. Owl Tur Co. is, now using Robert 
Stevens, George Nickson, tenors; 
John Teel, Armand Girard, bari- 
tones; on its 'Treasure Island' shows 
over: the coast NBC-Red web from 
San Francisco Sunday nightsV 

Connie Bosweli rUshed to Kraft 
airing from dowritown .L. A, theatre 
when; Grete Stueckgpld cancelled on 
receiving word of her usband's 
death. 



Rudy .Cornell named program i- 
rector of KMTR (Hollywood) to take 
over from Matti Kemp. 



Les ewitt resigned a.-? technical 
director at KFWB (Holly wod) to 
join sound department at Warners 
studio. 



Joe Parker KGPj (Los 

Angeles) announcing arid publicity 
sjtaff to free lanc>. 



Washington, 
. Hurried charige of Admi i.strati 
plans Wednesday (28) resulted 
unexpected selection of Thomas J, 
Slowie, former city clerk of Clinton, 
la,,, and secretary to Congressman 
W, M, Jacobsen, as .secretary of the 
Federal . Communications Commis- 
sidn. 

Filling the vacancy created a year, 
ago when Herb Pettey quit to join 
WHN, the Cpmmish ended" prolphged 
wrangling pyer the .$7,50p-a-year: po- 
litical plum by discarding Robert I. 
Berger,. particular candidate of Post- 
master General Farley and Adminis- 
tration favprite. Surprising switch 
occurred Monday (26) when the 
White Housie ordered Berger dropped 
id set the stage for Sip wie's elec- 

New secretary, who is 41 year? old. 
nd took office Saturday (1), has no 
radio backgrourid. A war vet and 
former insurance • man, .he has been' 
one of the most devoted Democratic, 
\yprkers at the Capitol since he first 
landed in Washington in li930 as sec- 
retary to the late Repi-efeenlative 
P. M. Jacobsen of Iowa. 'When the 
latter died in . 1936, Slpwie passed up 
a chance to fill the seat arid became 
secretary to his former employers 
spn, the incumbent Congressman, 

Political maneuvering which ' re- 
sulted Berger's discard and 
Slowie's apppintmerit took industry 
leaders by surprise and still has not 
been fully explained. White Hou.'^e, 
hpweyer, was revealed as having 
taken a very active part, with 
Stephen T. Early and James Roo.'^e- 
velt, the Piresiderit's secretaries, noli- 
fying the Coriimish that Berger was 
out and virtually dictati the 
Slowie choice. 

Why 

Although all the reasons for Ihe 
startling reversal of plans are not 
known; Ppppsition within the Com- 
mish to Berger, combined ith po- 
litical, considerations, played .a large 
part in the rapid sequence of de- 
velppmerits. According to repoi'ts 
current in political circles, 'President 
Roosevelt was infornied Chair 
Anriing s; Prall had been seripusly 
embarrassed when he first tried- to 
put over Berger iand the ' He 
House 'was tipped that, selecli 
ihe Dehiocratic Cpmmittee 
bpss would bring repercussi. 
the Capitol. 

" Thfe verdict i loWie's favor 
a 4-0 propositibri. Three Democrats 
and one Republican— Prall, Stewiirt, 
Sykes, and Brown— did thie voting. 
With Case,. Republican, being recdrd- 
ed miereiy .'present' and -Pa.Yr>?.:. 
Republican, and. Walker, DemOci Jit, 
absent. No forrnal annpuncement of 
the Une-up canie frpnl the Co>m.piis 
but Case was understood, to be 
posed to hurried actibn, especif'. 
in view of. the iength of time Ihe 
vacancy has existed and the yiuUltri 
White House change pf afrections.. 

Defeated in the secretaryship ru 
after being all set, Berger now is r 
ported slated for Commerce Depart- 
ment post, presuriiably 'With the Dii- 
reau Of Air Commerce. 



Tom Everltt, editor on the Packard 
Show for Young & Rubicam, rinaking 
a fresh connection in the east 



Buck Jones partied gang .D'ft 
worked with him on Grape Kuls 
transcriptions.- 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



81 





PAYNE 




NBC 



Januaiy 
February 
March 
April 



1937 
$3,541,999: 
3,295,7d2 
3,614,283 
3,277,321 



1936 
$2,681,895 
2,714,300 
3,037i873 
2,741,928 



1935 
$2,895,037 
2,758,3iai 
3,025,308 
2,682,143 



1934 
$2,391,667 
2,211,637 
2,507,890 
2.373,890 



.......••••■^13,729,385 $11,175,996 $11^360,807 $9,485,034 



CBS 



January 
Febuary 
March' 
April 

Total 



1937 
$2,378,620 
2,264,317 
2,559,716 
2,596,238 



1936 
$1,901,023 
1,909,146 
2,172.382 
1,950,939 



1935 
$1,768,949 
1,654,461 
,1,829,553 
1,615,389 



1934 
$1,405,948 
1,387,823 
1,524,904 
1.371.601 



• ••••• 



,.,....$9,798,891 $7,933,490 $6,868,352 $5,690i276 



January 
Febuairy 
March' , 
April 



• , «. » ^ . • • • • a • < 



MUTUAL 



1937 
$187,362 
2«i.b88 
212,^61 



Total 



1936 
$166,266 
152,064 
191,483 
139,834 

$649;647 



Not reported^ 




U. p. Enters Program-Building Biz; 
to Avoid Tinte^ Compan 



Washington Aitorhey Open- 
ly Defies Member of Fed- 
eral Communications Com- 
mission—Charges Member 
Wants to Embarrass Him 
With Questiohs 



FOLLOWS <CODE* 



April Showers Busmess on Networks; 
NBC, $3,277321; CBS at $2596,238 



.• -I ' 

Both NBC and Columbi last 
iTionth established new. highs for 
April grosses from time sales. NBC 
did $3,277,321, or 19.5% better than 
the tally which prevailed for April, 
'36, while Columbia, by its gross of 
^,5964!38, accounted for a compara- 
tive boost of 33.1%. Mutual's figures 
for last month were not available at 
press time yesterday (Tuesday). 

Breakdown of NBC's April, '37, 
tally gives the red (WEAF) link $2^ 
303,519 and the blue (WJZ). $973,802. 
'On thei flrist four, months of this year 
NBC's income is^ 22.8% ahead Pf the 
.total for the parallel four months of 
1938. 

MBC grossed $2,741,928 for April, 
'36, $2,682,143 the following year and 
$2,373,890 for April. 1934. With Co- 
lumbia it was $1,950,939 for April, 
'36; $1,616,389 for the following year, 
and $l,371,60Hor April, '34. 



SUMMER MOTH-BALLS 
FOR coast; PROGRAMS 



Hollywood, May 4. 
RuthrauflE & Ryan will have only 
one show on the air from here' dur- 
ing July and August. Cocomalt stays 
on, with Jimmie Grier's / ork . and 
soloist; and Geiie Austin trio hold- 
ing up the show. Joe Peniier takes 
his usual summer respite. . 
Al Jolson and his' troupe take an 
ight-week layoff, and Gillette Com- 
munity Sing' returns eiaist in three 
weeks. If RKO options Milton Berle 
for additional ' icture work the 
ination will switch back- 
iny ftuffner, headman on the 
Coast for R,& R, is of the opi ion 
..that many of the agency's .script 
shows will hie this way • by early 
fall, 



Thomas Thomas Insists 

NBC. Met bpera and Maxwell 
House Coffee havfe aU put in mild 
requests that something be done 
aboiit Thomas Thomas' monicker 
Baritone has refused to change it, 
claiming that it's a good, first-rate 
Welsh name. Label gets laughs most 
of the time. 

Page boys call him the Simpn6 
Simon of Radio Ciib^. Middle name 
is Llyfriwy— so that's out too. 



Spieler's Campos Walkaway 
Walla Walla, Wash., May 4. 
William Fifleld, KUJ announcer, 
emerged the victor in the College 
Extemporaneous Speaking Contest, 
which drew entries from 11 western 
states. 

Mikeman divides his time 'tween 
KUJ and senior classrooms at Whit- 
man college. ■ ' 



BURYL LOTTRIDGE RESIGNS 



Qoits Comnieroial Managership of 
Three Nebraska Stations 



Omaha, May 4. 
Buryl Lottridge has handed in his 
resignation as commercial , manager 
for Central States Broadcasting Sys- 
tem (KOIL, KFAB, KFOR) effective 
May 1. After closing his desk Xiott- 
ridge will visit with i-elatiyes in 
Enid< Okla., from where he Will 
trip east to consider other offers.. 

Commercial department is tem* 
jporarily in hands of John Henry, 
general manager, as. no successor to 
Lottridge is iii sight. Possible a new 
set-up may evolve, but commercial 
headquarters will .remain in Omaha. 
Henry expecti. to make no selection 
for a fortnights 

Lottridge. winds up with over two 
years and a half. Before he departed 
Lottridge set Paul Hammond in hew 
position of merchandising manager. 

Newest addition to sales force is 
Joe Mathews, attached to Lincoln 
office. Formerly with WHBF in Rock 
Island, 111. Lincoln operators staff 
increased with addition of Glen E. 
Martin, formerly chief engineer at 
WMIN, St. Paul, and Marvin Kori- 
nek, previously with KXBY, Kansas 
City. 



Aylesworth at WNOX 

Knoxville, Tenn., May 4. 

WNOX is planning a powwow of 
bigwigs of the. Scripps-Howard pr- 
ganiisatiohs foi" its hour and half 
broadcast Friday (7) signalizing 
an increase in power to 5,000 
watts. Gen. Hugh Johnson will, ap 
pear on this WNOX stage for an ad 
dress on 'The Radio and 'WNOXv 
and Merlin H. Aylesworth, formet 
NBC exec and now an official in 
the .Scripps-Howard organization, 
also ill put in . a personal appear 
ance. ^ 

All newspaper . editors m East 
•Tennessee and adjacent sections of 
Kentucky, Noirth and South Carolina 
and Georgia have been invited to 
event and banquet at which . Cham 
her of Commerce Will be host. 

Jack Howard will be present along 
with Gene Katz, of E, Katz special 
rep house. 



Plays Wilder Circuit 
Springfield, Vt., J^Iay 4. 

Alan Parker, who advanced from 
an announcer at WGY to trogram 
manager at WNBX,. Springfield, Vt. 
moved on this week to WSYR, Syra 
cuse, where he will do programs 
and sports. 

From WSYR, Parker may move on 
to WJTM, Jamestown. 

All stations owned by Harry . Wild 
er group. 



Washington, May 4, 
Paul . Segail, leading tadio attorniey 
practicing' before the. Federal Comr 
mimications .Commission, has flatly 
refused to answer questions unless 
Commissioner, George Henry F>ayne. 
i resigns as probe bo^s. Lawyer ex- 

I plained to Varxety that hie declined 
to appear while Payne sat, as he is 
involved in litigation in which the 
Conimissioner is a party. Segal stated 
he was not siire of a. fair hearing.' 
Segal avers , he had been tipped , off 
that Payne .' would embarrass him 
with the nature of 'his questions. 

Payne in turn states he will not 
withdraw to oblige the lawyer. What 
action^ if any, he may take because 
of the lawyer's Open defiance he de- 
clined to say. Probe that Segal side- 
stepped had to do With alleged ad- 
ministrative irr iegularities .within the 
F. G. C. and legal favoritism and 
skullduggery. 
'Segal is willing to testify before 
he F. C. Con any subject providiiig 
Payne, does not ask the questions. 
Situation arises just after the piro- 
mulgation by thifc P. C. C. Bar Asso- 
ciation of a new code. of ethics and 
:is expected to disturb the direc- 
torate. President Louis G. Caldwell 
hesitated to forecast if the Bar as- 
sociation might inject itself into the 
situation... 

Repeal of the Federal' Communi- 
cations Commission two-year rule 
was demahded last we^k by radio 
lawyers following adoption of 
stiffly-worded code of ethics which 
denounces, wire-pulling, favoritism 
and other attempts to gain special 
treatment in broadcast litigation. 

As the prolonged controversy 
neared a cUmax, the Communica- 
tions Bar Association formally pe- 
titioned the F. C. C. to erase the 
regulation which prevents fornier 
governijnent attorneys from practic 
ing before the commish for two 
years after retiring from Federal 
service. In place of the existing 
provision, the association suggested 
the cbmmiish force all radio lawyers 
to subscribe to its own ethical stahdr 
ards which discourage employment 
on any case with which the prac- 
titioner was concerned while in gov- 
ernment service^ 

Change i methods of . preventing 
favbritism. was advocated by the ex;' 
ecutive committee of the legal group 
aifter much discussion, livened by 
outside charges that a few law firms 
have ian inside track in practicing 
before the F. C. C. Some weeks ago 
the association directorate declined 
to. urge abolition of the commish rule 
until a satisfactory alternative had 
been formulatied. 

Doesn't Work Well 
voicing views on the F. C. 
regulation,; the executive board in. a 
formal resolution said the existing 
rule; 'is .unjust, under ceirtain cir- 
cumstances and ineffective under 
other circumstances arid is therefore 
inequitable, and unsatisfactory in its 
operations,' Group suggested more 
practical method wpuld be enforce- 
ment of the association code with 
the comriiish punishing violators by 
disbarment, suspension or censure 
after investigation by the associa- 
tion. 

Code of ethics hot only contains a 
specific subistitute for the commish 
regulation but represents a sweep- 
ing attempt to eliminate criticism of 
the legal fraternity and wipe pUl 
possible future charges of political 
influence, personal favoritism and 
improper conduct. Several articles 
in the policy statement are in tacit 
recognition of complaints which 




Deference 



Jack Pearl, the Dutch comic, 
and Sam Lyons, the talent 
agent, sat together at. the Hip- 
podrome fights. Fi'iehd nearby 
laughed and asked Pearl which 
of. the two has the better 
lect. 

Pearl pointed to Lyons with- 
out hesitancy. 



Forbes Morgan's Death 
Defers, Probably Ends, 
Booze Air Adirertisuig 



Embryo plans the. liquor ii^dustry 
had been making for ah air . spread 
along institutional lihes have been' 
indefinitely postponed. Recent death 
of. Forbes Morgan, shortly after he 
was sipotted as czar of distillers at 
$50,000 annually still has . the industry 
stalling oyer naming of a; successor,, 
and until one is sist radio projects 
won't be forthcoming. 

Another, deterrent is fact' a good 
many of the distillers are getting 
frigid feet on the idea of assailing 
the public through the air in a large 
scale way. Fear is based on the' cer- 
tainty the prohibitionists: will hbWl 
if the liquor lads inveigle the net- 
works to give 'ein time. 



After weeks of experimenting. 
United Press ill wax a news 
dramatization idea the CBS 

studips, this Saturday (8) With; the 
intention of . offering, it as a half- 
hour program sponso|:§. Ed 
Byron will do the producing, .while 
Harry wiU double pri tlie or- , 

chestratiohs and baton. For'' the U.P. 
it will be a debut in the' 'program 
producing and seizing business.' U.P. 
had previously corifiried .itself to sells 
ing news to radio stations, and back- 
ground material to commentators 
and dramatic shows. 

U.P. seeks to avoid having its idea 
in a^ny way compared to the .'March 
of' 'Time.' 'I'he hews service claims, 
that . ihe program that it has de- 
veloped will work along entirely dif- 
ferent lines and Will project the first 
complete hews stpry in a program, 
making' use of reporters, cpmmenta-' 
tors.; remote pickups and other kin- 
dred effects. 



PACKARD HOLDS TIME; 
ASTAIRE SUB INDEF. 



Packard Wasn't on the 

makeup of the program which will 
replace the one now runningi with 
Fred Astairei and Charlie Butter- 
worth, on NBC Tuesday nights. Lat- 
ter show vanishes June 1. 

Shell Oil had put ah option on the 
Packard spot with NBC some time 
ako, but this became void last week 
when the agency on the auto ac^ 
cbUnt. Young & Rublcam, gave the 
network a 13-week renewal order; 



Hollywood. May 4. 
Fred Astaire is reported to have 
turned :d6wn a 39-week renewal with 
Packard for radio commercials next 
season. 

Too tough to make pictures and 
broadcast simultaneously. 



CRDMIT TEST CASE 
STALLED UNTIL FALL 



Trial of Frank Crumit's injunction 
action, agaihsf WHN, New York, was 
postponed Monday (3) in the N. Y, 
state supreme court to the fall; term 
With the consent of all the parties 
concerned. Trial might be avoided 
altogether if the litigants can get the 
court to determine the basic issues 
of law in thie case through a series 
of rtiotions through t^.^ summer 
months. , 

National Association of iRecording 
Artists broiight the orlgihal suit 
against WHN in CrUmit's behalf, 
asking that the station be restrained 
fromi using the singer's phonograph 
records unless it obtains his permis- 
sion. Decca Records later intervened 
in the action, holding that the right 
to restrain was Decca's and that if 
there was any broadcasting fee to be 
claimed, for Crumit's records becca 
should be invested with the right to 
liiccnse and collect. 



Hedda Hops 'Em Up 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Hedda Hopper starts a film gbssip 
series for Maro-Oil over NBC Coast 
and mountain red network tomor- 
row (Wed). Femme listeners will be 
asked to mail in their mugs fpf judgr 
ing and pioissible screen test. Ten 
will be picked for lensing here, over 
the 26rwis!ek stretch. 

Studio castihg directors . as 
judges and submit to interviews Pn 
the quarter hour show. 



Nice Word for Everyone 



Buffalo, May 4. 

BBC Music Hall, a variety show 
on WGR, dished out plenty of free 
publicity Friday night (30) . Words 
were edged in anent the Joint Chari- 
ties and CJommunlty Fund campaign, 
the Will Rogers Memorial drive. 
Child Health day, Natlbhal MUsic 
Week and there was even a Corona-^ 
tipn Salute to neighboring Canada, 

Events were hot merely men- 
tioned, but to each was devoted a 
dramatic interlude, brief talk 
special music. 



or 



WHKW Switch Date 



M^Williams Passes Honor 

Norfolk^ Va.i May 4. 

ini MacWillianis, NBC performer, 
sidestepped the delivery of the open- 
ing sermon at. Norfolk Presbytery -iin 
Newport News late ApriL . As retirr 
ing moderator of the body Ma.CWil- 
liams was entitled to air his views 
on reli ion, but he called upon a 
Norfolk minister to do it for him. , 

MacWilliams. is a ruling- elder in 
the Presby tierian ch urch at Vi rg i n i a 
Beach, in which resort he lives be- 
tween N. Y. broadcasts. 



have been fired by members of Con- 
gress, commissioners and outsiders. 

Probably most important, precept 
is a long paragraph deploring at- 
tempts to exert 'undue influence* 
upon , members of the F.C.C. This 
rule declared' 'marked attention and 
unusual hospitality on the part of a 
lawyer to a Commissioner or any 
representative of the Commission' 1 blue Moy 18 
should be avoided. Herman Beini 



WHK and WGAR, Cleveland, 
switch network alliances Sept. 26, 
,Date was agreed to betweien, NBC 
and Columbia yesterday (Tuesday). 

WHK goes oh the. blue (WJZ) link 
and the other outlet leaves that set-- 
up to replace WHK in the CBS basic 
jietwPrk.. 



McJiinki Holds Acci. 

, May 4.- 

Persistent rurnors that Chicago 
Motor Coach account; had been 
grabbed hy Selvi ir, new, ad agency, 
seem , ended. On Friday (30) Mc- 
junki ,. that; has handled account 
from begi ing, signed for. time on 
WBBM. 

Deal set is for .six five-minute ahd 
one 15 per weelc, the five-rhinute 
spots to program the 'Voice of Care- 
lessness/ and the longer period a: 
safety dramatization. 



Lou Holtz With nernie 

Lou Holtz guests on American Can 
(Ben Bernie) .program over NBC- 



VARIETY 






HELD OVER! NEW YORK ★ SAN FRAil 

NEW ORLEANS ★ SPRINGFIELD ★ WORCESTER * 
UTICA ★ ROCHESTER ★ NEW HAVEN ★ BRIDGEPOS 



HELD OVER EVERYWHERE! .. .THERE'S NEVER BEEN SUC 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



VARIETY 



NDER IT GOES A THIRD WEEK 

BIO CITY MUSIC HALL ! . . . 

six pictures in six years rated titree-weeli runsl 




SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL 



Qanet 



presents 



rtedtic 



GAYNOR * MARCH 

wifh 

ADALP.HE MENJOU'MAY ROBSON 
A.NDY PEyiNE * LIONEL STANDER 

Produced by 

DAVID O. SELZNICK 

T/ie Fir$f Modern Picture in TECHNICOLOR 
bfrttM fey WilllAM Ai WELLMAN • Heieosed fKru Un/jftc/ ArtiiU 



0 ★ LOS ANGELES ★ PHILADELPHIA ★ PITTSBURGH 
WORTH ★ COLUMBUS ★ NASHVILLE ★ PROVIDENCE 
HARTFORD ★ LONG BEACH, CAL. ★ SANTA BARBARA 




A HOLDOVER SENSATION IN ALL PICTURE HISTORY! 



S4 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesdaj, May 5, 1937 






Sin 

5-Day Week Likely Many 




Actors Equity Takes No Stand 



Radio's own employees, announcers, 
irectoris and .assistants, ineers, 
and in some instances office " staffs, 
look iset to achieve a five-day weeic 
of 40 hoursr This is a result Of the 
various managements' action to fore- 
stall unionizatiiaih that becaimiB hot in 
last' fortnight. 
It is also evident that most of the 
; ioris or guilds are bol>bing up 
■-/>svithin individual companies. While 
Vhisp^rs histye mentioned C.1,0; little 
concrete of that nature is reported. 
American Radigi Telegraphers is sole 
outride union with merhbership 
throughout the country although not 
in the rhajority of communities as 
yet. 

Actors Equity Assn.. continues to 
nothing. ■ Actors are not active 
in the union talksr or agitation at the. 
pr.esent time. , Those aimpuncers w^b 
also rate ias actors, or 'artists,' are 
omitted' frOm the guilds, etc^ 

One of the larger .and better 
known indie stations in N. Y. puts 
its announcers under such iron-clad 
terms, the mikeiinen haven't a chance' 
to scoop up any shekels for at least 
five years. 

Broadcaster gives contracts to bttt 
a few of its -announcers; — those 
deemed to have favorable chances. of 
getting somewhere. If contracted, an' 
announcer gets $35 weekly, and 
terms of pact call for station to 
handle him wherever he goes during 
half-decade from date of sighing. 
Station takes, according, to the con- 
tract, 25% .of his salary when .it 
touches $75 working away from the 
station, and 60% if announcer ever 
makes $250 a week. 

And, incidentally, contracts a^^-so 
drawn up that station may firie an 
announcer at any time for 'sufficient 
ieason.' 

WOR New York lapard Of direct- 
ors,, at a meeting Friday (30), der 
cided on the adoption Of a 40-hour 
week for entire personnel of station. 
.New. working skeds will become ft 
festive as soon, as the necessary staff 
additions can be trained. 

Station has also sijgned an zgtte 
ment with the Assn. of Technical 
Employes, which runs till March, '38. 
A clauise in the agreenlent called for 
a 48-hpur week, but the station vol 
untarily reduced this to a 4p-hour 
stretch with its new general policy 
decision. 

For the last couple of years the 
WOR office ^taff has been on a 40 
hour sked. 

Stations WNEW and WMCA, N. Y., 
last. Week promised technicians fur 
ther considerations in working hours 
Looks like 40-hour :veek. » - 

Arde Bulova*s WNEW has set. Aug, 
r^as the time for inaugurating the 
regular Working schedules. Men 
were offered a $3.50 increase in lieu 
of the time soothing, but preferret 
the latter. Technicians at Donalc 
Flamm's WMCA have also been in- 
. formed that a similar plan will be 
* offered them withih a fortnight, 
Neither station has its own house 
organization of employees as yet. 

Technicians at WMCX were once 
affiliated -With the International 
Brotherhood of Eliectrical Workers, 
ain AFL' affiliate, but dropped that 
organization {several years ago when 
a strike flopped. 

WHN New York announcers and 
piroductiOn inen are building a union 
unit and will approach the Loew- 
pwned broadcaster dna. utilize their 
collective - bargaining- right. 

Will ask; for briefer blurbing and 
program-plotting hoiirs; and for 
upped pay. 



dling the legal phases of the linipni- 
zation of . radio in this city. Similar 
radio ^unions, he says, haye been 
formed in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane 
and other nOrthwest towns, 



Los Angeles, May 4. 
Associated Columbia Broadcast 
Technicir.ns, received word from 
New York that the 40-hour week 
will go into effect 100% at eight 
GBS-Owner stations beginning Sept. 

Question of wage adjustments will 
be discussed at a meeting in New 
York May 10 bietween the men and 
cpinpany executives. Harry Spears, 
chief technician at KNX and vice- 
president , of : the local chapter of 
ACBT, will attend the New York 
session as delegate from here. 

ACBT includes in; its meinbership 
the technical staffs of eight stations 
owned- by iColumbi OtheE officers 
Of ithe local chapter, aire Paul d'Haira, 
president, and Alden C. Packa^dj 
secretary^treasurer. 



WPS' . 
PUBUCITX POUNDAGE 



Chicago, May 4. 
oth NBC and . Columbia press de- 
partments here have sent question- 
naires to the various radio editors 
around the midwest to check on 
their p. a. services. Are+. asking 
whether, the service is satisfactory 
and what the fadio. editors want in 
the way of press data from the webs, 
Both Al Williamson of NBC, and 
Hal Burnett .'of Columbia are 
especially interested in the use of 
pictures by the newspapers. 

In his lettef to the radio editors 
Burnett led ' by referring to 
Variety'Si story pf having received 
14 pounds of publicity material from 
agencies, networks, stations and freer- 
lance press agents in one week. 



Station Praises Kids for 
Generosity, Then Learns 
Youngsters Stole Money 



Albuquerque, N, Mex.; May 4. 
A 13-yearTyourig lad and his nine- 
iyear-yOung sister were given police 
questioning here last week after they 
confessed stealing $8, with which 
they bought candy and ice cream to 
treat 800 other kids at KGGM's 
Saturday a.m. juve show. 

Local resident reported that $19 
had been thefted from his home, but 
when two youngsters were rounded 
iip, they said they took less than half 
that amount day before the. broad- 

C3St* 

On the air KGGM went hook; line 
and sinker for a 60ncocted yarn, in 
which the two youngsters claimed 
they had raced errands, scrubbed 
babies and scoured dishes for the 
ihazuma With which to treat their 
fellow members of station's 'Big 
Brother Club.' After learning the 
truth; KGGM's face is now criinson, 
because the two guilty kids were 
highly lauded oyer the air for their 
'generosity.' 



SHEER WEARINESS IN 
THE BROOKLYN MESS' 



HERE AND MRE 



Bob Kine hias left WATL, Atlanta, 
to < take -an announcing job with 
WLBC, Muhci , Ind, 



illy Eose, tehpr and 'good cheer' 
spielei:, moves from WGYj Schenec- 
tady,, to WSAY, Rochester, with a 
15-mihute morning program for 
Daw's Drug Stpres. 



KVOb, Denyer,, has . new 'SpOrts 
Reyiew,' six nights weekly, ith Gil 
kodges. 



W. B. La: Bonte has left commer- 
cial chieftain spot at KGEZ^ Kali's-, 
pell, ■Mont, to devote self fully to 
newly elected post of ' secretary of 
the Kalispell Chaniber of Commerce. 
Position vacated will nqt be filled. 



Carol Deane, organist, and mike- 
man Joe Dana are additions to KOY, 
Phpenix, Ariz. '<', 



Jane Froman guests oh Bernie's 
American Can show next "Fuesday 
(11). FOr his gueist shot over Kate 
Srhith's show Thursday (13) of next 
week,. EdVard G. !Rpbinson will do 
:scehe from 'Five Star Final.' Both 
deals set by Sam Weisbord, of the 
William Morris .office. 



Utility Drops Symphony 
Sponsored for 10 Years 



Chicago, May 4. 

Commonwealth Eklison on WMAQ 
(NBC), with Edison Symphony or-' 
chestra for past 10 years, has 
dropped the show,' to switch to day- 
time spot on WJBBM. 

New set-up will be a three-a-week, 
with Kaye- Brinkei*, monologist, and 
Milton Charlieis, organist. 



Chicago,. May 4. 

On. Friday (30), Columbia here is- 
sued an order cutting producers, an- 
nouncers and sound men to a 40- 
.hoiir, live-day week. Move will 
ineah the addition of two an- 
nouncers, with no additions ing 
'made either to production- or sound 
effect staff. 

NBC previously took similar steps. 



: Portland, Oris., May 4. 
Americari Radio Telegrapher's As- 
sociation claims that it has station 
technicians, jafoducers and announc- 
ers in the Pacific Northwest pretty 
well paganized, but sp f sur it Jtiasn't 
mad^ '9ny . t^^presentations'^l to . broad- 
cas^/(tr9'-'^-^3^^*^- l»een no. oiitward 
move '^Ik tile P^rt; tlibtip^^ ilianat(e- 
mettt !W "ibunteiract the tihion's or- 
ganimg'&bimtm. 
iSiahcy CioBS, local attorney* Is han- 



Kansas City, May 4. 

George E. Halley off for a swing 
through the east to offer 'Phenome- 
non' to public utilities. Has a dozen 
Or so auditions lined up for the 
Arthur Church platter series. He'll 
be gone a month. 

'Phenomenon,' Originally written 
by "Ted Malone was sponsored by 
k., C. Power & Light several years 
ago, 6n\ (jhurch's station; KMBC, 
Scripts for present series are by. 
Barbara Winthrop ^yhp is under coh 
tract to Church. 



Washington, May 4. 
Pbliti^:ai jockieyiilg by backers of 
three principal candidates for the 
1400 kc spot at stake in . the complir 
catied 'Brooklyn cases' has .:fpl- 
lowed the cohcluisiph of recent pro- 
longed rehearing of . .ihOre than a 
dozen individual applications from a 
half-dpzen. candidates. 

While decision is not in sight for 
some time, hot inside fight appeared 
inevitable with indications Federal 
Conununications Commission is split 
into several faetipns' and solution is 
compli^ted by injection of political 
considerations which may have a 
bearing On what,, happens in Con- 
griess. Controversy remains in . the 
free-for-all stage, although the is- 
sues are narrowing as a result , of in- 
formal discussion by members pf 
Commish. Meanwhile eases havie 
wearied everyone. 

Elimination of the Brooklyn 
Eagle from the scramble appeared 
inevitable last week, although the 
rag still is in the picture. Due partly 
to growing antagonism toward 
press-owned transmitters, the paper 
is believed to. .have only the slim 
mest chance pf winning five-year 
fight jfPr a Brooklyn outlet. .Even 
some commissioners who favored 
the Eagle last year are oh the other 
side of the fence currently, princi- 
pally due to feeling the sheet did 
not present a very ^ood case at the 
March hearings. 

Principal contenders at this stage 
seem to be the Brdoklyh Broadcast 
ing Co,, (WBBC) and the Kings 
Broadcasting Co., a subsidiary of the 
Jewish paper The Diay,- which wants 
to consolidate WARD and WLTH 
Still in the ring but looking like 
eventual losers are WVFW, which 
wants full time, and WEVD, which 
is seeking ia shift from 1300 to full 
timo on the '1400 ribbon;. 



'Sports Editor- Title 



icSgo, May 4. 

WBBM has created new pffice of 
sports editor for James Cruisseii- 
berry. He's former sports editor of 
N. y: Daily News. 

WiU supervise all sport commeh 
taries; reviews arid any copy which 
in any way is biased .'pn all phases of 
athletit or sporting events. 



Lohr Beef steaking 

.. Indianapolis, May 4. 

Lenox Lohr, NBC prexy, will be 
one of the guests of honor at ttie 
Indiana Governor's annual day's 
outing and beefsteak dinner of Ulen 
Country Club at Lebanon (Ind.), on 
Thursday (6), 

Eugene Pulliam, owner of WIRE; 
NBC-red outlet here, is chahtnan ,of 
the affair. 



"V^DAS Conifa'cU f#r U. P. 

• PhUadelphla,May4. 
WDAS, 250-Watter, will receiye 
iull day and night report ot United 

Press, beginning next Monday" (10). 
Will be used sustai ing at first. 



College Band Sponsored 

pes Moines, May 4. ; 

Iowa Soap: Co. is now sponsoring 
the Coe College band^ remote frorn 
the college- in Cedar. Rapids, Iowa, 
for two half-ho.ui^ programs weekly 
over WMT and KRNT. 

Account placed throCigh Weston- 
Barnette agency of Waterloo; Iowa 



Joe Beck, formerly with NBC in 
Chicago, now conducting Beck 
School for Radio, coritacting schools 
and rkdio statipns within a 2po-mile 
radius of St. Paul. 



Lowenberg Moore's orchestra is on 
July 1, replacing Lew Gogerty's or- 
ganization, as studio orchestra fOr 
WBIG, Greensboro, N. C. Gogerty 
has a summer' spot at Carolina 
Beach, Wilmington, N. C. 



Esquire mzg prograim 
WOR last night (Tuesday )i 



off 



Jean 

Artists' 



by WOR 



yte broadcast, with programs to air 
at 5 p. m, daily excepting Sunday 
when they go on at 10:30 a. m. Sup- 
plant 'Town Tatler' and 'Street In- 
tei'views' broadcasts formerly aired 
by Michaels, 



enrletta Brown setting IVIay 6 as 
date to .many C^fl TS^^itrier so she 
can have a Kentucky Derby honey- 
moon. . f 



Frank Band, CBS-Chicago public- 
ity head, to N. Y. for general CBS 
press meet. 



Tom Shirley doing, all Harlow. 
y/ilc6x's free lance Chicago and net 
showS : while WilcOx is on his " 
wo3ks' vacaion. 



Frank Parker's new summer shack 
it Rowayton beach, Norwalk, 
COnn., makes , him a neighbor Of F. 
Chase 'Stoopnagle' Taylor eind Don 
Wilson. 



Doe. Scbnetder^a Texkns of WTIC, 
HattfOrd, on May IS start tent-show- 
ing through New England, returning 
to base foi: broadcasts. 



Jimmie Luncefprd. band,, at Con- 
necticut State 6oilege. prom,.. Stprrs, 
Friday (7) will be short-waved by 
campus station and " rebt'oadcast 
from WTIC, Hartford. 



Jim burfee, on WBNS, Columbus, 
foiir. .times a week as sports com- 
mentator for Sir Walter Raleigh to-., 
bacco and Avalpn cigiatets. 



Thomas Lane, former high 
editor of • Ni" Y. Herald Tribune, On 
Monday (3) joined WOR press de- 
partment. Formerly .handled H-T's 
Saturday morning radio shows oyer 
Mutual home station. 



Minnie Diipree, vet legit trouper 
how on the radio wing of the WPA, 
auditioned by NBC this week. 



Eiliabeih Love, Orson Welles and. 
Morgan Farley, all Broadway legit 
players, in 'Stories of the Bible,* sus- 
tainer series over CBS Sunday after- 
noons. 



Bob Murphy tp NBC as assistant 
continuity editor of Midwestern di- 
vision* 



Jane Kay, WJJD, Chicago, war- 
bler, joining Joe Saunders orchestrd 
at Blackhawk, for Mutual airing. 



Robert .B. Evans, formerly of 
WJW, Akron, now on the an- 
nouncer's staff at WSPD, Toledo, 



Tom Bishwerth, KSTP, St. Paul, 
educational director, iiddressed an- 
nual meeting of the Institute for 
Education by Radio in Columbus, O. 



Wayne Babeock, fprAier .KSTP, St. 
Paul, engineer and operator, now on 
staff of Hector R. Skitter, consulting 
radio engineer. 



Walter Leskiewlcs, irOctor of 
Polish Varieties program at WJBK, 
Detroit, off for Europe and corona- 
tion, accompanied by wife. 



Doris Dixon, songstress, replaces. 
Trudy Little on TourrStar Frolic' 
(MBS), which originates at CKLW, 
Detroit Latter to '., Torpnto with 
husband. 



W. E. Macfarlane, Mutual prez and 
gen. mgr. of the Chicagp, was re- 
elected to the board Of the American 
Newspaper Publishers' Association. 



Alien Clark has beeh named WKY, 
Oklahoma City, musical direction, 
with Hal Scher made his assistant 
on production. Other news appoint- 
ments at the station are Daryl Mc- 
Allister, program director, and Perry 
Ward, chief announcer. 



H. K. Beyee, CBS vice-presi 
charge of sales, setting some Chi- 
cago deals. 



Leafs W»smer, iSpokane broadr 
caster, in Seattle on' jbiz last week. 



KSTP's second annual yearbook, 
its standard market data for 1937, is 
now off the presses and in the mails. 



Stanley R. Bateman, sales man- 
ager of WKRC, Cincinnati^ since 
1931, resigned to join Burkhardt 
Bros., local toggery, as a mercharv- 
dising exec. 



BEBER'S JAVA JOB 

Hollywood, May 4. 
John Rebei', radio exec of J. Wal- 
ter Thompson, is here to supervise 
setup of new Chase Sc Sanborn pro- 
gram. 

He ing. assisted by three 

writers and most of the local pro- 
duction staff. 



Ruitsell .Gohrlipiff's Coach- 

•Toledo, May 4, 
, Russell Gohring, WSPD program 
director, will spend summer vacation 
in Easton, ' Md:^ where he will study 
voice under the private tutoring of 
John Charles Thomas. Gohring met 
Thomas through Mario tihamlee. Met. 
Opera tenor. 

' Gohring sang juve lead in a road 
company of the 'Desert Song,' in 
1929. 



Dema Batahburter and Jack Vbtion 
of NBC artists hureau in Hollywood 
back fJfprti N. Y. epnfabs. Charlie 
Smith goes east this week. 



Mary Meriekel West, of WSPD,. 
Toledo, author of new hook, 'Nor- 
malizing,' being prompted by the sta- 
tion. ~ 



New manager and program direc-. 
tor at KGFW, Kearney, Nebr., is 
Clark Stahdiford. 



H. Elliott Stackel, exploitation di- 
rector for CBS, New York, "confined 
to his home by fever. 



Parks Johnson and Wallace But- 
terworth are looking for a man who 
has never criticizcKi a woman auto 
driver for NBC VOx Pop program. 



Felipe de Flores, me on YumUri 
Cuban music broadcasts, WMCA, N. 
Y., came .to Manhattan radio from 
XEB and XEFO. Mexico City. 



Leslie Atlass is chairman , of dhi 
cago Jubilee Horse Show committee^ ' 

Zt)Lt Maoners' Bill Billies set tor 

seveli^days a week on WNEW, N. 
with ' Michaels Credit Dept. store 
sponsoring. Each wiU'be a ^0-min- 



Northwestcra Hlgli;ivSehool Masie 
Institute of the Unive^ity of Wash- 
ington goes over KRSO, Seattle, the 
Only station north of IjOS Angeles on 
the air 24 houts daily^ 

Jean Wylie, formerly with KMC, 
Tacoma, with KOMO-KJR, Seattle. 
Marilyn Boles into publicity-news 
department of same stations. 



Billy enter, new operator fpr 
KIRO, Seattle. Now emcees two- 
hour show every night; ihidnight to 
two. Formerly with KIY, Yakima; 



Hadol GeBaiier .new announcer: on 
KOMO-KJR. Seattle. Been on staff 
of KMED, Medf ord. Ore., and KOBE, 
Eugene, Ore. 



Joiin Held, Jrli, and Paul D^moht, 
of NBC, in SeatOe for week getting 
ready for Uniyersi^ of Washington 
campus shbWi Itf, and Mrs. Albert 
Miller of the: unit also on hand. 
Plenty of newspai>er. publicity.^ 

StoH additions at KUJ, Walla 
Walla, last week were: Roderick 
Kllse, Richard Crombie, Floyd Fitz- 
patrick, announcers; Esther Ihgle- 
hart; receptionist. rHarry Long, pror 
gram director at station, resigned. 

Cecil Lyncli, former mikeman at 
KGMB, Honolulu, how at KDON, 
Monterey. Calif. 

Herman -Binf, film -actor, did 
Interview over KROY when visit- 
ing .. Sacramento, . Calif. 

Walter Iddtck holding off h\f 
eastern swing of agencies until aftc 
the ChlcagD convention. 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



35 






MUTUAL 



Inside Stuff-Radio 



Consideration for legislation designed to iscourage air ballyhoo ior 
foreign commodities was demianded in Congress last week. . 

In effort to end stalling on his bill, Rep. Joseph W. Martin, jr., assistant 
Republican leader of the house, petitioned the Interstate and Foreign 
Comnierce Committee to grant him a hearing on measure which >\yould 
impose -heavy penalties on persons who failed to indicate clearly the 
source of commodities iadvertised in this country. 

Legislation, which has been in the committee pigeon-hole since late in 
February, is another 'Buy American' proposition. Under -its. terms, adver- 
tisers of any imported article would have to state definitely the country 
where! the commodity was made or originated. In radio advertising an- 
nouncement would be required both before and after each program period 
featuring foreign-made goods; Conspicuous statement would be required 
in printed propaganda. 

Giving secretary of commei^ce authority to maliie rules for enforcement 
bill proposes a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for one year foi' 
Violators; 



WGAR, Cleveland, cutting off . Robert B. Whyte's aired speech a 

second after minister said 'hell' an anecdote caused plenty of ructipn 
until station manager, John Patt, apologized in next day's newspapers by 
saying it was not a reprirnand. 

'. Pastor was/addressing a PTA's banquet, telli ience in advance he 

>vcuid use a i)ulpit word to illustrate a humor puis story. 'I think that's a 
hell of a way to run a bank,' he was saying when cut off the aii". 

Lot of kicks phoned in until station explained minister had over-run 
allotted time, that shut-off .was necessairy for a commercial program sched- 
uled for ,8:30'p, ni. It was a truthful explanation but coincidence left ma- 
jority of listeners convinced that not even a pastor can say 'hell' ir 
and get away with it. 



Star of legit and films, guesting gratis on CBS's recent 'Fall of the City' 
broadcast; bawled out, the Grand Siachem .of a high-ranking hour because 
of iatter's loud talking daring rehearsals just preceding the program. 

impresario, burning at the idea of ; getting told off by a mere actor, 
waited until thie program was. on, then knocked over a music rack just 
behind the actor, causing latter to blow his lines. When the actor found 
out what had caused the racket the amateur chief had scrammed. 



Promotion dept. of Cosmopolitan iriag phoned WMCA,. N. ., last wjeek, 
asked for the p;a. and to him explained that a member of the station's 
staff, Larry jNixon, had a piece called 'Vagabond Voyaging' primed for 
publication in June issue, askjng if WMCA would work up a little ballyhoo 
in behalf of such 'success' achieved, by oiie of the staff. 

As ye^t WMCA has done nothing. It seems that unbeknownst to Cos- 
mop, Nixon is the station's p.a. 




John L. Clark Org. Takes 
Steps id Develop Cover- 
age m CaUfornia — ^War- 
ners' KFWB, Hollywood; 
and KROW, Oakland, as 
First Links 



COAST STATUS 



Transamerieah Broadciasting 
Television Cori^. has taken steps to 
develop d ts ,<iwi|T Hookup' in ^Cali f ornia . 
Under a deal closed last week 
Trarisamerican ill become the -sell- 
ing agent fpr-time- on a hopkup b^-; 
tween Warner Bros.-owned ' KPWB, 
Los Angeles, and WROW. Oakland. 
Two stations will also feed each 
other sustaining programs but ac- 
tual installation of the wire will he 
deferred until enough business hlis 
been obtained to cPver the essential 
cost. 

Tentative arrangement between 
thie Don Lee Network and Trans- 
anfierican whereby the former had 
assented to accept business if and 
when available from Transamerican 
is oft. Louis Allen Weiss, the Don 
Lee gen. mgr., has advised John L. 
Clark, Transamerican prez, that the 
Lee setup wpuld not go through with 
any such proposition. 

Clark rieturned last Thursday (29) 
from a 10-day tour devoted to talk- 
ing to national advertisers about 
(Continued on page 63) 



As One Publisher Looks at Radio 



Johnstown, , reeze, a. weekly, in its April 29 .issiie, edi- 

torialized in sarcastic vein about radio and newspapers. It probably 
nicely sums up the way many publishers feel about radio. Editorial 
follows: 

BUT IT CAN'T BE DONE! 
Yoii can't put a radio broadcast in your pocket and read it at your 
lieisure. Vou can't stop listening to answer the phone, and go back lo 
the radio withoiit mLssihg something. You can't skim the news in >?ix_ 
minutes with your toast" and coffee in the mornings arid get an fdca" 
what is going ori around the world. Of cour-se, your newspaper has 
limitations also.' You. can't put a song and dance and some bum jokes? 
in your newspaper and get paid for them at high rates. You can't 
print jokes., and let your audience hear you laughing at them your- 
self. You can't, get your clients to accept as yqUr circulation every 
person in the Community that can read. Also (and this is a deep one) 
you are not smart enough to get your thief competitor to advertise 
your medium for nothing. 



WIRE^WOWO LINKED 



Drackett Live Talent Show Isl 
Clonal of Kind In StAie 



IndianapblLs;, May 4. 
Commercial linking WIRE 
hei'e,..driifl;WOWO;.;Ft. W^yne, start- 
ed Sunday (2)'; Half hour banltrolled 
by Driackett Chemical Co. (beauty 
preparations), through Ralph .JPnes 
agency of Cincinnati. This is first 
time any regional commercial hook- 
up oh a regular schedule has ever 
been attempted for Indiana stations; 
previous webs of Hoosier outlets be- 
ing confined to politics or one and 
two-day .sporting events, such a.s 
Hoosier High School basketball state 
tourne.y. 

Show is titled 'Polly Pretends,' 
and is combo variety, script, and 
musical; Talent is Maury Cross and 
orchestra; Jean Brown, accordion- 
ist, forrnerly airing for Marott Shoe 
Store over WFBM, Indianapolis, and 
at Columbia Club here with Haimo- 
dears and Amos Otstot's band; and 
vocalist Mary Berghoff. 



SPONSORED GUEST STAR 
SHOW ON OPEN SKED 



ianapolis. May 4. 

Acacia Mutual Life Insurance Co, 
started new 15-rni ute series', once 
weelily, over WIRE, \yith Al Bever- 
idge, Jr., bringing up different name 
guests for informal interview. Flj:st 
was . Eddie Rlckenbacker, 

Unusual , angle of new uarter- 
hour is that no time Is set weekly 
for airing, stint being scheduled for 
whatever 15 minutes the names can 
arrange to make their mike appear- 
ance. Just ainother means of making 
traffic managers grey-haired, but 
OK for showmanship, since Bever- 
idge can shoot in unexpected names 
on short notice. 



IVllham M, Shutt, new program 
director at KRKO, Everett, Wai?h., 
replacing A. F. Becker, .•^ho hat 
.gone with KROY, SficramenlOj 
Calif. 



Be Thrifty . . . Buy 



moze listeners pei 
dollat than any other 

[ia station* 




50,000 WATTS 



well 



PHILADELPHIA 



Cpmm^xcial Manager 



«AuihorUYt Mo*l comploU and^ moit authentic turroY OTor nado lit PhUadolphla. Copias qTailaU* on roquotl. 



36 VARIETT 



RADIO 



WednesdajTf May 5, 193 7 



Agencies-Sponsors 



Lucky Strikes starts daily ftve- 
frilnute niews series qver WBRY, 
Waterbury, Conn., today (5). Deals 
exclusively with Yale University, 
with staff members Yale nevyrs han- 
dling. 



is spbnsorihg Jimmy Scrib- 
her's ohe-main 'Johhson Family' 
show, daily except Saturdays arid 
Sundays, at 6 to 6:15 p,m., over 
WLW. J. Ralph Corbett agency, 
Gincinnati. 



Rot Tain clears, presenting 'Happy 
Times' show Mondays and Fridays, 
^.•49|}yto 10 p. m. Music by Phil Davis 
ork, Wells "tjinn as nartator, vocal- 
istis and dramatic talent, for reminis- 
cent flashbacks, all from Crosliey 
staff. Gumbi N.Y.C. 
WLW. 



Alfred F.. Cooke, former professor 
In. , department Of horticulture at 
Penn State College, has beeri taken 
by .Advance Insulation Co. for series 
of weekly, talks- on gardens and gar- 
dening over WWSW, Pittsburgh. 
Fiftee;n-minute spot, which hits the 
waves every Friday night at 6:16, 
will' cover landscape hints; planting, 
insect and disease control, discus- 
sions about priricipar garden flowers, 
advice Op pruning and care of the 
lawn.. Stati placed the account 
direct, 



Goodman Motor Co., of Des Moines, 
Is how sponsoring ' Benedict Hard- 
man's daily 'Final Edition,' a new 
rogram bn.KSO. 



Cpvvnie Fur & Tannliiff Co^ of pes 

Moines, is sponsoring a .15-minute 
Mimical Furrier program on WHO 



Now Located In 

NEW 

Studios and Offices 
22nd Floor Fidelity BIdg. 

FORMAL OPENING 

MAY 15 
It Is Now 

K X BY 

in Kansas City, ,Mo. 



from 8:15 to :3P a.m. Mondays 
through : Sa tur;days. 



Bond Clothes buying Bob Wilson, 
sports ed of Bridgeport kerald, in 
daily five-minuter on WICC, Bri 
port. 



Borden's fpotirig New England j^e- 
gional current events dramatiza- 
tions, ith Andy jacobson batoning 
18-piece. concert- combo, 7:30-8 p.m., 
Tuesdays, from WNAC, Boston;, to 
Special, net including WTICi. Hart- 
ford; WEAN, Providence; WICC, 
Bridgeport, and WSCH, Portland. 



Father V*. Daughter 



It's father vs. daughter for 
laughs and listeners around the 
New York City area on Satur- 
day nights. 

Vet comic Tom Howard is .on 
'Sattirday iparty' program 
over WEAF. His young daugh- 
ter Ruth, is now appearing on 
the 'Merchants and Melody' 
show on WMCA, as a comedi- 
enne; Programs are aired 
currently. 



ting, 30 Id0-w6rd announcenvents on 
KiFRC, San Francisco, April 26 to 
June 4w 



Acme Mpvinf Storagie Co. 

signed Freda Swlrsky, pianist, to 
weekly kct on WELI, New Haven. 



Frederick Seattle 
ipartment , has i placed three 

daily programs on KOL. 



Mona Marlowe, grapho-psiycholo- 
■gist formerly with WGR, KFI, 
WTAM, and WEAF, signed for 13- 
week stint for R, G. Dun Cigars 
oyer WJBK, Detroit, ' three times 
weekly for 15. minutes each. 



Hixson-O'Donnill 'aigeriGy of . Los 
Angeles has taken over the Richfield 
Oil account from H. C. Bernsten. 
Outfit sponsors Richfield . Reporter 
along the w^st coast..'. 



Temperance outfit, which publishes 
•National Voice,' /is sending, out 
platters to .80 stations throughout the 
country in a drive for booze repeal. 
Recordings, Inc., in Los Angeleis is 
waxing the job, which cairies tag of 
'Repeal News Flashes.' 




. Chicago Cubs ball team increasing 
its radio advertising schedule by 
adding nightly 60.-word announce^ 
ments on WON,. Chicago "Tribune 
station, on' days befor^ home games. 

Neisser-Meyerhoff handles the ac 
count. 



General Food Corp. spotting flock 
of spots on western stations for 
'Certo.' Benton & Bowles are placing. 



Fontaina Food Products Co., San 
Francisco (macaroni, noodles) bank- 
roUiiig daily newscasts on KJBS 
Agency is Brewer- Weeks Co. 



OwIa Drug Co., San rancisco, 
through D'Evelyn & ,Wadswbrth, is 
calling its Pacific Coast - emjployees 
together for a siaies nieeting yia 
radio Wednesday (5), airing pep 
talks and music over the basic coast 
NBC-Red web (KPO, KHQ,> KOMO 
KGW, KFI) at 7:15 a.m., PST. 



A. G. Spalding is not considering 
putting on a: half -hour web show 
with. George Raft commentating. 

ragnano Products Co., through 
Emil Brisacher, San Francisco 
signed for twice-weekly five-minute 
live talent broadcasts, 'Betty Butler, 
on KFRC, San Francisco. Contract is 
for one year. 



Lambert Pharmacal Co., through 
Lambert & Feasley, New Yoi'k, spot 



Lewis-Howe Co. of - St.. Louis 
(Tums), thrpugh H. W, Kastor & 
Sons, Chicago, lias- renewed its 
quarter-hour live talent shows, 
Songs of Armand; Girard,' oyier KPO, 
San . Francisco,' May 7 to Junfe 11, 
Also signed for 30 additional spot 
announcements on KGO, San Fran- 
cisco, May 3 to June 11. ■ 



HARVESTER CO. AIR-MINDED 



Farm Stotioni Getting Attentl«it YU 
Aubrey* Moor* A Waltoc* 



icago, Maiy 4. 

For the first time Intematibhal 
Harvester: is ogling the ether possi- 
bilities,, and is considering hitting the 
farm stations shortly with a series 
of anhounceThents., Some Harvester 
dealers on their own have used 
radio. 

If and when, they'll be placed 
through the local Aubrey, Afoore & 
■yraliace jagenicy; 




roctu^ & Gamble is funning a 
test campaign for Crisco via daily 
spots i Jewish on WBNX, N. Y. 
Comptidn the agency.. Set . through 
Roesler & Howard. 



TRAINED OP FROM KID 
AGE, TRIONOW OK WXYZ 



, May 4. . 

New iris vocal trio, ifads of Jim 
Jewell's 'Junior. Matinee' program 
which forms link in station's build- 
up of its own talent from grounjJ uPi 
are now with Benny Kyte's band on 
twice-weekly musical prog oyer 
WXYZ. 

Trio comjposed of Madeline Gilley, 
Peg^y Fiilwiler and Emma Carroll. 



I'Fainovs Jurjr Trials' (Mennen) 
fa^es off Miutiiai Avith the May 10 
broadcast! Slated for fall return. 



Tracy-Locke-Dawson agency, Dal- 
las, will, revive an old program of 
WFAA for a special Texas and Dixie 
hoqik-up of about 30 stations bh be- 
half of Dr. Pepper's beverage. Has 
arranged iot Eddie Dunn to leave 
position of advertising manager of 
a milling- firm to return to radio and 
resume the role hie played when 
program was known as 'Sandman 
Sioldiers.' Another graduate of the 
program, Jim Jeffries, is with Tracy- 
Locke-Dawson and will again do his 
stuff. 



Germaii Shaws in Cincy 

incinnati. May 
Initial series of foreign tbhgue 
programs fbr Cihcy is Under way .at 
WCPO, calling for twice-^y(Bekly 30- 
miniite night airings of Gerniian folk 
songs. Inaugurated with a couple of 
platter stanzas, sandwiched with ex- 
iplanatory chatter by German and 
English announcers. 

Inviting German singers and in- 
strumentalists to audition for spots 
on future shots. 




Staff Changes at KMOX 

May, 

Harry W. lannery gets title of 
KMOX news .editor; Other changes 
at KMOX are upping of Jerry Hoeks- 
tra, director of press relations, to 
Program Dept. in charge of Public 
Affairs. " 

His place will be filled by Louis 
Nelson, foi-mer promotional director 
of Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartles- 
ville, Okla., starting May 15. 

Violet Evers, former secy, to Guy 
Golterman, director of St. Louis 
Grand Opera Company took over 
publicity duties May 3. 



Blue Shows in Toledo 

Toledo, . May 4. 
WSPD is preparing for its . impend- 
ing switch from CBS t6 NBC. Blue 
loop shows definitely scheduled to 
date include: Louis Armstrong's or- 
chestra revue, iPepper Young's Fam- 
ily, Vic and Sade, Richard Himber's 
Charhpions, G; M. Concert, Lowell 
Thomas, National Barn Dance, Mel- 
ody Clock and Mrs. Frankli D. 
Roosevelt. 



Baughman Upped at WCKY 

Cincinnati, May 4, 
Elmer Baughman, anhburicer, ad- 
vanced on WCKY staff to , assistant 
to Lee Goldsmith, studio manager. 
Ken Williams, newcomer i radio, 
has been assigned to the. station's 
newscasts. 

Frank Zwygart, recent addition, is 
sports spieler; l-ov the summer, 
Mondays through Fridays, he flashes 
baseball scores, race results and: dope 
on other events at intervals between 
3 and 5:30 p.m. 



CBS' Femme Foursome 

'Four tars,' femme harmonizers 
composed of Julia and Beverly Free- 
land^ Beatrice Wain aiid Helen Jack- 
Son, have been squiggled by Colum- 
bia Artists. 

Quartet has been orioling for past 
three weeks over CBS on series of 
twice ..viieekly sustaining quarter 
hours. 



Sponsors Analyze 



(Continued from page 



as any other hour of the day, looks 
pretty ridiculous in the face of pres- 
ent day information. In the. same 
way we have reason to believe, that 
the rates by stations, are based oh 
haphazard information. Not only 
does there seem' to be no relation 
ship between the prices of stations 
so far as actual audience is con 
Cerned, but there also seems to be 
no relationship insofar as potential 
audience is concerned. 

Chain Break Evil 

(5) i cohsidex station break an- 
nouncements, to be one of the most 
important pi^oblems facing us, I rc:- 
fer to those. 30 word announcements 
used by stiations at the time when 
they, are supposed to giye only their 
call letters. When we advertisers 
buy one-quarter hour over the air, 
theoretically we buy a full. 15. min- 
utes but practically get only about 
141/2 minutes. Other 30 seconds' for 
which we pay pur money are used 
by the stations in most cases to Sell 
the wares of other advertisers. 
There have ' been instances when 
these announcements were spon- 
sored by competitors of the com- 
pany which sponsored the preced- 
ing plrograin. I further believe that 
something could have been done by 
advertisers to correct this problem 
two or three years ago, but I doubt 
very much if we can do anything 
about it now. In the first place the 
income resulting from this type of 
sponsorship amounts to as much as 
40% of some stations* income. It 
has therefore reached the point 
where the station could with some 
justice isay that it will not give up 
this source of income unless the 
rates for the regular programs are 
increased. 

(6) I think we can look forward 
to several kinds of new taxes on ra- 
dio. Not only are some states 
threatening to place special taxes , on 
radio broadcastihg, but a high of- 
ficial in the Government recently 
proposed a tax on radio stations 
^yhich in many cases would be miich 
greater than the net profits of the 
stations. For example, the proposed 
tax would cost one particular sta- 
tion $1,500,000 per year, 

(7) The subject of high power 
stations is very important and has 
peculiar possibilities. From . what 
we know of the coverage of the one 
500,000-watt station , in, this country; 
we mi.ght say that the country could 
be completely covered by some 10 
to 12 of these: stations. However, if 
we do have a dozen such sta- 
tions, ill the advertiser when he 
buys a certain hour from a chain 
be required to take not only these 
high power stations but all of the 
little' stations wrhich are allied with 
'the chain? It we are forced also to 
buy .these little stations then we can 
not afford to pay the price 
manded by the high .power; stations 
because we would be doing nothing 
less than buying duplication of cov- 
erage; 



Sets Radio for 
Second Siunmer 



Cleyeland, May 4; 
tubby Gordon of WTAM has 
ttiusical assignment fop Billy Rose- 
for 'Aquacade' Great Lakes Ex- 
position's reopening May 29. Gordon 
is picking 16 musicians who will 
double in dance music plus the 
Rose's water extravaganza, ^ co-star- 
ring Johnny "Weissmulier and Elea- 
nor Holm. .Orchestra to have 
bandstand inside the theatre-restau- 
rant which has a 5,000 seating ca- 
pacity. 

Local band is to with 
series of guest' name bandmasters, 
starting with Abe Lyman, Wayne 
King and Shep Fields. 

Myron Roman returned from New 
York to becohie director of . Expo-, 
sitioh's Radiolahd, and is, trying 
line up Major Bdwes' amateurs fpi: 
one of its first broadcasts. Gruy 
Lombardo is set for first lyeek 
September, 



Flsherineh's .Program 

Seattle, May 4. 

Washington Fishi Vessel 
eirs' Association has opened season 
with special Halibut fishing news 
nightly over KOL. Every night at 11 
the ' 'fishermen in the Sound and 
Alaskan waters receive the day's 
news of the catch and the prices, to- 
gether ,with weather and other in- 
formation valuable to the men. 




ines Up Six 

Hollywood, May 

Jack. Runyon has (signed six" film 
players for inserts from here on 
Lucky Strike Hit Parade. 

They, are William Gargan, Clau- 
dette Colbert, Leslie Howard, Ann 
Sothern, Leo Carrilla and Gene Ray- 
mond. 



Lttlla come blbnt your 

horn — 

A , greater sldlion.. has been bornt 
We tell you aJveriiiing men 
Of Station: W J TN. 



Wit five- fold pover increase now. 
This station is a tiip — and how! 
We've hitched up with NBC's Blue 
Which means more listeners for jou. 



These foll(S in New Vori^ dnd 
Penn 

Are busier than one-arrned men 
Who hang the paper on thb wall 
White troubled with the hives and all. 



This station^it's been proved by test- 
Will tap this earning power best. 
So We- advise you o'ticc again 
Buy time on WJTNf 



r.S.— r<> 'i>let<>l,v new; from trnns- 
inittfr til '8tu<llo!t, in StiiHtin 
>V.ITN, fltimeBtown. N. Y. New 
Mve-fohl power, -too! ccont 
<iii . loriil sliowmaiislilp. >'ItC 
]tlue Network lifHIiatloh to In- 
Hiirn^ best of . national ehtertnln- 
iiient. 

r.r.S.— T,li« tlirUin? city of .tnmes- 
town, tlie rich oil flelilH of 
Northern Pennsylvania, and 
tlie (UverHlfled industry of. 
the. historic. Chautauqua te- 
Kh»i.. represent a haU-nillllon 
husy - ns - bees buyers with 
plenty of money to spend; 

Tap This Rich Market with 

WJTN 

JAMESTOWN, N. Y. 



WFGfR 



NQTIONQL REPRESENTRTIVES 

EDWRRD RETRY & CO. 



Wednesday, May S, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



87 



PAYDAY SHIFT 




AIR 




Hours, Across the Board, 





Huge increase in daytime serial 
programs at NBC has accounted this/ 
season for alnipst double the number 
of . 15-minute programs that there 

ihg User of 

the quarter-hour package has been 
Procter & Gamble, with that account 
extending this policy into the liight 
time ruhoiis. NBC now has more 
across-the-board 15-minute ^custqm- 
ers than it has ever had, while the 
trend of full-hour and halfrhour 
buyer: has been nothing as marlced. 

NBC during an average week' in 
April had 161 comrhercial projgrams, 
or 40% .mpre.thian.tliere were for an 
avieragie week in the like month- of 
1936. As for program hours, the 
.samis average week accounted for 
108% hours, 'or 44%,. more than the 
total commercial hours which pre- 
vailed for an. average week in April, 
'36. With the blue (WJZ) and red 
(WI3AP) links jointly, on: the air 238 



hours a week, NBC; during that par- 
ticular wieek sold 45% of this time 
for network commercial purposes. 
Full Hours Ratio Dowii 

Although mbre full-hour periods 
were bought in thfe 1937 week under 
analysis, the percentaige of full hours 
in relation to the total amount of 
time sold was less than it was dur- 
ing the average April, '36, week. 
Similar drop prevailed for the half- 
hour commercial contingent. The 
percentage of commercial time de- 
voted to half hour programs in April, 
;*37, was; 27%, while the April, '36, 
week figured 32%. The marked 
picikup this y^ar was in the numijeir 
pf:; sponsored: quirtfer-hoi^r periods 
as v/ell as the peircieHtage of. the total 
time thesb Segments iiivolved. 

Following is a comparative break- 
down Pt progriam seigments and pro- 
gram hours for the average week 
in Apiril of this year and of last 
April: 



60 
60 



Times 
per week 
1 
2 



/-PrOKrnHriR 
K«. % Totnl 
18 11.2 



A\\r\i, 1937- 



-rrd(c,liriB.-^ 
Xo. T/c Total 
18.00 16.6 



-April, 1036- 



rrojfnijrtti— > /^ProK.hrs.-^ 
?i'0, % Total 



Ko. % Total 
12 10.7 
.9 



Total 60-mih programs; 
45 1 
30 1 
30 2 



11.2 18.00 

1.2 1.50 

35.4 t 28.50 

.6 1.00 



16.6 
1.4 

26:3 
'.9 



programs. 
1 
2 
3 



iTotal 30-mi 
15 
15 
15 
15 
15 

Total 15-min. programs. 
Grand Total 



58 
35 
SI 
€ 
1 
33 
83 



36.0 
21.8 
5.0 
3.7 
.6 
20.5 
51.6 



29.50 
8.75 
4.00 
4,50 
1.00 
41.25 
59.50 



20 
48 



43.8 

13.4. 



17.8 
42.9 



12.00 
2.00 

14.00 
1.50 

24.00 
1.00 

25.00 
3.75 
3.50 
4.50 

25.66 
36.75 



15.5 
2.6 

18.1 
1.9 

31.1 
1.3 

32.4 
4.ft 
4.5 
5.8 

32.4 
47.6 



.161 100.0 108.50 ioO.O 112 100.0 77.2^ 100.0 



5- 





■ - . * 

See Friday Night Bigger for 
Theatres, but Home Audi- 
Saturday Mornings, 
Making that 'C time 
Ultimately Important 
Advertising 



in 



Agency Stalks Clients 
By Dramatizing Itself on the Radio 



6^00 Miles for 2 Mias 
Of Commercial Blurb 



NO CHURCH 



General establishment of the five- 
day week in industry and business 
is expected to cause a marked changie 
in the weekend listening habits .as 
far as Saturday morning is con- 
cerned. Impression i spot broads 
casting circles is that the fore part 
of Saturday ill' develoj) into the 
most valuable morrii in the! week 
for advertisers since it will have the 
loudspeaker attention of both women 
and men in the household, Saturday 
a. m. how holds a C rating on the 
time buyer's chart. 

As. the seers in the business 
describe the outlook, the men will 
spend Saturday mornings lounging 
around the house and to help keep 
themselves diverted they will make 
heavy use of their radios. Quest foi:. 
diversl , such as baseball game at- 
tendance and other sports, will. be 
left to the .afternoon, Unlike Sunday 
mornings there won't be the church-? 
going angle. The big night out is ex- 
pected to remain Saturday's, so that 
the need of extended shuteye among 
that elemeiU shouldn't count as.,, a 



'Rosaline Greene, cpmmcrcial cack- 
ler oh Mrs. F. D. R.'s period for-Ppns 
on NBG-rblUe, fle^ tp Seattle, Ayhere 
the First Lady was visiting daughter, 
Mrs. John Boettiger, for last Wed.'s 
broadcast. 

Does only two mi utes oii the 
quarter-hour, biit nevertheless Miss 
Greene flew out and hack from 
Washington, D. C, for the chore. 



SON BECKER EAST 

HpllyV^dod. May 4. 

Ciarrying with him a half, dozen 
transcriptions fpr eastern agency 
inspection/ Don Becker pf Trans- 
american trained for New York last 
Suhday (2). 

He remains, east for two months to 
turn put several wax jobs. 



likely major exception to the new' 
'theory of liistener habits: 

OniB .faction of forecasters figures 
that the spread of the five-day week 
will have a marked effect on Friday 
night listening. With the paying-ofl 
falling commonly on Friday the 
family, man will get in the habit of! 
taking his wife to i .show that night 
instead of letting it go to Saturday. 
This change ;ih payday and leisure, 
may also prove to develop a general 
shift ■ buying habits, with the 
stores in the habes and small towns 
staying ppen Friday ights instead 
pf Siaturday. evenings, • 



Houston; May 4. 
John rueys ad agency 

bought 45 .minutes on KPRC and, aw*^ 
a cpmmercial .appeal to prospective 
clients, pliigged itself by deinon-> 
strating hpw , agency plots, printes: 
and presents prPigrams. It was the 
first time the southwest ain 
agency ever used the air to adver- 
tise self, and likely the first iime in 
the country such a firm under topk, 
on bought time, to demonstrate hpw 
it whips together :pr.pgram for a 
client. 

"Listeners were given a picture of 
the procedure . from first hint from 
a Sponsor that he wanted kh air 
show' to the final polished rehearsal 
just. before the ozone debut.. 



GOODMAN OFF WKRG 



Florida . VfMatlqn .Came Before. 
Ceremohtes Recently 



Clhcinnatl, May. 
, Timothy S. Goodnton, mnnnger of 
WKRC since November, 1934, re- 
linquishes the post May 15. Vf\\\ be 
succeeded by John. McCormick," who 
has been assistant manager of the 
station for the same period. ."i/Lc- 
Cormlck was prpgram manager of 
WINS, T^ew York, / before coming 
here. 

A socialite and industrialist, Good- 
man is giving up his only radio stint 
to devote more time to private in- 
terests, and travel. He lolled In Flor- 
ida during recent CBS cerempni 
in Cincy. 

Ruth Lyons moyes up as program 
director of the station. 



★ 



WLW's 



leadership in program production and 










t on 





ase 





operation is the current wide expansion in person- 
nel throughout W LW's entire program department. 




38 



VARMETY 



RADIO REVIEWS 



Wednesdny^ May 5, 1937 



TAttADIUAi VAEIEir REVIEW 
With Jack Hyltoh Orcbestra, Flanna- 

gaiD and! Allen, George Black 
30 Miniities 
Transoceanic 
Friday, 2 p.m. DST 
WEAF-NBC, New York 

One more attempt by NBC special 
events department to cash in on in- 
terest in the approaching Corona- 
tion! Half-hour novelty program 
reaching American dialers in mid- 
afternoon last Friday (30) originated 
on stage of London's most celebrated 
imlsic hall, the Palladium, during 
the early evening show. Despite; 
what appeared to be atmospheric 
difficulties which continually 
blurred reception, show came oyer 
in satisfactory fashion. 

Latter half, consisting Entirely of 
Jack Hylton's characteristic style of 
daiisapation carried the major 
punch. Orchestrations are . distinc- 
tive and nicely varied, particularly 
. '0-Qor' Night, My Lovei' with choir 
■'awangement for one chbrus. Also 
strong comedy via harp plunking in 
'Organ Grindeir's Swing.' Okay un- 
billed gal torcher oh this one. Hyl- 
ton. said he's coming to U. S. again 
soon. 

Front end of show brought Flanna- 
gan and Allen, slapstick comedy 
pair. Had Palladium audience iii 
almost, unbroken, feuff a\ys, but much 
of the humor seemed to ibe for the 
eye and didn't skip the Atlantic, 
Extremely thick accent and rapid 
. speaking made much of the dialog 
{ unintelligible. ;Lads obviously had 
i audience out front stitches, 
though. 

George Black, Palladium manager, 
spoke briefly to send greeting to im- 
posing list of American names who 
have played house. Show opened 
with organ bit; piped from WEAF 
studio by George Crooks, Elgar's 
'Pomp and Circumstance.' Okay for 
atmosphere. Hobc. 



CLAUDETTE COLBEBT 

With Joel McCrea, Walter Pldgreon, 

Gloria Holdeii, Cecil B, deMllle> 

Louis Silver Orchestra' 
'Hands Across the Table' 
CO Mins. 
LUX 

Monday, 9 p. m. DST. 
WABC-CBS 

U. Walter Thompsony 

Romantic light comedy, recently 
filmed by Par with Carole Lombard 
and Fred MacMurray in the leads, 
was used i/londay night (3) by . Lux. 
Yarn nicely suited to air adaptation. 

Scripting geherally touched up 
story highlights, though the deter- 
mined whimsy acceptable on the 
screen had a slijghtly sugary flavor 
via the kilocycles. Sly humor iri the 
piece and nice heart throb element 
to kes it rolling. Also germ of real 
meat in the idea of two panniless 
youngsters determined to marry for 
money, but tricked into romance by 
their own emotions.' 

As the gal in the case, Claudette 
Colbert taking no loss of' standing 
by the stint. Performance was well 
rounded, ' carrying Variety arid con- 
viction. Miss Colbert brings strong 
personality to . radio and her voice 
has suggestion of subtle gaiety. 

Josl McCrea was fair in the neces- 
sary but not so attractive role of the 
male lead. . Suffered by compai'ison 
with the job turned in by Walter 
Pidgem Lattei- has unusually , fine 
voice and radio personality; Almost 
too strong for minor part. Tended 
to throw sympathy ' the wrong way. 
Gloria Holden- also 'walloped- ovei;' a 
siippdrting rble'in nice fashion. Com- 
piared to. some of the in. c.'s on com- 
peting iHollywpod shots, Cecil de 
MiUe's turn is - virtually a classic. 

As in numerous . dramatic . ether 
stanzas, show, was' notable for its 
'sound defects/ ^ Hobc.' 



Another feather in our caip ! 

Iowa Net Feeds 
Midwest's Greatest 

Sporting Event, 
1 937 Dralce Relays,^ 
to: 

Columbia Broadcasting System 
M utual . Broadcast! nfij. System 
Central Statics 6'roacl<;38ting Co. 
KMA, Shenaindoah 
WOi, Ames 

It's typical of the spectacular 
showmanship and expert pro- 
gramming that keeps our listen- 
ers loyal and our advertisers 
happy. 

IN IOWA— 

irS THE 
lOWANETWORK 

KSO ^ WMT— KRNT 

Radio Stations of the Des 
Moihes Register and 
Tribune 

epresentatlves: 



FISHFACE and FIGBO'TTOM 
Nut Comics 
30 Mins. 
Sustaining 

WJZ-Blue, New Torlc 

Radio nonsense teams, have not 
done too well. Possibly because, in 
the ..main, ' they set themselves the 
toughest job in. entertainment^ — the 
dd.uble-talk of cheerful lunacy. Its 
a strain that nearly changes the 
make-believe into the lact. Stoop- 
nagle and Budd, Sherman and Pratt, 
and this NBC long-time, sustaining 
twosbme are representative of the nut 
type. AH suffer from the .une'ven- 
ness of their material; all rise on oc- 
casion to genuine comedy,. 

Fishf ace and FigbOttom play the 
fool in.aicademic cap and gown. First 
is 'senator.' His partner 'professor.' 
They, garble English, tangle their 
thoughts, toy with whimsical notions, 
as for example an inteirview with 
the' Indian on the hickel who tutns 
out to have a Bronx accent. 

It's alternately ifunny and perplex- 
ing. Both performers have a real 
flair for nut stuff. What they lack 
is discipline. Too much waste effort 
and 'wordage. Viaudeville clocked its 
laughs and worried . about the open 
spaces. Fishf ace and Figbottom can 
get the laughs, but they iieed to 
regulate 'em. 

They have been heard in snatches 
heretofore, but ! never reviewed in 
toto by Variexy, an odd oversight 
after 80-odd stistaining weeks. Paul 
Stewart gets them on and off, Nor- 
man Cloutier's music (excellent) 
breaks them up. 

With comedians always scarce, its 
criminal not to make the necessary 
comiiromises and adjustments be- 
tween what they're doing and what 
commercials are buying. For the 
Fishf ace-Figbottom partnership has 
a lot to start with. Comic manner, 
light and shade, the twist that de- 
lights. Land. 





EDGAR BERGEN 

With Claude Rains. Johnny Burke, 
Russ Brown, Sybil Jason, Alice 
Marble, Graham McNamee. 
60 Mins. I 
ROTAL GELATINE > 
Thursday, 8 p.m. 
WEAF-NBC, New Yorlt 

(J. Wilter Thompson) 
Edgar Bergen made good' and plus 
as m.c. in the absence of London- 
bound Riidy Vallee. But the guest 
talent and- the material assigned 
thereto was of the weak-to-wobbly 
classification. So the entertainment 
results of the hour program wierie 
sub-normal. 

S'venska voice-thrower lias the 
sure touch of the. vaudeville-pol-. 
ished entertainer. His poise ^En- 
counters no difficulty pushing be- 
yond the limits of cross-fire with a 
dummj^ to the wider- field of ri - 
mastering a pi:ogram land interviev/-. 
ing guests, etc. He was a lot better- 
than the company he was keeping 
last Thiarsday (29) under Standard 
Brands' auspices,: 

Johnny Burke, working vvith Riiss 
Brown, ■vet Straight, kept stepping 
on the; gas, but there wasn't, any 
ozone in the tires. Material' never 
got away from the curb. Patter was 
silly enough for a household hints 
program at 9:15 a.m. instead of the 
top variety session of tlie fast-step- 
ping Thiu'Sday night air parade. Had 
to do with a gent trying to, buy an 
iron sinker in a fashionable nien's 
sporting goods establishrnent. It de- 
scended spirally, to a gag abbut trees 
atid dogs (advertising, agencies seem 
determined' to gfet' 'into trouble with 
physical 'lunctiort • jokes ). 

Sybil Jason., kid actress iCrpm . films, 
did a recitation and a song. Neither 
particularly appropriate to a night 
hour. And perhaips . speakin.g vol^ 
umes for the. present dearth of guest 
stars as regards the show that prac- 
tically started the eraze. Alice 
Marble, tenni§ player, and her 
trainer exchanged some idle conver- 
sation with Bergen which was made 
showmanly &ad passable by the 
comedy by-play with the dummy, 
Charlie McCarthy. .Professional 
pick-up dates for honor-cbpping. ath- 
letes are nothing new and Miss 
Marble is- prominent at the momisnt. 
Not expected to do much more than 
say..'hello. mom, I owe it all to spin- 
ach,' the. man . or woman of the hour 
has been traditioniil in mius.ic halls 
for generations and in radio for 
years. 

With la thanks-so-much athlete, an 
egg-laying comiedy routine, a kid 
actress doing a deucer and Claude 
RainS in a bit of literary flub-dub,. 
the program was ' chain of weak 
links that -Bergen- arid, the - music 
could hot quite hold- together. Rains, 
an aristocratic chess-player, out- 
witted an assassin that came to mur- 
der him and instead he killed the 
killer. A jolly idea! to start with. 
Neither; of protagonists had sympa- 
thetic .apjieal as a character and in 
the playing the aristocrat's cold in- 
tellectual conceit emerged as the 
only emotional eloment of the piece. 
Dubious .entertainment at the best 
and made Rains sound like a Cape 
Cod scenery-chewer in mid-July. 

Land. 



igement 
^c^liia Publishing JUG". 

E KAfZ SPECIAT^VERTISING AGENCY 



ALTQN HALL BLACKINGTON 

'¥ankee Yarns' 

15 Mins.---JSee:ional 

HOWARD. JOHNSON ICE CREAM 

W^ACi Boston 

(Louis Glaser) 

Alton H. Blackington, a former 
newspaper cameraman and current- 
ly a lecturer on the club circuit, has 
a flock of stories and a neat gift of 
gab that sells 'em. Idea of this show 
is to tell stories about a plaice or 
personality which ckn be reached 
by automobile over- the week-end. 
The Howard Johnson outfit prepares 
summaries of the yarns, illustrated 
with the spieler's photos, in pam- 
phlet form, available at all roadside 
stands, of th^ comipahy. On the face' 
of it, the tieup is a srnart one,' 

Three yeai-s ago Blackington did a 
series of yarns for a paint and var- 
nish company; therefore, he has set 
himself a good standard of compari- 
son for listeners: who. caught some 
of the early series. Tlie zoo yarn 
for the opening spiel compared un- 
favorably with most of his stiiff 
three years ago. On the othier hand, 
the tale teller's tempo is slowed 
down to just about the right gait; 
He airs twice ..weekly (Wed; and 
Fri.) arid commercial plugs are in 
good taste. Fox. 



WALT LOCHMAN 
Sports Review 
15 Mins.— Local 
PAXTON-FISHER 
Daily, 5:45 p.in. 
KXBY, Kansas City 

(McCann-Erickson) 

Walt Lochman, one of town's 
busiest broadcasters, is doing a nice 
job for Paxton-Fisher Tobacco Co. 
(20 Qrand Cigarettes) on this quarter 
hour gabfest. Besides highlighting 
day's eveiUs in sports, Lochman in- 
terviews some, local sport figure. He 
goes in . heavy for the old-timers. 
His eiitensive knowledge" of. Sports 
field makes for easy and entertain- 
ing listening;. Spieler also airs play- 
by-play of all KC Blue games. 

Commercials are exceptionally 
short, Lochman ad-li ing 'em when 
he can. Hoyt. 



GBACIE FIELDS 
Sonffs, Comiedy 
CAMPBELL'S SOUP. 
WABC-CBS, New York 

(F, Wallis Armstrong} 

Headliner of English music halls, 
pix and radio, made her American 
ether debut Friday (30) night on 
Campbell's 'Hollywood Hotel' over 
CBS. Made briief vaude appearance 
several years ago in New York, but 
no: clicko at that time and scramrried 
back to London. NoW under con- 
tract to 20th-Fox and this kilocycle 
shot was by wajr of introduction to 
,U. S. and as preliminary. Ijiuildup for 
"American pix. 

Comediienne sang two, nunibiers of 
contrasting style; First Was broadly- 
comic *I Never Cried So Much in 
All Me Life,' done in Lancashire di - 
lect, with phony cracked voice. Sec- 
ond was 'Let Me Sing My First Love 
Song,' romiantiQ .musical comedy 
tune on which Miss Fields' turned 
Grace Moore brand of tonsiling. 

No doubt of Miss Fields' talent, for 
corhedy in Lancashire . . medium. 
Question, howe^ver, is Whether her 
style of ibmedy shouldn't first have 
been introduced via the screen, and 
then the air. 

All of which raises ; the question, 
no matter how hilairious .Gracie 
Fields may. be in a London music 
hall; over the air .ishe sounds like 
PoUy Morari with a voice.- 

. As foi" Miss Fields' Lvric soprano 
efforts, as displayed in 'Let Me Sing 
My First Love Song,' comedienne is 
manifestly no pi :ma. Voice 
clined to be thin. 

Nor was her debut made any 
easier by ultra-super-colossal . build- 
up Louella Parsons [gave, her by way 
oi introduction. .^11 sorts of glo'w- 
irig statements ahent the Fields in- 
come be'irig tops in; show business 
and thie Fields talent being just too, 
too, marvelous raised an ^jmnbssible 
barrier for her to hurdle. Thiat the 
British import couldn't equal her; 
billing wais foregoiie conclusion. 

;Hobc. 



Follow Up Comment 



Buddy Hassett's batting average 
thus far this season for the Brooklyn. 
Dodgers may not be very impressive, 
but his average was 1,000 -when 
guesting on the Babe Ruth (Sin- 
clair, CBS) period last. Wed. (28). 

Guy .has the rep around the ball- 
yards 6f. being. a cocky; swaggering 
first-sacker. He certainly betrayed 
no mike-fright or blushing modesty 
on the air, strutting pretty fancily 
when intro'd by the ol' Bambino. 
Came through excellently, but what 
really proved the circus-catph of his 
appearance was his downright socko 
Irish tenoring of 'Pennies From 
Heaven.' 

Years ago Al Mamaux (also from 
Bklyn.) used to vaude- tour in win- 
ter, singing On his baseball rep. 
The comparison is that MamaUx 
used to get scratch hits through the 
infield with his warbling. 

Incidentally, it becomes increas- 
ingly noticeable that the radio no 
longer talks down to listeners when 
dealing with sports. It took the. air 
some years to learn that the average 
ball fan •was its conversant with, the 
sport as a sports' scribe, and couldn't 
be addressed as children. Babe Ruth 
now talks man-to-man, It has im- 
proved his air cAuse immensely. 



Stoopna^le and Budd continue to 
retain their mystery drama on their 
dessert Sunday afternoon broad- 
casts, but they have mended their 
ways.: Seemingly the idea of the 
mellers was to have them funny, a 
thought heretofore overlooked. But 
now the sketches are carefully pat- 
terned to collect the latighs. More 
space has been allotted to one femme 
character, a bit of smart showman- 
ship because the girl has a nice 
sense of air clowhing. From the 
added filler on the prograih the who- 
dunit skit now is close to being out- 
standing. 



'It's, a Racket* series, tied in with 
(Continued oil page 40) 



FAT BARNES 
'Just Between Us' 
Songs, Poetry, Organ 
15 Mins. 

RABIN COSMETICS 
Sunday, 11:15 p.m. 
WOB, Newark 

( Hays-Mcfarland ) 
-Barnes, who has had ah elevator 
ether career, appears nicely situated 
on this new Mutual web spread erna- 
natihg from N. Y. His admixture 
of songs and homey philosophica:— 
and oft .amusing— verse strike a cbr 
that will prove welcome to many a 
dial twirler on late Sunday evening's 
when the folks need some uplift 
face the week's work. 

Not per se a good singer, nor a 
slick verse-^vender, Barnes neverthe- 
less nips off a good rating— and the 
answer is his Dsrsoriality. His bri^iht 
spirits-T-happily not brash — ^prCve 
contagious to llstonsi- 

Commercials ai'o in good kaapiiirr., 
The backgrounding organ . fitly un- 
obtrusive. Be'rt. 



WMCA MATINEE 

With Lee Grant's Orch., Don. lCcrr, 

Bob Carter, Ksas Lear^ He':;. 

Youns, Jerry Baker, Larrc'.r.-i 

Barhett, Powell Clairk, Kay an J 

Buddy Arnold and Garnett iVIarlis., 
Three Hours — Local 
GENERAL MILLS 
.Daily, 2:30 p. m. 
TIVMCA, New York 

' CBldckctt-SampIe-Httmmert) 

A break-neck sprinter that goes at 
top speied for three hours with 
sumphi '„;always doin'. It's designed 
as one of those long-wirided ishows 
that can. be tuned in and out with 
no continuity missed. For its type, 
it's 'good. , 

Orch cohsists of 14, and play's .as a 
group, splits up into a rhumba drew 
when several of the lads lay hands 
to gourds and maracas,. or break up 
into a swingy hot combo of bass 
'fiddle, clarinet, guitar, trumpet, 
trombone. That makes for nice va- 
riety for the listeners, though >it isn't 
easy for the windjammers. They 
. don't get a chance to skip the studio 
ifor a breather for the three hours. 
And, considering only the vocalists 
reheirse, the straight renditions, the 
three-in-one ore are very good. 

Interspersed are the announcers, 
Kerr doing general intro-ing. Carter 
cackling -.race reslilts, Lear tipping 
stock quotations and general news 
items, Marks on: baseball and Clark. 
on Hollywood gossip.. > 

It is out . of necessity a -very' .in-, 
formal program, and actually bene- 
fits from that status in so far as good 
humor proves contagious over the 
mike. The spur-of-the-moment gag- 
ging isn't of a very high order, but 
it isn't tryirig either. 

Singers shifted in and out aire o.k,. 
with; only Helen, Young standing 
out. Others are Jerry Baker,, Lor- 
raine Barnett and the team of Kay 
and Buddy Arnold. . . i 

Several times during thei afternoon 
the whole studio group crowds 
'round the mike which gives vent to 
that 'Wheaties' theme song for the 
sponsor. It's o.k., that song, for 
kiddie periods,, but adults must 
shudder. Bert. 




Atlanta 



USE 



I 



WGST 



^ . 5000 watts day 
^ !00 0 vvatts nite 

Repts. 890 kc. 

E KAT7 l^rjy. ADVERTISING ACENCf 




THE STATION 
OF STARS 



iffinatim KiHd Uww^ Thealr«$ and Hotro- 
fi(»Mw)!n*if)iy«r giv«» tis. ih« insiifc tnick on 



Represented by E. KATZ SPECIAL ADVERTISING AGENCY 



V 



I 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



RADIO REVIEWS 



VARtETY 



39 



DARRYL ZANUCK 
Talk 

GROUP OF BANKS 

Friday. 1® P« ™* 
WABC-CBSj New York 

This series has been using dignified 

ie-biz or authoritative intellectual 
njunes as sedate guest gabbers. Idea 
■fits in with the jsymph orchs used to 
^rab goodwill for banks backing the 
Web Show. 

In choosihg a riep from the film 
industry. Zanuck was neat selection; 
in the pasj; three years his record 
{(rtd the adroit nublicity ispread 
around about him hiave made him a 
definite figure in nation's conscious- 
ness^ Brief speech Zanutik made was 
concise and shriBWdly selected. 

Sketched rise of films and how 
their advancement through the years 
and universal influence haVe edu- 
cated, elevated forms, of speech and 
standards of life. It was a dignified 
upholding of the industry. 

Zanuck hasn't lost his Rocky Mts; 
twaqgi He w.as much better 
than most of the dust-dry talkers 
this program hs,s been using in that 
he was neither vague nor vacuous. 
Bankers who bankroll might well 
have been listening in to improve 
their form when ^next addressing the' 
Rotarv or a directoirs* meeting. 
. San Francisco Orch filled out the 
rest of the half-hour' pei-iodj rather 
ponderously plowing through Ravel's 
! 'Tomb of Couperin,' and doing better 
with the niore familiar tone poem, 
•Sorcerer's Apprentice,' by Dukas. 
Pierre Monteux beat the baton. . 

Bert ' 



ALDOUS HUXLET i 

Talk 

15 Mini 

Snstainine 

Friday, 7:30 p. In. DST 
WEAF> New York. 

As. another itehi i its timely bar- 
rage to tie in with current interest 
in British royalty and the coming 
ceremonies in Lohdon, NBC last 
Friday (30) nijght brought Aldoiis 
Huxley, English novelist, to mike in 
"Washington to spiel on 'The Meaning 
of the Coronation.' Writer explained 
significance of , ceremony, going into 
bit of history and even some theory 
of i»overnment. 

- Oh the whole his talk was well- 
informed, though, tending ■ toward 
learned dullness. Not much human 
interest . Huxley is obviouisly a dip- 
lomat, arid when he might have 
smackei^-Over an attention-grabber 
he skated off into impersonalities. 
, Voice is thin and high-pitched. 
Very Englishy . accent, but enuncia- 
tion is precise arid readily under- 
stood; As might be expectied of a 
leading novelist, he dished out some 
descriptive wordage occasionally. 

Hobc. 



DAtE CARNEGIE 
15 Mins., Local 
EMIGRANT INDUSTRIAL 

INGSBANK 
Friday, 8:30 p.m. DST 
WOR, New York 

(N. W. Ayer) 
...Author of best-selling 'How to 
Wm Friends and Influence People' in 
new series for Emigrant Industrial 
Saymgs Bank of N. Y. First pro- 
gram ori inated in jDayton but 
future ones- slated for "WOR, Idea 
apparently is for Carnegie to plug 
the thought in his talks that sys- 
tematic - saving is important toward 
achieving success. 

'Principal requirement in getting 
ahead, according to writer, is self- 
confldence. Idea of courage, in one 
form or another, is basis of all 
Carnegie's advice. Different suc- 
cessful men have different h^lpf ill 
qualities, he says, but all havfe con- 
fidence. It's the universal success 
forinula. 

Prescription looks Okay to meet 
requirements of a program of. this 
kind. .Should supply, the proper 
touch to infiuence go6d resolution, 
particularly along^he line of saljing 
away part of every pay envelope for 
that great opportunity or for the old 
rainy day, And if 'courage^ seems 
slightly inadequate answer to the 
letter-writer who asked how to get 
a job, it's probably as good as could 
be expected under the circumstances. 
Miaybe Carnegie should pick himself 
an easier letter to answer next time. 

Program takes form of an inter- 
view, studio announcer playing 
straight man to author's oracle. 
Carnegie opened his part of first 
show (30) with short thank-you spiel 
to Emigrant industrial bank for be- 
ing such a fine sponsor. Resembled 
continuation of. the commercial 
which had just preceded it. . 

Carnegie's voice is okay, but he 
stumbled over his lines several times 
oh debut stanza. . Probably needed 
some of that confidencie he refers to. 
Musical themer is 'Stout-Hearted 
Men,' bearing; out courage formula. 

Hobc, 

'DON WINSLOW OF THE NAVY' 
With Bob .Guilbert, . Pennington 

Harrison, Betty 'Winkler 
Serial— Local 
Daily, 5:15 pjn. 
WMAQ, Chicaco i 

Radio version of a cartoon strip 
carried by 128 daily newspapers. As 
a program it has enough Horatio 
Alger heroism with a - realistic pic- 
ture of naval, affairs .to -probably 
make an . okay kid show. Script . is 
by Frank W. Martinique, also 'Don 
Winslow' cartoonist. ' . ' 

As it stands, now, the show affords 
opportunities for product tie-ins, and 
these, with the elements of child 
appeal which the show, as a show, 
ha.s: .suggests possibilities. 



JIM HEALEY 
Sports Talks 
15 Mins.— ^Local 
PENN TOBACCO CO. 
Tu.-Th,-Sa.; 6:45 p.m. 
WGY, Schenectady 

(Ruthrauff & jkydn) 
Healey, perhaps the biggiest radio 
name in thif: central New York sec- 
tion, has returned under the banner 
of the sponsor for whOm he did his 
first bonrimercial in .1933; Deals 
largely with the diamond . gaime. 
Healey 's forte, the thing which first 
brought him to attention: On the air 
and which: eventually gave him a 
network assignnient, is hews cbm-r 
merit, intertwined with philosophy 
and poetry. He is not an expert 
on baseball, a fact Which he ad- 
hiitted during the -Opening salvo of 
series. 

However, Heaiiey possesses nice 
air voice and ■ smooth mike tech- 
nique. This, with his local nanrte. 
and the information offered, via the 
day's scores, etc., makes the program 
listenaible. Second broaidcast was 
25% better than the firist, and 
further iniprO'/emerit' cah' be riia^^^^ 

With his -friendly enemy,' An- 
nouncer Chet Vedder, Healey works 
on the iadvertlslng. of Kentucky Club 
smoking arid cut^-plug tobacco. They 
turn In a pretty slick job, thou:;h 
given too mUch copy. Here, Vedder 
seems to have eliminated that 
sllghtly-suoerior tOne which has 
bieen his principal fault as an an- 
nouncer, jaco. 



MAIDS AND MISTRESSES 
With Mar Jorie Ellis McCrady 
15 Minutes— 'Local 
Sustaining: 
Tuesday, 4:00 p.m. . 
KS.TP, Minneapolis-St. Paiil 

Novelty program in which maids 
wail over their boridage— rand mis- 
tresses ha ha or snesr at the woes 
of their workers. It's a natural. 

Miss .McGrady uses no names on 
the stint, and asks besideis- that let- 
ter writers sign rio names to their 
beefs. She. reads all squawks, com- 
merits on them, tries to offer a sane 
and serisible solution. 

Pirinclpal squawk of the slavey is 
that 'housework has lost its, dignity' 
— and that families generally treat 
'em with disdain, figuring they're 
good enough as mop-uppists, but 
Lincoln's crack, about all men being 
equal was just ia political catch-line. 
Cinderellas would like to eat at the 
family table, be treated as one of 
the family. 

Retort from a Mrs. Morieybags 
recently scored with the logic that if 
the gal worked at the office, the boss 
wouldn't have hei' home to sit in on 
dinner with the wife and kiddies. 



WOR VARIETY SHOW 

With Sid Gary« Bide Dudley, llelene 
Daniels, WiHard Amison, Chari- 
oteers, Key Men, Embasi^y, Girls,. 
Nat Brusiloff Orchestra 

60 Mins, 

Sustaining 

Saturday, 8 p. m., 

WOR, New York 

Informality is the keynote of this 
weekly- Saturday night variety show 
from WOR. Strong radio fare, for 
that time of night, particularly cbn- 
gidering it probably Operates pri mod- 
est b. r. Principal oppiositi is Ed 
Wynn's show over NBC -bliie. 

On show caught (1) Bide Dudley 
guested as m. c. in place of Benay 
Venuta, who was out Of town, with 
legit show, 'Orchids Preferred..' Sec- 
ond . guestee Ayas Eddie Leonard, Jr.. 
Ciriglrig !Ida,' song his father plugged 
years ago. Eritire session skipped 
through with casual good humor.^ 
Should click with dialers favoring 
light fare not fequiriiig rapt atten- 
tion. 

Standou of the show were ar- 
resting arrangements of combo 'Dar- 
deriella,' 'SOng. of India,' 'Temptation', 
and 'Shirie On, Harvest. Moon.' 
Numbers got Varied treatment from 
Gary, "AmisOn, Daniels, the three 
vocal groups, and the ork. La Daniels 
contributed some warm torching and 
novelty arrarigeriient 6f"rhere'll Be 
Some Changes Made' in Mae West 
style. Former okay, latter only so- 
so. Gary scored with drjiriiatic war- 
blings and . Aniison uncorked lyric 
style • of tprisiling. , Charioteers ( Ne- 
gro quartiet). Key Wen (4), arid Emr 
bassy Girls (3) also rang the bell 
in separate groups and in combo. 
Bide . Dudle:^^ m. c. stint ran to 
breezy gagging and puns. Hobe. 

'LEND A HAND' 

With Martin Block 

Job Seeker Interviews 

60 Mins;— Local 

MADISON' PERSONAL LOAN 

Friday^ 9:30. p.m. 

WNEW, New York 

fKlinger) 

Idea of conducting friee employ- 
ment service over a radio station 
bias spread rapidly among stations 
all over tJ. S. A. This latest entry 
has Martin Block, WNEW ad-libbist, 
doing the interviews of job-seekers. 
Block has plenty of an assignment 
to hold interest a full hour with 
more or less routine interviews of 
candidates seeking jobs arid still 
hold the ear .of casual turier-inners. 

Last section is .topped off with' rc- 
sr>orises from employers to the ap- 
plicants, heard, on the . current air 
program, with position.; offered to 
cooks, hat stylist, steno, printer sales- 
man, life insurance policy seller and 
nursemaid. Wear. 



RUBINOFF MUSIC 

With Miiria Jeritza, Walter Cassell 

Songs, drchestrations 

30 Mins. 

CHEVROLET 

Sunday, 6:30 p.m., EpST 

WABC-^CBS, New York 

(C(tv}.pbcll-EwaJd) 

Series for the pop-price motor car 
is now originating irom the Coa.st: 
these weeks while Rubinoff flutters 
in front of a caitiera for 20tli-Fox. 
Sponsor, always straight-laced on 
.corrimercial. copy, continues to be, 
ajid Interisiflies the dignified aura 
program has always : tried to wreath 
self with.. Cassell, baritone, also on 
Coast for a film, is on for foUr suc- 
cessive shbws: when caught Sunday. 
(2); soprano Ji^rUza Was. the guest; 
Pair worked the positions 'vacated 
by Jan Peerce and Virgi ia Real 
\yhen- period plunged west. 

Program fitted neatly in its niche, 
presence , of Jeritza supplying the 
punch. She was ori. a. bit too early for 
full value, but wo wed. 'em never t^< 
less. In better voice than displayed in. 
some recent appearances, her. pipes 
weren't given too strenuous a trial 
by' -'tlie' medlfey of contemporary 
Viennese airs she orioled. Rubinoff 
flddled the. ohbligatos apd intricate 
arrangements,, that gatirilshing up 
making bolstered accomi)animent for 
the soprano. . 

Cassell workied o<k., his best being 
the sorely repeat-rubbed 'Old Man 
River.' "The Foursome', mixed quar- 
tet swung but riiost. strikingly on 
'Swing High;' 

For his bravura sOlo gut-grating, 
Rubinoff trotted, out 'Sophisticated 
Lady,' for'l which an anonymous 
piano-rplinker lent limber, Indu.stri- 
ous support. Orch continues full- 
bodied and blooded— apt for the oc- 
casionally teniiousAddlirig of the 
maestro. 

Walter' Craig produces for Chevvi 

Bert. 



''OPERATIVE STEELE' 
With Al Reiblinr's Players 
Detective .Serial 
15 Mlni.r-Local 

Sustfiliniiir 
Tu.-Tliu.; 5 jp.m; 
WMBC. Detroit 

As a thHll purveyor, this 15-mln-:' 
ute detective serial has plenty to 
recommend It. Roles are taken by 
station's dramatic group, under di- 
rection of Al Relbllng, and topnotch 
work Is turned In by. 'Rod Steele' 
and his female aide. . 'Pat Patterson/ 

In the kid show time bracket, prog' 
should be a cinch for Juvos. Stories 
built around Steele, head of a detec- 
tive a|l!ency, . Avho busts up rackets, 
vice rings; etc., without . smashing 
any jaws. Productibfl flows swiftly, 
and sound effects are noteworthy-. 

Pete. 




THC WLW LINE (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York) 

Answers the Need For a Radio Preving Ground 

Advertisers who wish to test with economy 
Qan now cover one4hird of America's buying 
power for about ten percent of the cost of 

, This is 







SOLE AGENTS 



TRANSAMERICAN BROADCASTING «iid 





NEW YORK 

521 Fifth Avenue 
Murray Hill 6-2370 



JOHN L. CLARK, PresWisnt 
Complete Broadcasting FacilUics Wired aiid Transcribed 

CHICAGO 

333 North Michigan Avenue 
STAte 0366 



HOLLYWOOD 

5833 Fernwood Avenue 
HOIIyvi/ood 5315 



40 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



Sometlniig Wrong 

Kansas City, May 4. 

Station KXBY moved to new quar- 
ters in Fidelity building May 1. New 
space was extensively remodeled be- 
fore occupancy. 

When station had mov6d over a 
check was made of floor: space. 108 
square ieet were missing. A careful 
bit of; Sherlocking revealed a 9x12 
office^ complete with window "and 
light fixtures Jjut sans a door. 



F.C.C.'S WASHINGTON DOCKET 




EASY 
ACES 



BROAD C A ST I N G 
6 th Y E A/ FOR 
BLACKETT SAMPLE 
H U MM E R T, UN C . 

A N A C I N 



EXAMINERS' REPORTS 

i New Tfork: Involved tangle of applications submitted 
by WWRL, Woodside, L. I„ and individuals who for- 
merly wiere partners in WMBQ, Brboklyii— shiaring 
hours with the Long Island station— was temporarily 
straightened put by Exiaminer Ralph L. Walker, who 
recommended" to, the commish an increase in hours for 
WWHL iEind the ash-canning of all other requests. 

Biist-up between Paul J. GoUhofer, former licensee 
of WMBQ; and his partner, liillian E. Kiefer, led to 
atteinpts by both to constt-uct new transmitters using 
the WMBQ assignment. Station; organized as the 
Metropolitan Btbadcasting Gorp., also requested 
newal of its license, WMBQ, according to - the Ex- 
aminer's report, at present is being operated by a re- 
ceiver who ^yas called -in after Gollhbfer had appealed 
to the courts for the dissolution of the corporation. 
GoUhofer's request was prompted after 'differences ' 
arose' between him and Miss Kief er. Walker explained. 

Numerous points w:ere found' against GoUhofer and 
Miss Kiefer, in Walker's report. WMBQ, devoting 
most of its time to foreign language programs, which 
were sold through 'brokers/ was run by the partners 
for nearly eight years with only GoUhofer's hame» ap- 
pearing on the renewal applications, examiner pointed 
out, constituting a violation of commish rules. Fact 
that five individuals, not employees of . the . station, 
were piermitted to provide almost 50% of the programs 
and to sell ' corhrhercial . annOurKcements emphasized 
Walker's point that the station was not operating , i 
the pubic interest. 

Increase in the time used by WWRL, and deletion 
of WMBQ, would be preferable to authorisation of a 
new station td operate on a part-time basis, the ex- 
aminer, said. The Long island: station would use only 
iapprojcimately 30% of its time for foreign broadcasts, 
while GoUhofer devoted nearly "66% to programs in 
Lithuanian, German, Polish and Italian. 

North Dakota: Power jump for KPLM, Minot, and 
frequency change from 1240 to 1360 kc was okayed 
by Examiner John F. Bramhall. Desire of John B. 
Cooley, owner of station, to boost wattage from 250 
all times to 500 nights and 1 kw days, was approved by 
the iexiaminer, who outlined the isolated conditions ex- 
isting in thfe territory and the' extreme dependence of 
farm families on their radios. 

Increased power and longer hours would enable 
KPLM. to increase its services to the community, 
Bramhall said, and station should be allowed to break 
off With KGCtr, Mandan, N. Dak., with which it noW 
shares hours. KPLM has been particularly yaliiable 
in furnishing Warnings of blizzards, rea^uring farm: 
families when children are k§pt in the schools because 
of deep snows, giving information on crops and mar- 
kets arid providing other useful sferyices, examiner 
declared. 

Oklahoma: Transfer of control of KFXR, Oklahoma 
City, from the Exchange Avenue Baptist - Church tb^ 
the Plaza Cburt Broadcasting Co., was recommended 
by Examiner Hobert L. Irwin. Operation of the sta- 
tion by B. C. Thomasori, under a private leasing ar- 
.rangemeiit with the church, presented a 'close ques- 
tion!^ of violatibn of . the Communications Act, Irwin 
declared, but participants , apparently did not intend 
to transgress from commish rules. Station would con- 
tinue with its present assignment of ISiO kc with 100 
watts nights, 250 .watts days. 

Wisconsin: Application of Walter H. McGenty for 
a daytime station at Rice Lake was approved biy Ex- 
aminer John P. Bramhall, . McGenty, publisher of the 
Stock and Dairy Farmer, showed himself qualified in 
all respects to construct and operate the proposed 
$10,000 transmitter, Bramhall concliided, and operation 
on the irequested assignment 6f 1210 kc with 250 watts 
would hot create interference with nearby stations. 



watts diays dismissed at request of applicant; KFVD, 
Los Angeles, application to change frequency from 
1000 to 990 kc dismissed at applicant's request. 

Hawaii: KGMB, Honolulu, granted renewal of li- 
cense on a temporary basis and a^jpUcation for renewal 
set for hearing; KHBC, Honolulu Broadcasting Com- 
pany, Ltd.i Hilo, granted renewal of license on a tem- 
porary. basis and application for renewal set for hear- 
ing. 

Idaho: KIDQ, Bbjse, granted day power jump from 
2y2 to 5 kw. 

Pennsylvania: WGBI, Scrahtoh, granted juice jump 
from 500 watts to 500 watts nights, 1 kw days; Exam- 
iner Bramhall sustained; "WSAN, AUentbwn, granted 
temporary license renewal, pending hearing on re- 
newal application; WCBA, B. Bryan MusSelman, Allen- 
town, granted license renewal on a temporary basis, 
pending hearing On renewal application. 

Texas: Bayou Broadcasting Cb.; Houston, denied ap- 
plication for new station to be operated days on 1210 
kc/with 100 Watts, commish reversing Examiner R. L. 
Walker. . 

Utah: Provo Broadcast Co., Provo, application for 
niew, station to be operated on 1210 kc witji 100 watts 
denied as in cases' of diefault for failux'e to file ah ap- 
pearance. 



SET FOR HEARING 



Fred Allen 
Portland Hoffa 

in "Town Hall Tonight" 

HEPATICA IPANA 
fVKAF— ti'e^eBdnys 9-10 P.M EST 
IV ALTER BftTCHELOB 



DECISIONS 



Washington, May 4. 

Alabama: Isadore Goldwasser, Anhiston, application 
for new station to be operated on 1420 kc with 100 
watts, days only, denied, cOmmish reversing Examiner 
R. L. Walker, 

California: Ben S. McGlashan, San Diego, application 
for new station to be operated on 550 kc with 250 



California: Floyd , A. Parton, San Jose, new station 
to be operated days only on 1150 kc with. 250 watts: 

Colorado: Continental Radio Company; Denver, new 
station to be operated on 630 kc With 500 watts nights, 
, 1 kw days. 

Georgia: Arthur Lucas, Savannah, new station to 
be. operated on 1310 kc with 100 watts. 

Massachiiset^: Hampden-Hampshire Corp., Holybke, 
new station to be operated on 1.240 kc with 1 kw. 

^Minnesota: KATE, Albert Lea, change frequency 
from 120D to 1420 kc, boost day power from 100 .watts 
to 250 watts. 

Missouri: KFRU, ^Columbia, boost power , from 500 
watts nights, 1 kw .days, to 5 kw night and day, install 
new equipment. 

New Y*rk: WUTK, Inc., Utica, new station to be 
operated on 1420 kc with 100 watts. 

Oh: : William F. Maag, Jr., Youngstown, new day- 
time station to be operated on 1150 kc with 250 watts; 
WHKC, Associated Broadcast Corp., Columbus, install 
new iequipment and v«^rtical radiator, jump power from 
500 watts to 1 kw nights, 5 kW days, limited time. 

Texas: E. M. McChristy, Brownwood, neW daytime 
station to be operated on 630 kc with 250 watts. 

Virginia: Ha;vens & Martin, Inc., Petersburg, new 
station to be operated on 1210. kc with 100 watts nights, ; 
250 watts days, specified hours (requests facilities of 
WMBG, Richmond, when that station changes fre- 
quency from 1210 to 1350 kc). 

NEW APPUCATIONS 

Arizona: Sims roadcasting Co., Globe, new station 
to be operated On 1210 kc with 100 watts nights, 250 
watts days, 

California: ichard Field Lewis, Oakland, hew sta- 
tion to be operated daytiriies ph 1160 kc With 1 kw. 

Illinois: Jules J. Rubens, Aurora, new daytime sta- 
tion to be operated on 1040 kc with 250 watts. 

Montana: KPFA. Helena, boost power from 100 waitts 
to 100. watts nights, 250 watts days. 

New York; Piatt & Piatt, Inc^ Poughkeepsie, new 
station to be operated on 1310 kc with 100. watts nights, 
250 watts days. 

North Carolina: Carolinas Radio, Inc., Charlotte, hew 
station to be operated on 880 kc with 1 kw. 

Pennsylvania: WFIL,. Philadelphia, jump juice. from 
1 to 5 kw; WFBG, Gable Broadcasting Co., Altoona, 
Change power from 100 watts nights, 250 watts days, 
to 100 watts day and night. 

Texas: KGNG-KFYO, Amarillp, transfer control of 
corporation from the estate of Wilbur C; Hawk and 
Gene A. Howe to Globe-News Publishing Co., Inc., 
498 shares common. 



Bogus Peter Grant 



Atlanta, May 4. 

Peter rant's name means some- 
thing do.wn this way so when an 
affable stranger made the rounds of 
local broadcasting mills and intro- 
duced himself as WLW's chief an- 
nouncer he was welcomed with open 
arms, ihed and feted. 

Everything was Ipyely until the 
alleged Grant tried ip hire spme 
WATL's help. Maurice Coleman, sta- 
tion's manager, smelling a rat, made 
a wire' checkup arid found out Peter 
was On the job in • Cincinnati, con- 
firming his suspicipns that the 
Atlanta visitor was an imposter. 



Follotv-Up Comment 



(Continued from page 38) 
Better Business Bureaus oyer WOR, 
is now devoting each . stanza to only 
single example of some form v of 
swindle, Carries more , punch and 
clarity than previously, when listener 
was swamped under whole succes- 
sion and variety of gyp; games at 



THiONBILLS 

B; JAi\iE WEST 

NOW RADIO'S ,ViOST POPULAR 
FAMILY BRINGS YOU MORE 
[aUGHTSR "P^ARS a,vd f--|EART-THROBS 

Pfpsented by Ivory Soap 99" loo' - pure 



LISTEN TWICE DAILY 

■ ^ NBC Blue Network, Mpn. to Fri. 11 a.m. DST 

NBC Red Network, .Mon. to Fri. 3:45 p.m. DST 
' COAST TO COAST 



IN 



WIr.. C'OMnOS AOVEKTISIXO AfiKXCT . 
MGT., ED WOLF— RKO BLDG.. NEW YORKi^ CITY 



every . hearing, Present policy will 
also coriserve material, though there 
are prbbably enough pon games cur- 
rerit fpr some time to come. 

Program now opens with general 
warning about rackets in calling-all- 
•cars brand of deliveiry. Then follows 
15 minutes of easily-absorbed dramr 
atization of just how the particular 
bilk is. operated. While nbt as much 
ground is covered as foirmerly, series 
should accomplish more . education 
anent combating skullduggery than 
it did before. 



to the program were Carol Wimart, 
Barry McKinley, Vivien Delia 
Chiessa, Everett Davies arid Phil 
Porterfield, the last offered as a local 
boy who had made good in the opera 
and concert field arid Who had come 
back home to take part, in the dedi- 
catpry event. 



Announcer Wally Beavers, pf 

WCOL,,Cplumbusy pn the sick list. 



NBG helped WOWO , and. WGL 
Fort' Wayrie^ celebrate the openinp 
of their new studios and their alli- 
ance with the network Saturday 
night . (1) with an hour's brpadca.'ii. 
that gravitated between stock 
speeches and musical entertainment. 
Westinghouse's latest aicquisition 
contributed some of the entertain- 
ment, but mo^t of it came from New 
York, Pittsburgh and Chicago. 

Indiana's governor and Fort 
Wayne's mayor told what simple 
folks the Hopsiers are and how they 
appreciated the entry of the two sta- 
tions into radio big time, while there 
were also words of welcome from 
Pittsburgh and Chicago, with Gene 
Arnold, pf WENR, lendirtg a strorig 
tang tb the fplksy end pf the pro- 
ceedings. Cbngratulatipris in letter 
form were also read as coming from 
the White House and Annin.? S. 
Prall, chairman of the Federal Com- 
munications Commission. W. G. 
Marshall, Westinahouse's {jen. mgr., 
•vas spokesman for his company. 

Among those who lent jheir voices 



II HI H III II 



JAC QUES 

FRAY 



^ MARIO 

BRAGGIOTTI 



GUEST ARTISTS 

Mny OtU . 
SSTMrHONY HATX 
Muy «th 
SHELI. CHATEAU 



TBVMPET KINa OF SWING 

* LOIilS ★ 
AflMSTRONG 

FLEISCHMANN VEAST 

(J. SValter Thompson) 

P.!tf; D.S.T. EveiT Friday, WJZ 
Blue Nietwork 

. ■ ★ 

Just Concluded 3 
Successful Weeks ait 
Paramount, New York 



.MGT. JOIC GI/ASER 
ROCKWEUL-O'KBEFfi 



Radio Writer 

An agency is in the mar- 
ket for a cracking good 
writer. Must be experi- 
enced ' writing both 
scripts and commercials, 
and if" he Can turn out 
newspaper and magazine 
ads so much the better. 
Send full details, includ- 
ing salary, to Box 530, 
Variety, New York. 



and Hi 
Orchestra 

BE-ENGAOED 

2ND YEAR 

OPENING IN MAT 

HOTEL ST. REGIS 

NEW rORK 




MGT. 
M.C.A. 



"BARON ^MUNCHAUSEN" 

JACK 
PEARL 

RALEIGH and 
KOOL CIGARETTES 

WJZ— 10 P.M., D.S.T.— FrlrtBys 
MIC Network 



* S. LYONS. 





« 



THte 
GBEAT 
AMERICAN . 
B P I IT O R 

GULF REFINI 

C OMPAN T 

8UNDAVS 
7:30-8 P.M., DST 

WAnc 
ens 



N G 



$10 



Buys 20:-Worcl Chain Break Announcements 
Before, After or Between MUTUAL and NBC KKHL 
prograrns on a*! Bak 

List of Available Chain Breaks and Quantity DIjbcounts 
Airmail on Request to 

GENE O'FALLON, KFEL SALES MGR., ALBANY HOTEL. DENVER 



Wednesdajf May 5, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



41 



CBS STATIONS 
CUDGEL FOR 




, May 4. 

Three way battle .going on be- 
tween the three mi^weSt CBS-owned 
stations, WCCO, Minneapblis, 
KMdX, St. Louis, and WBBM, Chi- 
cago, for supremacy in exploitation, 
with WBBM gtuinihg especially for] 
KMOXk and H. Leslie Atlass here 
officially appointing a committee 
whose sol6 fjuntitibn is to line up- and 
carry out top-notch stunts to take 
play .aw;ay . from the Jiimmy Shouse- 
Jerry Hoekstra airer i St. Lduis. 

Committee consisting of Jack Van 
Volkenburg, Hal Biirnett, Bob Haf- 
ter, Bobby Brown, Buck Weaver, 
and Stan Thompson, last week car- 
jried out initial igag by offering $100 
to employes Who suggested best sin- 
gle exploitation stunt, Prize was 
copped by Eddie House, organist, 
and work has already started to 
carry out his idea of turning station 
over to high school seniors to run 
lor day. 

Day :is set for a Satui^day in June, 
and all positions, executive and 
talent, -will be turned bvier. to kids. 
All local shows will be recast; high 
school orchestras, announcers, pro- 
ducers, and. commentators will sub- 
stitute for jregulars. 

Plans to carry out stunt will in- 
clude heavy merchandising both, in 
radio, and newspapers, to isell the 
generial public on listening for the 
slips that might occur,, and boosting 
it. to the kids and. their parents as a 
chance at fame.. 



Tip on Contests 



Schenectady, N. Y., May .4. 

Hazel Cooper,, an Amster- 
dam young, woriian who makes 
a business, of competing in 
advertising - radio - newspaper- 
magazine contests: and who has 
won 17 prizes, including a Ford 
car and $500 in cash, advised 
WGY listeners to copy down all 
adjectives used by the an- 
nouncer in the continuity. 

With this list, take a dic- 
tionary,, chedk on all synonyms, 
and go to work on your own 
letter j etc., tipped the contest 
winner. 



LOCAL TALENT SHOWS 



Columbus Ice Dealer Sponsors. Couple 
of Novelties 



Smarties Quiz Each Other 

St. Jos6ph, Mo., May 4. 
When five high school stiides won 
a national essay Contest, KFEQ made 
a special event of it. Conducted a 
round table discussion of the studes 
and their instructors. 

Copped lots bf local ears. 



Columbus, Msiy 4i 
ity Ice & Fuel Co. is preparing 
to woo the summer listening audi- 
ence with two live- talent shows on 
WBNS. Script show titled 'Road to 
Nowhere' is scheduled four tiines a 
week at 10:45 a.m. with Tom and 
Agnes Devpre writing, producing and 
acting. 

Devore ill team Irwin 
Johnson on the. other program, a 
weekly half-hour evening session, 
'Do You Know Columbus?' Show 
will be a,; Prof. Quiz type broadcast 
with all questions based , on Colum- 
bus history, civic events, laws, etc. 
Small . studio audience will proyidie 
material for the question-bees. 



i-Speed Expands on WXYZ 

Detroit, May 4. . 

Factfinder program, week-night 
show oyer WXYZ and state web for 
about a year, has been expanded by 
Hi-Speed Gasoline to . include Sun- 
day morning, stint. Sunday . series 
will -use life stories of presidents. 

Shows written by Richalrd E. Os- 
good. 

7 

Jack Arthur at Ease 
Jack Arthur, tenor who has been 
sjnging on WOR and WJZ, N. Y. 
commercialSf ill lop off the radio 
during summer to extensively va" 
cash. 

Last air aria'ing will be June 7. 
Won't return till soinetime in Sept. 



Actor-Author on CBS 



Columbia Artists last week signed 
author ' Carl Carmer ('Stars Fell on 
Alabama') arid; wiU handle him for 
commercial air acting and writing. 
As ai buildup Carmer will appear on 
a sustai ing series, , 'Your Neck of 
the Woods,' slate4 to start May 31. 
Carmer .will carve out the continu- 
ity, and. troupe a role in the dra- 
matizations. 

. ' Also placed under CBS contract 
are Raymond Scott, cpmpbser and 
musician, and Johnny Russell. Lat- 
ter is now spotted on bi-weekly 
sustairier over web. 



Sensitive About Its Police, 
St Paul Hears Via KSTP 
Befbre-and-After Views 



St. , May 4. 

Opened as an attention-getter with 
a bona fide flatfbpt's 'You're under 
arrest!', KSTP last week, took its 
Jistenefis in tow and gave theni a 
trip through the. local police depart- 
ment to show them what happens/ 
from the time a copper speaks those 
saddest words to the time when the 
victim iis ushered to his cell. 
. With St. Paul riot so long ago 
dubbed 'pPison spot of the riiation' by 
Attorney General Homer S. . Ciim- 
mings, KSTP concentrated on an at- 
tempt to shPw whiat has happened 
since aroused citizenry took things 
iii hand; took the police chief's job 
out of the political-football category, 
put hini under six-year tenure arid 
generally dabbed up the poison. 

Particular emphasis wais. paid, in- 
directly, to the then-and-npw syisterii 
of training police officers, with 
mikes moved into the new police 
school,, instituted by Chief Clinton 
A. Hackert for breaking in rookies 
and keeping lard off the oldtimers* 
waistline. 



Miss Chiesa on RCA May 16 
Chicago, May 4. 
Vivian della Chiesa. has been set 
by Neil Conklin for ari appearance 
on the Magic Key show for May 16. 

This is the first booking on the 
May 16 prograrri which is scheduled 
to be concentrated on Chicago talent, 



WEBR Dramatizes New Importance 
By Staging Concert in Big Music Hall 



WKY's Negro Vox For 



Oklahoma City, May A. 

"WKY has an all-colored mari- 
in-thie-street program, vvith the 
unofficial mayor of . the town's 
colored district doing the iriter- 
viewirig. it's on for 15 minutes 
a night, and tagged 'Afro- 
America Speaks.'; 

Previous colored prograins oh 
WKY have been limitied to 
ickups: from churches* 



SM[TH OF WGN, CHICAGO, 
GEN. MILLS' RAMO EXEC 



icago. May 4. 
Ed Smith, production director of 
WGN, becorties, chief of all General 
Mills ether activities as of J^une 1. 
This appointnient was made here 
last week by Sam Gale, advertising 
head of the flour-, firm. It marks a 
fuirther step pri the part of General 
Mills to increasie its radio plug- 
ging. 

Smith lariis WGN on May IS for .a 
fortnight layoff before starting on 
the new job. 



Record Drops Program 

Philadelphia, May 4. 

Philly Record, .after five weeks 
trial, dropped jparticipation in 'Phil- 
adelphia Parade of Events,' March 
of Ti type prograhi heard on 
Saturday nights pver WIP. J. David. 
Stern III, Rtfcprd jjromolion man- 
ager, said he was dissatisfied ^krith 
results because of poor time of 
broadcast. 

jPrpgram scripted by Carl 

Blemiller of Record. It will be con- 
tinued sustaining with WiP staff 
writing. Record only paid produc- 
tion post and supplied script, ith 
time donated by station. 



Buffaip. May 4. 
Big, free concert is being sched- 
uled here to call further attention 
to WEBFl's Increased power pnd 
prestige, 

Elmwood Music Hall as been 
hired for May 13; Helen blheini, a 
local gal who has made good in the 
Metropolitan, will be guest sPloi 
and the 75-piece Buflalo orchestra, 
directed by Franko Autori, will jplay. , 

Coricert Is being called a celebra- 
tion of recent WEBR technical im- 
provements arid rempdeling of the 
studios housed in a iformcr residedic^ 
Paul E. Fischler, chief technician, 
has, been in charge of the work 
which has iricluded new antenna an 
transmitter ;sys;terii, n»t> 

Genetai: promotion plan is to im- 
press on public that 100-watt stati 
is: no longer typical . smp.U.-ti|ne, 
record-playing, spot announcement 
and foreign language lunger. -Sta- 
tion now has virtually a. full sched- 
ule ot Blue network -evening corii- 
mercialSj considerable live talent 
and important, day time shows, 



Flippen's New Sponsor 

Jay C. Flippen's amateur hpur, 
briiadcast weekly from Lbew's Zieg- 
feld stage over WHN, N. Y.^ last 
riight (Tuesday) acquired a sponsor 
for riejct 13 airings. Procter & Garh- 
ble is plugging Oxydol, set by 
Blackett-Seriipie-Hummert. 

For the last three stanzas WHN 
has been carrying the program sus- 
taining after Phillips Magne^i 
pulled out; 



Blait, Pcpperday Meet In Denver 

. Denver, May 4. 

John Blair, Chicago sales rep, 
spent a day here last week confer- 
ring, with T. M. Pepperday. of KOB^ 
Aibuquerquei N.M. rjp 

Signed to represent the station na- 
tionally. 



Robert Benchley will dp a guest 
shot on Camel broadcast May 11. 



A- 

/ 





\ 




B.O. GROSSES 



The Showman's Guide 



WEEK FEB. 4ili 

Metropolitan, Boston 

WEEK FEB. 19ih . 

Oriental, Chicago (Lent) . . . 

WEEK FEB. 2<>ih 

Fox, Detroit 



$3S,00Q 
$21,000 
$32,000 



"'iS^l^odrome, Toronto. mm 

(Holy Week, 6 Days) ' 
WEElt MAR. llrt' „ ^ , «^SAOO 

Loew's State, New York > . • < !t>*A«««i 

WEEK APR. 6.1. Mayfair Glub, Boston 

OPENED «M. MAY 4TH, BEVERLY H1U5 CASINO, 

SEWPORT. KEimJGKY 

Opening ott May 26 at the StorkXhM"^^ 







Direction: WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY.. For RKO: EDWARD 8. KELLER 



*Box Offiqe 



42 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



RAMO SHOHMAiKHIP 

AitenHon'Gistters, fierUps, Ideas 



WHAM fthd VfHEC Bitten. 
'Mci First' Bur 



tte's CoinIiiff~ire's Near— He^s Here 

Chicago. 

Plane on vj-hich Joe E. Browpf was 
llyihg here frbm Cbast to guest an- 
tiourice WJJD ball games was de- 
layed,!s6 staff announcer had to take 
first game, but station ran , a wire 
out to local -airport, and gave 
flashes on plane's progress every 15 
jhinutes. 

.Vourid up with Brown's arrival 
between innings, and a two-way .con- 
versation with him at airport, and 
John Harrington at ball field, giving 
the guesting a better build-up than 
it would have had otherwise. 

.i;^:j5ales Talks With Time 

5t. Louis. 
KMOX, Columbia-owned station 
here, running a daily column in the 
newspapers to list its radio 
programs and especially . to itemize 
the sponsor of each period. 

In this faishion: 7:00-^*Professor 
Quiz,' Cerebral-crackers that leave 
portions of the radio audience whirl- 
ing like dervishes," arid the remainder 
looking exceedingly wise. Kelvina- 
tor.' 



R^ndio Marches Oh 



Chicago, May 4v 
Latest of the lower class an- 
imals to get the radio urge is 
a coyote brought liere frpm 
Oklahoma and auditioned (over 
WGN's objections) as a guester 
for Bowman's 'Fireside Theatre.' 
Mice, : fleas 6nd . paniries h?iye 
already broadcast. 

Coyote is undier management 
of local William Morris office. 



WMEX, BOSTON, 




Washi 



, May 4. 



WHBQ'S Attentioi&'Gettcrs 

Memphis.* 
Piienty of sandwich men parading 
the downtown isectioni trailers on 10 
local screens and having sponsors 
include program box in. their news- 
paper adyertistiments are methods of 
WHBQ to get station before the 
public.' Sandwicii-men gags include 
recent one of middle-aged woman 
walking down Main Street, liaughing 
almost' constantly. Her escoirt's sign 
read, -Even My Mother-iri-Law 
Xau3hs at WHBQ's Open House 
Pprty-." ... 
• Easy contests are put on regularly, 
with Bob Alburty's aim 'td award 
a prize oh some program to every 
block in Memphis, so WHBQ will get 
word-of-mputh publicity ariiong 
neighbors and friends.' Audience 
participation programs have, also 
focused attention pn station. 

Commerce Cbamber , Tie-Up . 

Wichita, kan. 

KANS, Wichita, did -the broad- 
casting of the local Chamber of 
Commerce's- -annual trade trip, 
which took a' delegation of business 
men through Dodge City> Alber- 
quarque, . N. M., and Pamp«,- Tex.^ 

Herb Hollister, KANS gen. mgr., 
wa^ one of the delegates, while the 
station used its own plane to trans- 
port ' engineers and announcers tp 
«ach of the spots for the pickup. 

eiklthiest Kid' Contest 

New Orleattsi 
AlabamarGeOrgiSi Syrup Co., which 
Is bankrolling the ^Melody Meetin' 
series 'oyer Id soutl.^rn stations, »s 
offering IIHOO cash tor a pictui;e pf 
the huskiest, healthiest-looking boy 
or girl birought up oh Alaga Syrup. 

Contest is /limited tp those under 
12 years of age, while the photo 
must be accompanied by the in 
evitable label. 



Possi ility of rehearinig on appli- 
cation of WMEX, Boston, for 50-fold 
wattage jump was suggested in in- 
dustry circles last we^k f ollowifig 
exarninatipn of ;f!|,yor$ble repbi't, ttf 
the Federal ' CommuhicatiOns Com- 
mission by Examiner John P. Br am -, 
hall.' " ■' " • ' .; ' ~ 

Although the case has many politi- 
cal ramificatiops, there were hints 
that foes of the power boost may re- 
sort to the expedient of sending the 
application back; for further study 
on question: of financial responsi il 
ity before trying ^tP indiice" the 
Broadcast Division to override 
Bramhall's recpmrneridations. This 
might be accomplished if WAAB, 
WNAC and WCOP of Boston, plus 
WLACr Nashville, .petition for clari 
fication of the record dealing with 
(Continued oh page 51) 



KDB's Store Window Boast 

Santa Barbara;- Califs 
KDB has a miniature electric train 
running around, a show window in 
a downtown dept.' store, with the 
display placarded 'As this engine 
pulls' these cars, so db'es KDB pUll 
fot* its advertisers.' 
. Each car tugged by the choo-choo 
*^is labeled with a sign representing 
some sponsor on the station. 

Gas Company's Stunt. Idea 

Seattle. 

Seattle Gias Co.: sbohsoririg Rocky 
Mountaineers over KJR pluggin<? its 
*old rangie roundup,' a special selling 
event on . gas ranges.: Ranges ICt 
years old are taken in at $10, those 
15 years, SIS. etc. A prize of $100 
fp> the ol.dest ranse in u^e! 

Newspapers, biJ|lljoard and stree ; 
car' cards helpih."* At 'outset ; of th^ 
.ciampaigh a parade was sta.iec 
downtown with .cowboys, ' stage: 
coaches and plenty Of shooting. . 



wind's 'Bleacher B^'^s' 

Chicago. 

Cfise. of rabid . baseball f^ins paying 
is WIND'S 'Blencher Bugs' s>iow 
spotted: 15 minutes before Cub 
^^ames. Mike, in . the bleachers gives 
the boys there . a chance to -express 
thpir opinions. 
Extra : engipeer on show with the 
in^le : duty of keeping his hand al- 
5>ways on the mike cut-off switch, 



WIP, Philadelphia, Waits 
For a Baseball Sponsor 

Philadelphia, May 4. 
Some very sad faces around WIP 
every afternoon at baseball time. 
Statiohl during Winter, contractec 
with clubs to air games and laic 
down heavy sugar fpr franchise. 
But sp far they've beien -broadcasting 
gannes without sponsor. 

Station execs turning nice even 
carmine as other putlets fpbus hor 
sey grins on them. .Pr6-season price 
for spbhsorship was $4Q,000. Now 
trying to sell games at $300 each. 



Bernie's Conductor 

reddie Berrens is Ben . Bernie's 
hew batonist. on his American Can 
programs, which shifted tpN^Y. com 
mencirig yesterday (Tuesday). Ber' 
rens is augmented with crack house 
musicians, although- Bernie has re 
tained Col. Manny Prager aiid 'my 
Coast representative, A! Goering.' 

Pat McCarthy also stays on as 
singer. 



WCHV Under Water 

(jharlottesville, Va., May 4. 
.WCHV was inundated by flooc 
flows all last week,, water rising 
above first floor, of the' two-^story 
building in which the 250-watter is 
located. 

Off the ozone for seven days, due 
to juice lack. Equipment, escapee 
serious damage. 



SPORTS $CO0PERQO 



Rochester, N. Y., May 4. . 
Keen competition between WHEG 
and 'WHAM on baseball; broadcasts 
has station staffs jittery trying to 
score beats^ WHEC Spprts Announcer 
Lowell MacMillan and General Man- 
ager Gurinar Wiig irplaned to. 
Jersey City to broadcast ppcning 
Intematipnal League game direct 
with plenty publicity in .Gannett 
newspapers, not oyerlpokihg ■ ifact 
WHAM was to get its returns, by 
nelegraph. But when first garne was 
riained put, WHAM got busy and sent 
Harry McTigue to Jerisey City in 
time to ■ broadcast Opener , direct; . 

Meanwhile,- WSAY, has installed a 
:icker and anhounces all baseball 
iscpres every, hour during the after- 
noon and gets a break oh hoh-sports 
isteners while : the two large stations 
are handing out the play-by-play.-, 



University of Indiana 

Has Big Radio Nig^ht 

Indianapolis, May 4. 
iana University has :half-hour 
set for NBC-Blue tomorrow night 
(5), at 9:30 p, m. (CST>, to air 117th 
birthday of the school. Edwin C. 
Hill will emcee the show^ which 
will include pickups , in New York, 
Indianapolis, and Hollywood. HiU is 
an L U. alumnus,., as is Hoagie Car- 
irnichael, song writer who . ill be 
cut in from the West Coasti 

Others carded fPr the show are: 
Johhiiie Johnson prchestra; , Don 
Herold; cartoonist and humorist- 
Phil Duey and Wendell Wiikie, New 
Yprk utility head. 

WlitE will be used for the Ihdian- 
iapplis cut-in pf the pirbgram, and 
Pulliam's statiPn will key this ppr- 
tion to the networjc for NBC, but 
WIRE dialers will Only get in ph por- 
tion of complete show, as station 
commercial schedule conflicts. 



Copy by W U. 



iSanta , Cal., May 4; 

KDB has arranged tieup with 
■Western Union which permits 
advertisers to . shoot - in to. sta'^ 
tipn their .ipommercial copy 
daily. Sppnsprs here, in . the^ 
main, alter their blurbs liltra- 
frequeiitly. 

•Service costs station only 
iOc. per chunk of . copy picked 
up.. Fijgured far less expeiisiye 
than having salesmen make 
-daily contact. 



KSTP FARM COLLEGE 
GETS PUBLICmr PLUS 



Breaking In Spielers 

St. Louis, May 4. 

Woody. Klose, Program Director, 
WTMV, East St. Louis, is trying to 
iron Put a wrinkled forehead: Dur- 
ing two years existence pf East side 
station Klose has broken in five an- 
nouncers, all 6f whom , have been 
grabbed by KMOX, CBS' 50,000 
watten ^' . 

ThPse snared by KMOX are Frank 
Cooiey, Willard Hemsworth, Jim Alt, 
Sid Saunders and Spencer Allen. ' 



WHEC Winds Up Ams 

RpChester, N. Y., May 4. 

WHEC all washed up on simoh 
p.iires s^ter 117 weekly broadcasts 
fpr. !Koplmoter Oil. . Series clpsed 
with eliminations and 'finals' cpntest 
won by William Warfield, 16-year- 
old Negro .:baritpne. 

Winner pflered a spot by WHECJ 
but he declined to. turn pro until 
finishing high school. 



GKLW Cleric To Mutual 

Detroit, May 4. 

'<^uiet Sanctuary,' brgan-and-talk 
prog conducted for couple years 
over CKLW by Rev. M; C, Davies, 
rectoij of St. George's Church, 
WindsPr, Ont., will be fed to Mu- 
tual :as sustainer five times weekly 
starting this week. 

•Studies in Black and White,", 
piano recital by Wally Towrisend, 
also will go out hereafter from 
CKLW Pver MBS, fpur-time 
weekly sustainer. 



' WTAM Tp.oter Joins Jansseii 

Cleveland,. May 4; 

, Danny Caste, Np. 1 trombonist in. 
staff band at WTAM. gpes to Hol- 
lywood this week -to. become Werner 
Jahssen's assistant on his Chase & 
Sanborn hPur beginning May 9. 

Caste played in . Jahssen's orches-. 
tra. here several yiears ago and gPt 
cablegram frpni maestrp in England 
pfferin im th0 job. 



KOMO-KJR iHosts to G. M. Execs 

■ Seattle, 
General , Motors executive grpup 
met in KOMO-KJR studips tp listen 
to Alfred P. Sloiin^ Jr., who spoke 
from New YorJc. and William S. 
Knudson. from Detroit, and Richard 
H, Grpnt. from Chicn»?o. Local sta- 
tions donated studio for eat.fest »nd 
to give propel: sound facilities. 
About 50 General MPtprs executives 
were oreseht. 

Besides- the telephpne talks, .from' 
the executives, an institutipnal mo- 
tion picture, entertainment by 
KOMO-ICTR staff aftists and a visit 
through the radio studio*, followed. 



Ciney' Curb» Cluttered 

incirinati, May 4. 

.three, njan-ohrthe-street ; programs 
under way here . with staH ,of series 
on WKRC for, the Chpcplate Prod- 
UctiS' Co., ; Chicago, blurbing Delicious 
candy bar. Dick Bray at- the. mike. 

Last week Red Barber took on a 
sidewalk chpre for WSAI for Striet- 
man'n Biscuit Co. Bob Bentley doing 
similar job on WCPO for Hostess 
cakes. 

They're all ISsninute , 
daily except Sunday. 



Paul Lewis, radio head; of Colum- 
bia Concert feureau, in . Hollywood 
for gabfest with Larry White of CBS 
artists bureau. ' 



No. 125 f or NBC 

Eastoh. Pa., May 
Radio WSAN-WCBA at 

Allehtown joined the red aind blue 
networks of NBC oh Saturday <1). 
Stations are .operated by the Lehigh 
Valley Broadcasting Service. 

AUentowh istations are listed as 
No. 125 by the NBC. 



roup Adds Lewis 

Toledo, May . 

j ack Lewis, guitarist, joins Smith's 
Tenhesseans, WSPD's pbpular hill 
billy quintet, in Toledo. Program 
hits, at 6:45 a. m. to 7:15 a. m. 

Besides Lewi- the quintet includes 
Roy Smith, Lola Smith, 'Arizona 
Slim' Bresler and Dick Willis. 



Margaret Hanley Leaves WIP 

Philadelphia^ May 4. 
Margaret Hanley, of WIP program 
department for past five years, re 
signed Saturday (1). She will be 
replaced by Betty Shaffer, recep 
tionist. 

Marian Black al^o added to de- 
partment. 



St. Paul, May 4. 

KSTP has launched weekly 
scries of broadcasts from Uni- 
versity Farmi campus. It's ah effort 
to build .up a wider , farm audience.- 
Sei:ies Of .broadcasts yCrill result, top, 
in statewide publicity for the station, 
because f arm< school icials, ' de- 
ciding that the series would i|be ex- 
cellent for the school, are flooding 
state papers with copy and pix on 
the KSTP airings. 

Job of ssnding out publicity was 
taken ovor by the schopl because of 
its 'exceptional connections both with 
rural editors and county -agents 
throughout the state. 



KStFs Abundancy of 
Inventors Tackle Anything 

St. Paul, May 4. 
After nearly .three months on the 
air, KSTP's 'I've Got an Idea' stint, 
which brings to light the brairistornis 
pf embryo invehtors, is pulling 'em 
into such .an extent that the . SRO 
sign was whippied out ta the pseudp- 
Edisohs for the last two broadcasts. 

Last two had 17 and 37 inventors, 
respectively, all with gadgets ready 
to spiel about on the air« ranging 
from a Diessl-powered automobile, to 
a Goldbergian deyice for . trickling 
sand under car tires during skiddy 
weather. 

'With yarn breakiiig in 'local rags 
that one of the idea men has clicked, 
'getting an angel iand going into pro- 
duction with his brain-child, inven- 
tors are. storming the studip, all hop- 
ing to get pn the prograni., 

2d Besting at WSFA 

Montgomery,. Ala., May '4. 

Not being permitted by local , ball 
cliib to broadcast home jgames, 
WSFA has .its sports spieler sit ih oh 
the tilts and, irectly after the game, 
ramble resumes from the park's 
press-jpen. 

WSFA angle is thiat, by running a 
remote fight from the diamond, at 
mosphere is lent to the cooked-over 
descripti 



Govt. Pragram SUf ts 



Washington, May 4. 

Search for new audience led to 
time shift Sunday (2) for Interior 
Department educational program 
World Is Yours,' which has been on 
NBC red netv^ork for several 
months. Moved to 4:30 to 5 p.m. 
(daylight time), after having occu- 
pied .11:30 a.m. sjpot since inception. 

Ofigihally carried on 34 stations, 
program is expected to get addi- 
tional outlets at the afternobn pe- 
riod. 



PUILED UP lAME 

Los Angeles, May 4. 

Synthetic horse race, program 
sponsored by aspirin outfit has been 
withdf awh from KFI ^f ter five weeks 
and a Weeljly. murder mystery sub- 
stituted. ' is offered for those 
solving -the crimes. 

Sponsor pulled the . race ganie be- 
cause of possible legal entanglernents. 

Tale Music on WICC 

New Haven, May 4. ' 
Yale, long chill to cphootihg Witli 
local radia plants, thawing at last Via 
weekly Schpbl of Music series at 
New Haveh substation of WICC. 
Half-hour prograihs will be fed to 
CPlohial and -Mutual, 
. Airings under isuperyision of Dean 
David Stanley Sniith and arranged 
by . Ellsworth Grumann. Both stu- 
dents and . grads will be presentad. 

WFIL Lays Off iviusiclans. 

' Philadelphia, May 4. 
Hpuse band at WEIL is dropped 
for summer by agreement with mu- 
sicians' Ipcal. 

Hpward Lanin prch had assign- 
ment past several months. 



WCFl CHICAGO. 




AJII.SHOW 



icagd, May 4. ; 
.One of first moves made by May- 
nard IVlarquard. how geheral man- 
agei" WCFL, to inybkie showmanship 
oh the Arrierican Federation of Labor 
station, is. establisltment of a two-. 
hPur early a.m. shot, tp be exploited 
by .90 billboards throughout city, and 
trailers running in 22 neighborhood 
picture houses. Exploitatipn. which 
Will cost approximately $450 ter 
weeki is to be pn prpgram. only, and . 
not on the seven accOnts , participat- < 
ing.bn.it. 

.. Lihe-up of show includes offer of 
75 tickets ia week to any pictm-e 
house in town, inner's choice, ahd 
two all-expense . conducted Holly- 
wood tours weakly; 

To set program, which is to be 
hiade up of . recordih.g.s, graduating 
in style from hill-billy at; 7 a.m. tp 
light classics at .6:45, station 
brought Morton Blonder in as m.c. 
ahjd assigned Phil Shelly to. service 
accounts, participating the 20- 
mihute periods. 



WNBtC^ Into Geto 



Springfield. Vt.,"May 
WNBX spent all last week cele- 
brating opening of new studios. Now 
gets sustainers from Yankee, Colbnial 
and'Mutual webs. General Mills and 
Sbcohy are bankrolling games 
Boston's major lea.sue clubs on alter- 
nate days, with iColohial chain feed-; 
ing. 

WNBX is also staying up this sum- 
mer till 11:30 p.m.> two-and-half 
hours later than in past. Idea is 'to 
please the vacationists Who swarm 
ihto this fegioji during, hot mionths.- 



WNLC joins Colonial 

New London, Conn,, May 4. 

Annexing of WNLC, local day- 
timer, bjr Yankee-Colonial giyes 
John Shepard, 3rd, . his fifth Con- 
liecticut vent. Others are WTIC and 
WTHT, Hartford; WICC, Bridgeport- 
New Haven, and WBRY, Waterbury- 
New Haven. 

WNLC's .Colonial li 
means ai tie with Mutual. 



New laces at WHK 

Columbus, May 4. 

Ahothef new deal in the tinited 
Broadcasting Co. shuffle brings An- 
nouncer Charles Lutz back to 
WHKG from WHK, Cleveland. Lutz, 
formerly a part-tinje mikeman here, 
returns to a. full-time ppsitipn. 

Bernard J. S\yeeney, ahnounccA 
and continiiity • writer, at WHKl, is 
due here May 15 to join the WHKC 
continuity staff. He'll replace Frank 
Seidel, who leaves WHKC to make 
another connection. Fred Samplei 
moves up to head of the department. 



Tom I)a;lton's Texas Idea 

Dallas, May 4. 

Thbnias W. Dalton has originate^ 
Southwest roadcasters. Inc.; to sell 
Texas and the surrounding South as 
a group pf individual markets. He 
proposed to tell what is his list of 
stations are later. 

Dalton was fbrmerly 
busirifess ih Chicago. 



Ontario, Flood 

Detroit, May .i*. 
iriect'brbadcast from' flooded area 
atpund Lpndbn, Oht., shortly after 
situation became critical, there, was 
picked up WW J through remote 
wire last week, as. of staition's 
'speicial feature iseryices.*- 
. Fifteen-riiiritite 
descriptions of. 
plight of refugees. 
Morriss, program dir 
London, 



WGPO a Post Tag 

Incirinati, May .4. . 
WCPO, 250i'Watter of Continental 
Radio Corp., has dropped the 'Voi 
of the Cihcinnati Pbst' tag line. Sta- 
tion and paper are Scripps-Howard 
holdings. Sheet contihues to plug 
WCPO in a big way in its news 
columns ahd with , a daily column 
display listing of the statibp's. pib- 
grams. 



Marlon Clare warbles on the 
Chevrolet program from Hollywood 
May 9. 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



MUSIC 



VARtETY 



43 



Last WeekV 15 Best Sellers 



>, B fl f • f ». • • ' • < 



• • • 



• ••ft. «•'**••< 



.••-•*•«.••• 



I • • •'• « • •.• • 



Chappell 

• t*»«. •••■••»«• Slispiro 

• '.' , Schirmer 

... . . .Famous' ' 

..PopMlar 

, .' ; . . , i Santly-Jby;. 

... ..Remick 
i . . . . . , .Harrns 

. • . . >.• .'.Robbi 

•in xt Little :'Hula Heaven;;. ; . . ... . ....... . .. i .i. Famous 

When. My preaumbbat Comes Home . . ... . . . , . . . . . , Witma'tk 

' Carelessly ". w ...•<••• » . • » . < .'». ■..■ . . i . • « « . <••:.• • • . • > • • Berli 
When the Poppies loom Again ...v....,...,;.,..... Shapiro 

♦indicate* Titidicates «tdfle " production ■ «oniir. 

othtrt are pops. 



fLlttle Old La<3y 

Boo Hoo .. ... . . . 

•Will You; Remember? 
♦Blufe HaWaJi ..... 

♦Mdonlight and Shadows , > 

Love Biig Will Get You , 
•September in the Rain , . . 
♦Too Marvelous for Words 
♦Sweet Lieilani 
♦Never in Million Years 
•Where Are You? 



• '• • ■•• >,•.••••'•?•'•••• 



SESAC WINS HOTEL ROOM' PRECEDENT; 
YTTAL PERFORMING RIGHTS VICTORY 



Partial to Hubby 

Harriett Hilliard; oh the Coast in 
the cast of 'New Faces of 1937,' will 
I <lo her Vocaling on Blue Bird irecdrds 
with dzzie Nielson's band' without re- 
turning to N. Y. 

Miss illiard did not like ..Coast 
orchestras and prefers Nelson's ac- 
cbhipaniment. She is Mrs, Nelson in 
private life. Aftesr band does its stuff , 
master is to. be shijpiped .to Holly- 
wood, where her voice will .be 
dubbed in. 



Inside Stolf-Mvsic 






Judge Woolsey Sustains Right to CoUect^Pennsyl- 
yania Hotel Counsel Mulls Matter of Appeal^ 
Iniplications of Deeisioh Numerous 





U; i Marine . Corp and the Army were mixed , up in t\yo arrangements' 
made in the music business liast week. One was the sale of a copyright 
by Capt. Philip . Egner, retired, pf -,West Point's teaching staff:, and the . 
•other a tieup by Sani Serwer iof Remick, with Taylor Branison,- condyictor 
bif the Marine band, p"n the iadoptioh of 'Song 'of the. Marines' as part of the 
corps' regular repertoire. 

Capt. Egner disposed of the copyright of 'West Point March' to Shapiro, 
Beriistei|ti..& Co. He. is also the cpmposer of 'On Brave Army Team.' 

In the ciaise. of 'Song of the Marines,' Which is from the Warner picture 
of the same title, Serwier obtained perhiission : to use the Marine's official I Professional Musicians' of 
seal on the tune's band arrangements and . standard piano copies.' N. Y. has been;, organised*. ith; 

membership open to anyone mak-? 

Peter Maurice, London publisher, got permission from Chappell & Co. ing a living out of any end of the 
to' turn over the Aihierican publication rights of 'The Miller's Daughter-, music biz and reputed 250 on the 
Marianne' to Shaipiroi, Bernstein & Co. Chappell holds an exclusive Amerr rolls so fa*, chiefly from rank-an 
fcan rights contract with the British firm. Ah American version of 'Mil- file. Unique among professibnal or 
ter's Daughter* has been written, by Billy Hill. Co-writers of the Maurice ganizations in that members are 
tune are jTimmy Kennedy and Will . Grp who wer^ also respphsible for from . both, classical and pop clef 
Isle of Capri' and 'Red Sails ih the Sunset.- Shapiro, in return fpr 'Miller's, backgrounds.' Ciub is purely social. 
Daughter/ gave Maurice the rights tb 'Dream Ranch' for England. Tentative board includes Arthur 

—r-r--- - Lief, prez; Stirling , Hunkins, ' sec, 

'Tiger Rag*^ (Feist) is currently in two. Broadway proiiluctipns, 'The and (Gerald Rudy, treasl Another 
Show Is On' at the Winter Garden; and the hew French Casirib 'Folies,' election will . be held, when more 
ith result the publisher is threaitenihg legal action on the ground the members have been drawn into fold 



song is being used for productipii ; purpose? sans proper financial .arrange- 
ments. 



Ned Williams, Boswell for Irving Mills, ithin one. month cratked 

Time mag with stories on MiUsV new Variety and Master recprds. iHe's 
also In the May Fortuhe^ as one of the .Faces-pf-the-Mpnth. 



2 Music Groups 
ComlHne; MPPA 
Reduces 




Music Publishers Association, com- 
posed of standard sheet j folio and 
ihstitiitional book firms, ^lay merge 
its operatiPns with' that of the Music 
Publishers Protective Association. 
Decision in that direction - is slated 
to be made when the MPA holds its 
annual' conventi in New York next 
. moitth. 

Move would not entail the loss of 
identity tp either organization. The 
MPA under, the proposed arrange- 
ment would make its quarters in the 
offices now occupied by the MPPA 
ini Radio City and have joint use of 
clerical and circulation facilities, 
with each of the, organizations' 
boards holding its meetings there. 
Besides the. economy angle, , the co- 
housing project is mdtiviated by the 
idea of bringing the. two organiza- 
tlphs closer together for action oh 
common problems. 

MPPA directorate ia meeting 
last Friday (30) approved the hew 
scale of membership fields and urged 
Wiat efforts be niade to brjihg the 
wanner Bros, group, the Max Drey- 
fvs firms and Irving Berlin, Jnci, 
into the organization.,. Reyised; scale 
fleures as a clip for the members in 
the higher classifications and a boost 
the lowest class. Class A firms 
will henceforth pay $600 a year in- 
stead of the prevailing $1*200 a year, 
While the npnrvpting memlaers which 
nave, been paying $50 a] year are 



Group now shopping for a club 
house,* Site sought preferably spme 
where between CBS and NBC .cita 
dels, so that .radio musikeris, cats 
from th,e,, nitery. sectpr and sym- 
phonic sliders from the Carnegie 
Hall region ill find spot. con,yeni 
ent. 

Alsp being solicited for member 
iladelphi , May 4. | ship, are those connected in any 
Judges Thomas Vd., Finletter and capacities with all. sorts of music 
Francis Shunk . Brown, Jr., took publishing and marketing firrps. 
under consideration last Friday iix- First functipn will bp a, party .at 
ceptions to court ruling denying the Savpy ballroom, "Harlehi, on 
Doris Haven, WGAU prganist, an in- | June 1. Clyb has hired put the site 



Doris Hayeh Appeals 



junction against Musici 
I^nioh. 

Miss Haven seeks to the 
union enjoined f rpm interfering with 
her work at the radio staition, she 
said. She was fihed $200 for disobey- 
ing uniPn instruction and, refusing 
to pay, was ordered to cease work 
at the station. Continuing to work, 
she was expelled, from the union, 



for $125 for the evening. 



KURT WEIL UNKNOWN' 
SAYS NATIVE GERMANY 



MUSIC CODE STILL 
JOHN G. PAINE'S PET 



Philharmonic orchestra here wantr' 
ed to play a symphony by Kurt 

Weil, German exile, under the .di- 
rection of Bruno Walter. Wrote to 
a CJerman publisher for the orches- 
tra material. 

Got as answer: *Kurt Weil un- 
known here.' 

Weil wrote the music to * eggar's 
Opera,' among others. He was at 
one time the . top modern composer 



Jphn G. Paine, who became gen- 
eral manager of the American So- 
ciety of Composers, Authors and 
Publishers last Saturday (1), , 111 
continue to co-operate'in getting' the 

Federal Trade Commission to grant I in Germany and also wrote the score 
a code of fiElir trade practices to the for 'Eternal Road/ among others. 



music industry. It waS One of the 
jobs that. Paine left unfinished when 
he quit the Music Publishers .Pro-r 
tective Association ior his hew post 
A letter which Paine got liast week 
from, the FTC informed hini that 
the^ delay in okaying the . code . was 
due strictly to leigal technicalities iii 
the wording of the document. 

No date has .as yet been set for .a >] 
trade, conference pn the, proposed 
code. 



LOcalites had to "wire to a friend 
in America to, get the score. 



<one of; the most important; find- 
ings oh musical copyri handed 
down in irecent years Judge Woolsey 
of the Federal Court, New' York, 
held last: \yeiek that loudspeakers in 
hotel guestrooms operated from a 
mastier ; coine in the 

purview pf the law ori; ing 
rights and that the - reception of 
broadcast programs Ipud- 
r speakers constitutes a public per- 
i formance tor profit. Decision deyel- 
ioped from' the infringement- suit 
Vbrbught against the Pennsylvania 
r Hotel, N. Y., by the SO(?iety of Eu- 
vropeart Stage Authors and Coni- 
\poser^. Judge Woolsey granted 
\SESAC's plea .. irijunction 
against hotel' arid .ordered thei 
latter to , pay damages Of " $250 • arid 
legal fee§. . 1 

' 'Pennsylvani bperato'fs- and the 
'counsel, in the case, Campbell & Bo- 
land, have npt diecided whether to 
take it up. oh appeal. Sam6 firm rep- 
resents the American Hotel Mien's 
Association, and has been Identified 
with $uch/ noted instances of copy- 
right litigatipn as ^Herbert vs. . Shah- 
ley's Restaurant and Buck vs. Jew- 
ell-Lasalle Realthy Co. 

Leonard issu and Abner J. 
Rubien presented. SESAC's side of 
tho issue. 

First, CaseV 
Judge Woolisey's opi i is the. 
first in the history of American liti- 
gation in which the copyright owner 
is granted the n'ght to collect a 
perforrnance feie pn hotel guestroprn 
.Ibudsjpeakers;. American Society of 
Composers, Authors ' and , Publishers 
has been loath to ;take. this same 
issue through the courts because of 
what happened in the Court of Ap- 
peals, State of Califorrti , on the 
Buck vs. deBaum case several yearis 
ago. in that case, . \yhich involved 
a -lobby receiving set, the court held 
that iiE a broadcast was licensed the 
hotel had a right to pick it; for 
its patrons without permission oiE 
the copyright owners as long .as it 
was okay with the broadcastefi^ 

Even though ' this loophole was 
later plugged by ASCAP through 
the insertion, of a clause' in its li- 
cense barring any. right but that of 
the original broadcast, the Society 
elected to- refrain from' making a 
test .case of the guestroom lOud 
speaker angle: 

in his opinion Judge Woolsey 
cleared the way completely for this 
copyright proprietor with the tol- 
lowing two sentences: 'Consequently, 
the defendant herei , which, with 
Out a license, ventured to have a 
public performance for profit of the 
plaintiff's copyrighted rhusical com- 
position — hpwsoever It was come by 
and howsoever it waS. performed- 
was a tresspasser on the plaintiff's 
private copyright domain f ronri which 
its right pi excluding others is ab- 
solute. This right, however, in these 
days •when so riiarty simultanepus 



public performances for profit are 
possible, can only be protected by 
continuous vigilonce, and the owner of 
a cppyi'ight to a musical cornpp'sitiph 
should have the. chance ,,t0 . gather 
royalties whilst and where . he miy * 

If the higher courts uphold thiiP- 
VieAvpoiht, providing thie .Pennsylva- 
nia's management appeals, copyright 
owners, it is pointed out by la,wyeiPS 
in the music industry.' will be in an 
enforced position tb demand license 
fees from the severiol hundred thou- 
sahdi spots where coin-operated, disc 
machines are installed. It is doubt- 
ful whether ASCAP would brln:: any 
pressure in that direction, for politi- 
cal reasons, but In the event Judge 
Woolsey's latest, copyright decision 
stands as the law of the land, the 
society,, it Is estimated, .might In- 
crease.its income fronl hotel sources 
by arid ther $250,000. 

Judge : Woolsey's Opinion on the 
SEiSAC vs., I*ennsylvania Case, covers 
22 typewritten pages, It fetalis how 
SESAC's checker registered as. a 
guest at the hotel and how on the 
afternoon of Aug. 17^ 1934, he picked 
up on the room loudspeaker a WJZ, 
New York, program which contained 
the musical composition, 'As We 
Part,' which is controlled by SESACi 
Opinion points out that iSESAS's 
contract with NBC for WJZ spe- 
cifically provided that 'nothing here- 
in shall, be construed as permitting 
the licensee .either expressly of by 
implication to grant to others the 
right to reproduce or perform pub- 
licly for, profit, or otherwise, any of 
the. said compositions so broadcast.* 
bpihloh scouted the defendant's 
argument that tfahsmissloh of a 
broadcast thrpugh a hotel by means 
pf wirfe^ controlled by the later 
does nbt fcpme within the definition 
of a perf oripahce. Judge. Woolsey 
stated that the Pennsylvania's theUibd 
pf giving, a. pecforhaance came within 
the principle laid down by the U, S. 
Supreme Court in the LaSalle hotel 
case. 

He also held that since the Pennr 
sylvania plugs the rooih loudspeaker 
as one cJf its sef vices aiid that since ' 
the nature of the hotel's business is 
One. catering to the public, there had 
been a public performance lof . profit. 

Ppiiiion explained that because ha 
prop' of actual damages had been 
sUhirhitted, the court must resort to 
rti imuni penalty provision of the 
copyright law for the amount of as- 
sessment. This minimum penalty is 
$250. 



New Instrument in 
Music on 






m 





FRANK KELTON SET 
WITH MILLS MUSIC 



to he asked. to niake it ! $9C 



lAUEIE'S SONG 

Jack Mills has bought a song by 
Joe Laurie, Jr., arid titled 'You're 
Unfair to Organized Love.' 
. 'Looks like .a bi . . .it 

«n't out yet,' says'- 

Ittiils Music will issue 'Funny kind 
w Love' and two other songs , by 
jewel Bennett arid Beatrice Reddick, 
Kia tune writing combo. Pair han- 
aied by Philips & TarbelL 



. Berli 

Future.. 'iriuslc at home' - looks 
rosy. One . will ;np longer be at the 
mercy of the ether with its eternal 
.commercial boosts and gone will be 
Frank .Keltoh who had a 'piece' of [the days of jumping up every three 
Shapiro-Bernstein,' but bowed out of .minutes to change the. record, 
that firm when he arid- Louis Bernr Teficord, a complement to radio and 
stein's daughter split matrimonially, victrola, is ready to go on. the Gpr- 
is set with Jack Mills' riiusic publish- m?" market^ 

interests., Keltori ill become is creation of Dr. Js. an 

director of exploitation.. Mills al- apparatus that resembles both filrii 
ready has Mack Stark and Maury , and grariiophone. .Unlike the , iat* 
Staub on sorigplugging exec matters, ter, a film pack and not a recor .is 
but Keltoh wiil concentrate on radio used,, whole surface Of which may 
and kindred outiels. be utilized, for sound,, with a needle 

The Keltons were married five serving as transmitter. It pos 
■years and while he was later given a sible. to have packs with 100 grooves 
percentage in the S-B firm, the Placed 25 mms. apart, whic^ 
music man felt it expedient to re- l a total of 200 grooves, as the .film is 



sign from the company,, in view of 
the private life situation. 'However, 
he's still quite- friendly with Loui.-? 
Bernslei , president of S-B. 



used on both sides. 

Before beginning to play, film can. 
be placed end to efid, .so that the 
needle, when reaching the end of 



the first 100 nieters, can pick up the 
next groove autpmatically. This al- 
lows for 12 uniriterrupted hours of 
rriusic Without going near the instru 
ment. . ! , 

Contents Pf the film arc indicated, 
as in radio, so, that by turnirig the 
dial one cari get the dc.sired, groove 
at once. Needle can be placed aiiy 
where, at will. Possibiliti for 
variety- are limitlessi 

New outfit is - being put out at a 
price within the range of the a.verage 
pocket-book; It will coirie to about 
the same as a good radip .set. In 
addition, sound filrri distribs arc 
jilanning a circulating fil libi'ary 
which will eliminate the rieces.sity 
arid expense of investing in untold 
numbers of film rolls. This is a par^ 
ticular advantage to restaurants,, 
bars, hospitals and small steamers, 
unable to aflord their own band, and 
needing not only mu.sic but a con- 
stant change of program. 



Neb. pn "Wafpath 

incoiri. May. 4. 

Without any regard for unconsti- 
tutional talk, Nebraska's legislature 
advanced the antl-ASCAP measure 
by a unanimous vote to third read- 
ing here. 

Senator Frank Brady, sponsor, 
charged the society had threatened 
to run out of business persons who 
testified for the measure when it Was 
given a hearing. 

The bill will make ASCAP a viola- 
tloh of the Sherman anti-trust law, 
and write the law. on the Nebraska- 
statute bopks, making further ASCAp 
Ppcratiort in Nebraskai illegal.' T, J. 
TpPbel, cpunsel pn the constitutional 
committee, warris that this is out of 
the bounds .of state jurisdiction;, 

.Senator. Comstbck and SenatPr. 
Brady,; after referring to reccrit re- 
port pf ASCAP's 1936 gross, said 
they cpuldri't understand where the 
annual take werit, since the ,op- 
pprients of the bill claimed they ,gpt 
a bare living, \ 
, Bill is expected to pas.*; easily and 
tb be tested .shortly in, the supreme, 
court. 



HARRY FOX'S ASSISTANT 



Arthur Boucher Aids New M.P.P.A. 
General Manager 



Arthur Boucher joined the Music 
Publishcr.s PrpteCtive Association 
Mpriday (3) to assist Harry Fox; 
gen. nigr.v in the handling of me- 
chanical license clearances. Boucher 
had been in the copyright depart- 
ment of Warner Bros. Pictures Corp. 
since 1029. ' 

He got his oriRinnl training 
copyright in..tl.ie oITice of the Regiij- 
trar of Copyrights in Washington. 



44 



VARIETY 



DANCE TOURS 



Wednesiday, May 5, 1937 . 



Music Notes 



Joe Young and Fred Ahlert au- 
thoring hew Ben Marden iv.iera 
songs. Al Stillman will the 
lyrics for. Arthur Schwartz's score 
of the new $chwartz-Laurence $tall- 
ings operetta- at the Center, N. Y., 
next season. Hobbihs Music Corp. 
publishing both. 



American backing for a synthetic 
method of manufacturing lenses. 



Burtoii iane and, Ted Koehleir 
have ti|rned in *Pppi Goes the Bub- 
ble' an|i ' top! You're Breaking My 
Heart' for Paramount's ' rtists and 
Models.' 



Peter Maurice, London/publisher, 
and his general' manager,. Jimmy 
illips, sailed for England yester- 
(Tuesday). They got over a 
couple weeks ago, with- Phillips mak- 
ing publisher contacts and Maurice 
concerning himself with getting 



N T^iRlc vveeks 



Carelessly 



Lew Alter and Paul Webster ar^ 
working on 'Fashldn Pariade,' tune 
•for Walter Wahger's 'Vogues of 
1933.' 



Eadie Adams warbling 'My Topic 
of Conversati ,' by Joseph Myrow 
and Milton Royce, as specialty, num- 
ber for Moriogi'am's '13th Man.' 



Kay Thompson wrote a tune called 
'Celebratin' Time' for her Chester- 
field program anniversary last Fri- 
daiy. A publisher may take it over. 



Emil Coleman, who winds up at 
the St, Regis' Iridium Room, N. Y., 
next week, negotiating to go to 
Monte Carlo for the summer*. 



yS©GJ. Ik© M(B 



lliymG BERUH; lae 

Vi59 7th Ave. New York 

HARAY LINK, Gen. Prof. Manager 



A TRIO OF TO*? /IrUNES 




B.V OORbON aim BCVKI/ 
From 20th Century-Fox's "This Is 
My Affair" 

WithoutYour 
Love 

When Love 
Is Young 

. By. McllL'tiH and ADAiMSON 
From l/nlversnl's "H'heu Love Is 
Younr" 

^ii,€iii Music Inc. 

19 •HLOAOWAY • HEW YOKK 



Mris. Robert Emmet Dolan, the for-: 
mer Vilma Ebsen, left the Eolyclinic 
hospital, N. Y., last week after a 
minor pperati. 



'Gypisy, From Poughkeepsie' is 

Emery Pexitsph's latest cohtributioh 
to song biz. 



Most Played on Air 



Combined plugs on WEAF, 
WJZ and WABC are computed 
jot the week from Sunday 
through Saturday {April 19-25) : 

Carelessly 

September in the Rain 
Never in Million Years 
Too Marvelous for Words 
Boo Hpo 
Where Are You? 
Sweet Is Word for You 
How Could You? 
<■ There's a Lull in My Life 

* Swing: Ulgh, Swine Low 
*Let's Call Whole Thins Off 

* That Foolish Feeling 
Love Buff Will Get You 
To a Sweet, Pretty Thinff 

* They Can't Take That AWay 
Dream Ranch 

* Sweet Leilani 

it Looks Like Rain 

* I'm Bubbling Over 

* It's Sw-ell of You 
t Little Old Lady 

* Blue Hawaii 

You Showed Me the VVay 

* Wake Up and Live 
They All Laughed 

^ Indicates filmusiral song, 
t Production number. 



Larchmont Bands 



Larchmont Casino, Larchmont, 
Ni Y., will try a straight name band 
policy this season replacing its show 
policy of last season. Bands will 
stick solely to m^usic with. no acts or' 
doubling from crew. 

Opener is Jimmy Lunceford on 
June 2. 



George Hamillton's ork follows 
Harry Owens into the Beyerly-Wil- 
shire Florentine Room in Beverly 
Hills. 



Marlin Sklles will score B. . 
Zeldman's . Grand National produc- 
tion, 'Sweethearts of the Navy.' 

.Ben Oakland and Herb Magidson 
have completed 'Craiy Dreams' for 
Columbi • 'With Kind Regards.' 



Sammy Fain and Lou Brown have 
sold Itheir tune, 'That Old Feeling,' 
to Walter Wanger for 'Vogues of 
1938;' 



Bubinoff will play his original 
violin composition, 'Dance Russe,' in 
'You Can't Have Everything* at 20th- 
Fox. 



Roseland, Bridgfeport, bowing with 
Dick Fee and James Kedves gypsy 
bands, 



rlc Peterson band at Wright's, 
Plainville, Conn. 



Alexander Jahns set indef at 
Rhineland Gardens, Arinonk, N. Y. 



Louis Prima ork goes Into 'You 
Can't Have Everything' at 20th-Fox. 



M'CUNE ON A BICYCLE; 
DOUBLES N; Y.-B'EYN 



Only band known , to be doubling 
between two hotel spots is that Of 
Bill McCune currently at the Bos- 
;sert hotel, Brooklyn, N. Y,, and the 
Hotel Plaza, Manhattan. 

Band plays for cocktail hour at 
the Persian Room of the swank 5th 
Aye. hostelry- in. N. Y., and treks to 
Brooklyn Heights (latter's 5th Ave.) 
for night sessibn in Marine Grill. 
He switches froni lower floor to. Bos- 
sert's roof on May 20. 



Feltbii DuQ at Penn 

Philadelphia, May 4. 

Happy Felton Orch completed flyie- 
week stay at . Arcadia-International 
here last Thursday (29) and left for 
Hippodrome, Baltimore. Following 
limited engagement goes to William 
Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh for summer. 

Jules Diike, i t h seven-piece 
combo, comes from Hollenden Hotel, 
Cleveland, Succeed Felton at 
Arcadi . Wprkihg on . week-tp-week 
agreement. 



2 Hits From New Untversars "Top of the Town" 

WHERE ARE YOU ? 
THAT FOOLISH FEELING 

By JIMMY McHUGH and HArCOLD ADAMSON 



SIGMUND ROMBERG AND GUS KAHN'S NEW WALTZ 

A LOVE SONG OF LONG AGO 

FROM MGM'i? "TIIi;V GAVK HIM A OVS" 

LEO FEIST, Inc. 1629 BROADWAY • NEW YORK 



SUMMER CAMPS SEEK 
BANDS, RADIO PiCK-UP 



Summer camps are figuring on 
name bands, and through 'em . netr 
work wires to the waiting wbrld for 
a ballyhoo buildup, i 

To date Totem Lodge and Gros- 
singer's, Catskill camps, Copake, near 
Hudson, N. Y., • Wayne Camp, in 
Wayne County, Pa., and Fairmount 
at Tannersville, N. Y. have put out 
dickers with the three big webs 
for late-night wire accomodations. 

Of the spots, only one has set a 
crew for the summer, Grpssinger's 
having booked Johnny Hauser. Others 
are apparently waiting for an o.k. 
from; one of the webs. Promises are 
being made that* if serviced, canhps 
will book bands worthy, of network 
prestige. 



BOSTON U SETS HITTTON 
AS FIRST FEMME BAND 



Ina Ray Hutton provides first girl 
band date -for the Boston University 
junior prom at the Copley-Plaza 
hotel, Boston, May 7. She hits spot 
while touring. Charlie Shribman's 
ballroom circuit. 

Band also goes into the Earle thea- 
tre, Philadielphia, June 4, doing ^ 
quick repeat on PhiUy date she 
played at the Fox theatre Feb. 5. 



Mai Hallett's Wanderings 

Mai Hallett set for another full 
month by Shribmah office. Com- 
mencing May 5 band plays Recrea- 
tion Hall, Montclair, N. J.; Lake- 
wood Park, Mahanoy, Pa., 6; George- 
town University, Washington, 7; 
Hershey Park, Pa., 8; Polish Home, 
Passaic, N. J.,. 9; Armory, Albany, 
N. Y., 13; Buffalo, N. Y., 14; Oberlin 
College, Columbus, O., 15; Graystone 
ballroom, Detroit, 16; Columbus, O., 
17 to 19; Trianon ballroom, Toledo, 
O., 20; University of Michigan 21; 
Flint, Mich., 22; Trianon ballroom, 
Cleveland, 23; Willows nitery, Pitts- 
burgh, 24 to 26; Oak Grove, Milford, 
Cortn., 27; Franklin and Marishall 
College, Lancaster, Pa., 28; iSUnny- 
brook Park, Pottstown, Pa., 29; Sea- 
side Park, Virginia BeacVi, Va.. 30, 
and eiemson College, Clemson, S. C;, 
■31. 

On May 9 he comes into N. Y. to 
make six sides for Decca and will 
remain for three days, doing H short 
for Warner Bros; on last - two. A 
soiitherrt tour follows eastern dates. 

Not True, Says Mills 

Reports that Hudson-De Lange 
band is touring with pickup musi-i 
cians is erroneous, according to Irv- 
ing Mills, Band dropped three of 
its original crewy and * •wTas ru- 
mored to have been filled ' with 
corny recruits. 

.Nan Wynn is now vocalizing with 
the Hudon-De Lange ban 



, Crosley, in Atlanta 

Atlanta, May 4. 

Andy Kirk and orch will play a 
dance engagement at Shrine Mosque 
here Thursday (C), Tariff set at $1.10 
per person.. 

Bob Crosby's ban , with Kay 
Weber as vocalist, has. been signed 
for .-the final dances at Georgia 
(School of Technology June 10-12. 



HAMMOND ORCAN GETS 
SPECIAL UNION RULE 



Chicago, May 4. 

With the use of the electric (Hatri- 
mond) organ becoming more and. 
more frequent by orchestras; the 
Chicago Federation of Musicians has 
passed a. rule that, where these or- 
gans are ■ fui-riished by ' Musicians 
Union members, a charge for trans- 
pbrtation shall be made in addition' 
to the regular scale. 

Rule states: 'Where Hammond or- 
gans are furnished by members on 
engagements, they shall be required 
tQ charge $5-00 . per engagement fqr 
transportation. On weekly engage- 
ments of four or more days, the 
charge shall be $15.00 per week jiddi- 
tional.' 



Fio Rito, KavanaDgh 
To Fort Worth Expo 

T^d Fio Rito and Ray Kavanaugh 
bands booked for stays at the Pan 
American Expo, Ft. Worth, Tex., by 
Harry Marshall, starting June 12. 
Tio Rito plays for diancing, wliiie 
Kavanaugh musicks the show. 

Georges and Jalna, dancers, also 
set there to replace Veloz and 
Yolanda, who broke engagement to 
trip at Dorchester hotel, London, 
during the crowning. 



Memo: No Connection 



Music Corp., Ltd., of Canada (no 
connection with MCA), is construct- 
ing a new 3,000 capacity ballroom at 
Vancouver, B. C, .to be called the 
Palomar (no connection with orijgi- 
nal Palomar, Los Angeles). 

Spot expected to be ready around 
July 1 and will bie managed by 
Harold Singer. 



Art Shaw Regroups 

Art Shaw, currently at the Capi- 
tol, Washington, has changed his in- 
strumentation setup. . Dropped fiddle 
section and now has four sax, five 
brass, four, rhythm, with Dorothy 
Howe vocalizing.. 

Band goes into Willows, (nitery), 
Pittsburgh, for indefinite run begin- 
ning May 21. Also set for ia week 
at Brighton Beach Baths, Brooklyn, 
N. Y., late in July. Handled by Rock- 
well-O'Keefe. 



Dragon's Summer Ork 

icago, May 4. 

Griflf Williams* orchestra set to re^ 
place the Freddy Martin band at 
the Aragdn ballroom, Andrew. Kar- 
zas 'dansatorium on the northside. 
for the summer. Comes in second 
week in June for the hot season. 

Ted Weems* orchestra took over 
the southside Trianon from Kav 
Kyser orchestra last week, Weems 
in for a month, with Karzas shop- 
ping for an orchestria to handle the 
summer stretch. 

All set through Music Corp. of 
America. 



Robiiiris* Letter 



SLIGHT FACTUAL GAP 
ON MEEKER INCIDENT 

Meniphis, May 4, 
Bobby Meeker, Hotel "^Claridge 
band leader, got a black eye and 
Henry (Ug) Hammond, football star 
signed to plajr pro with Chicago next 
fall, gays he hasn't |a job any longer, 
following ah altercation at the hotel's 
Twentieth Century .Room Friday 
night. 

Hammond, floorman at the Clar- 
Idge, claimed Meeker gdt him fired 
after he (Hammond) 'put a smart 
waiter in his place.' 

Hotel management said Haminond 
had not been' fired. 



j;ack Robbins, music; publishing 
afflhate of Metro, 20th Century-Fox 
and Universal, airs his views on pic- 
ture song exploitation in the Forum 
departihent of this week's issue. 



Helene MiUer with Denny 

Heiene Miller new vocalist with 
Jack Denny orch. Joins crew Fri- 
day (7) when Denny opens at the 
brake hotel, Chicago, for a threes 
week stand. 

Last season understudy to Gracie 
Barrie in legit 'Scandals,' Miss Miller 
has since been solo'ing in niteries. 



Presenls 



Frum 



TOO 
MARVELOUS 
FOR WORDS 

VIENNA DREAMS 



DBAND NEW 



I'M HATIN' THIS 
WAITIN' AROUND 

THE MOON IS IN 
TEARS TONIGHT 

I>oin AVB Prod.. "tUA Galahad" 
A New Smash 

THE UHLE 
OLD FASHIONED 
MUSIC BOX 



HARMS, INC RCA BIdg., N. V. 
MACK GOLDMAN. Prof. Mgr. 



I 




- Just Purchiased. l 

Tlie EiiKlltth Smash Swliifr 
Rhnmba Hit 

'CUBAN 
PETE' 

This Number Stroe; 
The Couhtr.v! 

the Nation's V Waltz 

■ I'avorltcr/ji: ; 

SEVENTH HEWEM' 



HOLLYWOOD SQNG S"^ 

RCA BUIUNNC-RAMOCnV-NCWVOUUiV. 
PMILKOQNHEUER, Ctn.Mqr 



GOR DON and REVEL Click Ag ainl 

in 20th Century-Fox's **WAKE UP AND LIVE!' 
Featuring Walter Winchell, Beh Bernie and Alice Faye 

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS IT'S SWELL OF YOU 
THERE'S A LULL IN MY LIFE WAKE UP AND LIVE 
I'M BUBBLING OVER 

Robbins Music Corporation 799 7th Ave., New York 



Wednesday, y S, 1937 



DANCE TOURS 



VARIETY 



45 



On the Upbeat 



Clyde McCoy engaged lor New 
Penn, Pittsburgh nitery, May 13 to 
26 Exits then for the peabody 
hotel, Memphis opening May 29, 
Beggie Childs follows at New Penn 
6n May 27 to. June 16 ahd.is in turn 
succeeded by Johnny Hamp on June 
24 until July ,7; Lbu Passerolo oper- 
ates the CRA exelusiye spot. 

ranidt orchestra will play 
May 1 and May 8 at Natatorium 
Park, Spokane. Griff William^' br- 
'chestra will appear May 12 at the 
park. Dick Jurgeps' orchestra drew 
.a good crowd in spite of bad 



OR WRITE 




Presents 



From "CHEROKEE STRIP" 

StirrlNi DICK FORAN 
THE GREATEST WESTERN BALLAD 
IN YEARS 

MY LimE 
BUCKAROO 

ScMatloml Ballad 

When My 
Dream Boat 
Comes Home 

. M. WITMARK & SONS 

im sixth Ave.. RCA BIdff.. N. T. 
CHARLIE WARREN^ Pn>£ Mgr. 



.The New Cotton Clab Hlts^ 

WHERE 
IS THE SUH? 
OLD PUNTATION 

Xoveliett' of Love Sontf 

Serenade In the Night 

I'LL NEVER TELL YOU 
I L OVE Y OU 

The Coinedy Sennoitloii of 1037 

I An a Man 

lUSII 




AVOONUOHT 

d 



WOKef AN> l«vflC kV' 

CEELE BWRKE 



exclusive; PUbLlCATlONS Inc 

ll-l^ BROADWAY KLW rOHM 



weather April 27 ai the season's 
oiiener. 



Hal Kemp playing slew of colleges, 
including Rhode Island State^ May 
3; Temple, 5; U. of Rochester, 8; 
Carnegie Tech, 13; North Carolina 
State, Durham, N. C, Junie 5 to 7, 
and tJ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, 
14-15; 



Woody erman band left Rose- 
land Ballroom, N. Y,, and opens to- 
morrow (Thurisday) at the Norman- 
dle Ballroom, Boston, for two weeks. 
Set for single week at Brighton 
Beach Baths, Brooklyn, N. Y. in 
August. 



Bob Crosby band plays Aragoh 
Ballroom, Chicago, week of May 29, 
thien tours theatres and onernighters. 
Now at Congress Casino, Chicago, 
Handled by Rockwell-O'Keefe. 



Ben Paris diropped his own crew 
to handle that of Bob Hackett's new 
eight piece combo. Former just dis- 
solved his band after exiting the 
Theatrical Club, Boston. Hackett's 
mob set for opening of. Chez Bur- 
lesque, Nv Y., in September. 

Pabl Whitieinan, after closinjg at 
the Drakie hotel, Chicago, will orie- 
night it through south starting May 
25, before opening for the summer 
at the Ft, Worth Centennial. 



Otzie Nelson booked for Para- 
mount theatre, N. Y, June 7 with 
Capitol theatre, Washington, follow- 
ing. Bill Kent arranged. 



Guy liombardo, Bienhy Goodman 
and Tommy Dorsey bands set for 
May . 29, 30 and 31, respectively at 
the Steel Pier, A;C., by MCA. 



'toal Grayson is premiere band for 
Energetic Park, Auburn, N. Y., on 
May 15. George Duffy also set for 
June 1 by MCA. 



Bob Crosby opens ait the Aragon, 
ChicagOi May 29, for Rockwell- 
OTCeefe. 



. Johnny Johnson goes into the At- 
lantic City Auditorium, June 16. for 
one week.. i 



, Harold .Smith set at Ansley hotel, 
Atlanta, fOr.'May 15 and on for four 
weeks on ari MCA deal. 



Hugo Mariana followed Rudolph 
Frimlj Jr., at; the French^ Casino, 
N. Y.i this week; 



Stuff Smith going out of the CRA 
office for a tour '.of Charlie Shribr 
man's New England territory. 



Charlie Aghtw 

ballroom, Waukegan, 
May 9. 



the Ring 
starting 



Ellis Kimball opens at Topsy's 
Roost,' San Francisco, June .1, for 
four weeks. CRA set. 



Lee Bennett and Tweet Hogah 
booked for Arnold's Park, Okoboji, 
la., May 23 and June 19 respectively. 



Buis Morgan elated for Fernbrook 
Pavillion, Luzerne, Pa., May 31 for- 
one week. 



itita Bio heading west to hit Pa- 
flcic slope aroUhd June 1, after play- 
ing j(duthwest one-nite territory. 



Charlie Barnet bowe at New Ken- 
more hotel, Albany, May 8. Has an 

NBC wiriBi 



Harry Beser at Graystone ball- 
room, Detroit, May 26. Tom Gen- 
try in f olowihg week. 

Earl HfncB joini Sebastian's Cot- 
ton Club, Culver City; Calif., May 21 
for a month. 



Consolidated has set Bob Perry's 
orchestra for Morrison Hotel Casino 
Paris! GhicagO| to open May 27. 

Will replace Lou Breese. outfit. 



Jack Punri's ork vacated ick 
Pier at Ocean Park, Cal.,, May 3, 
with Bin Fleck's crew taking over. 
Dunn outfit vacationing after 18 
months at the beach. 



Del Courtney moved from West 
Coast tp Netherland-Plaza hotel, 
eincinnati; May i. 



ob McGrew opened at iltmore 
hotel, Dayton, O. 



Charlie Gaylord 

Greene's, Pittsburgh. 



ill 



Earl 



Orchestra at Sebas- 



» Performahce Paradox 



title announcing 
restrictions .by radio on the 
music publishers, Freddie 
Rich was placed in the odd po- 
sition of. making CBS pay a 
.$50 fee Kas a 'grand right') for 
the privilege of Rich perfbrmr 
ing; his own 'Bermuda Sketches', 
suite on CBS. This was as 
part of W. S. Paley's serifes on 
'Americana' to introduce hew 
American musical works. Oh 
the other hand, Rich's P6ntr- 
house Symphony,' when used 
as the maestro's thematic, 
stirai , is gratis. Same goes for. 
other theme songs, altKough, 
during the Warner Brbs.- 
ASGAP imbroglio Paul Whiter 
man found himself unable to 
perform Gershwi 'Rhapsody 
in Blue' under circum- 
stances. 

Ferde Grofe's 'On the Trail' 
movernent from his own, 'Grand 
Canyon Suite' fetches ai $50- 
per-performriance royalty when- 
ever ' used oh the Philip 
Morris commeircial program. 
That's because of its comntier- 
cial value. Meredith Willsbh, 
who composed thie .'O. O. Mct 
Ihtyre Suite,' had to wire his" 
publishers whether he'd be 
subject to a tax rap should be 
perform that number. He was 
told OK. yi i, I!- V 



LABOR UNREST 





.Seasonal opening .of Hershey Park 
ballroom, HersKey Park, . Pa., saw 
Horace Heidt draw 3,500 cutters at 
$1.10 per. May 1. Spot opened a 
week earlier thaii previous years 
I after recent industrial unrest. 

Following night was as big a flop 
as. the preceding night's success for; 
Heidt with only 600 turning out at 
Polish Home, Passaic, N. J. Local 
linion trouble, with pickets parading 
before hall, helped rui ight. 



tian's Cotton Club i 
Cal. 



ity. 



Earl Carpenter's band replaced 
Gus Steck's at Dempsey's, N. Y. 

Vincent Sorey orchestra set at 
Mori's, N. Y., succeeding Eddie Roy, 

Joey Lee's oirk moved in from the 
El Mirador, Palm Springs, to the 
Cliib Marti in Hollywood. 



Johnny DedroU swing aggregation 
Sustai ing oyer WDSU, New^ Or- 
leans. 



Ben Pollack iand. Archie Loveland 
orchs signed with Rockwell-Okeefe.. 



Courtney band goes into 
Nether land PJaza, Cincinnati, this 
week for indefinite stay, Rockwell- 
O'Keefe handling. 



ROckellrO'Keefe set Benny Meroff 
orch into Manhattan Beach Baths. 
Brooklyn, N. Y, for week, in August. 



Lou Bring opens at the Stevens, 
Chicago, May 27. Francis Hunt will 
do the vbcals. 



Jimmy Luncefor^ is being nego- 
tiated for through Rockwell-O'Keefe 
to take up .at Sabastian's Cotton 
Club, Culyer City, Cal,, later in Jhe 
summer. 



Ted Lewis moves into the Chez 
Paris, Chicago, May 15.. 



Mickey Carr's orchestra .' iri for 
suminer spell ait Terrace Gardens, 
Albany. 



Clyde at Beverly Club^ 

Newport, ., starting May 4, 



Lou Breese booked for Chez Paree, 
Chi, late in August. 



Stan Myers doing a Warner ros, 
shbrt through Fanchon & Marco, 



Dick Fidler plays Purdue IT, prom, 
Lafayette, Ind., May 12. 



Dick blxon hit full-year record 
at Gloria Palast, N. Y., this week. 



rt Shaw, opehs the season for 
The Willows, Pittsburgh, on May 21, 



Hal Kemp will open Danny Dqg- 
gan's 'Deck' at Lake Quinsigamond, 
Worcester, Mass., May 4, 



Phladelphia Union Opens Campaign 
To Line Up All Local Dance Spots 



Phila delp hia, May 4, 
Drive of Musicians' Local to union- 
ize bands in all city's niteries got 
under way last week-end" with visits 
by . A. Tomei, prez, and Rex 
Ricardi, secretary, to several spots. 
Pickets will be thrown, around places 
unless proprietors . agree to take on 
;Organized band. 

Initial stabs being made at road- 
wood Hotel and 20th Century. 
Barney Zeeman^ at latter bistro, was 
uhioh until fined $500 in December 
for playing, under scale. 

Tomei declared pickets will; be 
placed around several other niteries 
before proprietors arie called on, 
whiere he thinks reception might.be 
less than cordial. 

announcing drive, Tomei s^iid 
union intehded to be entirely reason- 
able, even ith tapperies nb\\f pay- 
ing $2 per man per night and which 
actually can't afford to pay more, A 
new scale, between; the present B 
and C,, will also be drawn up, he 
said. 



BEACH SPOTS NEAR 
NEW YORK LINED UP 



Beach situation around New York, 
as far as band bookings go, Ipbks tp 
be pretty well ivided- . by Music 
Corp. of America, Consolidated 
Radio Artists and Rock.weU-O'Keefe, 
There will be two exclusive priv- 
ileges at James P. Day operated 
Manhattan, Oriental and Brighton 
Beaches. Tri in the rest 

of gravy. Two exclusives are CRA's 
at Rye Beach, N. Y., and Brighton 
Beach location. Atlantic Beach is 
in hands of receivers, and; still un- 
settled. 

. Chairlie Shribnian office was work- 
ing on a deal for construction of new 
giant pavillion at Oriental which 
later they were to service ith 
bought- bands along with other two 
locations. Deal hias gone cold. 

MCA has already set Hal Kemp, 
Ted Lewis, Abe Lyman, Tommy 
Dorsey, Shep Fields, Bert B.ernie and 
Horace Heidt for dates at Aianhatatn 
during heated • spell. CRA. has set 
Russ Morgan and Harold Stern. 
Rye Beach opens May 15 with Les 
Brown's Duke Blue Devils. All are 
for at least one week stands. 

Frank Dailey, Jack Denny, Mike 
Rlley and Harold Sterns set at 
Brighton. 



Buffalo Band Shifts 

Buffalo, May 4. 
Mai .iiallett orchestra set for a 
one-nighter May 14 in Glen Park, 
Williamsville, Buffalo suburb. Harold 

Austin band. booked for another sea- 
son at Crystal Beach, Canadian rcr 
sort, beginning May 29. Jimmie 
Lunceford conilng in this month for 
an evening in Eagles' aiiditbrium, 
Carltpn (Happy) Hauck is beginning 
his second season in the Alhambra, 
lakeshbre nightery, 

Allan Brooks bands, burned out of 
ballrooms twice with iri the year, is 
back in Glen Park in a new ball- 
room tp replace the one that blazed 
last summer. 

Emilio Caceres now conducting 
and fiddling in Chez Ami minus his 
appendix. 



Harry Moss on Owd 



Ha:rry Moss has left, Charlia 
Green's Consolidated Radio Artists, . 
after being with org since its incisp- 
tiori, to . go on his own in ijand book- 
ing Jjiz.: 

Moss controls Fats Waller, 
Diicon,: Johnny .Messner and Julian 
Wobdworth bands, which, go ith 
him. 



WARREN AND DUBIN 
TOP THE LIST . WITH 

SEPTEMBER 
JH THE RAIN 

MELODY FOR TWO 

SUMME^ NIQHT 
TERRIFIC 

HOW COULD YOU? 

COMaNQ] 

, WARREN and DUblN'S 

I GREAT SCORE FROM 

THE '<S|NOjlNQ MARI 
• 

REMICk MUSIC CORP. 

UM Ibtk AU.. MCA BMt., M. V. 
CHABUa WABIUIi. Wwt. Uf. 



FLASHES' 



And tfoyf The New 
Ifoveltjr Song SeiiMUto 
ThAt lB Stopping AU Sho^VMl 

'THE ORGAN, 
THE MONKEY 
AND ME' 

A SMASH HIT wi 
ON EVERY PROORAM I 



SAM FOX 
PUBLISHING COMPANY 



O'. S'JTH AVfNUf 



. Announcing 
Three Bijt (tona Win 
from "HINO AND UK IIAITV" 
The New 20th Century-F» 
HuhIcuI 

'Sins and Be Happy' 

'What A 
Beautiful Beginninis' 
'Travaiin' Ught' 

Ready Soon! 



r MOVIETONE 
MUSIC CORPORATION 



150 SIXTH AVENUE 



HARRY MOSS 



ANNOUNCES HI RESIGNATION 
io ARTISTS, INC., 
OF BOOkl 



CONSOLIDATED 
ESTABLISHING 
AT 



1650 Broadway, New York, Suite 701, Circle 7-5530 



FATS'' WALLER 

And His ORCHESTRA 

(Ity ArrHn|cttm«nt AVith Flilllp 1.. Vom 

Fate Waller on tour ttarting May 28, write — ^^wirc — phone for opeh 
dates, alao personally repre.sehting the drchaatraa of i 
JCHNNY MESSNER, JULIAN WOODWORTH, 
DIXON and others. ' 



46 



VARfETy 



VAUDE-^NITE CLUBS 



Wednesday, May* 5, 1937 



■J. 




RAY FAIBING 



PRESENTS 




IN HIS 



INGENUES 

THIS WEEK 

OHENTAU CHICAGO 



Wi». 

WISCONSIN NEWS 

COMEDY BILL HEADLINES 
AT PALACE 

:py Cecile Lane 

■i .-. Fresh as a Sprlfiir breeze 
by cornt>ari3pn> Violet ' Carlson, 
wlJcJue slapstick has* ' enhanced 
'several Broadway ' fevues, con- 
VHlses spe^lUitors -with her broad 
Ijfut honfist '. comedy, an* rldicn- 
l(>u« carl^aturiesj ' of ' men : and 
won\eii ■ you have, known." 



Davonpart,. 
THE daily) Tl 

: . We giv6 top honors to 
the attractive little; blond Violet 
Carlson, a ' comedienne; who 
has 'It.' Violet formerly appeared 
\yltli '(Seprge White's Scandals,' 
and. In 'Naughty Marietta,' and 
luis that ceirtain way of putting 
hei'«elC over with the customers. 
She has an ehtertciinlng Uhe of 
comedy that la sure to 'click.' " 



ENTERTAINER REGISTERS 
HIT AT COSMOPOLITAN 
EXHIBITION 



' By Walter A. Simmons 

. . Headline honors go to 
'scr,>\voy' VIolot ('orison, blond, 
il^art-pan cotnedlenno." 

Funst«r Wow« 'Em 

"Miss Carltion panicl^ed 'riuu-a- 
lay night's audience as a; colir 
^f^iim niidlence rarely is pan- 
■I'lcttd, Her humors ranged froia 
the clfin to the elephantine, but 
tli.\v were uniformly, tickling. 

She nindc her entr.i-nre aing- 
tiiff. ill R not-bad voice, aiid 
dad in A inuffy something -wOiicli 
iniidR lipi: look excessively f(ini- 
inlno. Tli<? number, byer; .slie 
(^xiioufi?d- biick step whlcli re- 
vealed a pair unnilatakably 
Millie g.ilo.shes. 

ITt^r comedy . throughout, was 
'.lased on similar incpngrultipH. 

''ast costiinie ohangips (which 
'.•oil can >vatcli' If you sit . In th'' 
lirst few rows on the left- hnnd 
tMlge oC tlie ai itorluhiVadded to 
th-' run and confusion. 

It was oil sheer insanity, ut 
It \V! 'also sheer entertalhmpnt, 
irood foiv k. half, do'/eh belly 
I'uisih.M and; (i procoKsipn of glg- 
. '^los or chncklos, whichever yoii 
^ll(^llll^e ill." 



CEDAR RAPI, 

W. M: 

. '\ ; It is Violet Carlson, ond 
if tlif best coiup.dipnnes on the 
finv;! stage for a long . time, whoiii 
ih>.' audiencc.i like best.'' 



FREDDI 



• 15 YEARS AGO * 

(From, VARmt and Clipper) 



Now it was Mrs. Leslie Carter who 
cut Montreal put of the book. No like 
the criticisms. Few weeks before it 
had been E. H. Sothern and an over- 
time jam, Montreal managed to get 
along. 



Riugling-Barnum show took $700,- 
000 out of N. Y. in fiye weeks. 
Record, 



Paul' Whitemani: i is fourth week 
at the N. Y. Palace and still a puller-, 
i '. Harry Langdon was on the 
same bill in a sketch. Ninth week 
for Whiteman on twp engagements. 



Wi" pf the burley season and 
managers glad. Few had made mpney 
jirid many wiere heavy Ipsers. 



New York had 50 little theatres, 
with 400 active grpups in the entire 
cpuntry. 



May Day strike tpok 450 musicians 
put pf St. Lpuis theatres. 



Nathan- Burkan, lor the American 
Society • of Composers, Authors and 
t'liblishers, seeking to work put some 
method , of taxing radio fpr song 
usage. Westinghpuse Co., ith four 
'stations,' admitted liahility. 



W. Lederer advertising in 
put-pf-tpwn newspapers for nevv 
stage- talent: Heading Broadway Pro- 
ductions, Inc., iflnahcing corp., with 
capital stated to be $1,000,000. 



, - igures showed that - only about 
twp- per cent pf. the season's new 
acts had been clickers. . iefly due to 
inexperience. 



Leo Feist "fighting to restrain 
phonograph people from rslieasing 
recordings of his songs until the 
sheet miisic hais had a chance. 



Seils-FIoto show was trailing the 
R'ingling putftt and Hagenbeck -Wal- 
lace stalking Main's outfit. Old cus- 
tom. 



N. Y, authorities- relaxied the . bah 
on bare legs in burley shows. Had 
been all right in musicalis for some 
time. 



Mollie Fuller of Hallen and Fujler 
in a Chicago hospital totally blind 
and in need. Friends siaW her 
through. 



iry Ape' hailed asp the 
best example pf stage cursi More 
pf a novelty then. 



Strike Forcing 



(Continued from page 3) 



N. 0. House Reverts 
To Str. Pix; No Names 



New Orleans, May 4, 
St. Charles theatre here aban- 
doned stage shows Saturday (2), to 
return to straight picture policy. 

Inability to giet stage shows, pf 
high enough quality ■ to please pat- 
rons was given as reason for shift 
in policy. 



Great Lester, Playing 
Smorgasbord Time; 
May Get Radio Date 



The Great Lester, once the No. 1 
ventriloquist in yaude, is currently 
making a New York cpmeback at the 
Wivel, Swedish restaur.ant-nitery. He 
hasn't shpwn in N. Y. fPr arpund 
seven years. 

Besides the Wivel date, reat 
Lester is aiiditipning fpr a spot on 
Fred Allen's air program, with nego- 
tiations now on for. the ventriloquist 
act' tp follow the Swedish eatery 
date with an engagement , in tjfic 
French Casino's cocktail room, 

Billy Jackson is agenting. 



Dick Stabile Band Set 
For Pitt. Retuni in M 



ittsburgh. May 4. 
Dick Stabile's band, current at 
Chaitterbox, will reppen William 
Penn hotel's sppt in fall. He comes 
back October 1 for four months at" 
healthy boost in-salaigr.. Present en- 
gagement winds lip May 28, af which 
time he'll have dpmpleted 10 weeks, 
here,, 

William' Penn's slimmier ropm. 
Urban Rppf, reopens in three weeks 
with two bands, Happy Felton's and 
Sande Willianis', providing cohti ■■ 
uous music. ■ It's the first time this 
idea has ever been tried in w^rih- 
weather spot, although Chatterbox 
pulled it year ago but Pnly brieflyi 

Stabile's new vocalist, Paula Kelly, 
alumna Pf Major Bowes' ranks, will 
be joined by her sisters shortly , to 
give^ band a trio. Understood also 
that when Gracie Barrie, now in 
'iShow Is On,' becomes Mrs. Stabile 
this summer, she'll join outfit as. fea- 
tured singer. 



Saranac Lake 



season delays afc the studios caused 
by widespread illness among stars 
and featured players, and some 'un- 
usual' Hollywood weather during 
January, threw some of the studios 
weeks i arrears in production 
schedules. Some of the. plants are 
said to be within reach of normal 
producing at present. Any inter- 
ruption would create annpyance. 
' Examination of ngures furnished 
by home offices pf the number pf 
films each plans to release this sea- 
son reveals that there is a disparity, 
of 50 features between the. totals 
listed on distributor contracts and 
the number actually, to be released. 
Early in the 'season 483 features 
Were listed, including half a 

hundred western' and action films 
which are sold on series. Xatest 
cpmpilation of releases shows that 
433 films will be released. 

In. the nine months from last Aur 
gust to May 1 the national distrib- 
uting companies released a total of 
28.5 iclur . There remai 148 
fllmis for listing tp finish ofT the sen- 
son, 

■ Delivery obligations of all dis- 
tributors will be ..met within ■ few 
weeks of July 31, it is believed, pro- 
vided product! , Ich is: now at 
the summer li it in Hollywood, is 
not stopped or deferred. 

, Jusi jurlsdictioniftl 

Industry officials in the east this 
week are viewing the union diffi- 
cuities on the Coast as strictly a 
jurisdictional fight. Belief in N. Y. 
was th^t Hollywood officials would 
let the situation drift for a few (days 
to learn how many were involved. • 

Executives count on oblai ing a 
fair deal with the unions 6n the 
Coast, pointing put companies have 
dealt with the ftve majoi: union,-? for 
12 years, always have had their ac- 
tive co-operation. 



Chi Niterb Uniiig Dp Names, 
Expecting Big Sinnmer Season 



Ghf s Pop-Priced Vaude^ 
Spots Mutually Up Scales 

Chicago, May .4, 
By tacit agreement,, the twp.ppp- 
priced yaudfilm hpuses pf : the Ipop. 
Oriental and State-Lake, have 
boosted their Saturday and Sunday 
evening prices. Oriental goiis tb 
65c.,/Mvhile the State-Lake rides up 
to 55c. 

Both houses have been playing id 
turn-aWay trade on .the week-end 
evenings. 



Fox, Detroit, Switclung 
From Straight Yaude 
To F&M Stage Shows 



Fox theatre, Detroit, operated by 
Dave Idzal, is itching from 
straight vaiide to prbductioii type; 
stage shows, May 21, because pf the 
paucity, of name acts and units. Jesse 
Kaye, of Fanchoh & Marco in New 
Yprk, last week set a deal which in- 
cludes a permanent house line Pf 
16 girls for the Fox, plus F8tM pro- 
viding a prpducer for' the shpws. 

Who the producer will .be has net 
been definitely iset.' The line and the 
stager, however, ^re; as far as F&M 
goes, Idzal himself, as the past, 
booking the acts. 

Fox ' in Detroit is in cpmpetish 
Vi'ith Paraimeunt's ■ Michigan, which 
has been playing costly stage shpws 
right' alphg. Idzal has been meeting 
it right along uiitil . the names and 
b.b. units became, scarce..' He- fig- 
ures the . productipn pplicy tp. last 
thrpugh 'the summer. 



Sirs. Tom (Francis) , Diamond doihg 
well at the Trudeau San, Trudeau, 
N. Y. 

Hairy Martin here looking for a 
soft summer spot where the fish are 
tame. 

Five years or morp of. strictly in 
bed and still smiling are Alice Car- 
man, Margaret Newell, Ethel Clouds, 
Mafya Blake, Dick Moore, Fred 
Rith. Ford Raymond, Armond Monte, 
Ghnrije Barrett. 

Lee LaMar, who has a decade of 
ozoning up here, to get a. break over 
local WNBZ as ivory tickler. 

Camile Carpentier (Boston RKO) 
all pepped up over a good report. 

Johnnie De Giovanni bedding it; 
ditto fbr Bill Janney. 

At, Will Rogers' Hospiial > 

Sylvia Abbott; Tommy Abbott; 
Marya Blake; Marion Cannon; Ca- 
mile Carpentier; Fifi Climas; Ethel 
Clouds; John De Giovanni; Alfred 
De Lpraine; Jack Edwards; Charles 
Foster; Melvin Fox; Doris Gascoigne; 
Harry ■ Gordon;, Marion Greene; BilL 
Janey; Dorothy Krusa; Beatrice Lee; 
John Louden; Peggy McCarthy; Ed 
'McGushi ; Mollie Mantel; Armond • 
Monte; i chard Moore; Mima Motse; 
Margaret . Newell; Cora. O'Conncll; 
Joe Parker; Salvadore Ragone; Ford 
Raymond;, Fred liith; ' Eddi RosS; 
Michael Schultz; Ben Schaffer: Garry 
Sltgriiaves; Brian racy; ' Pauline 
Tunicky: Rose Karp; John T. Dona- 
hue; William Milne: Robert W! 
Bur , 'Mark Vance; Willard Patter- 
son; Joseph Ti ; Danny Lee; Jules 
Zwilling; Eddie Dowd. 

In the yillai:e 
Claude Lawson, 68 Lake Flower 
avenue; Chris Hagedorn, 28 Church 
street; Tommy Vicks, Russ Kelly, 19 
Broadway; Jimmy Cannon, North- 
woods San; Ray ketchem, 10 South 
Hope street; Harry and Charlie Bar- 
rett, 302 Broadway; Mannie Lowy, 
18 Academy street; Alice Carinan; ,36 
Lake Flower avenue; George Ander- 
son, 91 Broadway; Mrs. Eugene 
Platzman, 28 Church street; illian 
Mansfield, Riverside Drive; Lee 
La' Mar^ S, S. Cottage; Helen 
O'Reilly, 40 Main street. 

Write to .those you know In Sara 
nac or elsewhere who are .sick. 



Pitt/sNo. 1 Roadhouse 
Okayed for Liquor 

Pittsburgh, May 4. 
Pbssi ility that Bill Green, opera- 
tor of most flpurishing roadhpuse in 
this district, might have tp shut 
down, was eliminated over week- 
end when Pennsylvania Liquor Cpn- 
trol Board okayed his booze license 
for another year. Green was pinched 
recently , for having slot, machines 
in his nitery 'and subsequently fined 
$300. 

Liquor law in this state forbids 
any gambling devices in spots is- 
pensing alcohol and Grieen was 
.hreatened with revocation of his 
icense time.. He insisted racket, 
czars. forced him to put in machines 
against his will and testified tp that 
effect before grand jiiry, also nam- 
ng higher-ups which resulted in 
flock of arrests. 

Charlie Gay lord's band is current 
at Green's, succeeding Bob McGrew. 



itH. Shows in Chi 
Vaude House Cgmpetish 



Chicago, May 4. 
Battle on currently between- the 
Balaban & Katz Chicago and the 
RKO Palace its shows, both 
houses Claiming to be ptesanting the 
meat' of the show which closed last 
week at the Casino Parisien in the 
Morrison hotel. 

Chicago has the 'Revue Montpar- 
nasst** with the production, the 
scenery and Emile Boreo frpm the 
Clasino. Howeveir," the Palace has. 
Buster Shaver midgets, live 

and George, Bredwi ,. who 

were also 'Montparnasse' 
revue. 



M.C.'s SLICE 
Au permanent mis- 

ress of ies at Warner's 

Kirle, Washi , underwent ah 
emergency appeiidectomy last week. 
Recovering nicely. 



icagp, May 4. 
biggest 

seasPn since the. Wprld's Fair years, 

local niteries are' beginning to lirie 

up - special, names and attractions,. 

with . the . spots which formerly . 

along without marquee-shock talent 
oii the hunt for names for ;the new 
policy. 

, Among these niteries. are the Con- 
tinental Room: of the Stevens, Which 
stiirts pff this new pplicy by bring- 
ing in Lillian Rpth tp head its floor 
show;'- Cpcbanut rpve rpaderie, 
which * negotiating for the Ted 
Lewis orchestra; the Ben-Ai'r road- 
sppt, ich is talking for, Sophie 
Tucker at $2,500 fbr. a four-week 
deal. And then there is the. Casinb' 
Parisien in the Hotel Morrison, 
which has decided to switch its next 
show from the' straight production 
and niide policy :to a b.o. iiame. ti'y. 

•Number of conventions' booked for 
Chi this summer are ahead of any.r 
thing since 1934, with the hotels al- 
ready almost cpmpletely bppked fpr 
the ^Braddock-Louis fight; 



CURTIS & ALLEN REP 
NITERY REVUE TOURS 



Curtis & Alien agency this week 
took Pver the agenting of the touring 
Hollywood rest., N. Y., revue. Unit 
had been handled .by NBC's artists*' 
bureau and featuires Jack Waldron 
and Iris Adrian. 

C & A also s^t a deal with. Jay Fag- 
gen, operator of the Harlem Uproar 
House, Broadway nitiery, to ?end its 
current colored floor show out as a 
unit. Erskine Hawki * orchestra, 
will be featured. 



Now Appearing 

CLEO BROWN 
ROY ELDMDGE 

And' Band 



ff 



AT THE 

"Home of Swing 

In Chicago 



FAMOUS 
THREE DEUCES 

222 North State St. 



olive: 





AL 




May 1st to 31st 
'Teniks," Krakow, Poland 





Weanesday, May S, 1937 



VAUDB-NITB CLUBS 



47 




VAUDFS HOPES HIGH 



Anti-Strippg 
Outposts Oh 



. A reform movement against the- 
atres and jiiteries using off-color en- 
tertainment appears to be gaining 
national momentum 6n the heels of 
NeiV York's shutdown of all bur- 
lesque theatres; Action is now being 
taken or planned ih several keys, in- 
cluding Montreal, Cahdda. All emu- 
late Ni Y. City which, after numer- 
ous coinplaints from church and 
civic groups, laist week riefused to 
renew the licenses of 14 strip-em- 

, In Chicago, burlesque and night 
club opei'ators; are adinitt^dly pa- 
icky about the ■eastern trends. Ghi 
has alWay#api)1i'ared to to^ N. Y.'s 
lead in taking the "Wrips off show 
business, putting them on. A 
Broadway jref brm wave, burlesque 
and nitery' iiien ih GhX. « 
bound reflect on the midwest 
city's miiaei , of entertainment. 

Out-of-town; analysis of ,N. Y.'s 
drastic step is best exemplified by 
the statement made yesterday (Mon- 
day) in Washington by Wilbur La- 
Roe, chairman of the (Civic. Affairs 
Committee, of the Washih^n Fed- 
eration of Churches. In declaring 
that he would file a complaint with 
the police against th(B Capital's lone 
bur lesk. house, LaRoe said: 

'There*s no sense in the Capital 
putting up With a condition New 
York will not tolerate.' 

Detroit police have already, started 
a cleanup drive on thai eity'-s niter- 
ies, chiefly - snit)ing' at sirippers and 
female impersonators. A conference 
on the Situation there is scheduled 
to be held, - today between Police 
Sup^rintfendenf Fred W. Fi-ahni^ and 
the operators of eight niteries... 

Rising antipathy to smut and nu- 

ity in the liiteries: first came to the 
surface a few weeks ago in Chicago, 
with Detroit later showing the same 
trend, -when the top hotel and nitery 
ops objected to the . Chicago papers 
mingling the adveirtisements of the 
joints with the Grade A spots. One 
result of this was ' the . ban by th6 
Chicago Daily News^ on ads and pub- 
licity copy from the hideaway spots. 
A week or so later Hearst followed 
suit In Detroit, but as yet hasn't 
taken steps in Chicago. 




PHILLY NITERY STRIKE 
NEARS SETTLEMENT 



Philadielphia, May 4. 

Strike pf wa iters at. Arcadia-Inter- 
hationail Was settled eixcept for two 
issues at liieeting here, yesterday 
(Mbnday). Final agreement, posr 
sibly will be reached tbday/ 

Pickets: were, called oift Friday 
night (30) when Operator Art Padula 
refused to confer while they were 
parading. 



Radio ActsNo 
Draw at M. 
Charity Show 



Buffalo, May 4. 

An array, of 'radio stars failed to 
draw as eifpected at Buffalo*^ firist 
annual Joint Charities and Commun- 
ity Fund Towri Party, held Thurs- 
day night (27 X in the mammoth new 
state armory. 

Walt^ O'Keefe was ..m.c., Jane 
Froman, Tom Howard, George Shel-' 
ton, Frank Crumit, Julia Slandtrson, 
the Four Eton Boys .and Arthur 
BPran were among the widely pub- 
lipized entertainers. Around 15,000 
customers were expected, but only 
3,0b0 showed. 

Although the. committee Isn't say- 
ing much about it, the nut was prob- 
ably over. $9,000, with the loss com- 
ing to around $5,000. 



Mo Nitery Op Holds 
Pubfic Office 1 D»y, 
Thea Came tlie War 



Detroit's Dirtve 

Detroit, May -4. 

Opening shot, in :police cleanup 
drive on local ' nocturne spots re- 
sulted in the arrest Saturday (1) of 
Chang Lee, stripper billed, as a Chi- 
nese princess at the Corktown Tav- 
ern, on charges of dancfng in the 
nude. She was released on $300 
bond on disorderly conduct count. 

Raid, ort nitery is first of new at- . 
tempt ;to j:rd town -of : obscene floor; 
shows,, according to Police Supt. Fred' 
W, Fr^hm, who has ordered owners 
of eight local spots to conference to- 
morrow (Wed.).;: FoBime irnpsj strip- 
tease acts land 'back to:;n'?i.ture' 9h6,ws 
must go, Frahm decre'^d-'after nam- 
erous coritplairttf from katives. -Strip- 
tease turns have only recently made 
headway In local niteries, while riiale 
revues have do|hinated nocturne eh-^ 
% here for some months. ' 

■^••Frahm also charges entertainers 
nave been accepting invitations to 
drink with patrons at tables, in viola- 
tion of state .. liquor la\vs; 

Eight nit(^ clubs, AdrhoSe owners 
have been, siimnrioned by Frahrii, are 
d rench Casino, Club Mayfair, Froh-i 
tenac Cafe,',Glub. Villir D, Ber'nhardt*s 
Blue Larftern, :Black, Cat Cafe, Gam.' 
'''^^s.Inn, and Goeldi*s Cafe. 
_ MeanAvhile, state" liquor commish 
niday (30) extended curfew on. De. 
iroit and outstate nite spots, aimed 
as blow to increasing niimber of 
speakeasies. Ruling gives clubs bxtra! 
naif hour for patrons to sip drinks, 
to 2^30 ?^ ^^'^ time from 2 

And in Canada, Too 

X ' Montreal, May 4. 

A.death-biDw to 30 of Montreal's 
;:,'y^eries was delivered Saturday 

/ by Hon.. Maurice Duplessis, Ere- 
and Attorney General of 
'Quebec; when he refused .theni '^ - 

ewai of their danpe. floor licenses." 
^upiessis stated that the nibve 'ivas 



Baltimorie, May 4. 

Max Cohen, who operates Oasis 
here, was appointed justice of thp 
peace by Governor Nice and held of- 
fice for exactly one day. The honor, 
a somewhat empty one, carries with 
it privilege of acknowledging legal 
documents, and sitting in precinct 
courts upon appointment by chief of 
police.) , 

Morning and Evening Sun here, 
however, used appointment to fur- 
ther rib Governor Nice. Hue and 
cry gathered momentum from Vari- 
bus .reform circles and Nice re- 
quested Cohen resign his commis- 
sion,; which he did pronto. 

Oasis, located ...in I slum section, 
plays lip location and low dowrt 
policy in its advertising and has Op- 
erated at . same spot for 10 years, 
'ebheh, who makes a hobby of ppli- 
tics, topk.appointnfient as a gag. 

made} In the interests of morality 
after a six-month investigation by 
the city , police. 

" Cabarets still, have thejr liquor 
licehises. but ,thei pblice have^ recom- 
"njended withdrawal cif these also. 

Nix on dancing and therefore floor 
shbWs in the" 30 niteries here is a 
severe blow to musicians. 



Checking; Phllly Niteries 

:Philadeiphi , May 4. _ 
shows and general cpndir 
tions in every nitery in Pennsy will 
be^given the official o.o. by state 
inspector.';,. rders were, .handed 
down by Liquor Contfol Board Sat- 
urday -(1). It claimed it vi/as. dls-, 
satisfied with job now being done 
by Ideal enforcement official.*;. Board 
said check was prompted by 'ap-' 
palling conditions.' 

'With more than .14,000 places 
holding, liquor licenses,' said board, 
'we. have be.en depending to great 
extent. on lo.cal authbritics to enforce 
laW on Sunday "sale.<vj sales to minors, 
sale's after hours.- sales to intoxicaited 
persons.. arid. ';fof 'd^fcency of floor 
shbws.' 



If and When the 14 Strip 
Tease Emporiums. Are 
Permanently Bannedi Va- 
riety Entertainment and 
Unit Shows Will Move In 



MINSKYS HAVE PLANS 



Shutdown, of Neiiir York's 14 bur-r 
leisque theatres Saturday <1), via the 
refusal of License Commissionier 
Paul Moss to renew thfir licenses: is 
expected to refl^fiftneftiaTOComt 
vaudeville. If and whejx the .b^n on 
burlesque ismade pernrianeht 'By "tlipB^ 
courts; the trade seel the hurley ops 
turning to variety entertainment in 
a semi-production form. 

Denial of licenses to the 14 thea- 
tres does not mean a corhplete shut- 
down for these, houses, as some be- 
lievet. It- holds only so far as the 
showing of burlesque entertainnrient 
.as" Objected to by vafioiis N.. Y. 
church and civic bodies, with 
licensing probably readily forth- 
coming it the policies switch to 
vaudeville, pictures or legit. 

Already talking vaude policies of 
one form or another , are the Gaiety, 
at 46th and Broad^vay, aiid Minskys' 
Oriental, iB'way and 5lst street. 
Former hoiise is Operated by Abe 
Minsky land Izzy Herk, while H. K, 
and Morton Minsky are the im^ 
presat'.ios at the Oriental. 

According to tentative plans, the 
Oriental will play stage shows of the 
unit style, while, the Gaiety, will .also 
haVe unit productions. Other, im- 
portant hurley houses, such as the 
Republic, Eltinge, Irving Place and 
People's, are waiting for a final de- 
cision froni the courts on th6 legality 
of Moss' refuisal to renew the bur- 
lesque licenses before thinking about 
other policies. 

Oriental is set to adopt the col- 
ored-shoAv policy May . 14, at a grind 
scale of 2?-35-55c. Sani Stiefel, oper- 
ator of three. Negro vaudflirhersl the. 
Royal, Balto; Nixon-Grand, Philly, 
and Howard, Washington, yesterday 
CTuesday) concluded a deal with the 
Minsky BroSi whereby he will open 
his shows at the Oriental before 
touring the trio of theatres he. oper-r 
ates. 

First flesh layout at' the Oriental 
will consist of a unit built aroUnd 
Lucky Millinder's band. The Don 
Redman . crew will backbone the 
show outlined for the second stanza. 

Apollo I theatre on 42nd street, be- 
cause pf ;an agreement between the 
owner of the jproperty and. Max 
Wilne.r & Emmeft Callahan (Ariii 
Corio's husband), burlesk ops, will 
have to adopt some sort of stage 
policy or else go dark. Lffa.se ' was 
worded so. as to protect the 'Times 
Square, next door to the Apollo , and 
under the o-arne ownership, fronri op- 
position to its grind picture policy. 

. Burlesque's switch to variety, talent 
will mean the elimination of strip- 
i>ers and nudity and.a. returri to the 
burlesque of 60 years ago, -when it 
was called varieity and was a family 
entertainmerit. It actually started to 
get dirty around the early ISBO's, 
when there was a schisrn i it§ ranks,' 
the cl.eaher side becoming vaudeville', 
and Ihe other, latei: on, burlei.sque. 

Greatest benefit of ' burlesque's 
probable reformation will fall to the 
vaudeville performer, and eventually 
to shdw .bi2 in igeneral, through pro-' 
viding a developing, ground for acts 
that has been absent for the past 
several years. Years ago, burlesque 
was the most prolific talent feeding 
ground for v.aude and legit talent; 
To mention a few, those who came 
\ it of burlesque included James 
Barton, Sophie Tucker, Fannie Brice. 
Jack Pearl, Bert Lahr, .Weber and 
Fields, Willie and Eugene Howard, 
Bbbby Clark. 

It will rhean a greatei' stress on 
comedy, somiething , that has been a 
routine ind set thing in burlesque 
fbr the past eight ot 10 yeahs. ftesult 
was that few ,n6v/ cbmedinn.s have 
been developed in the paSt six years, 



Jersey Siiore (fitenes, Strawliats 
BoD Up for Tre-Depresh' Sumiiier 



CHI CHEZ PAREE SETS 
TED LEWIS, 3G SHOW 



Chicago, May 4; 
Ted. Lewi's' orchestra goes into the 
Chez Paree here May 25 for a five- 
week stay. Reported in at $5,000 
net. 

Replaces the . Henry Busse oirches- 
tra which goes out for a road tour, 
but will be ba6k on the Chez band- 
stand on July 2. 

With the Lewis orchestra and a 
floor show costing' around : $i3,<l00 be- 
sides, itrwiU -be one' of )khe-most< ex-- 
pensive.'Oafe shows in" the 'history-' of 
:ft|t<iry biz in .Chii ^ 





RAMO DATES 




Jack Benny and Mary Livingston 
have been signed as a free-act by 
the Greater Texas, Pan-American 
Exposition in Dallas for three days, 
July 3-5, They'll do one— show 
nightly, with salary for the date set 
at $15,500. 

..Performiahce will be in the Cotton 
Bowl, stadium seating nearly 60,000. 
Adrhish will be gratia. 

Figured by the expo officials that 
the No. 1 radio comedy act will draw 
plenty of visitors to the. expo 
grounds. 

Expo last week also signatured Art 
Jarrett and Jack Arthur as singers 
for the Casino nitery, Both open 
with the expo June.ii?, Jarrett for 
10 weeks and Arthur for si Jack 
Kiotz agentedi 



WB Bicycling Special 
Unit in Chi to Gauge 
Vaude's B.O. Reaction 



Chicago, May 4. 

Real instance of bicycling between 
theatres' is taking place around the 
sputhside Warner Bro.s. houses, this 
week, with Bob Hawk, local ether 
fav, biking his 'Radio Swing Revue' 
show between at least two theatres 
each evening. 

Hawk's unit plays, for instance^ 
the Highland for the 8:151 p.m. show, 
and then makes the Ogdcn- for the 
a;30 show. Warners is. using .this 
unit idea in a special b.b. cam ign 
oh the southside to see wh^t it 
means in the. face of double features. 



MacQuarrie Hits Road 

oliy'wood. May 4, 
.Haven MacQuarrie opens a 
week tour at the State-'Lake, Chi- 
cago, May, 14. 

He will recruit local tialent for his 
*Do You Want To Be Ah Actor?' 
skit'. ' 



DAVIS BACK TO YAUDE 

. Pittsburgh,' May 4. 

Fi i.shed with his flicker choit* in 
Par's 'Mountain Music,' Rufe avi.s, 
hill-billy -comic, returns east .this 
w^ek for vaude dates. 

He opens here at Stanley Friday 
(7) on -bill ■ Guy Lpmbardg'.^ 
band and jimmy and Nora BelJ. 



Doubling Schhozz 

Chicago, May 4; 

-Closing of 'Red Hot and' Blue* 
Saturday (1), lets Jimmy Durante 
double between Chez Paree .'i hd Chi- 
cago theatre, rather than Chez and 
rRed Hot,' 

Set for Chicago week of '14th. 



Asbury\Park, N. j.. May 4. 

Anticipating the best season since 
pre-depression days, the Korth Jer- 
sey coast is burning the niidftight 
oil to present a solid front of enter- 
tainment enterprise to the summer 
vacash trade. Niteries are going . the 
lirriit in new furniture and flxturesj 
while the seashore straw hat circuit 
is tidying half a dozen spots for 
stock. ■ . 

Ralph Maurice is slated for an- 
other seasbn at Ross-Fenton J^arms 
on Deal Lake, and plans the usual 
week-end importations Of Broadway 
tqlent.' Trocaderb, a flop last sum-., 
rner, ill try to climb out of the 
ri^d, ith a new*" syndicate jiank- 
rolling the West End spot. Jimmy 
Isola has .enlarged and renovated 
his Kingsley Arms ,retreat. Guido 
gpes back to Mon Paris at thfe Mon- 
mouth County Country Club, while 
Tory's, and the Mai^on Folci are 
dressing up for Memorial Day .'open- 
ingsj'. although they have been op- 
erating at a profit all winter. 

'The Monterey Hotel will stick to , 
Meyer Davis musip, and the Berke- 
ley-Carteret will retain Connie At- 
kinson's band in Crystal Room. 
Andy Kress combo is due back at 
Avon Inn, and Ada Walsh already 
is dishing out torch times at the 
.Coleman House. .. Vivian jQhnson, 
whose: Monmouth Beach spot burned 
down two seasons aiio, is negotiating 
for the same Long Branch spot she 
occupied last sumrher. 

Floatinf Strawhat 

Newest wrinkle in summer the- 
atres, has popped up at Long Branch, 
where the Mary Patten— one-time 
flagship Of the New York, and Long 
Branch steanftboat company— will be 
converted into a sHow boat. Backers 
plan to use a sister ship, the Little 
Silyer, as a floating nitery, with a 
gangpilank connecting the two 'siide- 
\yheelers now anchored in,, the 
Shrewsbury River. State ABC Cpm- 
missioner D, Frederick Burnett 'has 
been asked by Long Branch officials- 
to approve liquor license for the 
Little Silver. 

The Warren Players will: return 
tp Spring Lake; the Monmouth. Com- 
munity Players have taken over the 
Deal Con.servatoire, leased last sear 
son by the Fiske-Hammpnd outfit 
which produced "Timber House.' The 
Point Pleasant F'layshop plans an- 
other season of revivals aiid several 
new plays; 

Boardwalk entertainment will 
touch a hew high. Name bands have 
caught on at Walter Reade's Casino, 
and Reade is readying the beach- 
front auditorium for matinee danc- 
ing. The Convention Hall, also un- 
der ■ Reade management on a five- 
year lease with this resort town, may 
house 'professional sports, although^ 
no deals have been closed. 

William Hoffman, of New York, 
has taken over the Long Branch 
greyhound raping,, plant for two 
years, and will bring midget aUto 
racers bacTc: to the shore, runhing 
two. nights a week. Night baseball, 
arid the usual roundi of Sunday polo, 
state golfing, events and watpr car- 
nivails wiU complete thp outdoor 
prograpi. 

. The annual Sea* right invitation 
tennfs tournamehti one of the high- 
lights pf the Eastern net carnpaign, 
will , be held the week of July 2f>, 
and the National Sweepstakes, out- 
standing. .speedboat classic, will take 
place dh the iShrewsbury River, Au 
14-16. 



Bergen, Gray SpHl 



Hollywood, Miay 4, 
Jerry Bergen has moved oyer froni 
tlie Club Gasanov.- to Parampuivt for 
a comedy part in 'Artists -anil. 
'Mptiels' following 100 conjjccutive 
weeks i nitery illy Gray, 

who goe.s east for engagements. 

Casanovji's rj.cw .«'hov; includes, 
Howard's band, Beth Wilson, 
'and Josephine Leach, and 
Weber. 



48 



VARIETY 



VAUDE-NITE CLUBS 



Wednegday, May 5, 1937 



Nitery, FoDow-Ups 



estaiur^nt LaRue; N. Y„ remains 
©ne oi those nicer, environments 
which haven't been dverrpublicizedi 
save in the judicious i society chan- 
nels, with result the" mob hasn't 
started to pile in., That's been a 
penalty^ too often, of some of the 
overly w.k. class joints, proving thait 
ballyhoo can work both ways, espe-. 
cially since the Bx'oadway columns 
have virtually become house-organs 
for this or that sp6t. Frances Mad- 
dux is the hew feature, a returner 
here, and is .:one of the milder .ex- 
poherits of the school of pianplogiists 
whose i'low songs wow high hats,' to 
re-quote a recent Variety headline. 
Her stuff is pert but not too saucy^ 
and she has a ice style of selling 
■if Eddie Davis' competent dance 
combo is strong musical backer-up- 
per for the tferp tiunesi and . the al- 
ternating rhumba . combo is there 
for the Latin, and waltz tempos* 



; Barney Gallant's new spot in 
Greenwich Village is distinguished 
among other items by the geograph- 
ical note which indicates how far 
the 'Village' is spreading. . Its focal 
axis • still is Sheridan . and Washing- 
ton Squares, but G.V., from all indi- 
cations, is due'for a hew boom, What 
with more building, improved condir 
tions and general rehabilitation of 
the sector. 

lock of nevir niteries downtown 
hear the .Washihgtdn Arch and there 
are more pubs and taverns now in 
the field, in that limited • area, thani 
ever before. 

Club Barney, as Gallant calls it, 
is comeback venture for the 
former 'Mayor of Greenwich Vil- 
lage.' It's a two-story room, with a 



JUST SICNEP BY 
PARAMOUNT PICTURE^ 

for 

''The Big Broadcast of 1938" 



spacious downstairs bar ahd an even 
larger air-conditioned 'upstairs 
dining room. No dance music, just 
a few specialists — accordion, pianiste, 
et al., withal as chi-chi and attract- 
ive an environnient as in the halcyon 
Gallant days.. That the table d'hote 
is now $1.50 and the drinks mod- 
erately priced; is, of course, in keep- 
ing with the trend of the times.. 



New Raleiffh Roohi of the Hotel 
Warwick, NJ . Y., , has . caught oh- to 
such a degree with Jack Kerr's or-; 
chestra for the cocktail dansants that 
Sunday sessions have, been added. 
New barmen, however, if you ask 
for a new (to them ) drink, or some 
special recipe, have speakeasy price 
ideas just because the drinks are 
a: little toiighfer to rhix. Howeverj 
the captain usually iadjusts that, as 
has. Occurred., This is the room 
which is border-lined: with pseudo- 
crests of N..;Y. notables, as the. artist 
conceived, them; if the said per- 
sonalities had coats-of-arms. 



TITO 
GUIZAR 



Now Headlining 

LOEWS STATE, NEW YORK 
THIS WEEK (April 29) 



ie Leonard as. a nitery attrac- 
tion is jnore than a casual click. . To 
begin with, in the apropos setting 
and .background of Bill Hardy's. Gaiy 
Nineties spot; N, Y., Leonard, has .all 
the necessary environment.. Given a 
respectful buildup by his assQciiates, 
the vet jnipstrel rnan prpves; anew 
why, he. was the: iirst comedian to: 
make 'Ida.' ■ popular. Then 'came 
Eddie Cantor^ >Idsi.' ' 

Leortard; ■ undier dork, ih.'impec- 
. cable minstrelsy regalia! '1^- la - flrie 
figure, :lithe aiKi. youthful; he belies 
any vet antiquity as he troupies his 
ballads in grand manner. 

ptherwise, Bill'^ Gay Nineties re- 
mains a landmark. Jerry White is at 
the helm with his piaihology and ar- 
rangements; Rudy Madison, a juve 
of much promise, whanis 'em with 
his ballads; Ethel Gilbert, is an ef- 
fectivei prima and the- rest of. the 
stock company continues per usual, 
And behind the scenes is Bill Hardy, 
cousin of Jack (and Charlie; 21 
Club), who are also interested in 
this institution. 



Burlesk Ban 




Managamcint 

Columbia Artists, Inc. 



Nick Bates, since taking over the 
Maisonette Russe (the Old Helen 
Morgan Club spot, and not . the 
Maisonette in the Hotel St. Regis, 
N. Y.) has relabeled part of the 

J lace . the Merry-Go-Round. •. That 
ates back to his speakeasy back- 
ground, when the M-Gr Round was a 
faye oasis. However, the hybrid 
name— calling the outer bar by one 
hame, and the dining room the 
Maisonette Russs — seems a needless-; 
ly coinplicated proposition. Be that 
as it may, -however, in Harry Rosen- 
thal the Maisonette is<taking on new 
gusto. Rosenthal's dansapatioh has 
always been , ultra and he's attract-, 
ing a smart bunch. Incidentally, 
Roijenthal is slated to open in the 
new de luxe restaurant at the Paris 
Exposition in June. 



Sonny Kehdis, now batoning the 
dance music of; the No. 1 band at the 
Stork Club, will make a rep for him: 
self. He's of the Eddy Duchin style 
of pianologistic-maestros, and the 
way he marathons the dance se.<!- 
sions and has the kids on the hoof 
constantly augurs well f oi: this nitery 
dance, band newcomer. He's a 
youngster who arranges his own 
stuff and manifests ah unusual flair 
in his style of dispensing the ' terp 
tunes. Gus Martel is alternate band 
for the tango-rhumba sets. ' 

The Stork remains the Stork, get- 
ting a polyglot bunch on . certain 
nights, and quite Chi-chi. on Others. 



The THEATRE of the STARS 



BOOKING AGENCY 

GENERAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES 

LOEW BLDG. ANNEX 

160 WEST 46T» ST. NEW YORK 



J . H . L U B I N 

GENERAL MANAGER 

SIDNEY H. PIERMONT 

BOOKING MANAGER 



(Continued from page 1), 



garded merely as routine. Burlesque 
has reached the point where the 
frankest exponents of a/ istrippery 
are covered by about six square 
inches of cloth and a pair of slippers.- 
Beyphd that it is not possible to go 
in the public eye. Solo and hiass 
nudity having gone the' distance, 
there is nothing to : look forward to 
in .this direction. Perhaps the new. 
dispensation may , force a return to 
the halcyon days of bMrlesque, when 
it fea:ilV was entertainment. , 

It has always been a fact that dirt 
and cleverness did not consort in 
burlesque; When Sam Scribner took 
oyer the Columbia wheel and forced 
a clean-up, it became necessary to 
be funny instead of smutty. It has 
been ..claimed by some that eyehtu- 
ally burlesque was made so clean 
that it ceased to interest, This is not 
the fact. The reiail 'ahswier is that,' 
with cleanei: ■ performances, the 
comedians wiere better able to show 
their mettle and wer6 snapped up 
fpr^ musical comedy and vaudeville. 

From thie time burlescjiie was de- 
veloped by Ida Siddons, around 1880, 
the burlesque stag0 has always been 
a ,to its . more dignified 

brahche?.. ^t has :supplied Broadway 
with scb^s'bf -co of the cali- 

bire of. Dah .McAvpy, Matthews and 
Bulger ahd - the ir like, but roadway 
managers looked askance at bur- 
lesque comics becaiise Of their tend- 
ency to go blue if." the laiighs lan- 
guished. With th6 comedians show- 
ing they could be clean and clever 
at the same time, the take-up was 
more rapid and the ranks of bur- 
lesque were depleted of its ace coriie- 
dians more.rapHlly than a new sup- 
ply could be trained. 

Sicribner's Last Stand 

At that time New York was imder 
the double wrap of Scribner oh the 
inside and the police on the outside. 
It is only 15 years ago that the poUce 
finally consented to lay off burlesque 
shows- in . which the girls were per- 
mitted to' appear with bare legs. 
Diagonally across the street from the 
Columbia theatre (now the Mayfair, 
picture house, on Seventh avenue 
and 47th street, N. Y.), the Winter 
Garden had gone in for the extremes 
of nudity at a time when bare legs 
a. few hundred feet , away meant a 
court summons. Burlesquie clamored 
for equal rights, iarid got them., never 
realizing that, there was this impor- 
tant difference: that the "Wfinter Gar- 
den displays and those at similar 
legitimate houses were tempered 
with taste and artistic feeling. When 
they became the burlesque displays' 
they were just flesh, wherein lay the 
difference, just as it does today. 

But burlesque saw only the fact of 
flesh; not its possibilities. It had lost 
its dependable comedians. ' The less 
iexperienced newcomers felt that 
with .nudity a draw it was less in- 
cumbent upon them to give value re- 
ceived. They no longer worried 
abput their material. They were 
merely there to space the gapS be- 
tween- strippers, and they became 
more and more apathetic- They 
ceiased all effort, accepting without 
protest their relegatiohi The stages 
which saw the pranks of Bert Leslie,: 
Joe Penner, Jack Pearl, and others 
of that rank were given Over to a 
dispirited ctew who mumbled the 
lines of the standard 'bif and let it 
go at that. 

Plenty of Good Talent 

if the Legion of Decency suc- 
ceeds in driving Crass hudity. out of 
burlesque it may. upset conditions 
for a time, biit it may ■ mean the 
remaking of burlesque on older and 
sounder lines. ;it may, at long last, 
prove to be thie salvation iaiid not the 
damnation of burlesque. 
"-. It is nobody's, secreit that .even tor 
day there are i the ranks of the 
burlesque comedians men competent 
to do far better things if forced to 
carry the shows. They see no reason 
for exerting themselves today be;- 
cause they not only play s,ecohd fid- 
dle, but are working to a distinctly 
inferior class of mentality than was 
represented by the audi iices of 20 
years ago; If they are! forced to 
carry the burden, many of them can 
give cpmpptent performances and- it 
will be .only, a question Pf time. when 
the Pld patronage returns to provide 
proper appreoiatioh. Burlesque may 
not' only come back to its own, but 
it may move into the slpt once oc- 
cupied by the straight, vaudeville 
shows. Trade oiDsevvers report a 
growing demand foc yaudeville in 
the back country. It is: possible that 
burlesque can supply this demand; 

Still within the memory of the 
old timers is the success of Mortimer 
Tjiiess' 'Wine, Women and Song' 
which; following its premiere, was 
taken /off the wheel and installed at 



Percy . G. Williams* Circle, where it 
prospered for an entire season. 
Mahy have not forgottpn Harry Mor- 
ris' 'A Night on Broadway,' a Berlin 
operetta which had two big seasons 
and was offered a summer run at 
that same circle. Morris was vaca- 
tioning, in Germany and beat Al 
Woods to the rpppef ty by 24 hours. 
Still fresher Jii^nieinory is recol- 
lection of the Jean Bedini produc- 
tions, several of which ran at the 
Columbi during the summer fol- 
lowing a prpsperPus season on the 
road. : • 

■ It: is merely a: question pf rjecruit- 
ing a- proper . Company, getti a 
good vehicle,, dressing it smartly and 
not top extravagantly, and keeping 
it clean. 

Burlesque is elastic; more so, per- 
haps, than any pther fprm of theat- 
rical entertainment; Back around 
1902 Harry Morris, laying Chi^ 
cago engagement, ran . into a New 
York critic, • there on a Til 
show you burlesque at very 
worst/ he offered, 'on conditiPn that 
ypii say in your notice, that when 
I bring my show into New York it 
will be clean.' 

The promise was made and the 
critic was: taken with the troupe to 
St. Loiiis, where Morris sought to 
beat (and did) the record of Rice 
and Biarton, who had beaten his lowh 
earlier-in-the-season top figures. He 
augmented his show with a trpupe" of: 
seven cdoch dancers andThe Girl in 
Blue|^ regarded as the most daring 
dancer of the day. The opening day 
at the Standard, theatre Mprris or- 
dered the curtain dpwn on the finale 
of hPr dance. It was a little too 
tough foi" hihi.. Three months, later 
he brought the shovi^, a ti-avesty on 
'Cyranp de Bergerac,' into New York 
and -won the apprpval of two toiigh 
writers oh the dally papers for the 
cleverness of his :work. "The same 
show, but in New York, played 'as 
reheatsed.' In. St. Louis it was 
dirtied almost beyond recognition. 
A burlesque troupe gauged the per- 
formance to suit the temper of the 
town. It can be dpne tpday. 

Give them such shows as Scri - 
her's 'MPrniiig Glories,' Li Law- 
rence Weber's ^'Dainty DucheSs' and 
his '.Parisian Widows,* .remove the 
competition of the strip-tease, and 
burlesque may again come to the 
fore. It may take a year or two to; 
reclaim the old patrons, but it caih 
be. done, and ; with eventual profit. 

it is useless to -fight against, the 
combined religious forces Pf the 
Catholic Church, the Pi-otestant pr- 
ganizations and those of the Jewish 
faith, all solidly banded together and 
flushed v/ith their^ triumph over nio- 
tion pictures. The next best thing is- 
to admit defeat and begin anew 
uppn another tack. It is futile to. 
argue that it will not be possible to 
populate the road with clean bur- 
lesques when, there are fewer than 
half a. dozen good musicals a season 
in New York. Burlesque does not 
require as much. Less will be ex- 
pected of it and the investment for 
ah entire show will require leSs coin 
than the cost of two sets of costumieis 
for a Broadway musical. 

The public is growihg tired of the 
strip-tease. It has seen all there is 
to see. It will fall of its own lack 
Pf pirogress presently. It may very 
well happen that the Minskys with 
their blatant and exuberant press 
work have unwittingly dpne the. 
business a good turn in goading the: 
churchly folk into an anti-burlesque 
crusade.! 



Nitery Reviews 



Marlow Staples Fallis 
At L.A. ; Back Broken 

LPs Angeled, May 4. 
Marlow Staples sustained a broken 
back and a possible skull fracture in 
a fall at the Hippbdrome theatre 
Sunday (2). The trapeze performer 
fell whien a mouth strap broke. 

Toby Wirig'j Toiir 

Hollywoodj May 4. 

"Toby Wing and Bob Qakly ill 
open a three-week swing around the ; 
midwest on a personal appearance 
•toiir. Starting May 27i 

First stand will be the StateTLake,' 



MAYFAIR 

(BOSTON) 

Boston, May 1. 
For past.two seasons there havi* 
been many reports and promises oE 
big name bookings in local niteries 
There have been flashes in the pan- 
but nothinjg important has been don ' 
about' it until late this season. Gei- 
trude Niesen is the current entry iu 
an impressive list of names includ- 
ing Hal LeRoy, Belle Baker and 
Benny 'Fields, who have come and 
conquered. 

With a $1.50'~ihinimum and no 
cover, th<e policy has. some of the 
local situp boys baffled; "but Ben 
Ginsburg continues to book 'em in to 
the tune of hahdsofne biz. Theo- 
retically, chiselers can buy one drink 
and catch the show from the adja- 
cent . lounge <bar, but this small-tim- 
ing has thus far been negligible. 

Well-stocked: with nifty arrange- 
ments, .an abundance of s.a., and an 
engaging! husky voice that demands 
attention, Miss Niesen vocaled four 
tunes when -caught. Three of these 
were standards '('Heat Wave,' 'Cii-: 
caracha' aiid. 'St. Louis'). 'Where 
Are You' was her fourth offeringv 
and slightly niore interesting be- 
cause hot sp hackneyed pn stage .and 
nitery, floor. •< 

Ross Irwin, m.c, is another soli 
singer on the current bill and two 
standard numbers' ('Marie', and 
'Comme Ca') won 'him a-deifiahd for: 
more. .He obliges ; later ' by vocal-t' 
ing 'Miss Otis Regrets' for Avila and 
JJile, dance team, who give, a.; mode rri 
interpretation of the number.. . -Of 
three nunibers by this duo, the 'Otis' 
specialty , is by far . the best. Janis 
Williams appears twice in taps and 
fast aero, adding needed action to a 
generally slow-paced show. 

Joe Smith's band has been here 
for past four months and is filling, 
the bill for dancers; although foir 
sideliners it offers little diversion 
from the conventional. Smith han- 
dles himself with dignity and . thie 
right amount of "grin and gestures. 
Dud Goldman, violinist, plays for the 
act Competently. . 

Jane Whitney, With the band; is 
easy on the eyes and ears. Pete 
Herman sings cbmiedy and scat,' and 
Al Maglita vocals the ballads. 

' Fox. 



GAUCHO, N. Y. 

Dimitri's Club Gaucho is a Green- 
wich Village institution in N. Y. It's, 
an intime basement boite, of the 
vintage which really bespeaks the 
'Village of yesteryeiar in atmosphere 
and adheres to a high standard al- 
though- at more or less pop pirice via 
a $1.50 and $2 table d'hote, etc. 

The dancing team of Helen Virgil 
and Dimitri is the chief floor show 
interlude, with the latter, who hosts 
the. place, also ni.c.'ing and generally 
greeting. Apparently it's principailly 
a personality draw proposition and 
th^ whyfore is obvious.- Miss Virgil 
is a tallish, but personable, via-a-vis 
as dance partner. She's Mrs. D. in 
private life. 

Current floor show hiotif is 'Mexi- 
can Fiestas,' with respective special- 
ists. Vaccarp's GaUchos,. a fetching 
dance band, mixes up the Latin 
rhythms with the foxtrotology. 
Vaccaro conducts -via his accordion 
and he's quite a feature, in himself 
with his windjammer. Trini Plaza 
is the prima and okay. There's also 
a cute soubret, name not caught, 
and a trio frPni the band (which 
numbers five) to rPund the Mexican 
motif. Abel. 



Joan Abbott, Yacht Club, Chicago, 
four weeks starting May 14. 



AGENTS 



Everyday, Convaleaceat 
Greetlni; Cards 
In Boxed Asnortmentn '. 
yofy Liberal. Commlssloni, 
Write for partlcolani 
DOROTHEA ANTEL 
23C WeBt 72Bd St. .New York. N. T. 



Show . People All the World Over Will 
Be Interested to Know Tlmt 
THEI 

TAILOR 

(Vonnerly iit 29, Wardqor StreetV 
la Now Located at Mora 'Comin6rlioU6< 
Pretnlpea at 
75/77, Shaftesbury Avenue 
riCCADII.LT. LONDON. UNO. 



ne inieresiea to ivnow 

SIDNEYFISHER 



Paul Spor Turns Teacher 1 

"Toledp, May 4, 
Paul Spor is out of the night club ; 

emceeing to operate training Schools 

for would-be professioiialS, 
His last m. c. dale at Kin Wa Low 

club here. 


THE SHOW 
EAtEPY j 

LINDY'S 

LEICESTER SQUARE 


MAE 

u A r Y Yvm A 


HERBERT 

r-^^0%w A nmr 


l>.\>'('KK.«i l)KM<illTli"i;LLY DIFFliktENT 


CASINO CONGRESS 


HOTEL, CHICAGO 


Mst. llAKltY Kir.lt V 


K/VDIO CITY. NkW YIMIK 



Wednesdny, May 5, 1937 



VARIETY 






NEXT WEEK (May 10) 
THIS WEEK (May 3) 

Numeral* in corfntction with bills below in(dicat« open! 

.•how, whether full or spjit week 



RKO 



CHICAGO 

BUBter Shaver 
Bred wins 
SUi 



, CM1VEI.ANI) 
Palace (30).. 
Bebe Barrl Girls 
Frltchard & JjOicJ 
Stevens Sia . 
F :& G Huliert 
Wlnl Shaw 
BlUy House Co 
SAN FRANCISCO 
.Golden Gate (7) 
O'lsen &: Johnson ' 
SCHENECXA1>X 
Proctor's (7) 
Red Hot & Beautin 



Lo^w 



NiSlW YORK CITY 
Stat« (6) 

NTG.". . „ 
BAT.TIMQRB 
. Centurr (7) 

Horace . Hel<It ' re 

xiSMPins 

;a 'Stat«..X7): 



■ Roger ..PryoT Ore 
WASHINGTON 
Capitol (7) 

.Dave Jones. Cp-. 
Jack. Lla. Vier 
Anna May "Wonfir . 
Mitchell & j:>urHnt 



NOW AT 
ib EDDIE^S/ NEW YORK 
N£I^ON'S 



Vi tEDDY A SMITH 



Paiamoiiiit 



NEW YORK CITY 
Pbtamaant (5) 

Xavler Cugat Bd 
Mary Small 
Orlg Dixieland. Bd 
Roslta; Ortega ' 
Del Casino 
Larry Blake 
AUSTIN 
Paramount (7) 
JfaJ Bowes'- U 
BOSTON 
Aretrbpolltnn (7) 
SoiiB of. Desert 
Barr & Estes 
Cohdos Bros 
Tito Gulzar 
Johnny PerUtna- 
.Owen 'McCilvney 
Miss America' 
CHICAGO 
Chicago (7) 
.IiOdls Armstrong B 



Oriental (7) 

Jackie Heller i 

MICHIGAN' 
, Detroit (.7) . . 
Anita Jakobl 
Bert Nagle Co. 
Johnny ~Burki9 
Ja.ck Starnes Co. 
Chester Hale Co 

FT. WORTH 
Worth (7) 
MaJ Bowes Unit 

MONTREAli 
(7) 

Nada & B Parez 
Gosfl & Barrows 
Prancla & Carroll 
Charlie. Keinper 

TORONTO 
• Shea's (7) 

C Calloway Ore 



Gall.Iard 

Ellen' Kaiier .& P 

IPSWICH 
Ititz 

George Robey 
3 Galores 
Togo 

ISfJNf.TON 
Blue Hull 

1st haU (a- 5) 
Shenton 3 
3. Radio Kamblers 

2na .half (6-8) 
Helen BInnle 
Equlllo Bros 

KINGSTON 
..K'lnplre 
GeraUlo Ore 
>''red<lle Forbes-.. 
Giovanni. 

Brown'g & Starr 
Joe, .laqKsoh Jr 
P & V I^nnbx 
.Reglna Floria 
H^nry D Adams- 
LEWISHAM 
PulHce 
Mahtovanl Ore 

LEyTONSTONE 
Rlalto 

Wilfred Greene 6 
Keith Wilbur 
ATidre & CuriJir 
SHEPHERDS 

ncsH 

Pavilion 

Renara 

Dollnoft & Raya Sle 



STRATFORD 
Htraatlwity 

Fjcnhk Wilson 
Rolls Bros. 
Iiewis & 'li^wn 
STREATHAM 
.Paluce 
M'ahlovnnl Qro 
TOOTING 
Gruniula' 
Joset Blank.. Co 
Dave Poole 
Xieon .'& Liioette 
TOTTENHAM 
Paia<'e 
Pointer il 
Uintoni . Bros 
Lillian Bu'rgi.s.q 
TOTTENHAM 
■ COURT ROAD 
Parumuuht 
Anton Bd 

■Levis'. Dlanoverles . 
TUN BRIDGE.. 
WEtLS 
Rlti 

Paiitzer'a Midgets 
Victor M'oreton . 
J & E IDesmohde- 
IV ALTH A3I STOW 
Granuda - 
Alec Pleon 
Delfoht & Toko 
Callente & Partner 
WOKING 

BItB 

Pojpeye the Sailor 
Pred Bamberger ' ■ 
K Sn 3 Winnoh 
Rose & May 



Pravinciai 



Week of May 3 



^ EIJM1RA 
>Keeney'8 <S-«> 

Sally Rand . Rev 
XANCASTEB - 
Capitol (10-12) 

Cbmlque Contln't's 

PHliLADELPHTA 
'.Allegheny (6-8) 
Paul & Esther 
3 Reasons 
Clyde. Hager 
' Balabanbw '6 

Earle (7) 
, flally Rand Co 
(30) 

Woolford'a Pets 
'3'. Sophisticates' 
Hal Sherman 
Milt Brltton Bd 

Fox (7) 
Louise Masisey & W 
Patricia Bowman. 
^ (30) 
Pave Appllon Co 



Nixon (6-7) 
ContlJi'nt'l Thrillers 
Allen & Hoover 
Top Hat Rhythms 

Oxford (6t8) 
Emll St Evelyn 
Johnny Gladmere 
Earl La'vere Co- 
Rhythm Jamboree 
PITTSBURGH 
Stanley (7) 
Guy Lombardo Ore- 
• (30) 

Ina Ray Hutton Bd 
King & Sinclair 2 
Al Bernle 

BEADING 
Astor (7-8) 
Hardeen . 

(Three to fim 
AVASHINGTON 
Earle (7) 
Shep Fields & Show 

■' (30) 
Roger Pryor Ore 



:AB|ERDEEN 
- . Tlvoll 
Dave Willis 
Cllft ; Harley; 
Florence- 
Jee Boys 
Jimmy McKtnley 
Vera McLean. 
10 Tiller Girls 
J & P Desmond 
Bud Martin & Pthr 
BECKENHAM 

Regiil 
Tommy . Handley 
Fay.re 4 ■ 
Cllft Cook i' 
Masu & YuH 
' CA:HiBRIDGX: 

Ciiieiiia 
D Wakefield .with 
B Nelson, G O'Neill 
& ^ Butler 
.6 . Cle'vettes 
Don &' Dorette 
Culpitt & Glenrose 
Ernest Shannon 
Blondle . Hai-tley 
Archie Elray 
CARDIFF 

Cripltol 

Hutch 

Danr/el & Boy 
EDINBURGH 
Royal 

Jack Anthony 
Bond Rowell 
Shevm'n Fisher 'Is 
Act Superb 
Jas Calvert 
Dennis Boys & R 
Neller &. Clare 
Harum Si Scarum 
Carson ' Sis 
Hilda Mcacham 
K Hnrvey & -Ptnr 

ei.tHasi 

Puliice 

LuBsller Bros 



eiit 



CHICAGO 
,^8lat» lake (7) 

Monr'e. St Adttnis. Si's 
Anthony & Rdgers 
6 DecardoB . 
Heller & RHey 

Sybil Roth 

Garner, 'Wolfe. & H 
lNI>IANAPOUS 
;.IO'rlc..(7) 
MnJ Bowes'< Rev 
KANSAS CITY 
■ , Tower (7) 
Major Bowes Co 



MEMPHIS 
Orpheum (8) 

3'; Flames . 
Liicas. & L'iaSalle . 
Roy CummlhKS; .Co 
Harmonica Rascals 
3 Elites. . 
Ted ..Cook 

Okt^HOMA CITY 

yVaTMt (7- 

Halri'y Savoy . 
Loiilse' Tobin 



London 



Week of May 3 



amblevs 



rool( 



. New Victoria 
txinns from fjhows 
Victoria Piilnoe 

(Wceltfi May 

Will Mnhonoy 
yic. Oliver 

"'ificll & West 

1 aul nemos Co . 

f*l<o Hoys 

•loo ' Griffin 

f vle Hay,.fl. 

^" Vic Palace G-la 



CAMIIEN TOMN 
Gnuniiint 

Nlto i) 
Lee DonJ) . 
Collinson & Poan 
EAST IIAJI 
Griinuda 
Wilfrid Green C 
Keith. AVllliur 
(Sautler's Br'lcIiVy'. 

Preniu'r 
Frtinlt Wilson 
Holls Pros 
Lewis' & . Lawn' 
EDMONTON 
Emplr^ 
AleC Picon 
Belfont & Toko 
Callente & P'tner 
FINSBURY PARK 

Astoria , 
Billy Cotton Bd 
UAMIMKKSMI'III 
Palace 
Rentira 



Liptonettes 
Van Duck. . 
Frank 'Boston .- 
GLASGOW 
Paramount 
Rlniacs 

Pavilion 
Dixon & Pal 
Pegleg Bates 
Walter Jackson 
S & M Harrison 
'Xerry Wilson 
Ormonde Sis 
Pat Hyde 
3 Raye Girls 
Brodle & Steele 
GRAVESEND 
Majetitia 
Tom Jersey 
Lorando; 'Thorpe & 
St'nt'n Co as hook'd 
KINGSTON 
Union. Cinema 
Union Cln . Lad Ac 
Bd Gypsy Nina 
Carlyle Cousins 
Stapf'd &McN'eHt'n 
Randolph Suttoh; 
Radlolympta Girls 
LEEDS 
. Faram.bunt 
Muiilc Hall Boys 
l/EVENSHVOIE 
KIngsway 
.T Gerrard 'Comp 
XJVEKPOOL 
. Paramount 
Al Bbwly 
Pola & Barry 
MANCHESTER 
. Paranioont 
Teddy Joyce Bd 
SOUTHEND 
Blvoll 
8 Step Sister 
Beryl Orde 
Fred Hudson 
Ciaphuin & ' D.wyer 



Cabaret Bills 



NEW YpEK CITY 

Cotton Club 

Ethel Waters • 
Geo D Washington 
NiohOlns Bros 
buUe EUlngton Ore 
Besxte Dudley 
3 Giants. of. R'yth'm 
Ivie Anderson 
Alan & Anise 
.Mardo Brown 
M'ay Digges 
Wen ..Taibetf Choir 
iiJd ITallory Qrch 
.Bill Bailey 

Jack DempsieT't 

E .Carpenter • , rC 

Dtt Pierrot's 
Joe Feser E h a" 
Jane Stanley 
Tom & CHnrlle, 
Loijlee Brydoti' 



Bnrney Gallant's 

June Elkins 
Luan '^King 
3 Musical Rogues 
Merl & MerJam 



Eddie' T-eonar 
Rudy. Madison 
Spike Ifarrlson 
Kihei Gilbert 
Henry Laniarr 

Cafe Ball 

qhlC:'Farmer 
Eddie .Lambert 
Roger Steele Ore 
Jack ■■ VVallace Ore 



Jac<iueline Joyce 
Mai'-Kfe- Hart 
Buddv Wagner Ore 
Vic. liydq ■ 
Aihia .'Hray ■ 
Joiiri VIck.ers 
PcJirl Reynolds 
AVarren - .Bodee. 
It ('(I MrlCpn^le Ore 
Rila Hciifiu • 
Plill Siixft' 
Mliry 

Cnllente 

.Beth Ilnlir.r 
.Kol'-n Sbaw 
II mil Wayn 
if.'.'ivril fii-H 
3- llhydnii Boy. 
Calicrilp' Cabflitro* 

idliiitcaii Moderne 

TiOiilse Rn'.vinpn' 
Allan FoK.ipY 
Al Apblluu'Orc 



Vnrrarii'.f' ' 
.1 ().•;(! J I ill v! 
'I'r.lnt JMir/.a 
Krli-n Viriill 
Diiiillri 

CI III* 

J.oi)n' Adiiin 
AT rtonsnn 
Shirley ■ Watts: 
Neil Stone 

Club Wimurl 
AritoMlo.& CarHo 
'SarllA ifei-j-Jirji 
Rosita Ort'pga 
Don Hllberto Ore 



Chita 

Lori Rancheros 8 
Adellna Durari 
Carlos Montoya: 
RosUa RIos - , 
Don Alberto Ore 
El ItlbroccO ' 
Ernie, Hoist Oco: 
El Toreartbr 
.Ben«ro &. H(.'rr 
jN'c a' M.oni*.'. .. 
Kaiisto . Dc'lgailo 
AleOaVdg' 

French Cnslno 

Adnlet. 
Koral Bonga 
Retly Urite. 
Metiy Brtice. 
Florence Oil umbecoij. 
Hilda' Klfoiiie 
Roir Holbein 
'.lolinily yo 
Xiivlor Lpmertlor 

V 'Miii-.ivillaB 
»ci<lvor.i ■ 

■Jllioenrads 
•Florciico . Spencer 

Tiilliil). & Myl 

Ij'ls Wayne 

Vega Asp 

11. Frlnil, Jr., Ore 

V .'i'rnvcrs- Ore 
C- Cromwell '"Ore 

. Frolic*) 
Ralph Walkl re 
Joe Lewis 



Terry Lawler 
Of)hlns:.& Lessy 
y<>x & Ante's ■ 
Andrews Sis 
Jack Gilford 
Alfredo^ R'mba Co, 

GneBwIch Vlllag* 
Casino 

Alleen xjonk 
Vera Dunn- 
Peter Raiidall 
Ann Stuart 
Duryea's -Doll 
Variety 4 '. 
Clyde Brehnan Ore 

Rarieni Uproar 

Ersktne H'wldna lid 
Lillian Fitzgerald 
Edna Mae Holley 
Eddie ^strrph 
B, Castle & Scott 
Mae' Brown .. 
Willie Jackson 
Tiny 'B'ipch 
Lovey Lane 
Fairbanks S'is 
Dee L McKay 
Ebony. Ra.scalB 
Fred & Ginger 
Ed wards ' Sis 
Pauline Bryant' 
Thielma Middleton 

Hickory -lloiiKe 

Joe' Marsala Ore 
H'iyw^d Keslanr^nl 

Mitchell A'yres Ore 
June Lorraine- 
Del Casliio 
6 Debonulrs 
Tahla & KirsOXf 
■L. Manning & Mitzl 
Kay. T«Lylor . 
Bobby' JoyciB. . ..^ 
Ted Adair 
Patricia- Gllmore 
Charmion . > 
Agnes & T Ni Jr 
Ruth Gaylor - 

otcl Aatb'r - 

Eddie Elklhs Ore 
Campbell's -Roy'lsts 
Floria Yestolt 

Hotel Dlitmo 

Carl -Ho ft Or'o 
Florence. & Alvarez 

Internationals 
Albeniic'e 

otcl 

Bobby' Hayes Oro 
Ralph 'Torres ' 
Theodora Brobka'' 
Oscar Dey.e 
Muriel Byrd 
Bob Berry 

Hotel E^aez aodM 

Nat Brandwynne' O. 
Harris. & Ashburn 
4, Rhythym Boys , 
Mailn*' Tapplii 
Dick Stone 

Hotel Elfth Ave 
Roy Strum Oro 
Hotel Gov. Clinton 

Stuart Jules 
Kay Marshall . 
Ray O'Hara Oro 
otei Lexlngtoa 

07.7,le Nelson- Ore 
Shirley Lloyd 
Jeno Bartal Ore 

Hotel LlDculpi 

laham Jones- Ore 
Hotel HcAlpIn 

Enoch Light Oro 
-Mary Daitils 
A Go.nznlea Eita 
Muriel Sherman. 
Hotel Montt'litlr. 

Coral -lalan'dera 
Hnl Hope Oro 
Bill Lincoln 
Hotel Murray Hill 
(Fountain Room) 

Joe CappI Ore 
Nancy Garner 

ilotcl NeW; Vorl(«' 

Liennle HaytOn Ore 
Andy/ ibna Oro 
Pepplhp ,& Beatrice 
ilolcl Park Central 
Jerry Blaine Oro 
Roscoe Alls 
Dorothy Jeflers 
Betty Lewla 
Elaine & Barry 

' Hotel . Park liane 

junloi' Raphael Ore 
Hotel Pennsylvania 

Bunny Bcrigan Ore 

Hotel PIcGnailly 

"Trent Patterson 
Toni Gaye 
Arno. &. Zola . 
Jerry fltiewart 
Daye iSchooler Ore 
Hotel Pierre 

Basil Fomeen Ore. 
Anne Heath 
Pepplno & Camllle 

otcl i'lnza 
Veloz & Toliinda 
Eddie Duchin Ore 
Will McCune Ore 

Hotel Rouse ve it 
Chas' Dorhbergcr Or 
Hotel Snivoi -piaca 

•Sheila Ba;rret 
.Emiie Petti. Ore 
Hbtel Shcltoh. 
Joseph Zatour Qrc- 

' Hotel St. George 
(llrboklyn)'. 

Ell- ' Dfirit'/lg 
3 Mack Bios 
: R-Ha 

Hotel St. 

Jiirk Sliorr 
Grisha '' 

Hntipl. St: 
(irldiuin ooiii) 

Ehiil- ('6l<-hia,n' .'.pre 
Raiiion",^, lli'iiiia,. 
.S'Ui>i)y Forho 



B«t«l Tan 

Qae, HaU Oro 
Dolly Dawn 
Johnny McKeever 

Hotel . Vanderltllt 

Eddie Lkno Ore 
Goodeile & Farrlaa 
Dorothy Howe 

jlotet WaldorN 
- Aatpria 

Leo - Relnrhan Oro 
Edgar Bergen ' ' 
Xavler Cugat Oro- 
Eve Symlngitoh 
Georges & Jalna 

Hotel Wellington 

Ed Mayehoft Oro 
oter Weyiln 

Alex Pogarty . 
Charlie Wright 
•llmmy. Kelly'fi 

Lionel Rand -.Oro 
Joe Oapello Ore 
Montmartre Boys 
(barter it. Schauta 
■Timmie ' Clostelio ' 
3 Raymonds 
Daiiny Iliggihs 

'Larue 

Prances ' Maddux - 
Eddie Davis Oro 
Carlo- &. Norma 

iWirel-ln-Pinea . 
(Lake'woud, N. J.) 

Terry- Green 

vlona & -Marina " 

Fred Berhens Oro 

I>e ' CoQ Roii'ge 
Horaclb Zttoi Oic 
X« Mirage 

Roberta Jona'y ' 
Roy ■ Rector:: 
Maryoh' Dale . . ■ ; 
•Slboncy Rhiimba 4 
Voodoo" 'Dancer' 
Alice Wellman 
Jlrti "Karney 
Wanda Goll 
The: Ald'aos 
Harry Horton Ore -. 
Cookie' Willlt'ma Or 
Leon A 'Ed(ili»'a 

Wllllan) Farmef Ore 
Eddie ' Davis 
Rose Blane 
Billy Reed 
NelBohs' Cats' 
Lea Perrin . 
Haines Tate & S 
Lane[ &. Carrol. . 

Heyry-Oo-Bpuii 

Nadla kortflz , 
Sylvle $t Claire 
Harry Rosenthal Or 
Boris Koretzky Bha' 
Toiiy Sarg Co. 

lilon Paria 
0«n« Fosdlck Qro 
Laurence White 

Marlon Pierce 
Versatile 3 

Onyx Clob 

• Siilrita of Rhythm 
Stuff Smith Bd 
rnradlaa. 

jahtce Anore 
Richard & Caraoh 
Barto St Mann . 
Joe & Betty Lee 
Mary Roland 
Billy & B Bemia 
3 Cdissackn. 
Florence & Alvarez 
Johnny Riisseil 
Jay Freeman Oro 
Place Elegante' 
\BIU Farrell 
Mario. Bdslnl 
Toto Cahglosl' 
Rex Gavltte 
Larry Made Ore 

Rainbow Grill 

Bmery 'beutsch .Ore 
Dee. Collins 
Evalyn Tyner 
C & L Bonner 
Glover & La Mae 
BalnboTC ICoom . 
Ruby Newman Oro. 
Holland Sr. Hart . 
Eleanor Sheridan. 
Dr. Sydney Rosa 
Evelyn Tyner 
Alec Templeton 
Eddie LeDaron rc 
^tork Club 

Sonny- Kehdis Ore 
GUfa Martel Ore 
Tavern On Green 

Hughle Barrett Ore 
UbangI Club 

Oviei Alston Ore 
3 Gobs 
Otis Brown- 
Mae- Johnson 
Tondelayo ■ 
Gladys -B.Ghilcy 
Vulhnlla 
Maurice Siiaw.' Ore 
MarltJi 
I,orraine . 
Rond liai .■ 

Veranlllea 

Eddie. Oarr 
•terry. Ifahler, 
Roslta /t. Foni.an'ft . 
MeadoWbrooli'Boyt 

.; Village Riirh 
Larry. McMalion 
B Flying WhtrJos 
WlUle. Solar 
M MonlKOinOry . . 
•Barn'f t '.& I'lirker 
Iva KItcheU . 
Bourbon '&. Oalhe 
Jean' Kirk. 
Hank Ranvflcy' 
•Johnny ll.u.ssell 
- Rutii (jravpri 
'Tex Lewis- Cow boy is; 

Viihigo llrcwcrjr 

Harry 'Wall.ic.e Ore 
Jlniniy JJurifs 

Vftciit 

Anil PcnnlpKton 
;i )la(\ltp1-:';iici;)',s 
Tiny 'VVol.f 
.1 () li li ny ■:S.'.- (U'hTiie 
Art Stanley 



Hawaiian Paradlaa 

■Wanda ' 
Diana Toy 
Sol Brlghta; Oiro 
Little Club 

Tiny Meredith 
Jane Jone^ 
Paul Kendall 
Helep WarheT 
Rose Valyda 
Marti 
Joey Lee .Ore 
Omair'a Oom* 

Gagnoti ift.'BroVigh^n 
Dorothy Roberts 
Naomi Warner 
Speck Watklns 
Loyca Graham 
George. Redhiun Ore 

Paclilo Suiiaet Club 

Peggy Pa 

Vlokl.Feiy; 

Kitig SiHtpV.if-.. 

Janet Jordan. 
Buddy l.a Rli 
Al Heath ;Orc 

I'Mloniii'r 

The Reddtngl<)ns" ,' 
Biil Burt . . 
Stanley- Hickman 
Mu/.'zy ■ Marccllino 

DebiitanteM 
Hudson Metzger Is 



Ted Flo :Rlto 

FarlH Inn 

Domlnia cbiumbo 
!Ken '-Henryson 
Gabrlelle .& Cellila 
Xvoiine 

Rudy & LriToaca 
Thora Afalthnlsoh 
Marguerlta del Rio 
Juan de Martin la. 
Pete Contrelll Oro 

8e>ven iSeaa. 

Lily Gibson 

Lonnle Mclntire- Oj- 

jSomer$et Houa«; 

Betty Bordo 
Bill Zorker 
Camllle. Saray 

Top . 

The Dee; SI si e ra 
H6nril6 I-ind 
Dorcjthy Roy 
Glngar Weldon 
Pat Carroll. 
Mnxlno Mn'ifiner 
. I.eoiia. Rice' 
•Tune- Morgan 
-irerie.'B*rry 
Agries .Tohnsoh 
Al i!;ldredRe Oro 

Trocudero 
Phil Oh man Or 



Mark Fisher Ore, 
EuHter Sc '..Hazeilon 
jlelene Carol 
Helen. Park; 
j;eiry & Turk 

laeHli 

,To6. Sanders 
Ruth & n. Ambrose 
Jarie Krty 
Paul Ol.sen 

.Cliea Pare* 

Cross, & Dunn 
Minor & Root 
Jack -Wllllama 
Mai-iora ' ■• ;'•. 
Thorne. & White 
'Henry Busse Orch, 
Poh Cumminga ' 

Oiub .Alabiara 

Virginia. Ja'inea 
Buddy. & Betty 
Bernard & Henry 
Mae Sia 

Aft Willlania .Ore , 

Club Chesterfleld 

Patt Morgan. 
Devon SJfl 
Hariett Norria 
Sid. Schaps 
Alice Ijogiin 

Club -Brayflo weir 

3 Variety Boys 
Mildred Rock • 

4 McNally .Sin 
Buddy & Selma 
4 Rhythm Girla 
Lou\ Sales Oro 

Club Inbet 

Alvlha Morton 
Dorothy Wall 
Dee Downing 
Jane LaVonne. 
BUlle Roberts 
Jerry Glidden Ofo 

Coloslmpi 

.^Don Enrico 
Bob Tinsley 
Juno St. Clair 
Stroud t 
Willie Shore 
Louiti Miller 
Gould Sis 
Bobby: Dnndera.. 
B & F Gilbert 

Congreaa Hotel 
(Caalnb) 

Bob' Crosby Orch. 
Chick Kndor 
Ghas FarreJl 
Kay Weber 
Halllday Sc Clark 
Howard Brobks 
The CruBUdera 

(Joy. OO'a 
Colleen 

Georgia Lucky- 
Low King 
Jules Novlt. Qro 
Marion' Miller 
Joan HouHlon 
Jean Bradley 
Jack Ktklns 

Harry'a N. t. 

Cabaret 

Buddy Walker 
Phelps, 2 
3 Short Wn-ves 
Marlon Morgan 

Ill-Hut 

Jerry Lesler 
l>orlfl .Ttlio<lo8 
Unil Coop«T 
LuUoy Sc Weaver 

'-Hotel Itlshiarrli 
(Walnut Room) 

Eddio Vnry.oH Ore 
George' Wald 
McNullle Sis 
Don Si a Jpniiinga 
Bert 'Gninoff 
Tod Liebling 
Terry' Howard 

Hotel Rrtfvo 

Dolores Donar 
Evelyn DrlKKi'tr 
.Margaret; t ;oii l ad 
Rcri.o l,a'cvln 
Joe' r.iirlalu 



CHICAGO 

Drake Hotel 
(Silver Forrest) 
Piiiil Whileman Co 
Hotel Rdgewater 



LOS ANGELES 



Bril'z ir 

C.ii a rics La w rcii ce. . 

UevcrLv U'llHliIro 

Royal ' J l;i w;i lia ri.f 
liarry OwjinH Ore 

illUnitire " U»\vi 

.3 Rndlb 'Rogxiols 
Pierre. & 'i'o'iiplo 
Hcrnii'p 'I,>.\yiur 
Dick AV'ol>si.cr 
•Toy iiodgcs 
3 ..Rhythiiv Rascnls 
'Fred Scott. 
Enrico iili'ha Oro 
JImiHy Grler pro 
Cafe Casanova 
Earl & J oh' Lynch' 
Casanova. Ore 
Beth Wilson 



Rex W(-h( V: 

Cafe I.a 
.Park • A ve IS'oya . '■ 
Vi Bi iidiry ' 
Si an Ciali - Oro 
CluvcrXlii 
Bob Graril Oro 

'ocunnnt 'Grove 

Riitli Robin 
(\'rlgary. Uro.s 
Sa.'iilnr1il Burlilcy 
Phil llurrl.s 'Urc 
CI .'MIrnddir 

Dorblhy .Claro 
RunisdcU Girts . 
'Slihi .Martin Ore 
'uniou^i Door 
Eddie Deal 
Loula Prima Oi'o 



Beach 
(Marine Itpom) 

Ansop Weeks '■'' 
ROdrlgo A^'Frnncihe 
W Jenniei- & Buddy 
John Hale 
Harriett smUh'a Glr 
Hotel Laaalla 

(Blue Fonntii[ln 
Room')' 

KIng'B Jesters Oro 
Ma'rjorie Whitney 
Q & "Helen. St9ne 
MatibheCte Rev., 

Hfttcl Mprrlson 
(TcKAce Room) 
(Caaino Parlalen) 

The Llndstroins 
Harriett Carr 
Hudson Wonders- 
4 Krad'dbcks ■ 
Arren 'ft -Brodevick 
Maurie Shermn Ore 
Lou Breese Org 
Uotei falmor Honia 

(Empire Room) 
Henry Kliig Orb 
Mario & FlorlQ 
RusBo'li Swan , 
Joaquin Garay 
4 Arlstocrata 
Abbott Dancera 

Hot«l Sherman 
(College Inn) . 

Gertrude llorfnian 

MyrUH ' , . 
Arleho Oweria 
Jack Wllcher 
Russell tl.rowell .- 
Don Amutb 
Bill 'Price . 
tJoleman Allan 
Red Nlcholaa Oro 

Hotel' Stevona 



Vfil Dion 
liorothy Bin Ire . 
Vliicenc Norinaii Or 
Paul Rich •- 
Kuy Hamilton ,. 
Grace Alannera 

Frank Paluinbp'a. 

I'Jddle White. 
I.Qe. Stuart '. 
Slephajile * Craig 
Uwrdo Ac Ciin'l\Hni 
4 Rhythm Steppers 
Eddie Dc>r,.iu'a. Ore 
. otel . Adelpbla 
(Cnfis Mkrguery) 

Enrico & Novella 
Agnes - Tolle 
TUa,n 3 . 
8 'roxiia Rbcketa 
ifean 'I'rfivcr;! 
RoKS McLean 
Vincent Rlzzo Ore ' 
Harold Knl gilt Oro 
Evan li .'I'^qiilalne 
Hotel Pli'llndelpb Inn 
(Mirror Itouni) 

VIvlari &. Eve DOrii 
Patricia Rene 
A lid 1 0 Purdy 
T'lilay' f-!lalr 
Ollvo While 
liurbnra. Jason 
•lay j\lng. 
,). Frasoilo Oro 
Walter' Donaliii 

Kit tit Cnfe': 
Bin Honey . : 
Kid Raymond-' 
U I bbons A (la'»i 
Mary Gule IjCc 
Alanyh . 
Bert St Cliilr 
Jerry Taps., 

Iji'iitbR Tavern 

•ioe. Landy Oro 

LMtle RiitliNkellcr 

Tack Grirtln Ore 
Mai;ty Bohn 
Marroii & Oalla 
Dolores Du Frca 
Mirlarti Bt'one 
Maude O'Mailey 
Nancy Lee ' 

New Ov«irbi'ook. 
Villa 

(Lliulenwoitl, N. J.) 

PhylllH Sterling 
Warren Sis. 
Dines St Anlce- 
Emerald KIs (3) 
Mtti'l . ■>yarnbr 

Rlts-Carlton , 
(Crystal Roum) 
Van Levis Oro 

91 Club I 

Geofge Oliver . 
Johnny Maniirum 
'fed Hendrex 
Blliy Beryl 
^lary )Iubbard 
Barberi. &. CarleKI 
Doc DoiJgherty Ovo 
.Nicky Uallucd 
Silver Dollar Cnfe 

Estelle Le. Roy. 
Guy Sia 
Netny Bain 
Harry. BasH 
Moo Goldberg 
Rhythm KingH 

Silver I^dka In 
(Olehienton) 

Elizabeth Hbuslon 
-Dan Hardin . 
Sunya & Romero 
Don Hooton-' 
Mickey VlpUn 2 
Buddy Rt>bertn 



(ContlnentuI K««»»n) | Mickey Pamllant Or 

1214 SpruM 

Roy. Smodlcy Ore 
Edna Enrico 
Beth Millet-.. 
Miaude Suuridcra 
Lillian Bartell 
Portiti Portar 
Ulihur Shuw 

ZOth Century Tavern 

Barney Zeumait Ore 
Ted I'lko, 



Ji le Joy Ore 
Ronald & Roberia 
Rhythm Riickctcei b 
Lllliun Rotii 
Tore Rudolph 
Cub Hig'glns 
Helen Heath 

Parody Club 

Phil knye . 
Molly Manora- 
Oliarlyne Baker • 
Millie Travis 
iri-eddy. Janls.Oro 

. Royule Frollea 

Doily Kay 
Dawn St D'arrow 
Burnett & Walt 
Francis Wills 
•Tack Hlliiard 
I(enrJ Llshon Oro 
C.huii En'gols Ore 
600 Club 

Blliy Carr 
Nora Ford 
'Boots' Burns 
Etta Reed 
.Ford & Barnes 

Three Deucea 

•Sam IJoerH 
Ohio' Brown. 
Roy Eldrldge Ore 
Zutty ' , 
:(aladys III 
Slim Green 

. Via Lngo 

•Tackle Hamll 
Dick Hughca 
Sally iCelth 
Wallace Sc.. Lallaha 
Stan Carter 
Xaiiht Club 

.Frances Fsye 
liivi'lyn Pai 
Frank Hall 
Rohlnsnn 2 
Nino Rlria'Idb Oro 

Ed Fiirninh, 
mil Loi'ralt) 
: Bob' J'car'ry 
Karne.s,t VlgnJili 
Belva vyhi.H. 



Jack A' .Tack 
Diane Roflyne 
Vincent & Anil 
Long .Sis 
Oanncn 
Dorothy. Bar 
3 'Esquires 

21 Club 

Tommy - Monroe 
•Sugar - MarcelU 
.Sally LuMarlr . 
Aim Rush , 
J felon. Heal 
Mary Tice , 
Warwick .Sl.i 
Naricy Barry 
Richard ui't^ 



boo Ilyder's' Or 
l^ane - As' lioas ' ' 
(Sliidys . .. ^ 
Ivuellio.'Howai- 
RhPtla - .Mcriiilh 
licdH. & rlcy •' 
liobby tjvntia 
Ite Hoy.MrCb'y 

Parrltdi . "ufe 

Fra,nce'H. Ajexundo'r 
RustUB & Mui'ray 
Vernon. HutchlnHon 
Vernon Gu.v. 
I'ttrlalun or 

Tdny Murray's taf* 

Jack Moss. Or<S 
I'Mo Sy Iva 
Bunny Oliilr - 
OlDShettlcld 
Joe.: Doyle ' 
Jl'mmy Pajil' 
Tony OarnliincitA 
Eloanbr ' ilcd 
Chick Mullery 

Uiitlilii'N ! Hntiiskcller, 

Margie SnillU i 
Jean Van '* 
Freddie Lang. 
Cleo Valentin^ 
Viola KlalsB Oro 
Prank Pontl 

. Stamp'a Cat* 

Vic BarlHoii 
Flo Muiso 
Motto St Terese 
KIkl Diamond. . 
Jerry St Sonny 
NIkl Kiicoln 
J'ack Hutciiinson 

yenlee': 
DIahe Jnhri.non. 
Emily Raye 
Stbllalo Sylvia- 
Joe Reilly 
Marty Btti'ton Pro 

' Viking Cafe 

Leonard .Cooke 
Dorothy Bach 
I'hlly'M Rhythm' 
Peggy Siilelds 
Piiggy O'.Nellf 
Stove. Cole 
l»o«n Fay Oro 
Wailon Hoof 

iriaheile & Octaves 
HuHanno . Auslln 
jiU Keen ; 
8 Walton Dcba 
Eddie Kinley 
'Ariine- Grant- 
Clias. Vernit, Oro 

Weber'e Huf Bras 
(Camden) 

Boh Morrill , 
Carman D'AnlonI* 
•Slanl'ey Sc Elaine 
Syd Golden 
Voi'nou: Ss Vanoff 
Joe .Rnhigna 
Use JIart ■ 
Hose Kirk 
Gregory Quinn Co 
Loiiift Cbulkln iQro 
RuthBliollor ^Idur't 

iforktowne Tavern 

Fll Oftkford , 
Iliizel jilarmon 
MuHlchmBter 'Oro 




PHILADELPHIA 



Arcadia 

Happy I'>1 ton Ore 
Mayfiiir . (ilrls \H) 

,S|>CC.'A. Kfiol 
CJiiiH. Baro 
Joltn.' Jtlalr 
Ann l<lrr(';ido 
Doii llonalrlo Ore 

Arrowj. 

Eddie. Zii-Klf-r Qic 
.la'ck • HitUcj- 
'(irCenVvM \K- 
'l)()ltl(>' Wintci-.H 
li.'i.v'c iirowc.rH' 
.Dick .. 1 jar/hiri 
Sriiii KI.I1K-. . 
Ti;(li(y ' Gd.nZuUs 

Hclleviie-St nil ford 
(IManct Itoum) 

Mt'ycr 'Davis Oro 

llch Fruhkltn llotcl 
((ieorglun KoomO 

Mob Jaft'o Ore ' 

enny- the It.um'a' 

lico Zoilo 
Rulplr Brown 
Bcfh Chains 
HoIt>n 'Miller 
Eurl, Betty ^ Ja.lt 
Adair St Rlchard,s 
• Patsy Ogden 



Evelyn 'narneH 
Dotty Brt'nniiri 
Mildred Bfi,Ycr 
Fra:n CaH'wclI 
Jtuddy ,' I'N^Ix.-r 
Al WIlMon 
Ulily 'I'll or.ri ton' 



Joe Foil man Or' 
W.'ilt (!:ill;iKl>fr 
.) iiliii 't Ji'iuly;,. ,: ', 



Mai'Klc ( >,riiiMii)cii)'d 
<!yp^'y Tlita 
."^iiniiy Kay 
Dnriilliy K'l.'ilf-.s- 
1 lolly f/eliiiiMil 
l''r;i iice.s Araddux 
l/illy' I.ove 
;i ' CoicMilalH Ore 

i:nilmNr)y Club 

C.lorla MaiiKlur 
r.onnli' Le^j 

Billy Mai)le 

J,,indu King 
Trcrtt Pattoraon 
(niff Hall 

..Evergreen Cartlno 

'Ftelalne.'A D'n'lds'n 
Harry Glyn 



(Continued from page 1) 
receriUy built by RCA engineers ibif 
a major radio network in this coun- 
try. 

Televi^slbn receivers' ill accom- 
pany the picture broad(:aster in th« 
consignment lor Mos(ibw where con- 
structi of a special . 'tclcvJsiori 
center' is planned. . Russian englv 
neers were permitted to study tecli- 
nical pr(>cesses. employed in the 
nriainufacture of the apparatus in the 
Camden, plant as part of ats agree- 
ment in the contract. 

TM^ U. S. Departfiient of Comiirjerce 
report on radio markets in, Rus.sia 
issued last December thrbws the fol- 
lowing light on the arrahgeijicnl:. 
. 'To facilitate and .iaccelerate 
deveippment of . telievisioh and„Tadi 
broadcasting and . receptibn . in 'gen- 
eral, the Sovie:t Gbyernnicnt has rev 
cently 'madc an agreement with an 
Americuji firm ..for .bbtni ing tecii- 
nicaJL aid for -that purpose,' 

Irjstanatioti of trans 
•stations, aiid ' bpcratloh 1 
mitted in Russia only with the pre- 
liminary authoriziation of thie Peo- 
ple's Coramissarlat for Cpmmunica- 

lion of the 'U.SiS.R. ' 

.- .' < 

Two weeks ago y as 
rc I raisecl Gbhgress ^ when, news 

leaked out tl);it Russia had submit-, 
ted. • a b id. for two 35,0Q0-ton • battle- 
ships to be buili. by two large Amer- 
ican shipbuilding corporation.^ A 
move was made to: block.' the deal 
through, amehdment of ,the Neutral- 
ily Act, and the State Department 
ruled that export licenses would 
haVe to be obiained before any part 
of the projected vessels coiiUl elejit;' 
from an Americai) iJorl. 
' 'When their new toliivision cqiiip- 
merit arrives from this country th« 
Russians moy be, able to got a slant 
at an American dreadnought by. ■Vw'ay 
of the ether waves since they have 
been prevented from bu ing ona 
here. 



50 



YAftJETY 



VARIETY HOUfiB lUEVlEWS 



Wednesdaj, May 5, I937 



STATE, N. Y. 

Two name acts oh stage bill- and 
•History Is Made at Night' (UA) as 
fllm were dragging 'em in by the 
fistful opening night (29). Show is 
strong enough to carry the load. 
iStage portion runs exactly 60 min- 
utes. 

^Notable item of the show is Tito 
Gui?ar, who just ai fiouple of weeks 

;ago made his concert debut at Car- 
negie Hall. Offers striking contrast. 
Recognized act of radio, vaude and 
nitdries^ Guizar .clicks agaiin in pres- 

. ent surroundings. Seems to have 
lost tirifle of his wallop, though, since 
coming through the wringer of <iori- 
cert instruction and technique. 

Mexican singer is by race and 
temperament beist. at ballads and 
light numbers of Latin flavor. Has 
pleasant voice, good looks and boy- 
ishly-attractive stage manner. But 
nbt vocal power, nor dramatic statr 
ure to occupy Carnegie Hall plat- 

"'idrm, where his operatic attempts 
were constrained and embarrass- 
ingly weak. 

With guitar in his mitts and aided 
by the house p.a. system, however, 
Guizar sticks mostly to the Spanish 
style of songs. Result is ah entirely 
different audience reaction. Where 
the radio fans in Carnegie Hall were: 
coiirteous and loyally eager for 
singer to click, spectators at the 
State are alive with attention. When 
Guizar announces number the. gals 
kriow ther« is' an audibl^ niurmur 
6t anticipation. Aiid where the Car- 
negie bunch found about ah Hour of 
the classics preitty fatiguing, the 
State customers tecall singer twice 
and keep him there 14 iQinut^: 

Spotted next-to-last on {State's bill, 
Mitchell and DUrant maul each other' 
as usual, getting plenty response 
from out front Open calmly with 
comedy . chatter and hair?brain im- 
personations. Graduid)y work iiito 
, rough stuff vahd it soon softens tip 
' th« customers so everything goes for 
a laugh. All familiar Mitchell and 
fiurant antics and up to form. This 
i3 the pair 'S first appearance in some 
time butdidC: of a unit preisentatipn; 

Helen Reynolds and . hier eight gal 
roller skaiu^ open show with five 
minutes of strenuous trick stuff. In- 
cludes all .'the standard wrinkles and 
feur variations. They keiep it going 
five fast minutes. Wally Ward and 
gal stooge (New Acts) billed secoQd, 
drawing okay chuckles With goofy 
piano and comedy turn. Show 
doses with Florence and Alvarez 
(New Acts), smooth ballroom pair, 
doing three distinctive routines. 

Hobe. 



EARLE, PHItLY 

Philadelphia, April 30. 

Earle bill this week extra heaVy 
oh the slapstick sttift; Featuring Milt 
Britton band, show is homing to cre- 
ate convidsions in smoothie house, 
but was okay for loud laughs by the 
Earle's mill trade. However, Brit-: 
ion crew is practically unknown in 
PWlly, and this was seriously teflect- 
ed in b.b. whfen caUght. Despite bet- 
ter than usual pic for this hotise — 
'50 ^pads to Town' (20th)— it all goes 
to prove again that it takes name 
biands to keep Philly audiences 
standing betweien the velvet-covered' 
ropes. 

Although Britton act is a topper 
if or stuff of this type, it wasn't real 
hit of the show. Standout was a solo 
turn by Hal Sherman that is war- 
ranted to stitch up any aud in the 
country. It's a wo ltaft»-rattlinf( 
palm-pounders refused to let Sher- 
man leave stage. Act 'is one of clev- 
erest singles ever, seen here. 
. Sherman opens with dead-pan 
dance istufl, switches into pantomime, 
goes over into a smart line of dumb- 
patter, and finishes up with more 
hoofing. ' He appears in tuxedo about 
four sizes too large, baggy pants and 
battered grey hat Mustabhe and his 
build make him look not unlike 
Chaplin. Opening terp effort lis slide 
anid turn variiety, smoothly executed 
and with absolutely expressionless 
'face. Gets laughs by stopping now 
and then to puff very hard and wipe 
brow like an ultra-fast tapper, al- 
though it/ is perfectly evidoit he 
hasn't been' working at all. As en- 
cbire, asks aud what kind of dancing 
it would like to see him doi. On re- 
quest does rhumba, tango^ black bot- 
tom, etc., all witht)ut aid of partner, 
and with socko laughs at his top 
pantomime. 

Britton's oiitflt is a wave of violent 
insanity. FeW of its roughhouse 
stunts are hew, most being of the 
ti'ied-and-tnie variety known from 
years of use to be sure guffaw-evok- 
ers. Band does very little tooting, its 
main ' function being ah excuse for 
the tomfoolefy. Walter Powell and 
Titd are the strong funnymen with 
the outfit while Sybil Kaye, ah okay 
husky ^vpicer, does an arrahgement 
of 'Dinah' and nothing else. 

Opening by band is good. Boys 
squirm^ out from- .under ..curtain, 
quickly form college xheer huddle 
and then untangle themselves into 
straight line across stage, so that let- 
ters oh their jerseys spell 'We Stink,* 
Gets sound applause.. While this 
crew of seven went back to change 
into tuxes, curtains parted on black 
stage. Only thing visible as band 
played was trombone outlined in red 
and blue neon. Very effective. 

•Frohi there on it's chait-breaking. 
violin crashing, water throwing and 
soda-squirtihg. Ends up with horns 
blaring while rest of band is tossing 



instruments around, chairs ahd pil- 
lows into air, throwing sheet music 
allovejr the place. 

'Three. Sophisticated Ladies' is an- 
other slapstick affair. It's three fair- 
looking femmes who do the usual 
flopping around as they pretend to 
be doing serious tapping, adagio and 
ballet. A little better than ordinary 
and well received. ' > . 

Curtain riaiser is animal act . Wol- 
ford's Pets. Dachshunds, ■ which do 
the perfprrtiihg, are okay. Dogs are 
not as well trained as many acts of 
this type, but middlingly entertain- 
ing because dachshunds naturally 
look so funny. . Herb. 

TOWER, k. C. 

Kansas City, April 30l 
Lots of splash, lights, pieople, .cos- 
tumes and no costumes, on this stage 
current week. Faith Bacon with her 
fanning headlining and meaning 
plenty at the b.b. Pic is 'Fifty Roads' 
(20th) and biz is good.: 

House has wisely sprinkled the bill 
with a couple pf hokuiiri acts so the 
guy sitting with his wife has a legit- 
excuse for unleashing some exuber- 
ance.. Miss Bacon is strictly a no- 
sipplause act in this house. Sort Of 
'gadj she's gopd, but I ainH lookin'. 

Opening day Miss Bacon worked 
both her .numbers 'Fan. aind Pearl' 
and 'Gardenia Dance' 100% nude, 
cel.loiphane curtain . for the first ap- 
pearance. After first day house 
thought best to insist bn shorts and 
brassiere. Her: two . appearances are 
marked . by ^ fine production, the line 
(Ig), fly?; lihow ;gitl5; and b^hd (12) 




, ^rodUijtioh 

"Bilcoh's riUmbei^s' niP^r? a:^ dah^e and 
less ah eichibitibn, " 

Bill get's off with line ih a military 
tap as Ted Cook, who flhishes a 
twenty week ruri here as m.c. this 
week, brings on Harlan Christie^ his 
successor. Christie gets off to a nice 
start with: his work in this bilL His 
style is out-of-the-ordinary for the 
Tower. Clbwning and glibness sell 
him quickly.. 

Reynolds and White, tramp comics,, 
follow- Faith Baccm's first appear- 
ance, a swell spot for their hokum, 
fiddling and - fireworks. They took 
top. hand at show caught when , audi- 
ence gandered the pay-off, one bf 
tramps is a woman/ "Fheir cbmedy 
is played tb the hilt 

Keaton ; and Armfield and ah xm- 
billed male warbler sUpply more 
hoke. Patter was slow in : starting 
until Miss 'Armfield takes the situa- 
tion in hand. She reads coniedy lines 
Well, dancies oke and does a clever 
take-off on La Hepburn. They d(m't 
need the anonymous canary who's 
ntade Up as a walking corpse'. Daire 
and Yates,- comic dcros, and. Maixihe 
YbUng, tapster, please. 

Musical assignments are shouldered 
by Lester Harding, who sings 'Where 
Are You?' and takes care of the 

Xrics for last Bacon appearance, and 
tdy Conrad's band under Ted 
Cook's batoning. 

The 55-minute bill is. largest and 
mbst expensive to date for the 
Tower- Forty-one people in all. 

Ropes up for break first evening 
showing Friday. Hout. 

MET, BOSTON 

Boston, April 30.. 

Climax of this week's vaude show 
is a p. a. by 'Fuzzy' Knight who 
also appears oh the screen this, week 
in 'Mountain Justice' (WB). Knight's 
offering is actually an anti-climax, if 
the opening show is any criterion. 

Filmster virtually oozes onto the 
stajge, begins immediately to sing a 
slow arrangement of 'Love Is Every- 
where,' from 'Tr&il of the Lonesome 
Pine' (Par), in which Knight came 
to attention. Some chatter, 'in 
which he admits that he has not 
prepared a routine, for hiis appear- 
ance, brings him to ahother vocal. 
This is somiewhat better because of 
its nonsensical twists. It's something 
about buckwheat cakes. Knight ac- 
companies himself on a miniature 
piano with, a tonal' quality sugges- 
tive of -Din ty'is bhick room. He's a 
piioneer s6at singer. . 

In sharp contrast to the balancje 
of turn' the Knight finish is sure-fire, 
'Twilight on the Trail.' With plenty 
pf.sob. in his voice, he sells this 
plaint with fiheisse. Impression . wais 
that although he was groping arpund 
on the ; initial show, there was plenty 
talent waiting: to. burst through in: 
lat6r performances. 

Chilton . and Thomas, returning 
from European .dates,' ari, given the 
glad hand fbr excelleht dance turn; 
and Thomas sPcks as usual with his 
flashy repertoire of sensational 
wings and ispins. 

Six Luclcy Boys tear off a mess of 
horseplay and risley wbrfc in the 
finale and add needed . stimulus to 
the show's finish. Frank find Peter 
Trado (two boys and a big Benny) 
registei: in the tf^v with impressions 
of filmgpers, an their familiar 
perch act under a hiassive Pvercoat 

Mady and Cord, European duo 
Working dumb, please with a session 
of fast comedy, aero. 'Score and Four 
Lovelies' have thiree . innings this 
week: iUusionary 'Match Stick Doll' 
number at the opening, a /'Silver 
Birches and Urban Blue' ballet, mid- 
way, with Eileeh O'Connor as bal- 
lerina; and a pirate c.oistume routine 
for closer, All okay. Fox. 



A. B. C, PARIS 

Paris, April 22. 

Open again '.after ' several dark 
days, due to strike of electricians, 
ushers, etc., which affected ler large 
slice of the amusement houses here, 
Mitty Goldin has rounded up a bill 
which is handing out well-liked 
entertainment. Headlininig is Jeanne 
Aubert, known on both sides of the 
Atlantic; 

Openers a^e Michel and Herb; 
male and female French xylophohe 
players: They dianice and play thiem- 
selves into one of the best applause 
catches; recently ; seen: hbre.' 

Rivedoux follows with a string of 
couplets which, true tp French music-^ 
hall style; are based oh politics and. 
celebrities. He finishes with , a short 
play ih which he acts all six parts. 
Act is of the type liked in France. 

stetson does credit to the name 
with his hat juggling. Marie Bizet, 
French femme singer, bffers a col- 
lection of songs which would click 
with almost any French audience. 

Rigolettb Bros, are a variety show 
in themselves. They open with a 
little magic, follow by juggling, a 
trained dbg, some .acrobatics ahd 
finish as a two-iman bahd.Two girls 
offer a' coupliP of simple, dance rou- 
tihes during the changes and a:t the 
close* 

Frehel sings some new songs and 
some of the ones that made her well- 
liked; here in the days before the 
war; Her voicb is Strong and shows 
its age verjr little. 

Cbmedian Harmonists, five singers 
ah^^'a pitihistj^' all men, open the 
s^bhd' Half. ^Smgihg in English, 
Qerriiain ' and '.French, they offer 
hiostly harmony but the comedy that 
is thrown in is good. 

Dora Del Monte, Spahish dancer, 
follows with a wellrexecuted native 
routine. Gaudsmith Bros, and their: 
two dbgs pull laughs steadily. They 
talk in both French and English. 

Jeanne Aubert is ohe of the rank- 
ing favorites with the localites. She 
puts over French Ibve isongs in a 

Sanner that catches on beautifully, 
er voice is strpng and she uses 
plenty of expression. 

Roller skating of the Foiu: Macks 
furnishes a good fast finish to the 
bill. Fast acrobatics, especially of 
the girl . member bf the troupe, helps, 
Libhel Cazeaux ih the pit, Mile. 
01<ip announcing. Hugo, 

MICHIGAN, DET. 

Detroit, April 30. 

Only three acts, plus California 
Collej^ans ork, this week; Never- 
theless, a smooth-working job with 
abundance of sbck talent. 

House having plenty of trouble 
filling chairs, however, with 'In- 
ternes Can't Take Money' (Par) on 
screen and nahieless show- on stage. 
Main floor bnly piartiy occupied at 
late: show Friday evening (30), with 
little prospect of doing much better 
over week-end. 

All aicts bn current bill, whith in- 
clude Serge Flash, juggler; Ada 
Brown, sepia songbird from Cotton 
Club, N. Y., and Marcy Brps. and 
Beatrice,^ aero hoofers, work in bne 
with Collegians providing back- 
ground. Latter are located on mov- 
able platform, of flashy blue and sil- 
ver, with rich backdrop of maroon 
and white. Led by Lou Wood» boys 
turn in nice medley of tunes from 
their recent pix, novelty 'Day at Cir- 
cus,' and top it off with takeoff num- 
ber. Latter includes ^Rudy Vallee' 
A3 batoneer, with imps of Hitler, 
Haile Selassie, Sahta Claus, Marx 
Bros., etc., in band. 

Following Collegians' opening 
tunes, is spotted Marcy Bros, and 
Beatrice. Theirs is a n\eritorious 
mixture of singing, tiaps, knockabout, 
and aero feats.- Latter stuff is es- 

gecially good, featuring gal's back- 
enduig stunt with males holding 
her feet and head and pushing both 
together ih tinie with music. 

With lots to sell, Ada Brown 
doesh't waste any time in the Clos- 
ing spot. Pipes have enpugh vol- 
ume, personality is contagious ahd 
humor is of good sort. Offers a 
torchy tune, climaied with, a flne 
novelty number. Comes back for 
swihg tune and has tb: beg bff, 

Eduard Werner's overture is cli- 
maxed With a tangb which maestro 
wrote recjently. -Organist Merle 
Clatrk's community sing opens pro- 
ceedings, after which hb turhs ni.c, 
duties over to Lou Wood, batoneer 
of the Collegians,. P^^e. 

PALOMAR. SEATTLE 

Seattle; April 29. 

' This is ohe house in town, and the 
only one, that seems to be able to 
make, a gb of vaude, and the present 
Status of the: competition that pops 
up occasionally is nil. The acts 
brought in are booked by either JPe 
Daniels, Paul Savoy, or Fanchon & 
Marco. This week it; was . Dapiels 
and Savoy. 

■Show .headlines the new conibo of 
Betty Burgess and .Sohny Lament. 
This rriight be a new act were it hot 
for the fact that La.mpnt has shown 
much of the same wares here before. 
He's a big boy, but limber as spa- 
ghetti. He and Miss Burgess team, 
up well together. She's the eye ap- 
peal of the acf— of the whole show, 
for that matter. Her flrst stage ap- 
pearance, shfe seems utterly atJiome 
and wins her audience. She makes 



no attempt to play the Heroinb from 
Holly wopd'Trin facf.no reference is 
made to her screen career. She taps 
welL Act 'is clean .and pleasing, and 
adds plienty tb bill.. 

Chief Yowlache, Indian baritone, 
was the opfener., - Effectively, intro- 
duced by an overture' of Indian mel'^ 
odies; by Jules" BUffaho's . orchestra, 
chants an Indian , spng, d'rcsscd in 
iEull tribal array.; Then he doffs the 
headdress and. slides in the n>ore 
prosaic > baritone numbers, 'La Marr 
seilles' ahd 'Ol' Man River.' Puts 
them over o. k. 

Shappy tappers are the Wprthmah 
Twins, next oh. Their : routine,, in 
Unison, has gpbd variety. Jim Pen- 
mah, juggler and patterer^ f bllows. 
His juggling is all right, biit he'd 
have done better to lay off the pansy 
cracks. They, and sbmie more of his 
chatter^ fell flat. 

Vernon RathbUrh, saxophonist and 
clarinetist, pull good applause. He is 
hot bn 'Nola' on the sax and 'St. 
Louis Blues' with the clarinet, Peggy 
Anderson pulling, a clever toe-tap: in 
accompahiment to the latter. . On the 
screen, 'Circus Life' (Rep). Trcpp, 

CAPITOL, WASH. 

Washingtbn> May; . 

With a straight four-act bill again,, 
and not even an involved overture. 
Cap, Loew house, figut-'ed it wouldn't 
hiave any worries this week. And it 
didn't have by the second day. BUt 
with Art ^aw's ehtire band delayed 
hj^ .flppded roads and showing up 
minus hiusic, shavies and sleep just 
10 minutes b^ore firist.show and A. 
Bobbins losing his baggage and hot 
getting on bpenihg turn at. all,. first 
day had theatre goofy. 

Critics who didn't khbw situatibn 
'were brutal to Shaw, but others 
went overboard, so balance . was 
about eVen. At show caught, second 
day,, band had settled ' down - and 
banged, out its rhythms with expect- 
ed ^noothness. Although plenty in 
bouse were distinctly annoyed by 
Shaw's jungle- swing, most were in- 
terested and gave him nice hand. 

Chief fault is numbers, including 
'Ubangi' and 'Bus Blues,' are 'way 
too long ahd weiar dowh even, those 
who start tapping their feet at the 
outset. Dorothy Howe, who is de- 
buting in vaude after coming up 
from Norfolk via tobthpaste ads and 
two seasons with Eddie Elkins and 
bther nitery brks,- i^ bright; spot in 
Shaw act. Pretty, not too polished 
and possessed of a coo that some p.a. 
is bound to label vocal sunshine, gal 
tickles, audience's- ears with 'Clan't 
Take That Away,' and rates two en- 
cores to win top applause of the bill. 

Show bows in with Neiss troupe, 
whose array of equipment overshad- 
ows handsome casting and trampo- 
lihc routine at first. When they get 
going, however; with triple somer- 
saults and double catches, they fin- 
ish to ni,ce hand. Next on is Heleh 
Charlestbn, working impersonations 
and 'Watlz Song' from 'RomeO: and 
Juliet' into rhymed Major Bowes' 
amateur hour gag. No bne bit is 
enough to wow 'em,., but act totals 
high. 

A. Rbbbins, ais usual, faces house: 
diistinctly cool to chalk-faced funny- 
men, but has 'em in the palm bf his 
hand at midpoint through steady un- 
loading of music stands, chairs, neck- 
ties, liquor ahd collapsible bananas 
from coat Doesn't miKc the most of 
his ability to imitate instruments, but 
business moves sb fast he doesn't 
need to. Pic is 'Personal Property' 
(Metro). Craig. 

TABOR, DENVER 

Denver, May 1. 

current Tabor stage bill made Up 
of neat, bunch of novelties, and well 
received. 

The Musical Bentleys open with 
xylophone and piano. ' Claim it is 
longest xylophone in world, and man 
and woman work it in tandem. Do 
'Poet and Peasant,' with femme at 
piano. It's well dohe. Finish with 
medley of pops. They attack the in- 
struments as though they know what 
it's all about and results prove them 
right. 

• Cropley .and ■Violet— he's a huge 
hian and she's small, so the balancing 
part of theij: act While it looks hard, 
is nbt hard work for the man; 
They're ropers, and do it like old 
cowhands. She / twirls the rope, as : 
she staihds oh his hands, he lying 
down, iand rolling over arid over 
across the stage; They combine 
adagio with roping, also. . 

Ulis arid Clark, nut coriiics; put on 
that kind Of an act khbwn as the 
'Perfection Pair' on KNX, and gal 
has a contaigious laughy so much so 
that some Pf the chatter is not so hot, 
but it gets over, ihevertheless. 
. Edna Alee and Co., two men arid a 
womari, do some plai .arid fancy 
trick shooting that wrings appllause 
even from hardened vaude fans; 
Shoots wafer held in mouth with 
paper clip, sjplits soft lead bullet on 
sword to burst two balloons at :i5ame 
time. ' They shoot With, the iPoking 
class; guh upside down, and several 
other methods, and miss very few 
attempts.; Edna also shobts balloon 
off head b£ eriicee in William Tell 
style. 

. Billy Yound is on his third week 
as emcee, and doing a good job. Does 
a : bit of his own. betweeh each act. 

With a double bill on the screen, 
there's room for only three shows 
Saturday and Sunday, ,a break for 
the acts, because usuially they, do 
four. Rose. . 



week: 
the ' 
a 

line 



PALACE, (JHI 

Chlca^p, May 1. 
^^^^-x.'^^^S-up show here this 
eek^with more entertainment on 
stage than has been visible in 
long time.. Just four acts iand a 
*ii»e of girls, but four smashing acts 
and. a line that's a joy to behold 
Show moves fast, with each turti 
domg^its stuff in stepping fashion 
and then blowmg. Just entertain- 
ni^nt And it was a pleasure for all 
concerned. 

Those '16 Roxyettes turn in two 
humbers to open and close thie show 
and both were 'applause-shakers' 
especially latter routine. This wa^ 
done with the girls balancing on big 
balls. Globe-rolling acts are ex- 
tremely rare these days, and to see 
16 girls do a' routine , on. 'em is. a 
sight which wins this, audience 
Though they close the show,c; girls 
hold up the curtain for rounds . of 
applause. In the openirig they toss 
in a fencing routirie, which is also 
tops, Here, is a line that's a line- 
and. rates about the top for anything 
seen aroimd the country today. 
Worthy of majbr Jiilling in any the- 
atre, because they'll cause plenty of 
sock talk everywhere. 

Richard 'Red' Skelton works 
through the show as m.c. and after 
over-straining In getting started, 
settles down to a good click with 
his own; act, doing especially well 
with his doughnut-duhkihg expose. 
His. stuff early in the show .was old- 
f ashibned and ' moth-eaten, but he 
manages; to overcome it later. 
. Two acts come over from a. run 
at the Casiho' Parisien ;for solid 
clicks hbre: the BredwihS} whb regr 
ister with their . acrobAtiCs. -and com- 
edy tumbling, ahd Buster Shaver 
with Olive and George, who remain 
the class midgut act ''They never 
hfiiss, and ho exception here. Stari- 
Idjjt .Twins on for their shadow dance 
«Ad a^ ever, punchy novelty dance 
bit that scores. 

•Picture is 'Shall We Dance': (RKO) 
with show set for the fun of film, 
which Iboks like four 'weeks> at least. 
Business excelleht last show Friday.. 

Gold. 

FOX, PHILLY 

Philadelphi , April 30. 

Fox has got .plenty of musical 
comedy on its bill this week. In 
fact, it looks like a badly balanced 
combo with both stage ishow: and 
film goihg in strongly for ork music, 
dancing, torch numbers and gals. 
Dave Apollon and .his 'Star Parade 
of 1937' are stage headliners with 
'The Hit Parade' (Rep) on the 
screen. 

Apollon's shbw is one of the best 
he has put on here and contains 
plenty of new material and faces 
new to Philly, A fair house yester- 
day (Friday) afternoPn waxed en- 
thusiastic. First show ran too long 
(72 minutes), but that ruhning time 
was cut for the second matinee 
show. 

After Apollon's first spiel into the 
mike, he introduces ' his Tropical 
Swing- in a popular medley. First 
specialist is Ruth' Del Rio, who 
dances the Cucharacha (Apollon do- 
ing a little stepping oh his own) 
with the help also of his eight Savoy 
dancing gals, neatly, togged in green 
and yellow. Number two spot is 
filled by Bobby Brent (English), Who 
has a novel nlarionette off eirihg con- 
taining plenty of comedy. After a 
sketch with the puppets, he rings the 
bell by manipulating the strings in 
one (in full view of Audience) to 
perform a swell 'truckin" number, 
finally handling the same .figure 
illuminated bn a dark stage. 

Lyda Sue, blonde youngster, fol- 
lows with an okay dance, including 
some high kicking, exceptionally 
well performed, soinersaults and 
handsprings and Other acrobatics. 
The eight gals then do a unison 
dance with canes arid were followed 
by Gloria Rich, whose toe tap is 
much, much better than her singing 
of 'Gee, But You're Swell.' 
■ Members of the orch plus Appllpn 
then ; performed 'Dark Eyes' and 
'Two Guitars', with special instru- 
mentationi Charlotte and Charles, 
introduced , as deaf arid dumb, get 
away with a corking Waltz assisted 
by the Eight Savbyers. Their 
rhythm wasv remarkable. 

Torii Lane, first timie here, does 
some vocal shoUting, starting with 
'De Lovely.* but getting better with 
•Inspirational Yes.' Johnny -Woods 
is- last with his imitation of airwave 
celebs. Most are good, but he 
riiuffed oh Crosby and Caritor. Fred 
Allen, Rudy Vallee, Bernie, Kate 
Smith arid Bbake Carter were per- 
haps best.. 

All the specialists cPme. out for the 
firiale, but the . ' conservative. Fox ■ 
audience, .although' it gives gpod 
hands to individual numbers^ doesri t 
do much; hand-patting, at the erid. 

Wotcrs. 



Einbassy Newsreel, N. Y. 

Feature section of this bill, and a 
fine one, is the Fox special House 
of Windsor material as a Coronation 
warrii-up with fine array of historic 
clips. Ranging from Diamond Jubi- 
lee and shots of Edward VII in 1903 
down through Coronation of George 
V in .1911 and covering England s 
Windsor reign until the present time. 
Movietohe has dorie a handsome and 
cbmmendable job. Off-screen 
description is: dignified and expert.. 
- Britain's royal pageant of the hear 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS 



VAKierr si 



future is also the Subject of other 
clips oix the program, such as Gene- 
ral Pershing and Admiral Rodman 
sailing to attend the ceremonies; 
iPathe) Palace Guards in practice 
drills and a miniature mechanical 
replica of the 'Coronation of parade 
' in a London shop window, both Fox 
clips. Mrs* Wally Simpson's house in 
Baltimore, now a siiihtseeing mecca, 
is ianother Fox clip. ^ ^ ^ 

■Current bill> except for the forcr 
going clips, is rather routine in .its 
layout: Covers a wide variety of 
subjects, but nothing of, major inr 

- tetest,' Candid camera craze is shown 

iParamount clips ftom Chicago 
niteries, ith Jimmy" Durante^ a will- 
in'' subject, ' providinig . spine laughs. 
'Universal clips show -football heroes 
taking part as femmes in a^college 
show; picket agitations of the L.. I. 
'press strike at Jamaica, N. Y.; the 
late Clem Sohn making a bird-man 
jump similar to the one in which he 

- was killed; and the placing of identic 
flcation tags on wild geese in Maine. 

Spring floods throughput the coun- 
try are given the^once-bver by Pathe, 
which alsd has a moderately-amus- 
ing clip interviewing Senate page 
boys on the Supreme Court situation. 
Other Pathe subjects are some steel 
mill footage and fenime wrestlers 
beating each other up witli abandon; 
Paramount clips . show college stu- 
dents in Peace Strikes; baseball in 
Japan; the arrival of WPA-made 
rum froin the Virgin Islands; the 
new statue of W. J. Bryan, in Wash- 
ington, and the Honier . Peel, child- 
marriage in Tennessee. Par. divides 
the fashions display on'^he bill with 
Fox, program- going a bit overboard 
on this Subject, it would seem. 
. Other subjects screened are shoe 
"''strike in.Maine, beaches and amuse- 
■merit resorts getting ready for the 
summer trade; trout fishing; mail and, 
passengers flown to the Orient by 
the China Clippers; the, representa- 
tive American mother; Shirley 
Temple with Gracie Fields in Hollyr 
wood; the . egg of an elephant bird 
(one foot high); the . boy with the 
X-ray eytis; prisoners in Oklahoma 
reformatory; surf scenes in Aus- 
tralia: Fordham college girls study- 
ing vitaniines, and horses racing in 
the mire at the 'Jamaica track. 

Bill is concluded with issue" of 
'March of Time* (Radio) covering 
Food for England, Amateur Sleuths 
and the Supr-eme Court. flowl. 

PARAMOUNqC, L. A. 

Los Angeles, April 29. 
Charles (Buddy) Rogers, one-time 
screen juve faV, and. more recently 
in the limelight because of his forth- 
coming marriage to Mary Pickford, 
is topping the Fanchon & Marco 

- stage show here currently and mop-, 
ping up. Sharing honors with Rogers 
is Connie Boswell, radio torcher, with 
la warbling turn that packs a solid 
wallop. 

Another radios artist, with a hefty, 
following, particularly in the. hinter- 
lands, is Stuart .Hambleh, . cowboy 
warbler, making his initial stage ap- 
pearance locally. Other talent in- 
cludes Mary. Martin,, attractive arid 
capable torcheir,: and Jack (Rasputin) 
Douglas, comic, both of whom are 
part o! the Rogers ether offering. 

Efiow runs heavily to, warbling, 
Witii a couple of routines by the 
; house Fanchonettes that add to the 
picture. Rogers functions as giiest 
conductor, emcees and works With 
most of the talent, ih addition to 
demonstrating • musical versatility/ 
, Show has a hoVelty opening^ with 
Fanchonettes draped over two sets 
of steps against a deep purple back- 
ground, therp going into a black and 
white shadow effect against colored 
drapes, cleverly executed. Before 
girls exit, part of them do a half 
strip to have caricatures drawn on 
their backs by Mme. Gabrille, cray- 
on .artist, which falls pretty flatv 

Rogiers then puts thie band into a. 
hot number,, accompanying on .the 
trumpet, which he handles in expert 
lash. ion. Douglas follows with a 
somewhat, noisy line of chatter and 
does a bit of warbling. H^?s followed 
by Mary Martin, who does a, splo, 
then duets With Rogers.. Material is 
smart the offering islers 

5Plidly. 

Hamblen opens with a Ijallad, then 
switches to rendition of -Old GOw 
Hand' to win approval; Fanchoniettes 
on for a Tyt-olean routine, theh oi'k 
renders, a collegie number, lyrics of 
which are double entendre, and a 
bjt suggestive in some spots. Rogers 
sings With the band in this number. 

Connie Boswell is in rare form 
and offers a :routine of well-chosen 
diversifiied turies,. many of thent old 
lavorites, that wins unstinted. appro- 
bation Which, ishe richly deserved, 
for finale; Rogers sends the band 
into .swing number in which he 
Piays half.; a dozen or more instru- 
nrients,. all proficiently. Max Brad- 
neld batons when Rogers is off stage. 

Screen feature is 'Racketeers in 
Exile* (CoU, With Par News. Will 
Rogers memorial drive short and 
fne Three Stooges in 'Back to the 
woods' (Col) for fillers. Ediud. 



LOEW'S MONTREAL 

Montreal, Wtay 2. . 
Calloway is. the whole show 
nere^ currently and though the good 
weather kept down grosses over the 
Weekend. Loew's is doing better than 
ine other houses. 

Eddie Sanborn opens with an im- 
iialion of the Galloway technique 
jnat gets, him a good hand and 
inereafler his orch is out. Calloway 



starts with a sprinkling of stooges 
in the boxes and the pit applauding 
before: the cuirtain rises but has no 
need of .them afterwards. 'His style 
hits the fans at once arid conibina- 
tion of soft shoe shuffling, singing 
and clowning With baton weaving 
gives him all the attiehtion he and 
his orch.usually command. •• Show, is 
quite different frorii his earli ap- 
pearance hiere. last year. 

First, sdpport - he, getS; is Evelyn 
Keys, . goodrlooking tapper who . can 
plick off all the notes h\ the .scale 
on toe and heel. Calloway ddes a 
fine:Work of showmanship both with 
her and other acts. . He does a little 
experimentatidn with his orch, 
treating it as. a solo instrument, aha 
using crescei^dos, diminuendos. 
jpianissimbS . and. fbrtissinios . as if it 
Werie a single .violin. . It is a remark- 
able Ijit' of virtiioisity that has the. 
fans highly enthusiastic. 

Avis Andrews, described as a 
piriiria donna, a terin, that usually 
depresses the crowd, gets by so well 
that she gets close to five minutes 
of applause arid refuses second en-- 
core thirete or four . times. Calloway 
then, illiistriates mbderri danceis.. and 
introduces . 'Pecking', as a new one 
which gets him a big ilaugh; Next 
variety; is a sit-down strike: of the 
orch with a bunch of good gags 
arid their disappearance to be . re^r 
placed, by tiramp band playing and 
dancing to ' music on kitchen, uten- 
sils arid other clowning: effects. This 
gets plenty of applause and erid of 
show is lineup of all acts arid bririgs 
dowri' the curtain tp a continuous 
burst of clapping. 

'MelPdy for Two' (WB) and 'When 
Love Is Young' (Col) pn screen. 

L(ine. 



HIPP, . BALTIMORE 

Baltimore, April 30. 
Making good imprpvsion upon 
his recent .one day substitution for 
Shep Fields ,Who had to fill a radio 
date during , his recent engageriient 
here, Happy Felton and, his band 
were - brought back for the cuirent 
Week's' stage attraction at the Hipp,. 

Rotund maestro has a .pleasing 
style arid knows how., to' sell a cdn^ 
versationail type of song.. . Backing 
hiiri up is ari 11-piece combo made iip 
of three fiddles,' steel guitar, three 
sax, one trumpet and ^ three piece 
rhythm sectiori; Arrangement fea- 
ture steel guitar to good purpose, In 
addition to band, present set-up in- 
cludes, Ann KincJiii fenime singer, 
Dolly Arden, classy acrobatic dancer 
arid Paul Sydell and Spotty. 

Woirking in attractive house set,- 
doings consume 43 miriutes, nicely 
paced by Felton in pleasing style. 
Only fault as constructed now is 
monotony of too much song stories 
in the Feltori style. Needs riuxing 
up a bit with inclusion of a scream; 
number about riiidway in the doings 
to make it a punchy act. 

Sig turi^ parts cuirtain to opening 
number, cleverly airranged mixture 
in which Feltbn offers to buy a drink 
for the audiende introducing each 
member- of his ensemble as a cocktail 
ingredient and gradually blending 
the varibus themes into a spckp 
orchestra ensemble. :. ^ 

Medley next featuring sweet.lriter- 
lude by three fiddles arid steel guitar 
and ending with a snappy rhumba. 
Felton follows, this with 'A Jfine Ro- 
mance' neatly sold and well re^ 
ceived. Should have changed pace 
here bul; brought on Dolly Arden, 
for her sock aero with its skillfully 
built up finish a^ji followed her con- 
tribution with. Ann Kincaid singmg 
'My Last Affair.' Singer should have 
chosen breezier type of number to 
follow slow music used for Miss 
' Arden's preceeding specialty. 

'A Dav at the Races' by Felton and 
the band, follows, a bit on the corny 
side, with Paul Sydell and Spotty on 
next suDplyirig .a. much needed lift 
and wowinff them from the statr. 
Here was a sDot for a swingy band 
number, but Felton comes through, 
instead, with a rather meaningless; 
'Song of the Last of the Cabbies 
somewhat blue for this patronage. 
'Let's Go to the Coronation, another 
song storv, follbws this and while 
fairly -weil done, loses effect because 
Of nrevibus number.. . ;. . 

Closes with very welcpme jam 
session featuring .solo, con tnbuteons 
bv various sectibns in 'When, You re 
Smiling.' Very riice .finish an.d;brings 
eopd: iresporise for closing sig tnai 
drew the curtains.^;^ , \ 

. Film is 'Shall We Dance' ^RKO).. 

; BuT">n.- 



New Acts 



Unit Reviews 



STANLEY, PUT. 

ittsbuifgh, April 30.^ 
Just ari brdinaiy ; threb-act vaude . 
bilL Thatis the sum and .substance, 
of burrent layout at. WB de Juxer. 
Not enough entertainment to .lustify 
70 minutes, and falls considerably 
shbH of fiesh hbre recently. 

Ina Ray Hutton and her femme 
band backbone the . presentatipn. but 
the Melodears seem to . be pull mg up 
on the wrorig side musicaliy these 
days. Take the flashy leader .out and 
ork's effectiveness would be nii> 
There's too much samene.<;.s . m out- 
fit's repertoire, starting with that 
slow, drab medley, and La Hutton s 
making a riiistake in tryint; to be- 
come a vocali.st. Not top strong on 
pipes, arivwa.v; and the. number she 
nicks to feature, Til Never Tell You 
.I'Lbve- You.' is out of line. 

She's a tprchy dame otherwis , in 
her expert hoofing arid baton -weav- 
ing, and a lUne more con.sistent ■with 
that imnre.ssi'on •would be better.- 
Gal's .still flashing those multinle 
costume changes, always ' good for 



CARL RAVELL and Orchestra (13) 

With Gay le Reese 

Silver Grill 

Hotel Lexington, N. T. 

This is. Tommy Coakley's old barid. 
When Coakley took his LL;B. degree 
seripusly; and restlnied actiy law 
practice in 'Frisco, Carl . Ravazza, his 
singer, took bver the. band. When 
Rpckwell-O'Keefe look over it!5 m ri- 
agemerit, Toriiiriy BOckwell I'e-: 
christenfed him Ravell— an obviously' 
ihiprbved biliing-T-arid this youthful 
and mbderjie da nice combo has. been 
tburing eastward ever since. 

The Hotel Lex irigton's Silver rill, 
is its N; Y. .debut spot and the' iriir 
pressi is favbrable: Ravcli at the- 
heltn is a personable blonde ybung-' 
ster: wh warbles ; and violin-solos 
when not batoning. "The crew back 
of him knows how tg. miX Up the 
sweet with the hot' and there's a nice 
looking songstress besides, Gaylc 
Reese, for the foxtrot balladeering. 
Miss Reese, is a N,: Y: girl, once at 
the. Park Ceritral hotel, N. Y., but 
the. augmentation is all right.. 
. Barid.'.wiU do in a mass or a. class 
place, which says lots lor any diince 
orchestra. 

Band personnel,, besides avell. 
cbmpiises; George Kinney, Jack 
Vance, Art Pprter,. saxes, latter also, 
arranger; Tpriimy Smith, Joe Gbute.s, 
Gene Rizzi, violins; Joe LMcas, Frarik 
SnoW; trumpets: Reid Tanner, trom- 
bone - arranger;., Ham Richard.s, 
guitar- violiri; Bud Gregg, p.iarib; (^arl- 
Schwedhelm, baiss; 'Voyle. .GUmote,- 
druriis; Lyle Bardo, rion'-playiri.'' .irr 
ranger. Abel.- 

FLORENCE: aitd. ALVAREZ 

Dancing 

12 Mins. 

Loew^s State, N. Y. 

Familiar ' pair arourid New York 
niteries; Florence arid Alvarez have 
st3'le; poise 'and distinctive routines. 
Offer three numbers in current ap- 
pearance, first two being staridouts.. 
With - solo piano, accbmpaniment, 
open ; withv slb'vv. waltz that under- 
scores duo's easy grace. Nice kicks 
and turns,, thpugh lifts aren't quite 
up to balance; pf efforts. Second 
number, very .short and best of act, 
is to *Way You Look "Tonight.' Gal's 
costume for this rbutirie is excsed- 
irigly becomi Backless silver 
gpwn, with . long, .pleated skirt, "-sets 
off tall figure. and dark hair.. 

Unbilled accoriipariist offers piano 
Solo while Florence and Alvarez 
change duds. They then offer mod- 
ern routine to . 'Mood Indigo.' Lacks 
origin|ility of preceding numbers, 
but fia.sh finish helps. Femme wears 
black satin gpwri with long sleeves 
and no back for this one. Only fair 
effect. ' 

Dancers have been arourid in the 
niteries, hbtels, etc., and .click on the 
stage as on a cafe floor. Hobe. 

WALLY WARD 
Comedy 
IZ Mins. . 
Loew's State, N. 

Wally Ward uses an unbilled gal 
stooge foi- rou^rhhouse piano and 
comedy . turn; ith Wally doing 
nearly all the work and getting all 
the laughs. . Biears doWn on the slap- 
stick, doing everything by extreme.'i. 
Little subtlety, but much of the 
crackpot action is funriy and it gets 
the customer's. ^ 

Besides banging the piano uritil It 
almost goes up in smOke (Ward 
actually has a gadget near the key- 
board that flares up at a hectic mo- 
ment), the comic scrambles around 
on' the bench, gives Put variety of 
vocal noises and muggs.. Act could 
blue pencil the aricient curtain 
speech. Hofae. 

eye appeal, but, niaybe, it isn't too 
smart for her to be away from the 
stand sb much lor the goWn shifts. 
Mob might get wise to the fact that 
the barid can get alpng just as well, 
without her, ■ . . 

Ork numbers received just pas- 
sively, only Hutton and: the: Ibatured 
Winstead "Irio, .two boys . and a girl,; 
getting anything approaching decent . 
returns.- Leader;; however. gPt it. on 
her footwork arid nbt-vbc^illzmg. She 
shPuld leave the latter departmeritto 
the Winsteads, a good, staridard 
threesome. ', Femme member .has 
comic, possibilities:. ich she might 
develop; further. 

Opening has Harry. Ki m- 
clair Twins coming bn brie, 
without even an annbuncbrnerit of 
their identity, and ; dishing put an 
effective a.ssortrrierit of; tacs. They're 
on twice collectively arid once each 
individually, and might tighten tuf'ri 
a .bit for better results.. 

They're followed by . , je. 
mimic, who introduces hi.m.self. and 
doesn't lorgfit to mention that he's a 
protege of Riidv Vallee. . Youngster 
was here with Vallee a yenr ago, but, 
he's impi'OA-ed si then, .nnd 
snatches off top return's, of day. Bbr- 
nie's i itatioris trf>nsccnd vocal; si m- 
ilarif ies: ' he . f"'ts the facial charrir- 
teristics' a.'^ •WMI. wiih the too'^or <he 
Al Jolsftn'hc docs. Hns a louuh 1,i>r"^ 
.izetting awav. :vhi'>>i floe.«n't m;ik'^ i1 
any lop ea.s.'v. for Hutton act to tfct 
strrtbrl... 

Flickpr. .nlMi h- nv' fWB C 'id 
a PbDCVp' ctii'lonir .oiid Pjjr n''*"-";"'^f.'i 
inittf'^ W'lh fiio,*;: of .1a<;t week"'- P'^^'-l 
in .P.itlsburf'.1->,- roiihdinfi nut MU. 
•Oneninff prcttv «a()(1> but n»vif - r-rc- 
A'ipup throe wcit'ks. Cohoi. 



HDllywopd Ingenues 

(ORIENTAL, CHI) 

' Chicago, April 30. 
On its openirig; unit looks tb be a 
smasher. The only thing seriously 
wrong is that it needs another sock, 
comedy turn tp help Violet Carlson, 
carry, the burden. Girl does a fine 
job, selling her kind of stuff 100% 
on. pefsbriality alone, and she'd, be a 
hard act. to IpiloW, but it's pretty' 
hard '.for any' pei-fprmer to carry ari 
hour'.s bill single-handed. 

Whole thing; is bU ilt around 'Hbliy- 
wbpd Ingenues,* all-girl band, an-: 
other organization Which is seeming- 
ly-led by hip. niovemerits rather than 
baton; Weavi s, black silk covei'ed, 
were on cu With iiisli'uments, biit 
ihe stick seeriis to be a flash behirid; 
Beverly Jean . Br itton, blonde leader, 
has plerity. of s. a. arid a lispy. Voice 
that isn't bad on introductions, u.<!cd 
as sparingly as it' is, but giveii the 
appearance pf blissful irinbcerice;' for- 
gettirig the •■ 

. Band is erack organization, with 
good execution; appearance and ver- 
satility.; Latter, is given a plentilul 
play, using all girls playing same in- 
struriients in ba1i.vo, harn\bnica, gui- 
tars; accordion and saxophbne spe- 
cialties. .Nice effects in. every case, 
with 14 iristruments, all the same, 
augmented by pit brchestra. 

Added , to the band are foiir: acts, 
.and liere, -. a.s .extf-a; Mile. . Corr inc.. 
who. prbbablyv accounts 'lor a good 
deal pf the business, more even than 
'm.bst;riudies at this house, for she 
has',. built, up a reputation here for' 
stagirig arid foi: actual dancing. Does 
a toe routine jn a bliife spot.. ' 

Novelty lis 'furnished by. Paul Ro- 
sirii, - brought in: after doing his 
slelght-bf-haind at Palmer houiie here 
for 23 weeksi His act, slick; and deft 
as .it always is, is built up con.sider- 
ably by having girls from barid arid 
Violet Carlson Work along with 'Ror 
sini< in some cases dbirig the sarite 
tricks that he does. 

Two other acts — Floi'ence in 
Low, Chinese contortionist, and 
Wilkle and Ray, miale kriockr.bbut 
tap team-r-complete the picture with, 
their accbptable work. Chinese girl 
makes rip .attempt to. mix dancing 
with her. wbi:k,. and . the two boys 
take the; kind of falls and do the; fast 
.stepping that counts. 
■ Acts are sandwiched; in between 
specialtie.s by the band, .spine done 
in front of orchestra arid some in 
one. Violet Carlson, iri the middle 
of the show, .has gotten away, from 
the top-rough stuff of a couple years 
ago arid has settled into a well-timed 
sock routine which includes her 
Spanish number gasping prima 
donna, arid a burlesaue eXhibitibn 
dance with Ray, bf Witke and Ray.. 

Not on the unit, , but deserving of 
a mentiori in :thi.s week's winner -of 
WENR amateur hour. Wiriners play 
this . housa weekly. Eddie Rickard 
plays a cbncerUna for both musical 
and cbmedy effects. Loop. 

Okay» Baltimore 

(CENTURY, BALTIMORE) 

Baltimore, April 30. 

Although ho loriger playing stage 
shows, Loew's Century returns to a 
two-wbek session of flesh in order to 
present this fifth edition of an all- 
Baltimore flhow, tponsored. annually 
by the News-Post. Two- week period 
nec3Ssary because of arrangement 
with local musical pinion, which per- 
mits bff-and-on-stage show policy, 
providing two Weeks' notice • of in- 
tention to discontinue is given pit- 
men. Horace Heidt and band: billed 
for next week. 

Current edition of 'Okay' staged- 
as heretofore by Gene Ford, brought 
over for stint from house maria- 
gerial duties at Clapitol iri 'Washing-- 
ton. Dance rputines- credited to 
Hairy Cro.sley, sent in by Loew of- 
fice with program also crediting 'pcr- 
•sonar supervision' to LoUis. K. Sid- 
ney. .Laureine Bac,. who conducts 
Saturday morning dar»ce class pfi 
Cieritury stage, also credited .as; assist-, 
ing Crosley. 

As.caught on; opening iJhow, irig.s 
run 61 niinutes. Pretty fast- 'ing 
.stuff, but. sPnie paring here apd 
there wDUl help. Line and pririci'- 
pais made up. entirely . of Balti-' 
rripreans, with Jackie Heller brought 
in. as Tti.c. arid Lida Miles adagio 
fbursbine added for finale sock. 

Opening reveals line of, 20;=linedAJp. 
irt f rent of ,21-.sheet stand; annouricTng 
revue, 'Short numb.er.s. bririg; on 
Heller, breaking; through' po.ster and' 
doing. 'Love tqi Keep Me Wafrri' in 
typically: gPod style... Fast hoof "rou- 
tirie . by choru.s loliows, and sends 
.matters off to an oka.y start. 

TWp .phort se)»sioris b.y; Lavei*ne 
Bloom and .Emma Blische in an aero 
specially, ..arid the Balianti, Twi ,; 
;hobfei'.s, gairbed as gobs, hold up pace 
nibeiy. .Jack EvaVds .in impressibri 
of Amds and Andy .characters, .lol- 
iows- to fair return.s, Anribuhces 
next number,. The. Hot Foot,' an 
briginal:by Ford, in which.line goes 
into rnore okay hbon.tig. a la Harlem, 
and smartly .sold. 

Frank Rudel, evidently a retired 
Irouper from . the old days, revive.s 
the old ragpicker .bii.vine,"is here, 
completing three picture.*? iiVade of 
I'ags stuck onto framed blackboard 
Next .<;pot brings on little Kenrielh 
Brown, five-year-oId music.'il prodi- 
gy, who has appeared on Bowt."-' ror 



grams, 
cordion. 

Only attempt at sketch follows. 
Titled 'Meet the Quirituplets/ it pre- 
sents the quins as babies, fallowed/ 
by five nondescripts in a song and 
dance to -'We'rb . the Fellows; Who 
Married the Quints.' : Walk on of 
five dames in picture hats and flow- 
ing gowns next lor Florodpra . sextet 
finish Wlth men. Not bad; Produc-.; 
tiPri . number ■ next presents jfjirls on 
platlbrms in modernistic. rPutines. 
embellished by. very> effective lighiV 
ing. A real sock, and really earns 
reception; it got; . 

Heller .takes hold herei doing 'Sep- 
tember in the Rain,- 'Serenade in the 
Dark," 'Little Old Lady' arid ?How 
Could Ybu'>' all sold With plenty of 
showmanship. 

CPmedy novelty, 'Baltimore Opera 
Company Walks Its Do^s,'; follows to 
plenty of laughs as various singers 
walk bn with different dogs .and, go 
into Sextet; from Luqia.' Of; cour.se, 
dogs joined in, and results a real 
howl. Bathing girl finale preseriting 
eritii'e compdriyj Svlth four.some ada- 
gip by Lida. Miles and Go. .»!pliced in, 
clbsed matters . nicely, garnering 
plenty of cUrtain calls. Bur7n, 



Metropolitfin V arieties 

(CAPITOL,- ATLANTA) 

Atlanta, May i. . 
.Redeeming feature of Nick Sanin's 
unit is work of Five Abdallah Giils 
and music of his Imperial ussiia 
Cossacks band,; augmented by seven 
house looters, which he directs him- 
Relf; 

Show takes 4i minutes, iit tempo 
at times is that ol prover iul ana'il. 
Fails, to measure up to calibre of 
units Cap has been prbsenting -and 
personnel, numbers only 1.9, about 
four hands shy of average unit that 
plays' this time. 

;;Brlef overture :i.s; cue . for line of 
girls to come on and Pffer creditable 
tap routine. They're followed by 
George' : GoPdrlch and Marie. ; Lec, 
cbmedy team, With fbrmcr starting 
act with song, 'When Did You Leisive 
Heaven?' After so-sb line of patter 
Goodrich offers 'Did I Remembcr?' 

Koch Sisters, Kay. arid Helen, look- 
ers with persoriality, piresent a' im- 
ble • rope^skipping dance arid merit 
the good hand they get. Follpwed 
by Mavis in a tap rbutirie which.she 
winds up . fast with flipflops and 
acrobatics. 

Sanin then brings the barid car 
down, front -lor 'Pennies from 
Heaven,' featuring trumpeter, Arthur 
Hpff,. "TPoters are dressed in Cosr 
.sack costume, unit's mounting being 
in Russian motif.; 

Goodrich and Lec back at this:' 
point Wi^h a brief comedy bit and' 
the line, also' 'returh.s for a corribo 
tune and teirp routine, singing 'Bialn- 
bow on. the River' aind soEtsho6jng. 

Comedy and hokum by Tpmriiy 
Van and Sarah Vernon , offers noth- 
ing to raVe abput^ ;; Nearest thing to 
socko is the Abdallah Girls,: who 
close the shbw with a creditable exr 
hibitiori. of dancing, tumbling, acro- 
batics arid pyramid building. 

Show needs a good, punchy act to 
make it click and re-routining 
wouldn't hurt. A lot of the gags 
were away past the risque border- 
line and Cap riiariagement made .'em 
use scissors plentifully before, secpnd 
shPW went on. 

- Despite murky weather and chapigQ 
in time, which Atlantaris haven't got- 
ten, used to yet, house was overflow- ' 
ing when first show broke Sunday. 

Luch. 



WMEX, Boston 



(Cbntl.nued from page 42) 
resources pf /rhe Northern Cbrp., 
licensee of Wl^EX, 

..Thi.s move put pf an enibari*assi 
predicarinient,:wbuld be based, on ap- 
parent conflict.^ bet'ween Bramhall's 
report and his statements at the 
hearings , last ; March when he an- 
nbunced. he .was .. ls!?;atl.sn.ed ith- 
flrianciat dbpe .supplied in support of 
the; a ppli call In w i rid i n g up the 
hearing, the examiner said, the Cpm- 
mi'sh was entitled; to know the spiirce 
of the $87,000 cbnslruction fund; 
which .the company bpastbd and 
served, np;tice if the data . Was not 
forthcoming, he wpuld pibint thi.s put . 
i is report. . But the .report. made 
rip reference to this ph , Branihiall 
merely accepting- at ; 
evidence Which he 
criticized. 

Whether the additional 
been supplied Was still, a mystery 
last week. Asked by VAiiiETY- ' hi ' 
doubts had been fempyed ;by sub- 
mission of cyidenee ' after' the close 
of the hearirig, Branihall said he 
uncertairi whether the .su 
ary facts ever had be.bln pre. 
ofTicially. to.. the Com; ish. Mo., 
the .slant Ij'i.st week .that, the 
. wu.s no longer of .any concern- ..viM'ce 
he. had been, informed. p(;r.'--()n<illy 

that' thji^ stockholdcr.s were reputiib'l^ 
pei's ns and amply wcll-heolvci ly 
meet Uig bills for neW equipnif nt. 



52 



VARIETY 



LEGITIMATE 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 




Km Jiidges, 
to 






ince there has been 
sqiUavy^king about the Pulitzer award, 
one way pt,' the other, '3r6dd way had 
some wisecracks about the winners 
of this year; Feeling prevalent being 
that the Pulitzer awards committee; 
is trying .to reVestablish the dw -r 
dlihg value of the prizie via the nam- 
ing of distinct clicks, rather thaii 
nonentities as has; been done in the 
vpast,' 

George {S; Kaufman's and Moss 
Hart's 'YOU; Can't "Take it with You* 
won thie aWard for besft play; it had 
,receiv6d Qhly two vbties in .the New 
York legit critics' vote pn best play 
of thC ; season: a month previous, 
islthpugh it is the undPubted comedy 
success, of thie season, selling - capac- 
ity almost from " rst minute to 
date. 

'flctipn, , pop best-seller 
was named, 'Gone. With the Wind,' 
by. ^Margaret Mitchell, -vad din g 
strength to the- argument that the 
cbmmittee. wasn't taking any chances. 

iri the past the Pulitzer award has 
gone on occiasiqh to uhkhPwhs; and 
flbps.. It also, on occasion, has biiilt 
these flop^ into the money class. 
Doubtful whetlief it will have any 
monetary effect oh anything this 
year since the .major prizes went to 
subjects already, established and sell- 
ing about as well as possible, . . 
. It'5 a. second win for George S: 
kaufinan, who came in on .'Of . Thee 
I Sing* in 1932. Last year the award 
.committee ruled ^that no previous 
•winner could be named again; • This 
arousied .a lot of criticism and mad6 
a.; choice very' difficult, number of 
fine 'plays by name writers being 
ruled out ' autPmatically. This \year 
the 'rule was, rescinded, maklhg 
Kaufman's play, a possibility. 
Rescinding of the r.ule. also linade 
.eligible again 'High "Tor' by Maxwell 
Andei'soh, which won . the critics' 
award. But the Pulitzerites couldn't 
see 'Tor;' 



'Bet' ReincaiiiatioB 
Ai/Money Mad'^ 1^ 
Into Eqiiky trouble 



Plans to fe-pyesent 'Bet Your Life,' 

ith a new cast, under the title of 
•Money Mad,* werie snagged by. 
■■*Equity^rules;,ahd'the show was hot 
pei-mitted to start rehearsals until 
the status of the new management b6' 
eistablish'ed. Rights to the play were 
taken oyer by Ludwi Satz and 
Edward Relkin. 

It was. claimed by Equity that Fritz 
Blocki, • icago newspaperman, who 
authored the play. Was apparently 
still interested on then managerial 
end. Stated that all stock has been 
turned .back; however, arid that 
Bloclci's only -rerhaining interest is. 
the royalty. NeW management is 
said to have satisfied Equity that the 
original sponsors are out and re- 
' hearsals are due to start today. 

Preyiousiy, the management had 
been told that ; all players in the 
orijginal cast not noW employed 
W.buld'liave to ;be re-engaged,' or the 
play be held off for Pight weeks. 
Sprhie of the first cast stated they 
were not interested in reappearing. 
One of those whom the management 
did not care to take on again, is 
blamed for ' Your .Life's', poor 
debut'. .Reported the player's false 
teeth dropped out ' and; the. lines 
uttered were unintelligible. 

riginal cast, received two weeks 
salary although, only , one week was' 
'flayed. iThere had b^eh a paid pre- 
view which jcpun';-;. .peribrmance, 
and, under Equity rules, if a show 
is gi ven. iifibre thJjri J^ight • tifnes,, paid 
preyie'Ci^s included, i-eheatsal money 
cannot be deducted. 



Steeies* New Play 

Norma .'Mitchell iaiid Wilbur 
Daniel- Steele, . husband-and-wife~ 
playNkriting 'havie comjpleted 

the i script new 'drama, 'This 

Day Between,' scheduled .tO be tried 
out at a New England summer the- 
atre. ... 

Understood; that Norma Terris is 
set to play the leading- role during 
the sur^imcr trybut. Actress, who 
is a ne'ighbor of the Steele^ in Con- 
necticut, is also likely to appear in 
several of Noel Coward's 'Tonight 
at Eight-Thirty* oneraqters at Rob- 
ert Henderspn-'S Drama Festival in 
Ann Arbor, Mich., this year. 



ItOAD' ACTORS GET 
SLOW MOTION PAY-Ot¥ 



; With mia ny • items pressing lor pay- 
ment, players and chorus of I'The 
Eternal Rbad,' Manhattan O. H., 
N'. Y., have hot received salaries on 
schedule. Part payment, ^has been 
made on iSaturday, with the balance 
coniing on' various days during' the 
following week. Pay-off last week 
was not cbrhpleted Until Friday and 
then pay day came and went, .with- 
out the ghost walking at: all. 

iShPw had $15,0d0 on deposit with. 
Equity to guarantee salaries. That 
is being partly used to 'pay. off for. 
last week; 'Road' has da ted. the clos- 
ing for May 15, and will probably.be 
requhred to post security, or addi- 
tional funds for the final week. 



Henderstn to Matej 
Tp,|ar PhcjaiMawiHig; 



That ; Katharine . Cornjelt is desirous' 
of making world-wide appearances is 
authenticated' by the plans bf her 
prodUcer-husband| Guthrie McClin- 
tic. Latter will send: her personal 
representative,- Ray< Henderson, ori a 
trip, which will take more tl)ian five 
months, he to visit the far flung 
stands on the tentative itinerary. 

it is the most-prized assignment 
.ever given a press agent, expenses 
being on the management.. Hender- 
son's first objective will be Australia 
and New . Zealand, with Manila' and 
the Orient, next; H* will; then stop 
at'Indi , travel to Sputh. Africa, and 
finally into South America. Hender- 
son will enter into tentative bookings 
and if ; the toiir is definitely decided 
on upon .his return, the dates will .be 
niade definite by cable pi: radio com-, 
rniunications. P. a; is hot que back 
in iNew York until next December; 

Miss Cornell's tour Vo|iild start in 
June, 1938, and she may i>e gbhe two 
years, since appearances fpr a sea- 
spn in London would also be sched- 
uled. Proposed: to Carry productions: 
for. six . playsi Contemplated^ tour is 
not figured for profit and star would 
be satisfied if it breaks ^ven. 



Easton's Strawkat 



Easton, Pa., May 4. 
Theatre Arts^ Eastbn's recently or- 
ganized dramatic group,.has pbiained 
a barn Pn^ outskirts of city and will 
present ' a' hamber ' of plays during 
summer. 

Barn is now being converted into 
theatre, with stage and seating ca- 
pacity of about 500. First play will 
be. presented in June and will be 
The Sap Runs High.' 



THEATRE PARTY TICKET 
GROUP ELECTS OFFICERS 



Following the organiicing trend in 
the theatre, thos* ticket people who 
specialize pn theatre parties havei 
gotten .together, elected officers and 
adopted plans. Party people are all 
women, whip claim, their .usefulness 
has been recbgnized and that as they 
bring mbney to the bbX offices they 
deserve cbhsideratipn from the man- 
agers. 

One. of the aims is io; establish uni- 
fbrmity iit prices, another, being tdi 
stop alleged chiseling that has crept, 
into their end of the business. 



Gorden Taking Tiiii€ 
Get Back Into Legit 



Hbliywobd, May 
Max wash up 

with his current , assighmeiit as gen- 
eral consultant fpr RKQ in tinrie to 
leave for Ne\y York (21) and launch 
legit prbduction plans, for next sea- 
son. ■ lie i? : wbrHing here ith Sam 
Briski 

f f. Conimitiherits ' preclude Gordon's 
if^^hctiohing similarly with Meryyn 
'lieRoy. bn the hew Rodgersj. and 
Hart musical for Warners. A new 
Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce, play is 
coming up for Gordon's production, 
also, a new Rpdgers and Hart stage 
musical. 

In the late fall Gprdbn will be 
back in Hollywood to produce the 
film version of 'The .Women,' the 
Luce play which he produced pn 
Brpadway. This,- Gordon's debut a^ 
a picture prPducer, will be made in 
association with Harry Gbetz for 
United Artists release. . 

Gordon plains to. adhere closely 
to the stage play and will use- a 
cast compps^ exclusively of wom- 
en, Aguring that this departure will 
be a novelty helping to put the film 
over and. injection of males might 
Jeopardize its attractiveness. 

Production will be held oft .until 
ponclusion of the play's N. Y. run, 
yith ppssibility that some of the 
leads in this stage, play also will, be 
cast for the picture. 



Wm. Gilktte. Audior^Star, Dies 
At 81; One of WeaUiiest Actors 



Burleigk New Director 
At Pittsburgh Playhouse 



ittsburgh, May 4. 

Board pf Directors of Pittsburgh 
Playhouse has named Frederick Bur- 
leigh, Of Indianapolis Civic theatre, 
director of local group for 1937-38 
season. He succeeds Herbert V. Gel- 
lendre, who. recently resigned post 
he has held for two years following 
split with Playhouse board pver 
budget matters and policies. 

Burleigh is a graduate of Dart- 
mouth College and Prof. Baker's 47 
Workshop at Yile, and is due here 
next week to spend fortnight with 
Board mapping plans fpr new season. 




League of N. Y. 
to Approve MYTFA s Standard Pact 



Labor committee of League of 
New Th^atr^s meets today 

(Wednesday).- to consi standard 
cpntract submitted . New York 
Theatrical Press Agents, isxpected 
basic pact 'will be speedily okayed 
as is. Committee has advised priess 
agents' group it. will probably haye 
a. decision ready by' t6moiri:ow.! 

. Cpntract, finally' agreed upon by. 
the press agents at a meeting last 
week, after a series of conferences, 
was submitted to managers last 
Thursday (29). . Reported inanagers. 
'seemed receptive and agreeable/ 
Pi-incipal pdint is stipulation for 
$100-a-week minimum; Sin^e all 
'reputable' producer^ have ' consis- 
tently paid press, agents more than 
that figure, ho difficulty is antici- 
pated oyer the, contract, Pointed out 
by press agent body that the stand- 
ard pact is aimed primarily to pro- 
tect the less-established agents'. 

Figured that if the JI.VTJ^A and 
■League agree on basic cpntract it 
will keep so-caUed ^intermittent* 
producers from hiring lesser-known 



agents fpr. peanuts. is that in 

case of need. League could refuse 
lease of Broadway house to any 
manager not meeting NYTPA con- 
tract terms. That pbssibility lis con- 
sidered remote/ howeyer. 

„ When its. contract, with League is 
settled, one of the NYTPA's first ac- 
tions; is expected to be toward con- 
certed, effort' to qpntrbl pass lists loi* 
iiegit houses. Annie Oakleyis have 
always;, been major headache to 
Broadway press agents and noW 
that they're organized, they plan to 
dope but spnie fprmula for slicing 
the free list, just Wljat method will 
be used hasn't been ..determined, but 
probably pne change will he to re- 
qijire all newspaper requests to 
come through the drarriatic desks. 

Ray Henderson is NYTPA prez. 
Elise. Phishblm 'is vice-p;'ez, Phyllis 
Perlman is;, secretary.. Oliyer M. 
Saylor is treasurer. League of New 
York Theatres' labor .committee ih-- 
.'cludc^s , ."Marcus; . Heiman, Warren 
Miingqll, J. H. Ry'ley, . David Fine-: 
stone, L. Lawrence" Weber, Leonard 
Bergman. 



Williahi' illette, actpir, manager 
and playwright,, died in Hartford last 
Thursday (29), of a pulnibhary hem- 
orrhage. Had he, lived until July, he 
would have passed his 82d: year. He 
had been confined in a Hartford hos- 
pital fbr several .weeks but was re- 
ported to be improving. He had 
spent sbme time, in the sanie hospital 
at the end of last year but was dis- 
charged at Christmas time. Recently 
his physicians urged , his return to 
the institution, but until the day be- 
fore his death his. situation was hot 
regarded as critical. In recent years 
he had ipade his home at Hadlyme, 
Conn., where he built an estate on 
which his chi delight was a mini- 
ature railiroad which traversed . the 
three-mile track all laid out within 
the grounds of the estate, to which 
he. gave the name of Seventh Sister. 

Gillette was one of the: wealthiest 
actors in America, his fortune being 
estimated, as high as $2,1000,000. Estatie 
has ;been. bequeathed: to^four rela- 
tives unknown to ihow business. He', 
hoped is house , arid grounds would 
not fall intp the hands of some 
'saphead.' 

He earned most of his; money, un- 
der the management of Charles 
Frohman, particularly . in 'Secret 
Service' and 'Sherlock Holmes.' His 
share usually was 60%- of the profits, 
plus author's royalties. . Around; the 
Empire theatre, N. .Y., headquarters 
of the' Frbhmans, he was known to 
prefer seclusion, but liked to lunch 
in the, Echo, first dairy lunch .oh 
Broadway. 

Gillette was an agnostic ahd even 
when Frohman died he stood on the 
steps of the temple, although a hon- 



Lundy & Kamsler 
Plan Summer Stock 
Ob B'way; at $1 Top 



Stock compariy, to play regular 
Broadway legit house at $1 top, will 
opien May 24 under management of 
Lundy ,& kamsler, new producing 
firm. 'While partneirs refused -to. re- 
veal which house they wpuld have; 
it is rumpred company will play the 
44th St. theatre; Plan to run as Ibng 
as pbssible, at least until Septen»ber; 

First play will be 'The Bat,' with 
other standard thrillers and who- 
dunits of several seasons ago to fol- 
low. Pomedies and straijght draimas 
may be done later. Ben tundy will 
be billed as producer, with B. F. 
Kamsler directing and 'Frederick 
Fox designing sets. Figure on nu- 
cleus .'of about ten player^; several 
of whom will be names. iShows will 
run mi imum of a week. Claim no; 
actors have , been definitely set so 
far. 



Plans to Spend $30,000 
Renovating Pitt's Nixon 



Pittsburgh, May 4. 
irdlinger Bros^, owners Pf . the 
Nixon theatre, town's single legit 
site, paid their first visit . to Pitts- 
burgh in two years, last week, and 
left for Philly with the annbunce- 
ment they Would ispend: $30,000 re- 
pairing the house- for next season. 
Half bf that ill be used foi' new 
seats, fiirst time uphblstering at playr 
house has been touched since site 
opened more than 30 years ago. 

Decision is result of most success^ 
iul years house las had in almost a 
decade. House got around 34 weeks 
this' seasoh, topping by 10 previous 
high since dejpressibn. . 

Nixon , had :Only two . losing weeks. 
CJuriously enough, they were both 
turned in by trybuts of London hits, 
'Two Mrs. Carrolls' and 'Close 
Quafters.' Latter;. . which, wound up 
legit, season except for current Unl^ 
versity of Pittsburgh musical, 'Trailer. 
Hp,' gave house a new low. ,E3timate 
of $2,500 for last week was too high. 
Twbrcharacter play got orily around 
$1,750,' or abput: a hundred bucks 
under 'Carrolls/ 



^Drunkard* Reels Oh 

Holly wopd, May 4. 
'The Dunkard' entered , its ,2d0th 
week ypjterdiay (Monday) when the 
l,400th consecutive performance wajs 
given^ 

Play is at the Theatre Mart. 



orary pallbearer. Severial years ago 
he communicated with a friend in 
New York, inquiring about the 
Catholic, religion, but hever 
around to adopting that faith, since 
the services in Hartford were read 
by a Ciongregational pastor. 
Wlntibell Smith 

Star gave his nephew, the late 
Winchell Smith, his first start in 
the theatre. It was a part in 'Secret 
Service.' Smith started writing at 
the age of 34 and his first playi 
'Like .Mother Made,' .later 'Turn to 
The Right,' dated the phenomenal 
success of Smith and John Golden 
as; managers; 

Gillettei born in Hartford, made 
his initial ° stage appearance : in 1875 
in 'The Gilded Age,' in Boston; It 
was jtollowed by several . years in 
stock in Boston, Cihcinnati, Louis- 
ville' . Loiiis and New Orleans. His 
Bostorl engagenient at the Globe the- 
atre was obtained for him by> Sam-. 
uel LV i Clemens (Mark Twain), 
Hartford neighbor. 

In June. 1881, he made his > first 
definite advance when- he - appeared 
at the Madison Square theatre, N. Y., , 
in his own 'light comedy, 'Tlije . Pro- 
fessor,' in which he; played the lead- 
ing rple of an absent-minded and 
rather timid educator besieged by a 
flock of young girls at a summer re- 
sort hotel. The play, an. amusing 
trifle, ran for more than a year, at 
the Madison Square, then managed 
by Gustav Frohman, ided by his 
brotheri Daniel: This . 'was fpllowed 
by the lead in 'The Ypung Mrs. Wi 
thrpp' at? the same theatre and this 
in turn was followed by 'Digby's 
Secretary,' less successful, and then 
'The Private Secretary,' done from a 
German source, in^which he scored 
another emphatic hit in s. role soniCT 
what- similar to that in 'The Pro;^ 
fesspr/ "The play was. offered in 
other versions, by several others, 
but the Frohman . production more 
than held its own and . it placed Gil-, 
lette very definitely in. the list bf 
important light comedians. 

' eid By the Enemy' 

His next hit was his own 'Held by 
the Enemy,' in which he played the 
role of a flip war correspondent op- 
posite Minnie Dupree. In turn he 
was. -seen . in 'Top Much Johnson,' 
premiered at the Garrick, .N. Y., and 
in 'Secret Service,' another war play, 
but on heavier lines than 'Ehemy.' 
Then came iiis version of 'Sherlock 
Holmes'' at the same theatre, ' in 
which he scored one of his putstand-. 
ihg. successes. The play ran to ca- 
pacity fpr more than three years, the 
only slight variance in the receipts, 
being the number of standees. 
- He was. next seen in 'The Admii;- 
able Crichton,' which also enjoyed 
a long; run, and in his own 'Clarice,' 
not very successful. He .made, the 
initial production at the Duke of . 
York's theatre, London, and later 
toured- it in this country. Later he 
played at the (Criterion in 'Sampson/, 
which he had adapted from the; 
French: 

Other plays written by him were, 
'Esmeralda,' froiji the Frances Hodg- 
son Burnett novel,, which, had more 
than a year at the Madison Square; 
'All- the Comforts of Home,*^ 'Mr. 
Wilkinson's Widows,' 'Settled Out of 
Court,' 'Ninety Days,'' 'Because She 
Loved Him So,' 'The Red Owl,' 
'Among Thieyes,' 'Miss Electricity,' 
'The Dream Maker' and an adapta- 
tion of Rider Haggard's 'She,' into 
which he wrote; an additional char- 
acter, that of a; neyirspaper corre- 
spondent, to contribute the comedy 
reli ;Loie Fuller; later to invent 
the serpentine dance, played the 
draihatic role of 'Ustane.'. Owing to 
casting troubles, he played the cor- 
respondent;. himself for a few weeks 
on the road. " 

His career ^'as interrupted by nu- 
merous pieriods of tetiremeht, diie to 
ill healthy in which he devpted his , 
time to writings In 1910 he appeared, 
on roadway in reviyal^ of 'Sher;- 
lock Holmes/ 'The Private Secre- 
tary,' 'Too Much Johnson' and 'Se> 
cret Service.' . In lS>14,he was, at the 
■Empire * B^aucjerc's 'Diplomacy,' 
and the fbllowing year he again re- 
vived 'Holmes' and 'Service.' In 1917 
he Was in Clare Kummer's 'Success- 
ful (Talamity/ and the year^ following 
■in Barrie's 'Dear Brutus.' It was the 
latter play which first .attracted at- 
tention to Helen Hayes, is last ap- 
pearanee was a brief season in John 
Golden's 'Three Wise Fools' last 
.year. .The tour Iqisted . five . weeks, 
one of which: was placed ip New 
York, Iji the fall he .contracted a 
geyere cold, .which, eventuall.'^' 
caused his death. 



WednesJay, May 5, 10^7 




LEGITIMATE 



VARIETY 



S3 



39 LEGmMATE BD 



HijHyV Mayor Nixes %cliids' 
After 'Command' Performance 



Philadelphia, May 4. 

Philly's belligeriBnt Mayor, S. 
Davis Wilson, who has constituted 
himself a staunch and relentless de- 
fender of the morals of local the- 
atregoers, is at It again. He's closed 
another show. . 

Latest row canie as a complete 
jiirprise to almost everybody and is 
concerned with Charles Abramson's 
new musical, ; 'Oirchids Preferred/ 
which opened Wednesday (April ?/) 
night,, after tviro postponements. 
Show received sharp panning from 
most of the local crix, but there was 
nary & peep heard from any^ source 
after the first night concerning any 
possible objectionable matter. 

But it seems that menibers of the 
theatre control board,' body of 
censors appointed by Mayor Wilson 
a year ago, found 'obviqus vulgarity, 
indecency of plot and general lower- 
ing of theatrical standards.' 

Hence a 'c6nuna|id performance' 
Thursday night, which was atteii(ded 
by the Mayor, his secretary, Louis 
Wilgarde, ivfo members of the cen- 
sors board, two rieporters and the 
house and show staff. Money for all 
s^atS: sold had been ordered re- 
fund^; there wasn't much|: 

Before the end of Act I, Mayor 
Wilson stalked up the aisle putting 
on his famous fuming' and muttering 
routine. 

*We can't possibly permit this 
show to go on here,' he said for the 
benefit of the show's production 
staff and. the. lonesome newspapei:- 
..inen. He also told Abramson thiEkt 
the singing and voices were 'rotten,' 
but on. the advice' of Wilgarde der 
leted these . remarks from his- com- 
ments for the papers. 

fully agree with Board of The- 
atre Control,' he said, 'the show is 
improper and caii't be .permitted to 
go. on here. Philadelphia will per- 

it only -decent shows. There is 
scarcely a situation in whole 
plot Nvhich doesn't reek of licen- 
tiousness.' 

Wilson's last row was over 'Mur 
latto,' skedded for the Locust, last 

inter. . Mayor said 'Nix' and that 

ix' stood, although Wilson warred 
with one dissenting member of the 
Censor Board, Mrs. Upton Favorite, 
on the matter and suspended her for 
a time. 

J'apers here gave plenty of front 
pagie space to current* row on 'Or- 
chids Preferred^' 

Regular, review on the play is on 
page 56. 



20TH LOOKS SET TO 
PAY 15G FOR 'CURTAIN' 



Picture rights of 'The Curtain 
Rises,' which was presented ' the 
fall of 1933 by Morris Green and. 
Frank McCoy at the Vanderbilt, 
Y„ will probably be bought by 
20th-Fox; Play was written by B. 
M, Kaye, a New York attorney, who 
was a silent partner in several pi'o- 
ductions. An offer pf $10,000 ha^d 
previously been .rejected and current 
figiire is $15,000. 

^jean; Arthuri played the lead in 
Curtain Rises' arid on the strength 
Of her performance, attracted fresh 
attention, from Hollywood. She re- 
turned immediately after, the play 
closed and went on to highest filiti 
successes of her career. 



Ahtoin^tte Perry 111 

Antoinette Perry,, the actress-di- 
rector^ was ill with intestinal influ- 
enza at her; honnre last week. 
. 5he W{(s reported favorably early 
tnjs week. 



DRAMATISTS GUILD MEEtlNG 

_ Special meeting of the Dramatists 
Guild has been called for May 20 to 
take Up thie matter of dues and pay- 
ments of royalty to the' Guild. 

"jgiirts were considerably cut 
down last year, to ease the payments 
lor those earning under $2j500 per 
yeav, with the result that the Guild 
« finding itself , running behind. 



Not Dirty 



Newark, May 4. 
rchids Preferred,' musleal 
eomedy banned In Philly last 
week, .opened af , the Shubert 
here last iilrht. First nighters 
and crIx of a. m. sheets couldn't 
nnderstand what seemed ob- 
jectionable to Philly's mayor; 
or, perhaps, much of' the goes- 
tlonabliei material had been 
taken out before showing here. 

^ome or the dialog. In the 
first act only, is spicy. In the 
^Greeks Had Word for It' 
manner, but there Is a dull let' 
down thereafter. Show Is long- 
drawn-out on the whole aind, in 
Its' present state, seems . above 
official criticism. 



BURLEY HALT 
MAY RECLAM 




Should burlesque be ruled, off defi-. 
nitely^ the status of 42nd street, one 
time noted for its legit theatres on 
the block between Broadway and 
Eighth avenue; may be considerably 
changed next season. There were 
three legiters on the block playing 
stock burley-^ApoUo, Eltinge and 
Republic, all going dark . last. Satur- 
day when licenses were not renewed. 

In the opinion of realty men, legit 
shows have a good chance to returh 
to the block, which has but one thea- 
tre, with that policy (New Amster- 
dam, dark). ..That goes especially for 
the Apollo and the Eltinge may be 
re-converted although in need of 
rehabilitation. Chances of turning 
two of the spots into picture houses 
depends on the amount of product 
available, since there aire a floci: of 
grind film theatres on the block. 

Apollo cannot be used for pictures. 
It is owned by the Bowery Savings 
Bank, which also controls the Times 
Square, adjoining. When the latter 
was leased for pictures, it was stipu- 
lated in the lease that no films could 
be shown in the Apollo. Eltinge has 
a frontage of 33 feet and stores may 
replace the front of the house. Re-, 
public is one of pldiest theatres in 
the group, and ' expected to turn 
to grind films. 

Realty people are very definite in 
theit ideas as to how the block was 
ruined for legit— they blame bur- 
lesque, if biirley is out, failure -to 
pay the rent will lead to prompt 
dispossessies. 



Central City 0. H. Signs 
Ruth Gordon in Ibm Play 



Denver, May 4. 
xiih Gordon .will stai: at the 
Central City Opera house this sum- 
mer in Heiirik Ibsen's 'The Doll's 
House;', Jed Harris has been signed 
as producer. , 

Richar .. Aldrich, who will direct 
this year, is assenibling company in 
New York, where, rehearsals will . be- 
gin, with the cast moving to Central 
City july 9 to continue rehearsals 
for- the opening, July 17. 

Manli«ttah Plaiyers Fold 

Mount Vernon, Y., May 4i 
Manhattan Players, Who opened 
here April 10 for ^ stay of eight 
weeks, have departed. Found the 
going just as. tough as every other 
stock organization in the past. 

It was the .first attempt at stage 
shows her i ight yiears and the 
attendance was off despite the fact 
that the auditorium of the ritzy West- 
chester Woman's club was used,, and 
the club lent its support generally. 




Attempt to Be Made to Re- 
store S. F. to High Place 
formerly Held as Drama 
Center of Far West-r 
BVay Interest Shown 



PRIZE FOR BEST PLAY 



San Francisco ill attempt to re- 
Store its former status in thetitricals. 
if .the plans of its amusiement com- 
mittee for the: 1939 Fair there are 
cbnsumriiated. In the nineties and 
before the quake and fire (1906) it 
was one of the land's best theatre 
towns for legitimate and stock at- 
tractions. That Frisco will again 
support as ntiany such houses is un- 
likely nor is its e;:position expected 
toi rival New York's World's Fair, 
dated f6r the same time, but the' 
stage revivial plans will interestshow 
business. 

Golden Gate Exposition directors 
propose to offer a handsome prize 
for the best American play. Whether 
the. Tvihhier be ah unprbdiiced work 
to be first presented th6re, or 
whether the selection be made from 
some standout on Broadway, has ap- 
parently not been, decided. The ex- 
pectation, however, is San '-•Fran- 
Ciscp's fame as a producinig center 
can be recaptured, for a time \j»t 
least. 

roadway showmen, who have 
gohe to the Coast, have tentatively 
made plans to operate in Frisco: The 
great volume of talent around Holly- 
wood makes th^ -matter of casting 
no real .problem. Some Eastern 
managers will be attracted to the 
west coast fair, although the season 
and summer of 1939 are figured to 
be a natural for New York. That is 
One reason, why legit managers have 
finally decided to bring their houses 
up to date with air conditioning sys- 
tenis. 

Trisco'a Heyday 

in. its heyday as a live show town, 
attractions were frequently booked 
in for two weeks and some for a 
month. Before the fire there were 
such theatres operating is the Al- 
cazar, Columbia, Tivoli, Princess, 
Van Ness, Baldwin, Grand Opera 
House and Valencia. At present 
(Continued on page J59) 



'LEANING ON LETTY' 
PLANS EASTERN TOUR 



Charlotte Greenwood will tour the 
east next fall in 'Leaning on Letty,' 
in which she starred in Chidago this 
season during a 20-week ehgagement. 
Play is; the drama /kno\Vh on Broad- 
way as Tost Road,' but is embel- 
lished by the lanky comedienne with 
sOngs and dance.s at the end of each 
act. lay originally opened cold and 
was hot toured.. 

. ^isa.. .rcehwopd ,mdy ' ring the 
show into New York for a repeat in 
her manner, but is hopefui of ap- 
pearing on Broadway i a new piny 
around next Nfe\v Year's. She sailed 
for. London her hiLsband, Mar- 
ti roone.s, composer, iiesday (4). 



Wilson Grabs Ijonddn Hit ; 
Bliimey Owns Film Ilights 

^George Margaret,! current 

London success, is due for presenta- 
tion in New York next season under 
the auspices of John C. Wilson, an 
associate of Noel, Coward, who Of- 
fered the British stiar and Gertrude 
Lawrence here this sea.son i 'To- 
night at 8:30.' A. C, Blumenthal, 
however, .is reported to have pur- 
chased the. film rights. Reputed price 
is $50,000. 

Blumcy is eurrpntly i London, 
Authors reserved the picture rights, 
and if the play i.? presented here 
Wilson and his associates will not be 
in on the film coi 



Equity s Indie Group C(^^ 
On Being jRepresented iit^ C^ 
Have No Ciindites for Officers 



Vote of Confidence 



Equity's council votied unani- 
mously against ia proposal that 
the salaries of Frank Gillmore 
and Paul Dulzell be reduced. 
Idea-was the aim of a petition 
filed recently. The propsal, 
however, ill be placed before 
members at the annual meeting 
arid election, June, 4. 

There will be 14 members Of 
the council priesent. 






A 






Broadway is eyeing with intereist 
and no little concern the current 
showing of two plays in New York 
at radically reduced ' rates, . iri^e- 
spective of the " reguLnr . cut-rate 
channels; Both 'Dead End' at the 
Belasco and .'Behind Red Li/ihts' at 
the 46th St., N. Y., have sliced prices 
of ducats at the b.o. in Ihe hope of 
spanning the. summer. First named 
play, has cut from $3.30 to $1.65. 

Understood that many ,legiter.s feel 
tha,t . this is. a. move i the wrong 
direction in du ience education.^ 
They claim that it. will encourasic 
patrons to give full-price shows the 
go-by in. the hope that they, too, will 
eventually be forced to slice tic.l:et 
prices if competition gets keen. 

For yearS: there has been a viast 
army of film show customers that 
hias systematically refused to pat- 
ronize, the N. Y, first-run deluxer.s, 
preferring to wait until the pics they 
wan,t to see reach the nabe theatres 
—at low prices. 



EQUITY CANDIDATES 
MUST FILE CONSENT 



Equity aidoptcd a rul,e last week 
covering last-minute petitions placing 
candidates in the field for- the eoniing 
election. Such late petitions mu.st bo 
accompanied by the \yritten prbmi.se 
of the randidrte that hp or she will 
Tun. 

; .Same rule had applied to regular 
candidates, idea being that all candi- 
diites rniist be bonafide and will, not 
be permitted to vvilhdraw after the 
ballots are printed. There were no 
petitions received last week and the 
deadline for independent candidates 
was Tuesday (4). '■■ 



Adolphiis, Ballet Master, 
For St. Louis Muny Operas 



, Louis, May 4. 
heodore Ad.olph.ii.s, former pre- 
mier dancer and assistant maitrc of 
Opera Comique in Pan.s, has been 
engaged as ballet master, and Al 
White, ., Broadway dancifi star- 
prpducer, as dance dii-cctor Mu- 
nicipal Opera's 1937 sCfls6n. They 
have hot been on production staff 
of al fresco theatre before. This 
will be the first ycai M.uny theatre 
is -having a ballet mastei* as well as 
a regular dance, director as hereto- 
fore two difTerent fields of dancing 
were conducted by a single person. 
, Adolphus and White will arrive 
here for auditions for 02 chorus 
members to be held. May 3, 4 and 5. 
Richard erger, productions man- 
.ager, will, be in chairge of tryouts, 
assisted by Zcke Colvan, stage di- 
rector; Geprge Hirjit, musical direc; 
tor, and assistants* 



.'The oppositi 
the 

haye bisen misinter 
mihi.st Idea 
positi 
out. 

ihg people 
cil. 

With Walter Hampden having 
'dennitely rejiected a place on its 
tick , the opposition states, that it. 
has no other candidate for the post 
or .any of the othei* ofllcos; The po- 
sition of E; J. Blunkall is left up 
the Ilts Lambs Club sponsors- 
may enter th ir candidate and, if so, 
there will, be no plher opposition to 
Prank illmore, Paul Dulzell and 
Other PfTicers for ro-elGclipn for an- 
other Ihrce-yeai' period, 

Asitation for now bipod in Equity 
leadership seems to be hot so much a 
personal opposition to its officers but 
the methods they claim, have been 
adopted. Major protest is oyer Ih 
manner .which cpuhcil . sessions 
have been conducted. The admini 
tratSvo fiihotion's of the council ar 
alle,r:ed to have been usurpedi be- 
cause of wcnk-kneed uUHude o£ most 
of the cn; illoi's. 

ifferenice of Opinion 

A-netl:;tipn is that by .Iting its 
council candidhtes elected there wtU 
be .an administration along the lines 
oi-'sinally plannecl by the actors as- 
sociation. They claim that for" 19 
years such functions have virtually 
pas.sed. 6tit of the hands of the coun- 
cil arid that officers long in charge 
have swayed that bpdy,^ Whether 
the actors have or have not gotten 
a fair ;deai thereby is not stated, 
but the record shows that most of 
the refpirms or changes in policy 
sought by the group once known as 
the Actors Forum are now in force, 
such as reiicdrsal pay, limitation of 
rehearsal hours, rules f oi? cutting sal- 
'arle.s. 

The move foi: a secret ballpt i^ one 
of the latest demands by the giroup, 
which further contends that the ad- 
mi ■ tration has exaggei:atcd the in- 
tent of the proposed con.stitutional 
amendment , on that issue. It is ad- 
mittied that the phrasing Of the 
amendment change, is open to a dif- 
ference of opinio.n but that the only 
malccrs for which secret voting, is 
Spught is for elections and referen- 
diims. 'They say the Idea that the 
proposed change might mean that 
even motions to adjourn meetings by 
.secret bfilloti Iculous.. "Tues- 

day council iiJ to redue 

dues. 

. Becaii.se of that and the expecta- 
tion of electing its candidates to the 
council, the. opposition is establishing 
an pffice and plans tp . send out press 
releases. They have already okayed 
halt doiseii council candidates 
on the regular ticket and point out. 
\vith.. some salisiaction, that those 
saine players were selected last year, 
for the sarihe p6.st by the then calJed> 
F6rum. 



EQUITY INDIE GROUP 
TAKES HEADQUARTERS 



uity adherents 
dependent ticket opened campaign 
headquarters ovier. Ralph's cafe. West 
451 .. N. y.,.. ith Harold RlOf- 

fet chair ah in.ipharge. A committee 
■callod at Equity, yesterday (4) and 
obtained consent of council tp have 
their campaign literature sent out by 
Equity's oflice, but at the expense of 
the candidates. Committee also 
sought to have Equity give full su 
port to thie Screen Actors Guild in 
the 'Sent, situation on, the Cpast. 

Opposition's platform: ho deduc- 
tiipn of rehearsal money under any 
conditions; a single mi imum, that 
of $40 or more weekly; inclusi 
WP.V of all Equityites in need. 



VARIETY 




LEGITIMATE 



Wednesdayt May 5, 19;{7 



Notables Pay H^h Tributes at Dinner 



By JACK PULASKI . 

In the ballrQQm of the Astbr hotel, 
N". ,, Sunday (2) nighty Giene Buck 
was given the addratiofl ©£ men of 
all walks- of . liiEe, at • di . hield. 

how 
of 

the stage formed. On the 

dais were an ex-president, Herbert 
Hijoyer, a cabinet niember, James 
A. Farley; church dignitaries, poli- 
ticians and prominents of the stage. 
There were ho less than 23 speeches, 
..conisUmihg .two hours and 30 miri- 
utes> the proceedings being on the 
iair throughout that stretqh. 

Most of the addresses were ; in 
praise of the honored guest, presi- 
dent of ASeAiP, but there were hu- 
morous interludes iand. displays of 
oratorical brilliance. The changes of 
pace. were, provided by Monsignpr 
- Sheen, Harry. Hershfield, .Clarence 
Budihgtpn Kellahd.. and ..Ed Wynn, 
Who tapered off the rather, dry re- 
marks of a battery . of political speakr 
^rs. Many riien of the : cloth were 
seated . among the .guest$. 

Praise for Stkffe Cleanup 

The keynote from the.^ dais riot 
only lauded Buck, but praised the 
movement to clieian . up the. ' staged 

'Before Ed\yard P. Mulfooney intro-. 
.duced 'the toastmaster, .Josepih P. 
Tuiriulty, he said. there was.; another 
reason, other than Buck's geniality, 
for the occasion,- and that was his 
wholespmeness and. cleanness in the 
theatre. Paul Moss/ license -commis- 

! iprier. Who doused burlesque, was. 
called for. He was present, but did 
not Arise, although roundly ap- 
plauded. 

.When Buck airoge it \yas past mid- 
night, his usual, sincere, manner 
/hie said he had just been splashed 
•with the milk of human kindness. 
He condemned, dirt bti the stage — 
.'smut without a smirk.' President 
Hoover had spoken briefly but a 
short time , tuefpre, having crossed 
• the continent tp dine with the honor 
guest, it was said. Mr. ^0!over was 
'glad to be here with so many other 
ex-presidents' ' and said that Buck's 
outstanding characteristic is Icind- 
'ness. Reference to the other exeds 
came af t.er; . William Gaxtoh claimed 
to have been 'the only Catholic 
president the U. S. ever had.* That 
meant his .part in 'Of Thee I Sijig.' 
Gaxton called Buck ia great con- 
vincer, the man who influenced Flo 
Ziegfeld to engage such comedians 
as Wyhn. Latter was on next-to-. 
closing, with several gadgets which 
brought laughter. 

Keiiand Bibs 

kelland admitted he came to vojce 
the prptest of the old. (bloody), sixth 
ward of Detroit (Buck's home tPwn): 
'It pains me to call him mister. 
Back in 1892 we. didn't think he'd 
amount, to much, we stick to that 
opinion and we don't appfove of 
this whole curious mess.' Hershfield 
won the best laugh by remarking 
that because Buck had brought so 
many character itnesises 'it's not 
so good for me.' 

Tuniulty said, that 4fter a Jijetime 
In politic;; he knew aiboyt audiences 
and thought his pPor ability inade- 
quate,: but o/er the air he was rated 
excellent. Tumulty, thought, the din- 
ner a 'tribute to old days, iahd .old 
ways, .a grand, medley of .xrien and 
women.' Buck called himself *.iu,s|: 
an old-fashioried guy' ; .. Alfred 
J.. /Tally meritioried the ■ statue to 
Fa their Duffy, Syhich was un veiled 
In LPngaci'e Square^: Sunday (2) 
afternoon and. there \vere theers; for 
the chaplain the fighting Irish 
69th regiment. . IMf.; H. (Deac) 
Aylesworth's mention df .Hoover also 
cheered * , beiems Tayibrv pre- 
sented a scroll sighed" by 60 com - 
.posers in ttollywood. . CJrantland 
Rice read a poem, 'Without a Buck.' 
. . . Irving (iaiesar spoke as ain: emis- 
isjiry from tin pan alley, doubling 
his allONyed time. . . . Mgr. Mclntyre 
spoke as a representative of Cai'dir 
nal . Hayes. ;. Mgr.. Sheen paid 
tribute to actors who bri into the 
world a sense of humor. , . . Father 
boripyan of Great Neck, Fritz Lan- 
ham of Texas, J. Edgar Hoover and 
Alfred J McCpsker also spoke. 

Telegrams from President Ro')se- 
yelt^ Vice President: oarner, Mayor 
liaCruardi , Jesse li. Jones and Geo. 
M. Cohan (abroad) were read. 



SEEKING TAX DEFAULT 
LIABILITY IN ATLANTA 



Atlanta; May 

complaint filed, "in Fulton 
Superior . court last week by John L. 
Westmoreland for the Ti*ilst Co.. of 
Gebrjgia, exixiitor,. asked the city, 
county ahd.itate. to set up claims. for 
approximately $60,000 in back taxes 
against the Ei:l anger theatre 
property, so the court cart determine- 
who is liable for the taxes. 

Complaint sets out that the matter 
must be s^sttled bejfore final settle- 
ment can iie made of the estate of 
the late Baroness Rosenkrantz, for- 
merly Rebie Lowe, of this city, who 
died in N, Y. in 1935.. 

Complaint rpveals taxes' have not 
jaeen pai on the property, now 
under lease to W^ P. Winecoiff , for 
apptoximately 10 years.- ^ 

Theatre has. beeii" dark for a niiifi- 
ber of years,. except for ian occasional, 
legijt . ishoAv. ^ TaUulah Bankhead is 
Winding ,up ^her . t^ur in 'Reflected 
Glory'i on. Erlahger's stage . with her 
perfpririancie today (Wednesday). ' 



WPA Ph^ Skedded 
For Union City, N. J. 

Newark, May 4. 

WPA Federal Theatre of "Neyir 
Jersey, Louis M, Simon, irectihg, 
is presenting a series of new and old 
stage plays at the Hudson theatre, 
Unioa City, for a limited engage- 
ment, beginning.. May 15. Theatre bias 
been , housirig burlesqtiie all season, 
but ieissee,' Jules Leyenthal,' intends 
putting a' stock company there after 
the Federal Theatre engagement. 

First production which the. Goy- 
ernment is sponsoring is a new play, 
•The Trial of Dr. Beck,' by a young 
Negro playwright, Hughes Allison, 
described as a psychological court- 
room ■d.rarriai". Play, booked is. at 
Shubert. theatre, '..Newarkj week of 
June 7, 



Meffin Leayes FTP 



Frank Merlin, , producer, of the 
variety unit of the WPA Federal 
theatre, has withdrawn frorai . the 
project 

Put on '."Machine Age,' WPA revue 
which opened last Friday (30) at ti.e 
Majestic^ Brooklyn. 



Shows in Rehearsal ' 

'Abie's Irish Rose' (revival) — 
Anne Nichols, 

'Damaged Goods' (revival) — Rich- 
ard Highley. 

'Room Service'-^— George Abbott. 

'Sea Legs' — Bannister: and Byrne^ 

'Money : Made' — ^Edward Relkin. 



Three Mkh. Strawhats 



Chicago, May 4.^ 
According to contracts in the local 
Equity pifice Michigan is going 
to be quite a center of stock 
activity thi summer, with three 
spots set for the, hot season. Headed 
by the Robert Hendersbii 'spring 
festival' annual gallop in -Anri 
Arbor, plus the Martin Barton stock 
ventui'e in Grand Rapids, with the 
new entry slated to be located, in 
Marquette ' under the idance. Pf 
J. R. Calloway.' , 'v 

Grand Rapi , stock, opehs this 
week with ' ishop Miisbeh?<ves.' 
James Kirkwpod headlining the 
-'Bishop* play. Also set ' with the 
Grand Rapids stock are Helen, Ray, 
Jpsephinie piinn, William White- 
head, Williarn Dorbi and Arthur 
Davi '. ' ' 





m m MARK 



,' WPA's most success^- 
ful Show to date, played 100th per- 
forniahce. l^st night (Tuesday), at 
.the Maxine Elliott, N.' Y., , haying 
played to total at 
average of 5,000 Longest 
consecutive rui:i any 
Federal show. 

Other notable marks set by WPA 
show are; thie Negro 'Macbeth,' which 
gave .144 ..performances aroiirid 
lj7,000 attendance. Show played 
three .New York houses . and. seveni 
road cities. Anally folding Oct. 17, 
1936. 'Murder in the- Cathedral' 
gave 38 .performances befoire around 
39,000 people; Gilbert and Sullivan 
trpupe (up to April 1) had given 
283 performances fPr attendance Pf 
apprpximately •254,000.. 

Varipiis companies of 'It Can't 
Happen Here' played 267 times for 
about 184,000 persons up' to , April 1. 
Show is still playing fe^y spot book- 
ings. 'Po\yer;' hit- shpW, had; given 
35 perform^inces UP to April .1, for 
28,000 attendance. 

'Adam and. Eve' played' 102 times 
before 138,00.0 people.: 'Emperor's 
Nevy Clothes' (juve play) ran gY~per- 
fprinances for 129,000 attendance, 
'iiorse Play' (portable show playing 
outdoors to houses of 5,000 to 25,000) 
has totaled 174,(j00 ..attendance in 17 
performances and, up to . April; 1, 
'The Sun and i' had pla;f<d 32 times 
before 19,000 persons. 



Seattle's FTP Foursome 

Seattle May 4. 

Federal Theatre Project here will 
go ambitious this month, with f oUr 
plays, at the Moore theatre. 

Each will run four days a \yeek. 
They are 'Stevedore,' May 5, with 
colored cast; 'Blind Alley,' May 12; 
'In Abrahani's Bosom,' May 19, and 
.'Warrior's Husband,' May 26. 




Governments 
May Include E.O. 



Agency Inquiry 
Men and Managers 



'God's Model' drama by Geoffrey 
Lane acquifed by Lodewick Vroom 
for fall production. 



The government's claim for. its 
share of adrhiissiohs tajces which the 
Itjternal Revjiue. Dept. figures was 
withheld by ticket brokers,- is also 
reported to include certain box office 
men and seyieral managers. One of 
the latter , is knowii to share in the 
.'ice' .which, is i the .from of gratui- 
ties; nd. is said to.^ be 'paying the 
rightful. perQentage of the take to 
The collector. 

When the Ifiw was changed several 
years ^ iagp eliiriinatirig the 50% cut 
tp the goyerhment on piremiums in 
eiccess of. 5() cents (later raised to 75 
cents, plus tax), that portion pf the 
statute which called for a 50-50 divy* 
if the Triahager participated in agency, 
gratuities was left unchiangedi The 
manager! offices accepting" ticket 
excess from the box office must split 
with the collector which Iri essence 
makes the goyerhment participate in 
the practice. 

From the present agitation it 
would st'em that Washington is try- 
ing to force spme agencies out of 
business. A corps of Federal men 
was sent to New York recently to 
clean up the tax claims and haye 



been artalyzihg. the records of brok-^ 
ers whp were arrested and placed, 
under bond under a charge of not 
stamping tickets with the price, se- 
cured. 

Customer Cotivehience 

.. That agencies are performing ..a 
service is generally recP^nized by 
those demand tickets at the 

last-mi and illing to ^'pay 

.-the .price;. Government, however, 
claims the. rules liave , been violated 
and more recent returns ; from the 
brokers show an increase; ' the 
amount of tax paid. Position of the; 
b.o.. men is yet - to be determined. 
Some reported money gifts from 
brokers in their annual income tax 
returns and paid the normal tax. 

Earlier claims against the treas- 
urers were countered with the cbn-^ 
tentipn of the b.o. men that they 
perfprm a service, too* in the matter 
of supplying tickets for patrons who 
demand good' locations at the last- 
minute and were, therefore, not only 
aiding the theatre, but helping the 
broker who handled the sales. Rec- 
ord shows that, explanation was ac- 
cepted in Washington. 



Sway Treasurers and Vet PAs 
Apply (or THAT Union Henibership 



U. S. REPS APPROVE 
COHAN'S GdU) MEDAL 



Washington; May 4. 
cpncerted opir 
position, the : Hoiise yp.ted . laist week 
to spend $700 to carry out last year'^ 
law authorizing presentation of a 
gold medal to George M. Cohan in 
appreci is contributions to 

American ..'morale. 

Fund, pared from $1:200 last year 
by the Treasury, was cairried- in a 
deficiency, appropriation bill • which 
still requires Senate action; 
. Sharp protest.against the item was 
made by several G.O.P. leaders, with 
Representative . .M. of 

New York attempting to strike the 
amount out; of the bill. Headed by 
Representative William ,.P. Connery, 
Jrii. of Massachusetts, ex-hoofer and 
doughboy, the Democrats . kept the 
money in the bill." 

IssUe was whether suchi .expendi- 
ture is justified' in view of the 
Government's precarious financial 
position. Taiber iind Congressinan 
Earl Michener of Michigan .^vgued 
that song-arid-dance man would not 
Want taxpayers' cash spenit for deco- 
rations while millions are. on relief, 
but Democrats retorted that country 
owes recognition to Cdhan in view of 
hid contributions to VtiriQiis charities, 
work during World Wair, and general 
moiraie-boosting, 

Paying tribute to whble theatrical 
profession, Connery,. . who at one 
time played in a Cohan show, de- 
clared England/ would knight the 
song-and-dance 'man if he were Ja 
British citizen, merely for. his valu- 
able' service . in scribbling Over 
There, ^urnerbus generals, have been 
honored for less^distinguished work 
than Cohan. perfoi'med in turning out 
the outstanding \yar tune. Bay Stater 
opined. Pointed , out Cohan's. $25,000 
rpyaltieis for the number all. went 
to various funds for welfare of the 
doughboys and remarked that Cohan 
has been generous, in offering serv- 
ices, for flopd relief, drought ;reli.ef, 
and other money-raising activiti 



BENEDICT ARNOLD 

AGAIN ON STAGE 



"The Brink of . (]ilpry,' a drama 
having Benedict Arnold as the cen- 
tral character, was presented at Co- 
lumbia University by the Morning- 
side Players, last week. Play ■ by 
Peggy Phillips attracted several 
showmen, who rated it doubtful for 
Broadway presentation. During the 
winter, an Arnold drama called ; 'A 
Point of Hpnor* \yas presented at the 
Fulton, Ni Y., and was a fast flop. 

Picture cornpanies only mildly in- 
terested in the historical, topic, al- 
though one has a script for if and 
when: purposes. 



Current Road Shows 



(Week of May s) 
?Boy Meete: Irl/ ChiestnUt, 
iladelphia. 

'Kay Meets Girl,' Bl Capita^, 
Hollywood. 

'Brother Rat,' lympiith, 
.ton. 

^Close Qiiaf ters,r 
Chicago. 
'Dead 

diahapoiis, . . Kansas 
City, 7-9. 

P'Oyly Carte Repertory^ Colp- 
, Boston. . 

'First Lidy'- (Jane Cowl), 
Ford's, Baltimpre.. 

'Follies/ Royal Alexandra, To- 
ronto, 3-5; Masonic Aude, 8; 
langer, BufTalb, 7-8. 

'Idiot's Delight' (Lunt and 
Pontanne), Erlanger, Chicago. 

'Reflected Glory' (Tallulah 
Bankhead), Lahier Aude, Mont- 
gomery, Ala., 3; Erlanger, At- 
lanta, 4-5. 

Ruth Draper, Wash- 
ington.. 

'Tobacco Rood,' Mitchell, S. 
Dak,, 3; Coliseum. Sioux Falls, 
S..Dik., 4; Aude, Sioux. City, la;, 
5-6; Par, Ohiaha, 7-8. 

'Tovarich/ Biltmbre, Lbs An- 
geles. 

"You Can't Takf rx With Yoa, 

Harris, Chiciago. 



Approximately lOO applications for 
membershipi in the Theatrical Man- 
agers, Agents «md Treasurers 
were filed during.'the past week. 
Tliat. is .nearly 50% of the total' or 
box office men. who attended an pii-- 
ganistatiPn meeting recently bat not 
all' appliciants are treas.urers, 
are said tb be vet cohipahy managers 
and press agents mostiy; people who 
originally belonged- to the TiVlAT, 
but withdrew for one reason' or an- 
other. 

Plan for, the TMA"! to come withi 
the lATSE which proposes 
ize: tlie front of . the house, is stui 
pending; Strength of the lATSE I 
.the factoj that led to .the first 
tiations to .combi Figured thi.t 
should, the lATSE proceed with its 
front of the house prgahizi tb-* 
bpx office men rhii.Tht have been .t-^i 
to .ioin up with the ;TMA;T, or els?.' 

As for the treasurers their idea is 
to" get ; jobs and the only indicated 
^manner in which they can protect 
themselves is through the iiniop. 
They can the pffei: a complement of 
experienced people to handle box 
offices of all types, .for events iindbor 
and . out; The legit Will be the small- 
est .avenue of employment for the 
next four months or. so; 

There was contact between the 
newly f pricned ;New York Theatrical 
Press Agents arid the union and a 
committee of the latter will talk it 
over with Jack McCarrbn, secretar.v- 
treasurer of the TMAT this week. 
Pointed out that the p; .'s could io.in 
the union as individuals and still 
hold their -own association together 
without objection from the TMAT. 
Same goes for the TPRQA, the older 
association, pf p.a.'s and managers. 
New Applicants. 

Before, the hew .applicants become 
members of the . union they w i 11 have 
to be declared eli ible by the rules 
cPmmittee. Rules may be changed 
and one requiriemeht may be that 
the applicant must have; been em- 
ployed in the theatre for at least 
twp years. Some ticket . men will 
seek to have the minimum ^ ised to 
five years. Another suggestion made 
'is to the effect that If women are 
engaged for the box office they 
would be assistants, with men the 
designated treasurers, t/nderstood 
that the AFL rules ■rbay not permit 
such stipulation, since there , can be 
no iscrimination against women 
joi ing unions. There were about a 
dozen women .applicants for 'TMAT 
membership. 

Lee Shubert wanted to know what 
was going on . among the b.o. men, 
and Clarence . Jacpbson was., desig- 
nated to cair upon the rnanager. 
When it was explained that the 
treasurers were taking protective ac- 
tion, manager is said to have ex- 
i)ressed no opposition, especially if 
the movement would not injur 
theatre. 

Complaint Cited 

, Shubert was tbld that criticism of 
box office staffs appearing for 
months in- letters to a Ni Y. dail.v 
had given the' treasurers, food for 
thought. iHe was told that if the 
conduct of the b.o. staffs was at 
fault, it was up to the ticket sellers 
themselves to clean house, and that 
few, if any, experienced . treasurers 
ever brbught prbtests frorirl patrons. 
Aisb, it was contended,, that women, 
in the b.b,*s are as much at fault as 
men, if .not mbre.so; 

Chances of another front bf the" 
hou'se , unibn is dim. Har . .Giver.* 
once of the. TMAT, has been trying 
to affect such an ization. . He- 

hais bie'eii on the outsi , after differ- 
ences with the union's officers, dat- 
ing back several years. That a 
charter, from the CIO could be ob- 
tai is. doubtful, since the Lewis 
plan is for hiass industrial uni; 
tion and the theatre has foiar or . live 
unions now. 



ENGAGEMENTS 

Walter .N. ,Greaza, 'Sea Legs;' 

William Fay, John Buckley, 'Abi 
Irish Rose.' 

Ruth ' Gordon, 
Central City, Colo. 

. Lenore , Sorsby, Miriam BattisLa. 
Isobel Rose, Clara Thropp, Ralph 
MacBane, Starr . West, Airden Ypunp. 
Kent -Montroy, Francis Spencer; 
Teddy Jones, Clement O'Loufihiiii. 
Walter O'Hill, Lester Lohergan. H; 
Will Henry, Starlight theatre', Pawl- 
ing; N. Y. (permanent co,). 

Kenneth MacKenna, Barbara Rob- 
bins, Elitch Gardens, Denver. Cole 
(permanent co.). 



/ 



7etlnesday, May 5, 1937 



LEGITIMATE GROSSES 



VARIETY 



'Red Hot' Quits Loop on Moderate 
m %liglit' Fine t $23 J 





, Chicago, May 4, 
*Two disapp6intmeiits,in. the Spring 
ceason in Chicago have been 'Red, 
W and Blue,', which folded here 
on Saturday (1) and 'Close Quar- 
ters,' which operied last week at the 
Selwyn to sad business; 

'Red, Hot and Blue' heyer got 
started, its opening night postpone- 
ment duie to scenery trouble acting 
almost as a hoodoo. Business picked 
UD last week (third): on closing an- 
nouncement, but not enough to make 
any difference. Jinjmy Durante 
fioes into the Chez Paree nitery and 
file Balaban & Katz Chicago; Ethel 
Merman gpes to the coast, With Bob 
Hope slated for.a new air show. 

Two-chal-acter 'Close Quarters,' 
with Philip Merivale and Gladys ] 
Cooper, in its pre-New York show-; 
ing here, was generally rapped as 
dull fare and will leave town oh 
Saturday (8), after two meagre 
^eeks. Local Shubert office is stiU 
awaiting orders from the .east 
whether to fold the show for good,: 
for " ibe summer, or to continue 

^''othM two shows, 'Idiot's Delight' 
and 'You Can't Take It With You* 
continue, With the latter beginning 
ease somewhat. 'Delight* scrams on 
Saturday ^i^ V with house going pix 
bhce.more;; , , . 

In the WPA lists, 'Lonely Man' 
will finally ojpen at the Blackstone 
May \% after several pbstpone- 
rnents. while the new version of 'Q 
Say- Can You Sing' will start again 
at the Great Kortherri on Saturday 
(8). 

Estimates for Last Week 
'Close Quarters,' iSelWyn (1,000;. 
$2.75) (2nd— final week). Got away 
to weak notices, w6rd-of-mouth and 
flabby biz. Under $4,000 on initial 
week and goes but Saturday (8). 

Idloi's Delisht/ Erlanger (1,400; 
$3.30) (4th— final week). Top coin, 
with subscription tickets off,' and 
real money. Up in the bucks with 
$23,000. 

/^Refi, Hot and Blue; Grand (1,300; 
$3.85). Folded Saturday (l)j. after 
three weak sessions. Picked up a 
little oil closing notice, but only 
enough to get $20,000. . , 

. 'Can't Take It With You/ Harris 
(J,000; $2.75) (13th week). Tickets 
now available for all pierformandes, 
without troubled Okay, however, at 
$13,000. 

. WPA 

'Lonely Man/ Blackstone. 
coin fantasy opens May 12. 

^Mississippi Rainbow,' rincess. 
All-rcolored show continues. 

'O Say tan You Sing?' Great 
Northern. Musical, reopens after 
lay-off and isome revisions bri Satur- 
day (8). 




SLEEP; m 7G 



Philadelphia, May 4. 

Philly seems to bave a. toUgh time 
keeping two legit houses going. Last 
week it was censor trouble, generat- 
ed by the town's easily offended 
Mayor S. Davis Wilson. Musical 
comedy tryout, 'Orchids Preferred,' 
.postponed twice, and finally' opening 
Wednesday night at the Forrest, had 
a shortrlived local career of only one 
performance. . Forrest is dark this 
week, but will have one. final fling 

ith Katharine Cornell, who' Will- 
present. 'Candida*, and 'Wingless Vic- 
tory* there next Week foi* four pei-- 
formances each. 

:■ 'Boy Meets Girl' completes its 
• fourth Week at the Chestnut Satur- 
aay night; and continuance -is in 
apubt. Pace has been niild, but prob- 
ably profitable. 

^ Estimates fbr Last Wieek 
JBoy. Meets Girl,' Chestnut (l.SOO; 
*2j7-Claiming: $7,(j00 in 3d week, 
Which Was probably profitable. Qrigi- 
nai. ads announced a, four- week stay; 
and no decision has been made be- 
yond Saturday. 

.i,^p.«;«l»ids Preferred,' Forrest (1-800; 

50). Opening postpdned to Wed- 
"esday, and then Mayor stepped in 
andlDanned it. Biiz the one night in-, 
oicated it wouldn't have done rriuch, 
flnyway. 



' $12,500, D.G 



_ Washington,' May 4; 

T ^^-^^ ^Of^al playing of 'First 
J-ady didn't live up to hopes last 
r^ek at the. National. Played last 
^aii before Congress opened and 




aporoximately $12,500. 
. J-aps^only legit house is now in 
pf .i^st^ v*eek, .wi,th seven days of 
.«J.uh Draper-., her' first weeli-long 
r-rV here.. Goes into three weeks of 
th^ "est, 'Lost Horizon' (Coiv, and 
^nen locks up for the summer. 



FOUR SHOWS m 



'The Amazing Dr. ClitterhoUse' will 
tilo^e Saturday at the Hudson after 
playing 10 weeks to moderate busi- 



'THE AMAZING DR. 

:H0USE' 

Opened March ' 
ions on this melodrama .were 
mixed. Atkinson (Times) called 
it 'gay and slyly scribbled 
,^ but Brown (Post) saW It 
as ^miid and tepid.V 

Variety (Ibee) 
fairly dtveriinp evening.' 



ness. Rated the best of the' British 
thrill plays imported this season, it 
still wa^s under, expectations. 

. 'Miss Quis' Will close at the Miller, 
N. Y., this Saturday, after piaying; 
four .arid one-half Weeks. .Drew 



'MISS 9UIS' 

Opened APril 7, Ward 
Morehouse, of the Y. Siih 
and author of : this play, got 
mbre perlsbnal laur(e|s from the 
critics than did "his script. All 
thonght his dialog , and , char- 
acters okay, but plottihj? : n.. g.. 

Vairiety (Kauf) said: 'Will 
stick around oih l^roadway long 
enough for picture rights- 
more than that is hardly likely.' 



fairly favorable - press, but business 
did not develop and slid oft last week! 

'Frederika* closed at the Imperial, 
N. Y. Saturday, after playing 12 
weeks. Operetta did modierately 



I'FREDERIKA' 

Opened Feb. Opinions 
on this Frani. Lehar . bperietta 
were mixed. Gilbert (Tele- 
gram) d'cciared lib 'pat to the 
romantic turn of the times/ but 
.Anderson (journal) said, ' all 
left me too tired, to 
in my seat.' 

Variety (Ibee) thought 'there 
Is Enough that is kdmirable in 
this presentation to carry it 
along moderately well.' 



with average grosses around $14,000. 
Slated to: go on tour next season, 
house going dark. 
'Hitch Your Wagon' stopped at the 



'HITCH YOUR WAGON' 
Opened April 8, '37. . Chances 
of this comedy were unani- 
mously considered negative by 
the first-stringers. Atkinson 
crimes) said 'the play is a 
sprawling exercise in comic 
hocus-pocus.' 

Variety (Abel) didn't think it 
'stur.dy or lasting stuff.' 



Carlson's St L. Job 



Chicago, May . 
. Violet Carlson, starring with; 'Hoi-, 
ly wood Ingenues' unit current at the 
Oriental, was signed by ichard 
Berger to do: comedy lead in 'Wild 
Violets,' ' ' 

New show ill open Aug.. , in 
St. Louis, for Municipal Theatres 
Assn. 





J 



48th St. N. Y. on same date afte 
tepid business during its four weeks 
stay. 







Cleveland, May 4. 
Cancellation of 'Ziegfeld Follies' 
dates in nearby Youngstown femd 
Akron added two more days to its. 
Cleveland booking and gave the 
Hanha a whamining $23,000 for five 
days. 

Heavy out-of-town advance reser- 
vations almost made it a complete 
sell-out. With a flock of standees at 
the two matinees. Reviewers gave 
the show' a; couple of poke:;., but the 
natives were too hungry for musi- 
cals to pay any attention. 

'Lost Horizon' (Col) followed 'Fol- 
lies' into thfr Hanna, opening, a two- 
Avcek. road-show stand Sunday (2). 
Playhouse is doing 'Her Master's 
Voice' and 'Servant of Two Masters 
.:in its two theatres, hxxi is only mild 
cbnipetish. 

Estiinate foiv Last Week 

'Ziegfeld Follies': (Hanria; r!4.35: 
$3.30), For seven performances in 
five days, $23,000 rates as second 
highest gross at the. Hanna this sea- 
son. Fir-St time this year evdry .or- 
chestra seat 'as sold out in la.'^t two 
days. 



Of Big mm 

In 2d Week, LA. 



Lbs Arigeles; . May 4. . 

■Tovarich' Is in its thiird week at; 
the Biltmore,' ith the advance 
dicati that it will go fourth 
stanza to profit. Homer CUrran, who 
prodiiced for the Coast, sjpent around 
$8,000 on i\yt production and has not 
sti , ith the result that the pub- 
lic is turning put enmasse. 

'Boy Meets Girl' is prpbably in 
its. final week at the El Capitan aiid, 
unless there should be an Unexpected 
ui>turn in' trade the first few days of 
this Week, will probably fold next 
Saturday (8). 

stimaties for Last Week 
"ToTarich,'' Biltmore, Lo.s Angelies 
(D-1,656; $2.75) (2d week). Hitting 
neai* .capacity nightly and, at $15,- 
500, plenty, good for a second stanza. 
Will be -forced out after four weeks 
through previpus bookings. 

'Boy Meits Girl,' El Capitan, Hollyi 
wood (G:-li570; $1.65) (8th week). 
Hot weather beginning to cut in, pliis 
the fact that the comedy previously 
had a highly lucrative run down- 
town, so $4^200 is not to be sniffed at. 

WPA 

'Tomorrow's a Holiday,' Mayan. 
Comedy drama debuts Thursday (6) 
and runs through May 23, Johii Lan- 
gan directed. 

'Help Yourself/ Hollywood Play- 
house. Afteri a successful rim doWn- 
tpWn and on tour through Southern 
California, comedy is beginning- to 
catch . on in Hollywood, though 
scheduled for only two and. a half 
weekis' stay. 

'Merchant of Venice/ Mason, ticks 
until .May 9, 



CU Folding of Hot' 
Doe to Bad Breaks 
And High Sahries 



Brief engagement of 'Red Hot and 
Blue' in Chicago where :the musical 
was withdrawn Saturday after play- 
ing two-and-one-half weeks, sur- 
prised Broadway, where, the show 
ran 23 weeks. Fiirst full week at 
Cohan!s C^ratid grossed $19,600 and 
lost $2,100. About the isame figuires 
applied to last week. Show Was lac- 
.corded excellent notices, but was 
hooked up too high. 

Vinton Freedley sought to keep 
the show going, and suggested the, 
leads :cut their salaries. Jimmy Du-. 
rante and Bob Hope , agreed, but 
Ethel Merman refused. She\ did 
agree to withdraw frorh the show,, 
and the manager atte^ipt^d to draft 
Wini: ShaAv into the part, .tatter's 
bookings this week, however, 
could hot be: cancelled, ; 

'Hot- seemed to, irun into adverse 
breaks soon after leaving Nfew York. 
A train wreck deliayed ^arrival Of. the 
production five hoursi but that did 
nbt cause the Loop premiere to be 
put oyer from a Tuesday until 
Wednesday, after first-nighters were 
seated. Most of the production .is 
flown and • backstage, deficiency was 
at fault. Weight of the production 
i 72 tons, but there were only 60 
tons of sand in the counter-balancing 
bags. 

Martagemeht claimed, that the 
niissed: opening was not its fault,, 
and • one-ei.shth was deducted from 
salaries. Frank Dare, thie Equity 
representative Jn Chicago, notified 
Freedley that was okay, but severni 
cast members protiested. and .the 
manager was informed .the deduc- 
tion would not stand.. Producer has 
asked Equity to arbitrate the mat- 
ter. 

'Hot' wa.s produced with thc.back- 
ng- of 'Paramount under a deal which 
Preceded, the a'Treement Of picture 
ocoplo nnt to finance- le.«it shows 
Show w.a.s nearly out ol the I'ed nn 
the New Yni-k enirra,£'efrient. but tj-r 
Chicngp elate co^-t about. $10,000 
more. 



B^ay List Off pth Paylight Saving; 
Hits Steady; 'Eternal Rd' Grabs 24G 



While Broadway's list eased off 
further last week, attendance for 
'The Eternal Road' too.k a surprise 
spui't. "The jump approximated 
$5,000 and takings were around 
$24,000. 

Sunday afternpph!;; perfprirnance 
was the strorigest, the box office 
counting close to $4,00.0. .Much 6f 
this coin came from but-of-towiiers 
who: took ad:vantage of; week-end 
rail rates and attended the biblical 
spectacle. Ahnbnncement of , the, 
finial weeks i credited with the 
spurt, and it is possible ~ that the 
engagement will be extended. How- 
ever; the prbblie:.. of haridiihg "the 
red accumulated before the weekly 
.operating costs were reduced may 
clip any such plan. 

First week of, daylight saving 
time, .was t^e anticipated alibi for 
receding grbsse^. Fine:, we«k-ehd 
weather, was another, factor, aiid 
some of the strpiigest draws in town 
were slightly affected Saturday aft- 
ernoon. The slipping stock market 
which has always reacted .at the 
box offices, is . still anothei* angle. 

Two stellar draws are . in their 
last month; 'Victoria Regina- aiid 
•King Richard H,' both ending oh 
May 29. Latter ' Will have created 
a new: run- record for the Shakes- 
pearean work' by playing 132 times, 
It. was one attraction mentioned for 
Central City, wjiich will get-. .a< re- 
vival of 'The DpU'si Hotise' instead 
'Richard', may resume ip the fall 
fof a limited stieiy - preceding a long 
tour. • 

■' There are half shows 






COLTURE; G&S 



Boston^ May 4. 

Legit situation js healthy here in 
the taper-off weeks of the season.^ 
D'Oyly Carte company is jamming 
the Colonial in its fourth,, final 
frame, and has clicked, solidly eyer 
since opening. 

rother RaV Is still oke in the 
home stretch of a marathon at the 
Plymouth (13th week) and Iboks set 
for. two nripre. 

'Sea Legs,' a new musical produced 
by Baiinister. and Byrne, and star- 
ring Dorothy Stone, Clharles Collins 
and Charles King, opens at Colonial 
May 10 for a biie week tryout before 
Broadway. 

Estimates for Last Week 
D'Oyly Carte, Colonial ($3.30; 3rd 
week). W.haimmo b'z all. the way, 
and final :week practically solid in 
advance. Could have stayed two 
rnore weeks easily. Big $23,.50O last 
week. 

'Brother Eat/ Plymputh >($2.75; 
12th week). Holding pkay pace, $8,- 
500. Probably good for two more 
stanzas. 



Propaganda 



with .Empire ilm. Dislri Co., but 
royalties asked .scared them off. This 
deal may jell in thei near future, on 
a' fe>y subjects; Republic some time 
ago made a deal With Obei Eiga Ka- 
siha, but so far only one pic,' Leath- 
ernecks' has been released; 

No. iioss Operas . 

Indi producers, who.se schcdiiies 
include horse operas cannpt hppe tp: 
make , run-of-production contracts 
for this teriritbry. Westerns having 
passed out a few years agO; Tintcrs 
are no go, also, because of cost and 
the' litiihg difjficulti 

Jap cxchahges are. how .trylhjB to 
figure out a V/ay pf cuttinjg 'down the 
high cost of preparing foi- ign films 
for the market. , One of their . ig 
burns, is the necessity of buying a 
pi'int which they lise only fpr mak- 
ing dupes with titles. Feeling is ll\at 
the print .should be loaned them hd, 
after the necessary titled dupes are 
imade, shipped back to producer. 
Weakness of this is that the print 
must be run by the cu.sloms cen.sor 
before being released to the lab and, 
as a result, may bcconie badly 
scratched. 

rcnch COS. arc pvercprfiing the 
look yen in a novel manner. They 
lend new filnis to steamship cos for 
use on voyages and notify Jiip di.s- 
Iribs to have a look while the liners 
arc in Kobe. Jap.s gladly pay the 
.ship's operator for the privilege. 



which may close any Saturday. Last 
week 'Frederika' cloised at ' the Im- 
perial, and 'Hitch Your 'Wagon' 
stopped at the 48th Street. Def- 
initely off this week Will be 'Can- 
dida,* Empire; 'Miss Quis,' Miller, 
arid 'The Amazing Dr, Clitlerhouse,^^ 
Hudson. 

'Abie's Irish Rose' will be revived 
at the Little next week. First night 
will; be $5.50 top with the scale 
thereafter topped at $2.75. 'Orchids 
Preferred' iis a possibility at the Im- 
perial, /Without Warning' opened 
at the National last Saturday after 
a postponement. Weak press.. 

ates.for Last Week 
'Babes in. Arms' Shubert (4th 
Week) (M-l,382-$3.85). Eased off;, 
spring musical is fair prospect for 
suhimer. stay; takings uroUnd $18,500, 
probably profitable; 

■•Boy Meets GlrV Cort (76th week ) 
(C-l,059-$3,30), Run laugh show 
around $6,500; moves to AmbiLssador 
probably at half ale; 'Rooi 
Service* next attraction hous 
May 19. 

'Behind Red Litfhts;' 4CliLSt.. (17th 
week) (P^l,375-!t«2.20>. j\rv'iodiama 
operating on reduced budgei; about 
getting by; takings estinuucd arourid 
^7,000. , ■ 

'ijrothcr Rat,' Biltmore (21iii week) 
(C-L'91-!i;3.30;. One of summer can- 
didates; eased off last weak ip 
around $10,000; still goocily p:Pfit, at 
level. 

'Dead £nd/.Belusco AUOili wecT:) 
(CDp1,000t^H.65). At reduced prices 
takings claimed to have improved 
about $1,000; gross quoted over 
!|Jtf,000. : 

Excursion,' Vahdorbilt (.llii week) 
(CD-804-$3.30)v: Getting good busi- 
ness, considering lateness <.£ season; 
over $11,000 again last Aveei;. 

'Frederika,V Imperial. Oltsed^ Sat- 
urday; played 12 weeks to inoderal* 
business; figured u hulUxUl lor ro;<d 
next season. 

'Having Wonderful Time,' Lyceui 
(11th week) (CD-l,0O0-$a,;^u>. uaugii 
show another summer stayer and, 
frbrn -indications, will .span that' 
lieriod: dropped somewhat bui okay 
around $12,000. 

'High Tor,' Beck (l7th week) «D- 
l,124-$3.30). Off with lleld, ijut slill 
getting- important money, tuki 
last week topping .$16,000. 

• itch Your . Wagon,' 48th St 
Closed Saturday; played four Weeks . 
to ligh.t business. . . 

'Miss t>ul8,' ivrillci' (5th W^ok) (C- 
944-$3.30). Final week; parties, 
but business light; witli ta Ings esti- 
mated under $4,000. 

'Penny Wise,^ :Moro.sco (.'Id week) 
(C-901-^3.30). Spring entrant in 
doubt; takings about same as first ^ 
week, with gross claimed $5,000. 

'Show Is On,' Winter Garden I20th 
week) • (R-.l.ea ^$4.40). Eh iiy the 
best money-getter in town; some 
performances off, but big at week- 
ends; $28,000. 

'The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,' 
Hudson (10th week) (D-l,017-^3.;j0). 
Final week; dropped again, with 
gross under $6,000. 

•The .Eternal Road,' Manhattan' 
O.H. (18th week) (M-2,780-Jii3.30 ). 
Slated for another week; busincKs 
jumped for biblical spectacle; big 
Sunday, afternoons frorn vi Itors; 
$24,000. 

•The Women,' Barrymore (19th 
week) (C-l,048-$3.30). Advance sale 
.so strong that varying conditions 
have little effect on pace; Consist- 
ently around .$21,000, 

•Tobacco Road,' Forrest (1781Ii 
week; (D-l,017-$1.65). Approaching 
another summer and may outla.st 
mcst of the other stickers; profitable, 
at $5,500. 

•Tovarich,' Plymouth (30th week) 
(CD-1,030-$3,30). Has been easing 
off fpr some weeks, but still in the 
mbney; slated to go into the .summer 
period; last week over $14,000, 

•Victoria Regina,' Brbndhur.st (re- 
sunricd eng.) (62d Week) (D-l,llO- 
$3.30). Started final month of fine 
engagement; somewhat off with field: 
last week, but not. far from $1.«.000. 

'Without Warning,' NationiUf (1st 
week) (D-l,I64-$3.30)i Op(;rtcd Sat- 
urday night (1 ); mystery melodrama 
late in: season doubtful. 
, 'Yes, vMy Darling, Daughter,' Play- 
house (13th week) :(C-878-$3.30). 
Only Saturday matinee without . 
sell-out last week and takings agai 
ap|)roximated $16,000; 

•You Can't Take It With Von,' 
Booth <21st week) (C-704-$3.30 ). 
Most cohsi-stent standee draw on list, 
with taking.s around $15,000 right 
along. 

cvivalsl 
•Canidida,' Empire; finsil 
eased, off last week, but. not far 
$10,000 gross. 

'King ic1ia:rd,' II,' St Jarries; will 
play out the mionth arid Establish a 
new run record for work; slill ex- 
cellent; $17,000. 

• Naughty Naught,' American 
Hall; meller in night spot 

WPA 

'The Sun and I,' Adelphi. 
'Power,' Rilz, 
'Dr. Faustus,' Elliott. 
'FrofcKf^or Mamldck,' aly'.". 
•The Show Off," Lafayette. 
Icm. 

'C.T ' and 'How Long Breth- 
ren/ :dance dramas. 



56 



VARIETY 



LEeiTIMATB 



Wednesday, May 5» 1937 



Plays Out of Town 



THE ROUND TABLE 

ijadelphi May 3.. 

. rinv in throe acts by Lennox Koblnion; 
PrcsontPcl. by the Hedgerow Theatvo in lt9. 
plnyhouse at Roaiet Valley;- Pia., Atay .2, '37; 
rJiree' tcJ hy Rpse Cullen and Jasper Deetor; 
acttlnKft, Dnvld. Metcalf. 



Afis. Drennau. 
i)('Courcey ..Drennan. , 
Urijay Oronian. ... v. 

Bof brennnrj. , . . . .... 

.Toll ty ..Drennan . , ,'. . 
Christopher Pcpuni ■.' . . 
Mr'.-. Pefjinti. 

Miss. Peffumv. 

MlHK ■\Vllllams-^Vlllla 
Philip Flrthive. . ... . ; 

J-'mii KrariUs... 

A' \Voninn....Vi ... .... , 



.Helen Alexander 
.. ;;.i..;Ferd Nofer 
.Catherine Corcoran 
. . . Cele McLnuRh 1 1 n 
, . . . . ; Robert Han ley 

.V, ...-.Al McGrahnry' 
. .Phyllis . Whitehoni 
, . . vNoincy Kt'l.sey 
.■;>larg«rct Gallnphor 
. ; . ;....'..,Hcnry .Tones: 

. . . . . . .Gei-ry Murray- 

. i . . CKtherihc Reiser 



Hedgerow Theatre, which has done 
very well by the Irish dramatists in 
the course oi its extensive (122 play) 
rieiJertory, has added another play 
frorn Dublin in Lennox Robinson's 
'The Round Tatjle,' a piece that has 
very definite possibilities for a cpmr 
.mercial productibn on Broadwayi al- 
though lacking many. of. the human 
elements of the same author's 'Far- 
Gff Hills' and 'White Headed Boy.' 

'The Round Table' has that, strange 
combination of robust comedy and 
eerie drama that are .to be fpuhd in 
so many plays, of the Irish school. 
It is distinguished by the fluency and 
frequent beauty of its diiEilogue and 
by, the quick sympathy, and under- 
standing that are bound to be ex- 
tended to many of its characteirs- On 
its debit side, are frequeint dull spots 
dnd by irrelevancies which aniloy as 
often as they delight. 

The scene is a middlcrcliass Irish 
household— not the slum variety pre- 
sented by Sean Q'Casey — of which, 
or , rather, in which one daughter, 
l>aisy, is the reed upon whom every-; 
"body else leans. -.She is the 'patsy'— 
arid without her level head and keen 
perception the Drennan family would 
undoubtedly haye hit the rocks long 
' ago. 

Daisy Drennan is courted by a 
solid, coinfortable suitor, Christopher 
Pegun) by name, and he finally wins 
.Jver consent to a marriage, with cer- 
tain provisos, however, all ha,ving 
to do with the future livelihood arid' 
security of Daisy's mother and sisr 
ters and brothers. Ihe latter , are 
sorely stricken at the thought of los- 
ing-^not their beloved . Daisy— biit 
rather her financial and mentkl aid. 

All this is familiar Irish family 
dramatica of the Robinsori-O'Casey- 
Jbhnston school, but in Act II play- 
wright Robinson introduces the other 
Irish note Of the. fantastical and un- 
real. This, is supplied by the ap- 
pearance of a character, programmed 
ijrriply as A Woman, who visits 
Daisy, just after the announcement 
of the, latter*s engagement, and 
preaches to her the doctrine of 
escapisin. Why marriage? Why . the 
coitfinement of marital ties? VVhy 
all the burdens and problems, and 
annoyances that she has always been 
used to? This stranger speaks glow- 
ingly of the joys of far-off placesi of 
an untramiiieled existence, of a sense 
of joyous freedom. 

Daisy is appreciably impressed by 
the stranger's revolutionary doctrine 
but allows herself to be persuaded, 
for the; time being, to continue with 
Kbr wedding plans. Her, sisters and 
brothers, shorn of Daisy's help, also 
make plans for themselves. 

Act III — and the best act of the 

l^y— is laid in the waiting-roorn of 
a" railway station several weeks later. 
Two of the Drennans have been mar- 
ried and are starting on their honeys 
moons; Daisy , and her fiance are; on 
hand to see them off; 

Then it is that the call o? the 
strange womaii — oiie of those ban- 
shea-like characters so popular with 
Irish dramatists — finally exerts its 
full effect on Daisy and the upshot 
is that, in all the hurly-burly -and 
excitement- of the send-offs, she 
.finally tells her intended that she's 



"that 



off for parts unknown and 
everything's off between thenj. 

The allegory of the 'round table' 
of the title is. that this homely article 
of furniture is used by the . strange 
woman ais an exempilification of the 
futility and ihevitability of Daisy's 
prosaic existence; when it is told to 
her that this particular piece of 
woodwork has been sold, the last tie 
that holds hei- snaps and she makes 
her bold decision for" escape and in- 
dividual freedom/ 

Hedgerow; has given this Robinson 
play a generally good production al- 
though timing could be improved 
upon in' a number of instances. As ia 
matter of fact, pace, rather than 
characterization, is the chief lack in 
the current presentation at the Rose 
Valley playhouse. 

The chief l:ole of Diaisy is com- 
petently if not remarkably filled by 
Catherine Corcoran; it's the kind of: 
part that would befit the most glow- 
ing. of stars and if the play is ever 
to be done oh Broadway it should be 
assumed by no one but the'best. 

Two strikingly fiiie character com-:, 
edy performances are contributed by 
Cele McLaughlin., and Henry JpneS 
as, respectively, one of the prenriah 
girls (a stamp fiend) and her s\veel- 
heart. 

Stalwart and acceptable, 'is. Al Mc- 
Granary as Daisy's suitpr/ and Helen 
Alexander, is- capital as her fluttery, 
selfish, mother, while Margaret' Gal- 
lagher is equally efficient as an old 
family pensioner; . 

-Two exceptionally fine, stage sets, 
especially . that of the rail'iyay. sta- 
tion waiting . rdom, have been pro-, 
vided by David Metcalf. 

'The Round .Table/ already pro- 
duced commercially on the other 
side, stands an even chance of sycs 
cess over here if carefully . cast and 
staged. Woters. 



Orchids Prieferreci 

Philadelphia, April 29. 
A musical in two acts (12. scenes); book 
and .lyrics by Fred Herendeen; music by 
Have .Stamper. Featuring Eddie Foy, Jr., 
and. Benay . Venuta; Stagetl by Alexan- 
der.. Lcttwich, Cbstunies by Jenkins; 
dances, Robert Sahford. -.Presented by 
Charles Wl Abrnnnson at Forrest theatre, 
Philadelphia, April 28, '81 

Gertrude 

Violet '. ., 

Uillie V. .'.....'^.... 

Marion M<ir)on....,., 

Bubble.i Wll^ion Eddie Foy, Jr., 

PCTolopc! .ISthel Barryitiore Colt 

Lillian Mithoney .......... Benay Venuta 

June and. July» , . .'Mary afid 'Walter. Brown 

'Klmer .Traum. Jack,^hitt.rldRe' 

Rilchai'd Hope, Jr. '. ^ ..... . John Donaldson 



. Hliaa Knight 
FVdnces: Thress 
. . Doris Vilnton 
.Vlcki Curhniingu 



Musicals ,have been mighty few 
and far between around these parts 
this season with only five, exclusive 
of G- and S . and revivals, checking 
in previous to 'Orchids Preferred.' 
This . Charles Abramson production, 
finally bowing in ait the Forrest last 
night (Wednesday) after two post- 
ponements is a more or less unpre- 
tentious piece which, may have a 
chance for Sonne of: the summer go- 
ing, although it needs '"plenty. It 
certainly- couldn't make the grade 
as competish to pieces like 'On Your 
Toes' or 'Babes in Arms' or The 
Show Is On' during the regular win- 
ter running. 

Piece doesn't impress having 
cost any great amount and, that 
should ' be in its favor, with the 
payroll modest although cast lists 35 
names, exclusive of Men of Harlem 
quartet. This number, however, in- 
cludes what would ordinarily be 
chorus names in most . shows; here 
all the gals are listed for name 
parts; no matter how small. 
,. 'Orchids Preferred', is in two acts 
and 12 .scenes, a number of the lat- 
ter being curtain drops. Good taste 
has been generally used in the prbr 
duction, Which is quite effective, al- 
though far from elaborate. 

Show's best asset is probably its 
score, although Dave Stamper's 



I 




Q|len Thuisdoy till 9 p/M. In two itoresi 

49 WEST 34th STREET — 1552 BROADWAY 





I0~ 8 



90 



6 



90 



I. Milltr StauHful 
ond Da Luxt thetSt 
formtrly 
12.75 to 15.75 



illar Bcaullful 
form«rly 
to 13.75 



In9«nu« th««»,. 
niod* •iipr«itly 

for i. MillMr. for- 
merly 8.75 te9>75 



MAPEMOISELLE SHOES 



5 



90 formarlr 

6.95 and 7.95 




( <o 502 fifth Avenue Si rei 



MX flFIH Ave. 450 finH AVL 49 W. 34Hi H. 



ISSIi'WAV 



tunes will be up against some tough 
rivalry on Broadwsiy these days. 
On the' more sentimental side, 'A 
Million Dollars,' 'What Are You Go- 
ing to Do About liove' and 'A Boy, 
A Girl, A Moon' are likeliest, while 
on the comedy or novelty order 
there are '>Never Trust A Pig' (sung 
by Whittridge) > 'The Three R's', 
well put across by the Men of 
Gotham, and another humber, un- 
named in program, done by same 
male group in Act II. 'I'm Leaving 
the Bad Girls for Good' gives, among 
others, Ethel Barrymore Colt, a-; 
chance to warble a bit. 'Eddy -Mac' 
also deserves mention : as a nOvelty 
piece, 

.Book is prefiy telrfible, although, 
it. would seem that Fred 'Herendieen, 
who wrote it, had what, might, have 
been some interesting ideas on mu- 
sical satire in. mind, poking fun and 
shafts iat the Park avenue-Times 
square scene. It doesn't quite ' jell 
nor does the attempt to bring the 
songs in without formal cues tip- 
ping , everybody off iahead of time. 
Hammersteih arid Kern, worked that 
much better a couple: of years ago. 
In general, 'Orchids Preferred' is a 
variation Of the old, old'. 'Gold Dig- 
gers' theme.; Two oldei: playgirls 
take on a younger and : entirely . un- 
sophisticated pal, who wants to .take 
a whirl at the racket. She is : unbe- 
lievably naive, not to say sugary, 
Wishy-washy and generally unber 
iievable. How the young millionaire 
for whoih ,5he sets her cap manages 
to- believe her mid- Victorian guff - is 
hard to say; At . any rate,., she falls 
in love and about that time, he's 
told by one of the gal-friends that 
the sweet young . thing; is just .an- 
other gold-digger. You can gueSs the 
test. 

• Of the principals, Eddie Foy, Jr., 
is agreeable and easy as a kind of 
Mr. Fix-It \yho, takes the girls under 
his wing. Hi? jcomiedy is neat, Behay 
/Venuta has the role. of a seductive 
siren of the« night clubs who torches 
rather eff.ectively and also Shows, a 
sense of humor. The Men of Harlem 
are a highlight .and. so are Mai:y 
and Walter Brown, a graiceful dance 
team' who do two okay numbers and 
rate the applause they got. 

Hilda Knight and, Frances Threes 
are decorative as the, older gold- 
diggers and Jack Whittridge helps 
Foy, , with the clowning. "One feels 
sorry for John Donaldson and Vicki 
Cummings as the loverbirds; They 
work hard. Miss Colt hasn't much 
to do but does that little well. 

There are some extremely shapely 
and eye-filling gals filling small, 
walk-on roles. Waters. 



hside Stuff-Legit 



ON BROADWAY 



WITHOUt WAENING 

Melodrama in three acts, presented at the 
National; N. ,T., May 1, '37, l)jf. A- I'. 
Jones; written by K'alph' Spencer Zink; 
0tnge<i. by John Hayden; settings, -Nat Kar- 
sop. Top, |3.30. 



Sally... 
Private Pratt. ........ 

Private Ferris, .^...p. 
Corporal ' Sanger. . . . . . 

IJc'utenant Matthe'ws. 
ColonM Hackett: 



, . .Claire Carlatbn 
. .Edward Craven 
.Harold Waldrlge 
.Russell Morrl.ion 
.Don Dllliiway 
...Fmnltlyn Vox 



Mr. Jevrles.. Philip. Ober 

Pdclor Brooks. Arthur Tounif 

Colonel. Rodgers..... Jack Roselelgh 

Privafea of the Guard-^I:.ee Worth, Carl 
Carr, David .Rubin, Frank Ellis. 



There are types of plays which are 
getting to be more difficult than ever 
to get across on this stage and mys- 
tery melodramas are included. Doubt- 
less screen. dramas are a contributing 
factor in the hazard of such presen- 
tation, of Mvhich 'Without. Warning,' 
first called 'Arsenal,' is one. 

At . its delayed premiere Saturday 
(1) there seemed to be too much 
dialog; in fact, the first act was ex- 
tremely gabby. There is . a miirder 
but it was committed before the cur-i 
tain rose. The sergeant inarmy test- 
ing shack located . somewhere on an 
island is found dead, virtually cruci- 
fied with the hands run through with 
bayonets arid the. body> thereby, 
held upright. 

Author establishes .t\vo iniquisitors, 
one the colonel of the. regiment quar- 
tered there and, for the last two acts, 
another officer,, also called colonel but 
in naval blue. He is a crack checker- 
upper summoned frorii Wiashipgton 
by : phone and . landing by plane in 
the 'vyater nearby..; It is a one-set: 
show, with steel girders aloft add- 
ing- to the puzzling stdry, Nat Katson 
heing this designer, 

The guards claim they, saw ho one 
enter the building but did shoot at 
a person fleeing from it. That, the 
soldiers missed Is explairied by the 
fact that the gun sights' had been 
tampered with. .A civilian "employee 
is made to bear the brunt of . thie 
questioning and a bit of third de- 
greeing. 

Audience has the belief that, this 
man tied himself to a post and jabbed 
a bayonet through his hairid in an 
effort to indicate someone else and 
not himself as the .culprit. As it 
turns out,, he did not do the killing' 
but his record places him under sus- 
picion. . The fellow. Jervies had been . 
a captain in the Philippines arid had 
mistreated his meri so much that he 
had been caishiered out. of the , ser- 
vice. Having changed his name he is 
trying to earn a liying but the author 
has him On the Spot most of the eve- 
ning. 

For comedy, relief, there is a pri- 
vate who just married a giddy 



Believed to be stiffest advance royalty ever paid out for a Coast legit 
production is the $10,01)0 demanded by Gilbert Miller before turning over 
rigbts to . 'Tovarich' to Homer Cutran for the San Francisco : and Los 
Angeles playdates. Gregory Ratoff,. whose wife, Eugenie Leontovich, is 
starred in the pieces put up. the $10,000, with Mervyn liCRoy, Warner 
.Bros, associate producer, putting up another 5G's to apply against the 
j^,000 laid' but for the production. Royalty terms are said to be con- 
siderably, higher than the customary 7^%, and with a heavy 'weekly 
sstlary sheet piece nlust do biz if those interested are to come out . on top! 
Company's share at the Biltmore is 70% ofj the, gross up to $15,000 
then 75%. 



tatements iri the dailies that. Vincent Price, leading man of . ' ictorja 
Regiria,' has been signed for pix; are 'premature.' Metro. . has .ior several, 
weeks been dickering, with actor, but contracts haven't been inked. %u- 
mored that Price ' has been offered $1>500 .a week for minimum of 40 
weeks a year. 

'Regina' closes at the Broadhurst, N. Y., May 29, going on coast-tp-coast 
tour next season^ but Price's contract ^yith Gilbert MiUer erids with present 
engagenierit. Cain go t<r. Hollywood immediately if deal is set. 'Victoria' 
is his first American part. 



A New York. Jewish daily had around $3,000 due from |The Eterniii 
ROaid,' Manhattan 6. H., but accepted tbat amourit in tickets charged 
at full price. Paper has been advertising- the tickets at half price, stipula- 
tion with thesitre being that they be sold only to sheet's readers. 

Tickets are sold at $1.65 but there is a 30c. admission tax, law calling for 
10% pf the, established price. Paper . thieref ore nets but $1.35 per ticket. 
Diffeirerice in takings and its bill for the show charged pfl to p.rbmoton. 



Brock Pemberton is now an associate member of the ^Dramatists Guild.. ; 
He is one of the producers who revises the iscripts of plays he presents 
and did. some, of that wot-k oh 'Now You've Done It' 'which was first called 
'Me Third' when the WPA put it on 

Antoinette Perry^ who stages the Pemberton plays; has . been: a member 
of the Guild for sOnie time. 



^ Although Federar Theatre Project plays are generally presented in New 
York and elsewhere at 40 or 50c per diicat, . first free admission shpw in a 
N. Y. theatre is Tobias and the Angel,' which opened at the Provincetown 
playhouse April 28^-' This cuffo WPA production even goes , the Butler 
Davenport theatre one better^ Latter legit hidea'ivay, active for many- 
years, charged nothing for tickets but passed the hat. 



Trudi Schobp, Swiss dance ..piantomimic ' comedienne who appeared at 
the Lorigacre, N. Y., last week in 'Blonde Marie,' billed as: a 'dance com- 
edy,' completed a 20,000-inile tour. Company consisting of 20 people 
traveled in a biis. 

Attraction is one of S. Hurok presentations. He will h^ve 15 on tour 
next season, all being of the concert type. 



Albert Bei , one-legged author of 'Little Ol' Boy' which is the basis of 
his current suit against Warner Btros., alleging 'Mayor From Hell' infringed 
ph his play, is currently onV. a Guggenheim fellowship. Young writer his 
a play about delinquent girls due; also a new book based on his own juve- 
nile delinquency, experiences while in a reform institution.. That served 
as the background for his 'Boy' i>lay. 



PhyUis Perlmari, press agent for *Yes, My Darling Daughter,' Playhouse, 
N. Y.. received a gold and silver 'vanity- from Cartier's last week. It was 
inscribed from. 'Delly.' Vic Samrdck, company manager, got a cigaret 
ciase. 

The latter is Alfred de Li , Jr., ,.:who sailed several 

days before the, .gift was received., 



Jack Curtis is continuing 'Red Lights' at 
Ipn^er the Broadway engagement the better i 
season will be. 

\ Meller is estimated to be bettering . an even break through a downward 
revision of the operating nut. 



To clear the record, as far as Equity is concerried, Lucy Beaumont, who 
died last week, was established to be the first actress to walk out in the 
1919 actors' strike. She appeared in 'Chu Chin Chow' at the time. Sev- 
eral others left that show and others on the first day Of the strike. 

First striking actor was Ritchie Ling, who recently died also. 



Vinton Freedley plans to produce another play by Ward Morehouse 
next season. Theatrical reporter is mulling over an idea for the piece 
which will have a New York locale. 

His 'Miss Quis* closed at the Millier, N. Y., this Saturday. 



blonde and, in some manner, gets her 
on the island: They are honeyirioon- 
ing in the building unaware of the 
murder. References to their love 
making brought some giggles but it 
is the girl who ives the clue to the 
culprit.: 

There are nine in the cast with 
Franklyn FOx as the first colonel dor 
ing the questioning in act one, while 
Jack Roseleigh is the service sleuth 
who gets his rrian and shoots him 
through . the heart. Don Dillaway, 
Philip Ober, Edward Craven (play- 
ing the moon-struck private) and 
Claire Carleton, who entered the cast 
at the last minute,- are among the 
others. , 

Meller masks, the killer but the 
show impressed as imed for cut 
rates. ibee. 



In Praise of N, Y. U. 

(N.Y.U. Varsity Show) 

, Musical 'In .. two -acts, -(27: scenes) ,. pre- 
sented . by New York University. Staced 
by Jess KImmel ^nd Marty Goldstein; 
skits. Sylvia Marks. Arnold Horwltt, Sol 
r.repri. l>o6n: ItoROw, Ijes White; music 
anq lyrics, Ilobert Person, Don Wyhiek, 
Bon llnron. >iin Lorlh, Harold ' Asenj Mer- 
vyn Nelson; dunces, Sherry Hart; settings, 
Aaron llosklh. . Jo.seiih Di Geinma, Frank 
Plasiiiatli; musical director, Ozzle Caswell. - 
At Manb.iltan Opera, house (ballroom). 
N. y,. April 29-.10, ".n. Top. $1..'iO. 

t.'asl: Pat Montelone, Sylvia Marks. Wil- 
lie. Cohen, .loss Kiminol, Leonard .Stelner, 
.*<id yiegel. Leo Ador, Phil .Silverman, Ad- 
rijin Jacobl. Dorothea .White, Lou Aiiilre. 
•Bol) MannlniT, • Jo.ssif Lubart, Seyrriour 
Penriiim^, liaura Hurst, Allan Berne, Sey- 
mour Schalzbcre, Anthony Costn and 
oilier - ' - 



Satirizing collegiate affairs in 
broad fashiori, the annual spring 
varsity show of N. Y. University is 
fair entertainment lof an iriformal 
sort. Undergraduate actors with 
varying degrees of talent and with 
a limited attempt at production ef- 
fects manage their musical coriiedy 



chores to, the satisfaction, of two 
friendly audiences arid thiat is what 
counts, after all. In no respect is 
it ian outstanding college show but 
it presents a musical score that con- 
tains some excellent tunes. 

Songs were mostly written by 
Robert Person, Donald Wynick arid 
Harold Asen and among the best of 
them are .'That's the Way I Am 
About You,' 'If I'm Good' arid *A 
Penny for Your Thoughts.' , Jessie 
Lubart shows herself to be an okay 
blues ■warbler and Dorothea White 
and Bob Marining also score in song 
delivery. Ozzie Caswell leads the 
orchestra through , its pdces with 
spirit and ialso. Serves Up a trombone 
solo, a la Russ Morgan, in the over- 
ture. ,^ 

Comedy roles in the show entrusted 
to Pat Montelone, Phil Silverman, 
Willie Cohen and other N. Y. U. 
faves. Sylvia Marks reveals a keen 
sense of : comic values in several of 
the scenes. Dance specialties' ipro- 
vided by Adrian Jaicobi, Dorothea 
White and Lou Andre. Rpwl. 




CHEZ PAREE, 
CHICAGO 



' S ' St. MsTtln'a Place, Trafalifdr Nmare 



PTEHMATIOHAI. SHOW NEWS 



CaI»Io AiiareKfi: TARIEXY. LONDON 
'iVicitlioiie Ttfinitle Itnr 5041-0042 



«7 



Phys Abroad 



FESTIVAL TIME 

. . ^ondon, Aprir21. 

Comedy In . three acts by Xiionel Hale, 
produced by Milton Roenrier at the Kmbnssy 
theal Iiondon, April. 20. '37. 
lYlderike. . . ••.>..•.«••> .'• •Tvonne . Borle. 
Max. • . . .■.•;.•.«••••<••*•'« • « • ..'Mervyn Johns 

Uiicle George. ...^^..i>r... '..Guy le Feuvre 

Aunt Frudence. f«.^jQan Hlckspri. 
Iiucy.'. • 4 •••• k •>•••• .«•••« .Drsula Marx 

Carl Fountain;. . . .Austin Trevor 

Ainyaa ' Florin. ... . . ..Arthur . Macrae^ 

Slglsmund.^.'.'.... .H. R.' Hlgnett 

A Dreary American.. Dodd :Mehan 

£)eonore. . ; .". 4 . . . .'.Barbara Hofte. 

Julia Florin. ......>....•.. . . Sophie Stewart 

ChrlBtlne; ^^^^ Xynne 

Aleasnndro VlatelH .' . . ,« .'. ..... ... . C laseur 

atfarlln Shepherd. Illy Lunee 

A very hear approia.ch to fiirst-ratiB 
stage entertairtment,' without actually 
being so. First, act promises jiniich 
iand the other two acts give somer^ 
thingi but not enough. Autlior ap- 
parently capable of: creating amus- 
ing charactepizatipns and perpetrat- 
ing witty dialog, but in this instance 
provides insufficient stbry, and what 
little there is of it ends on a false 
note. 

This might be hastily .revised dur- 
.ing its . two : weeks' /run at the Em-, 
bassy^ and be a contendter for West 
End honors. A first-rate American 
play doctor might easily revamp the 
script for the U. S. . 

Excellent atmosphiere^for this conr 
tinental farce. Scene is . in a small 
hotel in Salzbiir^ prior to the annual 
festival. This gives legifimate ex- 
cuse for all: sorts of characters in the 
fbrm of guests. The author proceeds 
to supply .ai healthy .quantity, practi- 
cally ievery one of which is amusing 
and more or less; interesting. After' 
the fii'st act the Whole thing diescends 
to . quippery, endirig with more or 
less poetical denouenlent (or lack of 
it) that is entirely incdngtuous. .. 

Ah excellent cast WaS: provided for 
this Embassy eixperiment, one ■ that 
would refleict credit upon the most 
pretentious West End theatre presen- 
tation. With such material to Work 
With, Milton Rosmeir, director, was 
able to secure a smooth-running first 
nieht. 

The star cast is augmented by C. 
Laseur, Dutch actor, making his first 
appearance in this country. He looks 
and conducts himself like a younger 
prototype of Henri de Vries, and 
acquits himseU very creditably. 

Jolo. 



L'Appartement de Zoika 

('Zoik»'s Apartment') 

Paris, April 25. 
Drama in seven tableaux by Michel Boul- 
gakov. French version by Marie Relnhardt 
and Benjamin Cremleux.: Presented at The- 
atre du Vleux>Cblombiier by Rene Rocher; 
Mage settings, Andre Boll; starring Jeanne 
Provost, Paul Oettly and Henri. Rollaii... 
^Ika ,. i,.. ..V,,., Jeanne Provost 

Count Obolianlnoft ........... Paul Oettly 

Ametlstoff .... . . ... . . . . ; . . . . Henri Rollan 

Alleluia »...,.., .T.ean Fleur 

Remontny Alcover 

Cherubin the Chtnaman. .. . . . . .Ky.-Duyen 

A thoroughly enjoyable play, with 
a slant very rarely, if ever before, 
taken in a Soviet stage production. 

Revolutionary stage works have a 
habit of being, more or less rosy— 
so rosy that they are yery 
specially when propaganda sets in. 
« IS as though the authors were 
giving themselves the task of pre- 
senting their public: with as sweet 
an image as they can of the world 
they Vye in. Probably to make the 
said public' forget a little of the 
turmoil and excesses Of the world. 
.Due to . that, the great majority of 
^yiet plays and pix have, to this 
aate, failed to w-in whatever recog- 
nition their innovations, technical 
and otherwise, gave them the right 
to expect. 

. 'Zoika's Apartme'ht' definitely 
breaks away from that tradition. It 
presents a searching, merciless stud'y 
of life in nonrcomimunist circles in 
Moscow, dui-ing the period generally 
referred to as the Nep— around 1927. 
. Jeanne Provost, as a vefy cohvihc^ 
ing Zoika was obviously oh the up- 
per side of the street during Tsarist 
fays. Now \^ihe occupies an apart- 
ment,^which . although , very small, is 
Way beyond the space , allowed per 
person by the local regulations. Her 
. Diggest headache is her. lover, the 
iprmer Count Obolianihoff, played 
by Paul Gettly, who, when not in a 
morphine daze, is convinced that all 
I f^volution is only a nightmare, 
and that there .will soon be a . Res- 
toration, 

Both he and Zoika have a burn- 
ing desire to escape from the Revo- 
lution. In order to get the necessary 
money, Zoika starts ai 'haute coutuire' 
Shop. The mannequins parade the 
«test Paris dresses for the benefit 
or the wives;, of the local big . shots 
auring the. daytime. At night the 
ssnie maihhequins provide -iirhuse- 
ment for the big shots themselves. 
A roguish distant cousin of Zoika, 
Henri Rollan, is a perfect ; master 
M ceremonies, and Oettly entertains 
ihe company with mielaricholy piano 
tunes. AH goes well and money is 
rolling in uritU the biggest of the 
oig shots, Alcover, discovers the girl 
he loyes is. one of Zoika's manne- 
quins. Broken-hearted, he turns to 
Jhe opium pipe, proffered by the 
^hinese servant, Ky-Duyen. The 
Chinaman, driven crazy with greed 
at the sight of AlcoVer's bulging 



wallet knifes him, steals the money 
and disappears. So does Rollan when 
he discovers the dead body. Just 
when Jeanne Provost and Oettly are 
making a go for it a group of of- 
ficials walk in: 'Tcheka'— and the 
curtain falls Oh that one word which, 
to .Provost and Oettly is equivalent 
to a death sentence, ' 

The tableaux, somewhat like ia 
series of cinema shots, move on 
irapidly; sO does the intrigue. Oettly 
gets the medal for his fine portrayal 
of the neurotic, fatalistic Count, and 
Jeanne Provost tops the femme part?. 

The play^ which has had ; more 
than a year continuous run in Mos- 
cow, according ^to reports here, 
should be a success everywhere, due 
to its humanly, genuine handling of 
the characters, coupled with a true 
dramatic value. 



Benjairiin's Trayelt 

Jerusalem, April 14. 

Adapted from' story' .by Mendele Mosher 
Rforlm, by Reuben Grossman; .staged by T. 
Tchemerlnsky, A, Barntx; ; .<;ettings, Riiblii ; 
music, Fordhaus Beri-Tzlssy. ■. Presented in 
Tel Aviv "..'In Hebrew- by' the Hablmah 
Players. 



Conceived .as a satire; on the ghetto 
dreamers and on the early support- 
ers of the return- ion movement 
•Benjamin.^s. Travels' has been cley-: 
eriy adapted by Grossman from the 
58-year- 

An irraiy human 
■types, ill-fitted for life, engrossed on 
contemplating the remote past and 
steeped in silperstition, are conjured 
up by the scornful pen of ; the writer. 
In eniphasizing their comic features 
and yet avoiding the grotesque, Ha-' 
bimah 'shows its special gift for de- 
picting the children of the ghetto. 

Rubin^ leading Palestinian artist, 
does an exceptional job with the ap- 
propriate batckgroiirid for the ragged, 
gesticulating, shrieking and alto- 
gether, restless residents of 'Fobls- 
town,' 'Bieggarsville* and 'Dafkvale,' 
names given by the author to various 
ghetto agglomerations. 

In one of these uninspiring places 
there lived' a . counterpart Of . Don 
Quixote. Fed on tales of travel and 
adventure, filled with a longing for 
the Promised Land* . Benjamin de- 
cides to set out on a. journey to the 
East, following in the footsteps, of 
Alexander the Great. 

Benjaihin is invested with pathetic 
grandeur, not ill-befitting one whose 
dreams the . atidience thinks have 
come true. Benjamin has the liick 
to meet the perfect Sancho Panza in 
Senderil, . humble, , plain and matter- 
of-fact, who looks up- to him with 
adoration, confidence and something 
like pity.- ' 

Bartanoff's interpretation of this 
character takes the honors. Duo's 
tribulations are desperate. At the 
outset they narroWly escape being 
caught by their fiercer consorts; then 
they are nearly devoured by wild 
beasts, nearly struck by lightning, 
and almost, but not quite, pressed 
into military service.- 

Overhearing the account given by 
Mendele, itinerant bookseller, to his 
mare, one learns that, , after many 
struggleis, the travelers reach the 
HOly Land. , ^ 

Mendele is played with poise and 
dignity by Gnessin, who enlarges on 
the istory of Benjamin while ' it is 
proceeding on the stag^. Now that 
M has reached Old age and has be- 
come softened and resigned, Mendele 
begins to wish well to the dreamers, 
to whom he . failed to do justice in 
the past. 

' New Habimah creation is bound to 
click, especially in this country and 
Poland, where it will eventually go. 
Doubtful elsewhere, although while 
Palestine is in the news, 'Benjamiri's 
Travels' may have a chance. Set. 

LdNDdN AFTER DARK 

London, April 26. 
Comedy In three a^-ts by W.ilter llackett 
produced by the author, at the Apollo thcu' 
.tre," London, ' . ■ . 

Fiiy Beaudlrie. ..... . . ... , Kreda .Gaye 

Gervild Beaudlnc. T.eonnra TTpton 

John Randall . . . . . ; v i Rbbcrt Anrtrewn 

Pavcmoht .\rtlst. '. .Afeailo wh White 

Newspaper Man... . . , . ; /Kdgar McEwen 

Oomhiei-tlal Traveler. .11. Van lloolon 

Mrs. Morant. . ..... .rallileen ..Js'esbltt 

Mafrglo Croft. . . . ..... . .Kl viva Henderson- 
Gladys Ladle .;. .i Molly Cardew 

Ambrosia; .'^eabrook. . ; . . . , Mhrlon Jjorhe 

Regln-ald Rincljilr. :.. .Edwin .Styles 

.Superintendent Pike., . .;RI<hnrd Gray 

Manager of Cinema. . . , 3; ivi.in Reynolds 



Wailter Hackett possesses the ra.re 
gift of being able to write a comedy 
mystery thriller, .the getm of -vyhich 
is always more or less famili , and 
yet riiakes you. keen to know how it 
is going to turn but. His techniqtie 
is hiost . skilful and painstaking-^in 
fact, too much soj and some of the 
very carefully concocted scenes lead- 
ing up to the plot development could 
be excised and hasten the play's 
progreseion. For instance, atmos- 
pheric detail in the first act occupied 
the bettet part of 75 minutes. When 
the superfluous matter has been 
smoothed down, the indications arc 
that Waltei" Hackett and Marion 
Lome will have another success to 
their long list of profitable play- 
writing and play-acting. 

Most of the happenings occur In 
odd bus settings; a murder is com- 



WELL, IT TAKES TIME 
TO BUILD GOOi) SHOWS 



London, 

By May 10 : all the American im-^. 
portations for the Palladium coro- 
nation show, , except those i the 
Jack ' Hy Itoh band, will ..be out; 

First to go was plane Ray^ who 
was paid off before opening. Roy 
Smeck asked: to .be let but after 
twO nights, because he was- reduced 
to prie numberj- and is now working 
Off his six .weeks ih the .other GTC 
houseSi Frank Libiise was ihtehded 
to stay tWo weeks, : but no replace- 
ment was available. Moore and 
Revel, booked in for four weeks, 
stayed the allotted span and left 

Gaudsmith Brothers replaced Li- 
buse and .Keene Twins and Vic and 
Lamar are , in for Smeck- Slate 
Bros, jsh May 8, which completes 
their, six weeks, with Vic Oliver re- 
placing' 

No ..replacehient for Moore- and 
Revel. 



Pbilly Girl Tries to 
Win Beauty Contest in 
Paris— It Can't Be Done 



. April 24; 

'Mademoiselle, yoii ' cannot ex- 
pect to win, yqii are not French.' 

Politely but . firmly, Mary .Shuck 
of Philadelphia was^ informed that 
she did, [not have;even .the chance 
Of an outsi of carryi the title 
of "Miss inema" during elections 
which were held here .at Magic City, 
despite the fact that she took the 
title of 'Miss Cinema of the Rivibra* 
inycontests held in Nice. . 

Miss Shuck has been studying 
voice in Munich for the last two 
years and . appeared in two .films 
made by Bavaria. She went to Nice 
for a Vacation and entered the cqn^ 
tests there;' When "she won, Camille 
de Rhynal advised her -to come to 
Patis for the final runoffs at her 
own expense. 

Andre Pelleng, president of the 
Club Cinematographique in Paris, 
told her she did not have a chance, 
and, to prove it, the audience elected 
Mademoiselle , Jacqueline Mignac, a 
localite. 



'WONDERFOL WORLD' AT 
VIC PALACE, LONDON 



London, May 4. 
•Wonderful World,' another Kurt 
Robitschek revue designed for the 
Coronati , opened at the Victoria! 
Palace last night (3), with artists 

contrabted fOr four Weeks with op 
tions. Cast of successful performers 
headed by Will Maliohey and Flor 
ence Desmond, augmented by chorus 
and sceheiry, all indifferently re- 
hearsed. Hits of show are Paul 
Remos' midgets and Wilson, Keppel 
and Betty, despite fact they've 
played in London for three years: , 



Pollocks to Hawaii 

Tokyo, April 13. 
Channing Pollock> his wife arid 
daughter, touring the wbrld on 
freighters leave here April 20 for 
Hawaii. 

. While iri Hawaii, Pollpck will, de- 
liver three lectures at irniversjty of 
Hawaii. 



mitted in a mews, and Marion Lome 
aS a picture hoUse usherette is* as 
usual; involved in her customary 
nitwit fashion. No matter how 
hardened: by expbsure to the ruthr 
Ibssriess of playwrights, arid despite 
all efforts to become blase, one can- 
not help indulging in explosive 
laughtei: at th6 CUripus situations 
and humiorpus dialog which Hackett 
supplies ta Miss Lorne. He has her 
say the most inane things with the 
unsophisticated l.ook of a three-year- 
old child^ involving her . in situations 
where, out. of sheer good nature, she 
helps a .female.:Pickpocket, arid at 
another time becomes the unwitting 
accomplice, after the act, Of a mur- 
derer. 

A lengthy supporting cast, many 
of them on for bit. parts arid half-ar 
dozen full-length roles, contribute to 
an evening's entertainment con- 
stantly alternating between the uri- 
foldment of a murder mystery arid 
farcical comedy. 

Inexorable condensation, via the 
niedium Of the blue pencil; .shoiild 
make this, the iOth. play by Hackett 
in whcih Miss Lome he appeared, 
a delightful arid absorbing, evening's 
amusement. Jolo. 



Paris Lining Up New Night Clubs 
And Revues for the Expo Influx 



Clalim Chas. kuUnian 
Broke 0i»eva Cphtract 

Vi . .April 24. 

Austrian State opera claims that 
the American terior ' Charles Kiill- 
rhan breached his' cbntract. He Awas 
schedul(ed to return to. Austri to 
appear as Hueon in Weber's 'Oberon' 
on April 15, but KuUmarin wired 
that he was uhable to coriie in tiriie; 

Kiillriian is also' on- the pi-ogram to 
sing in Respighi's 'La Fiamri^a* on 
June 8. 



Jack Taylor Producing 
30G Revue 2it Enigfi^ 
Spa; 5 Vaude Acts 



London, April 26. 

Biggest revUe ever' attempted by 
any provincial producer is being 
staged at the Opera House, Black- 
pool,, by . Jack •. Taylor. Taylor has 
been producing shows; at this North 
pf England Coney Island sppt for 
the past; .five years, but this is the 
first time he has' lined .up an ag- 
gregation of talent that compares 
with the West End. 

Besides: George Formby, a niam.e 
up ribrth, arid Frank Randel, also 
local favorite, he has five Arrierican 
standard acts.. ^These are the 12 
Aristocrats, Fred Sanborn, Carroll 
and Howe, Harris Twins and Loreitai 
and the Three ..Jades.i; Show costs 
$30,000 to produce/ Which ' good 
money even for West End show, 
with an overhead of $iSiOOO pier week. 

Last year Taylor's show played 17 
Weeks and was seen by an average 
of 35,000 people weekly. Show is 
geri,erally. goOd for another six 
months in the big prbviricial spots 
after its ! Blackpool run, where the 
grosses never fall below $10,000 per, 
with some weeks as .high as $12,500. 



VALLEE, RICHHAN 
SCORE IN LONDON 



Loridon, May 4. 

Rudy Vallee opened at the. Hol- 
born Empire yesterday (Monday), 
going over splendidly. First show's 
biz. was sparse, but second show was 
capacity. Vallee. is doublirig at the 
Firisbury Park, where he also 
clicked, pulling two capacity houses. 

Other . newcomers ori, the Holborn 
bill inelude Stone arid Lee, a re- 
freshing comedy duo which , should 
be in demand, here. 

Harry Richman operied at.the^ Cafe 
de Paris. He recbived an Ovation on 
appearance and held the capacity 
audience fbr 50 minutes with songs 
iand chitter. He got June Knight to 
duet one number With him and, 
without doubti proved the best at-, 
traction the cafe has had in years. 

New program at the it? has 
Hildegarde in bright li She, 
too, scored strongly.. 



Rome Legit Continues 
Active Through Summer 



Roirie, April 23. 

Four of the ig regular theatrical 
companies will carry on diJiring the 
sumntier season here. They are Rug- 
gerb Ruggeri'S Co. with Margherita 
Bagni; ArrriandO Falconi's, with Riha 
Morelli; the Garidusio-Cafli ... and 
the Moi«»to-BefrOne-Cari " 

Projected run of a review com-: 
pany, in Rome . during the sumriier, 
much talked about, is .now to. come 
Off. Company will play at the Bar 
berini Cinema, and will featiire the 
debut on the reVue stage of Pabla 
BOrboni, film actiress. Miss Borborii 
Will continue, her picture wprk at 
the same time. 

. Mine. Simbri and hei- Frerich co, 
is making a tour of Italy this nriionth 
Starting at the Politcariia Margherita 
in Genoa,, arid finishi up at the 
Argentina in Rome, visiting in all 
seven Italian cities. Prpgrai has 
not yet been announced. 



Nitery Season Ends 

Cairo* April 18. 
Cbntinental, one of the smartiest 
cabarets herCi has closed for the 
season. 

Final night was marked with a 
gala festival and masquerade, at- 
tended by high society. 



Paris, April 26. 
With the opening of . the expositions 
scant weeks away, precious little -has 
been done by the bOys who are . . 
planning to please the custorners in- 
side the grounds of the sho w by way 
of eritertainmerit. 

But while those on the inside are' 
riierely making plans, a few of thps 
takirig place on the outside, are v 
Among other things five night clubi 
will Open before the middle of riext 
morith^ 

Tops of these is the Restaurant 
des Ariibassadeurs, where Clifford 
Fischer has the booking rights and 
practically has the show he Will 
preserit for the opener On May 19. 
Two bands have been engaged. They" 
are the; Drena TVIusette Band and 
Willie Lewis, latter recently at Chez . 
Florence and riow at Cher Ray Ven- 
tuira. 

Fischer also has the Abbott Daricers, 
Dario and Di , dance team; 
George Campb, comedy-acro, and A. 
Robins, clown,, and Max and His 
Gang set for opener. To these 
Wili be added, several' European acts 
which have not yet been decided 
upon. 

Two new clubs, both located In 
the Montriiartre, ..cjme next. First 
is the; Cabaret do. Monseigneiir, 
cated in the rue d'Anisterdam. 
Raquel .Meller will stat there, while 
an American singer, Spiyy, wiU also 
be on the openen Cbsta . Barleaza 
and his Gipsy orchestra .with Balbgh 
Will furrijsh tl>e heat. Other in the 
same naborhood is the Bagatelle, 
forrtxerly- Chez Jeari; Tranthant,> 
which was closed last year following 
the killing of Louis Leplee.. Max 
Spiro is operating this spot but nothf< 
ing definite has been. set. Openings 
aire for early next month. 

Not far away, in the rue Pigalle, 
Bricktop is going tO get behind her 
own cash register again and. hand 
out the type of anriusenient that 
proved , so popular in this town, in 
the bonanza days years ago. 

The Etolle's Boom 

tip in the Champs-Elysees dist^^.> 
Max- Frarizesco is .reopening the 
former Chez Josephiriie Baker club, 
but without Josy. He hopes to cash 
in on exposition crowds as the 
cabaret is arily a stone's thrOw from 
one of the principal entrances. Jim 
Witteried has been delega:ted to line 
up the band and talent for this spot. 

In the same snooty atmosphere is 
the Villa d'Este, which shuttered not 
too long ago after a fire. M. Romier, 
who alsb operates the^ Caprice Vi- 
ennois, will have the say; here, with 
bobkings.ha:Vlhg a chance to. play the 
two spots, but ,nb openirig date set. 

On the music- hall and reyUe side, 
two, and possibly three, new revues 
will rhake their appearance during 
the exposition. Henri Varna is work- 
ing on one of his nuder than nude 
shows to replace a French Misir- 
seilles revue at the Alcazar and 
Mitty Goldln has stated he will run 
a revue, at the A. B. C. during the 
expo. Edmond Sayag, operator of 
the Theatre des Ambagsadeurs, now 
cinema, says he will, put in a revue 
if he can get the talent.. He has hi 
eyes On Anrierlca for that. 

Revues now at the Casino de Paris 
.starring Chevalier and at the Foljes- 
Bergere starring Josephine Baker, it 
is .understood,^ are set to. run 
throughout the expo. New show re- 
cently operied at the.Bal Tabari 
created as ari exposition attraction. 

Among pther.«!, Joscphi Baker- 
has expressed, the desire to open 
another, night club, ;.this ti 
Moritriiartre, but no "spot 
decided upon. 



Story in China 

Shaii|ghai, April 
Rex Story's 'Npri-stOp HollyWbbd 
Vaudeville ISeVue,' after 10 we^ks 
in Japan, Shanghai, Tientsin, Pcl- 
pj'rig, again Shanghai, is now play- 
ing Ho.ngkong. Will probeed.to Ma;- 
nila, Singapore, India , arid Africa. 

With Story iare Rose Lee, Erilily 
Winsette, Eva Alexander; Donna 
Day, Mitzy Lane,' Glori Gray, Fay 
Skeoters, Andy Rice, aind Jack 
Dale. 



Odet's Play in Melbourne 

Melbourne, April 17. 

Clifford Odet's 'Paradise Lost' will 
be produced here next by Brett 
Randall- at the Princess. 

Randall haS met with sbriie suc- 
cess here as an indie procTucer, 'es« 
pecially with Ivor Novcllo's 'Full 
House.' 



$8 



VARIETY 



CONCERX^LITERATI 



^Tednesday, May 5, 1937 




But Empties a Problem^ — Soloists Mostly 

Proved Floppo 



iladelphi , Majr . 
illy orchestra's i93i8-i37 season, 
just coriipieted, was flnanciajly best 
since, depression.: iscal . report will 
be. made public at annual subscrib- 

rs' rneeting later in month. 
Report will show tha:t Symph.bas 
aboitt broken even, which is reason 
for plbntifui palm-rubbing: as symph 
flnancihg goes. Credit goes to Alfred 
Reginald Allen, 32-year-old New 
York advertising man, - who took 
■ over manajtement last season. Dur- 
ing, his; first year with the. symph it. 
lost, only . $35,000, comiparied' with 
ij306;0p0 the year before, \vheh it 
tri^ tampering -v/ith grand opera. 
' rbsssd about $500,000 this seiaspn, 
A-^emi-public institution, it is noi- 
riin for prpiit and no dividends have 
ever been; id, even in . boom days, 
\i'hen . isuirpiusss ^yere rolled up. It 
has endowment of $1,800,000. which 

rpyides annual income of $66,000. 
Past season's good showing mainly 

ttri.butable ti outside income de- 
•rived from radio and sale of records.' 
Grch made twice as many radio ap- 
psarancas this year- as last. This, 
plus increased disc sale> brought in 
$13,000; 

Subscrijption sales: also better this 
ya I', althoush individual ticket sales 
disappointing. Firiahcia:! success ] of 
the season, Allen believes^ deoerids 
, .sale of abbiit 700 seats, at Satur- 
day, 'night concerts. Friday concerts 
always subscribed put. Management 
dDfisri't count much on Tuesday con- 

:certs.^ Saturdays tell the story. 

. During past . season-, about half of 
Saturday night seats, available were 
sold^ Allen stated; leaving 350 seats 
emoty In pit, parquet and balcotty. 
He'll; experiment next ,seas6n with; 
moving five Saturday ' concerts to 
Thursday. These Thursday programs 

. •will; come early in scfasoh^ when Al- 
len believes Saturday competition 
with football is impossible. Prices 
for Saturdays yrill also be reduced. 

Allen said res]>onse tb soloists diir- 
In 3 past season ; was poor. Even 
Kirsten Flagstad . appearance found 

' 400 emptitis on Saturday, Conductor 
Eugene Orniahdy, who succeeded 
Stole!; was said by Allen to have e^c*? 
ceeded the managemient'^ wildest exr 
pectatibns as 'it drawing card. 



TALK NEW ORLEANS' 
OPEIU; S^JMlNiU) 

New Orleians; May 4, 

Offers of EvanstohV JU. and- Niew 
York groups to; furnish - capital to: 
finance ah opiera company here .wiere 
rejected Thursday (29) by the 6x- 
ecutiye conimittee of the New. Or;- 
leans Civic Opiera Association. 

Walter L. Loiibat, president of thie 
association, statied : that the offers 
were; rejected because the organiza- 
tion believes that the best interests 
of .New Orleans and Louisiana will 
be served if. the' project is a civic 
one, supported entirely by the 
people, and bringing money into the 
city rather than taking it out. 

Rebuilding, the old French Opera 
house would cost approximately 
$165,00&,;: he said, and the operating 
cost of an>opera..;,^9!npany for four 
and a haii weejii^ iieVsion ' w'duld ,c 
apjproximately $100JOOOr 

BAD HABITS 
BLAMED ON 



SEU NEXT SUSOfI 



Memphis. May 4. 
Local concert season fades May 11 
when. Gladys Swartbont comes in 
for a recital. Date happens to be 
ing of the annual Cotton Festi- 

eethoven Club, group of local 
operaddicts and classical music dev- 
otees, has. inaugurated a drive for 
1,500 subscription members to under- 
write series, of recitals for next 
C. L. Cornetet, from the 
ivic Music. Assn., icago, is hare 
eioing the drive gain momentum. 
Tentative list lined up for Mem 
phis appearances next year include 
the St. Louis Symph.. 'Vienna Choir 
Boys, Eugenia Buxton. Lauritz Mel 
chipr, Richard .drpbks • ose 
Bampton. 



Lily Pons, III, Can't Sing 



Detroit, May- . 
Illness of Lily Pons, scheduled to 
sing title rple, eavised' postppnemeht 
of Detroit Civic Opera, Society's 
'Liiicia di Lammeifmoor,' ich was 
.■to haVe clpssd society's season last 
i^M (3). in .Masonic Temple ' ude 
Opera will be; presented with the 
oaine Cast Nov. 24, the long delay 
■ being due to impending , departure of 
Franco .• Ghione,. conductor of the, 
Detroit Symph; 'for : Europe. Ghiohe 
Will return in fall to take: over per- 
manent duties as; conductor of locail 
, along with Victor Kolar. 




ianapolis, May 4. 

Speaking at one of .the business 
sessions of the femme clubsters Mu- 
sic Club Federation National- Con- 
v.ention held in Indianapolis last 
week, Paul Weaveri head of Cornell 
University music department, .took 
a rap at radio as being .responsible 
for nation of half -listeners. 

College music! head remarks were 
as follows: 'Modem development of 
radio is a blessing artd a curse. Your 
radio, can be the greatest source of 
ienjoynient a^nd musical appreciation.- 
The enormous damage- it is doing 
today is in Creating a large group 
pf people who fail to listen to music 
when they ari hearing it, but merely 
use it as a background' for reading 
or talking.' 

Weaver ebntinued: 'The very fact 
a person will allow a good thing to 
be only half-heatd creates a mental 
barrier to music appreciation.' 



PHILLY SYMPH DONATES 
NET TO MINNEAPOUS 



^linneapolis. May 4. 

Net. proceeds of a concert to be 
given here, by the Philadelphia Sym 
phony orchestra at the Auditorium 
May 10, will be turned over to the 
$140,000 fund being raised to keep 
the Minneapolis Symphony otches 
tra in existence. 

Eugene Ormoiidy, who conducts 
the Philadelphia symphohy, is a 
former : Minneapolis Symphony 
diictor. 



Olih Downes at Ivcms 



Minneapolis, May 4. 
Critic turned performer here when 
Olih Downes of the New York Times 
braved 'the barbs of local reviewers 
by appearing as a plan soloist with 
the Urtiversity pf Minnesota Sym-? 
phony orchestra. 

Do.wiies came off with flying colors. 
sWinninii the plaudits of local scribes. 



Atlanta's Opera Yen 



.t May 

■ Hoping to revive days that saw 
Enrico- Caruso strutting dpwn At 
lanta's famed Peachtree Street 
spbrting cane and munching goobers 
official movement has. been started 
to bring back annual seaspns pf Met 
rppplitan Grand Opera seasons here 

Councilman John A. White is pre- 
paring to introduce a resolution in 
Council authorizing Mayor William 
B. Hartsfleld to apppint a committee 
of prominent citizens to foster, move- 
ment. 



Heifetz taRest 



Jaseh Heifetz is leaving for 
CPast end of May for a long layoff 
at his Balboa home. Won't make 
any appearances agai ntil Octo 
ber. 

. Heiietz. just back from tour ol' 
British Isles, has pair of recitals Still 
on his book before entraining. 



Literary Gypsy 



Hollywood May 4. 
Konrad Bercb'^lci, the Rou- 
.manian rambler, has spld an 
ori' inal to M[anny Cohen for 
Major Pictures. Refuses to tell 
what the .story is. : 'Let the 
Studio p.a. brag about .it,' is his 
explanation. IThey're the lucky 
ones.' 

Bercovici got $50,000 out 6f 
Cecil de Mille for the 'Volga 
Boatman.' 

"They only used th? title; so 
they got ■ a bargain,' explains 
the.: gypsy who now owns 
trailer. .. 





BIGDEHCrr 
L 




St. 



, 'May . 4. 



Although St. Louis Symph Ork 
drew 135,500 ' persons to 51 concerts 
in Municipal Auditorium opera house 
for largest attendance in; 57 years of 
ork's. existence, 1936-37 season re^' 
ceritly. closed, ended with . defict 6t 
$144^500. Ork made three tours; two 
during regular ' season and one at 
conclusion, playing to., 741000 persons 
i 27 cities. Tours probably will be 
repeated during 1937-38 season. 

Vladimir Golschmainri, conductor 
of ork, sailed for honrie in Pairis; 
Saturday. (24) but ■will' return to 
conduct . New York Philharmbnic 
Symph brk in Lewisohn Stadium. 
JUne 26 to July 6; this Philadelphia 
Symph". Ork on July 8, 9 artd 10; the 
Lbs Angeles Philharmonic Ork in 
Hollywood Bowl and Chicago Symph 
brk July 29, 30 and 31 and Aug. 1. 



mONDE MARIE' A NEW 
IDEA-DANCE COMEDY 



Dance comedy fn two acts (eight, scenes), 
by Ti'udl .'SchooTk and comi>any. Story and 
fltiii;Inf;' -by Trudl- Schoop; iniisic by Paul 
.Schoop; costumes, by O.scar Schlemiiiev.- At 
lionfeacre- theatre," N. Y.; week beginning 
April 27, '37, . $2.20 top. 

(•ost: Trudl Schoop, GItta Waller-steln, 
Kdlth Cori-ola, Ellen I^ey, Mela .Kr.ihn, 
Jenny Graf, ICattia. Sterna, Marta Mutfler, 
Marin Raae, Hllde . Palmer, £>ldl Lederer, 
Niels BJorn Xoraen, Werner Herrmunn, 
Otto Ulbrlcht, Otto Ray,. Tworplatio accom- 
paniment, Xothar Perl. Paul schoop. 

Something new on Broadway, 
'Blonde Marie' is precisely what it's 
billed-ra dance comedy. Not a comr 
edy dance, nVt a comic ballet (Trudi 
Schoop has. several of those in her 
repertoire), but a full-length story 
told entirely in the dance. Unlike 
other dance perforrnances. this 
doesn't require knowledge of dance 
forms nor an acquired taste for con- 
cert dance. It is simply , an immense- 
ly entertaining show in comedy vein 
which anyone can- understand and 
nearly: everyone would enjoy. 

Plot tells of a clumsy servant girl 
.who becomes a waitress in a night 
club, meets a successful tenpr and 
thrpufih him becpmes a musical 
comedy prima , dpnna. She marries 
a rich man, becomes bored with 
life, falls in love with an artist, 
kills her husband arid tolls, her^story 
to. reporters just bsfore wakins; Up 
to discover she dreamed the whole 
thing. . 

. Trudi :Schoop is the servant girl. 
'Blonde Marie.' Other members of 
the company dPuble, dextrbilsly as 
the numerous pther characters, oc- 
casionally the fenime^ havinst to i - 
personate triPin and ,accpmplishi[n.g it 
amusihgly.. Thie entire yarn is told 
"/ith comic exaggeratipni suiting the 
fantasy: of a dream and pnly. near 
the' end does the entertainment Wear 
sji.rfhtly. thin. Many of; thi caricatures 
are sunerbly etched with witV, The 
two fakirs in. the. hitery floor show' 
would click in any SftPt on .5^d 
street; Musical' comedy satire is 
enough . to end all musical Comedies. 
And the .burlesque of the Monte 
CadP Ballet, should panic Col. de 
Br<sil himself. , 

In passing, it may bs noted that 
Trudi.' Schoop made her American 
debut last ^ season, playing in New 
York and on the. road .tr> slim, auBi^ 
ences. Wprd-of -mouth by those few 
has spread, however, and this sea- 
son's -attendance has bach several 
times , as large. Current enga'^ernent 
was skedded for six r'.^lits, with two 
matinees. Hobe. 



Elman-s Oriental Click 

Shanghai, April 16. 

Mischa Elman has concluded a 
highly successful .Oriental tour, and 
is now enroute to. South America. 

Played two months in Japan. Har- 
bin. Tientsin and now upon all-time 
record for Shanghai, with four sell- 
outs. 



Liter a it 



Farrar inehart Upheld 

A temporary injunction reistrai - 
ing the Literary Quild from selling 
any three Farrar & Rmfehart 
books, except to actual Guild sub- 
scribers was handed down by Judge 
Bernard L. SShientag of the N. Y. 
Supreme Court. 

Trial in the suit for $100,000 dani- 
ages brought against the Guild for 
Alleged breach of contract and filed 
by Farrar & Rinehart at the same 
time . as ' the application for^ -the, i - 
junction' ill beigi .next ^week 
(10), 



GiiHd Ballot Box Lifted 

Hijacking of a ballot box oh an 
iniportaht isVue last 'vveek has Pitts- 
burgh. PoSt-Gazette Unit of Anieri- 
can .Newspaper Guild in ain uprpar. 
Following signing of contract re- 
cently with Publisher Paul. .Block, 
morning sheet fired: four men and 
Guild chapter was voting . on 
whether to call strike if dismissed 
employes weren't reinstated immie- 
diately, 

. Election 'was held at Guild head-, 
quarters in People's Alliarice Build- 
ing and- around 9 p.m., when , around 
60 of the 73 members had already 
voted, two unidentified mien '\yalked 
into the rppm, crowded a. couple pt 
members of the election committee^ 
lifted the box and sped away:. 

Detectives ■ were immediately sum- 
moned, but rib trace of eithei; the 
box or the nrieh has since biseri 
found. Unit is awaiting further de- 
vel.ppihents before Calling for an- 
other, vote. onus dismissal, checks 
pf'foUr men are being held by Guild 
officers pending outcbiiie.: 



Writers' League .Congress June 4-6 

League of American . Writers has 
issued a call to a congress to be held 
in New York City Juni 4-6. Sessions 
will opeii with a niass leetipg at 
CarnegiiB Hall. 

Purpose of congress will be. dis- 
cussion of professional problems in 



lati 



re 

tionai events. 



.to .national and interna- 



A New Pablishinff Firm 

The publishing firm of Carrick i 
Evans, Inc. opened offices in New 
York Monday (3). : Officers are Lynn 
Carrick,. president, Robert F. Evans, 
vice-president and treasurer, arid 
John Reynolds, secretary. 

Carrick was until recently -with 
Bobbs-Merrill and formerly adver- 
tising manager of Putnam's. . Evans 
resigned from Scribner's, where he 
handled publicity. 



International. Mar List 

Carolyn Ulrich, chief of the pe- 
riodicals division of the N. Y. Public 
Library, has compiled a list of 8,200 
current periodicals pf all countries. 
Book classifies magazines igiving 
date of oirigi ; price and publishers. 

Published by R. R. Bowker for $12. 



Ne.w Literary Agrency 
McKeogh & Boyd, Inc.,, is a new 
literary agency formed last week. 
Partners are Ruth Boyd,iorinerly of 
Curtis Bro.wii, and Elsie McKeogh, 
formerly of Barbour & McKeogh. 

Charlotte Barbpur has resigned as 
a partner in the latter firni, founded 
in 1930, arid will Henceforth live on 
her New Hampshire farm. 

Literati Deaths "This Week 
Harry M. immo, itPr and 

ownei- the Detroit ^Saturday 
Night,; weekly magazine, arid a 
leader in. ; Detroit newspaper circles 
for- more than ,3i6; 'died April 

50 in Detroit, Foririer city ieditor of 
the bid Detroit Tribune arid later 
corinected with, the Detroit News, 
he organized the Detroit SatUrdav 
.Night in 1907, with W. R, Orr, theri 
manaSer: of the- News. He wjas a 
member of the Players and past 
•presii^ent of the .Detrpit Athletic 
Club, Survived, by two isoris;and a 
daughter. Burial Monday (3) in 
Detroit. 

Norman' Hapgood, , Minister to 
Denmark under President Wilson, 
and editor of numerous magazines, 
including Collier's, Hearst's Interna- 
tional Weekly and Harper's Weekly, 
died in Ne\V York on April 29, after 
an operation. He had. a national rep- 
utation as a writer and ari editor, 
arid, was frequently the storm, center 
of many fights for reforrii in business 
and political practices. His second 
wife, and four children Survive hirii, 
as well as his two brothers, .one of 
whomi Hutchins Hapgood. is well 
known for his labor sympathies and 
activities. 



Walker Back on H-T 

Stanley Walker, editor of New 
Ybrk Woman, until mag folded re- 
.cently^/was named as assistant man- 
aging editor of the N. Y. Hei'al 
Tribune .liBist Monday (3) by Ogden 
Reid, publisher of the sheet. Walker 
now tops Charles ■McLendonj v.ho 
succeeded him. as paper's city editor, 
when: former "left that post several 
years ago to join N. Y. Mitror. . Dur- 
ing his abseifice from the, H-T, 
Walker has seryed on N. Y. Amer- 
ican,, as man^^ing; ediipr of ; the New 
Yorker magazine,, and as free: lancer 
for FPrtune mag. 



Deadlocks Along Strike Front 

Newspiaper Guild's Strike at the 
Long Island (j;^amaica, N. Y.) Press 
which to all appearances was set- 
tled last week, was resumed as sbon 
as it wa^ ariinounced by S. I. New- 
house, publisher, that" 27 members of 
the strikirig staff would be firied .for 
reasons of ecoribmy. Picketing Ayas 
iriimediately rene\yed with the rer 
suit that mechanical employees Avere 
unable to enter the plant and on> 
Saturday : (1) publication .wa^ sus- 
pended. A. five-hour cpnfab on 
Monday -(3) brought no results arid 
the Situation is again deadlocked. ' 

ings by the arbitrator in the . 
coritrbversy over the firing of tw-b 
nien at the .Amsteridam (Harlem, 
N. Y') News is due this .week. The 
strike activities at the NOi;th Shore 
(Flushing, N, Y.) Journal continuied 
With the/ sitiiation still deadlocked. 
No (decision is e^tpected in: the ap- 
plication of the riianageriient-for a 
permanent injunction for soriie tinie. 



Sonya Schulberg'is Tome 

Scribner's will bring out the first 
novel of Sonera Schulberg, daughter 
of B. P. Schulberg. It is titled 'They 
,Cried a Little' and is based on life 
in a Parisian finishing school for 
girls. 

Rudd Wilsbri Schulberg, sbri of the 
producer, is in Selznick Interna- 
tional's writing department.' 



CHATTER 

Keririeth Roberts returning frorii 
Italy, this Week. 

American Booksellers' to convene 
i Nv Y. May 9-ii:. 

Artemas Holmes elected presi 
of Street and Smith. 

Nancy Hale ii>reparing 
of letters of Elinor ,Wyli 

.1, J. Singer's liovel 'The Brothers 
Ashkenazi' ^banned in Poland. 

Carieton Beals firiishing a book ori 
South America titled 'All America.' 

Doubleday t)oran has moved, its 
N. Y. offices to Rockefeller Center. 

Robert . A. Parker has written a 
book, on Father Divine due out next 
week. 

George isorel's novel, 'Bi-Ba-Bo,' 
will be published by Somerfield & 
iiaynes. 

LeRoy Greene, feature writer on 
Evening Ledger, Philly, will cover 
Coronation for his sheet. 

Uptpn Sinclair's novel-of the Span- 
ish civil war 'No Pasaran' to be pub- 
lished iri eight languages. 

Random House has grabbed, up 
Gene Fowlier and will shortly pub- 
lish. 'Salute To Yesterday,' 

Clifford.. Dowdey's new book, 
■Bugles Blow No More,' but next 
week, isi a. Civil War . novel.. ' 

Grace Ives, editor , 
Hollywood study ions in. 
Walter Wanger's 'Vogues of .1938,' 

Lipok, the picture magazine, here- 
tofore issued as a rriprithly started 
publicatiori as a;bi-morithly Api:il27. 

Janet Cohn sails. May 8 to catch 
opening pf new, Eriilyn. William's 
play 'lie "Was Born Gay,' iri Loridbri, 
. Don Herold, former film critic and 
dramatic : editor for Life,: ripw on. 
the staff .bf . Scribner> .mag., contrib- 
uting humorous corririient Pn current 
events. 

'Theatrical Press Unit of the Ni Y. 
Newspaper (iuild has arranged a 
film show arid darice to be held May 
9 at Labor Stage Studios, Most of 
the. cpin will gp to the Guild's Emer- 
gencyi Fund. ' . 

AshtOn Stevens,' Chicago columnist 
and critic, who has been sick all 
winter, expects to return .to wprk 
shortly. His book 'When Cabs Were 
Horses,' scheduled by Covici-Friede 
for. Spring publicatiori, ill be out in 
the fall; 

Edward L, Bernays and Doris E: 
Fleischman are the co-authors of a 
pamphlet titled 'Universities-Path- 
finders in P'ublic Opinion,' Contains 
a list of courses in public relations, 
public opinion and related subjects 
offered in American Universities. 



V'ei|nes<I«f..Mar 5» 1937 



BURLESQUE 



VARIETY 



<9 



N Y. Barleys Face Permanent Shutters 
But Hcqie fnr Comproniise or Reprieve 



Sdcfc to burlesqu6 theatres is not 
gs bad as it looks, with exception of 
the Broadway houses, since several 
hoi)ed: for continuance oyer 
njrarm; spell would haW re-. 

jnaint!d bpei)' only couple of 
^ieks irtpre. The trouble lies iii pps- 
ibility of reform, drive sticking tin- 
fall when closed theatres 

in. Brooklyn, the Century, 
Minsky's, Star and Oxford 
ing to see the summer 
bagged.^, I^atter three, hit 
before the wholesale clbsure, are be- 
ing, giV(ert Grand action in at- 
tempt to convict, which automatical- 
ly carries license revocation penalty 
for one year, as Avith recently con- 
..yicted'-Gothain, N. Y. 

Those se;t to stay wer^ Broadway's 
iety, . Republic, Apollo, Itinge 
and" Oriental, Irving Place and Peo^ 
pie's,- like Brooklyn houses, werb go- 
ing td try to weather the 'heat,* but 
also considered summer closing. 

Other Cities Affected 

Business out of town' has also been 
affected by the spreading N. Y. re- 
form. Repercussion has resulted in 
other towns, with local reformers 
stepping into the fray and lefssening 
biz considerably as in N. Y. Forr 
tunately. for road situation, it is in 
■ iiar .position to that of Brooklyn; 

ith. seasonal dropoff anticipated 
even .before trouble, started. There; 
are only five wheel shows , left now 
and they would have been played 
put within , a inonth. Out-of-town, 
stbckers : are . also sumnifer hibernators 
for most part, so there is also little 
lost in that direfction, ' unless moral:- 
izers stick, around tintil autiimn.. 

Question of responsibility to land- , 
lords for . leases on N, Y. theatres 
has many . sides, and as many an- 
swers. Action of the law .in shutter- 
ing the. theatres is construed , as an 
'act God' for which operators 
cannot be . held accountable; Another 
theory is that since owners knew the 
condition of the shows and shared: 
in the proAt they made, they assumed 
the .: same .risk as managers. There 
is also the thought that a lease is a 
..lease, but .finer points ..and . arguments 
pro , and will probably make 
court -.matter if properties are shut- 
tered, fpr any length, of time* Idea 
that a couple may assume a new 
character with vaude or films might 
also obviate the question. 

Whether or not the theatres are 
to be held -xespdnsible to performers 
has not been taken up by the Bur-r 
■ lesque Artists Ass'n yet. Union does 
■^^ not want to heap, more diiff iculty on 
the shoulders of the operators and 
will not consider the question Until 
other mess is cleaned up. All have 
been operating with two weeks' no- 
tice posted for protection. That 
means that they could drop within 
a week minus a union run-in. 

•Both Commissioner Moss and Mayor 
LaGuardia have made it plain that 
there will be no quarter given bur- 
leys because of their defiant attitude 
arid consistent disregard, for authori- 
ties after repeated warnings follow- 
tOhferehces. "Reports that a 
cpiiple of new licenses were sought, 
.but the fact that old ones cannot be 
renewed answers thiat. 

Employmeiit Firoblem 

What is' to become Of the idle per- 
formers -is ah. enigiAa for BAA. 

roup sees a. possibility, of eventual 
return to old- hurley of girley' line, 
. ' and specialties, .'but little 
hope for the strip teasers, of which 
there- about 200 around the 
cpvintry,' and for -whom N. Y, was 
the happy hunting ground. Talk of 
small revues, vaude,; ., by some 
managers to take care of the.: cho- 
ruses, cleaning of the old isook and 
creiatidn of new sophisticated comedy 
Via .new writers can iaid .coniics in 
legi ti rtate ski Also use of special- 
ties to fill, is seen. Some Cart grad- 
JJally swing back into burlesque of 
better type, it is thought, but the 
peel looks like its heading for the 
ash heap along with too blue dia- 
loSMe. Actually, the talk had as 
much 16 do with starting the wave 
as the nudity, say upper banders. 
Talk of a local censorship body is 

another factor, although denied offi- 
cially; 



Gets His Wish 



Charlie ^ Schwar , operator, 
of the Oxfoird theatre, Brook- 
lyn, N. Y., and pne of the. few 
press agent users in the field, 
used to haiint his p.a. with 
for front-page pub- 
. Schwarz contended that 
nPthihg Counted .unless it Was 
pri the lead cover. 

.He's got it now. 



N. Y/BurleySliutdown 
Reacts in Other Towns 



icago, May .4. 
New Yprk's : current 
burlesque license excitement the 
Chicago city fathers are doing sonie 
yelpi newspapers : them- 

selves and are gettinjg plenty of pub- 
licity on a proposed *cleah-up' cam- 
paign. T\yo 'papers, the Chicago 
Times and the ChictigO Daily News, 
are froht-paging the investigation. 

ily News, besides its news yarn, 
carried the Westbrook Pegler Col- 
umn on burleisque on its ifront page. 



Haymahs were associates of Charles 
Frohmah and were in the Klaw & 
-Erianger syndicate. 



Newark, May 4. , 
Harry Brock, manager. of the Erri- 
pire theatre here, rates high ..with 
the local, police. Chief of Police of 
Ne\yark stated , on the first page .bt 
the Newark . Evening News . that the 
Empire productions Were above Crit- 
icisnv in that, they were entirely 
differient from the shows censored in 
Times Square. 

Br.ock has worked well with the 
authorities, ^ particularly ' regard 
to the 'strippers,' and/ is now. com- 
pleting a second successful season in 
Newark. 



Also In Itqine 

Rome, April 23. 

Rpnie is already busy making 
plans for the World Fair to . be held 
here in 1941-42. 

Place reserved for the fair grounds 
will'be the largest ever set. aside to 
date for , a . similar expositiPn! Its 
center ill be occupied by a large 
square, styled after the traditional 
'piazza' - that forms the character- 
istic center of every Italian town. 
This Will be called Axum. Square, in 
honor of the great obelisk which is 
being brought from Axum, sacred 
city of Ethiopia, to be erected in the ; 
center", of the fair gi-ouhds. 

Buildings: oh this square Will be 
the largest of the exposition and 
will have a permanent chiPiracter. 
One group will be dedicated to the 
Arts iand the other to the Sciehces. 

There is also to be a great round 
tower, dedicated to the triumph of 
.Italian geni ; this tower wiir be 
.visible from Rome itself, although, 
the fail*, grounds .are to > located 
half-way between Rome and the 
sea. 

■ At the entrance pf the. grounds 
there will be a building done all in 
glass,, and surrounded by great 
fountains. From here searchlights 
Will play all over the fair, over the 
fountains, arid over ah 'irtlfficial lake. 
This building ' will •doMihite': the aii-- 
proach tp the- grouHiUs bn tHte Rome 
side. ■ .'■ 

:.Gardeni is to feature, trees 
characteristic of the. Mediterriihean 
cbuntri s— the pine, the live oak, the 
bUye tree, and the palm. 



Pittsburgh, May 4. 
Following lead taken over week- 
end by New York refusing licenses 
to burlesque houses, Pittsburgh au- 
thorities are goiriig to ipay strict at- 
tention to goings-on at Casi , local 
citadel .the strip-tease, in the 
future. 

George Jaffe's spot hasn't been 
bothered with censorship problems, 
but Safety Director George A. Fair- 
ley, yesterday, ordered a police of- 
ficer to view the perfonriance and^ 
make an immediate repoi-t. Fairley 
said he'd 'have an announcement tp 
make later.' 

Question which officer must de- 
cide, according to safety director, is 
whethbr taking one's clpthes.ofl be- 
fore 'ah audience constitutes a vulgar 
performance regardless hpw 
gracefully disrobing is done.; 



Frisco ^8 Bid 



(Continued from; page 53) 



there are but two attraction the- 
atres, the Curran and Geary, neither 
of which are often lighted because of 
the decline of on the 

rpad. 

That factor and the fire, which 
razed most of Frisco's theatres, are 
angles in the decadence Pf the the- 
atre's fprmer number one far west 
stand. How: to get shows will be the 
committee's niajor problem. That 
topic win be discussed at thei com- 
ing American Theatre Council cpn- 
vehtibni New Yorki late this 
niorithi 

Coast ^showmen operated 
under handicaps for some time. Not 
the - least is " claiined ;. to . b? the fault 
■of the uhipns, since legit theatres in 
prder to have stage crews must also 
havb eight to; io. men * 'the or- 
chestra pit. 

Earlier . season there was a 
plan to present .a super-stock in 
Frisco Which would rival . the old 
Alcazar stock. Ideai was furthered 
by William Hanleyi wh'P has had; 
stage and managei-ial expei:ience dur- 
ing a visit to New YPrk. He is the 
husband of Madge Kennedy, who re- 
sides on the Gbast.. 

AmPhg the stellar showmen pro- 
duced by iFrisco, the late David 
Belascp was probably the; , most fa- 
mous. He was given, a start there 
by.- William A. Brady. The Golden 
Gate city also developed David War- 
■field, COngressrnan Sol Bloom, Al 
and Alf Hayman and Thomas A. "Wise. 
All latter three are deceased. The 



DIXIE'S DELIGHT 



Wraps On in N. Y., but. Free Peel- 
in the South 



Bnrley Theatres Seek Mandannis Writ; 
Lose Appeal; Trial Set for Next Week 



Moss' Power Queried 



N.; burly theatre owners 
will base, their hopes of cbm- 
pelling^ tiicense CommiSsionier 
Moss to renew their permits on 
decision recently handed 
by the;. State Court of 
Apipeals. The high court held 
that MoSs hald nb power to re- 
voke a theatre license unless a 
cpnyiction in court was .first 
obtained. 

During the mandamus argu- 
mient Monday (3) before Su- 
preme Court Justice Rosen- 
map, f brmer Magistrate Hynian 
Reit, on behalf of the Eltinge 
theatre, cphtended that the 
high court's ruling also: cPVr 
ered the renewal of licenses, 
particularly where .there was 
no conviction .for indecent ex- 
hibition. 



Ann Com Anticipated 
brm 



Spartanburg-, ., May 4, 

With ..Gotham's burlesque houses 
padlocked^ Dixie's theatre patrOns 
have suddenly developed a strong 
yen for flesh shows. Several houses 
in the Carolihas have strippers, 
semirnudes and other Stock hurley 
fashions, but they never draw . as 
well as they have since news stbries 
and broadcasts started telling about 
the troubles which the burlesqiie 
cortti.rigent -were undergoing in . New 
York. 

Some of the managers in .this sec- 
tbr opined today that the coming 
weeks would find the cream of New 
York strippers oft on road shows in 
the hinterlands, unless the padlocks 
are meSnwhile yanked off. 'Folies 
de Nuit' company, which recently 
regaled this town with^ straight 
stripping in big doses, minus a word 
of Ipcal protest, is still going big in 
the Garolirtcis and adjacent areas. 



Newark,, R4'y.^'\. 
Ann Corlp, highest priced .star' ih 
b.iirlesque, i ntervie wed orj-'burlesque 
crisis in dressing room at Empire 
Theatre, -where: she is appearing in 
'Merry . Maidens.' ^She states she 
wrote: Variety a year ago on the 
possibility of siich- k clash With the 
-police, due to two serious conditions 
in burlesque. One was the crudity 
and brashhess .of many so-called 
.'strippers' who Would urtdoubtedly 
get the same results .by toning down 
and emphasizing the. artistic, rather 
than the s, a. angle. And the other 
is the .extremes com'ics have, gone to. 
for laughs in the same direction.. 

Miss Corio believes this official in- 
tervehtibn will have a, salutary effect 
and that burlesque will- be the better 
for it, eradicating the taint, and 
thereby increasing, the audiences. 



Independent Burlesque 



IVrek of May 9 

. 'Bozo Snyder's Own SHo>v' — Qaalno, 
Pittsburgh. 

'Pardon the Glkmourt— Gayety, Cincin- 
nati. 

'Oriental. Olrls'— Trop. Phlladelphln. 
'Girls In Toyland' — HowHrd, Boston. 
'Crazy QuIU't— Gny.ely, Washington. 
'Pepper Pot Bevuo' — Gayety, Baltimore. 
.. 'Nothln' Biit. Damee' — Capitol, Toledo. 
'Top Hat Ilevue'-^Gayety, Detroit; 



Brooklyn Burley, 
Inoffensive Show on Shntdown Eve 




How to avoid police or. censor dif- 
ficulties would be a descriptive .sec- 
ondary title for this completely inof- 
fensive burlesque, which incidentally 
is temporarily the last to be seen in 
N. Y. for r^sons of the Century's 
planned closing' in -Brooklyn, N. V., 
before refPrin interference, the sec- 
ond reason. Doubtless, the rhanage- 
ment applied :the usual local rinsing 
before bringing it. to this hquse, but 
it couldn't hiave required -much labor 
because it's still unlabored lun and. 
well handled; by the entire conripany 
in its condensed version. 

Due to the lack of dirt, talent is 
miich in evidence ranging irqm the 
comics down to the talking and sing- 
ing wbnieh. Helen Rogers, mature 
blonde, with an unusually good voice 
for her calling, and Ailepn Dale, 
brunette looker with histrionic abil- 
ity and vPicie are femmes. Miss 
Rogers' singing is: a pleaSiant escape 
from the squeaks of, the. piping 
peelers, who clutter the local boards. 
Miss Dale's acting hear tops in the, 
field, if anything in burley may be 
called actirtg; 

Further proof of the straightriess 
of the show is the almost total elimi- 
nation of strippers. Company sup- 
ports only twoj proving conclusively 
that the strip is not an indispensable 
part, of burlesque. It can easily .be 
omitted in the rereducation of the 
public to better standards. Dolores 
Green and- the Chinese Amy Fong 
are the exponents., minus exposure. 
Former limits herself to a strut 
garbed in a transparency which re- 
veals without offending. Miss 
Wong's routing is more revealing ph 
conclusion. Hb-wever* it .still retains 
.a dignity via the fringe and a Clever 
performance. Her songs and Orien- 
tal dancing fill 'out. 

Ed Lloyd and Henry Gonley clown 
their respective ways to .success as 
entertainers, further discrediting 
their less fortunate comical brethren. 



Bits are almost whistle^clean, deal- 
ing only in smart lines .with a double, 
entendre in true: burley tradition. 
Even the ready-for-retirement hotel 
honeymooners sketch, as delivered 
by Conley, brings its laughs from the 
belly, with the assistance of Lou 
Brown, excellent straight man. 
Equally old pistol sharpshooting bit 
assumes a color (not blue) always 
lacking elsewhere because of limited 
ability of most corhics: Lloyd is a 
little stumped being of the latter 
school; and does not shbw-as \vell 
as Coriley. 

Kickers, while not much on looks, 
although including ■.. a cbtiple Pf 
nifties, are well rehearsed and well- 
equipped in costumery. Line is 
seldom out of time ahd often a 
little, better than the routines with 
which they work. Production, is 
above hurley's average; thPugh still 
lacking in parts, particularly when 
piroducer took recourse to the old 
book ibr numbers. Four hPuse show- 
girls ■ are used but .. once, since un- 
draping is. no longer the smart thing, 
to do,, hereabouts.. Supplied by the 
house, they; are kept in the house, 
and not allowed, to play. Konny 
Ryan, juve singer; never gets. a. 
chance, so docs little in his ohe num- 
ber. . 

Show also includes mixed team of 
knockabout: dancers, Carlton and 
Miller. They are extremely fast and 
good. Return : appearance in chal- 
lenge stuff brings out - the best in 
each,' which is. something. ' Opening 
is clog work, and chair climbing and 
hopping with added.;- hand noises, 
Sounds like a lot but only serves to 
warm them up for a snappy deuce 
try. Ali Ben Ali, mystic and' nerve 
hypnotist, working as a. house filler, 
is in next to shut spot; still has a 
good act. Fairs and -vaude arc un- 
doubtedly better Ipcation.s, as aif- 
diencC indifference is here indicated. 

Hurl. 



The battling buriesquerS: will/have 
ah opportunity to present their side 
of the strip tease: squabble before 
a jury in the N. Y. Supifenie. court 
sometime next week. Justice Rosen- 
man indicated Monday (i) wheii he 
reserved decision on the motiPn ot 
attorneys -for four. the Clpscd 
houses for mandamus order to 
compel. License; Commissioner Moss 
to renew their licensesi. 
. liistead of grianting' the order 
asked, J^udge Rosenmah indicated he 
would grant an alterniative .man- 
damus and . have both sides present 
their case to k jury. Meanwhile the 
theatres whose licenses Moss re-, 
fused to renew will remain closed. 

The four theatres seeking the 
mandamus IMphday* were the Eltinge, 
Gaiety, Iryihg riace and the People's 
theatre on: the Bowery. Robert W« 
:Corillp, appearing, for the Irving 
Place and the PePple's, declared that 
Moss had aicted arbitrarily and had 
not given the theatres an opportunity 
to properly defend themselves at th« 
hearings before the Commissioner. 
■ Former .Magistrate Hyman J. Reit, 
on behalf of the Eltinge; told the 
Court that, although he .hielieved 
,.Mpss had acted according to his 
views,: his refusal to renew the II- 
yCifhses was cbhtrary to law. He said 
that from .80 to 90 people would be 
{lifTected;. at the. Eltinge . alPne. He 
pointe(^ out that ; the Court pl Ap-. 
peals has held that the Comrhissioner 
cahhot revoke a license unless 'a cpii- 
viction is. bbtained in court. The 
attorney .contends that this ruling 
also applies to renewing a license. ' 
•Assi.stant Cprpbration /Counsel 
Weinstein opppsed the granting of a 
mandamus. 

'The city feels,', Woinstein -said, 
'that the exhibitions in; burlesque 
houses in the city during the past , 
several years have been: a disgrace to ; 
New York. They are cesspools ot 
vice and indecency and. present pro^ 
ductions that are lewd to a degree 
that ' is almPst unbelievable. At- 
torneys for 14 theatres complained , 
of were present at the ,Mpss hear- 
ings and had .ample, oppprtunity to. 
refute the charges- made agaitist their 
clients. l am submitting to the Court 
a copy of the testimony of one of . 
the inspectors who. inyestigiated the • 
shows. 

'It is the filthiest thing ever to be 
put in a court of . record in this 
State or any othei' State. If the 
people could read the evidence pre- 
sented before Commissioner Moss, 
they .wbuld storm; the theatres, and 
tear them down. They are habitats 
of sex crazed perverts and the cause 
of many of the sex crimes.' 
• 'When will you be.ready tp try the 
case on an alternative mandamus?' 
Judge Rosehman' asked Weinstein, 
indicating he. would let a jury de- 
cide the facts; Weinstein protested 
that the defendants were not 
.titled to any such relief.' 

'In my opinion,' Judge Rpsenman 
held, 'CPmmissioner Moss has the 
right to use his discretion In the 
granting of licenses. The question 
here is, whether that discretiPn was 
abused and that is a jnatter for a 
jury to decide.' 

He directed bpth sides to submit 
briefs as sgon as possible^ 

Burlesque Reviiew 

MIDNIGHT FLYERS 

(Princess, YoungstDwn, O.) 
(STOCK) 

. .Youhgstown, Q., April 27; 
.'Midhight.Flyers,' with Aileen Ran- 
dblph and Evelyn Cushway current 
at Prihcess here, is a highly enter- 
tai production which should 
please most particular burlesque , pa- 
trons, Thbufeh there is^. . not rnuch 
change , in the cast, change pf rout- 
ines, bits and; wardrobe, make, the 
offering interesting; . 

Other .featured , striprtease artists 
in the 'p.roductiPn are Revdlle Blair 
and Marie Deetz. Buddy- Kane's eom- 
edy bit about a husband returning 
from the office drew applause the 
opening periormahce. 
, All five male principals are Seen 
i another comedy skit about paying 
war debt that is uriu.suailly cle-ver. 

Bob Evans, juvenile straight man, 
scores with a character skit and song 
entitled 'Wise Giiy.' 

Bert Wrennick, vocalist, is fear 
tufcd in ' several song hits and ac- 
companies the pidture nunr.bers at. 
the 'rnikc.', Virgil Downji'd, hew 
comic in the cast, seems to have 
improved his technique in the. new 
Fibber McGoe production. A near 
record crowd turned, out. at the 
Garter ight performance this week. 

Mack. 



60 



VARIETY 



CHATTER 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



Broadway 



' Irving Mills back from Calif orniai 

Bill Doll p.a. for twora-day b jvley 
due at .Fulton. 

Bob. MilKord to Coast as aide to 
George Jessel. 

Afternoons at the Friars consist, of 
hearts and horses.. 

Harbld . Scadron e.nyipus id, 

isVmont's- green coat. 

.Jean Sargent, has joined the sho\v 
at the Hollywood nitery. 

J. G. Stein baiSk to Chicago after 
a couple of days in N. Y. 

Bide Dudley's son, Bronson,: has 
left the cast of -Babes in Armis.' 
. . Don Haynes, CRA's rtiidwest sales- 
man/ in town for a Couple of -days. 

' Ernest MqCauley hack from Cbast 
.and Louis :McL6on ,on the way in. 

■ Islin Auster of the Holly wood Hays 
office in Ne.w York for a week or so. 

Lepta Larie (Lane Sisters) vice 
Jane Pickens with 'Foliies' eh route.' 

■ A< F. Schwartz named as assistant 
to T.: P. Loachr secretary Pathe 
Filrhs, ' 

. James Agate, drama critic of the 
LondOti. Sunday .Times/ arrived Moh- 
■dav (3). 

• Tommy Rockwell (-O'l^eefe) hack 
•to the Coast this week after a quickie 
east on. biz. v ^ 

Abe. Kj-akauier, Jiminy: Drew and 
Johnny " Dohlevy ticket men, back 
frbrfi cruis^. 

. Eddie Miller presenting his pupils 
in a'miisicale at the Mansfield the- 
iatre, May 16. 

M?rge B.rullpw, Indianapolis 
"beauty, si^ined for Universal by 
LMoille Ryman.' 

Mrs; E. G. Lewi^/ who has a 'String 
.of race horses, is bettet known as 
. Elizabeth Arden. ' 

Tillie Leblang Jasie ordered to 
take ' at . least thr.ee weeks/ rest by 
doctor, has fipne out of town. 
. Marie Callahan in from the Coast 
for first time iii .a couple of years,, 
but doesn't know lor how long. 

Hymie Buishel, Rudy yaUee's at- 
torney, sailed for London yesterday" 
(Tuesday). Will be gone 12 days. 

. Walter , Moore's, son graduates frbm 
Nev/ York University and enters . 
Princeton with a Ph.D.. scholarship. 

-Al Altman making new batch of 
screen tests in. his new faces drive 
for talent in east. He's Metro's talent 
boss. 

• Kelcey Allen and the missus to 
Atlantic City while, their flat is be- 
ing redecorated. Will be gone a 
'week. 

Annual meeting of Percy Williams 
Home officers and report to be held 
at home, East Isli t. li, N. Y;, 
May: 11. 

Jeanette : C. ./Power (Power's Ele- 
phants) arrived from Europe May 3 
after 10 years on- the Cointinent and 
England. 

Al and Val Reno sail for . Copen- 
hagen May 19 for an engagement at 
fhe National Scaia. Will tour conti- 
nent later. 

■ Susanne Fisher and Margaret 
Daum. hoth of Met. N. Y., signed for 
appearances at , St. Louis Muny 
Onera this iseasdh. 

. Jack Kapp, Decca Records ■ prez, 
plans spending, the summer in Holly-, 
.•wood, startini; mid-June on an ex- 
tensive recording trip. 
. The J. David (N. ^. Post) Sterns 
' tossed a birthday party for Bob Gar- 
land, film critic or the,- American^ at 
their midtowh penthouse. 

Molly .King, secretary in adver- 
tising division of Hays office,, takes 
an auto ride to St. Petersburg, Fla., 
on her. vacation this month. 
, Joe E. Brown left iSiinday (2) for 
French liick Springs, Ind., thence to 
Louisville for the Kentucky Derby 
(8) before returning to N. Y. 

Marjorie Adams, film critic of the 
Boston Globe, back to Boston after 
another periodic trip to look over 
new films and contact home offices. 

Dave Ingram, of ROckwell-O'Keefe 
N. Y, office, moved his missus and 
new offsp'ring over from Philly last 
week. .Now commuting to Scars- 
d?>le. N. Y. 

Mrs/ Jack Robbins back to their 

overly Hills hbme for, the summer 
and^ ; her music publisher rhusband 
follo.ws later, in the summer,, al- 
though, eventually, they'll sell the 
man.se and . rereatablish permanently 
in N. Y. ' 

Hy (Brooklyn Eagle) Gardner's 8- 
ycar-pld charges Ic. admiish^or 16 
rhrti. screenings and has been in the 
re3./fbr weeks" until ihstitutih'? bank 
liite. Prize .was ;a .pass to Minsky's 
Oriental, his cblumnist-ioapa discov- 
. feredi so the : juve exhib has been 
' romptly disenfranchised. 



London 



~ Lothar Mendes in' hospital. 

Cliff Fischer back froin Paris. 

Andrew Melville on sick list. 

Max Rivers- going, through bank- 
riiptcy. 

■P,'i[etro due to start filrti productions 
•In London May 15. 

George Ross, of N. Y. World-Tele- 
gram, here, and oft to Paris. 

Cornelia Otis Skinner at tlie Little 
theatre for a two weeks' season. 

J. Jw^Shubert in town and giving 
'A few West-End shows the once-over; 
. . Lesser Samuels had his G-B writr 
in g -contract extended to Januaiy, 
1938. 

'Balalaika* celebrated its lOOth per- 
fori-p.tjnce with a big party on the 
s'tag^. 

Teddy Joyce and family just re- 



ceived their Christmas gifts from Ma 
in New York. 

•Ride-a-Cockhorse' closed at Roy- 
alty theatre April 17 after only 17 
performances. 

Leslie Bankis considering an offer 
to play New York in the" fall for the 
Theatre Guild. 

rWork has begun at ihsborough 
studios on George Arliss'- new pic- 
ture, 'Dr. Syn.' 

British ' International; has bought 
the film rights of 'The Terror' from 
the Edsar Wallace estate. 

Marjorie . Brown . replacing' Gina 
Malo in the second West End pro- 
duction of 'On Your Toes,' 
, .Nbrman Loudon, . head of Sound 
City, ha^- formed a hew company to 
make publicity films in color.. 

Joe Friedmani, iDcal; Columbia 
chief/ sails for America May 19, for^ 
Columbia's Sales Convention. 

John C. Wilson to do 'You Can't 
Take It With You,' with all-English 
cast, in the West Ehd in the' fall. 

Charlie .Tuclcer " f ormi .anothei" 
vaudeville unit, opening in the fall, 
to star Afrique arid Sehatot Murphy. 

■Commander Donaldson, formerly 
of City Films, and now in the soap 
business,, is considering a comeback. 

Pinewood Film Studios, at Iver, 
Bucks, the only studios in England 
fully occupied. All four stages are 
wprking. 

Most London theatres opening at 
6:30. p;m. on Coronation :day to en- 
able audi.ehces to hear King's broad- 
cast ispceph. 

. Orchsstra leader Mantovani recov- 
ering from . appendicitis operatibh, 
for which he '.was .rushed from Dub- 
lin to tiohdon. 

■ Enid Dixoh-Orr; Jack Walleir's 
latest discovery, in *Big . Business,' 
Hippodrome musical, being iUm-test-' 
ed by. Criterion. 

Cliff Fischer's London Casino' show 
definitely closes July 21, with the 
N; Y. French. Casino show scheduled 
to replace on JUly 28,' 

Jack Hiilbert/ guestv.at ress 
Club dinner, told, all the gags in his 
forthcoming film, accepting the audi- 
ence's decision as. final; 

Reginald. Balcer, joint managing 
director. . bf Associated Talking . Pic- 
tures, in huddle With Henry Sherek 
iat the Dorchester . hotel. 

Kurt RobitSchek throwing a cock- 
tail party' at the St Regis for Helen 
Morgan prior to her. opening 'at the 
Victoria : Palace and Giro's. ■ 

George arid J a c fc Dormonde 
booked for the new Clifford I*ischer 
show ivhich opens' at. the French 
Casino, New York, Aug. 26. 

Leslie Holderness, nine years the- 
atre contrpUer for Paramount here, 
and in the last six months iri similar 
capabity With Union Ciniemas, out. 

Leslie Hiscot, film producer, has 
bought the Hammersmith Film Stu- 
dios formerly owned by Julius Ha- 
gen. Price understood to be $50,000. 

Martinus Poulsen givirig all prin- 
cipals of the London ' Casino show 
champagne to celebrate the first, an- 
niversary of the Cliff Fischer policy. 

Herman Hyde and Sally Burrill 
were due > to broadcast, but were 
canceled at the last niinute because 
their labor permit specifies cabaret 
Work only. 



Berlin 



. Michael Bohnen as Kezel in 'Bar- 
tered Bride.' • 

Beethoven prize to JoSef 

Reiter, composer. 

Alois Melchar 'to Wurttemberg for 
proloriged batoning. 
. . Jiishriy and his ' lue Bird' cele- 
brating 5,555th anniveirsary. , 

Friedrich Ulmer as Faust in 
Frankfort for Goethe festival. 

Hungarian symph off to C^ologne 
after a royal reception in the capi- 
tal, 

Wbrld premiere of Wolf -Ferrari's 
'Die Vier Grobiane' at the State 
opera. . 

Giria Falckenberg, liicture actress, 
has a novel published hiimed 'The 
Unending . Adventure.' 

Hans . : Brausewetter signed for 
Dodie Smith's comedy, 'Gall It a 
Day' at the DeUtsches theatre. 

Lina.. Carsteris, vacatioriing frorii 
the Leipzigei: Schauspielhaus, to do 
a guest en!?agement at the Vblks-. 
buehne in Berlin. .: . . 

Dr; Engen Lanske bf the Viennese 
Ministry to hold forth on.; German- 
Austr i an . Pic co-operation at the 
Reich's theatre chamber; • 



0 



after 



. Mrs. Jack Miller : 
serious illne^is. 

Ed<Tar Bergen through town on his 
way tb the Coast. ; 
. Fritz Blocki checked t, 
Lukes hbsD. for a rest, 

Aaron J. Jories, Sr., back at his 
desk after California sojourn. . 

Ned Miller has ;spotted new Feist 
offices in the Woods buildirijg. 

Herb Elisburg dreW a bon voyage 
party frbm CAPA before sailing for 
Swedeni 

Jack Fine . planning a trip to 
Europe this summer to hunt , up some 
novelty talent. 

, Ethel Merman to the . Coast and 
pictures following 'Red; Hot and 
Bill ' folding here, 

Sam Schoeristadt has gone for one 
of those armor-plated, barn-door 
cigarette containers. 

Kati Cuff handling special pub- 
licity for" Jack Fulton and Carlton 
Kelsey o« the Wriijley show. 



Paris 



Paul Lukas in town, 
J. J. Shubert in town. 
Olive May at Ghei? Florence, 
Camille Wyn back from U.S. 
Dora Del Monte at the A.B G. 
Cobkie Faye at the Grarid Jeu. 
A, VL Turnbell in from America. 
Harold Smith back- from Austri > 
Duvalles making his cabaret debut. 
La Rampe, theatrical mag, revived. 
Billy Sparrow at the Shehe'razade. 
Five new riighteries set for bpen- 
'iri.?.;' 

: Mansfield arid t>amar at the Bag- 
dad..::- 

. David Sriiart in and out on same 
boat, . '. 

■ Raqiiel Meller si ib- 
Cite, 

Irvi Marks from New 

York. 

Lillian Ellis dancing at the Sceher- 
azade. . * 

Brailbwsky cbncertirig at the Salle 
Pleyel. 

Ga:la de la CoiiTure held at the 
Ba>»dPd. 

Clifford C. Fiischer in and back: to 
Lbridon. 

Leon. Abbey .frorii 
Bombay. 

. Revue de I'Annee the 
Trianon. 

Henri back from a short 

.vaciation'.. 

ViSa charges; to be reduced d.uririg 
the expoi ' 

Gwen' ing ftotn 

Budapest: 

. . Belle Di. to 
Rbiunariia[. . .. , \ 

Helena Greasley pbs^carding from 
Manchester. 

Gaudsmith Bros, on the ciirrent 
A.B. Chill. 

' Two Paderewski recitals announded 
for mid-Juhe. 

v Sprin.* weather in— rthe ter- 
races .crowded, 

Albert PoWell at the 

CrlqUe Mcdrano.. . 

Olive May getti ' 
permit renewed.: 

' Tr-ials held for ejcpo firewbyks arid 
lightirig displays. 

. Balletjs Russes Monte-Carlb 
back from America, 

Ciecile Sorel scheduled to star on 
the next Embire bill.. 

Mitty Goldin celebrating the third- 
anniversary of his A. B. C... 

Desha doubling at the- de 
Paris and the Bal Tabari 
. Mabel Manriing recbvering frorii 
an appendicitis operation. : ' 
• Jacques de Baroncelli arid Victor 
Franchen : off for Toulouse. 

Les Whelan busy brganizing the 
20th-Foix £urorieari coriventibn. 

L'Oeil de. Paris, hew neighborhood 
cinema, showirig' foUr filrhis for 15c. 

'Altitude 3,200' reaching 100th per- 
formance at the Theatre de I'Etoile. 

' Jim Witteried made a rriember of 
Harry Latz' International Flute Club. 

Henri Varna arid Helena Greasley 
setting a. new revue for. the Alcazar. 

Lois arid Jeanne Sterrier drinking^ 
Coca-Cola i a Montmairtre restau- 
rant. 

Robert- Arnoux engaged for an im- 
DOftant role in 'Mademoiselle, Ma 
Mere.' 

Alhariibra shuttered; reopeninjg 
sboFL' with operetta 'La Belle Tra- 
: verse..', 

Joe • Jackson racing a niotorcycle 
around Paris wearing a derby hat 
and overcoat. 

. Serge Lifar giving a series ot 
dances at the Salle .Pleyel in honor 
of Pouchkine. 

Mireille Fabre, daughter , of the 
Comedie-Francaise admin i stratbr, 
marjrying Leon Sales. 

Doris Niels and Serge looking over 
booking offers . after their successful 
recital, at the Salle Pleyel. 
; G; W. Pabst giving a luncheon to 
celebvnte the success bf 'Mademoi- 
selle Docteur.' starring Dito Parlo; 

Charnin, Vivianne Romance arid 
Larquey signed to rriake 'The Club 
des Aristbcrates' for Pierre Colom- 
bief. 



Sydney 



By Eric 



Frank Neil to London soon, 
Harry Hunter atrives next • week 
for Par. 

Sam $nider N.ew Zcalarid for 
the Marcus' opening. 

parice halls readying for the cold 
.season and exbect a good harvest. 

Williamson-Tait Will revive 'Maid 
of the Mountains' in Sydney next 
week, 

Arthur Ford is giving a series of 
lectures in Melbburrie. on psychic re^ 
-search. 

Shirley :T(?mple;s 'Stowaway' will 
be released here in. May during the 
schools* vacation .period4 

Cinesbund pji-eparing to. lay 'Lovers 
and Luggers' on the floor. 'Tall 
Timber' is in the cutting room. 

Ken Asprey, Stuart Doyle's per- 
sonal attorney, is expected back here 
next week after a biz visit abrbadi 

Sir Ben Fuller, figures that his hew 
theatre. Crystal Palace, Sydriey, will 
be. cbmoleted b.v July, Pic. policy 
will be tried first iat pop prices, 

Johnny Glass and Frarik Grahame 
will be kept pretty busy from now 
oh takinri' care of Hoyt's duHhg 
Cbnrles Muriro's absence abroad. 

FollOjvirtg a Short Gilbei't-SUllivan 
.•'?.''.<?ori in Melbou.'-nc. Williamson- 
TpU V/ill revive 'Lilac Time' for an- 
other run try. 

Walter Hngen and .Joe "Kirkwood 
are playing exhibition matches in 



Victoria after a run around the New 
'South Wales golf '^pots,. 

Giebrge Applegate, W. is kept 
on the move these days setting Mir- 
rbphonic apparatus irito the ace the- 
atre;s arouhd Australi . 

Managerial lads are turning ofi 
their icing plarits in theatres arid put-, 
ting on the heat/ now that the first 
cold spell has hit Sydney. 

Ciriesound's .'It fcn't* Done' swihgs 
into the fifth week in Sydney With- 
.oUt benefit of quota. Pic also got 
away tb a grand start in Melbourne. 

ito Schipa begins: his yALUstralian 
tour in Melbournie on June 19 for 
Williamson-Tait.' ' Moiseiwitsch opens 
under the same managemeht early 
in June^ 

Big; fight arena in Sydney . will re- 
open next week after several months' 
closure. Managerinent hope tb build 
the gahie up this wiriter and will im- 
port some boxers. 

'White Horse InnV plays, the NeW 
Sbuth Wales sticks this month after 
a run around Victoria, includirig a 
repeat in Melbourhe. Sticks run will 
be under canvas. 

Biaseball season will be .gotteri un- 
der, way in two weeks' time in Syd- 
ney and Melbourne. It's a winter 
sport' ovei* here and: has a pretty big 
grip, no w in the sriialiwl; centers. 

Clarrie Gange's' Americans open 
thi^ week at . the Palais de Dance, St. 
Kilda, Melbourne, for a shoirt sea- 
son. Gauge is in as guest conductor, 
by arrangement with. the. Musicians' 
Union. 



Melbourne 



stage, presentations slowly coming 
back into theatres.. 

Trocadero, Sydney, got away to a 
grand start With dancing. 

Orrie Perry brought in. a corking 
stage shbw at the State; Sydney, in 
conjunction With Warnier^s 'Charge,' 

Stuart Doyle Sore about the British 
censor, .niking 'Orphari of the Wil- 
derness,' local pic. Will be remade 
here. 

Wirth's Circus came to Sydney and 
opened: very strongly iaifter a year on 
the road. Will stay around four 
weeks.' 

Percy Hunter is in charge Of - the' 
Motibn Picture Distribs' AssnJ dur- 
ing the abserice. abroad of Sii:- Victor 
Wilson; ., 

In Melbourrie Williamson-Tait will 
revive 'Lilac Time' and 'Merry •Eng- 
land' after a shbrt ruri of Gilbert- 
SuUivani 

Dorothy Flukes has beeri ap- 
pointed in charge of publicity . for 
Warners in Australia.. Forrherly sec-f 
retary to Ralph Clark. 

Hoyt's will bring • Col's 'Rahgle 
River' into the Plaza, Melbourne; for 
a run try. Cinesound's 'It Isn't Dbne' 
will also be given a try -there. 

Williamson-Tait will, bring back 
the Gilbert-Sullivan, troupe for a 
Melbourne season; Troupe hais been 
playing Australia and New Zealand 
since 1935. 

Frank Neil will probablyi extend 
his vaude-revue unit tb Brisbane 
within the next few weeks/ Already 
he plays two-a-day in Sydney arid 
Melbourne. 

Expected that . Prime Minister 
Lyons will hold a few huddle's with 
British producers during his visit to 
England on protection of British pix 
in this field. 

Acts playing in Sydriey include 
Barry Breen & Wyler, Raynor Lehr, 
Sereho & June/ Jed boOley, Healy & 
Mack. Riibe Damerest, Del Orel and 
Joe Lewis; Trade is splendid. 



By Hal Cohen 



The joe Feldmans to N, Y: fbr a 
few days with relatives. 

Irene Lee back on Coast again in 
story departmerit at Warners. 

L. B. Gobi at Bedford; Springs, con- 
valescing frOm recerit operatibn. 

George Deghori, old legit agent, in 
ahead of Hagenheck- Wallace circus. 

Kay Ward and Jbe O'Toole are go^ 
ing to tell it to a preacher iri June. 

Jules Lapidus takirig the friaU 
along to the Coast for GN's converi- 
ti.bn. 

C. A. ietrich; "an operatoi" at the 
Stanley, copped Variety Club's $500 
raffle. 

. The Art Levys are calling the new. 
arrival Jules Abraham, after their 
fathers. 

Ted Blake arid his band have 
switched frorii Hitz hotel here tb St 
Mbritz. 

Hal Kemp's ork-peneilled in for 
Carnegie Tech's spring carhivail nejt 
week-end. , . 

Helen Donnelly, Pittsburgh Play- 
house p. a.> dbing publicity for Sym- 
phohy' cariipaign. ' . 

O. J. Keller, general manager 
Post-^Gazette, and Mrs. sail bn Queen 
Mary for Coronation. 

There's an amateur playwright 
aroUrid nariied George S. Kaufmarin! 
Spells it with two n's. 

Film Row tossed testimonial' din- 
ner to A, W. McCbrmick, resigned 
20th-Fox office manager. 

Former State Seriator Frarik Har- 
ris;, of the amusement company, up 
for GOP chairman here. 

Flood scare here last week; had all 
bf the downtown managers taking 
hotel robms to be bri the spot In case. 



Hcillywood 



Gene Austui shed 43 pbunds. 
Juanitft Quigley lost a tooth. 
Lou Helper in from Cleveland, 
Grady Sutton in from Florida. 
Hugh Herbert convalescing from 
bp. . 

May Robson had 150 at birthday 
party. 

Polly Moran to Denver, for per- 
sonal. 

Sidney King Russell, poet, 
bound. 

Willy Pbgahy art-directi 
.Lesser."'. 

Eleanore Whitney p.a.'i 
the east. 

B. P. Sichulberg underwent major 
operaiion. 

/William Pine checked but of Queen 
of Angels.; 

Bes Piazza hack from 
Broauway. 

Magician-cbniic Fired Keati 
ing chickens. 

Guy Kibbee back from 
fishirig. jaunt. 

Lbla.Jjane. In. Good Samaritan With 
throat ailiriepi 
. Judith. Alien moving i 
from Van Niiys. 

Fifi D'Orsay left 
through the west 

' Frank Forest and Lester Hodge in 
from concert tbur. 

Rob Wagners.- showi 
Hanrahans arOund. 

Frank Whitbeck snared 
sunburn in Pacific. 

Al Jblsbn and Fred Wari 
ing Softball teams. 
. Fay Bairiter moved to her Santa 
Monica beach home. 

Mary Garden gbi 
warblers for Metro. 

Mayor: Frank Shaw broke bread 
at Par cbmmissary. 
. Doris Warher LeRoy recuperating 
from appendectomy. 

George Jean Nathan and Richard 
Watts, Jr., planed iri. . 

.Herman Rbbbins arid George Dem- 
hbw trained for N. Y. . 

Mark Sandrich plariirig for 
to boat it for London. 

Jack Gross conferring with Cll 
Work in. Sari Francisco, 

Shirley Temple" vacationi 
parents at Palni Springs. 

David Lippindbtt, N. Y. publisher, 
here to sniff for writers, 

Mary Sheppard and; 
Wheeden . reported at Pan . 

Nelson Eddy! returning May 8. to 
Metrb after warbling tour.; 
. Jbe Stout,: GN salesman, 
silver; weddirig anniversary; 
; Maurie Suess, ex-riewspaperman, 
joined Bob Brandies agency; 

William Slayens McNutt reporting 
on his neW Radio pact June . 1. 

The Wallace Beerys trailered to 
High Sierra fbr a week's fishing. 

Wyn Gaboon, Broadway actress, 
arrived tb start Columbia termer; 

Carl Laenimle, Jr., celebrated hi 
29th birthday on a rattler to N. Y. 

Sylvia Sidney had 18 stitches to. 
repair damages in beauty, shop falL 

Chick Ybrk paused fbr gander at 
his Texas oil wells on trip from 
N. y; 

Edward Selzer trained to N. ■ 
to aid Charles Einfeld on Warner 
convehtion; 

Sir . Stanley Critk, 20th-Fox 
Australian distrib; in fof company 
convention. . ■ 

Hai-vey Gates arid Malcolm Stuart 
Boylan^ writing team, collabed bn .a 
power cruiser buy; 

Rufus LeMaire planed in from 
New York and London after biz chat 
with Gfeorge Arliss- 

Lionel Barryriiore celebrated '59th 
birthday, 54th year as an actor and 
27th year in pictures. 

John Hay Whitney planed in from 
New York for protracted huddles 
with David O; Selznick. 

Grand National Tex Bitter, troupe 
showed iri and frozen out in moiin- 
tains near Palm Springs. 

Mary Orr, late of Brbadway; filrii- 
debuting in Benny Zeidmans 
'Sweethearts of the Navy.' 

Diana Gibson; petitioned court to 
rise screen hariie ibir her own: instead 
of real tag, Rosemary La Bie, 

Hal Roach will throw a '49er 
binge and barbecue for Metro sales 
execs at his raribho hear Culver City. 

R; W. Haywood, biz agerit f or pro- 
jectionists, in Queen of Angels wit" 
fractured ip frbm toller skating, 
fall. . ^ 

W. P. Lipscoriib Stbckihg his '^San 
Fernando valley fancho ^vith fruit 
trees transplanted from his native 
Britai 



New Haven 

By Harold M. Bone 



• Mrs, Martin Johnson 
hert JUrie 4-5. 
'Great Waltz' a four'P'Srforriiance 

sellout at Shubert ... 
' Jbe Lavenduski bn month's holi 
frbri: College staff. 

Ben Cohen's new play gets an aid- 
ing here May 18-19. r 

Yale Dramat pencils 'What Piite 
Glory' for annuial Spring production. 

Ben Parker to Baltimore for fin- 
ishing touches on film he's directm 
there. 

Lew Schaefer "bri 
Wood Hotel Revue' 
May 13; 

Charles Mbriroe again business 
mgr. Conn. Players ait Milford open- 
ing. June 28. 

Gus Myers opened Maj** 1 'wun 
new orch at Woodland Lake Tavern 
in. Ardsley, N. Y. 



^ednesdayi May 5, 1937> 



OUTDOORS^ 



VARmTY 



«1 



Glass Dame Only Qeve. Nudity; 
Powers Crack Down on SMpsters 



Gleveiahd, May 4^ 
Mike Speciale's French Casino, the 
nude^t and most; expensive item in 
last year's Great Lakes Exposition 
here, is beln^ transformed into a 

. jPioneer Palace illy Rose for 

this season's edition getting under 
way Wt^y 29 lor a 100-day run. 
flatterned after siniilar spot 

: In t6tX Worth Centenni , Rose has 
signed Tom Patricbla as its m.c. and 
dancing' topliner. Majority of Texas 
company id be brought lip hlere, in- 
cludirig chorus bf ' beef -trusters, bell- 
ringers, glass-and-flame blowers In 
addition to buhch of other old- 
tlmie vaiide acts. 

' With Tony Sarg-s puppets taking 
over the old Globe theatre, new fair 
concessionaires are finding a iscarcity 
of footlighted auditoriums. Another 
one will be built for West Coast 
troupe's revival of The Drunkard' 
lor a 1,500-seat capacity, leaded by. 
Ifergraves & Reicher. Aijnusement 
ride tagged Rigolarium is a second 

. one 61 their enterprises on Midway. 
Neither Speciale nor Theodore 
BteWitt w'ilL be' represented in th*^ 

,;expo's second year show on lake- 
front. Speciale claims he lost money 
last season oii casino, due to cold 
weather and lawsuit by New York 
French Casino for plagiarism, al- 
though his 'Folies. de Nu.it' made 
money afterwards on five-month 
road tour. DeWitt, hotel manager 
of Hollenden, has given up is op- 
tion on floatinig Showboat and Ad- 
mirality Club for same reason. Her- 
mih Pirchner angling for it as a 
huge Alpine beer garden, but fight- 
ing for lower terms. His lakefront 
Alpine Village was. one of last sea- 
son's best money-makers. 

Odd Hot Number. 
Ice-skating spectacle called 'Win- 
terland' is .expected to be this y'fear's 
top novelty, ranking with Rose's 
'Aquacade.' Construction costs esti- 
mated to be about $100,000 by Harry 
P. Harrison and . lisaac -Van Grove 
who .are backing . it. Walter Arian 
-here to direct skitihjg biallet. Arti- 
ficial ice rink is going into building 
formerly Used, by Ed Hunger! ord lor 
Tageant of Years,' with a grand- 
stahd of 2,500 capacity. 
. Bert Todd, once manager, of Co 
lumbia burly hoyse, working on : ad- 
vance' ticket sales. Taking place of 
Hungerford's pageant as the the 
matic spectacle o' new edition is 
'Making of a Nation' in underground 
exhibition hall. Featured exhibit is 
35-f<)ot working model of an oil re 
finery sponsored by Standard Oil of 
Ohio. 

John. T.' Branson buying space for 
Marine Show with deep-sea divers 
and j^lligatbrs; R. .J. ' Zourayv for 
' 'Bouquet of Life,' ♦Wdnderlahd' and 
, a poriy-monkey stand; W. K. Alberty, 
a pig-slide. Due to official, taboo on 
bafe-fi.esh, the only ali-niide attrac 
.tion will be the^ 'Camp Transparent 
Woman;' ishown by Dr. Lester 
'Rylor. 

Staff 'of 12 professional speak 
ers now doing a tour through Great 
Lakes region baUyhboing Clieve- 
land's centennial. John H. GoUrley 
again, put in charge of 'Streets of 
World- ' ich is being partially re 
built. 



for Parks 

Denver, May 4. 

^ Total of $135,000 has been spent in 
miprbving and modernizing Denver's 

. two amusement parks. Elitch's Gaf- 
deas, opening on Biay 15, put $75,000 
in on a new junior roller coaster, re- 
decbration of ; ballroom; arid Other 
improvements. Under a. new policy 
Elitch's will this season operate all 

. qpncessipnsi instead of farming them 

.;out as in the past. 

Qperiirig May 22, Lakeside Aitiuse- 
.»nent| park spent' $60,000. : on. rideS; 
Wildings, arid, the park proper. 

Johnny on the Spot 

Washington, May 4, 
San Francisco Exposition .has re^ 
tained .local pulDlicist to aid Cali 
fornia members Corigress in 
wangling $3,000,000 appropriation out 
of the governmerit to help finance 
next year's fair. 

Lee Cutler, Expo prez, has desig 
nated Parties Crane, former news- 
paper corresporident, as. local rep of 
the Golden Gate organization. Crane 
been handling political details 
for the Texas Centennial. 



RingUng Cleanup 

At the conclusion of the 
Riiiglings, Barrium and Bailey 
enjgagement at Madison Square 
Garden last Saturday (1) it wais 
stated that the circus played to 
the . biggest gross for iany com- 
parable length of date sirice 
1922, Plans call for next sea- 
son's Garden date to be fbui: 
Sweeks. This season top 
played -24 days, less ohe . hiati^ 
nee, the premiere having been 
at ight instead of the usual 
matinee ' start. Estimated that 
total takings topped $600,000. 

Final week'^.busiriess was e^i:- 
ceptionally strong;. 



Radio at the Circus 



Columbus, May 4. 
WHKC moved in on the Hagen- 
beck- Wallace Circus Monday (3) for 
a complete description . of the day's 
events. Picked up Unloading arid 
setting up via short-wave traris- 
mitter^ described street - parade at 
nooa anid then aired afternoori per- 
f orrtiahce f rbm Big Top. : 
. Plan to. repeat on Cole .Brbs.-Ciyde 
Beatty show May,.19. 



CAL inilONS FOR 
FRISCO, L A. EXPOS 



Sacramento, May ,4. 
Bills appropriating ' $5,0b0.000 lor 
he iSan Francisco Exposition, and 
$1,500,000' for the Los Angeles Ex- 
position Were, approved (28) by the 
ways and means comriiittee of the 
assembly, . 
San Francisco affair antedates 
Av 



Mix Rained Out 

Mansfield, O., May . 
The 'Toiii Mix circus missed its 
first stand of the season; here April 
27 because of the sfoft cpnditiori. of 
the only show lot. 



BIDE GOES WRONG 

St. Louis, May 4. 

Collapse of the 'Kitty Ri ' a re- 
volving swiri'g at carny opercited by 
Harold Barlow on lots iri southwest 
St. Louis last week caused Injury, to 
three persons and arrest of Barlow 
and John Forshee, ticket seller, oh 
charge' of careless operation of a 
ples^ure device. 



Metro 's 44-52 



(Continued from page 5) 



with the northern and northwest 
delegates pulling in earlier, mostly 
traveling from Sari Francisco. 

Ifhas been .10 years since Metro 
held a sales confab here. 

Eastern delegation was met at San 
Bei-nardinb, (jal., 65 .miles from here, 
by studio feriimes distributing fruits 
and flowers. Party isembarked at 
Pasadena, where group was met by 
Louis B. Mayer,, studio chief, and his 
associates and motored to the Am 
bassador, where all business sessions 
are being held. 

Open with Sabbath Session 
Conventioneers held twO riieetings 
Sunday afternoon, one coriiprlsed 
district and branch managers, the 
other office managers and bookers. 
First general session convened Mon 
day morning, W..F. Rodger s, general 
sales inanager, presiding. 
'. At close of session party was 
driven to the Metro studios at Cul 
ver City , for, luncheon and a tour of 
the plant. -Routine sessions are be 
ing held today 'CTues:)' and tomor- 
rowi with Thursday set fOr: enter 
tainrtent and a windup dinner at the 
studio. 

Other nights are being given over 
to previews of new; pictures and. a 
barbecue and rodeo tossed by Hal 
Roach set for-, 'Thursday high t. Visit 
irig firemen start home Friday, an 
otheir .special trai conveying the 
delegates to Chicago, Ne.w Yoi:k and 
way points. 



Cole-Beat^ Junq^s HtW 
On Pittsburgh Booking, 
But Comes in Later 



Pittsburi^i, May . 
Heated rivalry between Cole 
Brbthers-Beatty and Hagenbeck 
Wallace shows this season cropipied 
up here last week when one outfit 
juriiped the gun on', the other in 
Pittsburgh bookings. Cole circus 
rejpresentatives slipped; in quietly 
and snatched up May 21-i22 with 
niuch ado made about its being the 
first big top to reach town this sea- 
son.- 

Few^ days later* H-W came but 
with, announcehient that they lyere 
comi in for three-day engagenient 
beginning May 8, Show wiU play 
North Side grounds that day, lay off 
oyer Sunday, and rebper) .East 
Liberty site May . 10-11. 

Although eastern, routes for these 
two shows have bebri carefully- 
guarded; there was ho hint that H-W 
would be around before Cole-Beaitty 
until latter had the town plastered. 
Undbrstood C-B outfit is plenty 
burned at: the maneuver.' 



American Participation in Pans 
World Fair Late, But Plans Set 



Real Tarzan 



Johaiiriesbufg, April .3.' 

Local shbwnien hbw have on 
exhibit a native boy from Cape 
Colony who is unable to walk 
Upright but progresses On hands 
and feet. Played ^ with baboons 
when an infant and not only . 
; apes their walk but is said to 
understand the simian, chatter. 

Boy will be taken to England 
if permit, can obtained 
from the authoriti -and niay 
later go to America. 



Paris, 

American participation in the 
ternatiorial;Expbsition is . going to be 
like everything else connected with 
the big show— late. 

With the steel work .not yet com- 
pleted . for the the 
Ariterican buildi 



to receive; 
month after' 



. leps.t a 
is ofiPicjaHy 



FINNEY REORGANIZES 
H-W ADVANCE FORCES 



RKO, Which holds its sales meet jn 
Lbs Angelesi starting June 16, plans 
the same number, of features as this 
year, 54, .while Warner rps. will 
schedule 60 at its cpnveritiOni in New 
York beginning Monday (10); WB 
plans the same number of shorts as. 
this year, 134. 

Neither 20th-FpX npr Columbia has 
announced the number '37-3S 
schedule, 

Ned E. Depinet. A, . Schubart 
and S. Barrett McCormick, of the 
RKO home office, .left Sunday ,(2) 
by trai, . for Hollywood to discuss 
sales convention plans, 

WB is bririging in all salesmen, 
plus district and. branch managers, 
around 250, to the convention. Last 
year the company held regionals. 
Gradwell L. Sears will preside. 



Hamid-Mortbn Circus 

New Haven, May 1. 
Combination Of better times and a 
rep for heavy value, established at 
its initial stand here a year ago, 
worked up a gross of two and a half 
times • last year's figure for>. the 
Hamid-Mbrton indoor circus playing 
a week at the Areniii uhdet Knights 
of Columbus auspices. Show drew 
nicely despite heaviest competition 
on local entertainment calendar in 
Weeks. On a scale of 25-40 cents, 
with 25-50 extra for reserved sec- 
tion, show aind sponsor split approx- 
imately $2,500 each, as against $1,000 
each a. year ago- 

Show itself,, a speedy combo with 
acts, booked by George Hamid, is a 
cleverly routined affair that spreads 
a comparatively sriiall troupe over 
two and a half hours, of diversion 
by sonie judicious doubling of tal- 
ent: Twenty-two displays ori the 
program, with practically every type 
of circus act represented. For com- 
edy, there's Randow Co.,, clown box- 
ing; Hart Midgets; collapsible auto; 
football-kicking mules; Aunt Jemima 
Co. in comedy . acros.; Will Morris 
and ' Bobby bike act. Novelty acts 
include Laddie Lamont. juggling and 
free, balancing ladder; Hip Raymond, 
rocking tables; Osaki and Taki, ori- 
ental , perch. Ahiriial acts: Mme^ 
Marie's dogs and ponies; Hoagland 
high school' and juriiping horses; 
Capt. Rudy*s coriibo bf elephant 
(Jumbo), camel, pony , and dog act; 
Roberta's ponies, dogs and monkeys. 
Aerial turns include Cahill cloud 
swing and trap, featuring a one-leg 
catch; Uliaine Malloy, rings, iron Jaw 
and trap; Mickey King, endurance 
gymniast; Winifred , ColleanO, trap, 
featuring a heel catch and a somer- 
sault from, tirap, to finishing rope. 
Specialties rating solo spots are the 
Wallendas. high wire act; Will Arley 
high perch duo, > featuring boy .and 
girl doing free headstands on 60-foot 
poles; Honey Family, , teeterboard 
troupe; the Kimris, novblty airplane 
aero turn. Belchet, huriian cannon 
ball, seriously injured during, show's 
Buffalo stand,, returns' to Outfit for 
Montreal engagenient following here, 
as also the Otarisv out temporarily 
for Hagenbeck- Wallace Chicago run; 

Concert, at 5-10 extra, is a hypnotic 
specialty by Robert; Pauline, using 
(Miss) Lee Shubert- as subject. Act 
consists of girl bei hypnotized, 
suspended betweeri twb chairs and a 
block of , granite .placed On her chest. 
Member of audience then strike.s 
granite ith sledge hammer, . girl 
emerges unhafmed.. Grirl. also does 
a stiraitjacket escape while suspended 
in air.' 

Bpb . Morton handles arinouncing, 
as well as managerial end, of. show; 
Al Hamilton and Doc Stahlef in adr 
vance; Herman Blumenfeld. New 
York office manager; Omer Kcnyoh, 
Philly manager;' Henry Robinson, 
Toronto manager; Joe Bas'ile, ' band 
conductor. . ' liovr. 



Canton, O,,- May 4; 
Reorganization of the advaiice of 
the new. . Hagehbeck-WnHace circus 
was effected here by C. NV. Finney, 
general agent, who halted advertis- 
ing car .No. l,. here fbr three days 
aAd recalled all advance executives: 
for new instructions. The advanbe 
up until here ., was short of .paper 
and several days behind, schedule. 
.. Car^ with ah augmented, billing 
force, left here Sifhday for West- 
ern Pennsylvania and from there it 
is expected to function without fur- 
ther delay. Arrangements have, been 
rnade .for a complete line of new 
paper which will be available al* 
most Immediately. . Stock paper and 
Some of last yiear's was being used. 

Arthur Diggs, has joined as brig^ 
ade manager and George H. pegnon 
as contracting press ' agent. With 
Barher Kern in charge of No. 1. 



Vaude for Can Fairs 

St. John, N.vB., May 4, 

Introducetl at the annual rnceting 
of the Maritiriie Exihibitions Asso- 
ciation, held recently at the Mari- 
time Winter Fair plant in Amherst, 
N. S.', was a ihotion that the associ 
ation sponsor a vaudeville circuit 
booking for this year's fairs. Claimed 
group booking would effect a saying 
Of at least $1,000 for each of the 
fairs. 1 

Discussion on is mbti was 
postponed until a special rpeeting 
which will be held soon at Moncton 

Association voted : to seek , protec- 
tion for fairs from the Performing 
Rights Society, which claims nomi 
nal: fees froni all. exhibitions for 
music Use. 

Arrangements on dates., resulted 
in the opening spot being given to 
Charlottetown, P. . I, Aug. 16-21. 
St. Stephen, N^ B„ is next, for five 
days, and then St John, N. B., Sep 
tember 4-11, Fredericton, N. B., 
Sept. 11-18; Halifax, Sept. 27.0ct; 2. 



bpehed. Jiist when that , is going to 

take plabe has hot yet bben offiy 
daily announced, but;, at a recent 
cabinet meeting the, date of May 17 
was talkedL.of and the possible, latest 
date rii^ntioncd was May 23, 

That means the Ainericah bUiiding 
will hot open its dbbrs before the 
middle of Jurie, or later. "When 
aSlcedi officials the Ariierican. 
Embassy .here' declined to name any 
definite date. 

iMuch of this can be blamed on 
Congress for the lateness Irt ..voting 
the necessary credits of $200,000.< 
Until February only $50,000 had 
been , given to the plariner's to ploy 
with. Labor troubles Iri this coun- 
try have, also played their part i 
delaying the .building, while the 
spring fiobds made it impossible for 
a time to drive the piles for the- 
fbUndation. . 

Five'»story building topped by .« 
120.-foot tower was designed by Paul 
L. Wiener and will be built by 
Hegeman and: Harris, Located on 
the Qiiai d'Orsay. it will have two 
entrances, one . from: the - street side 
and another from the river. 

Accordihg to the dope handed out 
here it will embody building masses, 
light and color in a three-fold move- 
ment. Most Of the exhibits will be 
curtailed to government projects, 
such as Boulder Dam, T, V, A., 
housing undertakings and rural, elec-.; 
trification exhibits.. 

.No amusements are planned and. 
no restaurants included in the plans. 
Even a typical American soda foun- 
tain will be missing. 



Show Skips Wheeling 



New Philadelpihia, 0„ May 4. 

Rather than become flbod-bouhd 
in the uppbr Ohio yalley; , the , Wal- 
lace. Bros, circus, mtotorized outfit 
blew. Wheeillng contracted .for. 
April 27, arid switched the route 
eastward, substituting tliis city ior 
the Tuesday date. 

Original route froni herb will bo 
adhered to, ais stands from now on, 
while in the greater Pittsburgh area, 
are mostly just outside the flood 
zone. 



Hiirt in Japan - 

Wa.shington, Ga., May 4, 
Mary Florence Meeker, 37, a native 
of this town and member of on 
American circus troupe: performing 
at the Pan-Pacific Peace Exposition 
in Nagoya, Japan, was seriously i - 
jured .when she missed her footing 
during an. acrobatic act and fell 60 
feet, according ' to advices received 
by n'elatives last week. 

Her left leg and two iri, were 
fractured. 



Circus Routes 



MVok ut Mii.v 10 
itiirn«>H-S«-llN I'lAto 

r'hrpo, Cal., 16; MaryHV.illp. 11; .Snciu- 
metiLo. 12; Reno, Nev.; 13; Altiun. ♦'al., 
H; Klnin.iUi Falls,. Oregon, 15; .\lonta 'ii, 
(■ill.. 16. ^ ... 
RliiKilNR ItniN.-Itiiriiii 

Brooliiyn, 



PEREY'S DANCE TRIGK 

Geauga take, May 4. 
; W. Perry, for thb past. 15 years 
ideritified ith th'e bperiti of 
ballrooms, at Akroii and Canton, hais 
leased for the bbming .summer sea- 
son, the dance payili at Geauga 
Lalce park here. 

He plans to open for week-en.d 
dancing May 8 arid will go :t>n . si - 
day operation May 2J). Will play 
name bands at. the :pa;vi. lion Satur- 
days, and Suridays arid occasibnally 
through the week. 



HOT SHOW 

Atlanta, May 4, 
Troupers ran for cover and 
straggling customers were shooed off 
the midway when lighlnirig put out 
Of comriiissiori one of the portable 
generators of Royal American Shows 
about 1:30 a.rii, last Thursday, Bolt 
caused flatneSj which were ex- 
tinguished before they coiild spread 
to wooden wagons nearby, 

Carny is playing .date here under 
sponsorship of American Leg) 



St. Loo,. Too 

Loui , May 4; 

Two women 'Orierital* dancers and 
three men connected with Dee 
Liang's 'Girl' in the Moon' carny show 
were fined a total of $1,500. the 
maximum, by Police Cburt Judge 
Edward M. Ruddy Thursday i29\ oh 
charges of presenting an indecent 
performance. In ilxlng penalty Judge 
said 'The whipping post is .missed 
when it comes to punishing offend- 
ers of this .sort. I. regret the ordi- 
riance does riot; proyidbj a workhou.se 
senterice.' 

Judge Ruddy was unconvi 
assertion . daricer.s, Mrs. . Peggy 
Schuettc Mrs, Man itchie; 
tiiat dance was a work, of art. 
though . clothed oniy 

sandals. made pinch 

serted he pai . to see worrieh 
two dif?er,eht exhi ijkibi^s, their, gyra- 
tioris beirig . likened to a bowl of 
gelatin. Besides the women those 
fined were Lang, Rayhibn^ Bixlcr, 
operator of • daricing concession and 
Heriry -Meiet/tiekct taker, perend- 
ants appealed to Court ,al 
CJorrectiori; 



tough; ON lOCALS 

IrtdianapQlis, Iviay, 4. 

Attendance at the Roller Derby i 
the Coliseurii :on the Indiana: Stale 
Fair grounds is so good that Leo M. 
Seltzer, promoter, is thinkirig of 
holding bver for a few days- Derby 
is supposed tb cover distance be- 
tween. New Vork and San Franqi.sco, 
but with careful timing piace can be 
slowed down to justify hoiciover. 

Newspapers have devoted plenty' 
of art and reader space to Derby 
much to burn of theatre m.an«gers. 



62 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 5, 1937 



OBITUARIES 



DANIEL L. WEAVER 

Daniel L, Weaver, 66, who as reip- 
resentatlve o£ Klaw, & Erlanger 
brought grieat actors, and artists to 
lie, died April 25 at Spokane 
from septic poisoning.. He was so 
adept at handling temperamental 
stars that he was sent to. Paris by 
Erlanger to bring Galve, the great 
French opera star, io this country 
and. cpnd.uct her tour. 

Weaver, in cbninection with John 
ConsLdine, obtained the first rights 
on the basic patents of the original 
talking pictures from Dr. Kitsie, the 
inventor, and spent several years in 
Kcw York ipromotirig them, but had 
ho success. 



SNitZ EDWARDS 

Edwarc^s, for more than 
half century oh . stagje ; and in. ic- 
tures, died May 1 ih Los Angeles, of; 
arthritis after long illness. Crema- 
tion followed service Monday (3). 

Deceased. I came to this country 
after years of stage work abroad 
7 landed in Frof man productions, gen- 
erally playing .German dialect. He 
went to: Holly wood in 191S arid did 
character and . co me<^ parts in : films 
until forced out by illness. Survived 
by his widow, Eleanor Edwards, who 
appeared with him ih many Coast 
plays, and three daughters, 



for operatic career, but retired from 
this stage on her marri 



J. WALTER GUETTER 

Walter Guetter, 42, first bassoon-' 
ist Tiyith, Philly 6rch for past 1,2 yeiars, 
died at his home ih Phiily Saturday 

He suryiyed by his wid6^y, 
former Isie VV. Goepel; daughter, 
Marie, and his parents. His father^ 
Juli is a well-knoiwn Philiy 
violin-maker. 



gustaV schuetzendorf 

Gustav Schuetzendorf, 53, foirmer 
baritone of the Metropolitan Opera 
and husband of Grete Stueckgold, 
died in Berli .April 27 of a heart 
attack. 

He \yas best known for is. per- 
formances in the; Wagnerian operas. 



GEORGE FREDERICK llEtiJESDELL 

George' redericfc Truesdell, 64, 
legit actor, iied. Monday (3) at' his 
home i New York. Under .the name 
of ' Frederick Truesdell he. piayed 
leading roles in many Broadway 
productions, including 'Tlie College 
Wido^w,' 'Our Betters' and 'East Is 
W^st.' Lasif rofe ih N. 'Y. was in. 
Shaw's The Apple Cart,* produced 
by the Theatre Guild in 1930,^ just 
before his retirement. 

His wife, Helerie Michellier Trues- 
dell, arid his mother, . Mrs., ranees 
P. Truesdell of Washington, 



PERCY HUNTING 

Hunting, (80) old-time 
actor, who went west many years 
aigo with John Drew, died last April 
29,- in Seattle, following, an aUto ac- 
cident. 

In recent years he; had beeh' emV 
ployed in county clerk's . off ice, but 
was retired with the Democratic 
landslide. For years he Vas. active 
ih Seattle helping put oh home. talent 
shows. 



FRED KETTLER 

red Kettler,.*78, lor many years 
an advance agent for circuses be- 
fore, the turn . of the cehtury, died 
April 22 at his home, Wooster, O. 

He . had been identified with many 
of the pioneer wagon shows and 
later with major rail circuses. 



JEAN THOMAS 

jean- Welsh,, known: in theatrical 
circles as Jean ThOmas, 'died April 
20 ait Easton, Pa.; after an illness of 
about two months. She was a na- 
tive of Philadelphia and made her 
home in Atlantic City. 

For a haimber of years she worked 
as vaude artist on different circuits 
and aiso as a night club entertainer. 
She went to Allentowh sik months 
iago io visit friehds and contracted 
a cold which developed, into :pneu- 
mOhi 



GEORGIE; WRIGHT 

Georgie Wright, 79; premiere dan- 
seuae in 1900, idow of George le 
Clerq, 'co'medi died April 20- -in 
Mitcham, Eng.> 

She appeared at "Toole's theatre, 
London, in 1894, in 'A Trip to China- 
town.' 



MARY BARTON HENDERSON 

Mrs. Mary Bartoh . Henderson, .6.5, 
mother of Robert Hendersoh and 
business manager of his theatrical 
activities in New York, Detroit and 
Ann Arbor, died April 26 in Ann 
Arbor. Until her death she Was 
business manager of the forthcom- 
ing eighth annual Ann Arbor dra- 
matic festival, which she .started 
eight years ago with her son. 

. Surviving are the ..husband, rof , 
William D. Henderson of . the U. of 
Michigan, and the son, Robert. 



WALTER M. SMITH 

Walter M. Smith, 46, trumpeter 
and bandmaster,' died ' in Quincy, 
Mass., May 1, follp^ying a long ill- 

T^as vice-piresident of the 
American- Bandnnasters' Assn. and 
had conducted three Bbston bands, 
including that, of Aleppo Temple, 
the largest Shrine band in the order. 
.He is survived by Hi idow, two 
^ons and a brother. 



Pasqual Fabris, , Viblihist with 
Raymond Paige's orchestra and a 
former niehiber .of the Detroit, 
.Philsldelphia and Los Angeles Phil- 
harmonic symphony orchestras, 
ended his life in Hollywood April 
•27 by inhaling monoxide gas. He 
left several fantastic notes indicating 
unbalanced mi 



CHARLES EDWIN FOX 

Charles EdWih Fox, 54, general 
counsel and member of board of 
' directors of Pennsylvania Bfoadcast- 
ing Company; 'operators of WIP, died 
at his h.om6 early yesterday (Mon- 
day) morning. 
He was former district attorney.; 



MAIDIE HOPE 

Maidie Hope, 58, former Gaiety 
girl, died ih London, April 20, fol- 
lowing a fall. 

She appeared in many George £d- 
Warde^ musical comedies and trained 



WAYMAN BOYLES 

Wayman Boyles, sports promoter 
and director of promotion and pub 
licity for Luck Teter's Hell rivers, 
died in Atlanta last week. Burial 
was in West View Cemetery here. 

His wife, two children, father and 
a brother survive. 



WILLIAM GILLETTE 

William Gillette, 81, died in Hart- 
ford, April 29, of a pulmoniary hem- 
orrhage. 

Details in the Legitimate 
merit. 



E. M. DOERNBECHER 

Er. M. Doernhecher, 54, president 
of Station KVI, Tacoma, died April 
27. 

He was ^ broadcast pioneer. 



Mother, , of S. F. Lindstrom, 
former Far Eastern mgr. of RKO^ 
died March 27 at St. Luke's Inter 
hat: Med. Center, Tokyo. Interment 
ih Foreign Cemetery at Aoyama. 



Father, 63, of Clyde Kittell, free 
lance announcer, formerly of NBC 
New. York, died recently ,on Lohg 
Island. 



Wife of Solomon Kprsak, theatre 
operating firm parther, died in Chi- 
cago, April 30. 



Wife of Frank Giece, operator of : 
Popeye , show with Ward Carnival;, 
died of heart diseaise at Pine Bluff, 
Ark., April 29. 



Ernest Jafssle^ ,^2bth^Fox studio 
policeman, ' ril 27 . in Los 

Angeles. 



Coronation 



(Continued from page 1) 



ago. Both occasions brought in tre- 
mendous crowds, but the theatres 
didn't get the breaks/ the peepers 
wantihg to go around and ogle 
things, rather than s|t aroiihd and 
watch shows. 

Bijt after that fir.<it week, or tWp 
weeks, there should be, plenty of 
spending, around. Americans and 
continentals are expected to, stick 
around only 10 days or two weeks. 

Most spots were figuring^ oh • 
couple or three months pt visiting. 

Cabarets figure, on boom from 
the .first minute. Rates herev, have 
been increased, too, in some, cases as 
much as 200%. but the claims on all 
sides^are for reservations to capacity. 

NcTnew productions are scheduled 



for the Coronation, although three 
are quite, a few on the tapis soon 
after. Those managements who have 
been lingering along, waiting for the 
El Dorado, are hdw full of anticipa- 
tion and there are aroynd 30 shows 
ready to cash in. 

Thpse thaf really matter are in, five 
categories, as follows:; 

picture Houses , 

Picture theatres in the West-End 
have a good fill of supers, which, 
can only be attributed to the Cor- 
onation, as generally during the 
summer the piroduct is very medi- 
ocre; To, cope with the occasion; 
four houses are showing English- 
mades, two of which are released by 
United Artists. - Of . the Americans, 
Metro heads the list jth three; 
Warners secOhd with two, with RKO 
and Columbia contributihg one each.. 
Nothing from the 20th Century -Fox 
company, which is a surprise. 
Here is the lineujp; 
Carlton, .'Mikytime' (M-G). 
Gaumoht, 'Prince and the Pauper' 
(WB). 

iEmpire, ' 
(M-G). 

London PaViliph, 'Mponli 
nata, (Lothar Mendes-UA). 

Leicester Square, 'History Is Miade 
at Night' (Wanger-UA). 

Marble Arch, 'Charge of the Light 
Brigade* (WB). . 
New Gallery, -Take My Tip'* (GB). 
Palace, 'GOod Earth' (M-G). 
plaza, 'Troop Shi ' (Korda-Pom- 
mer-UA). 
Regal, 'Shall We Dance' (RKO). 
Rialto, 'Street Si ' rit. Nat.- 
Asso. rit.). 
Tivoli, 'Lost Horizon' (Col). 

Revues: . 

'Home arid Beauty,' (Charles Coch- 
ran's), Adelphi, (15th week). 

'And Oh We .Go,' (Paul Murray's), 
Savoy, (4th week). 
.^Swing Is ih the Air,' (Jack Hyl- 
tbh), Palladium, (7th week). 

'Coronation Revue,' (Robitschek), 
Victoria. Palace, (2d week ). 

Musicals 

'Balalaika,' His Majesty's theatre, 
.(18th week). 

'Big Business,' Hippodi-ome, (13th 
week). , 

'Careless Rapture/ rury Lane, 
(33rd week). 

'On Your Toes,' (revival). Coli- 
seum, (9th week). 

'Swing Along,' Gaiety, (35th week). 

'Over She Goes,' Saville, (32rid 
week). 

Comed.ies 

'Anthony and Anna,' Whitehall, 
(2hd year). 

'Bats in the Belfry,' Ambassadorsi 
(10th week). . 

. 'French Without Tears,' riterion, 
(25th week). 

'Geox'ge and Margaret,' Wyridham's, 
(IQth week). 

'Housemaster,' (25 th 

week). 

'London After Apollo, (6th 

week)., 

'Wise Tomorrow,' (iQth 
week).- 

Mysteries 

'Amazing Clitterhouse,' Hay- 
market, (39th week). 

'Black Limelight,' (4th 
week). 

'Mile Away Murder,' Duchess, (5th 
week ). 

The Frog,' Princes, (2d year). 

Strip Shews 
Ahcrre Chariot's, Vaudeville the- 
atre. / 

Vivien Van Damm's, Wi 
atre. 

Niieries 

Cabarets,, yvhieh, like vaudeville 
houses here, could hot keep open 
yyithoiit fpreigh: talent, have given 
themselves a bigger spread than 
ever, figuring that an occasion like 
thjs, when Lphdori will ,l}e Jihe .most 
Cosmbpolitan city jri the World, the 
programs .should be more interna- 
tional than ever. Which is just the 
opposite view taken by. the. Variety 
Artistes' ' Federation, Who began a 
.flag-waying canmpaign, lasting for 
months, which when they came to 
grips with the so-called oppositions 
made them look even more foolish 
than ever, if that's possible. 

Here's the lineup; 

Berkeley Hotel: Walsh and Barker 
(American-Australi Rudi 
Grasl (Gei:nniari). 

Cafe de Paris 
(American). 

Carieon 
(English); 
(American)i 
Zealander). . 

Dorchester Hotel:. Revised Editibn 
of Henry Sherek's flpor show, with 
several American aCts. including 
Maurice 8c Cprdpba, and Moore & 
Revel. 

Gfpsveripr House: De Marcos 
(Americans), Paul Gerrits (Amer- 
icah). Gain Galli (Egyptian)- 

London Several Continen- 

tal acts, ree Americans get- 



News From the Dailies 

This deportmeht contains rewritten theatrical news items as pub- 
lished during ihie week in the daily papers of New York, Chicago^ 
San Francisco, Hollywood arid London. .Variety, tafc^s no credit for 
these neubs items; each, has been rewritten irom a daily paper. 



East 



ichitian 

Ronald Frankau 
and Clarkson 
Wakefield (New 



Philco Philadelphia plant scene of 
another strikp, with 8,500 men out. 
Not a sit-dowh. 

Work of razing the old Churchill 
reistauirant, B'way and 49th, begun 
Saturday. To be replaced by a film 
house. 

J. Byron Creamer; whose auto 
license described him as an actor^ 
leaped, from the George Washing-" 
ton bridge last Wednesday (28), 
breaking his back in the 200-foot 
drop; Believed the indirect result 
Of an auto accident ih Florida re- 
cently in which a woman compahipn 
was killed and he was' badly hurt. 
. Musicians' Emergehcy Fund re- 
pbrts 128 needy - musickers regularly 
on relief and about 2,(^0 more given 
a:n . Occasional helping hand. 

Troupe? 3 Club- to hold its annual 
election May 16; ■ ■ 

Sir Cedric Hardwicke spoke to the 
West Point cadets last Sunday (2) oh 
his stage and . >var experiences. He. 
was a British cavalry officer during 
the, big scrap. 

Sani Gumpertz the 'fall guy' at last 
week's . hieeitng of the N., Y. tent of 
Circus Saints and Sihners. Urged; 
support for the. Sarasota home for 
indigent circus people. 
; IthaCa (N.Y.) colliege music library . 
destroyed by fire last week. More 
than 2^000 orchestrations destroyed. 
. Jaihe Pickens quits . 'Ziegfeld Fol< 
lies' to resume radio work and study 
in the Juilliard school oh the side, 

Finals - in the Park: departmeht's 
opportunity contest forrnusical ama- 
teurs to be held in • Central Park" 
June 19. Second year. 

First wife of David Wark Grif- 
fith asks N.. Y.- supreme court, for 
permission to amend; her complaint 
in a suit to invalidate, his divorce 
from her. Now would have court 
declare her still to be the legal wife 
of the director. Decision reserved. 

Libby. ,Holmah tp .London for a 
one-hite date at Grosvenor House 
May 31. . 

Fihland the. first tP send a rep to 
look over the N. Y. World's Fair site.- 
Jaakko Kahma gave it the o.o. and. 
the o.k. Saturday. 

Times Sq. statue to Father Duffy, 
war : chaplain .of the old 69th un- 
veiled Sunday. . 

That project to try: out pliays on 
Sunday evenings put oyier until hext 
season by Show Shop. Can't get a 
director. But John Parrish an- 
nounces start of Author's theatre, 
which will try out novelties before 
managers, actors, backers and agent. 

First cycle train of the season went 
out last Sunday with 120 bikes. . 

Joe Bob, N. Y. auto racer, killed 
at Lahcaster, Pa., Sunday when he 
smashed into another car on;, the 
track. 

Memorial exhi it to the late Mrs. 
Charles Coburn in the N. Y. Public 
library through Sunday (9). 

Gpvernpr Lehman announced in a 
radio speech that the State Liquor 
Authority had brought in $126,094,000 
since Dec. 5, '33. 

Syracuse University refused to 
permit 'Spain in Flames' to be shown 
m its auditorium, though a rental had 
been made before facts were under^ 
stood. 

N. Y. Association of Teachers of 
English finds radio 'one of the great- 
est evils we have, to face In getting 
children to read.' Films, on the other 
hand; particularly the filmed classics, 
regarded as an aid. 

Helen Wallenda, of the big show's 
wire troupe,, fainted, while on . the 
wire closing night at. the garden. 
Entire troupe narrowly escaped 
death,' 

Theodore reiser telis N. Y. 
supreme "court, in answer to a 
question he is riot a 'recognized 
author;' rTestifying in a suit brought 
by Liveright Pub. Cprp for advancie 



ting illing; Cinda (ilenn, 

BriahtSi and Herman Hyde: & Sally, 
BtirrilL 

Mayfair. Hotel: & Tabet 

(French), Grip Quartet (French), 
Ffakspn (Spanish). 

Ritz Hotel: Hildegarde (American), 
Music Hall. Boys (American), Iride^ 
fatigable Chairlie ( rench). , 

Sari Marco: lorcnce Desmond' 
(English). 

Savoy Hotel: stelle Leroy 
(American), Arnaut Bros..- (Amer- 
ican), Jack Powell .(American); 
George & Jack IDprmonde (English). 

.Trocadero GriU: (Tharles CoChran's 
Supper Show, v/jth several American 
and Continental novelties. 

Troc Cabaret: This is a sole book- 
ing of Charles Tucker and playk 
straight vaudeville acts: Max Miller 
(English), Hildegarde (American); 
Hutch (.West Indies), Harry MoPre 
(English). 

Hildegarde is the only American 
doubling in two Cabarets during 
Coronation. 



royalties on a book he has not yet 
delivered, and for copies of other 
books oirdered by him. 

N> Y. Newspaper Women's 
made a party at 'Miss Quis'.Mori 
to honor Ward Mbrehpuse. . 

Cornelia Otis Skihner, in Londbii, 
gave three broadcasts for British 
Broadcasting Co* fbllpwing her thea- 
tre dates. Will go back, next year 
and posisbly tackle thcconti i. 



Coast 



Dpi-othy Sebastian was acquitted of 
defrauding; an inh keeper at Sari 
Diego. Sam Hoffman, co-defendant, 
failed to appear and forfeited $500 
bail. 

Superior Judge Westoyer annulled 
marriage of Margaret. iShelby Fill- 
more, sistet vf Mary Miles. Minter, 
to Emmett Flynn when Mrs. Nita 
Baker Flynn testified she is still, 
Flynn's wifev 

Mary Jacklyh Cudahy, actress and 
dahcer; won divorce- decree frpnt 
Michael J. Cudahy. ih L. A. on 
grpuhds of cruelty. 

Marie Marks; film kctress, . filed 
suit for. ahhulmeht' !Df her jriarriage 
to Cecil SiUman and $200,()0(> dam- 
ages charging he -wedded heir with- 
out divorcing, his first -wife. 

Mrs. Stan Laurel asked court to 
set aside her decree of diyPrce from 
comedian granted, last Dec. 24. 
They're reconciled. 
■ Amended ^divorce complaint .filed , 
in L. A. by Marion Anri Vernon 
('Stephanie') against Walter James 
'Wally' Vernon charges cruelty. She 
asks alimony and-custPdy of infant 
twin boys. 

. Hugh . Dansey Butler, film writer, 
and Jean Rouverol, actress, filed no- 
tice Pf intentiPn to wed. Ceremony 
set for May "7 in Beverly Hills. 

Bess Meredyth, leaving for Mexico, 
indicated reconciliation with her ex-^ 
husband. Director Michael Cuirtiz, 
may be ' effected. 

- Separatioh of Joan Bennett and. 
Gene Markey annouhced with actress 
admitting plan to suie for divorce aiid 
custody , of two- children. . 

Damage siiits totaling $12,450 were 
filed in Lbs Angeles by Blanche 
Stewart . and June Earle, actresses, 
against a liqUor outfit as result of , an 
automobile accident.' 

Mary Elizabeth Sterling, film 
player,, asked annulment in Lbs An-- 
geles of her miarriage in Yunia last 
Dec. 6 to Charles Sterlirig: 

Queen ie Smith, actress, won Reno 
divbrce frbm Robert Garland, New 
York screen reviewer, bh cruelty 
grounds. They werie married in 1931. 

Zeppo Marx , agency filed suit in 
Los Angeles for agency fees cliinted 
Uoxn parents of Olympe Bradna, 16- 
yiear-bld screeri actress. 

Mary Pickford Won affirmation of 
her $25,000 verdict against real estate 
firm in California District Court of 
Appeals. 

Greta Garbo v^as subpoenaed to 
appear in Los Ahgeles Superjor 
Court as defendant in suit filed by 
David Shratter, former Berlin film 
prbduCer, to recover $10,500. asserts 
edly advanced to her in 1924. 

MARRIAGES 

Mary Lombardb to Fred Oliver, 
April 26, . in Cleveland. . Groom is 
orch leader at the Statler hotel. 
Bride is an artists' model. 

Gladys Cooper to Philip Merivale, 
April 30, in Chicago,. Bbth legit 
stars now appearing in 'Close Quar- 
ters' at Selwyn in Chi. 

Jule Wallis to Wallace Klei Im 
Writer, Mey 2, in Los Angeles, ride 
is brother of Hal Wallis, , Warners 
studio exec. 

Margaret Schlinker to Al Posner, 
May .1, in. Lbs Angeles. Bride iS :a 
stage dancer. 

Evi Marti Dayl Hulton; 

church singer, Yuma, May 1. 
Bride is a mtusician. rpdm; is for- 
mer husband of Aimee Semple Mc- 
pherson. 

Lucille Thorpe to Elmer Fryer, 
May 1,' in Las Vegas, N. M- room 
heads stiil dept. at Warners. 

^BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Sherftian, 
iri Chicago, April 27. Father is y. 
and advertising manager of the'{Pt*p- 
sodent Co. 

Mr. and , Mrs. Kent Taylor, 
ter, April 27, in Hollywood, 
is.film actor. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Fawcett, soii, 
April 28, in Los Anfeeles. Father "' 
business manager of Fawcett Maga^ 
ziries West Coast office. 

Mr. and Mrs; Warren NewcbJnb, 
daughter, April 28, ait Santa Monfta- 
Father is in Metro process dept. 

Mr: and Mrs. Sam Ross, daughter, 
in Ne\y York, April 29. Father 
director of ilyertowa Cbi" 

orchestra. 



Jnesday^ May 5, 1937 



FORUM 



VARIETY^ 6S' 



[ 



Wall St.s-U. 4- 






(Cbtitinued irpm page 5) 

tained and from whom Is a qu6s- 

^*0f the pi-ejsent owniers oJE UA 
[Coldwyn, : Chapli , Fairbanks, 
i^jy Pickford and Alexander 
Kordal. the last-ihentipned acquired 
a" participating partnership 
der a ftver-year producing re- 
ieasing deal foUowing Joseph ,M, 
^enck's withdrawal from UA to go 
to^ 20th Century-Fox, Korda, with 
better- than three years to go undei: 
that contract, -will arrive in New 
York Tuesdiay (ID to discuss with 
UA the number of pictures he is to 
do the coming (1937-38) season. Re- 
ports that Korda might leave UA, 
^ith 20th-Fox mentioned as a re- 
leasing channel,, arid that S-I might 
get the. Klorda interest are incon- 
si^jtent^ view of this .agreiement UA 
has with London ' Films, Ltd. 

(Kbtda). . 

Of -' owners UA, .thr>ee 
founders of the company, Miss Pick* 
ford,^ Chaplain arid Fairbanks are Wot 
active. If is probTehiatical whether 
Fairbanks arid Miss Pickford vfill 
engage* in . ariy further .prod.uctiqn,, 
but none of these owners, in Vie w« pi 
the hsindspme profitis /realized eisch: 
yearibJP'UAi-is expected to be WilHhg 
to t«iPt '^th their ' Stock. Gold wyn 
certeM^' ■lw(jyi<in*t. ■•' ; , . , 

Jfliafis \raby.'fbr the. 1937.38 sea- 
jbn, Goldwyn,, S,-I and jCbr da would 
eiVhijlPrrijout eight' pictures at high 
. badgets. This . would -be an ihcf eaise 
. oyer this year of three; for S-I, and 
two each fdr Koi^da and Goldwyii. 

Selznick's partner in .S-I is John 
Hay WKitney, who f orrrierly ; headed 
the Pioneer Pictures .unit ■which re- 
leased throqgh RKQ.: This company 
was washed Up erttirely when Whit- 
ney joined hands with Selznitk in 

S-I. 

Whitney moniey would probably 
flgurfe importantly in any deal ac- 
quiririg: a stock interest in UA, while 
ownership to filmi rights, of 'Gone 
.with the Wi 'by .S-I no doubt 
ivould. serve as a .strong sales point 
ia an effort by Dr. A. H. Gjahnini 
or others to gain this interest for the 
group. Therie has never been 
any commitment by Sri as to 
whether and wh^n this picture will 
be delivered tp.IJA. 

Meieiing on Coast 

Hollywood, May 4. 

Meeting of United Artists' partners 

ill be held here instead of iri N. Y.. 
as originally planned, due to the fact 
that Sariiuel Goldwyn and Charlie 
"Chaplin .cainnot go .eaist because of 
the strike arid othe)r activity here. 
Goldwyn is working oil a picture 
and Chaplin oh a: , story. Meeting is 
expected for sometime between May 
14 and 17 when Alexander Kordia 
•rrives from London. Those who will 
attend.. \vill be Mary Piclcfprd, Doug- 
las Fair'banks, Korda, Goldwyn> 
.Chaplin and Dr. A, H. Giannini; 

Miss- Pickfdrd leaves, N. Y. this 
week after arrivitig from Europe. 

Selinick has four 'others to make. 
Including ^Tom Sa\vy.er,' after 'Pris-. 
oner of Zenda.' He made only three 
pictures in the past year and a half, 
Producer reiterates he. has madi^ no 
deal with M^tro regarding Margaret 
Mitchell's 'Gone With the Wind,' and 
indicationjs are that it will probably 
be a UA release, • 

It . 1? likely that Selznick will, be 
offered one of the member units in 
•VA,. continuing after expiration of 
his current producing cpntract. Films- 
he has. on taP. exclusive of 'Wirid,' 
wpuld take alriiost a year to make, 

Selznick trained out of HpUywood 
May 4 with, a party following com- 
pletion of his 'Prisoriet of Zenda.' 
Group, included Jock Whitriey, Wil- 
liam Weliman, iBen Hecht, Barbara 
Keoii, L. F. Alstock and Russell 
Birdwell. They are travelling in a 
special car attached to the Santa Fe 
Chief. 



Londoni May 
Alexandeir korda and Murray Sil- 
^erstpne; latter the head of Uniteid 
Artists -iri London,, sail tomorrow 
Wednesday) for the H. S. for con-; 
lereijces rega'irding U;A.'s financing 
01 Korda's pi Likely that Korda 
Will make a hew distributing al- 
I'ance, in .the event he cahriot reach 
^ s^bsfactory arrangeriient with U,A. 
on the money question. Basil Blick, 
Korda's attorney, " accompanying 
them. 

W|th Paramount set to co-operate 
^ t^e flnancing .and distribution of 
tt^orda s 'Lawrence of Arabia,' it av 
Pear^- as, though Korda . is headed to- 
^.?^ds Par altogether. 
\v J Gianihni, UA prez, who 
was due here for the coronation,, is 
"ot. sailing from the U. S. and is. 
awaiting the airrival of Korda and 
•^'ivetstone. in the states. 



Eixplairis Social Security 

Washington,. 
Editor, Varietyi. 

This'is with reference to an article, 
.which recently appeared, in. Variety. 
coriinieriting bri the lack of informa- 
tion concei'ning the tax provisions .of 
the Social Security Act as they ap- 
jply. to persons in. radio 

work... -y./ 

The confusion which seems to ex^; 
ist in the" radio business coriceming 
the payment, of taxes under the-Sp-; 
cial Security Act, as indicated in thik 
article,' centers principally aroithd 
the question who is thie employer in 
any giyen . case. Treasury regular 
tipns and rulings, have defined an 
employei: and an eriiployee... The dif- 
ficulty comes' in aligning the various 
relationships that exist in. the radio 
industry, and in the entertaiririient 
field generally, kccording to those 
.definitioris. 

The Social Security Act .ih. Section 
811 . (b) definesyelriploymerit for the 
purposes , of . the Federal tax ias any 
service, of whatever nature, ^er- 
fdrmied .within, the; United States, by 
an eniplPyee for ..his emplpyerv ex-r 
cept... . \ the' exceptions bei 
cifically; defined and' includi ,.. in 
part, . agricultural labor, doriieStic, 
service in ia private home, casual la- 
bor not in the ■ course r of the erii- 
plpyer's busi , and services from 
employment- by a nonprofit educa- 
tional, religious, charitable, sciehtiflc, 
litet-airy, or. humarie organization. 

Treasury Regulatipris 91 .states: 
.• . the relatipriship between the 
person for. ivHom such services are 
performed and. thei individual ' who 
performs . such services, must as to 
those services be the legal relation- 
ship of employer and employee. 

Generally such" .relationship exists' 
when the persori for whom such 
services are performed has the right 
to control and direct the individual 
who perfpi-ms the services, npt only, 
as to. the result to be accomplished 
by the work: but also as to the details 
and riieans "by which that .result 'is 
accomplished. That isj- an employee 
is subject to the will and contirol of 
the employer not only as to what 
shall be done, but .hoio it; shall be 
done. 

In. this conriectiori it is npt neces- 
sary that the employer actually di- 
rect or control the nianner in which 
the iservices are performed; it.is suf- 
ficient if he has the. right to do so: 
..In Article f we find: An employer 
miay be an individual, a corpora- 
tion, a partnership, a trust or estate, 
a joint'-stock pPmp^ny, an associa- 
tion, or a syndiciSte, group,' pool, joint 
venture, or other unincorporated or- 
ganization, group, or .. entity. \Alsp, 
the number of individuals. emplPyed 
by an employer arid the period dur- 
ing which any isuch individual is so 
ehiplbyed iS immaterial., 

In general, Article .3 contiiiuejs, 
; . . if an individual is subject; to 
the cPntrol :or direction of another 
merely as to the results , to be ac- 
complished by the wprk and npt as 
to rneans and methods for accorii- 
plishing' the result, he is ari inde- 
pendent cpntractor. An individuial 
perforriiing services as an independ- 
ent contractor 'is not as to such, serv- 
ices an employee. He niay, however, 
be an employer. From these ?'egula- 
'tlons. it can be seen that' the right 
to control and! direct the individual 
who performs the services is one pf 
the factors determi ing ieniployer; 
emiployee reiatioriship. "This . would 
also, seem tp be the main faictor. to 
be determined in.. specific questions 
Pf iriterpretation which have arisen 
in. the'VadIo iri*dusfry and in the en 
tertaiririient field .generially. For ex 
amjple, the indiyiduals carrying- on 
a sustaining program may-: be em- 
ployees of the broadcasting statibri 
pr pf a person whp provides the pro- 
gram for the station' as an independ- 
ent cdntractbr, 

. fThe same. situation may exist with 
most sponsPred programs. The spbn- 
sPr pays the ill, and he may take 
cpmplete charge of the detailis pf the 
program or turn the job ovbr to. 
spnrieone else-r^a booking agent, the 
sponsor of the act, pr the leader, of 
the Prchestra. These facts will affect 
the determinatipn of just whibh per-: 
son will be considered the em pipy ep 
of the individuals putting on the 
show/: 

A "Treasiiry ruli ng on a . questi on 
similar tP that which has been .raisec 
by Variety was published on Oct. 19, 
1936, in S.S.T. 47 it was ruled, in 
part,- Wherei the M Cpnipany, pwner 
and operator of hbtels; contracts 
with A^. to ish "music fpi^ one of 
the hotels and: dellyers a Weekly 
check in. a .Jiiriip.surn to A for /the 
services, rendered, by him arid his 
prchestra, A having the right to hire, 
control, and discharge the persons 



who work: Undet him, the relatipn- 
ship.pf A ,to the M Company is that 
pf an independent contractor for the 
purpose of title IX of the Social Se- 
curity Act. Neither A npr the mu- 
sicians employed by him are 'brri- 
ployes' of . the M Cbmpany the. 
purpose of that Act. 

In most varieties of business it has. 
not been especially difficult; to de- 
terinirie who " the employei: i^rid. 
who the employee.. In the ^entertairi- 
mient field, however, with so jhariy 
persons (perhaps corporate) having 
something to db with ai particular 
program, it is- not always easy to an- 
iswer . offhand ail the tOriipiex: ques- 
tions that invblvedi 

It is riiecessairy, of course thatevelry 
case, fpr an bffici ruling, be sub- 
mitted to the Bureau Pf Internal 
Revenue, with all the pertinent facts, 
in >yriting. This can be done through 
the nearest local Collector of in- 
ternal Revenue. The Bureau of In- 
ternal Reveriue. is solely responsible 
for adriiinisteyi ; the tax, titles of 
the Social Security Act, and tax 
questions should be serit to that Bu- 
reau and riot to' any office of the. 
Social Security Board. 

. A^SPcia^e, ^fifctor, ., ,; i 
. .infbrmatiori Servicf, ■ 
SOCIAL^SECmUTY BpAI^D, 



Ybr , May- 



of his mpney tP get $1 back. You 
cari't pick songs in the West and 
make 'em in the east. ' . 

Arid what's really a shock to any 
music man who Jcnows what it's, all 
abput— ^how', can those HoUy.wpod 
musicals insist pri five to seven/songs 
per picture, arid expect anybody to 
jnake riipre thari one hit. On Broad- 
way , it's been traditipnal .musical 
comedy history that if one, pos- 
sibly two,' spngs; showed, up, irprn- a 
new .operetta or a riiUsicar ppniedy, 
that';? .more . than !. the producer,, ; the 
songwriters, and the riiusic- publishex' 
expected, But Hollywood wants 
every picture tp have.a half dozen 
hits. 

Oh well! 

Jach 



Editor. 

As a' so-called filmusic' publisher 
does Tiri Part Alley realise just how 
little saiy-sbv publisher ribwadays 
has in the selectibh iPf his sorigs? 

First, I must fake what the. Holly- 
wppd studios- feed me, via the pic- 
tures. Secondly/ because of the film 
hookup, even the radio is now gang- 
ing up on the publishers and jrestrict-^ 
irig any vocal chorus plugs. 

Thirdly, and worse, it seems to me, 
the sorigwriters ere no longer writing 
for their publishers (which, in turn 
means the sheet-rixusic buying public) 
—they're writing to. please the' pic- 
ture people. 

If a producer , likes a song, he spots 
it in the film.^ It's probably very 
good for filrii boxoffice, pUrpbses; bUt 
pri the other hand if it's not so gPpd 
aS a basib song property, they dPn't 
want to know abput that. What's 
more, even though the songs selected 
rhay be inferior, the Hollywbpd 
executives .and the Hollywood sprig- 
writers' squawk like anything if the 
plugs aren't fbrthbpminig. They don't 
want to kno\y abpiit the lack of merit 
or other shprtcomings of the. songs. 

To them, naturally (and they can't 
be blamed for .it) the more plugs on 
the air the . better the boxpffice pbs- 
sibilities f or the filriis. 

Writers, too, figure that if they get 
the plugs,, their . ASCAP pbintr 
system ratings will still keep them 
in the forefront. As it is, writers 
now collect handsomely from .the 
Studios so they don't have tb 'rely 
oh sheet riiusic royalties as theyj; used 
to. 

But what about the music pubr 
lisher? If he doesn't shpw a: profit, 
where does he get off? 'What's more, 
the first ones to squawk would be 
their Hpllyw'ood filni affiliates. 

It would be giartd if Holly wpbd" 
said, O.K., here's $;?5,000 per pic- 
ture, and we'll charge it off to. 
exploitation. What's |25,P00 tp a big 
musical? But np,. pictures also wants 
to collect frpm any song publishing 
by-products as well. 

.If the sprigs flop; f urthermPre, the 
publisher sUre gets hell— but quick! 

One reason there, are,;sb few songs 
selling at\ present ■ .because the 
writers -are writing 'manufactured' 
songs, for the producers and direc- 
toi'iSi Theyr are, not .Writing inspired 
songs as they wbuld ordinarily if 
they were writing popular. spngs, or 
writing for a Broadway show, pii; for 
themselves. 

•That is why the 'popular' pub- 
lisher .hais an advantage; pver 'the 
picture music 'publishers at present, 
"The popular publisher has 3: chance 
to select what he thinks is good for 
his business. In, other words, he has 
some voice in the .selection of songs 
for his catalog. 

The way. things are np\v, the 
publishers who are controlled by. 
the picture companies have to de- 
pend on the /songs f ronrf pictures, 
and they are; just grabbing up every- 
thing from the' 'filnis. It is like a 
mad scramble. The prpducers want 
. title; songs written for their .pictures 
and songs manufactiired fbi* dif 
ferent spots, so eventuall> either the 
publishers.Syill have. to be subsidized 
b: the pictures companies or they 
will not be ajjle to remain in busi- 
ness and carry /among the lines 
that they are now, because every 
publisher is practically' gambljiig $25 



.No Radio. Sirikebreiifclnr 

'New York, A.pril 30. 
Editor, Variety: 

April 28. issue . Variety carried 
a story on the activities iDf American 
Radio Telegraphers Ass'n in pr- 
ganizing the broadcasting industry. 
With regar^ to the brganiziatiPn of 
■WHN the statement was made that 
it had* beeri" rtiriiPred afbund N^w 
; York that the'meti at -WHN l^ad j^ohe • 
on strike ' and ;thaV ;C0'S' 1ia'4' rushed; 
.pver" a cPuple pf • •irieA • tb h^ridlie" ,the 
stiati ■;' ':,.'AS' y'PU'-''say,' .t"H.e'¥urii .or ' bt 
,'bbth strike, and assistance ;frbm CBS' 
Was deriied by. a.il','P.arties: ^. 

There .is in' this' Vorinectipri; hbw^ 
ever, the possibility that reaiders. not 
studying the.statemerit carefully rriay. 
have obtained the; impression 'that 
CBS .engineers tpok 'part • in. strike- 
breaitirtg iactlvitibs.;. We should like; 
tb pipint put to thPse readers the fpli- 
Ipwing . resolution adbpted some 
rtioriths ago by the Associated; Cb- 
lumbia . Brpadcast iecHriicians,, New 
York Chapter." , ' 

'Eleisolved, That this chapter go - ■ 
on record as opposed to striker ' 
breaking activities .against- any- 
one at any time. Such activiti 
to include the working pf equip- 
ment . deserted -by radip. broad- 
cast men on Strike, pdssing 
through .picket lines set tip . by- 
broadcitst men pri strike and the 
piping; .of p^rograrri maiterial to 
local statioris : in which broad- 
cast men are- on. strike.' 
We feel it only fair that such pf 
your readers as may 'be misinformed 
as to the attitude; of the New Yoik 
Chapter of the; ACJBT be informed 
of the above resolution. While- it 
is impossible for Us. to control the 
syriipathies and to some extent the 
activities of CBS executives, the 
sympathy with organized labor of 
CBS technicians would seem un 
questionable. 

K. E. Davis, 
. Asspciated Coluriibi 
roadcasting Technicians. 



rpducllon Chart 

Detroit, 

Editor, Variety: 

It seems rather peculiar and fn 
teresting that after carrying a pro 
ductipn table at the very . times ■ of 
the year that it meahs little, I note 
in your issue of April 21 it is elimi 
nated. Whether that; was done be 
cause Pf the fact it showed that a 
great mariy of the ' companies had 
not gone tht-ough with their commit- 
ments or* what the real reason is 
I do not know but It- would seem 
to riie that if . eVei: there was a time 
of the year that theatre owners are 
interested in the performance of the 
various cortipanies it is right npw. 

I shall be very happy: to hear frpni 
ybu as to the reasbn, why. this, I he 
lieve, : riathef • iriiportarit .department 
of Variety has been discontinue^^ 
iH. M.. Rickey, 
.■General Manager; 
; Allied. Theatres of Michigan;; Inc. 



100 P. C. Mutual 



(Continued from page 35) 



the hookup between WLW», Cincin- 
nati, and WHN, New York. Among 
the towns he visited were Washing- 
ton,. Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knpxville,^ 
Nashville, Cincinnati, CJhicago,; De-r 
tfbit and, Akron. 

Aljihnce . between KFWB 
KROVir ill increase the nuniber . of 
California . networks to five., Others . 
are the California Network as rep- 
resented by .the ■ jpoolirig of stations 
between McClatchy : arid Hearst, the, 
DPn Lee Network, the CBS /regiorial 
which takes in KlSfX, Los Angeles, 
and KSFO, Sari Francisco, and . the 
two NBC links, with the red bring4 
ing together KPO, San Fraricisco, 
and KFI, Lps Ahgeles, arid the blue, 
KGO, Sap Franci.scp, ; KECA, Lbs 
Angeles, (and KFSD, San I)iegb, 

First. Mutual coast-to-coast, cbrn- 
mercial fed. -frpm the. West starts 
May 1:1 f or; Skol Products.; Don Lee 
stations (lO) along the Pacific slope .. 
win; darry, along with WOR, WGN, 
WAAB, WBAL, WOL,; WFIL i 
east. ; 

Piirograri); priginating ori ' KHJ, 
Hollywood, will .consist of a vocal ,, 
trio, the 'Hollywood Sunshine Girls,' 
a drariiatic actpt and a.backgrpund- 
irig band. Pebk agency set. 



' Atlanta's Mdtuai 'Special ; 

Atlahtai May 2. 
Not cbn^ent tp wait for h'S cori- 
freres to work out, the -details • 
bri ing Mutual deeper into Dixie 
frpm Richmond... Mrturipe Colpman, 
general manager pf WA^^L, has lihed 
Up WlllysrOyerland, jprograni fpr 13 
weeks over his; station. 

is 30'^ri»inute - commercial," *Ky-' 
sei-'s Surprise /Party,' went pri for -, 
first time; Sunday (2) night arid was. 
followed by 30-nfiinute. Mutual sus- 
t'ainer.' Programls. V/ere' piped to 
WATL. from Nashville. 



tVLW Clears for Barnes 

Cincinnati, May 4. 

WLW cleared time" for the Pat 
Barnes Sunday night Mutual , prp- 
gram ifrom WOR, New York but 
cpuld not^or did riot-^clear loi* a. 
cpUple of other recent Mutual com- 
mercials, iQueried on . policy,. WL'VV' 
reaffirms its Mutual, affiliation but is 
meanwhile arixious tp put over the 
so-ca}led WLW li tietween Cincy 
and, New Ybrlc. , 

Fjrst, cbntr'acts on the four-city 
loop have bee.n signatured. Vita'lis, 
Bristol-Myers product, starts spon- 
soring 'For Men Only* but of WHI^, 
New Yprk; June 7. Pedlar ^fe Ryan 
agency has not included ?CQV, Pitts- 
burgh, however. 

S.S.S. i^et fpr two weekly quar- 
ters starting in August state Stove 
will get going in July. Beaumont 
Medicine and Lewis-Howe are lined 
up; fpr September and July stiarts. 
Kellogg is' in hegbtiation. 

On account bf the time change, the 
Pleasant Valley variety show spon- 
sored by Crown overalls and origi- 
nati ih the Crosley studios is re- 
ceivirig separate shots over WLW 
and the MutuaVnet 
. Hits the latter Thursday night and 
WLW on Fridays. 



; Advance Production . art 
has, not been; discontinued. JVs being 
published . iortnightly instead of 
every ' week ds when first incepted.. 
it was out of th0 April 2X issue, but 
appeared in the last issue, April 28/ 
Will again, on May 12, 2,^i etc,^ 

Radio Acprriit 

New York, April 27. 
Editor, Variety! 

There has been much, cbntrbversy, 
as you knPw, on chainrbreaks and 
.one minute announcements, around 
network, programs. ' Two or three; of. 
the agencies have raised particular 
cain, Columbia Broadcasting 

Systenii complained to many of the 
stations. 

. it seems to hie that many of them 
have Oyerlppked one important fact 
-.arid that is^ that many of these one- 
minUte; babies have ;c.vcntually 
turned, iritb network programs. 
Drehp Shampob stai;tcd on spot an- 
nouncements and now they arc using 



Shifts to WWSW 

Pittsburgh, May 4, 
Because of WCAE's inability tp 
take Kay Kyser shpw, (Willys-Overp 
land) due to previbus commitment.^. 
Mutual program will go out here 
over WWSW. 

It's second tinie WWSW h?? beejn 
offered and accepted a; Mutual at- 
tractipm Last time was Father 
Cbughlin's Sunday afternPpn airings. 

network shows. PackeM Tar Soap 
last -year was a.one-miriute campaign 
and tbday it is ai,network progrsirti. 
. In checking oyer. pUr files, we note 
riiahy accounts, in the past, few years 
that at one .ti wpre, snlall spot 
campaigns, but today have network 
.shows, it appears that .some ;of these 
agencies and even the; networks are 
pverlpokirigra very iriiportant factor. 

FURGASON it ASTON, INC. 

By G. S: Wasser 
Vice-President. 



says It Didn't 
. Minneapolis, May 4. 
Editbr, 'Variety: 

Variety erred In its April. 28 issue 
by repbrtihg that the. MijoneapoliS 
Star promoted a Joe Louis boxing 
card. Paper did, however, stage the 
Northwest Golden Gloves tourna- 
ment 

David Silverman, 
Managing Editor, 
Minneapolis Stari 



(Story recouiited iihow biz squa 
against opposish from newspa 
baliyhoo ifhowmdn^hip stxints.) 



VARIETT 



Wednesday^ May 5, 1937 




Thanks for reserving room for me 
in America's most famous hotel. 
Am arriving Friday, May 7th at 



9 P. M. EDST via the Columbia 



Broadcasting System, for an 
extended stay. 



JERRY COOPER 



RADIO 



SCREEN 



STAGE 




Published Wiaeklr at 1,54 Waat 46th Street, New York, N. T., by Variety, Inc. Annual BUbscrlption. 16. Slngl« oopIoB, IB CeiUs. 
Entered a* second-class matter December 22, 1905, at the Post Office at New York, H. Y- under the act of March. 3, 1879,. 

COPYBIGHX, 1»S7, BI VAKlKXy, INC. ALI, RIGHTS RlilSI^UyKn 



Srol. 126. No. 9 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1937 



64 PAGES 



HONKY TONKS AS BREAK- 




ifadenburg Disaster and Coronation 




r Current . week/ W the Hinden- 

• i)urg cjcplosion and the Cbrbnation 
bccurring within, a few days, of each 
other, is. the" biggest in heWsreel; his- 
tory. Atteindance at hewsreel thea- 
tres over last week-iend .was vari- 
ously estimated as .between 50% and 
!l(M)% over, normal. Expectation is 
that grosses will fall off little if 

. ifetiy thrbughdut the next week or so. 
iTzep disaster early last Thursday 
<6) night at Lakehurst provided out- 

' standing, material for all five news- 
reel companies. Crews were -on liand 
jtor* the regular dirigible landing and 

• all,hopiped on the catastrophe. Com- 
panies' got out detailed specials for 
quick shipment, mostly by plane/ all 
Wer the coimtry. Demands for 
prints 'were so great that labora- 
tories were pushed tb capacity. Some 
theatres were not fcontent with mer«- 
ly ona company's reels and ordered 

I prints from other "makers, putting 
fill on their screens. 
< Embassy- Newsreel theatre, In 
Times square, N. Y,, did turn-away 
business nearly all day Friday, iand 
by- noon Saturday waiting crowds 
filled the lobbyi -with a lirie extend- 
ing to 47th street. Theatres every 
:. .where reported ^an instant response 
iitthe b.o, when marquees and spe- 
cial easels were put up on the 
ihateriah 

Estimated that 22,000,0000 persons 
• week see newsreels In the U. S., 
that number swelling to upwards 
Of 50,000,000 this week, it Was flg- 
Jjred.. Trans-Lux theatres in Phila^ 
^elphla and Washington reported do- 
jng all-time b.o. records over the 
Week-end, despite the fact that this 
ia normally an off season. 

Oa the Spot 

Zeppelin disaster was a unique 
newsreel Ijreak because it was the 
first major mishap of that kind 
which cameramen were on hand to 
cover as it occurred. However, any 
sort of catastrophe is always a big 
grosser for the reels. Previous., high 
attendance figures were chalked up 
for ■ scenes of : Morrp Castle si Ing, 
drought and. fibods, Los Angeles 
earthquakes, assassination of King 
Alexander, the Wally Simpsoh-Duke 
.ol^Wliiidsor romance and the Haupt- 
inanti triali 

' As for the Coronation, that's al- 
r^ady • getting inpst elaborate cov- 
erage ever given a subject by Amer- 
. lean hewsreel cpmpanies. Five news- 
reels have been preparing to cover 
the. event for three- or four months; 
. 'Newsreer coverage of Coronation 
today (Wed.) will be^dn roto. basis, 
1th each of the five American reels 
in^ mate'rl . Earl Marshall 
. .. . of Norfolk) refused' tb permit 
more than one camera at any par- 
Jicular location. Rooms which over- 
look procession commanded $1,500. 

Early plans to fly them by plane 
W^ie abandbned because of the cost! 
.*^ien the newsreels and still com- 
f,f7«s chipped in $10,000 to hold the 
T li'-iated Hindenburg at its port in 
J'errhainy, with idea of using planes 
w take the reels to the airship. When 
Mie zep Was destroyed newBreel com- 
panies scurried for another method 
(Continued on page 46) 



Lo Goes H'wood 



Holly wpod,|-May ,11. 

Red-skinned habitants of the 
Palmi Springs Indian Reserva- 
tion are learhlng Hollywood 
showmanship. Staging their 
annual spring dance in Palm 
Canyon, hard by . the tepees of 
the palefaces, Injuns are split- 
ting the sky with sun-arcs Wig- 
wagging for trade. 

Result: PpwWPW la drawing 
■heavy, wampum^ 



ZEP CRASH PUTS 
BEN DOVA IN 




Pix Strike Now Natl; Pieketing |i 8 
Keys, but Actors Tiff PatM Up 



Agent and Scouts Combing 
the Hideaways for New 
Talent— Chiefly Strippers 
and Bumpers, but Here 
and There a Dancer or 
Singer Is Discovered 



LOW SALARIES 




His escape from the ill-fated zep; 
Hindenburg, which exploded and 
crashed Thursday (6) at Lakehurst, 
N. J.; has brought several lucrative 
offers to Ben Doya, vaude comedy 
acrobat. In, private life Joseph 
Spahs, Ben Dova jumped from the 
airship and escaped, suffering only 
slight burns and a fractured ankle. 

His first cash-in on his escape 
came Sunday night (9) via an ap- 
pearance on the Robert L. Ripley 
(Believe It pr Npt) radib show over 
NBC. For this one-shot he received 
$350, with other radi and stage 
offers said tp be piling in. 

en Dpva was returning frpm Eu- 
rope on the zep to . make a booking 
at the Roxy, N, Y., starting May 21. 
His injuries, however, iU prevent 
him from appearing oh the stage 
and the date has been set back. 

Joe Jackson, comedy cyclist, was 
also scheduled to come over Pn the 
zepi but canceled his passage at the 
last minute pn learning that his 
bbokihg at ihie Radio City Music 
Hall had been ppistponed. 



BARD ACTORS DON'T 
INDULGE IN BASEBALL 



Chicago, May 11. 
Long-standing wail, that the pass- 
ing of- vaudeville as an . important 
factor in the amusement, biz has 
robbed the newcpmers of. a chance 
to gain experience; is being answered 
by the mushropm growth of honky- 
tonk nlte spots in cities, towns and 
villages. The hideaway ;hiteries 
have become the springboards for 
novices. 

Vaude and major nitery agents 
who haven't been around anywhere 
but: the top vaude anid nlte spots in 
years are now making the rounds of 
the side-street spots regularly in 
search of likely talfent. Even the 
picture scouts are beginning, to turn 
off the main stems to hunt up pos- 
sl illties In the grind-and-bump 
joints. 

In the main these honky spots are 
(Continued on page 49) 



When it comes tb baseDall,' Shakes- 
pearean actors prefer a good bopk. 
Cast of 'ki ichard, Ii; challenged 
to soft-ball tilt by 'BrPthet Rat' cbi -. 
pany, pooh-pophed it, 'Bard players 
replied, they don't indulge. 

'Rat' SPft-ballers previously shel- 
lacked 'Behind Red Lights' trpupers 
16-0 and laced 'Having Wonderful 
Time' team ' 27-8. Games are alsp 
skedded with crews from 'Boy Meets 
.Girl' and ;Rpbm Service' (latter set 
to reach iSroadway next week after 
put-of-to\Vn tryput); Showgals from 
French Casino have challenged 'Rat' 
team, but no game is set, AH played 
in Cetilral Park, N. Y. 



Eiffel Tawer to Be 
Visible 150 Miles 
During Paris Expo 



Pariis, May 2. 

Latest plans for lighting the Eiffel 
Tower during the call for 

lights which will be seen, theioreti- 
cally, 150 miles away. 

Andre Granet, who is .in charge of 
the lighting system of the tower, 
states, that the :beams of: light ffpm 
the . naval aero searchlights, when 
pbihted straight up, ill reach an 
altitude- : Pf , thr rniles arid will be 
visible, if mathematical c.aiculaliPns 
hold true, as far away as the English 
Channel., 

Changes are being made in the 
tower for. the benefit of the daytime 
visitors alsb. Old fashioned gir.dle of 
striped painted irbn, which was put 
up :in 1889, being iremPVed. Res- 
taurant on the first floor -.being 
enlarged- and both restaur ill 
have glass. walls,' 



Slight SwitGh 



A fight fan called a Brooklyn 
armory tp find ;put what bPuls 
were scheduled there that night. 

'We don't have fights any 
more,' was , the reply, 'we got 
Singo now.' ^ 



All for a Shave 



HollywPod, May ll. . 

European , director, imported 
at a high cost, ordered his sec- 
retary to phone for an appoint- 
ment with the studio barber. 
Clipper said he bad to have an 
okay from the . head inah be- 
causie his razor is only for pro- 
ducers, riot directors.. 

Head man is In New Yprk, 
but his chief aide., nixed the 
reqi^est, .refusing tP.set a prece- 
dent," Result Is that the Euro- 
pean' fellow, ' who draws "a 
heavy pay check, drives sev- 
eral miles for his daily shave, 
at an estimated cost of $75 to 
$100 per trip on ai basis of how 
much the studio payi for hi 
time. 



HOT CLARINET 




SYMPH 



Philadelphia, May 11. 

Possibility that Benny Goodman 
rnay conduct iPhllly Symph In one or 
two concerts In Robin Hood Dell this 
summer was hinted to Vabiexy by 
Gino Baldinl, assistant manager. It 
is known that the management 
wants a young jazz batpneer fpr pair 
pf engagements. Paul Whiteman is 
unavailable this sumrner. Other pos- 
sibilities mentioned beside Goodman 
are George Gershwin and Rubinoff. 

Alfred Reginald Allen, 3i2-year-old 
NeW' York ad man, who Came here 
to pull Philly orch. but of car ine 
in its regular season, will, manage the 
outdoor Dell concerts fpr . first time 
this summer, . .Men: will Work on co- 
ojjerativ?.. basis as they, ha vie been 
doing since hot weather concerts in- 
aujgijrated seven years agp. Last 
season averaged abput $50 a. week, 



NO ADVERTISING TAINTS 
THE BRITISH AUDIENGE 



Hollywood, May IL 

First unofficial tift In the new 
proiluGer-Guild agrieeineht .eamie to- 
day with cd^nflicting Ihterpretatlons 
of terms -by both sides. FlrodiicerH 
claim the settlement calls for an BO- 
ZO Guild shop, while the SAG In- 
sists that the ' agreed ratio 95-3, 
the 5% margin being allowed to 
talte bare of estabtished players who 
conscientiously are opposed to Join- 
ing any organization. It Is pointed 
out by Guild officials that European 
players brought to Hollywood would 
come under Guild regulations. 

Charles Lessing, Federated Motion 
Picture Crafts head, told the •trlke 
committee . shortly, after midniflit 
last niffht (lyiondiay) that Its terms 
for an armistice had been rejected 
by Pat Casey, labor contact loir the 
proiluceirs, and that the settlement 
basis offered by the producers yfsi^'- 
untenable. 

Cssey'd Statement 

Casey later issued the following 
statement: 'Xhe fact ahould be borne 
in mind, that the status of the actors 
and that of the group represented 
by the TMPC Is entirely differcinl; 
Actors remained at work while their 
representatives submitted ' certain 
definite proposals to the producers. 
Those proposals were adjusted in 
orderly and equitable manner 
through negotiations and the agree- 
ment reached was acceptable to both, 
sides. On tl^e other hand, under the 
terms of the ultimatum originally 
served on me by Lesslng, studio ex- 
ecutives were given no Information 
concerninir wage demands or aity 
other questionB in dispute, Produc- 
ers were notified they must accept 
under certain restrictions prelimi- 
nary to any negotiations with I-iess- 
Ing. LogicaHy this could not -he 
done and when so informed, Lessin 
ordered the strike. Door Is wide 
open for a prompt settlement of. any 
proper question.' 

yy. B. Cullen, . TMPC president, 
said painters would sign no contracit 
that doesn't take', care of smaller 
crafts afrillated with the brganlza- 
tlon, such as set designers, make- 
ups ami hair dressers. This niornihg 
(Tuesday) dawned peacefully around 
the studios and picket lines are thin- 
nlni: around the theatres. 



, Londpn, May-ll. 

Rudy Vallee.-Royal Gelatin hour 
originated before a pricked audience 
at St, George's HaU last Thursday 
(6) with Landpn's Lord Mayor Pp6n- 
jhg.the .show. ritish Broadcasting: 
Co. facilities were used but listeners- 
in the hall kiiew nothing of. the cpmr 
mercial angle; Plug copy was cut in 
from, a room set aside for this pur- 
pp.se. American Telephone St Tele- 
graph Cp, shprlwaved the program, 
to the American side. 

Opinion among the hall allcndees 
was that Vallee shov, inade most 
English variety broadcasts look ama- 
teurish, 



Although the Screen Actbrs' Guild 
has won a decisive victory over the 
pj pducers, the Federated. Motion Pic- 
ture Grafts is settling dpwh tP a bil- 
ler. long-drawn-out fight. 

Indications are that vari 
American Federation 
groups and jphn L. Levi^ls' Commit-' 
I Continued pn page 2) 

Non-Alky Nitery 



New York's first liquorle.ss caliaret, 
the Golden Glades, opens. May 15 on 
upper Columbu.s avenue.. George 
Haeffly's band will supply 
for dancing and thrice 
show; 

Opcr en Dbnigcr says the ro 

will be no hard stuff in his show and 
soda emporium. Will serve regul u' 
dinner, light.eals and .soil drinks. 



VARIETY 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



Many-Sided Hollywood Union Fight 
Is Echoed Into Eight Key Cities 



(Continued from page 1) 

tee for industrial Organizatipn will 
be; drawn into the hostilities. iSpread ' 
of the istrike has nojAr become na- 
iionwide, with film theatres in vir- 
tually all key citiies of the country 
b?ing picketed/ 

Charles Lessing, PMPC head, said 
he expiected a total of more than 
340,000 pickets at pix theatres 
throughout the country after he had 
wirbd acceptance, of picketing offers 
from AFL and CiO unions in va- 
rious cities. It was pointed but that 
the entrance of ttie CIQ into the 
scrap wdiQd; not biS: 'made, a body.^ 
Members of the Lewis group are act- 
ing as individuals tather tiian ofli- 
dal CIO representatives. 

Thieatre picketing in Chicago, 
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, 
Detroit^: Minneapolis and St. Paul got 
underway this inoming (Tuesday), 
with New York slated to follow to- 
, night. In Los Ahgeles< picketing of 
iiSrstrhm houses took on a. serious 
aspiect Sunday (9) but. dwindled to 
mere handfuls Monday (10). Heavr 
jest lines werie seen at the Pantages 
in Hollywood, with workers aug- 
ihented by youiig radicals from 
schools and cdlleges. 

Only a few pickets took uj) the 
march at Loew's State, Chi^iiese and 
Warner houses. The Beverly Hills 
policie made short work of .Pox Wil- 
shire pickets and broke the line, 
citing a city ordinance against su<:h 
tactics. . .Sbrikera werie similarly re- 
pulsed at several nearby suburbs. 
The PMPC said arrests wopld be 
invited to test the Beverly Hills 
statute. 

CIO Fiekets 

ickets from crafts affiliated with 
the ClO joinied the lines around stu 
dios, last week on a call from Rudy 
Kohl, business representative of the 
Painters* Union« They were drafted 
from the steel, tubber, automobile 
and communications industries and 
were assigned to night duty. Studio 
police took on ah extra supply of 
tear gas for storing at all entrances 
in case of trouble, but were in 
structed to use it only when violence 
threatened. 

About 1,500 affiliated craft mem 
bers attended a mass meeting con- 
ducted last night by the PMPC at 
Hollywood Stadium. Charles Lessing 
presided at the ^session and intrp 
duced the speakers, who included 
Charles Elrod, Vern Murdoch. Johii 
H, Robinson, Bert Best, Joseph: Mar< 
shall. Gr Ruiz, Madge Hoyt, W; B 
Cullen. 

All the speakeris dwelt on the situ- 
atlon as it affected the International 
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em 
ployes. Prediction was made/especi 
ally by Cullen aihd liuiz, that inter 
hal strife in the lATSE would soon 
'blow the lid off* in that body. Less 
ing charged the lATSE and 'over 
stepped all the bounds of decency 
and rules of the American Pedera' 
tion of Labor.' Lessing also read a 
wire, from John Brophy, natioqa' 
CIO director, saying that every union 
man, ,regardless of affiliation, should 
support the strikers. 

The studio strike reiichecl a climax 
last Thurisday and Priday (6-7) 
•wrhen numerous . fracases were , re- 
ported and nine affected maj.oi; lots 
were' beleaguered. Theteaif ter the 
situation quieted down tiemporarily 
with the attention of pickets and 
strike 'leaders centered on activities 
of the iScreen Actors Guild to the 
exclusion of fisticuffs. . 

Moist serious casualty of the vio 
lehce wiis William Kline, Universa' 
rip, who was severely beaten in a 
parking lot across the boulevard 
from the U. lot by a number of men 
said to be affiliated with the PMPC 
Kline was formerly in tho Painters 
Union. 

Longshoremen, Students 

As the week wore on, picket lines 
were reinforced by longshoremen 
from San Pedro and on.. Saturday 
the regular snakeliners, who had 
grown somewhat bored with their 
assignment; came to life when their 
ranks were laugmehted by youths 
from the Associated' Students Union 
local schools and colleges. The 
juveniles brought considerable gay- 
ety and color to the plcketi 

Priday was the busi day. 
Femme hair stylists and makeups 
seemingly were told to make them- 
selveis scarce, for hone; of them 
showed up for picket duty, " Two 
trucks were dumped by strikers, one 



at 20th Century-pox and the: other 
at Paramount. 

Reports of bi?awls in ; grogjgeries 
hard by the affected lots trickled in 
all day, with members of the lATSE 
on. the. receiving end of hlost of the 
wallops. Gendarmes at Universal 
rescued a truck driver from, menac- 
ing pickets. !U locked ahd barred its 
commissary. Picket lihes were 
doubled. commensurate rei - 

forcements were hMrried to the gen- 
darmes.' ^ 

Earlier in the week a cruising bat- 
talion of sympathizers, saiid to be 
idle groups, staged a free-for-all at 
IATSE headquarters, Santa Monica 
and Wilcox. PiVe men who had ac- 
cepted IATSE cards were mauled by 
;he attackers and treated in the 
Hfolly wood Receiving HdspltaL 

Precautions were taken at all stu- 
dios against the entrance of those, not 
directly connected With the produc- 
ing firms. Hardest hit . were .the 
agents and independent flacks. Agients 
couldn't get past the front offices 
2tnd indie blurbistis w-ere told to cool 
their heels elsewhere.. . For . Ilie most 
pa^t picketing was conducted alongr 
peaceful lines. 

Word that 15,000 pointers affiliiitea 
With the interhatiohai organization 
in the Los AnS^les area had been 
instructed to . join tihe picket lines 
yesterday (Monday) Was received by 
wire from Loulis ^einstock, sedre- 
tary -treasurer of the New York dis- 
trict council of the PMPC. The In- 
ternationai Longshoremen's' Associa- 
tibh sent a wire to Lessihg saying 
that delegates to the HiA conven- 
tion had been instructed to draft 
resolutions of endorsement and sup- 
port for the studio strikers. 

The telegram added: 'Delegates 
have been instructed to inform the 
membership to boycott theatres 
showing .films from strike-affected 
studios. District ILA convention 
sends warmest solidarity greetings 
to film, workers.' 

Newsinen's; Cash Support 

In addition, the Los Angeles News- 
paper Guild adopted- a resolution 
supporting the strike sind forwarding 
a cash contribution.; PMPC leaders 
addressed a meeting of the carpen- 
ters, informing them of the issues of 
the strike and asking support. Studio 
molders, machinists and costumers 
scheduled . conferences with Pat 
Casey, producerrlabor contact man, 
to negotiate their differences. 

i>lan of settlement .'arran'ged by the 
Los Angeles Central Labor. Council, 
providing that all strikers resume 
their jobs pending negotiations of 
differences, ' was rejected by the 
PMPC. Had the dO plan been 
followed, the strike would have .end- 
ed in the rniddle of the second week. 
Statement issued- by -the producers 
said thlat 'so far t^s the producers are 
concerned the required steps toward 
establishment of a peaceful a.nd 
equitable understanding have been 
taken by them. The. next move is 
up to the strike leadership.' FMPC's 
answf;r to that move apparently was 
to call for CIO support and to people 
the picket lines with representatives 
from CIO bodies. 

.Meanwhile,, the IATSE continued 
its membership drive, offering class 
B cards io laborers, makeups,; hair 
stylists, . inters and scenic artists^ 
and taking under its; jurisdiction 
practically: all the. work formerly 
done members of Ahe - Studio 
Utilities. Employes. PMPC leiader 
ship claimed there were few defec 
tions from its 'tanks, but the IATSE 
waS; giving xards indiscriminately to 
anyone who applied. 

FMPC! reported receipt jof thie fol 
lowing message from French .film 
Workers: 'We .. are following ith 
close attention your splendid move- 
ment for better Working conditions 
and we wish you a comjplete success. 

Secretary of Labor Frances Per 
kins moved Edward A. Fitzgerald, 
Federal labor conciliator, into the 
situation with instructions to report 
developments to her in Washington 
Fitzgerald \interrogated all labor eU' 
ments, including members of the 37 
White Rats, IATSE members who 
are demanding rank and file elections 
.and membership meetings. 
. Wire sent to Robert Montgomery, 
Screen Actors Guild president, by 
the Longshori^inen, said: .^We made 
possible your high salaries. We can 
also rnake tbehi impossible.! Was 
taken lo mean that actors should fall 
into line with the strikers. 

It was understood that Lessing, 
FMPC head, was bitter over the sep- 



arate peace obtained by the SAG, 
leveling accusations that bis group 
had been sold down the river. Guild 
leaders made quick denialjs Of the 
charge, saying they had never affil- 
iated with ti>e PMPCJ .and that they 
were not consulted when thie strike 
:Was called. In issuing the denials,, 
the SAG explained that, the action 
of the iFMPC iri permitting contract 
players to. ci'bss picket lines would 
have prevented actors from aligning 
With the FMPC as SAG members are 
under contract. ^ 
Guild Waikoui Averted 
Produbeir aigreeinent with the SAG 
Over the weekend averted an actorr 
walkout set for Monday (9) mornr 
ing. The settlemeht gives the Guild 
all the principal concessions it 
asked. 

Concessions gained include Guild 
shop* salarly boosts for extras; and 
day players and many other advan- 
tages;' The peace agreement was anr 
nounced by Joseph M. Schenck, pro- 
ducers committee chairman, and ajp- 
proved by the Guild membership at 
a meeting in Hollywood - Legion 
Stadium Sunday night (9). 

All major and indie studios will 
be. included in the agreement, siiice 
Warher Bros . i.ndicated, it will enter 
into . negotiations with, the SAG unr 
der Guild shop rules. Approval o' 
the Guild shop was also announced 
ay > David O. Selzhick, Walter 
Wanger, Samuel Goldwyn, Hal 
Roach, and Repubiie. Previously 
Metro, Paramount, RKO, Universal, 
Coltimbia and 20th-Fox had accepted 
the agreement. ' ■ 

Guild headquarters announced 
that around 500- members were enr 
rolled yesteWay (Mdnday), ^ Greta 
Garbb and Jean Hatlow being 
among the group. 

In; announcing his agreement with 
the general decision, David O. Selz- 
nick was quoted as sayi , 'If the 
G.uild wishes to place my name on a 
contract with the Guild I will sign 
the contract withoiit' looking at it; 
For I have that much confidence in 
the Screen Actors Guild and its in 
dividuial members.' 

Robert Montgomery, SAG presi- 
dent, said the Guild committee had 
been in continuous session, with the 
producers committee and that Wil 
liam Bibff and Holmden, of IATSE, 
had supported the movement from 
the start and deserved much credit 
for the. success of the negotiations, 
In reporting to Guild members the 
successful culmination of the discus- 
sions, Kenneth Thomson said: 

'Your representatives were able to 
get this . agreement because the 
senior Guild stood back of us 99% 
and the junior Guild gave us un-. 
divided support. The senior Guild 
has voted 96% in favor of . a strike 
where producers refuse, to sign the 
contract, and the remaining, four 
percent Was not negative.. Ballots 
will be handed out so every senior 
meniber who has nbt voted will have 
opportunity tp do so. We must have 
that strike weapon in our hands.' 
Vote Strike Authority 
The Guild .had voted the strike 
authority to the committee despite 
jpreyibus announcement that the 
producers would sign the agreement 
before the end of the week. Schenck 
issued .the following statement for 
the producers committee: 

'Speaking for my own studios and 
the executives, of the others I have 
been able to reach, I am pleased to 
be able to say that all important 
questions discussed by . the commit- 
tees representing motion picture 
producers and film actors haye been 
settled isatisfactorily to both sides. 

'It has been the common endeaybr 
of both comihittees to work out the 
best' possible conditions for players 
receiving 'smaller . salaries and it is 
my opinion that the points agreed 
upon by the two-committees will be 
regarded -by all parties concerned as 
equitable and just. I believe the re- 
sult- of our ;conference will represent 
a permanent basis for mutiial. good 
will anid helpfulness between pro^ 
diicers and actors.' 

Secret meetings of the SAG com-! 
mittee were held each night last 
week the homes of Fredric 
March, James Cagney, Chester 
Morris and Frank Morgan^ At each 
of the sessions, it Was reported, a 
large number Of Guild votes were 
received. A^ter - suff icient SAC} bal- 
lots were in' the hands of Aubrey 
Blair, secretary, to' ensure the re- 
quired 75% for a strike, the zero 
hour of the Walkout was set for 
eight o'clock Monday morning. 

Imminence of the SAG walkout, 
with the top salary players on the 
picket lines; became apparent as 
early, as .last Thursday night, when 
Robert Montgohiery and Franchot 
Tbne, members of the negotiating 
committee, went to the Metro studio 
where the. farewell party to visiting 
sales delegates was in progress. 
They summoned Louis B. Mayer 
;intO conference an^ remained 
closeted with him until three o'clock 
next morning. 




l-^Piroducers Agreement 



Summary of the terms laid down by the Screen Acters* Guild and 
accepted by the producers includes ihe following: 

1. Recognition , of Guild shop. ; 

2. Abolishment of $3.20 daily salary for exltras^ with present wage 
scale Increased 10% up to and including $15 daily. Minimum check 
to be $5.50. 

3. Increase for standins from present $20 weekly to $33 minimum* 
or $6J$D daily minimum. 

4. Straight time paid for time consumed; to and frorn Ibcatipn 
and compensation for .triavelihg time not to exceed one diay's. pay in 
any 24 hours^. Trayei. time which occurs during period for Which 
extra iis: compensated, nnay be deducted. . 

5. NBA conditions to remain as is except for clari 
adjustments to be^ agreed upon by respective: committee's. 

6. Reasonable access to records of the Central Casting Bureau.^ 

7. Guild and producers' committeeis to investigate and analyze 
present rules covering weather-rpermittlng calls . and suggest changes 
and improvements therein,. 

8. Presei^t minimum of $15 daily for contract players increased 
to $25 daily minimum. 

9. Meal periods not less than h^ hour, pr more than one. hour. 
10. For costume fittings and test, player to receive one-half check 

if not offered employment in production for which fitting or test is 
•roadp, 

.11. Fifty-four hour cumulative Week .to apply to freelance players 
reviving less than $200 Weekly, with straight time, for overtime. . 
.12. Arbitration to^ be covered first by conciliation boiard consist- 
ing of producer and . player representatii^es. In. case of conciliation 
failure, arbitration to be made under rules to be agreed upon.: 

13. Right of cancellation without pay prior .to commencement of 
employment abolished. In case of termination, of fireelance contract 
prior to commencement of termi producers shall be: liable for com-: 
pensation during m^imum guaranteed period, If pljayer receives 
other emplbymefnt . during such period, compehsatibh Received by the 
player .frbm such agreement shall be applied in Tbductibh of the 
producer's .liability. 

.14.. Present prohi ition of deal contract to be Continued except 
that present minimum is reduced from $40,000 to $20,000^ 
. 15. Cancellation: period for term contract players specified in 
illness, clause of all long-term contracts for featured playiers to be not 
less than aggregaite periods of three weeks per year. 

■ 16. Layoffs for featured players under long term cbntrabt shall, be 
for ait least one consecutive week subject, to recall for retakes, -added 
scenes, etc. Any layoff falling at the end bf the contract period may 
be for shorter time. 

17. All terms herein approyed for long term: featured pliayers shall v 
be applicable to lonjg term stock players whose' salaries are Under 
$150 weekly. 

18. Minimum salary -'for stock players shall be $50 weekly. 

19^' Return transportation to be furnished stock players brought 
here from outside state of Californi , where .salary is less than $75 
weekly, with detail^ to be worked out o^ biasis of discussions be- 
tween .committees. 

20. Tliere shall be no free tes .after the commencement of em- 
ployment. 

; 21. Suspension period specified intact of God* clause of all long 
term contracts for players receiving $150 weekly or less shall be lim-. 
ited to four, weeks, provided, however, that producers shall, have the 
right td continue such suspension from week to week fpr not exceed- 
; ing eighi stdditiohal weeks. 



Phiny Exchange Help 
Ckim lOQ^ Unionization 



Philadelphi , May 11. 

Eyery. one of 219 exchange em- 
ployes in Philly eligible for .a card 
in the Film Exchange Employes' 
Union has paid his entrance fee and. 
is a member, Harry Cohexv, organ- 
izer for the lATSE^ saysv 

Meeting will be held Friday (H) 
to elect permanent officers.: Pro tern 
execs were named at a meeting in 
the Broadwood on April. 30. They 
are BiU Gabriel, prez, and Molly 
Cohen, secretary. Both work for 
Metro. 

Cominittee was appointed at the 
meeting to draw up a wage scale. It 
is . now completed, Cohen says, and 
will be presented to managers as 
soon as the present : wave of sales 
conventions is over. He expects no 
opposition to it, he claims. 

Cohen Went to Washington today 
to. get a charter for his group, Local 



L. A. to N. Y. 

.Beulah Bondi. 
Maurice Conn. 
.J., Sayington Grampton. 
Ned Depinet. 
Percy L. tJeutsch. 
Douglas Fairbanks^ 
Mary Garden. 
Norman Geiger. 
Ernie Hare, 
Billy Jonesw 
Al Lichtman. 
S, Barrett McCormick, 
A. P. Rodgers. 
Louis K. Sidney. 
Leonard Sillman. 
Ralph Stock. 
Helen Vinson. 
Ralph Wheelwri 



N. Y; to L. A. 

Peter Arno;. 
Islin Auster. 
Jack Cohn. 
Robert J. Mulligan. 
Mary' Pickford. 
Leah Salisbury. 
Lester Santly. 
George Schaefer. 
Jerry Sylyon. 
Harlan Thompson. 
John J. Wildberg. 
Loretta Young.. 



COWAN ON UA 
E 





Hollywood, May 11. 

Negotiations Were started last 
week between Dr. . A. H; Gianniiii 
and Lester . Cowan for a deal by 
which United Artists is to rblease 
three Rehbwned Artists productions 
to be made by Tay Garnett and 
starring Ronald <Colman. John Ford 
will direct. 

Renowned Artists has set Garnett's 
story, 'Trade Winds,' as its initialer, 
usinig background footage shot by 
Garnett on his recent tour round thie 
world. 

Cowan figures that UA will okay 
a releasing deal- soon after contracts 
with the three principals, are nego- 
tiated. 



SAtLINGS 

June 9 (New York London) 
Helen Gahagan (Queen Mary). , ■ 

June 2 (New York London) 
Peggy Ashcroft (Europa). 

May 22 (New York, to Hamljurg) 
Mary Garden (Brenien). 

lilay 19 (New York to. London)' 
Howard Brooks,. Al Sherman, Abner 

Silver (Normandie).. .. 

May, 15 (New York to London) 
Wera Ehgels (Europa). 

May 15 (London to . New York ) 
Rudy Vallee, Elliott Dani Bert 
Lown (Bremen). 

May 12 (New York to London) 
Prancine Larrimore, Condc Nast 
(Aquitahia). 

May 8 (New York to GenOa) B. S. 
M0.S.S, Janet Cohen (Rex). 

May 4 (New York to Londoii) 
Vyvyan Doner, Dusolina Giannini, 
Vittdrio Gianni ' Walter Slezak 
(Bremen). 



ARRIVALS 

Loretta Young, Juergeh E. K. vbn 
Alten, Albert Huebsch, Capt. P. 
Eckersley, Alexander Korda, Sidney 
R. Kent, Andre Daven, Murray Sii- 
versto-ne, Martin Jones, Guthrie Me-. 
Glintic, Stell Anderson, Oscar Ho- 
mplka, Diane Ray, Jimmy Richards 



Wcdnesdayv May 12* 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



8 




TEARS 





eans 



Hollywood, May 11. 

. In explai ing that Guild Shop does not m6an Closed Shop, Kenneth 
thoknson said ■Guild Shop.merely means that nb one. may .woirk beif or^ 
the cameras who is not a Guild, member in good standing. 

'The Guild agrees with the producers that new talent and n^w f apes 
are necessary and we do not intend to restrict those seeking an op- 
. portunity on the screen* We merely insist they join the Guild and 
be goveirned by the same rules which apply to other players. 

'Guild will, contract to accept as a member without iexamihatipn 
anyone a producer may desire to engage arid wiU further contract 
never to impose a prohibitive initiation fee,' 







MARY PICKFORD MAY 
PRODUCE PIX AGAIN 




Strike it the Max Fleischer i- 
mated cartoon studios, N. Y, has 
completely halted productiorii ac- 
cording to Gommercial Artists and 
Designers Union officials, \vhose 
members staged the walkout last 
Friday (7) night. , Fourteen pickets, 
arrested after a scuffle with police 
when nori-stri ing animators tried 
to go through the line, were re- 
leased on bail and will be given 
hearings today (Wednesday) in Mag- 
istrates Court. 

Thirteen are charged with dis- 
orderly Conduct. Samuel Robjrison, 
an artist, is charged with assaulting 
Charles Shepler, non-striking 'in-be- 
tWeener.' CADU officials claim Shep- 
ler is a imember of Motion Picture 
Machine OperatorSj local 306, and as 
such, is liable for union, discipline 
for attempting to cross a picket line. 

Fleischer strike was begun, accord- 
ing to CADU, when V 15 studio em- 
ployees were discharged . last week, 
allegedly for 'union activity.' CADU 
dispute with Fleischer had been going 
on for several weeks, union lodging 
a complaint with the Regional 
Labor Relations Board for Fleischer's 
alleged refusal to bargai 

In addition to the demands for 
union recognition, salary increases 
. and improved working conditions, 
the strikers now seek reinstatement 
of the discharged employees. Union- 
an'afltiliate of the American Federa- 
:tlon of Labor, claims a menribership 
of more than l06 of the 135 Fleischer 
artists. Employees of, other depart- 
ments, including the entire music 
department, are also striking, the 
union asserts. 

Possibility ot boycott and' picket- 
ing of all theatres showing Popeye 
And. Betty Boop cartoonis is seen in 
the CADU action of taking com- 
plaints to the Central Trades and 
tabor Council. Union is also seeking 
active aid of . the Federated Motion 
Picture Crafts, Motion Picture Ma- 
chine Operators arid the American; 
Federation . of Musicians. Cartoon- 
ists Guild; softie Of whose, merhbers 
belong to the CADU, is contriljuting 
its headquarters, as strike office., 
, JLouis Nizer, attorney for Fleischer, 
declares the studio is running , at ap-. 
proximately 75% capacity. Fleisclier's 
alleged refiisal to bargain is based on: 
the cliim that his'business is not i 
teritate, as defined bjr the Wagner 
act. Interstate business, producer, 
clai is done by Paramount, is 
releasing, outlet. NO meetings 
tween Fleischer and the strikers are 
schisduled at present, but CADU offi- 
cials claim the cartoon producer has 
Unofficially offered to reirtstate the 
discharged employees if the strike is 
called off. 



Mary Pickford has received an of-: 
fer for financing arid, if plans carry 
through, she riiay . re-enter produc 
tion for United Artists release, mak 
irig one; picture, during the coming 
year (1937-'3iB). Further steps to- 
wards setting up, production are ex 
pected to follow Miss PickfOrd's 
marriage to Buddy Rogers in the 
near future. 

Star left New York' Friday (7) for 
Olathe, Kan., to visit a day with 
Rogers' parents, and on Monday (10) 
boarded a train for the Coast. 
■ Miss Pickford's production venture 
i -partnership with Jesse L. Lasky 
last season blew up after making 
two pictures. 



Various Reorg: Ci r o u p s 
Worked for Themselves, 
Not the $t6ckholders, 
Washingtpn Points Outr— 
Kind to Fprtington Bunch, 
jbuf No One in Clear 



'THOSE BANKERS' 



L. A, Film Rowers 
Take Secret Vole 
For Tie With lA 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Organization Of film row exchange 
workers, perfected at a secret meet- 
ing last Thursday ight (6), will 
affiliate With: the International Alli- 
ance of Theatrical Stage Employees 
and already has formulated demands 
to be presented to the distributinig 
companies. , 

Demands include a 40-hour Week, 
$40 weekly fOr head shippers, $35 
fOr head poster clerks, $32.50 for as- 
sistant shippers: and $25 each for as- 
sistant poster clerks and inspectors. 
Demands represent considerable in- 

Cl'63S6S« 

Virtually 100%. of the back office 
staffs attended the meeting. 




STRIKE ISSUE 



Gordon's London Trip 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Max Gordon will depart for New 
York May 21 and has arranged a 
JJay 26 sailing date for London. 
While in New York he will check up 
Oft shows and office business. He 
expects to remain abroad , six weeks 
and then will return to. Broadway 
JO get a couple of shows ready for 
«U production. 

Goidon is winding up his RKO 
cuoies next week. 



Hollywood, May 11. 

American Federation of Labor has 
declined to - take any part in the 
strike situati ;here. Replying to 
chiirges of strikers that the Inter 
national Alliance of Theatrical Stage 
Employes was riioving in on. jobs va^ 
caited by riieriibers of Federated Mo- 
tion Picture Crafts, Willi,am Green, 
AFL president, dispatched the fol- 
lowing wire to Carl Axelle Of FMPC: 

'Corhplaint submitted in your letr 
ter should be, made to national 
unions coriducting ; the sti'ike -iri 
Holly wood, of which you. and - your 
associates are mcn^^ers. American 
Feideration of • Labor did hot order 
the strike at Hollywood (ponse-, 
quently yOU cannot hold .it respon- 
sible for ifferCnCes which" have 
arisen: between organizations involv 
dd. Notwithstanding this fact I ill 
do all I can to be helpful in over 
coming complaints filed In your tele- 
g;ram.' 



Washington, May ll 
indignant criticism of various 
practices and incidienta in the reor 
ganizatioii of ParamOurit Publix 
Corp. was voiced Monday ,..(10) by 
the Federal Securitiies & Exchange 
commission in i voluminous report 
on corporate hoiise-cleanings; under 
bankruptcy statutes. Film company 
was cited as an outstanding example 
of many activities which are not in 
the public interest, although the con- 
demnation was tempered by occa- 
sional praise for various parti . 

Recommending a ^yide variety of 
desirable changes in the present 
laws, the S.E.C. roasted bankers, 
lawyers and insiders in the Para 
mount matter, declaiming at length 
on conspiracies, to get hold of the 
'spoils' of reorganization.. Comniish 
noted that the Par case evidenced 
the need for new statutes- protecting 
investors against scheming by groups 
seeking patronage, power and profits 
MOst of the report Was devoted to 
a review Of evidence obtained dur 
ing th.e twO-year inquiry .into reor 
ganizations, and the bulk of the crit 
icism Was general. COmmish, how- 
ever, did considorable finger-point- 
ing at individuals and groups in- 
volved in the* Par wrangling, while 
many recommendations were based 
on abuses and practices brought to 
light in studying the film company 
pverhauling. 

Frlend4y to Fortington 
While outspoken in censuring cer 
tain parties in the Par proceedings, 
the report, on the whole. Was friend- 
ly towiard .the Fortington group, 
which temporarily gained domina- 
tion as a result of the reorganization 
Cited as illustrative of the experi 
ences and activities of outsiders, the 
record of the Fortington group in 
forcing a significant house-cleaning 
was termed 'remarkable,' although 
the Corhmish questioned some of its 
motives and accomplishments. 

Observing that a serious fight for 
control occurs only when a power 
ful, well-heeled outside crowd tries 
to dictate reorganization, the Com- 
mish analyzed in detail the maneu- 
yerings of the Fortington bloc (At 
las Corp., Electrical Research Prod 
ucts, Inc., Lehman Bros, and British 
ihsui^ance interests), the opposing 
financial forces (principally Kuhn 
(tilontinued on page 27) 

Strike Issiie Postpones 
Prod, of New 



Moss' Television Prowl 

Bi S,. Moss sailed for London, Sat- 
urday (8), to be' gone for several 
weeks. He. probably will tour the 
continent surveying the theatre Sit 
uation. 

Among Moss* Jntenti 'Whilc 
abroad -will be looking ' lele 

vision developments. 



APART 



Rubens, John Balaian Moving Into 
St. Louis; A. J. Balaban Retinng? 



Playing It Safe 



Hollywood, May 11. 

With the strike, thing eimbar- 
, rassing in a lot of places, some 
stars spent a lot of ti last 
Week looking around for ways 
to duck )thout bringing the 
main issue into the arenas.. 

Many went out of town and 
couldn't be reached even by 
telephone. Others, figuring that 
if : a strike is called it would be 
a long one, put in various phys- 
ical disabilities as reasons for 
hot being Available for some 
time.- 



Coast Indies Ask 
Exclusion From 



•1 • 




Hollywood, May, 11. 

Independent Theatre Owners of 
Southern California last Friday (7 ) 
issued a statement of neutrality in 
the Hollywood labor situaitiOn iand 
asked that independent houses hot 
be included i najti - 

tre picketing plan, - 
gested by the Federated Moti - 
ture Crafts; 

President Jack Y. Berman pointed 

out that 'the producers have no in- 
terest in the Operation of any inde- 
pendent theatre in this territory and 
therefore the independent theatres 
should not be in any wise affected 
by this controversy.' 
. ITO statement added: 'We urge 
thie striker and the public to, appre- 
ciate the position of the independent 
theatres. We are certain that they 
will not purposely cause needless in- 
jury' to the , innocent bystander in 
this regrettable controversy.' 

Circuit operators appeared to take 
the attitude that the picketing issue 
will be dealt with, when and it the 
contingency arises. 



ART DIREQORS 
BAND TOGETHER 



Hollywood, May 
Stri scared everybody but Sam 
Goldwyn into slowing down produc- 
tion pending, the decision of actors 
last week. Studios .were hard 
pressed . for rea.sOns, preferring to 
give any excusje other than the 
strike. 

Warners. , i'i Selz-. 

nick and Metro all duckea Starting 
pictiu" , Metro, with a convention, 
of . its sailes - staff On hand had the 
only legitimate :reason and the strike 
put a crimp in the pep talks, 

Most cheerful news the strikers 
got from this source was Al Licht- 
man's plea for higher tatifCs at the 
b.o. Many figut^ed that to mean 
that the raises demanded would be 
granted and passed on to the peas- 
antry.: 

Two i3ictures, scheduled to start 
yesterday (Moh.) at 20th-Fox, were 
postponed pending oulcorne ot strike 
discu.ssions, 

Films are 'Lancer iid 'Wild 

and Woolly," 



isi May IL 
J;- Rubens, gim. of Paramount- 
Great Lakes, subsid of B.&K. of Chi- 
cago, and John Balaban, have started 
negotiations for acquiring or erecting 
houses ih t. Louis. Pair. made a. 
recent tour through the territory. . 

Fatichon & Marco have a virtual 
monopoly on . theatre operation in 
downtown St. LoUis, controlling four 
of the town's five deluxers; and the 
St. Louis Amusement CO. operates 
the biggest string of nabes. Between 
'em they have staved off invasions 
by other outfits for., some years, but 
dope is that Rubens atid Balaban are-, 
determined to move in. 

Plans call for Par-Great Lakes to 
go into Belleville, Wood River, East 
St. Louis. Edwardsville, Centrali 
and several other spots in the South- 
ern Illinois ;coal and corn belt. Areai 
is now controlled by local opcratOrii 
and several small indie circuits. 



Chicago. , May 11. 

Resi^inatjon of A. J. Balaban as 
president Of the Balaban Theatre 
Corp, next Week will take him cpm-' 
pletely out of the picture as an ac- 
tive member of the firm and, ex- 
cepting for a financial interest in 
three houses, he will take no inter- 
est in it. 

Harry Arthur has been in touch 
with Balaban several times, trying 
to interest hi rh ih the Harry Arthur- 
FanchOn & Marco string in St, Louis, 
without success, Balaban deciding 
he prefers to st<?p out entirely. At . 
the present time he has a small ln» 
terest in Milford, the Urbana Cam- 
pus and a quarter h^terest in .th« 
Esquire here. 

Resignation . means that Sam 
Meyers; will have to go it . alone oa 
any future theatre deals. 



Good if. It Works 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Leopold Stokowskl and Homer 
Tasker are working on a mixing, 
panel to handle intakes from 19 
microphones, at once. 

Device will be used on takes for 
Universal's 'lOO Men and a Girl.' 



Hollywood. May 11; 

Art. directors representing majot^ 
studios, including chiefs and aS 
sistants, formed their own organ- 
ization for collective bargaining pur- 
poses last Thursday night (6), 
Around 85 were present at the or- 
ganization meeting. 

roup passed the follow i rcsol u r 
tion: ■ 

'We, the undersigned, have formed 
ourselves into the Society of Motion 
Picture Art irectors for the pur^ 
pose of notifying the motion picture 
producers that we. propose to rep- 
resent ourselves, and not be. rep- 
resented by any other body of nien 
or any organization.'- 

Present were Van Nest Polglase, 
Sturges Carhe, Richard Day^ Stephen 
Gbosson, William Darling, Ben Hetzr 
brun, JOhii Hartrider, aiid many 
more. Ccdric Gibbons, Metr .rl 
head, is also a menibcr. 



Drivers' Warning 

Hollywood, May 11.;^ 
iudi rivers' local has served 
notice on strikers that Violence will 
be met ih kind. Ultimatum was 
laid down when trucks enroute to 
Warners and 20th-Fox were upset 
Tcamslers are sending out squad 
Cars to guard .transportation move- 
nienls to and from studios. 



Ti'ft'de M«rl( )ieRt«tered 
FOUI^DKd' by SIMIQ srLVKBMAN 
I'ukllNlied IVeekly by VAniKTV. lac. 

.Sid Sllycrmnn, President 
IG4 Went Vftlh Street, Now York City 



BUnsciUPT'ON 


Anil'ual.'. , . . .ft 








Vol. 


1^ No. 9 



INDEX 



roducli 19 

Bills 
Burlesqu 

Chatter 60 

Dance 48 

25 

15 Years Ago. 50 
Film ,17 
Film 13 
Forui 

House Revi 5*2 
In.sidc-^Legii, 

Ih.side— pictures 25 
Insidc--Radio. 3tt' 
Inlcrnatipnal. 15 

Lcgiti' .., '..4 . ,54-5'/; 

Li lo rati 58 
Music' .... . . . . . . . ... . . . .46-48 

News from the DailjoK. , . M2 

Nile Clu ■ 

Obituary. 

Outdoors 

Pictures . , . .... — ....... 

Radi .,.29-45. 

Radio-T^Paci 45 

Radi Iteviows 

Radio Shoy/t 42 

Units 53 

Vaudeville , 49-50 

Women ... 25 



4 



VARIETY 



PICTUIIES 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 




Reps of Majors Expected to 
On Round Table Discussions 



ee 



with 



MPTOA s Radio Conunittee May 18 



Producer-distributor coriipani6s are 
reported favorably disposed to. a 
coiiierenqe with the radio committee 
of the Motion Picture Theatre Own- 
ers of America at which the highly 
controversial broadcasting issue will 
be discussed and, on their own 
initiative, are preparing to soften 
the complaints of exhibitors against 
stairs or films on the air by doing 
everything • possible to curb the 
practice. While some of the pro- 
ducers look askance at radio broad- 
casting, in spite of howling by ihe 
theatres, the effort to improve film 
se<iuences or appearances of stars 
bii radio is said to be general. 

At the meeting which the MPTOA 
has scheduled for Tuesday (18) at 
the Astor, this move by the pro- 
ducers will undoubtedly be discussed 
piending any. possible ultimatums 
later from the exhibitor side attack-; 
ihg the continuance of. broadcasting.! 
no matter how good the presentation. 
MPTOA commltteie, headed by Walter 
Vincent of the Wilmer & Vincent 
chain, is declared to feel that if 
broadcasting by stars and film com- 
panies is to continue under ahy 
possible compromise, ihe prestenta- 
tiort from the radio studios must 
reflect the same care which is taken 
at the studios. Otherwise, it is held, 
a star or picture suffers by being on 
this air, regardless of the fact that 
the mere billing for radio may draw 
fans away from theatres. 

May 18 date .set by Vincent is 
tentative and may be changed Unless 
ihajor producer-distributors can . all 
attend oh that date. Representatives 
from home offices are expected at 
the meeting, together with one or 
more persons from, the Motion Pic- 
ture Producers &; Distributors of 
America. Will H. Hays will attend if 
his proposed trip to California does 
not , conflict He has been planning to 
go west several weeks how, but no 
departure date has yet been set, 

Vincent's comtnittee, including 
Arthur Lockwood, Sam Pinanskl and 
Lewen Pizor, planned the mfeeting 
with members of major producer 
distributors as a flrst step preliminary 
to a round-table conference to which 
exhibitor leaders and radio broad 
jcastihg executives are expected to be 
iiivited. Original plan of the com-^ 
ihhtee .to poll' exhibitors of all 
classes throughout the country may 
be; dr.pped because of the cost and 
time required, although in exhibitor 
circles it is felt that a cross-section 
of theatre operating opinion is 
nesded as a convihcer If the com 
mittee is to carry the proper weight 
with the producers. 

Exhibitors, are looking to this com 
mittee for very definite action, basec 
on the resolutions passed at the 
Miami convention of the MPTOA 
^and .are not expected to be satisfied 
'to let Vincent and . the other three 
members rely on any opinions on the 
radio issue which do not represent : 
the majority. 



How About Terrific'? 



Hollywood, May 4. 

press departments are beef- 
ing because the production end 
is muscling in. 

Praisers are asking ' what . 
they are going to use for ad-- 
jectives with producers gi:ab- 
bing off 'Gorgeous' (Grand Na- 
tional 'Exclusive* (Par) 
'Topper' (Roach). 




n 



to 

w Laemmle, Jr. 
As MG Producer 



Hollywood, May 11. 
Ciarl ' Laemtnle, Jr.'s first film un 
der his one-year producing agree 
ment with Metro will be 'The Ainaz' 
ing Dr. Clitterhpuse,' with James 
Whale directing. 

William Powell probably will be 
spotted in the lead, although he has 
told the Studio he wants a few 
nipnths off for rest; his eyes bother 
ing him of late. 

Work is scheduled to begin late 
in August Laemmle.'s contract be 
cprties effective June L He is in New 
York priesently. 



PAR FURTING WITH 
ROADSHOW IDEA AGAIN 



Undertaking a policy of roadshows 
for the coming season. Paramount 
plan^ setti 'Souls at Sea' into nu- 
merous keys on a two-a-day basis 
June 18/ followed by 'Hijgh, Wid^ and 
Hahdsorne' July 18, and later on 'Anr 
gel,' or other pictures which suggest 
roadshow stature... Harry Royster, . of 
the Par theatre department 'yrill han- 
dle thie twice-daily showings undei: 
Bob Gillham. 

Present plans are to go into either 
the <Jriterion or Glob^ in New York, 
depending on where the best deal 
can be made. Par presently is in the 
former house, with 'Make ' Way for 
Tomorrow' on grind under a per- 
cientage arrangement and spending 
close to $15,000 on an ad campaign. 
; In addition to a New York run at 
$2.20 top, 'Souls at^ea' will go into 
Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, 
Detroit, Atlantic City and possibly 
Cleveland. 

Decision on theatre its New 
York roadshow pictures will be 
reached aifter the arrival from the 
Coast tomorrow (Thursday) of . Neil 
Fi Agnew. 

♦Lost Horizon' (Col) is nearing the 
end of its $2 run at the Globe now. 



Snubbed^And Piqued 



CJhicago, May 11. 
oys on radio row are sore at the boys on film row, the former 
claiming that they're neyer invited to the parties given by the latter 
arid that their press and exploitatipn departments belong just as much 
ias do gentlemeii of the press. Radio boys feel hurt at this oversight, 
claiming that they can do as much to plug visiting celebrities ai? can 
the dailies, and are often more anxious to do so. 

Also say that they're quit6 willing tp arrangie interviews ; and even 
build special programs on, a moment's notice, just- tp attract attention 
to a picture company's star, but that they're not going to run after: 
anybpdy to do it. Radio is now too important to crash a p&rty and, 
from now on, unlesi^ their press department gets "a telegram to^ come 
to the press party, none of the stations are even goinig to rfecognize 
, rthat a glamour girl is in toWn. 
. AH three majpr netwprks' men claim it's npt the free dri 
the principle of the thi 



STOP ORDER ISSUED 
BY SEC VS. CONDOR 



Washington, May 11. 
top order was issued ' today 
against Condor Picts. by the Securi- 
ties and Exchange commission. Body 
Upheld the original information filed, 
about two weeks agp^ in which it 
was charged that Cjohdor omitted 
necessary facts and gave a misleadr 
ing appearance in explaining ar- 
rangements fpr studio space on the 
Coast. Company is seeking regis- 
tration for about $l,Co'iiO,000 worth 
of stock. 

Apparently amendments, to the or- 
iginal registration plea made by Con- 
dor failed to give the full and com- 
plete information sought on rental 
agreements since today's order 
backed up the Priginal findings of 
Examiner Richard "Townsend. Con- 
dor owns no studios, but produces 
in space leased from RKO-Pathe and 
Western Service (Grand .National 
property). 



U Passes Out New Tags 
In Eigh-Piclure Shuffle 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Universal went on a title-changing 
spree last week, hanging hew tags 
on eight pictures. 

'Night Patrol', becomes 'Midnight 
Raiders,' 'Heather of the High Hand' 
is 'The Lady Fights Back,' Wash- 
ingtoh Correspondence' switched to 
'Mightier Than the Swprd,* 'Syhr 
thetic Gentleman' is released as 'A 
Welcome Imppstor,' 'Man Who Cried 
Wolf becomes 'Too Cleyer to Live,' 
'As Before Better Than Before' 'Yes- 
terday's Kisses'; 'New Orleans,' 'TP- 
night We Laugh,' and 'Scoop,' 'That's 
My Story.' 



Hospital Scenes Draw Heavy Cuts 
From British (4«$Qi^^^ 



HENIE'SICECO.BACK; 
OUTDOORS TOO CHILL 



.Hollywood, May 11. 

$pnja Hehie's new ice-^skating 
starrer, "Thin Ice,* was started at 
2Qth-F6x studio last Thursday (13) 
after ' an attempt to obtain outdoor 
shots at Rainier National Park 
flivved due to bad weathien 

Company sent Miss. Henie and 
Tyrone Power to Rainier with sup-- 
port camera crew, and director, but 
ho footage resulted. Effects ^yill be 
made with process shots.. 



20th May Keep Cuihnan 
And Lesser at Roxy, N.Y 



Oh acquisition of the Roxy, 
by jJOthrFox under the latest bfferi 
which looks tp go through, it is ex- 
pected- that Howard' St Cullman, ire- 
ceivei of the. theatre, will be placed 
iri charge, and that the present, opr 
• eratlng arrahg^meht . with Fanchon 
Mairco .Will continue. Irving Lesser 
' : running the theatre for Cullman 
and. is Understood to be favored to 
remain at thiail ppstrih view pf re- 
sults sfapvvh.' , 
'Agreement with iOth-Fpx Is re- 
pprted to be that Cullman is to go 
along with the theatre after it has 
been turned Over to 20th, to the ex- 
clusiPn of the iSkburas Bros: who 
arc the Fox thieatre operators. 

Cullman came from politics and 
the Port Authority administration in 
NeVir York to take over the Roxy 
as its receiver about four years ago. 



Par lipping Sherman 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Production spot at Paramount to 
be vacated around July 15 hy B. P, 
iSchulberg niay be taken over by 
Harry Sherman, who has been turn 
ing out. the Hppalong CaSsidy series 
fPr Par release. 

So far negotiations' haven't passed 
the talking. stage. 



Spitz to Coast 



Leo Spitz, president of RKO, will 
be leaving fPr the.Coast at the close 
of this week or early next week, 
preparatory to his company's an- 
nual sales convention, which will be 
held there latier. ' 

On the CkMst, Spitz will check in 
with Sam J. Briskin, studio chief, on 
prpductipn conditions. 



Alice Faye on Loan 

For DeSylva's 'Fancy' 

Hollywood, May 11. 
B. G.' DeSylva has borrowed Alice 
Faye from 20th-Fox for his forth- 
coming Universal musical, 'Young 
Man's Fancy.' Others in the cast are 
Ken Murray, Ella Logan, Larry 
Biake and Dave Appolon's orches- 
tra. 

No starting date has been set. 



Del Ruth Repacted 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Roy Del Ruth has been given a 
new directing pajier by 20th-Fox. 

Director is now pn loan tp MetcP, 
where he is handli 'Broadway Mel- 
ody 



AT&T, ERPI Cleared 
In Anti^Triist Suit; 
Dragged on Since '32 



Wilmington, May 11. 

Federal . court for the district - of 
Delaware, through Judge Nields, has 
handed down a deciree in the anti- 
trust suits instituted by Geheriai 
Talking Pictures (3orp., and Duovac 
Radio Corp. against the American 
Telephone & Telegraph Co., Western 
Electric and Electrical Research 
Products wheireby the defendants 
were cleared. As indicated by his 
earlier opinion. Judge Nields how 
has formally dismissed chiarges 
against A, T; & T. and Western 
Electric and has denied the injunc- 
tion sought against ERPI. GTP is 
expected to appeal from the decision. 

Court merely retains jurisdiction 
in case ERPI should later try to 
enfprce the so-called 'equality' and 
'repair and replacement- clauses in 
some of early contracts. 

These provisions were found nec- 
es-sary and legal in Judge Nields' 
decision during the research and 
promotion period of talking films. 

Court fpunq. out subsequently that 
ERPI did not enforce these restric- 
tions to suppress competition and 
later voluntarily eliminated them 
from its contracts. 

Latest, decree winds up litigation 
dating back to Sept., 1932, dispos- 
ing of charges brought in the suits 
against ERPI and associated coni- 
panies in'.the Bell.$ystem of attempt- 
ing to maintain a monopoly in the 
talking picture equipment field. 



WHO WANTS TO BUT? 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Universal wPuld like tP sell its 
rights to 'Delay in the SUh,' Anthony 
Thome novel written against the 
background of the war In Spain. 

Picture recently v;'as rubbed off 
Robert Presnell's proiluctipn slate. 



Radio Film Broadcasts 



'Prince and Paaper^ 

'The Prince and the Pauper' (WB) dramatization on ^Hollywood Hotel* 
over CBS last Friday (7) night offered a striking example of how radio 
may be used to hypo a film's tiniieliness. 

Already cashing in plenty on thei piG> treicttment of ^yaity in general 
and the Coronation in particular, Warners obviously went to town, ib 
punch home the point. Long sequence near the close of the program 
portrayed the ceremonies of a Coronation, working in ah impressive 
amount bf background, color and vital functionis of the crowning. 

While that portion pf the session may hot have conformed to the usual 
entertainment standards, it seemed like extraordinary showmanship un- 
der the circumstances. The very, fact that the whole Coronation sequence 
lost much of its punch because the visual aspect of it was missing may 
have reacted to impel dialers to see what they had previously only heard. 

Otherwise, 'Prince and the Pauper' was well uP to normal 'Hotel' drama" 
tization levels. Stpry has the weakness (from a radio vie>ypoint) of two 
main characters who are remarkably alike. That fact, confusing on the 
screen. Is doubly so via ether. But Billy and Bobby Mauch carried it off 
as well as could be expected. And they managed to instill conviction into 
their characterizations. 

Errol Flynn again demonstrated his radio liersonality and the scripting 
brought but the punchy qualities of the yarn. 

Via radio, 'Prince and the Pauper* has suspense, excitement and reality. 
What is mote important, it may contribute to public interest and curi- 
osity in the film. 



Hollywood, May ,11. 

rip of Joe. .1. Breen to England 
to check on censor matters fpr 
American pictures, as well as rit- 
ish product . ^0 be released i 
country, brought him back 
qiiite a nuiriber Pf 'don'ts' for Ameri- 
can prpducefs. 

■Bulletin sent out by Breeh to 
inembers of the Hays organizati 
.warned them .that the British Boar 
of Film censors, had imposed stri 
gent new regulations ihst . the 
Showing of sordid sickness or scenes 
of surgical operations in picturies. 

As a result of this mandate several 
recent Ahierican and British pictures 
having scenes of this type have been 
severely cut by the Bfritish censors/ 
In one case the bulletin narrates 
that deep inpissions were made in a 
picture in which experimentation on 
a monkey was. depicted. These 
scenes were deleted because the 
British Bpard wanted to avoid show- 
ing of scenes, dealing: with vivise.c-i 
tion or the use of animals for medi- 
-cal research, as this is a highly con- 
troversial subject pver there. 

In lahother picture the dramatic' 
climax! was ruined through the de- 
letibn pf an pperatipn on i. child. 
Cuts in this deletion were deep, with 
only brief, flashes allowed to skip 
bver the situation. 

Local studios have been advised 
that in all future productions, fon. 
safety's sake^ Where sickness and 
operation sequences are written into 
the scripts and shPt, these scenes 
should be made and the picture cut 
in such a . way that elimination of 
the scenes by the British censors 
will not spoil the dramatic values 
of the picture for showing abroad. 



PROSPERITY'S BACK 

So Says Wall Street — Pointing to 
Thosie L, A. Meets 



BARSKY LEAVES WB 
FOR GN PROD. BERTH 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Bud Barsky, who severed his 
Warners associate producer pact last 
Thursday (6), announced a new 
affiliation with Grand National the 
fpUpwing day to' handle production 
of a series of 'Wallaby Jim' pictures 
starring George Houston. 

First of the cycle, titled ■ 'Wallaby 
Jim of the Islands/ ill get started 
within a month, Wetjen 
jprovided the story. 



Mpney boys in Wall Street are 
viewing the long trek of picture 
company salesmen to the Coast for 
their conventions this year as a. cer- 
tain sign of. returned prosperity. 

They reigard it as distinctly bullish 
t^p ways. First is that it shows the 
cinema-makers have the necessary 
coin to gather their sales forces in 
Hollywood. Secondly, thiey feel that 
the visit to the studios Will have 
a grieat advantage in instilling un- 
usual enthusiasm on behalf of new 
season product, thus making for bet- 
ter sales effort and biz. 

With industry executives, they feel 
that a visit to the Hollywood plants 
where their , company creates the 
screen fare does wonders for a sales 
staff. Only recisbn that the picture 
companies in the past four or five 
years have not. gone for the Coast 
trip idea is that they haven't had 
enough extra coin laying around. 
Estimate is that the Coast cpnven- 
tions are costing each of the seven 
or more companies $150,000 to 
$200,000. 



Ginger Rogers Wili Have 
To Wait a Wliile Longer 



. Hollywood, May II. 

Radio has shelved 'Vivacious 
Lady,' intended as Ginger Rogers' 
initial sblo starrer, for at least four 
months and assigned the actress to 
support Katharine Hepburn in 'Stage 
Poor.* Illness of James Ste>yart was 
cited by the studio as , the reason for 
the change in plans. 

George Stevens transfers from 
'Vivacious Lady' to direct 'A Pamsel 
in Distress,* ' Fred Astaire solo; 



Sheehan's iii Town 

Winfield Sheehan is in 
There's a possibility, of his going 
with United Artists; Sheehan is not 
coninienting, and all indications are 
that plans as to his future are not 
yet definite. 

Only a few weeks agp, Sheehan's. 
name was linked with Universtil 
That seems to be off now. 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



60Z m BIZ FROM 




KEYS 




List of cities with populatibri of 200*000 or more, 
statistics including , number of theatres, seats arid rati 
in seating capacity, lollQws: 



together 'with 
Qf pppulatipn 

Ratio of 









Ck ^« v\ 


Population 






luapaciiy 


to beats 


New 




6 92)6 446 




D fl 




• • 


3 37(i 4:)ft 






irniiautjii**!! 




1 950 9isi 




o o 
o.H 


J^ICiruit fl •■»■•.•.••• « 


*■ .•. • 


1 703 395 


X ID,o la 








1 238 048 


1 7(! dfi9 


T n 


' V^ievcialllJI-. 




i 194 QR9 


191! Q1>«' 








A21 960 


if i>,oUT , 


O.il 




* * *. 


804.874 


7il n^R 


lyj.v... 






' 781 188 


QQ 91(1 




Pittsburgh ......> 


* .* * ■ 


669,817 


66,661 


io.o 


San Francisco . . . 


• • 


634,394 


84,856 


7.5 


Milwaukee 


• • f 


.578,249 


80,706 


7.2 


Buffalo, N. Y. . .. 


• • r 


573,076 


64,078 


8.9 


Washington 




486,869 


47,043 


10.3 : 


Minneapoli 


* *' * 


464,356 


50,788 


9.1 


New Orleans .... 


» • • 


458,762 


52,056 


8.8 


Cincinnati 




451,160 


48,183 


9.4 


Newark, N. w . 


• • • 


442,337 


62,557; 


7.1 


Kansas City, M<i 




399,746 


60,452 


6.6 


Seattle > 




365,583 


40,063 


9.1 


.Indianapolis .... . 


• • 


364,161 


46,092 


7.9 


Rochester, N. Y.. 




328,132 


38,741 


8.5 


jersey Gily 




316,716 


31,473 


10.1 


; Louisville 




307,745 


33,989 


9,1 


Portland^ 




301,iB15 


40,888 


7.4 


Houston 




292,352 


24,483 


11.9 


Toledo. . ......... 


• • • 


290,718 


29,339 


9.9 


Columbus rt... .. 


• • 4 


290,564 


39,218 


7.4 


Denver . . . t . . . 


• • • 


287,861 


38,857 


7.4 


Oakland, Cal. • 




284,063 


44,462 


6.4 


St* Pciul ••••••••• 


• • • 


271,606 


26,217 


10.4 


Atlanta 




270,366 


26,557 


10.2 


Dallas • ••••••••• 


■ • • 


260,475 


30,431 


8.6 


Birmingham 


■ « ■ • 


259,678 


14,778 


17.6 


Akron; 0. 




255.040 


22,778 


11,2 


Memphis ........ 




253,145 


25,621 


9.9 


Providence, 




252,981 


25,148 


10.1 


San Antonio .... 


■ • • 


23i;542 


21,781 


10.6 


Oniaha 


• • • 


214,006 


23,891 


90 


Syracuse 


• • • 


209,326 


28,623 


7.3 


Dayton, O. ...... 


• • • 


200,982 


21,257 


9.5 



Producers 
New 





on 



Navy Regulations 



Hollywood, May 11.^ 
Naval Department In a special 
bulletin forwarded to Joe Breen has 
Warned the producers as to -the con- 
ditions which must be met in order 
to sissure naval co-operation in the 
making of pictures. 

Attention of major studios is re- 
called to paragraph: II of the bulle- 
tin, which -says: 'In each case where 
the Navy co'^operates in the produc- 
tion of a motion picture play the 
finished production, together with all 
exposed film, must be delivered to 
the Navy Department for final ap- 
proval of scenes, dialog and titles 
beiEore it is released for ainy public 
showing, and the producer must 
agree not to use orperriiit to be used 
in any other mptibh picture play 
any Naval iscene made with this Co- 
operation until, the scenario and fin- 
ished production of such other pic- 
ture has beeh approved by the De- 
partment.' 

This regulation, the Navy pointed 
.out, applies in particular to pictures 
Jnade without actual Niayal co-opera- 
tion, but which contain . stock or 
library shots made with Naval 
proval and co-oi)eration. 



HAPPY DAYS, ETC. 



Wage 



Increases Handed 
At Par H. O. 



Around 



ap- 



New Gb¥'t 4-Reeler 



, Washington* May 11. 

New government film, showing 
construction of the Boulder darn 
from, the day when engineers first 
went to work on the huge project; is 
being readied for distribution by the 
Bureau of Reclamation. 

Cheered by the success of its first 
propaganda . pic, 'The Plow That, 
Broke the Plains,' Reclamation will 
offer both sound and 'silent versionis 
of the hew four-reeler. Number of 
prints from the official nsgative will 
be made available for loan to educa- 
tional institutions, civic organiza- 
tions, other groups apdi theatres also. 



Barney fialaban economy program 
i Paramount, instituted late last 
summer when Balaban became 
president, has now achieved its pur- 
pose, with Par in a . greatljy-im- 
proved ppsition and wage increases 
are Starting. First boosts Were re 
Ceiyed yiesterday (Tues.),: pay-day at 
the- P^r h.o. 

Salary raises are expected to be 
come general, biij; be applied mostly 
to people in the lower brackets, in 
eluding secretaries, stenographers, 
clerks, accountants, etc. They range 
up to $10. These people, together 
with those earning higher salaries, 
were severely cut several times on 
top of the depression and, with rare 
exceptions, "never got any of the , cuts 
back. 

Coincident with the granting of in 
creases, it is expected that staffs, will 
be increased where justified since, 
under the Balaban policy, all de 
partments were held down to an 
operating mi iriium. 




Over-Seating and Underseat- 
ing Studied^2^% of 3,- 
734 . Communities Having 
Cinemas Provide More 
Than Half the Coin 



Quimby Preps Briefs 



Hollywood, May ll. 
Fred Quiniby expects to start pro 
duction arouiid Aug. 1 :0n his in 
itial . Technicolor short for Metro, 
first of 13 which he. will make fpr 
the 1937-'38 , program, replacing 
the Harman-Ising- color cartoons 
Quimby, Metro short subject chief, 
is negotiating for rights to 'Captain 
and the Kids,' color comic now be 
ing released to. 280 .Sunday news 
papers. 

First of the. new series is due to 
be fieleased' around Nov. 1. Har 
ttiart-lsing will deliver .14 more: by 
the .end of October to close ptit its 
Metro deal. 



Auster Back to Coast 

I.slin Auster, of the Joseph I. Breen 
West Coast production administra- 
tion office, visited for several days 
in New York last week. 

Trip: east was not on official busi 
ness connected with his Haysian di 
vision, it was stated at Hays office 
Auster was here to testify in the 
WB trial for copyright infringement 
on 'Mayor of Hell.' 



N. Y. SEATING OKAY 



ixty percent of the box office in- 
come and film .rentals of icture 
theatres in the United States is con- 
centrated in 93 cities having a popu- 
lation in excess of 100,000 people! 
Thus only. 2%% of the 3,7i34 com- 
munities of the Country . boasting 
film houseis supply about 60% of the 
total revenue paid to- distributors/ 

This is .revealed in a special Com- 
pilation just completed by the Hays 
organization, showing the.- popula- 
troh, number Of theatres in ieaCh, to- 
gether with the total seating capacity 
and ratio of populace to the avails 
able Seats, in S3 cities. Figureis give 
vital statistics on these metropoli, 
including data indicating those which 
are oyerseated .and othei-s which 
verge oh being underseated, with the 
corporate city limits, outside draw- 
ing territory and other factors ac- 
counting for the condition in many 
situations. / 

Survey shows that New York City, 
with a; population of 6,930,446 and 
a total of 617 theatres having a seat- 
ing capacity of 775,393, hits the mean 
average for the nation 'in possessing 
ratio of population to the number 
of seats of 8,9. Cities of 100,000 or 
more covered have the same average 
ratio of populace to available seat- 
ing capacity. While the ratio in New 
York, as balanced against the num- 
ber of potential patrons listed inside 
the corporate, limits, would; indicate 
a tendency towards underseating;, 
such a situation does not exist. This 
is because Manhattan has such a vast 
outside populace from which to 
draw. 

Average seating capacity of the 
atres located in the cities surveyied 
was 1,021. Repprt showed that these 
93 cities represent 40% of the seat 
ing capacity in the U. S. or more 
than 4,000i00p of the 10,000,000 seats. 

Miami is tabbed as the most over 
seated city but it has more theatres 
and seating capacity than the normal 
population can fiU because of the 
influx of winter visitors. It's esti- 
mated that Miami's population of 
110,637 is about aoubled. in Winter 
months, which would make it, cOme 
nearer to being underseated. Figures 
reveal that the ratio of population 
to seats there is 5.5. 

Other cities Which are rated as 
overseated are inostly those with a 
population of slightly more than 
100,000. Thusi Reading, Penn., with 
111,171 population, .. has 13 theatres 
ind 19,348 seats; Utica, with 101,740 
people, '17 theatres and ^ 17,746 seats; 
and Albany, with 127,412 people, 17 
houses and 2i;038 seats. 

libs Anireles 
Angeles, which is ijsted as 
having a percentage of 7 0 Popula 
tion to seats, is considered outrigh'; 
overseated. Southern California 
metropolis has city limits which take 
in enough people to leaye few put- 
side Corhmunities from which to 
draw piatrdrtage. \ It is giyen 1,238, 
.048 population, with its .186 theatres 
and seati Capacity surpassing De 
troit. the other / hand, the 

Michigan city's ratio is 9.7, .tending 
towards being underseated. 

Oakland, Trenton, Kansas. City 
Mo,; San Diego, Hai-tford, Bridge- 
port, Los Angeles, Newark, and Mil 
waukee are regarded as being.in the 
overseated class. 

San Francisco's ratio is 7.5. tend 
ing to indicate overseating. Here 
again, the outside population of 
nearby cities is figurefll as. taking care 
of tiie surplussage. . 

Numerous southern cities are 
tabulated officially as. being iindier 
seated, with Birmingham leading the 
way on a ratio o£ 17.0. Here and in 
nriany other communities iri the 
south, the large colored population 
(Continued on page 8) 




As M BuOdup; May Ikce Issue 



6. Henry iii Person 



ice boy for a film com- 
pany was fired. To get evert 
ith his boss, ' the kid swiped 
.an. inter-office menib and sent 
the Simon Legree a note say- 
ing his services were not 
required after thie following 
Friday; Used only an i itial for 
sig. 

After five days of jittiEirs, the 
boss finally disco.vered the note 
was a hoax and .that he wa^s 
being criticised as unfair to the 
hoy. . So he called the young- 
ster and offered him back the 
. old job.. 

'Nothing doing,' the . id an- 
swered. 'I'in office boy ifor your 
boss now and he thinks my gag 
was so good he's going to teach 
me to sell films.' 




Hays OTi 
Opinion on Indie s 





'Nine old Men,' story behind the 
hews surrounding the Supreme. 
Court justices* written by Drew Pear- 
son and Robert' Allen, will be re- 
leased as a_ state rights feature after 
produced by Condor Pictures. At-, 
tempt was m^de to interest RiCO- 
Radip in distributing the feature, but 
it ijf understood that the company 
deemed it too controversial tO justify 
handling. 

Legal representative for the Pear- 
son-Allen writing team submitted 
the .script for this story to the Hays 
office production code division. Hay-' 
sians returned it without coihment, 
claiming that it would have to be 
presented by a film company as its 
property before an opi ion could be 
given, 

It was polhted out at the Hays office 
that the PCA has p&ssed on officially 
submitted scripts from other inde- 
pendent companleis». even though not 
members of the Motion Picture Pro- 
ducers and Distributors Association, 
in the past. But the production code 
division never considers manuscripts 
submitted by individuals because Of 
obvious difficulties which might arise 
subsequently or before the script 
actually is set by a prpducing com- 
pany. 



Frehke Says U Broke 
Pledger Sues for 145G 



Hollywood, May 11, 

Dr. Eugene Frcnke has filed suit 
in .Superior Court here against Uni 
versal for $145,424 based on tJ's as 
serted refusal to go ' through with a 
contract, with him whereby it was to 
share equally in the cost and profits 
of. -Life Returns.' ilm based on (jog 
resuscitation experiments conducted 
by Prof. Robert E. Cornish of the 
University of Californi 

Owing to U's decisi to recaiit, 
Dr. Frenke claims, he realized only 
$1,583 on his $48,008 investment. He 
is: the husband of Anna Sten. 



That old headache; .dpmmercial ad- 
vertising in regular screen releases, 
will be revived , and possibly given 
a /resh. slant this week when the 
'March of Time' delves into tlie in- 
tricacies of the current prize contest 
craze in the U- S. While the 'general 
treatment in this, issue will be to 
^how that American industrial firms 
have beien alert to the possiblliti 
Of cashing in on the gamblijig in- 
stinct pf the American public by giv- 
ing away something like $12,000,000 
in cash prizes in the past year, it 
will concentrate, to a great extent on 
the Old Gold plcturie prize contest, 
which to date has nearly 4,000,000 
entries, it is claimed; 

Althovigh the name of the tobacco, 
firm is not specfiflcally mentioned^ 
numerous details and vital: facts 
he contest are included in the clip. 
Other factors have also been 
rangeci to make it Clear that the 
reel editors intended not -only to 
take advantage of the contest's pop- 
uarity but to make it an obvious 
medium for exhibitors to arrange 
tie-ups which could not help but 
ri In the cigarette and brand 
name. 

Industry spokesmen envision the. 
March of Time' Ing the bull 

by the hlDrns in this matter. Ad- 
mittedly done in this reel as a mat- 
ter ■ of ^ ::perlment, It is understood 
the producers feel that any intro- 
(ductioh of .a screen ad slant is justi- 
fied by what has been done for ex- 
hibitors in pptential exploitation 
possibilities, Thus, the release date 
is the day before 'the contest closes. 
With winners not expected to be 
known for months,, reel execs esti- 
mate that, the gopd play-date pos- 
sibilities will have been exhausted 
by that time. They estiihate that ai 
least 25% of the some 4,000,000 con'* 
testants will be interested. 

With Haysians indicating recently 
that the 'March of Time' comes 
under the prgahization's jurisdiction, 
because released by RKO-Radio, • 
member company, this, inay produce 
a definite showdown on the question, 
of whether the once-a-month release 
is a newsreel or an outright short 
subject. If placed in the latter classi- 
fication, it would pass through the 
eastern code admihistratipn office of 
the Motion. Picture Producers 8c Dis* 
tributors Association. As a newsreel, 
it would not. 



Glazer 'S Par Washup 



Hollywood, May ll. 

Benjamin Glazer will wind up his 
t\yo-year associate producer contract 
at Paramount about the middle of 
July, after Completing 'Double or 
Nothing.' 

Glazer is i^lanning a long vacation 
in northern Europe. 



COWDIN NIXES 





Hollywood^ May 11. 

At a inner tendered to 50, Unl-r 
versal department heads, J.: Cheever 
Cow.din^ board chairman, quashed 
rumors' of dissatisfaction 'witti 
Charles . Rogers, executive prodiic- 
er, Boss stated that Universal has 
the utmpst confidence in Rogers' 
ability to pperate the plant .and. that 
no change Wcis ever considered.: 

In dissipating the myth Cowdi 
stated that: 'RumOrs printed 
circiulated that other men in the picr 
ture industry had been offered the 
postrof. execUtiye producer for Unl'^: 
versal are not true.' 

Cowdin further said: 'No consi 
oration has. been given tp a change 
i the post iand neither I nor my 
associates have had any conversa- 
tions or negotiations with any one 
directly or indirectly with that end 
in view.'; 



Jack Cohn to Coast 

Jack Cohn, vice-president of Co- 
lumbia Picts., is due to hop for the 
Coast shortly for confabs ,with his 
brother, Harry Cohn, company 
president. 

Not certai 
gcr there. 



VARIETr 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wcdnesdaji May 12, 1937 



Open Season on 
1)anceVFair 
'Nighf Falls, 23 Cvlnternes/ 13 G 




iios Angeles, Maiy 11. 
Trade pretty spotty at the first 
nihSi with , managers trying to figure 
but alibis. Grosses on current week 
are considerably below previous 
week's takes arid outlook isn't any 
too bright for the next couple of 
stanzas; 

'Night Must: FalV : hew Robert 
•Mbjitgdmery opus, is disappointment 
at the day-date State and Chinese, 
while Radio's 'Shall We Dance,' with 
the polpular Astaire-Ginger Rogers 
combo, is not living up to. expecta- 
tions. ' 

Towri's only two-a-day attraction, 
•Lost Horizon,* goes into lOtti week, 
with about two more likely befbt'e 
the wiridup.. 

Estimates for lliis Week 

Chinese (Grauman) (2,028; 30-40- 
55-75 )--'Night Must Fall' (MG) and 
•Way Out West' (MG), dual. Just 
fair trade , iait $10,000,. but expected in 
view Of cohditiohs generally. Last 
week, Wake Up and Live^ (20th) 
and 'Song ©f the Gity- (MG), fared a 
little bietter but no rave at $11,500. 

Downtown (WB) (1,800; 30^40-55- 
65 )— 'Mountain Justice' (FN ) and 
•Melody for Two' (WB), dual. This 
combo will have to be satisfied with 
slim $5,000. Last week, 'Woman 
Chases Man' (UA) and "Men In 
Exile' (FN), weak, $5,600. . 

Four Star (Fox) (900; 55-83-1,10- 
1.65)— lost Horizon'. (Col ) (9th 
week). Nearing end' of its run: Last 
week; eighth, finished with- $5,700, 
satisfactory. . . 

Hollywood (WB) (2.756; 30-40-55- 
65)— 'Mountain Justice) (FN) and 
•Melody for Two' (WB), dual. Do- 
ing a little better than its day-dater 
(Downtown), but none too forte . at. 
$5,000 or bit oven Last week, 
•Woman Chases Man*. (UA) arid 'Men 
In 5xUe' (FN), okay $7,400. 

Paniages (Pah) (2,700; 30-40-55)-r- 
I'Shall We Dance* (RKO). Oil with 
rest of town, but okay at around 
$i2i000. Last week, 'Woman I Love^ 
(RKO) and 'Too Many Wives' 
(RKO), faiir $6,200 in eight days. 

Paramount (Fartmar) (3,595; 30- 
40-55)-— 'Internes Money' (Par) and 
stage show. Couple of previews 
. helping pile up fair $13,000 currently. 
Last week, 'Racketeers in Exile* 
(Col), with stage show hieaded by 
Buddy Rogers, finished with $14,500, 
good. 

RKO (2,950; 30-40-55)- 'Shall We 
Dance! (RKO). Biz below anticipa- 
tions at $11,500. Last vreek, 'Too 
Many Wives' (RKO) and 'Woman I 
Love' (RKO)i oke for dualer at $7,- 
200. 

State (Loew-Fox) (2,024; 30-40-55- 
75)— 'Night Must Fall? (M(j) and 
•Way Out West' (MG), dual. Trade 
way off and best in sight is $12,700. 
Last week, 'Wake Up and Live' 
(20th) and 'Song of the City' (MG), 
below expectations at $15,100. but 
profitable. 

United Artists (Fox-UA) (2,100; 
30-40-55)— 'Wake Up and Live' 
(20th) and 'Song of the City* (MG), 
dual. On moveover good at $5,000. 
Last week, 'Star Is Bom' (UA) and 
•You're in the Army Now' (GB), 
very good $5,600. 

Wilshire (Fox) (2,296; 30-40-55- 
65)— 'Wake Up and Live' (20th) and 
'Song of the City' (MG), dual. Con- 
tinued first run okay $8,000. Last 
week, 'Star Is Born' (UA) and 
You're ' Army Now' (GB), hit 
smash $9,000,.best in weeks. 



'Star' MontTs Best 
6.0. Bet at $10,000 



Montreal, May . 
Only one of the current shows 
looks like big biz-getter, 'A Star Is 
Born,' at Palace, heading for $10,000; 
exceptional. 'CJood Earth' is holding 
up well at His Majesty's. Balarice just 
average. 

Estimates for This Wieek 

His Majesty's (CD (1,600; 50)— 
•The Good Earth* (MG) (2d week). 
May touch $6,000 cuirrently, after 
good $6,500 in first week. 

Palace <CT) (2,700; 50)— 'Star Is. 
.orn': (UA). . This is tbpnotcher cur- 
rently, pointing to $10,000, very good. 
Last week, 'Wake Up' (20th) and 
Tair Warning' (Brit), fair $7,000. 

Capitol (CT) (2,700; 50)— 'Prince 
and PauperV (WB). Not likely to 
be ritiiich over $6,500, fair. Last 
week,, 'Way Out West' (MG) and 
'Song of CJity' (MG), average $6,000. 

Loew's (M. T. Co.) (3,200; 50)-t 
•Internes Can't Take Money' (UA) 
and 'Girl from Scotland Yard' (Col), 
dual, with vaude. Will drojp to $10,-. 
000 currently, fair. Last week. Cab 
Galloway band plus *MeIody for Two' 
(WB) and 'Penrod and Sam* (Rep), 
$15,000, very good. 

Princess (CT) (2,300; 50)— 'Ele- 
pha)it Boy' (UA) arid "This'U Make 
You Whistle' (Brit.). Won't run to 



much more -than $5,500,. good enough. 
Last week, 'Man of Affairs' (Brit) 
and 'When Love Is Younig' (Col), 
$4,500, fair. 

cinema de Paris. (France-Filrii) 
(600; 50)T-^'Marius et Fanny.' They 
do not look , for more than $1,200, 
poor, on this reissue. Last week, 
third repeat of 'Koenigsmark), $1,000, 
fair. 

St. Denis (France-Film) (2,300; 34) 
-r-'Le Fils du Sheikh' and 'Les ju- 
hieaiux de Brighton.' Should pick 
gross up to $5,000, good. Last week, 
'M6nilmontant' and 'La Peau d'un. 
autre,' fair $4,500. 

BUFF. BLAH; 



Buffaib, May 11. 
'Cafe Metropole' Is; showing high 
heels at the Buffalo this week. Ise- 
where current, period looks like ari 
off stanza. 

imates for This Week 
Bafifalo (Shea) (3,600; 30-40-55)— 
'Cafe Metropole' (20th). Got good, re- 
views and' doing snappy business for 
around $14,000. Liast week, .'History 
Made Night' (UA), slipped to only 
fair $11,400. 
. Century (Sheai). (3,400; 25-35)— 
'Poker Flat' (RKO) and 'Midnight 
Court' (WB). Looks about average 
$6,500. Last week, 'Murder College' 
(Par) and 'Logger! (RKO), okay 
$6,900. 

Great Lakes (Shea) (3,400; 30-50) 
—'Prince and Pauper' (WB). De- 
veloping, strength and may do nice 
$10,000. Last, week, , 'Romeo and 
Juliet' (MG), about ' as expected at 
so-so $8,400". 

Hipp. (Shea), (2,460;. r4Q)— 
'Family Affair' (MG) and 'Secre- 
tary' (WB). Average takings at $7,- 
OOO. .Last week, 'Wake Up arid Live' 
(20th) (2nd weOk),. very nice $7,300i 

Lafayette (Ind.) (3,400; 25-35)— 
'Glamour' (Col) and 'Find the Wit- 
ness' (Col). Satisfactory takirigs at 
$7,000. Last week, 'Silent Barriers' 
(GB) and 'Happy Go Lucky* (Rep), 
so-so $6,000; 



'DANCF HOT IN PROV. 



Astafre-Rogers, $10,500; " Trincei 
Pauper* Fair $9^000 

Providence, May 11, 
Only one main stem house looks 
set for good business, and that's the 



Ist Runs on Broadway 

(Subject to Change) 

Week of May 14 

Astor— 'Captains Courageous 
(MG ) (11), 

Capitbl--'They Gave Hirii a 
Gun' (MG) (13). 

Centra|-^'23'/4 Hours 
(GN) (15). 

Criterion— 'Make Way 
Tomorrow' (Par) (2d wk). 

GIobe-^'Lost -Horizon' (CJol) 
(11th wk.). 

Music Hall— 'Shall We Dance* 
(RKO) (13). 

rParamourit -^'Internes Can't. 
Take Money' (Par) (2d Avk). 

Rialto-r-'M o u n t a I n Justice' 
(WB) (12). 

Bivoll— 'Cafe Metropole* 
(UA) (3d wk). 

Roxy— "Talk About the Devil' 

(GB); 

Strand — 'Prince and the ■ 
• (WB) (2d wk). 
Week of May 21 

Astor — ^'(japtai 
(MG) (2d Wk). 

Capitol— 'They Gave Him a 
Gun' (MG) (2d wk). 

Central— '(jharlie Chan at the : 
Olympics' (20th) (22). 

Giober^'Lost Horizon^ (Col) 
(12th wk). 

Music Hall— 'Shall We Dance* 

(RKO) (2d wk):', ^ ■ 

Paramoahi'— '^rri. '. I(»iff- i th,e, . 
Moon! (Par) US)i;o:: ' 

Rlalto — 'Npbbdy's. 
(MG) (19). 

.Elvoli— 'Dreaming Lips' (UA) 
(19). 

Roxy— 'As Good as Married' 
(U). 

Strand— 'Kid Galahad' (WB). 



Albee with 'Shall We Dance.' ther 
spots just so-so. 

Estimates for This Week 

Fay's (2,000; 25-35-50)— 'Hospital 
Mystery' (20th) and vaude. Oppo- 
sish arid spring weather combining to 
-keiep things dowJi* but at that house 
is anticipating $7,500, fair. Last 
week 'That I May Live* (20th), fair 
$7,500. 

Loew's State (3,200; 25-35-50)-- 
'Star Is orn' (20th) and 'Racketeers 
in Exile' (Col) (2d wk). Pace is so- 
so; probably. $8,000, fair: First week 
was great at $15,600. 

Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 25-35-50)— 
'Prince and Pauper' (WB). Slow in 
getting started, but gaining momen- 
tum and should get at least $9,000, 
fair. Last week 'Wake Up and Live! 
(20th) and 'Charlie Chan at Olym- 
pics' (20th), $10,000, good. 

RKO Albee (2,300; 25-35^5())— 
'Shall We Dance' (RKO). House 
looks for $10,500, big. Last week 
'Hit Parade' (Rep) and 'Poker Flat' 
(RKO), so-so $6,300. 

Strand (Indie) (2,200; 25-35-50)— 
•Let's Get Married' (Col) andi 
Tromise to Pay' (Col). Poor $6,500 
at best. Last week. 'King of Gam- 
blers' (Par), and 'Back stage' (GB), 
$6,500, poor. 



Hotel Strike Dents Frisco 



But Powell- Youngr Good for $18,1 
Bright $10,000 in H.6. 



'Star' 



San Frariciscp* May lli . 

Hotel . Strike has brimpied tiz c6n- 
siderably, causing some of the houses 
on the main stem to. hit figures far 
below expectations: Strike camo just 
at tiriie when Frisco is in th^^throes 
of preparations for eight-day fiesta; 
to cbmmoriiorate the completion of 
its second big bridge. The first runs 
had also just talked on l5c. tb>the 
tariff, at night. 

'Cafe Metropole' looks.like the best 
biz, getter this .week. 

Estimates for ihis Week 

For (F-WC) (5,000; 35-55)— 'Cafe 
Metropole' (20th) arid 'Mountain 
Justice' (WB). This is better than 
the usual double bills on -Market 
Street; Expect around $18,000, which 
is swell considering that biz is off 
all over, due tb hotel strike and good 
weather. Last week, 'Wake Up and 
Live' (20th) and 'Song of the City' 
(MG) (2d week), good $12,000. 

Geary (Lurie) (1,200; 50-75-$l- 
$1.50)— 'Lost Horizon' (Col) (Hth 
week). With tourist trade nicked by 
the strike, closing date has been 
posted. 'Captains Courageous' (Metro) 
opens roadshow May 18. Last week; 
ioth for 'Horizon,' was so-so $5)000. : 
Golden Gate (RKO) (2,850; 40-55) 
—'You Can't Buy Luck' (RKO) and 
Olsen and Johnison in person. Stage 
show solely . responsible for .fair 
$18,000 expected. Last week, second 
for -Woman I i Love' (RKO), nose- 
dived to slim $10,000. 

Orpheam (F&M) . (2,440; 40-55)— 



'Oh, Doctor' (U), and 'Let Them 
Live' (U). Sb-so $6,000. Last week, 
'Let's Get Married' (Col) and 'Night 
Key' (U), weak $6,000. 

Paramount (F-WC) (2,740; 35-55) 
—'Wake Up arid Live' (20th) and 
'Song of City' IMG) (3d week). Pair 
moved over from . Fox after tv/b 
weeks at that 5,000-seater. Lucky! tb 
get $8,000, poor, on 'Wake Up,' which 
was pretty well milked up the streetl 
Last week, -Hit Parade' (Rep), and 
'That I May Live' (20th), 'anything 
but a hit at $11,000, 

St. Francis (F-WC) (1,400; 35-55)— 
'Call tt a Day' (WB) and 'Midnight 
Taxi' (20th) (2d week). Aftier almost 
hitting the low bell at the Warfteld, 
this pair moved over to the . St. Fran- 
cis for soriie uriexplicable reason. 
Lucky to do $4,500, weak. Last week, 
•Good. Old Soak' (MG) and 'Doc- 
tor's Diary' (Pai-), $5,500, fair. 

United Artists (Cohen) (1,200; 35- 
55)— ^iStar Is Born' (UA) (2d week), 
pic looks, like; .the hit of the year 
here. Women are going for it in a 
big way and pic also is a click with 
the males. Second week exception- 
ally strong at $10,000. First week 
was big $11,000; 

Warfield (F-WC) (2,500; 35-55)— 
'Prince and Pauper' (WB) and 'Fair 
Warning' (20th). Booking of 'Prince' 
Very, timely in view of the 'Corona- 
tion, but costume pictures have al- 
ways been a lemon here, so good 
$14,000 will be tops. Last week. 'Call 
It a Day' (WB) and 'Midnight Taxi' 
(20th), $9,000, very poor. 



Minne. B. 0. s Nose-lKvii^; 1)ance,' 
$11000, Bette Davis, tOOO, Fair 



The Pake' Readying 



Hoilyv/ood, May ll. 

Republic has assigned Adele Buf- 
fingtoh to write the; screenplay of 
'The Duko Comes. Back,' novel by 
Liiciaii Cary. 

; Miss Buiffington recently comitileted 
adaptation of 'She Didn't Want a 
Sheikj' her oWn original, for the 
same'studi 



NOmNO 
HITS 1 WASH. 



Washington, May 11. 
No flops this week, but nb stand- 
outs either: Capitol is leading by 
iscaht margin with highly ballied 
eastern premiere of 'Woman Chases 
Man,' but pic hasn't the riames to 
Overshadow. 'A Star Is Born' ahd 
'Shall We Daricej' bbwing in same 
time. 

' -Belasco continuing to go •after the 
Sensational trade with. 'Girls' Club'.' 
Cops let it alone ;and critics called it 
more amiising than naughty, but 
buildup should ptit it across well, • 
Estimates, for This Week 

Capitol (Loew) (3,424; 25-35-60 )— 
'Woriian Chases Man' (UA) and 
vaiide. ; lenty bally about eastern 
premiere couldn't overcome lack of 
names and stifi! opposition. Mitchell 
and Durante, plus, Anna May Wong, 
on stage unable to boost over light 
$18,000. Laist week, 'Personal Prop- 
erty' (MG), $23,000, nice. 

Columbia (Loew) (1,583; 25-40)— 
'Waikiki Wedding' (Par) (2d run). 
Third week on mainstem heading for 
big $5,000. Last week 'Chan at 
Olympics' (20th), bke $4,000. 

Earle (WB) (2,244; 25-35-40-60-70) 
—'Wings of MorniJig* (20th) and 
vaude._ House can thank first ap- 
pearance here of Shep Fields' band 
for satisfactory $17,000. Last week 
'Mountain of Justice' (WB) and 
Roger Prybt behind foots, floppo 
$12,500. 

Keith's (RKO) (1.830; 25-35-60— 
'Shall We Dance' (RKO). Opened 
Tuesday (4) iand far under past 
Rogers- Astaire takes, but neverthe- 
less got swell $18,000 and h.o.'s. Last 
week 'Woman I Love' (RKO), Sickly 
$2^000 on four and half days forced 
holdover.- 

Met (WB) (1,853; 25-40)— 'Man's 
Here Again' (WB). Nothing tb sell 
but Hugh Herbert and will be cori- 
terit with so-so $4,000. Last week 
Thunder in City' (GB), riice $6,000. 

Palace (Loew) (2,363; 25-35-60)— 
'Star Is Born' (UA). Swell notices, 
good $17,000. Last week 'Wake Up 
and Live' (20th), fair $16,000.' 

Bialto (Indie) (1,100; 25-30-40-55) 
— ^"Now arid Forever' (Par) and 
•Every Night at Eight' (Par) (re- 
vivals). Maybe oke $2,600. Last 
week 'Private Worlds' (Par) and 'If 
I Had Million' (Par) (revivals), sat- 
isfactory $2,400. 

Belasco (Iridic) (1,100; 25-35r55)— 
•Girls' Club' (Barstein). Sensa- 
tional angle played up and French 
pic ought to see nice $4,000. Last 
week 'Ecstasy' (Cummings) (2d run) 
weak $1,000. : 

'DMEHiofWSTAR' 
FAIR $9,500, IN DENVER 

Denver, May 11. 

'Shall We Dance' is registefjnfe 
strong b. o. at the Orpheum, with 
'Star Is Born 'doing fair at the Den- 
ver. . , ■• 

..Estimates for This Weeli 

Alaadin . (FOx) - (1,500;. 25-40)-- 
'Wake Up and Live'. (20th ), following 
a week at the Denver. Qkay for a 
moveover at $3,500. Last week; ' it 
Parade* (Rep )j good $4,000. 
. Broadway (Fox) (1,500; 25-:40)— 
'Hit Parade' (Rep), following a week 
at the Aladdin. Just fair $2,500. Last 
week, '50 ROads' (2()th), nice $3,000, 
following ia week at the Aladdi . 

Denbam (Cockrill) (1,500; 25-35- 
40)— 'King -of Gamblers' (Par). Not 
so forte at $3,500; Last week. 'Love' 
From Stranger' (UA), swell $6,500. 

Denver (Fox) (2,500; 25-35-50)— 
'Star Is Born' (UA) and stage band. 
Not as strong as expected at $9,500, 
fair. Last week, 'Wake Up and Live' 
(20th),. with Fifi, D'Orsay the 
stai^e. packed them in to the turie of 
$16,000. Film, went to Aladdin for 
second week, while Fifi continued at 
the Tabor, third run, down the 
street. 

Orpheunn (RKO) (2,600; 25-35-'40) 
—'Shall We Dance' (RKO). Astaire- 
Rogers combo delivering sock .'$9,000. 
Last week, 'Night Fall' (MG) and 
'Way Out West' (MG), .good $7,000. 

Paramount (Fox) (2,000; 25-40)— 
'Call It Day' (WB) and 'That Man's 
Here Again' (FN). Good $3,500. Last 
week, 'Silent Barriers' (GB) and 
'Jeeves* (20th), fair $2,500. 



Minneapolis, May 11. 
Busiriess is at a very low el)b here. 
Even such high-pbWered attractions 
as 'Shall We Dan<ie?* and 'Wake Up 
end Live' canriot get a jheavy play. 
One explanatiori is that general rise 
i prices is depleting pbcketbooks 
.arid leaving less coin , to spend on 
luxuries. 

'Wake Up' was.'big disappointment 
at the Minnesota last week, biit did 
well enough to warrant a. , second 
loop canto at .the .Century; 'Dance?', 
riow at the . Minnesota, vindicates a 
new low mark for an Astaire- 
Rogers' opus hefe, though - doing 
better than -'Wake Up.^ 

'Lost Horizon' opens a :roadshbw 
engagement- ait the poorly located 
Lyceum Friday (14). ' 

stimaies for This Week' 

Aster (Pubiix-iSinger) (900; 15-25) 

— Parole Itacket' (Col) and 'Man 
Who Found Himself (RKO), dual,, 
split with 'bnte' a Doctor' (FN) and 
'Fair Warning' (20th), dual. Pretty 
good $1,200 indicated. -Last week, 
'Espionage' ■ (MG) • and 'Too Many 
Wives' (RKO), dual,;$l,000; lair. 

. .'Ceritnry : (Pubiix-Siriger) (1,600; 
2£l-35-55) -7- .'Wake Up arid Live' 
(2Qth).. .Moved, over ..from Minne- 
sota for a jcoritiniuation of its loop 
first-run. Headed fbr fair $5,500. Last 
weik, 'Call It ai Day' (WB), $4,500, 
average. 

Minniesota" (Publix-Singer) (4,200; 
25-35-55)— 'Shall We Dance' (RKO). 
Given fine exploitation and advertis- 
ing campaign and highly praised t)y. 
reviewers. Previous • Astaire^Rogei?s' 
pictures have • been- big bOx-bffice 
winners here, , but this one started 
at sriail's pace. . However, should 
build, arid may climb to fair $11,000. 
Last Week,. 'Wake Up and Live' 
(20th), $10,()0(),. fair. 

Orpheum (Publix-Singer) (2,890;. 
25-35-40) — .'Marked Woman' (.FN). 
Exploited as . 'suitable for adults, 
only.' This hint of \serisationalism and 
Bette Davis'' b.o. drag bringing in 
some ' customers, " but total takirigs 
hot likely to ■ exceed if air $6,000. Last 
week 'History Made Night* (UA), 
$5',500, fair. ■ 

- State (Publix-Singer) (2,300.: 25- 
40) — ' reat GUy' (GN) and Xet's 
Get Married' (Col),, dual. Twin bills 
gaining, ground here; headed for 
pretty good $3,500; Last week, 'No- 
body's. Baby' (MG) and. 'Crack-Up' 
;(20th), dual, $3,000,- fair. 

Time (Berger) (290; 15-25) — 'En- 
lighten Thy Daughter' (Elliott). Sex 
film for adults only luring iOme 
patronage on that score. Looks like 
fair $1,200. Last week, 'Barbary 
Coast* (FN) (reissue), $900. fair; 

Uptown (Publix) (1,200; 25-35)— 
'Love News* (20th ). First nabe show- 
ing enroute to gObd $3,500. Last 
week, 'Swing. High' (Par), $3,000, 
fair. 

World (Steffes). (350; 25-35-40-50) 
—'Elephant Bby' (UA). Heavily ad- 
vertised, and may reach fair $1,200. 
La&t week, 'Nine Days a Queen' 
(GB), $900, light 



Bowes' Ams., %lody' 
No Indpls. Panic, $7,500 



Indianapolis; May 11. 

Spring and a. circus in town over 
the weekend made the going a little 
tough for the downtown theatreii 
'Shan We Dance' at the Circle far- 
ing very well, however, and out in 
front of all other first-run spots. 
Nothing startling iat the other houses. 
Estimates for is Week 

Apollo (Fourth Ave.) (1,100; 25-40) 
—'Wake Up and Live' (20th) (3rd 
week); Final week is iri black s at 
$3,500. Same picture in second 
week did swell $6,000 following 
opening week bf $8,500, excellent. 

Circle (Monarch) (2,800; 25-40)— 
'Shall We; Dance' (RKO). . While it's 
about two grand below previous 
Astaire-Rogers pictures; this one is 
swell at $9,500. Last week, dual of 
■Woman I Love' (RKO) arid 'Her 
Husband Lies' (Par), $4,300, mild. 

Indiana (Devirie) (3,100; 25-40)-: 
'Accused' (GB) and Count Berm 
Vici stage revue. Latter stressed in 
ad. campaigri as firist of a series of 
stage shows to be presented at this 
house. Gross not promising iat 
$7,500, moderate. Last week, 'Smash- 
ing the Vice Trust* (Cap), sex pic. 
dived to $4,600, poor. 

Loew's (Loew's) (2,600; 25-40)— 
'Night Must Fall' (MG) dualled with 
'Nobody's Baby' (MG). Fairly good 
at $6,000. Last week dual ' of 'Old 
Soak' (MG) and 'Elephant Boy' 
(UA), fairish $5,500.. 

Lyric - (Olson) (2.000; 26-30-40)— 
'Melody for Two' (WB) and Major 
Bowes' International unit Latter 
plugged, but is first of seven Bowes 
units to play here that is not click: 
ing; $7,500, so-so. Last week, 'Nighl 
Key' (U) and Fats Waller band or. 
stage, $10,000, -dandy. 



Weanesday, Ma^ 12, I93t 



PICTURE GROSSES 



VARIETY 



Strong Fix Hypo Qii Biz; *Star* 
Bright $2l000;lletro 





qhicago, April 11. 
There's a strong llne-up of product 
In the lo<it> clurreiitly, despite the 
fact that a nianber ol pictures are 
; Especially tops in the hold- 
over line is 'iShall We Dance?' which, 
turned in a tremendous session oh 
■ itial week here and world 
premi , Astaire-Rogers combina- 
tion evidencine cohtiriued high 

strength at the b.o. . 

Of the newcomers^ tops is 'Star Is 
Born/ which got away Saturday (8) 
at the United Artists. Also in the 
rim line with miarked strong appeal 
is 'Wake Up and Live,' which goes 
into its fourth week at the Roose- 
velt, and is holding up remarkably. 
•Maytime' finally got out of the 
United Artists after establishing a 
long run record for the house, going 
six full weeks. Still in loop, switch- 
ing to Garricki 

Presence of Eleaiiore Whitney oh 
the; stage of the Chicago for three 
days only aided the weekend get- 
away of 'Cafe Metropole.* Town 
once more hisis a roadshowei: in 'Cap- 
tains Courageous' at the Erlanger, 
aiid looks for excellent stay. 

Estimates for This Week 
Apollo (B&K) (1.200; 35-45-65-75) 
--•King of Gamblers' (Par). No 
naihes and figured only for the 
Rialto boys, who like plenty of 
action. Aroiihd $5,000, fair. Last 
week, *King and Chorus Girl' (WB) 
in second gallop: downtown^ oke 
$6,300. 

Chicago (B&K) <4,000; 35-55-75)— 
'Cafe Metropole' (20th) and stage 
show. Louis Armstrong band head- 
lining for full week, with Eleanor 
Whitney, Paramount contract player, 
on for a three-day appearance. Com- 
bination helping the big house o:! 
the loop to good $32,000. Last week, 
'CaU It a Day' (WB), managed fair 
enough $26,300. 

Erlanger (1,200; 55-83-$l;10-$1.65) 
.—'Captains Courageous' (MG). Two- 
a-dayer opened Sunday night (9) 
and has good advance sale. 

Garrlck (B&K) (600; 35-45-55-65- 
75)— 'Maytinle' (MG). Good here a 
$6,500. Last week, 'Waikiki' (Par) 
finally got out of the loop after a 
week at the Chicago and five weeks 
here, closing to fine $5,500. 

Oriental (B&K) (3,200; 35-55-65)— 
'Mountain Justice' (WB) and vaude 
Little Jackie . Heller topping the 
vaude. Fair $16,000. Last week, 
'Thunder in City' (Col), fair $15,500 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 35-55-75)— 
•Shall We Dance?' (RKQ) (2d week) 
and vaude. Second stanza going for 
$25^000, socko. Last week, $30,000| 
terrific. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 35-45-55 
65-75)-^'Wake Up' (20th) (4th week) 
Has had remarkable staying power, 
with hairdly any drop-off on pace; 
$10,000, currently after fine $12,100 
in third week^ 

State-Lake (Jones) (2,700; 20-25- 
35-45-55)— ^Racketeers in Exile' (Col) 
ahd Vaude. Steady grosses is the 
mark , of this house. Again to $13,- 
000, fine. Last week, 'Espionage' 
(MG), fine $13,400. 
. United Artists (B&K-MG) (IJOO; 
35.55r65-75)— 'Star Is Born' (UA). 
Looks like one of the biggest coin 
turnouts in the history of the house. 
Started with a wallop and pulling 
socko $22,000 for i initial stanza. 
Last week, 'Maytime' (MG), cracked 
long-run record of the house and 
got away with fine $10,800. 



CIRCUS VS. B'kLYN PIX 

Compeiish Hurts but Muni-HOpklns 
Dual Nifty $16,000 



That Brit. Influence 



Arthur Lpew, head of M-Cj's 
foreign' department, being a 
travelied gent, has figured out 
that what is needed for a full 
day's efficiency, is a mid-after- 
noon break. With that in mind 
he has ordered, tea and trim- 
mings served to the entire for- 
eign de'pt personnel every aft • 
ernopn at four.. 

Loew's' paying for it himself. . 



rooklyn; May li. 
Ringling circus in town this week. 
This is first time for show under 
canvas in Ridgewdod section, having 
seen forced out of Flatbush site be- 
cause of college construction. . 
. Picture. houses in downtown area 
are bucking the outdoor competition, 
with Fabian's Paramount and -RKO 
Albee doing better than average. 
Estimates for This Week 

Albee (2,500; 25-35-55)— 'Woman I 
Love' (RKO) and 'Outcasts of POker 
Flat' (RKO), plus the new Dionne 
quint short will give house nifty. $16,- 
000. Last week, 'Our Moments' (U) 
and 'Soldier and Lady' (RKO), $14.- 
500, satisfactory. 

Fox (4,000; 25-35-55)— 'I Promise 
to Pay' (Col) and ^Navy Blues' 
(Rep). Pleasant $16,000 in store for 
this brace. Last week, 'Song of 
City' (MG) and 'Night Key' (U), got 
weakish $13,000. 

Met (2,400; . 25-35-55)— 'Good Old 
Soak' (MG) and 'When Love Is 
Young' (U). Twiimers anticipate 
sorso $14,500.. Last week 'Personal 
Property' (MG) and 'Girl Over; 
board' (U), $15,500, okay. 

Paramount (4,000; 25-35-57)— 
'Swing High' (Par) and 'Racketers 
in Exile' (Col) (2d week). WiU hit 
good $15,000. Last week, same pix 
g6t $21,000. swiell. 

Strand (2,000; 25-35-55)— 'Romance 
and Riches' (GN) and 'Borderland' 
(Par). Expect nice $7,500. Last 
week, 'Motor Madnesis' (Col) and 
•Men in ExUe' (WB), $7,000, good. 



'Dance Hot 33G 
In 9 Hub Days; 
Horizon N.S.H. 



In Back to Normal 
But 'Horizon' N.G. $l,50a 

Lincoln, May 11. 
With roadshov^rs but of the way 
and all houses back to their regu- 
lar runs, pix should do nice business 
current Week. 

Estimates for This Week 
Liberty (LTC) (1-200; 10-15)— 
Espionage' . (MG) plus 'Mighty' (U)i 
split With 'Laughing at Trouble' 
<?0th) plus 'Old Corral* (Rep). Good 
$1,000. Last week *Ghost Patrol' 
(Par) plus 'Clive of India* (UA), 
split yrith 'Park Avenue Logger' 
(20th) plus 'Mary Burns* (Par), 
ended with neat $900. 

.Lincoln (LTC) (1,600; 10-20-25 )— 
Old Soak' (MG). Fair $2,500. Last 
week 'Top of Town' (U), little un 
der average at $2,300. 

Orpheum (LTC) (1,600; 10-15-20 
^5)— 'Ecstasy' (Jewel). Doing nice 
$2,700. Last week 'Good. Earth' 
<^MG) at roadshow prices, followed 
ny. Mrs. Martin Johnson in person 
With 'Jungle Depths of Borneo,* built 
up to neat $3,000. 

, .Stuart <LTG) (1,900; 10-25-40)-- 
Mrs. Cheney' (MG). Will do good 
?3,500, Last week 'Personal Prop- 
erty' . (MG) finished strong with 
93,600. 

Varsity (Westland) (l.lOO; 10-15 
20-25)— •Thunder in City' (Col). 
Looks weak at about $1,200. Last 
Week 'Lost Horizon' (Col), not so 
lorte, $1,500 at roadsh^jw prices. 



HORIZOir ONLY 






INCLEVE 



Boston, May 11. 
Wi.th ideal foggy weather blanket- 
ing a week-end iexodus, most film 
stands are in good shape this. week. 
'Shall We Dance' is chalking up a 
hefty take at the Memorial; 'Prince 
and Pauper,' with stage show, is 
very pleasing at the Met; and 'Night 
Must Fall' and 'Old Soak' dual very 
good at the Orph and Statie. 

Estimates for This Week 
Boston (RKO) (3,000; 25-40-55)— 
Good as Married' (U) and 'Two Wise 
Maids* (Rep), dual. N.s.h.; about 
$8,000. Last week 'Hit Parade' (Rep) 
and 'Outcasts Poker Flat' (RKO) 
dual, good $10,000. 

Fenway (M&P) (1,400; 25-35-40-50) 
—'Wake Up' (20th) (2d run) ahd 
Time Out for Romance* (20th) (1st 
run), dual. Dandy $7,000 promised. 
Last week '50 Roads to Town* (20th) 
and 'Silent Barriers' (GB), dual, so- 
so $5,000. . 

Keitli Memorial (RKO) (2,900; 25- 
40-55)— 'Shall We Dance' (RKO). 
First solo in several weeks is raking 
in important coin here. For first 
nine days, about $33,000. Last week, 
four days 6f 'Woman I Love' (RKO) 
and 'Our Moments' (U) (2d week), 
fair $8,300. 

Metropolitan (M&P) (4,300; 35-55- 
75)— 'Prince and Pauper' (WB) and 
vaude. Very okay at $25i000 clip. 
Last week- 'Mountain Justice' (WB) 
and stage show, $16,000, poor. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,900; 25-35-40- 
50)_'Night Must Fall* (MG) and 
'Old Soak' (MG), dual. Very satis- 
factory $16,000 indicated. Last week 
'Romeo and Juliet' (MG), at pop 
pricieis, $10,000, poor. 

Paramount (M&P) (1,800; 25-35- 
55 )_^«Wake Up' (20th) (2nd run) and 
'Time Out for Romance' (20th) (1st 
run),, dual. Good $10,000 on the way. 
Last week '50 Roads to Town' (2Qth) 
arid 'Silent Barriers': (GB), dual, poor 

$6.ooo; 

iScollay (M&P) (2.700: 25-35-40-50) 
.—'Internes Can*t Take Money' (Par) 
(2d run) and 'Girl From Scotland 
Yard*. (Par) (1st run), dual. Pretty 
good $8,000 or better. Gettine; some 
Overflow from circus, at Garden. 
Last week 'King and Chorus Girl' 
(WB) and 'Marked Woman' (WB) 
(both 2nd run), good $8,200. . 

Shubert (Col) (1,590; 65.85-$l.l0- 
$1.65)— 'Lost Horizon' (Col) , (5th 
wk). Last week (4th), rOadshow 
slipped to $6,500, Disappoi ing rUn 
at roadshow prices. . 

State (Loew) (3,300; 25-35-40-50)— 
'Old Soak' (MG) and 'Night Must 
Fair (MG). dual. Healthy. combo for 
this area, headed for about $13,000. 
Last week 'Romeo and Juliet' (MG), 
poor $8,000. 



Cleveland, May 11. 

Trade is better than average herie 
despite such distractions as roller- 
skating marathon at civic auditori- 
um, pre-season openings of amuse- 
ment parks and general exodus to 
country spots due to Juhe weiather; 

At the Palace, 'Cafe Metropole' and 
'Ice Follies' • on transformed stage 
drawing $23,000 or better, largest 
gross at this RKO stand in a coupla 
months. State is oh. its heels with 
'Star Is Born;* . only a grand: or two 
below, and hold-over of 'Wake Up 
and Sing' is okiay at . Hipp: 'Lost 
Horizon's' road-show run not' mak- 
ing any history at legit Hanna, al 
though fair. 

Estimates for This Weeic 

Albambra (Martin Printz) (1,200; 
20-30-35)— 'Top of Town' (U) (2d 
run). Brief change of policy, but 
fair $2,800. Last week, '23% Hours 
Leave' (GN) and 'Mama Steps Out' 
(MG), dual, $2,000, so-so. 

Allen (RKO) (3,000; 25-40)— 
'Night Key' (U). Good enough at 
$6,000. Last week 'Promise to Pay' 
(Col) picked up in midweek and 
got . $7,500, smart. 

Circle (Marmorstein) (1,900; 15 
35)— 'History Made Night' (UA) (2d 
run). A precedent for this , nabe 
spo^. held over for total of fifteen 
days for grand biz. Second eigh ; 
days ■ perhaps $3,000, nice. First 
week, $3,400, good. Going back to 
duals Thursday (13) with "Broken 
Blossoms' (Imp) and 'High Haf 
(Imp). 

Hanha (Carl Hanna) (1,435; 55 
$1.65)— 'Lost Horizon* (Col) (2d 
wk.). Second stanza of rbadrshow 
run in legit house slowing down 
considerably. Last week, first, 
$10,500, only fair. 

Hipp (Warners) (3,700; 30-40)— 
•Wake Up and Live' (20th) (2d wk.) 
Still banging along, on h.o., the first 
of the season here; $14,500, fine 
Opening week of $19,000 was very 
big. 

Palace (RKO) (3,200; 30-75)— 
.'Cafe Metropole' (20th) and *St 
Mbritz Ice Follies' on stage. Top 
notch combo, with vaude getting 
novel ballyhoo as pix yanks 'em , in 
to probable tune of $23,000,. very 
sweet. Last week, 'Love Is Young' 
(U), With vaude headlining Wini 
Shaw and Billy House, skidded pain 
fully, going under $10,000, poor. 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 30-55) 
'Star Is Born' (UA). Fast sendoll 
in matinee trade, standees in traffic 
jams over week-end; certain for 
$21,500, excellent. Shrewd and com 
plete campaign laid down by Bob 
Horter and Milt Harris, including 
two contests. Last week 'RomeO and 
Juliet' (MG), poor $12,500. 

Stillman (Loew's) (1.972; 25-35)— 
'Way Out West'. (MG). Tepid 
Laurel arid Hardy pic and ditto in 
biz; $5,000. Last week, 'Her Hus 
band Lies' (Par) $3,500, poor. 



Weak Pix, H.O.'s Keep BVay Biz 

Down; ?rince Hot $tOOO; W 
Red SlkOOO; Ditto Tomorrow; lOG 



Suriv total of this , week's grosses 
foir 12 downtown Broadway houses 
will be the lowest .in a long time, 
with, this due partly to a few Weiak 
}0x office attractions and partly to 
he fact that there , are f ouir holdr 
overs, not counting final week for 
Good Earth.* : 

Lone new picture with, any 
strength is 'Prince and the Pauper,' 
a| the Strand. It is attracting heav- 
rily and, on the first week ending to- 
i^ight (Wed.), ought to be around 
^0,000. big and naturally, holds.; 
S^econd best, but a long Ways behind, 
is 'Internes Can't Take Money' at 
be Paramount, -with the Xavier 
Cugat-Dixieland Jazz Band combina- 
tion in person. Combo means only 
around $34,000 for the house, but; 
while much lower than recent first 
weeks here, is sufficient profit to go 
another seven days. 'Turn Oft the 
Moon' and .the Ina Ray Hutton band, 
plus Mary Small, , who will be held 
over froni her current two. Syeeks' 
stage, engagement, is scheduled for 
Wednesday (19). 

Getting ho action at all at the 
ticket wickets, 'Call It a Daty* draws 
the week's booby prize. Picture will 
not get the ' Capitol any more .than 
about $11,000, very poor. Another: 
that isn't in the running is 'Make 
Way; for Tomorrow.' Par put this 
one into the Criterion oh a run basis 
and spent abound $15,000 in adver- 
tising, but on the first weiek it will 
be a sadly ignored public choice at 
only $10,000; Is being forced into a 
second week< however. 

But for the fact that newsreels of 
the Hindenburg disaster are con- 
Ceded to have helped bring more 
people to theatres,, business would b& 
worse than it is. . 
Two of the holdies are three-week 




Bloomer m Cincy; 
$8,000 




Labor Trouble, Rising 
Prices Boff Port Biz 



Portland, Ore., May 11. 
Labor disturbances, plus warm 
weather, plus average product bump- 
ing the burg's grosses this week. 
Rising cost of groceries without 
wage boosts also seriously affecting 
b. o, returns, - 

Estimates for This Week 
Broadway (Parker) (2,000; 30-40 ) 
—'Prince and Pauper' (WB) and 
'Way Out West' (MG). Delivering 
okay $6,000. Last week. 'Old Soak' 
(MG) and 'Song of City' (MG), nice 
$7,000 in 11 days. - . 

Mayfair (Parker-Evergreen) (1,400; 
30-40)— Love Is Young' (U) and 
'Trouble in Morocco' (Col). Getting 
only poor $2,000. Last week, 'Poker 
Flat* (RKO) and 'Two Wise Maids' 
(Par), six days only for poor $1,700, 
-Orpheum (Hamrick - Evergreen) 
(2,000; 30-40)—' 50 Roads' (20th) and 
'Charlie Chan' (20th). Getting good 
$6,500. Last week, 'Seventh Heaven' 
(20th) and 'Off to Races' (20th), 
good $7,000. . . . , „ . 

Paramount (Hamrick -Evergreen) 
(3.000; 30-40)— 'King and Chorus 
Girl' (WB) and 'Man Found Him- 
self* (RKO). Four days of second 



Cincinnati, May 11. 

'Shall We Dance' at .the Palace 
paced for $17,000, is the burg's 
brightest mark in recent weeks. 'Hit 
Parade' is another winner currently, 
racking up $6,000 for Keith's. 

Road show policy at the Shubert 
came to sudden end Tuesday (11) 
with jerking of 'Lost Horizon* on 
12th day of intended two-week stay 
dtie to feeble returns. House goeS 
back to pop prices . tomorrow 
(Wednesday), with 'Wake Up and 
Live' in for a run. During regular 
season, Shubert was Cincy's only 
vaudfilm stand. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (3,300; 35-42)— 'In 
ternes Can't Take Money' (Par) 
Mild $10,000. Last week, 'Woman 
I Love' (RKO), $9,500, so-so, 

Capitol (RICO) (2,000; 35-42)— 
'Marked Woman' (WB) (2d run) 
Fair $4,500, Last week, 'Personal 
Property' (MG) (2d run), $5*000 
good. 

Family (RKO) (1,000; 15-25)— 
'We're in Army' (GB) and 'Man Who 
Found Himself (RKO). split, Nice 
$2,500. Last week, 'Gold Racket' 
(GN) . and 'Breezing Home' (U), 
split, $2,500, okay. 

Grand (RKO) (1,200; 25-40)— 
'Good Old Soak' (MG) (2d run); 
Fair $2,800. . Last week, 'Waikiki 
Wedding' (Par) (5th wk.), $3,000, 
hefty. •■ 

Keith's ibson) (1,500; 25-40)— 
'Hit Parade' (Rep). Swell $6,000. 
Last week, 'Good Old Soak' (MG), 
$7,000. best take for some time; 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 35-42)— 'Her 
Husband Lies' (Pair). Sorry $2,500. 
Last week, 'Soldier arid Lady' 
(RKO), a no-dicer at $3,000, 

Palace (RKO) (2.600; 35-42)— 
'Shall We Darice' (RKO). Socko 
$17,000, Astaire-RogOrs drawing big- 
gest figure for this stand in quite a 
while. Last week, 'Marked Woman' 
(WB). $12,000. good. 

Shubert (RKO) (2,200; 55-83-$ WO- 
$1.50)_^'Lost Horizon' (Col), Sched- 
uled fortnight's run halted, today 

(11) at end of 12th day with fCeble 
$8,000 for. that stretch. 'Wake Up 
and Live' (20th) opens Wednesday 

(12) for a run at the usuial pop scale, 
35-42 cents. 



week getting big $4i000._$'irst week 
got swell $9,000. 

United Artists (Parker) (1.000; 30 
40)— 'Mountain Justice' (WB). Fair 
$5,000. Last week, 'Night Must Fall' 
IMG) never got started arid closed 
for just fair $4,700. 



ers, 'Star Is Born' at the Music Hall 
and 'Wake Up and Live' at the Roxy. 
Both are doing so Well on their curr 
rent third week dates that a fourth 
ap. ,was considered in each case. It 
was knocked out at the Roxy because 
of terms demanded by 20th-Fox for a 
fourth week. 

'Wake lip' is very good at $35^000 
this week (3d), while 'Star' will be 
equally stout at $80,000 or . over. 
Music Hall didn't make lUp its mind, 
until Monday night (10) to open 
'Shall We Dance?' tomorrow 
(Thurs.). 'Talk of the Devil' goes 
nto the Roxy' Friday (14 ). 'Cafe 
Metropole,' finishing its second week 
ast night (Tues.) at Rivbli, is hold- 
ing fairly well at $20,000 after an 
initial week's take of $20,800, and 
goes another week. On Wednesday 
(19) house brings in 'When Thief 
Meets Thief.' The Laurel-Hardy 
comedy, 'Way Out West,' held sa 
well at the Rialto on its first week 
ending Monday (10) thai it is being 
held two extra days for a total of 
$11,000 on the nine days, good. 
Mountain Justice' succeeds, 

'Captains Courageous' braves the 
arrival of warmer weather and siim* 
mer opposition on a two-a-day run 
at the Astor, inaugurated liast night 
(Tues.). 'Earth' closed Monday night 
(10) after a very profitable 13% 
weeks' run. 'Lost Horizon,' now in 
11th week, will go Out of the two-a- 
day Globe May 26, when the re- 
cently-renewed option by Columbia 
expires.- 

Estimates for This Week 
Astor (1,012; 55-$1.10-$1.65^$2.20)-> 
ICaptalns (Jouragebus' (MG). Opened 
last night (Tues.) on a tWice-dally 
engagement after a \%^k weeks' run 
of 'Good Earth' (MG). Final week 
for 'Earth' was around $6,000, mild. 

Capitol (4,620; 26-36-55-85-$1.25)— 
•Call It a Day' (WB). This one very 
sour, only around $11,000, plenty of 
ted. Last week, 'Night Must Fall' 
(MG), considerably better but not 

food, under $22,000. 'They Gave 
[im 'a Gun' (MG) opens tomorrow 
(Thurs.). 

Criterion (1^662; 25-40-55)—'Make 
Way for Tomorrow? (Par). Good re- 
views help this one, only around 
$10,OO0 the first week, poor. Stays 
a second, however, Par's idea being 
to force it for a run. Last week 
•Thunder In the City* (Col) was un- 
der $10,000 on its final nine days 
after a smart $18,000 the week prior. 

Globe (1,274; 56-$1.10-$1.65-$2.20)-' 
'Horizon' (Col) (11th week). Under 
$9,000 last week dOth), mild, and 
out May 26 . when option on house 
held by Columbia funs out. Theatre 
goes back to a grind policy if not 
taken by Par for road-showing of 
•Souls at Sea.' 

Palace (1,700; 25-35-55 )-r' Woman 
1 Love' (RKO) (2d run) and 'That 
Man's Here Again' (WB) (1st run), 
dualed. Doing well and on eight 
days will be $12,000 or close. 'Sol- 
dier arid Lady' (RKO) (2d run) and 
'We Have Our Moments' (U) (lit 
run), very poor $5,700 on six days. 

Paramount (3,664: 25-35-55-85-99) 
— 'Internes Can't Take Money' (Par ) 
and Xavier Cugat-Dixieland Jazz 
Band in pit. Under average here, 
but at $34,000 worthy of holdover. 
Lost week, third for 'Swing High' 
(Par) and the Louis Armstrong 
orchestra, $23,000, good. 

Radio City Music Haii (5,980; 40- 
60-85-99-$1.65)— 'Star Is Born' (UA) 
and stage show (3d week). At $80,- 
000 this week (3d) looked so strong 
that a holdover fourth week was 
considered, but decided against. 
Second week was a sizzling $100,000. 
after a first seven days of $102,000. 
'Shall We Dance?' (RKO) bows to- 
morrow (Thurs.). 

Rialto (750; 2!5-40-55)^'Way Out 
West' (MG) (2d week). Holding 
two extra days for good. $11,000 on 
nine days, 'Mountain Justice' (WB) 
opens today (Wed,). . 

RivOll ,(2,092; 25-55^75-85-99) — 
^Cafe Metropole' (20th) (2d week). 
Pretty good grosser, getting possible 
$20,000 this, week .(2d) and holds 
third. First seven days clocked 
$29,800. •When Thief Meets Thief 
(UA) is scheduled for May 19, 

Roxv (5.836; 25-45-55-75)— 'Wake 
Up' (20th) and stage show (3d 
week). Will get juicy $35,000 this 
week (3d) and was to be held 
fourth stanza but 20th-Fox and 
Roxy couldn't get together on terms, 
so biit tomorrow night (Thurs.)> 
with 'Talk ' of^ the Devil' (GB) , in 
Friday (14). Second week for 'Wake 
Up' /as a clickful $48,500, 

Strand (2,767; 26-55-7y)~'Prlnce 
and Pauper' (WB). . This is a real 
hit for the Strand finally; probably 
$40,000 first week, smash business 
for this time of the year,- Holds. 
Final five days on fourth week of 
'Marked Woman' (WB). $8,000. o.k. 

State (3,450; 35-55-75)— 'Waikiki 
Wedding' (Par) (2d run) and.N.T.G. 
revue on stagfe. Business only fair 
to. middlin'i around $24,000; Last 
week 'History Made Night' (UA) 
(2d run) and vaude headed by Tito 
Guizar and tcanT of Mitchell and 
iDurant, $22,000. 



VAJtlETr 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



Astanre-Rogers Slip in Phiny, But 

Good; 'Star' H. 0. Big 156 




iladelphi ^ May 10. 

Considerable activity in a few of 
the downtown fllrn spots. *A Star Is 
Born' is still hitting on all cylinders 
arid quite likely to get four weeks' 
at the 'Aldine. ' Houise isn't air-cooled 
arid weather wijl probably decide 
'Star's' stay, but its terrific trade last 
week indicates plenty continued 
strength. 

\ One block away, the Stahley ;ingy 
hand 'Star' some hefty competition 
with 'Shall We Dance,' although this 
sevehth. 6t the. Astaire-Rogers pix 
didn't get off to quite so booming 
d start ais some of its predecessors.- 
'Captains Courageous' is holding for 
a fourth wieek at the Locust on a 
last-miriute decision. Pie will go biit 
■Saturday (15), however. 

Estimtes for "11116 Week 

Aldinie (1,300; 40-55-65)— 'Star Is 
.Boirn' (UA) (2d week). Sensation 
of the spring season' holding up very 
well and figures lor big $15,000. Liast 
•week's $17,500 was phehomehal. 

Arcadia (600; 25-40-50)— 'May time' 
(MG) (2d run) (2d week). Ought to 
get nice , $2,500. Laist week's $3,500 
was well over house average. 

Boyd (2,400; . 40-55)--mman 1 
Love* (RKO);, Getting three and 
half days beyond one week, with 
'Prince and the' Pauper' (WB) bow- 
ing in ^at a special evening show to- 

ight. (Tuesday). Claude Rains will 
ajppear in jperson. 'Woman I Love' 
got $10,500 in first seven days and 
only $3,500 in overtime. 

Earle (2,000; 25-40-55)— 'Nobody's 
Baby' (MG) and vaude. Sally Rand 
unit headlining. Big opening, but 
tepid notices may hurt. HoweVer, 
looks like good $17,500. Last week, 
'50 'Roads to Town' (20th) and Milt 
Britten's band, also bike races for 
four days, poor $12,500. 

Fox (3.000; 40-55-65 )— 'Mountain 
Justibe' (WB) and vaude, Patricia 
Bowman headlining. Weak $13,000 
figured. Last week,. 'Hit ; Parade' 
(Rep) and Dave Apbllon. just , man- 
aged to squeeze out $14,500, fair. 

Karlton (1,000; 25-35-40)— 'Hit Pa- 
rade' tRep) (2d riin). Around fair 
$2,700 likely. Last week, Tiriie Out 
for Romance' (20th) (1st run), poor 
$2400. 

Keith'^ (2.000; 30^40-50)^'Wake Up 
and Live' (20th ) (2d nm ). Ought to 
get neat $3,000. ■ Last week; 'Personal 
Property' (MG) (2d run), $3,000. 

I.ocast (1,400; 55-86-1.14-1.71)-^ 
♦Captains Courageous* (MG) (4th 
^week). On. last minute decision 
roadshow was held over. Closes 
Saturday. Last week^ $8,500, fair. 

Stanley (3.700;: 40-55 )-^'Shall Wi 
Dancie' (RKO). Opened well, but 
not sensationally, Figures for $18,- 
000 and h. o; but won't equal pre- 
vious, Astaire-Rogers grosses. Last 
week. 'Wake U» and Live' (20th ) (2d 
week), okay $13,500. 

Stanton . (1.700; 30-40t50)— 'Mi 
night Taxi' (20th). Pair $5,700 ex- 
pected. Last week, 'Silent Barriers' 
(GB), under average, $4,700. 

'Dano^' lOC/Gambiers; 
5G| Big in Derby Town 



Biallots' (WB) and 'Brides Are Like 
That* (FN), dual. Hoping for aver- 
age $1,600. Last week, 'Married a 
iDoctor' (WB) and. '13 Hours' (Par), 
dual, split with 'Louis Pastetir' (WB) 
and "Times Square Playboy' (WB), 
dual, good $1,700. 

Rialto (Fourth Ave.) (3.000; 15-25- 
40)-^'Shall We . Dance' (RKO). 
Opened Thursday (13); one day 
earlier than usual, and snaring plenty 
of biz from visitors, in towh for the 
Defby. Heading for grand $10,500, 
Last week, 'Woman 1 Love' (RKO) 
and 'Jeeves' (20th), dual, fair $6,000. 

Strand (Fourth Ave.) (1,500; 15-25- 
4a)— 'King of Gamblers' (Par) and 
'Man Who Found Himself (RKO), 
dual. Race fans going strong for 
'Gamblers'; hefty; $5,000. Last weiek, 
'Wake Up and Live' (20th) and 
'March of Tinie,' moved over from 
Rialto for second downtown week, 
good $3,600. 








Louisville, May 11. 
,ig show over weekend naturally 
Ivas 63d running of Kentucky Derby, 
bringing some 40,000 visitors to town. 
Plenty of opposition to pics in the 
way of Derby Festival dances, wres- 
tliriij, tennis, and Derby Eve parties. 

It was an old story to natives, 
hciv/ever, and all first-runs had plenty 
of biz. Apparently the home-towri- 
ers left the pre-race celebrating to 
the. visitors^ while they viewed the 
swell pic liiieup. 

Estimatiies for This Week 

Brown. (Fourth Ave. -Loew's) (1. 
500: 15-25-40)— 'Good Old Soak' (MG) 
and 'Women of Glamoyr' (Col), dual 
Moved over frorii Loew's and looks 
set to tkke okay $2,600 here. Las 
week, 'Personal Propeirty' (MG) and 
'Motor Madness! (Col), du&l, another 
irioveover. good $2i800. 

Kentucky (Switow) (900; 15-25) — 
•6ft Avehiie! (20th) and 'Maid of 
Salpnci' (Par), diial. Combo siiow- 
ing. Dlenty of strength and holding 
for full seVen-day stanza; looks good 
for . !))2.400. Last week. 'Black Le 
igion' (WB) and 'Holy Terror? (20th X 
du?>l. spilit with 'Pair Warning' (20th) 
'Br<\ 'Outcast' (Par), dual, fair $2,100 

Loew's Stiatc (3,000: 15-25-40)— 
•Romeo and. Juliet' (MG) and 'Let's 
Get Married'; (Cpl), dual. Pic was 
.skedded to be roadshowied at .the 
Brown last. January, but flood hi; 
town. Now here at regular prices 
and should take okay $8,000. Last 
week. 'Old Soak' (MG), and 'Women 
of Glariiour' (Col), strong $8,500. 

Mary Anderson (Libson) (1.000 
15-25-40)— 'Prince and Pauper' (WB) 
Cricks giving this one too rating 
looks set to take fine $4,500. Last 
week. 'Mountain Justice' (WB) 
soloed, but not so forte; $3,300,' light, 

Ohio (Settos) (900; 15)— 'For the 
Asking' (Par) and 'Ceilirtg Zero' 
(WB), dual, split with 'Bullets or 



Baltimpre, May 11. 
With races here. , balmy 
weathier at hand, local biz is just so 
ISO. Loew's Century, in second and 
final seission of its present interlude 
of flesh, iis leading the town With a 
robust $16,000 for 'Old Soak' and 
Horace Heidt's band. 

'Shall We Dance' at Hippodrome is 
going , along at an even and unex 
citing pace fOc its second week, gar 
nerinjg so-so $12,40(). 'Cafe Metro- 
pole,' at the : New, should up 
profit at; $7,000. 

Estimates for This Week 

Centary (Loew'is-UA) (3,000; 15 
25-35-40.55)^'Gopd Old Soak' (MG) 
and Horace Heidt band. Combo 
lieading .town with swell $16,000. Last 
week, ^Hit Parade' (Rep) and 'Okay 
'. Baltimore' local reVue on stage, mild 
$12,90Q. 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,300 
15-25-35-40-55-66)— 'Shall We Dance 
(RKO). (2nd wk.) and Happy Felton 
breh. Took drop after nice .first 
week, getting unexciting $12,400 cur: 
rently. Last week got good $187300 
Keith's (Schanberger) (2,500; 15 
25-30-35-40-55)— 'Fire Over Eng 
land' (20th) opens tomorrow 
(Wednesday). , Last week, 'Silent 
Barriers' (GB) mild $6,100. 

New (Mechanic) (1,400; 15-25-30 
40^55)— 'Cafe Metropole' (20 th) 
Promising profitable $7,000.; Las ; 
wieek, five days in third, week oi 
'Wake Up and Live' (20th), good 
$4,600. 

Stanley (WB) (3,450; 15-25-35-40 
55)— 'Internes Can't Take Money 
(Par), Mild going ' to $6,000. Las ; 
week, second session of 'Market 
Woman' (WB), very satisfactory 
$7,200. 



'Star,' 12G, tee/ 8G, 
BizinSo-So Seatdel 



Seattle* May lU 
Biggest canipaign. at Liberty . In 
long time is for. current 'A Star Is 
Born,' which is deliverinig at the 
b.o.. Except for 'Shall We Dance,' 
Other spots doing only moderate biz 
at best. 

- Estimates for This Week 
Blue Mouse (Hamrick-Evergr een ) 
(900; 32-37-42 )^^Wake Up* (20th) 
and 'Murder Gbies to Town' (Par) 
:3rd wk). Anticipate . igobd $3,500. 
Ijast week, same nlihs, nice, enough 
i 3,800. ; 

CoUseam : (Hanxrick - Eviergreeh) 
(1,900; 21-32)— 'Avenue' (20th ) and 
'Beloved Enemy' (UA), dual; Head- 
ing for good $3,800, Last week 'One 
ih Million' (20th) and 'Rembrandt' 
(UA)j three days of second week, 
$1,000, fair. 

Colonial (Sterling) (850; 11-16-21) 
—'Little Dogie' (Rep) and 'Too Many 
Wives' (RKO)* dual. Fair $2,300 
Last week 'Romance and Riches' 
(GN) and 'Guns of Pecos' (FN), 
$2,100, fair. 

Fifth • Avenue (Hamrick-Ever- 
green) (2,400; 32-37-42)— 'Prince iand 
Pauper' (WB) and 'Song of City' 
(MG); dual. Indicate only fair 
$6,700. Last :week 'Woman I Love' 
(RKO) and 'Man's Here Again' 
(WB), poor $5,800. 

Liberty (J^vH) (1,900; 21-32-42)— 
'Star Is Born* (UA). Solo ie is 
delivering terrific . $12^000. Last 
week, 'Accused' CUA) and ' romise 
to Pay' (Col), $3,100, poor. 

Metrbpplitan (University theatres) 
(1,450; 58-$i:15) — Dslfk this week. 
Last week, 'Good Earth* (MG) 2nd 
week of roadshpw, $5,6po, okay. 

Music Box (llamriok>-Evergreen) 
(900; 32-37-42)-2-'Nigh.tl<Must Fall' 
(MG) and 'Way Out West' (MG) 
Not so forte at $2,i206. Last week, 
'Marked Woman' CWB) and 'Ro- 
mance' (20th), $2,300, jiist fair. 

Orpheum (Hamrick- Evergreen) 
(2,700; 32-37-42)— 'Shall We Dance' 
(RKO). Astaire arid Rogers draw- 
ing big $8,000. Last week,. 'Mountain 
Justice' (WB) and 'Way Out West* 
(MG ), dual, $4,700, fair. 

Palomar (Sterling) (1,450; 16-27- 
37)— 'Soldier arid Lady' (RKO) and 
vaude. Looks to reach fair $3,500. 
Last week, 'Circus Ladyr (Rep) and 
vaude; $3,400, fair. ' 

Paramonnt (Hamrick-Evergreen) 
(3,106; 32-37-43>-'23% Hours Leave' 
(GN) and 'Charley Chan' (20th). 
Drawing fair $5,000. Last week, 
'Night Must Fall* (MG) and 'Love Is 
Young' (U), dual, $4,700, fair. 

Roosevelt (Sterling) (850-21-32)- 
•Green Light* (WB) and 'Sea Devil' 
(U). Combo looks headed for nice 
$3,000. Last week, 'God's Country' 
(WB) and ./Ready, WUli ' (WB), 
dual, $2,700, fair. 



Det % jDp New AEItH-Boycott; 

m. IHetropole 23G 





Rub-a-Duib-Diib 



Charles Boyer won*t permit 
his films to be dubbed, a clause 
to that effect being inserted in 
his Wanger contract, modeled 
on a similar ciaiise in Marlene 
Dietrich's Paramount contract 

Someone bought a Bbyer: 
French picture lor distribution 
in Aiiierica, wanted to dub it 
and approiached Boyer. He said 
no. Offered $10,000 to speak his . 
lines in English, doing the dub- 
bing, he still said lip, : explain* 
Ing that he would like it but 
that his English is too imper- 
fect. It's okay, he pointed out, 
for a film miade in English in 
the first;^ place because he. can 
speak slowly. But in French he 
' talks at a pace so rapid he can't 
rejpeat In English at the same 
speed.! 




wes 
InK.C 





mm 



Trent's Tonsilitis 

Hollywood, May 11. 
. Sudden attack of tonsilitis forced 
John Trent out of the leiad of B. P. 
Schulberg's 'Let's Talk of Love.* 

Shooting schedule for the pic was 
revised. 



WILCOX TO 20TH-FpX 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Robert WilcoXj on loan from^ 
Warners, gets the romantic lead with' 
Pauline Moore in 20th-Fox's 'Wild 
and Woolly,' Jane Withers starrer. 

Others -in the cast are JaClde Sear], 
Douglas Fowley, Berton Churchilli 
Lbn Chancy, Jr., and Wicilter Bren 
nan. 



4 Out of 5 Pitts. Pix Have B. 0.; 
lake Up Sock IIG; 'Star' H. 0. 8G 

Pittsburgh, May ll. —'Join Marines* (Rep) and. 'Man Be- 



Kansas City, May 11. 
Fine, weather denting grosse^.- 
'Shall We Dance,* at Maihstreet, is 
the only outstander after a slow 
start. Bowes' all-girl unit at Tower 
is brodieing. . 

Estimates for This Week 
Bblnstrcet (RKO) (3,200; 25-40)-r- 
'Shall We Dance' (RKO)i Slpw 
starter, but picking lip for good 
$15,000. Last week, 'Woman 1 Love' 
(RKO), $8,000, poor. 

Midland (Loew) (4,000; 25-40)^ 
'NijghtMxist Fall' (MG) and 'Promise 
to Pay* /(Col). Lot of interest and 
word oir, mouth on Montgomery pic; 
over expectations at $12,000. Last 
week, 'Romeo and Juliet* (MG), 
$8,300, poor. 

Newman (Par) (1,900; 25^40)^ 
'Mountain Justice' (WB) and 'Mur- 
der Goes College* (Par). Good week 
for staff to go fishing; $3,800, poor. 
Last week; 'Internes' (Par) (2nd 
run) and 'Melody for Two* (WB). 
fair, $5,200. 

Tower (Fox) (2,200; 25-40)^ "Mid- 
nlght "Taxi* (20th) . and Bowes All- 
Girl unit on stage. Tyro's slipping; 
$8,500, so-so. Last, week, 'Fifty 
Roads' (20th) and vaude headed by 
Faith Bacon, $13,000, swell 

Uptown (Fox) (2,020; 25-40)— 
'Chan at Olympics' (20th) and 
'David Harum' (20th). Faint $3,000. 
Last week, 'Wake Up and Live' 
(20th) (2nd week), $4,000, fine. 

Casting 'Miss Calhoun' 

HoUywopd, May 11. 
Lyford Moore and Rolf Passer 
flew east last Saturday (8) to take 
a hand in the casting of their new 
comedy, 'Miss Calhoun Flies South.' 

Broadway production is slated for 
early fall. 



Detroit,;-]yray 11. 

Too many cbunter-attractions ancl: 
not enough powier ait the b.o. spells 
blobey. Some claim weak biz is dii 
to a boycott by local unionites i 
synapathy with Hollywobd strikers, 
which is JaS: good aii alibi !as, any. 

Although gross Is disappointing, 
looks, like Astaire-Rogers 'Shall We 
Dance' at the Michigan is the week*s 
topper, with 'Cafe Metropole,' plus 
Sybil Jiason and Everett Marshall on 
stage at the Fox, a close second.. 

Estimates -for This .Week 

Adams (Balabah) (1,700; 25-40)— 
'Off to Races' (20th) and 'Wake Up 
and Live* .(20th) (2rid , wk), dual. 
Latter moved here after nice session 
at Fox; should get $5,300'; around 
average. Last week, 'Ni Key,' 
(U) plus 'You're in the Arriiy' (GB). 
fair $5,500. 

Downtown (Krim) (2,800; 25-40)— 
'Miurder in Red Barn' (MG) plus 
'Juggernaut' (GN); dual. Melodrama 
given lot'ta . ballyhoo; prices dropped 
.firom usual 40-60, arid should do al-, 
rijght at $4,500v Last week, 'Polygamy' 
(Unusual) and 'Silks and Saddles' 
(Victory )^ fair $3,000. 

Cass (Indie) (1,40<); $1.65 top)— 
•Good Earth* (MG) (3d wk). Doing 
nicely. Got okay $14,000 last week 
and $11,500 in first five days.^ 

Fox (Indie) (5,000; 30-40-65)— 
I 'Cafe Metiropole* (20th) with Sybil 
Jason, Everett Marshall topping 
vaude. Good $23,000 in a dull town. 
Last week, 'Thunder in City* (Cbl) 
and Guy Loinbardb^ hot $30;OO(). 

Madison (United Detroit) (2,000; 
30-40-65)— 'Call It a Day' (WB). Big 
buildup, but no go at $4,000. Last 
week, 'Love froin Stranger' (Traf), 
fair $5,000. 

Michigan (United Detroit) (4,000; 
30-40-65)— 'Shall We Dance' (RKO) 
and stage show. Not up to draught 
of other AstaircrRogers flickers, but 
good at $25,000. Last week, 'Internes 
Can't Take Money* (Par) with Cali- 
fornia CpUegians topping vaude, fair 
$18,000. 

State (United Detroit) - (3,000; 25- 
40)— 'Great O'Malley' (WB) plus 
'China Passage* (RKOi), duaL Off 
here top, but dke at $6,500. Last 
week, 'Murder Goes to College* 
(Par) and 'Her Husband's Secretary' 
(FN), average $7,800. 

Ijfnited Artists (United Detroit) 
(2,000; 30-40-65)— 'Prince and Pauper* 
(FN). Low at $8,000. Last , week, 
•Night Must Pall' (MG ), pke $10,500. 

Cabanne's Quest 

Hollywood, May li. 

Christy Cabanne went to Wash- 
ington last week to seek the Navy's 
approval for 'The Glory Command,' 
which he will direct fbr lEtadio. 

Story is by John Twist Robert 
Sisk produces. 



Give 'Cm what they want and. 
they'll buy, .- daylight savings and 
lazy weather notwithstanding^ The 
downtown bpx-oflices are proving 
that this week arid four out Of five 
have it. The fifth is in the.dbg-hpuse, 
but that'S' nb disgrace against such 
cpriipetish. 

■ 'Wake Up and Live' sending the 
Alvin slap-happy and running just a 
few. bUckis under house's record. 
'Mountain Justice' at Stanley treated 
pretty brutally by . crix so it's Guy 
Lombardo who cari be credited .With 
shbbtirtg house into top rinoney, while- 
'Prince and the Pauper' is clicking 
briskly at Penn, although heading 
for no outstanding figures. 'Star Is 
Born/ after sizzling week at pehn, 
is repeating spck at Warner in~ seC- 
pnd week, with pnly the Fulton hpld- 
irig bag with 'Jpin the Mariries' arid 
'A Man Betrayed.' 

Estimates for This Week 
Alvin (Harris) (2,000; 25-35-40)— 
'Wake- Up arid Live' (20th). Sriiash 
musical entertainment is running 
just slightly under figures of 'Lloyds 
of London,' (20th), Which holds 
straight i'x record for this site. 
LQoks like $11,000 easily. Last week, 
'Nancy Steele'. (20th) not overly 
strong but not a loser either at 
$5,900. 

Fulton (Shea-Hyde) (1,750; 25-40) 



trayed' (Rep). Ordinary twin bill 
drawing onljf poor $3,200. Last week, 
.sdcond pf reissue bf ?No Man of Her 
Own,' (Par). Okay at $4,700 on tpp 
pf $7,700 ppener. That's mpre tham 
it did pn its first release here five 
years agp. 

Penn (Leew^s-UA) (3,300; 25-35. 
50)— Prince and Paiiper' (WB). Lot 
of gbbd selling points, including the 
Cbrpnatipn, are helping this Phe 
pyercoriie . the cpstume angle. Re 
views all raves .and everything 
shpiild mount up tp nice: $14,000,-Last 
fWjBek, 'Star Is Bern' (UA) oiRE slow, 
but grew bigger day by day and 
finished close tp $26,000, great. 

Stanley (WB) (3,600; 25-40-60)— 
'Mountain Justice' (FN) and Guy 
Lombardp''s" band. Picture discounted 
entirely in smart trade here, with 
b. p. pull pf stage attractipn being 
credited in tptp with slick $20,000. 
Last week, 'Call. It Day' (WB) arid 
Ina Ray HUtton's band npt bad at 
$17,500. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 25-35-50)— 
'Star Is Born' (UA). Gaynor-March 
hit moved here after sock week at 
Penn. and has plenty of stuff left. 
Knocking off around $8,000. Last 
week, 'Doctor's Diary* (Par) and 
'That Man's Here Again' (FN), weak 
$4,000. 



MONO'S PHnXY EXCHANGE 

Philadelphia, May ll. 
Monogram Excharige will open its 
Philly office next Monday (17). Sam 
Rosen, foriper manager and sales- 
man at Grand Natioriai, /heads the 
local staff. Si Pearlschweig arid Phil 
Wolf son have been signed as sales- 
men. 



Helen Swane Out of Par 

Heieri Swane is out of Par. She 
was in charge Ws^exchange accbunt- 
ing in N. .y. No successor has yet 
been named. 

Miss Swane had been with the 
coritipany 20 years.- 



HABJOBIB LORD'S LEAD 

Hbllywood, May 11. 

Radio has set Marjorie Lord to 
play the romantic lead in 'House In 
the Cbuntry/ starruig Fred Stbne. 

Cliff Reid produces, with Richard 
Rbsson directing. 



RALPH STOCK EAST 

Hollyiyood, May 11. . 
Ralph StpCk, British playwright, 
has returned; te New Yprk after com- 
pleting an assignment on 'Long 
Traverse* for Paramount. 
. Adaptatipn wais frpmi his pwn oriig- 
inal. 



Sulu Pic In Lab 

Hpllywppd, May 11. - 
Wprk has begun here en -Zambp- 
anga,' first feature-length film to be 
turned out by the Phili ine Films 
Co. 

Footage shot on the islands bor- 
dering the Sulu sea is getting lab 
attention. 



Hopalonr at Bar 20 

HPllywppd, May 11. 

Harry Sherman's next Hopalong 
Cassidy for Paramount will be '(Cas- 
sidy of Bar 20,* With William Boyd 
and George Hayes featured. 

Goes Into production in three 
weeki. 



SHANE WRITING 'RIDDLE' 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Maxwell Shane has been assigned 
to the screenplay of 'The Riddle of 
40 Naughty Girls' at Radio, featur- 
ing. ZaSu Pitts and James Gleason. 

William Sistrpm prpduces. 



60% Pix Bis 



(Continued from page 5) 



hot allowed in white theatres alters 
the picture. Thus in Birmingham, 
having a population of 259,678, close 
to 100,000 are colored people and not 
permitted in the houses, listed; So 
that, actually, there are 8.9 persons 
per seat instead of 17.6. 

Aside frorii other southerri cities 
where a similar situation prevails, 
such as Houston, Fbrt Worth, Nash- 
ville, Jacksonville, Chattanooga, and 
Tampa, the survey shows Duluth, 
Minneapolis, El Paso, Tulsa and 
Yonkers as leading the nation i 
undejrseatingi 



Wednesilajt May 12» 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 




in 




Jtf etro Washes Up, Radio PloU, 0 and GN 
Getting Set^And Monq in Chi 



Hollywood, May' ,11. 

Metro sales executivies and sales- 
men broke camp last . Friday (7), 
after a week of convehtioh activities 
ceiiteriiig around the - Ambassador 
hbtel and the Culver City studios, 
Most of the delegates remained over 
ioir the final soiree, at which Louis 
B lilayer, / production chief, played 
host to more than 1,000 guests. 

Finale party was. a gala dinnier 
dance , held on the sound stage in the 
studio. Eats were followed by brief 
talks by Mayer, Frank Whitbeck and 
yf, F. Rbdgers, sales chief. Liter 
Mayer and Sophie Tucker emceed a 
floor show of 15 acts. 

Business conclaves at the conven- 
tion were over by Friday and, the 
delegates started sightseeing. Around 
80 took the trip to Catalina Island, 
some braved , the chill Pacific surf^ 
others played golf, motored or 
rested. 

RKO Plans 

A. A. Schiibart;, RKQ exchange 
manager, and Barrett McGprmack, 
advertising and publicity chief, have 
arrived from New York to set details 
for Radio's annual sales convention, 
which .will open. June .16 at the Amr 
bassiador hotel and continue for uix 
days. Beside hoine office executives, 
.'platts caU for attendance . of all dis- 
trict and branch mattagers arid ex- 
change salesmen. 

James E. Francis, io Corp. of 
America western division riianager, 
departed Sunday (9) night. to attend 
eastern sales sessions, . accompanied 
by Seth Perkins of the Los Angeles 
Photophone office and A. E. Jackson, 
manager of theatre . equipment in 
ttpliywood. M. F. Biurns, assistant 

ice president of RCA, got away , last; 
Thursday (6) for the .Indiahapolis 
•sales' coijvention, with Everett. Iseh-' 
hower, district manager. They will 
visit Camden a:nd Chicago before re- 
turning, io the Coast. ■ 

Universal rand.^ National 

sales conventions get under way 
next Sunday (16) at the Ambassador 
hotel,- each to last three, days.. Spe- 
cial train will bring in 165 U west- 
iern and midwesterri sales represen- 
tatives. Branch managers and sales- 
.men from the Pacific cOast area will 
arrive at the same time. 

Between . 80 and 100 are expected 
lor the GN confabs. 



'Skanciiig' 



Fred Astaire-iGinger Rogeri 
special roller skating dance 
numijer has been defihi^ly 
tagged by RKO-Badio after a 
long prowl for a; suitable name^ 

intricate terps specialty is 
•called 'Skancihg,' woifd em>- 
'ployed by Nat Pinney, picture 
arid' feature editor of the Min- 
neapolis Star, to /describe; the 
maneuvers. icture coriipany 
is publicizirig it uri^der this 
riame, With full credit, to Fin- 
ney. 



PETER ARNO to H'WOOD 



WIU Do BU ll^r AcUnf While 
Lawyer. Hunts Talents 



is 



lOVE, HISSES' NET 
FOR BERNIE, WINCHELL 



. Hollywood, May 11. 

'Love, and Hisses' will be the next 
Walter Wirichell-fleri Bernie. prOduC' 
tion at 20th-Fox.' Film will be made 
from in original story by Art Ar- 
thur, Brooklyn newspaper: columnist 
recently . signed to a. year's writing 
ticket .by Dairyl Zariuck. Curtis 
Kenyon, Jr., is working ivith Arthur 
on the screenplay. 

Kenneth Macgowan has been set 
as associate producer. Starting date 
has riot been definitely set.- 



John Wildberg, fllni arid lieglt 
attorney, arid Peter Arno left for 
the Coast Sunday (9), to spend a 
weiek, Wildberg, who , is Arno's at- 
torniey, Will attend to hunting up 
some talerit for a muisical which 
Arrio intends producing ori road- 
way in the near future, .while Arno 
takes a hand 'at his first film acting 
assignment, tics will do a bit in 'Ar-. 
tists and Models,^ playing ; hirnself, 
with Rube Goldberg doing the same. 

Musical . which Arno is plotti is 
:o be entitled .'Soriie Like It .' 
it was written by Frairik Gabrielsbn,. 
iDavid Leasori and Miltori Lazarus. 
Arno and Wildberg hope to find a 
E^611y^yood nariie. for the cast , arid 
will also talk to composers for the 
score, although there is already a 
i;entative deal 6n with Ray Hender- 
son for this job. 

.Wildberg will also talk to film 
names for two plays on schedule for 
Rowland Stebbins. These are 'The 
Astonished Ostrich' and 'Merely 
: \iurder.'. Ann Harding is being con- 
sidered for the former and Robert 
Montgomery for the latter. 



Mary Garden to Comb 
Europe as Metro Scoot 



. Holly woodi May 11. 

Mary Garden left Sunday (9) eri 
route to , Europe to scout musical 
talent for Metro. She sails from New 
York June 22, 

Diva will test a number of pro 
teges now studyirig in Paris. 



Mono Meet 

Chicago, May 11. 
. Two-day Monogram convention 
got under way here last Friday (7) 
at the Drake hotel, with around 100 
franchise distributors, salesmen, stu- 
dio and hohie of flcie executives at- 
tending. Followed a press party on 
Thursday (6) night for Jackie Cooper 
and Jack Randall, two new Mono- 
gram stars. 

Brief talks were giveri on opening 
day by Scott Dunlap, viCe-pres. in 
charge of production; Louis S. Lif- 
ton, advertising and publicity direc- 
tor, and Sol A. Roseriblatt. Boys 
were assured that Monogram would 
complete' its schedule of 42 pictureis 
.for the .coming seaison, and on time 
.with execs, guaranteeing salesmen 
that every picture sOld would be de 
livered; Dunlap's talk outlined pro 
duction plans for the coming seasoii 
and the day finished off with a ban 
quet for franchise holders, , 

Saturday (8) riiorning affair was a 
pep talk session, with build-ups for 
Jack Randall, and short talks on sell- 
ing, exchange operation and produc- 
tion. D. Henry Biggs, Pathe presi: 
dent; Norton V. Aichey, Dave Selz- 
nick, Ray Olmstead, Lon T. Fidler. 
Sam Decker, J; A. Sisto, Edward 
Gplderi. Henri Elman, Howard Stub- 
bins. Herschel Stuart. Fred Jiidd, . 
W. Goldstein, John W. Magham and 
Steve Broidy were among the speak 



Mayer's lidnighf Call 

Hollywood, May 11. , 
Edwin. Justus Mayer has been as 
signed by Paramount to script 'Mid- 
night,' ' Marlenes Dietrich . starrer, 
willing the tirifinished script of 'The 
Buccaneer,' Cecil B. De Mille pirate 
opus, to Preston Sturges. 

Ray Harris will- write an .xm: 
titled comedy for:Lynne Overman at 
the studio, Addison Simmohs arid 
M. Coaties Webster are cpllabing.on 
the screenplay of 'Ensenada.' 



contingent 6f Universal's 
sales force heading to the. convention 
in Hollywood leaves N. Y. today 
(Wednesday), headed by prez R. H. 
Cochrane. 'J. R, Gari general 
sales head, Joe. Weil exploitation 
chief; . Edward Bpnns, shorts man 
ager; and Sig Wittman, eastern dis 
|rict manager, pulled out earlier in 
the week i arrange detejils. 

Salesmen of New HaVeri, Conn., 
jnd BuiTaio, N. Y., leave today on' a 
two ti- in special.. Thursday will be 
spent in Chicago, where sellers fi'orti 
south and midwest join the group to 
add (ive cars. Another carload en- 
trams at Kansas City. 



Triple Title Toppers 

Hollywood, May 11. 
'Wife, Doctor and Nurse,' at 20th 
Fox, has Barbara Stanwyck, Loretta 
Yoiing and Warner Baxter in the top 
spots. ilm will be made from an 
original story by Kalhryn Scola and 
Darrell Ware, and has Waiter Lang 
as director, with Raymond Griffith 
associate producer. 

Miss Stanwyck ,is from 
Radi 



McCREA ON LOAN TO 
PAR FOR UOYD OPUS 




MMES DUE 




Hollywood, May 11. 
Joel McCrea goes . to Paramount 
for an important role In the Frank 
: jlOyd production of *Ari Empire Is 
Born,' dealing witji the drama of 
ransportatlon in this country. Actor 
leaves Sariiuel Goldwyn temporarily 
ori loari-out. 

Howard Estabi-ook, :set as- co- 
producer with Lloyd, authored the 
original, combing through the early 
annals of the Wells-Fargo Express Co. 
l or material. Pic is scheduled for the 
go signal June 21, with most of the 
shooting on location. 

Bob Burns is the only pthier player 
set. 



COMPETISH AS IS 

.Hpllywopd, May II. 

Louis. Armstrong .will bring his 
band here to play dual numbers with 
Andre Kostelanetz's orchestra in 
Paramourit^s. .'Artistis and Models,' 

ArriistrPhg was in . Par's 'Pennies 
froni Heaven,' ith Birig Crosby^ 



TIILY LOSCH SUED 

HoliywoPd, May II. 

Tilly Losch is charged •with vipla 
tibn of contract iri a suit for $20,900 
filed agairist her here by John 
McCormick, Inc., agency. 

Actress-dancer is under contract 
to Metro. 



There's a strong possibility, pif sev- 
eral Hollywood names filling Broad- 
way legit dates next season. Anriong 
them are James Cagney, Robert 
Montgomery, Ann Harding, Victor 
McLaglen, Ralph Mbrgain, Frances 
Farmer arid Katharine Hepburn, 
This is in addition to other film 
players klready familiar to Broad 
way. 

Cagney; legit bit player before en 
tering pix. Is being spught by George 
S. Kauftnan for the lead in 'Mice 
and Meri,' to be produced in the fall 
by Sam H. Harris, with Kaufman 
directing. Victor McLaglen is also 
Tumpred for the part.. 

Rowland Stebbins is understood tp 
be after Rpbert Montgomery for 
'Merely Murdier,' one of two plays 
ori. his fail schedule. Dope is that 
Claudia Mprgan would be the 
femme lead. Montgoriiery did soriie 
stage acting be'pre going, to Hijlly- 
wPpdi 

Fpr his other fall production, 'The 
Astonished Ostrich,' Stebbins is saic 
to be seeking Ann Harding. Actress 
recently cliciced big in a London 
production of Shaw's 'Candida,' 
leaving the show to , marry Werner 
Jarissen, symphony conductor. Be 
fore goirig into pix. Miss Harding 
had several Broadway stage .suc- 
cesses, among them 'Trial of Mary 
Dugari.' 

While there's considerable doubi: 
about Katharine Hepburn's appear- 
ance on Broadway iri 'Jane Eyre 
next fall, ; the Theatre Guild is still 
lot after her.. If she doesn't retuirri 
to the .Helen Jerome play, which 
she did this season on the rpad, it', 
known that Miss Hepburn yens to 
do legit from tinie to. le in the 
future. 

Although rieitheir player is 'men 
tioned for any. particular show 
Ralph Morgan arid Frances Farmer 
are also; understood to. be eager 
appear in legit: on Broadway nex 
season. Constance Cummlngs 
likewise among- the pliayei's regu- 
larly dividing their time between 
the Cpiast and Broadway whp are 
set for stage appearance.. She's; set 
fpr the lead in the 6uild rpduction 
of ;'M^idam Bpvary,* 

Other's looking for Broadway 
plays are Lupe Velez, Richard Dixj 
Mary Brian, Loretta Young; and 
Helen Vi 



Muriel HutcMnso^ to Par 
Hollywood, May II. 
Paramount, has pacted Muriel 
Hutciiinson, British actress, who just 
closed in the Broadway run of 'The 
Amazing "Dr. Clitterhouse;' 
Will do two pictures. 



John Ford Back 

Hollywood, May II. 
John Ford, after sieveral weeks in 
•the South Seas on 'Hurricdne,' is 
back on the UA lot doing the studio 
shots of the pic. 



to 
t 

is 






Invested in Yams 
Fw Ne][t Season, lad Warner Says 



Ladies and Women 



Hollywood, May. 11, 
Australian exhi have 
changed the. riariie .Of 'Johrt 
Meade's Woman^' . P. Schul- 
. berg (Par) production, to 'John 
Meade's Lady' b^ciause of dif>^ 
fetences iri Ipcal mearii ; of 
words. 

same treatment was accorded 
in lEngland to ''Internes Can't 
Take Money,' is released 

there under the 'You Cari't 
Take Moriey.*^^ 



Mrs. Martin Johnson 
Grabbed by 20th (or 
Belgian Congo Film 



Osa Johnsori has been signed by 
20th-Fox to head an expedition into 
the Blelgian Corigo lor material tp 
be incorporated into a studio yarn, 
'How I Found Livingstone,' npw 
being whipped into a screen, play .by 
Sam Hellman. Studio is budgeting 
the film, to be called 'Stanley end 
Livingstone,' at well over $1,000,000 
Otto Brower, riow in Switzerland on 
backgrounds for a Shirley Temple 
picture, joins the troupe in Africa to 
direct. Crew is leaving heire in No 
vember. Will have .10 cameramen 
and five techniciains. 



Lombardv March Tops 
In Selznick 'Sacred' 



HPllywood, May U. 

Selznick International will cO-star 
Carole Lombard and Friedric March 
in 'Nothing. Sacred,' a Ben Hecht 
original to be directed by William 
Wellman. 

Hecht labored On the script while 
training east with David O. Selz- 
nick, John Hay Whitney and party, 
and e!xpects to finish it on his re- 
turn journey, so that cameras can 
roll aro.und May 26; 

Production 'is schedulea 'The 
Adventures Tom Sa.wyer' about 
the same time, with H; C. Potter 
directing; Script Of "Sawyer' by 
John V; A. Weaver is about ready. 



Warnei* ros. has around. $5,000,000 
invested in legit shows,; novels, 
nals and other stories which will be 
riiade into features duri 
irig (I937-I938) Jack 
Warrier, y.p. in charge of produbtiPri, 
who will annputice this figure and 
jgiye' the titles pif the' 
be made, tpday's sessioris: of the- 
WB convention in Ne^y York, made 
this statement yesterday ■ CTues.) i 
advance of icial announce- 

ment. 

Gf the 60 features to be> turned but 
for the coniirig year, 1 1 will bc based 
ori. Biroadway stage shows, headed by 
'Tovarich,' 'Boy Meet?! Girl,' 'White 
Horsti Inn,' 'Jezebel,' Ing Your 
Lady' arid 'A Slight Case oiE Minder.' 
Others are 'Chalked Out,' 'Yes, My 
Darling Daughter' and a remake of 
Desert Song.' Seventeen pictures to 
je based on books include 'Story of 
Sari Michele,' 'White Banners,' -The 
Sisters,* 'Story . of Eiriiie Zola," 'A 
PrayerFor My Son,' 'The Gamblers,' 
'Adventures of Robin Hood,' 'And It 
All Came . - ,' 'Angle Shootei-/ 
'Coriiet Over roadway,' 'Sister Act,' 
Mi'. Dodd Takes the Air,' 'Tliis 
Woman ahgerous',' 'The Valley 
of the Giants' arid 'Gold Is Where 
You Find it.' 

Two Technicolor prbductloni} Viav- 
ner' is .announcing today (Wed;)' ai'e 
'Valley of the Giants' and 'Gold Is 
Where You Find It' , Among . the 
musicals will be a Rodgcrs and Hart 
show, 'On . Your Toes,' ith Ginger 
Rogers heading the cast, arid a' secr 
ond Fernarid Gravet production to 
be turned oilt by Morvyu LeRoy en- 
titled 'Return Engagement.' Another 
in the ^Gold Diggers' series wiil.be 
■Gold Digger^ -in Lpnddn,' while a. 
Fred' Wari Pennsylvanians-Dick 
Powell musical. ill be 'Var.slty 
Show.'- 

New Stars 
Jack Warner predicts that. Of the 
company's young contract players, at 
least a half dozen will attain, lull 
stellar rank within the coming year. 
Those who are definitely to be raised 
to stardpm for the. 1937-38 season are 
Humphrey Bofiart, Ian Hunter, 
Anita Lpuise, Pqt O'Bri the 
Mauch twins, Boris Karloff an ick 
Forari. 

Convention, first Grad Sears 
as general sales manager, signalized 
some prornotions by Sears. Ben 
Kalriienspn, central district mana- 
ger; has been made eastern district 
chief over New York state and New 
England. Robert Smeltzer, mid-At- 
lantic district mgr., which takes in 
Philadelphia and Washington terri-. 
tories, has' also been giveri the. Pitts- 
burgh, Cleveland and Detroit zones. 

Shorts schedule for '37-'38, to be 
aririounccd by Norman Moray, shorts 
.sales head, \yill . total 134. It was 
135 la.st year,, with a majority of the 
brief items turned out at the Brook- 
lyn studio. 



Price's Roach Call 

Hollywood, May 11.. . 
incerit Price will report to Hal 
Roach in r June for 'Road. Show,' 
which will also have Oliver Hardy, 
Lyda Roberti and Patsy Kelly, in the 
cast. Hc' is currently pri Broadway 
pppPsite Helen Hayes " 'Victoria 
Reginai* which is now iii its final 
thtee weeks. 

Eric Hatch, who., authored the 
original for 'ROad Show,' also has a 
short story. 'The Git There Stroke,' 
Which will be put into production as 
a Roach musical. Bert Kalmai* and 
Harry Ruby will do the .screenplay 
and musi 



Scans Cincy for Faces 



incinnati. May 11. 

iiUci lie Ryrrian, Universal's talent 
scout, here last week. Not iri- 
terested.in kiddies as hopefuls, and 
the town was empty of dramatic 
stpcfc arid legit. 

Hei- gandering was corifmcd to the 
radio field and femme lookers. 



Tall Guys^ for W & W 

Hollyjvood, May 11. 

Nekt Wheeler and Woolsey film at 
RKO , ill be 'Fall Guys.' Eddie 
€11 ne will dir . 

Lee Marcus produces the film °rom 
Benny, Rubin's adaptation of Vict )r 
Mapcs' yarn., 

Jean Parker's Gol Start 

Hollywood, May ll. 

Jean Pai-ker starts work on her 
new Columbia contract with 'Life 
Begins With Love.' 

Myies ConniDlly i 



Dud Nichois Ducking 

Holly woo , May 1 1. 
Dudley Nichols i.s ducking tor New 
York at the end of the niorith- an 
ducking, too, the .problem of signin 
agajri with Kp-iladio. 

Nichols, who scripted 
former' and tos.sed the 
prize bacjt in .the lap of that org, has 
been loaned out to Sam : Goldwyn. 
ifbr 'Hurricane' and doesn't want tp 
be loaned oiit arty.;riior.c, prefcrr.i 
to pic^! his spots; 

He ' Will sumriier 
where hc has a farm. 



Aherne Coming Home 

ice, May 2. 

Brian Aherrie left her this week, 
iaftcr spending seycral weeks visit- 
ing his father and mother, for Rome, 
where, hd'll take an Itali for 
.the States. 

lle'll slo ivfcw York 

enough to .sign his name a few tl 
going on tp .Holly wood io dp. a pi 
tiirci 



Antheil at Selznick? 

.Hollywood, May i.l; 
p. Selznick ' con.'iidering 
George Antheil for musical director 
of Selznick' Inlernatioivai, .fcplucing. ' 
Max Stfeiner. who has .inst resigned. 

If set conipo.ser woiikl iilsi) clo the- 
scores for 'Tom vycr' and 'Giuic 
I With the Win 



10 



VARIETY 



THRILLING OPENINGS IN 150 
PACE FROM COAST TO COAST! 

"SHALL WE DANCr HEADING FOR TOP MONEY EVERYWHERE! . . . PRE-RELEASE 
CHICAGO AND BALTIMORE REPORT OUTSTANDING SECOND WEEKS! . . . CITY 
AFTER CITY FALLING IN LINE AS NEW ASTAIRE-ROGERS SHOW HITS ITS 
DAZZLING BOX-OFFICE STRIDE! ... CRITICS UNANIMOUSLY SPLASH AMERICA 
WITH THE KIND OF REVIEWS THAT MAKE THEATRES OPEN DOORS EARLIER^ 
GIVE EXTRA SHOWS, PLAY TO STANJ) OUT CROWDS ALL DAY LONG! 




GmCER 




Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



VARIETY 



11 



HOLDOVER 




RADIO CITY 
MUSIC HALL 



12 



VARIETY 



FILM REYIEWS 



Wednesday, May 12, 193? 



SHALL WE DANCE 

(MUSICAL).. 

RIvO releaais of Pafldo Si Bermftn pro- 
duotlon. Sttvrs Fred Astalre and Glnper 
iRoBeis.' Features' E. E. Horton, Eric Blore; 
Directed by Alark Sandrlch. Music, George 
Gershwin; lyrics, Irji Gershwin. BMed oh 
story. 'Watch Your Step,' by Lee Locb and 
Harold fJuchmttn; adaptation, P. J. Wolf- 
Bpn; Rcrren play, Allan Scott, and Ernest 
Fagano; photography, . David Abel; en- 
eemblos staged . by . Herines- Pan; ballet; 
Harry liosee; musical director, J^atharilel 
Bhilkret; film editor, "WllUnrt Hainllton; 
art director. Van Nest Polglase. Due at 
llusic Hall, Y. , tveek May 13. '37. : Run. 
ulng.tinie, 

Petroff . . . . .... . . . . rv.; . i .TVed. Astalr'e 

tlnda . Keene . ... ......... . . : Inger Rogers 

Ballrd. .' verett Hortori 

Cecil Fllntrldge; , . .-. • . . .Eric. Blore. 

Arthur Wilier. , .... . . ....... .Jerome Cowari 

I^ady Tarrlngtori.;.,*... . . . . .Kettl Galllan. 

Jim Alontgohnery ...William Brisbane 

Mrs. Fitzgerald . . : , . . Ann Shoemaker 
and Harriet octor 



A well made picture containing 
everything a good musical should' 
hold. The marquee . names are a 
guarantee and: woird-of -mouth will 
do the rest Film is a cinch for 
business and holdovers. ' 

'Shall We Dance,* the seventh in 
the Astairjei-Rogers series, Is a stahd- 
.out because the script affords Astaire 
a legitimate excuse for a change of 
pace in his dancing, the coinedy is 
solid, and this is the best cuttingvjpb 
an Astaire picture has enjoyed in a 
long ,time. : This latter item is im- 
pottaht as it hiad commenced to look 
as if the studio couldn't decide, 
whether Astaire was making musicals 
or operettas. But this one is down, to 
cases and it's better; much better. 

There have been others in the 
string ' wliich have had istronger tunes, 
superior punch laughs,, and ^packed 
ihbre dynamite in Astaire's oirrn 
. specialties; yet seldom.' have these 
Ingirediehts been made to fit ; so 
evenly. Another factor 'Which .com- 
mands attention is the reluctance of 
the picture to force its songs down 
the audience's throat. For instance, 
the hit: melody of the: score, 'They 
Can't Take That Away from Me.' In 
the film this is merely given a verse 
and one chorus; No reprise, no plug. 
Almost ' a once-over-light but . it's 
:smart and it helps curtail footage. 
Besides which all six songs, one more 
than usual, have been nicely spotted 
with no attenipt to over play any of 
them.' Nor is there a bad <[itty in the 
batch. All are attractive and, have 
be^h, and will be, heai'd repeatedly. 
There is also nothing the rnatter 
with brother Ira's lyrics, and while, 
the orchestrations are not particu- 
larly exciting they are satisfactory. 
Best in this line is for some incif 
dental ' music during; a comedy 
£eciuehce on board ship. 

Basically the story Is of a ballet 
daincer (Astaire) who would rather 
. be a hoofer. Romantically the script 
ties him into a complicated affinity 
with Giniger Bogers who is a musical 
comedy , star. The nmiors of their 
marriage grow to such proportion it 
forces them to secretly wed with the 
understanding of an immediate 
diybrce^ The divorce, of course, is 
never, reached. In locale thie yarn 
starts, in Paris, spends some time en 
route .to the IT. S;, and finishes in 
New York. 

Astaire's stock comipany has been 
reassembled, hence the comedy is in 
the hands ot H, E. Horton, as 
Astaire's manager, and Eric Blore^ as 
a . Manhattan maitre de hotel. 
Morton's bent for 'double takes' (the 
basis of his whole method; anyway) 
has now permeated' the whole dast. 
Blofe. is certainly adept at them, as 
also is Astaire, and Miss Rogers now 
rings in, too, when .called upon. Top 
laugh sequence, however, belongs to 
B. Blore in a telephone conversation 
W: with Horton although the latter is 
r valuable all the way. After the m^ain 
quartet of players the cast simmers 
down to small parts and bits. Of 
these Ketti Gallian, as a light heavy, 
is as important as '.any. She is' not 
ih^pressive. here mainly, it would 
seem, due to having become brunette. 
Miss Gallian should return to bieing 
a blonde with all. speed. 

For Miss Rogers, of the gorgeous 
figure,, this picture, at last, marks a 
decided imnrovetnent in dressing. 
She's still playing around with' her 
hair, thbiighi and not always ad- 
vantageously atcording . to . the 
camera. The best [point about Miss 
[Rogers' in these Astaire films con 
tinues to be the way she handles her- 
self when he' is singing. She rates 
plenty bn..;this[ point.. It is - also ia 
pleasure to wiitch: Miss Rogers , sing 
a song after looking at some bf the 
other : Goast girls. No Shaking of 
shoulders, no weaving hips. Some of 
^he other girls should drop ih lest 
they forget. Her danci with 
Astair6 is again also, good; 

For Astaire 'Shall We D^nce' of- 
.fers final proof of his being head 
min as to .dancing,: just in case there 
ever was any doubt. I*rior to this 
he has only hinted at the- ballet 
work of which he is capable, mixing 
it up with those hot breaks. Here 
he really ' pours it on and they'll 
like it. 

His besf" ballet Work actually 
comes early in the running when 
the script gives him a chance to 
clown. Some of the istufi he does in 
this first reel is great, although au- 
diences will probably, be more im- 
pressed by his ballet With Harriet 
Hoctpr, Which leads up to the finale. 
As a matter of fact, Astaire dbes 
little ballet here that he hasn't done 
in previous pictures. But instead of 
dishing it out in snatches he has 



now put it ail together. His seissibn 
with Miss Hoctor is beautiful to 
watch and a technical delight. 
Ahead of this, as an introduction, 
the superb Miss Hoctor is allottied 
her .specialty. Where she tised to 
close , with that deep back-bend while 
on her. toes— here she opens with 
it. Which is good V logic, because, 
boming pn late, she must win imme- 
:diate attention. Later .ihb dpes her 
back-kicks, from the same position, 
arid the ease . ith which she drifts 
on her' tofes will make tjiem think 
she's bn skates. This dancing finalie, 
employing two groups, of about 20 
girls eachi is •split in half to permit 
Astaire to. return in white tie for 
the title isong, .with Miss Rogers, 
upon which the picture ends, 

Of the. other . numbers the dance 
which Astaire and Miss Rogers db 
to 'They AH Laughed' is their best 
rhythm routine since 'Lovely Day,' 
while 'Let's Gall the Whole Thing 
Off' introduces the pair on roller 
skates, pliis a: comedy, finish. 'Slap 
Thait Bass' is. Astaire's specialty. The 
set being: the engine room of the 
boat, it takes the form of a novelty 
number wherein he " dances to the 
cadence of the machinery. For any- 
one else it would be next to closing. 
Astaire uses it to opiih (first num- 
ber in the picture) and tosses it off 
without fuss. So between that one, 
the' rhythm routine, . and the ballet 
wbrk it ought to be enough to. imply- 
that Astaire and Bobby- Jones can 
split the adagie which gbes, 'Some 
day / thiere may be another — but 
don't bet on it.' 'Beginner's Luck' 
and 'They Can't Take That Away' 
are minus footwork accompaniment, 
with Astairb's singing continuing to 
be to the point and smooth, 

'Shall We Dince' has everything 
it needs on' production, while dis- 
playing a penchant for whitb in- 
teriors. Camera wbrk is good and 
there is little, if any,, surplus dialbg. 
It moves and at commendable 
tempo. Horton's . sea^sidkness se- 
quence cbuld have been dropped as, 
too, Astaire's interliide with a pho- 
nograph in lieu bf . his preceding 
comedy dancing. That early terpsi- 
chbrean kidding, . incidentally, may 
have an ulteribr nibtive. Apparent 
idea is to immediately take the curse 
off those dainty b^et gestures iso 
that no hard-boiled balcony can con- 
strue Astaire as having a rose in his 
teeth. 

This picture is sufficiently strong 
to prevent anyone front telling 
whether Astaire's. cbnsecutive radio 
broadcasts have hurt him or' not. 
And that this is his first warm 
weather release Isn't going to make 
any difference, either. Sid. 



Mimatore Reviews 



.'Shall We Darice' (RKO). An- 
other holdover miisical in iho 
Astaife-Rogers string. 

'Prince and the Pauper* 

(WB). Lavish if not cdnyinc- 
ing featur-e based ; on Mark 
Twain's story. Stars Errol Flynn 
arid the Mauch Twins, Doubtr 
ful box ice. 

. 'Make Way fbr Tomorrow* 

(Par), Drama of gap betweeri 
ybuth and old-age, with Victor 
.Moore and .Beulah Bbndi out- 
staridi needs special exploit 
tatiOn. 

.'Internes Cant Take Money' 

(Par). Satisfactpry melodrama 
with a tear:. Barbara Staii>yyck 
arid Joel McGrea. 

'Call it a Day' (WB). Well 
played and made, biit tfoio light 
to do' well. 

'That I May Live' (20th). 
Simple exconvict story, which , 
winds up happily. . Fairly well 
marqueed and well mixed. For 
the. multiples; 

IComance and Elches' (GN). 
Weiak rehash of bid formula, 
with Gary Grsiiit and Mary 
Brian' for marquee. Belbwi- 
decks dualer. 



Prince and the Pauper 

Flirst National production for War^ier 
Bros, release. I^roduced .by Robert L-:rd; 
Directed by 'WUlllam Kelghley. From story 
ot same liame by Mafk 7>walh. Screen 
play by halri Doyle from a dramatlo ver- 
sion by Catherine C. Gushing. PhotoeTia- 
phy Sol Pollto; film editor, Ralph Daw- 
iion; score, Erich W. Komgold. At .<?fr3nd, 
N. Y., -week May 6. Ruonlns time. 313 
mlhs. 

Miles Hendon, Errol Flynn 

Earl of.Hertford.. Claude Italns 

Duke ot Norfolk. ....Henry Stephenson 

John Canty ........Barton MacLane 

Tom Canty. .Billy Mauch 

Prince Edward. .Bobby Maiich 

Captain ..; AT.in JJale 

Ifirst Lord i.;t...,,.;..,.£rlo' furtmen 

Second I«rd ....Dlonel I'ape 

TWrd Lord. tieonard WUlcy 
Hugo. ...............;.;... .Murray Ktnnell 

Archbishop. . ...... . . , . . . ; .HaUl well Uobbes 

Batmald i...^. .Phyllis Barry 

Clemens, ; , .Ivan . Blnrpson 

Henry VIII „ .....Montagu Love 

Father Andrew. ............... .Frltfc Lo'ber 

Grandmother Canty....... Ispeth Dudgoon 

Mrs. Canty,.,...,..,... ...Majv Kldd 

Meaty Man .... •. ....... i . . Forrester Harvey 

Lady Jane Seymour .iloiiry" Viilkls 

St. Jghn. .i .Lester Matthews 

First Guard. ; . . ..... . ... . .Ro'jert Adulr 

.Second Guard. i Harry CoitUnB 

Lord Warwick..;.. .,;. ...Robert Warwick 



Canty, are ,, fiercely melodrarriatic. 
List of players is long iand contains 
sbihe familiar nanies.'. < 

Production values,<.- "photography 
and: sound are up ta 'best 'Standards, 
biit it doesn't seem that William 
Keighley, in his direction; has cap- 
tured sufficient, sympathy for the 
two ybuhgisters to compensate for 
the ronlantic. loss in having no fiancee 
for Flynn. The fragile plot scarcely 
holds together a full length screen 
play. Audiences will likely want to 
believe it 'could happen, but' the 
actuality of the screen turns fancy 
into reality. For some reason the 
bigger the scenes and' the more 
elaborate the composition photogra- 
phy the less, convincing it becomes. 

Fiin. 



his wife, is standout from the vlewr 
point bf clever character work, and 
make-up. She has some^ ot the 
mealy scenes and makes them redl. ' 

Fay Bainter is cast as the wife of 
George Cooper, one of the sons to 
whose house the mother goes to live. 
She does splendidly with a difficult 
assignment. Thomas Mitchell makes 
this ' son part reasonable enough, 
without being brilliant; 

.Maurice MoscoVitch, as the ardent 
listener to the old man's woes and 
who understands him better than his 
own children, contributes a neat 
portrayal and ohe that reaches top- 
flight for sincerity.' Minna Gbmbel, 
cast as the fault-finding daughter in 
whose home Pa Copper, seeks refuge, 
is competent. 

thers in the large cast who aid 
the general effect include Ray Mayei-, 
Barbara Read, Lpuise Beavers, Eliza- 
beth Risdon, Paul Stanton and: 
Porter Hall. 

Vina Delmar's screen play is filled 
with pertinent .and. timely -dialog. 
Few passages fail to fit:, Williani 
Mellor supplies adequate canieVa 
coverage. Wear. 



Internes Can't Take 
Money 

Paramount i-clease of Benjamin Gldzer 
production. Stars Barbara. Stanwyck and 
Joel McCrea. ' -Features Lloyd : Nolan and 
.b'tanley Bldges. Directed by' Alfred San- 
tell. From ningazlne story by Max Brand; 
adaptation, Rlan. James, Theodore Reeves; 
photoisrr«phy, Theodore Sparkuhl. At Par- 
amount, N. .'T., week May 5, '37. Running 
time, 77 mlns. 

Janet Haley. Barbara Stanwyck 

Jlihmle Klldare. . . ,y . . Joel . McCrea 

Hanlon. ... . . .: ;LIbyd Nolah 

Innes. . . . . ; .Stanley Ridges 

Interne Jones, ......... .. Gay lord Pendleton 

Interne. Weeks. ..Lee Bowman 

Jeff .: .i ; . .... . ilrvinsr Bacon 

f'Stooly" Martin. . i . . ..; . ... nrry Maeollum 
Dr. Feareon. . . .Pierre Watkln 



Make Way for Tbmorrdw 

. Pa,ram6unt' release of Leo cCarey pro- 
duction. .Features Victor .Moore, Beulah 
Bdndl, Fay Bainter, Thomas Mitchell. Dl> 
rected by Leo McCarey.'. Screen play Vina 
DeUhar from novel, by Josephine Lawrence 
and play by Helen and Nolan Leary ; musical 
directibh, Boris Morros; . camera;, William 
Mellor. At Crlteripn, N. .T.. week Hay 8> 
'37. Runnincr time, 91 nilns. 
Barkley Cooper.. ......Victor Moore 

Lucy Cooper <...., Beulah Bdndl 

Anita Cooper.. .Fay B^lnter 

George Cooper ; .Thoftias'-Mltchell 

'Robert Cooper. J ^ .. . Ray Mayer 

Rhoda Cooper .Barbara Read 

Mamies '.Louise Beavers 

Carlton Gorman. • ...... ^ . .. .Gene Morgan 

Cora Payne. .... .... ; Elizabeth Risdon 

Bill Payne . .Ralph M. Remley 
Richard Payne, , George QfCerman,' Jr. 

Jack. Payne Tommy Bupp 

Harvey Chaie ....Porter Hall 

Nellie Chase.^ .............. . .1. inna Gombel 

.Max. Rubens.. .'........Maurice Moscovitch 

Mrs. Rubens......... ....Ferike Boros 

Boy- Friend. . . < ;.. ..Nick Lukata 

Usherette Terry R.ay 

Mr. Hehning. Gene Lodkhart 

Doctor .....Louis' Jodb Heydt 

Secretary Ruth Warren 

Auto' Salesman , , , . ^ . . ; Dell Henderson 

Hotel Manager..'.' Paul Stanton 

Mr. ' Hunter. .'. - Granville Bates 



Of all his stories, Mark Twain 
loved best: 'The Prince and the 
Pauper.' If he had had any idea 
that some day someone would make 
a moving picture of it, he prob- 
ably would have agreed that it 
would have been better if the yairn 
were less concerned with, fantiastic 
and niore . with the I reialistic. Pi-p- 
duced with, sincerity and lavishness, 
this film is 9 long gamble because it 
is. , a costume picture /minus any 
romance whatsoever. Thie cbmmerr 
Cial aspect seems wholly concerned 
in the. timeliness of a Cbrohation se- 
quence jand the name of Errol 
Flynn. . It. is not- enough.. 

In this film are the Mauch Twins, 
in addition to Flynn, wno Is at his 
best in romantic, swashbuckling 
roles. But. there is no girl oppo- 
site Flynn. So it's just the story of 
the Tudor Prince who iBxchanges 
places with a beggar boy,; and re- 
gains his throne on , Coronation Itey 
through the heroism bf a dashing 
spldier bf. fortune. Incidentally, the 
scene at the finish, when Flynn begs 
his King to forego the honors and 
let hiip rove at. will, is ah exact re- 
plica of that betwt^en McLaglen and 
Bartholomew in Trofessionai Sol- 
dier.' Even unto the wink the bpy 
monarch slips the mian. 

Such interest as the fllm'.contains 
could have been heightened by sbme 
drastic trimming in the early scenes, 
so that Flynn's entrance might have 
been moved up. He does Miles 
Hendon with the' proper dash and 
spirit. The Mauch boys play their 
contrasting parts with earnestness if 
not too much skill. Claude Rains as 
Hertford; Montagu Love as Henry 
VIII, and Barton MacLane, ahd John 



Rugged simplicity marks this Leo 
McCarey production. It is a tear- 
jerker, bbviously grooved f br f emme 
fans, but the gripping manner in 
which it is told may overcome the 
sad theme and cause sufficient dis" 
cussion to aid the box-office. 

To get past the marquee weakness, 
title handicap and develop male 
patronage, , film wiU require a care- 
fully pirepared . advance . canipaign, 
such as instituted at this house. Aside 
from taking full cognizance of 
Mother's Day and . linking it to the 
picture's theme,, management here 
plugged it in novel fashion on the 
basis.that it was a great heart drama 
of the present . era. Even so, business 
is apt to be spotty where played 
solo., 

; . McCarey, who "also directed, has 
firmly etched the dilemma in which 
an elderly married couple find them 
selves when they lose their- old 
dwelling place and their five grown 
up children are non-receptiVe. He 
has kept audience interest focused on 
Old , Lucy Cooper and Pa Cooper as 
they are separated, each, finding 
themselves in the -way and not fitting 
in . ■\vith the two ;. households . (one 
with . £1 son : the other, with a 
daughter- 

, However, he might well have 
sacrificed the bitterly, sad ending by 
fpllpwing, through with the happier 
motif he develops as the old pair are 
Reunited for., a few fleeting but joy 
ous hours. That and the fact that 
this lighter mood is saved until the 
last seem to be weaknesses. 

Victor. Moore essays a serious role 
as Pa Cooper without firmly, estab- 
lishing himself in the new field. - He 
still is a grand troujper, but he Con- 
tinues to be more Victor Moore than 
an old grandfather, and he makes the 
biggest impression in the lighter, 
more whimsical moments.. Moore's 
slow manner of delivery assists him 
in making the elderly role more life- 
like, but his forte for comedy re- 
mains outstainding. 

Beulah Bondi, .tis the aged Lucy, 



internes Can't Take Money* should 
draw enough meller addicts to give 
the film somewhat better than aver- 
-age standing at the box office. While 
its early hospital atmosphere is not 
ple;asant, it is a mother love theme 
plus some excitement, romance and 
comedy. 

It has an interesting story to tell 
and once the preliminaries are out . of 
the way, prbduction takes on pace 
and keeps building to a happy tear 
climax;. After developing sympathy 
for the interne hero (JOel McCrea) 
fihn goes underworld and entangles 
him in the desperate quest of a young 
woman (Barbara Stanwyck) just re- 
leased f rbni prison. Object of the 
search is her three-year-old daugh- 
ter. 

Miss Stanwyck and McCrea are 
aptly matched in the central roles. 
As the Sir Galahad in white McCrea 
convinces, , v/hile this type of part is 
that which Miss Stanwyck does best. 
Lloyd :Nolan, as ia racketeer, chief, 
who, though puzzled by the subject 
of ethics, allows nothing. tO stand in 
the. way of paying off oniei favor 
with another, is very good, and Stan- 
ley Ridges is both suave and vicious 
as a crook who first offers to sell the 
mother information about her child 
and then attempts to iexact more per- 
sonal terms. Ridges' part is except 
tionally well jplayed, written and di- 
rectied. 

McCrea's first encounter with the 
racketeering crew is in a saloon near 
the hospital. The interne, with but 
crude implements available, saves 
the life of the wounded Nolan; 
McCrea rejects the $1,000 that is 
handed him for the barroom opera- 
tion because it^is against his profes- 
sional pledge. The refusal becomes 
further complicated by Miss Stan- 
wyck's plea that the money be loaned 
to her. It is the amount Which 
Ridges wants for his info as to the 
child's whereabouts,. 

Proceedings take on pathos and ac- 
tion when Miss Stanwyck decides to 
get her yoiingster the. other way. . As 
she starts to. leave town with Ridges, 
McCrea enlists Nolan's aid for- the 
chase, and in the encounter with 
Nolan's thugs . Ridges is . shot. Miss 
Stanwyck begs that his life be saved. 
If he dies, the whereabouts, of her 
child Will never be known. McCrea 
again performs an operation and thie 
wounded crbok talks. . 

Dialog is well contrived through- 
out and there are' enough good com- 
edy passages to relieve the film's 
seamy trend and erhptiohal pabulum. 

Odcc. 



CALL IT A DAY 

Warner Bros; release of Cosriiopoiltan 
production. . Foature.? Olivia de Huvilandi 
Ian .Hunter, .Vnlta Louise, Alice . Brady, 
Rbjarid Younj?, li'rleda Incscbrt. Directed 
by Archie Xi'yo. From play 6f same name 
b.v. Dodle .Smith; adaptation, Caftiey Robin- 
son; .film editor; James Gibbons; camera, 
Ernest Hallcf. At Cnpltol, N, 'T,, week 
May C, ','tT Running tliiie, 80 mlhs, 
Calherlno Hilton. .Olivia de Havlllgnd 

Roger. Hilton . ....... , . , . . ...lan Hunter 

,Toan Collett. Anita Louise 

Muriel West., .Alice Brady 

Frank Hnlne.s. ■ , ..... ..... . ... ,R61an(l Young 

Dorothy ..Hilton. .:. .'..; . .Frieda Inoscort 

Ann Hilton,... .Tlonlta Gi-ainVllle 

Kthel Fnmclfj. ,;,,......'. PeRgy AV.ood 

Boalrloe Gwynn. . .' Miirfi.'i Rillston 

Paul . Francis 'altei' Woolf King 

JIartIn pcter WHles 

'Call It a Day' is an example of a 
.fine cast rowing a very thin boat. 
Script is . so light that, for pictures, 
even the calibi-e of its playing and 
direction cannot save it. Film doesn't 
seem destined to do well as regards 



business! though it can easily becbine 
a critic's pet. 

This was a Theatre Guild play ot 
last season which did well. In tho 
conversion to the screen action 1$ 
woefully lacking. Also, while 'the 
players are excellent they are never* 
theless shy on driawing power, 

Frieda Inescort, the closest thing to 
Alice Joyce on the screen since Miss 
Joyce's retirement, and Ian Hunter 
play : thb spring alfflicted ililtons. 
Olivia DeHaviland is .the lovesick 
daughter; Bpnita Granville ° the lo- 
quacious school kid bf the house; 
Anita: Louise the pretty neighbor; 
Roland Young the romantic brother 
of the gabby. Alice Brady,:' aihd Mar- 
cia Ralston is an on the make actress. 

it opens on the first day of spring 
with the balmy weiather getting un- 
der the skins of all .cbncerned. The 
husband almbst becpmes involved 
with the actress; the wife becomes 
the romantic target . of bachelor 
Young,' and the elder daughter is in 
a frenzy, over an artist (Walter Xing) 
whosfe wif e (Peggy Wood) isi wise to 
himj too; It ends with everyone 
straightening themselves out . and 
realizing it's simply spring fever. 

In direction^ Archie Mayo has han- 
dled the Various sequences refreshV 
ingly and hiimorpusly. . Picture has 
charm, offers many a .giggle but hary 
a sbck laugh. It's all .frothy, with the 
production backgrbund' satisfactory. 
While it may not have been the fault 
bf the print, at the Capitbl the re- 
cording was not good in ispots. 

Miss DeHaviland is exceptionally 
good as the romantic daughter, al- 
though 9 little too much footage is 
allotted . her : crying ^^ells. ' Walter 
King niakes the wayward artist 
stand out, and Ian Hunter is 
splendid as the head .of the house.. 
Pictures , can also" do with more of 
Miss Inesco.urt, who spreads a definite 
amount of dignity . .and appearance 
across the screen; ^ 

So it's a case of a well made pic- 
ture lacking sufficient weight, to 
make the necessaIy^ box office im- 
preissioh. Char^ 



Jim Hanvey, Detective 

Republic release of Albert B. Lcvoy pro- 
duction.. Features Guy Kibbee, Tom Brown, 
Lucie Kaye. Directed by Fbll Rosen; Screen 
play, Joseph . Krumgold and Olive Cooper: 
story, OctavuB Boy Cohen; camera,- Jack 
M^rta; editor, William MorEian. At Liberty. 
Lincoln.- dual. Itunnlng time,. 71 mlns. : 

Hanvey ; . . . . ^ Guy Klbbe« 

fterry ...'.......'■; Toni Brown 

Joan Luole Kaye 

Mrs. Frost ...Catharine Doucet 

Roiho .. . ,, EMward Brophy 

.Smith Edward Ga.rgan 

Mrs. FlUa ............ .Helen Jerome Eddy 

Dunn ;.Theodor Von £ltz 

iSlwood ....... ^ .... y,. .'. . Kennetb Thomson 

Frost Howard Hickman 

Lambert ^ ...... . Oscaf Apf el 

BF&ckett Charles WilUama 

Davis ...................'..... Wade Boteler 

Bdltor . . Robert Emmett Kean* 



/This initial movie for Jim Hanvey 
from the Sateveport pages to the 
screen is a false start, but will be 
called a balk by the Umpiring public 
and held against him: should the 
name appear . on. the niarquee ajgain. 

Guy Kibbee should be a natural 
ih the role^ but as his dialog indi- 
cates in the opening minutes, he's 
truly not interested in the case. 
Never gets enthusiastic at any time, 
which, although in character 'with 
the stories, doesn't present a very 
excitable screen mystery. It pro-, 
ceeds from reel to reel with a strictly 
'so what' attitude. 

Light tomance Is inserted with 
Tom Brown, a newspaper cub with 
an idea he's going to even, outdo 
'Gone With The Wind,' and write 
a book in six voliiines, ; and Lucie 
Kaye, spoiled daughter of the rich. 
Neither of the kids has a lot to do. 
Catharine Doucet does her pat char- 
acterization of a past middle-aged 
imbecile. Edward Brophy carries the 
criminal element, which takes in 
Edward Gargan, Theodor VOrt Eltz . 
and Kenneth Thomson. He gets so 
excited several times, he searches;; 
himself. In fact, Brophy is about 
the only activity noted. 

Stbry. iis about ah insurance cpmi- 
pany down 1,000 yairds oh an em- 
erald loss which can .'only bersplved 
by Hanvey: Hahvey finally takes the 
case, finds the theft .is ■ only, a stunt 
by the romancers as plot-stuff for 
Brown's bpok; Takes bn. seriotisness 
when yeggs . are really sifter the 
stones, but Hanvey finds the crook 
in thC: least, expected place, formula 
tp the letteri aS an official in the 
insurance company; 

'Hanvey- does not fare nearly so 
well oh the screen as Octavus Roy 
Cohen has been able to sell Wm in 
print. Lot oiE the fault gbes to the 
scripters who let spring fever Creep 
into the lines. Dual, bills will have 
this one on the weak side and it'll 
cause bad word of mouth. Barn. ' 



TITLE CHANGES 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Universal changed 'Channel Cross- 
ing' to 'Reported Missing.' 

Columbia's 'With Kind Rbgards' 
will be released as 'It Can't Last For- 
ever.' Studio also changed 'Pro- 
fessional Juror' to 'The Man. Behind, 
the Law.' 

'Born Reckless' retagged 'Armored 
Taxi' at 20th-Fox: 

Republic's 'This Business of Lovr" 
now is 'Meet the Boy Friend,' 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



FILM REVIEWS 



VARIETY 



13 



THAT I MAY LIVE 

onilv-Fox rolPtuie of Sol Wurtzel pror 
iiiTc'ilon Fenturca Boch?Uef. Hudson, Robert 
KMit J. Kilwiird Brombere, Directed l>y 
?ii„n owan; St'reen play by Ben Markson,- 
wiilinin- Cbnsolmnn; camera, Robert 
PlancU. At Central, Y.. dual, week 

May 8, ■ '37, Running time, 70 mins. 
Trene HoxiWd . . . ; i . . . ...Rochelie Hudson 

Dick Mnnnlon . . ... .Robert Kent 

Tex Slitipiro > ..T, Edward Bfomberg 

rhrirlle ....i .....Jack La Rue 

Poh Frank Conroy 

, Abncr Jtinklns. ■ * ■ . • .Fred. Kelaey 

Slack .,.»..... George Cooper 

rhief of Police ; . . . , ;De Witt Jennings: 

liisii I'livonB .RusaeU Simpson 

Kuit fllveriB i....... ...William Benedict 



is cop and robber, pic is suf- 
flcieritly well mixed, with low humor 
to please . dualists anywhere and 
sidditionally, for: the type ; of film 
which it is, has fair iriarquee alliife. 

Robfert Kent is freed from prison 
and wants to go straight. Hpwever^ 
his old criminal pals forci? him to 
ao another job. Boys cross him .and 
attempt to knock him off in order to 
tag him with the murder of a c6p. 
But Kent escapes- and rrieets Ro- 
qhelle. Hudson in a wayside lunch- 
room of a small, town. She helps 
hi to a dishwasher job. Biit her 
boss is jealous so they have, to 
move on. 

That's when J. Edward Bromberg, 
an itinerant peddler who travels by 
truck from town to town, bumps 
into the pair to! play their lucky 
uncle. He helps the pair along, gets 
them wed, and when the jig is up 
and K^nt has to rheet the cops, it's 
Bromberg, the beneyblent, kitchen 
philosopher- who thinks up a :s61ut 
:t|on that takes the lover into a 
hiajppy clinch. 

Some of the carhp : stuff js ; remin- 
iscent, and fpr ;a; small-towri' ^irl 
Miss Hudson .may be a bit too smart, 
but altogethfcr the film tapers off 
into a nice, homely com0dy-diraina 

ith action. 

J. Edward Bromberg 
ic division. 

Kaiser Von Kalifornieii 

('The' Emperor of California') 
(GERiyiAN MADE) 

Tobls-Rota release of Luis Trenker pro- 
duction. -Stars Luis Trenker. Directed by 
Luis Trenker; music. Dr. Giuseppe Becke. 
At Casino, N, Y., week May 7, '37. Run- 
ning time.' 101 mins.. 

J. A, Sutter........ .,..;Lul8 Trenker 

Anna '. . i-. .' . . .'. . . . ... Viktorla. von Ballasko 

Rudolf .. . . ... .... i; . . i . . . . . i Werner iCunlg 

Emil ... ..... iKarl - Zwlngiiiann 

Vrau. Du^bult Ellse AuUnger 

Amalie . . elanie Horeschovsky 

The Stranger ............. .Berhhard Mlnettl 

Krmattlnger ....... i i . . .Luis Gerold 

Billy ; . . . . . i-.Paul' Verhoeven 

Gouverneur Alvurudo. , . .Hans Zesch-Ballot 
Seine Frau . . ... . , . . . . .Marcella Albant 

Castro . ; .'. . .'. . vV. . , .Walter- Franck 
Marshall Reginald Pasch 

Harper .August Elchhorn- 

Chaiiaonette ..B^rta Drews 

Kewen ... ...... ...Alexander Golling 

Tliompsoh .Heinrlch Marlow 

Baqkler Rudolf Kleln-Rogge 



(In Gfrmdn, with English, Titles) 

This is a Teutonic, version of 
'Sutter's Gold,' novel written by 
Blaise Cendrars, .. which Universal 
produced in Hollywood about a year 
ajgo. It ..suffers by comparison, 
despite the. good performance of 
Luis Trenker, who at one time was 
considered for the Sutter role by 
u. English titles are not Ameri- 
canese enough to satisfy U. S. audi- 
ences, arid tedious lapses iii con- 
tinuity probably will confine the pic- 
ture's draw to German speaking; 
houses— if any. 

Scripters of this Gerixian film 
seemingly have taken smaitterings of 
Bruno Frank's ■ 'Der General Das 
Gold,' which was done as a play and 
opera, and the morie vivid episodes 
of 'Sutter's Gold.' Production unit 
from Berlin went on location in 
Galifornia for the bulk of the out- 
door episodes. This is Self-evident in 
some of the desert scenes because 
they are piainfuUy prolonged, with- 
out legitimate excuse. However, the 
cameraman grabbed some cloud ef> 
lects and riiountian Vie\Vs which 
wpuld surprise even most Sdlly^ 
wood lens experts for their effiects. 

Production moves along .with more 
alacrity and suspense than usually 
uncovered in German cinemas. Gold 
rush sequences - attain a certain 
amount of force. Luis Trenker fur- 
J||shes a likely Sutter character, here 
German nierchaht who. pioneered, 
to California and, built a col6ny, only 
TO have his empire uridermihed by 
gold. Remainder of cast is standard 
Teutonic stock types. Wear. 

NAVY BLUES 

Tl*l)ulJlio relciofle and prpductlon. Asso- 
Pm-cftl'l'''''"''-''' ^'^eH*:.. ^^s^^urcs Dick 



ifvy: . Krlan,. ■ Warren' Hymer 
" Staub. 
Thylbr; 

„ . . , - , Brooklyn, 

on ;.<loiil)lo, ^ week liy 7, . '37. Running 



J ..iijf. ■ jiriaTi,. warren j 

..Snvvyer. Directed by H.ilph 
herei.li . play Gordon Kahn, Eric . .' 
'ai.iu«iii, .)iu:fc Miii-ta. ' At • Fox. Br( 



tli»i>. 

IlllSfl jr . 

I>OI'i!). .. 

BliT.:- "■' 
<'hli..S;.\*.;.T 

J.''Vl'|-..l ( .... 

Mr.H. \\ „v 
■""•'<li<>,, ;. . , 
Cniwiin' 
I'it.w.soii . .'. ^: 



i'n'lri.i. 



. . . . ; Ichard Purcell 

r. . .Mary ' Brian 
; . . . . Warreii . . Hymer 

':, . . . . Jo'aejjh Sawyer 

. . ; . .IMward Woods 
. .Horace.' MticMnhon 
. . . . . . .ChPHtcr Clute 

.....Lucille nicnson 

.. .... .Riath Fnllowa 

'....,.. . Alonzo Price 

.......... .Mel Rul'ck 

...... arlcton Young 



, An all-around weaki , and the 
0.0. retLirns will be the same. Cast 
caiTies no names to help. 

story is, at best,, incredible, . and 
nil? ^° "'3° snickered at. Had the 
"Melodrama ties in 'Navj- Blues' been 



pointed up it .might have offset sdme 
of the othier, lacks. 

Story is that of the gusty, gar- 
rulous gob who dates up a prim li- 
brarian on bet with shipmates 
by posing as an. aspirant for An- 
napolis. When that misrepresenta- 
tion, is seen through, he passes him- 
self off as an Intelligence Officer. 
Soon he is unwittingly involved with 
a spy ring, seeking to assassinate 
a visiting diplomat. He iand the. girl" 
are kidnapped, biit are rescued by 
the Navy and, in the nick of time, 
thwart the assassination. 

Cast is handicapped by the lines 
and business with which they're sad- 
dled. Mary Brian succeeds better 
than' the otheris in lifting herself 
above her assignmerit; Purcell as the 
dashing male lead gives an in-and- 
,out peirlormance. Hymer,- Sawyer 
and MacMahori strive pretty earnest- 
ly to squeeze to a drip whatever 
comedy they can find in their roles, 
but there's very little. Lucille Glea- 
sOn does o.k, in a bustling matron 
part; Bert.^ ' 



OUR FIGHTING NAVY 

(BRlTiSH MADE) 

London, April 26.' 

eiilier.t WUcbx Production, ;jelea8ed 
through General Film Dlstrlbutora. .Stars 
H. B. Warner, ■ Robert Douglas, Rldhard 
Cromwell. . Directed by Norman Walker. 
Adapted from' atory. by 'Bartlmeua;' ' By 
arr'angfments- . wlth. . Kavy League, and. 
acknowledgmerils lb Guy C. Poll6ck and 
H. Bishop. At. the Pla7.a theatre, Lon- 
4on, April L'l, '87. .ftuhnlng time, 75 mins. 

;Mi^. rent. ^ . .'...v. ........ .H. B. Warner 

Caplain Mwr . .Robert Douglas 

BUI Avmatvong.'. . ; . . . .i. .Richard Cromwell 
Paihela Brent . .... . . . ...Hazel Terry 

.President . , .Noah Beery 

ReTjel Comni , .\ i > ■. . Eame Percy 

Admiral. ;. .FrcrteTlck Culley' 

Jennifer .-. . .Kinky -SluBirt 

Rebel . " .Henry Victor 



This stirring adaptation Of a story 
by a popular naval writer hits the 
screen at a very opportune moment. 
One can hardly label it purie prop- 
aganda, except that so very, few op-, 
porturiities are ; available fOr wit- 
nessing the life and use of the Brit-, 
ish. Navy, owing to previbtis . rigor- 
ous bians by the powers that be. Its 
timeliness, therefore, coincides With 
the rise in ..income tax to pay for 
increased armaments, and the story 
shows the man in the street the need 
for maintaining . naval strength to 
protect British life and property 
overseas. Whether it is forceful 
enough to interest American^ is 
problematical, but it should certainly . 
be a hit in home waters; 
. Difficult to imagine this picturie 
better cast. H. B. Warner, plays a 
harassed. British consul during an 
uprising in .^a supposedly South 
American port. .Noah Beery gives 
a rich, unctuous performance as thte 
arniable, childlike president who e&ts 
and drinks .gluttonously and fails to 
see the danger at his door. ' Robert 
Douglas brings charm and dignity to 
the hero's rol.ie: .the captain of a 
cruiser who is sent to protect British 
nationals and has to handle a deli- 
cate situation with the greatest tact. 
Richard Cromwell plays a young 
lieutenant with easy grace . (he • is 
dubbed a Canadian to accbuht for 
his accent >> and Esme Percy suggests 
;the quiet villainy of the native rebel 
without over-acting. Hazel Terry has 
■very little to do as the love interest. 

Clem, 



'ORA PONCIANO 

('Coihe On Now, Ponciano) 
(MEXICAN MADE) 



Mexico ity, May 6. 
Producclones Sorla, A. en- P;, produor 
tion. Directed by Gabriel Sorlii. ' ^Art 
dlvedor, .To.se Rodl-lgueis; 'cnniera. Alex 
Phillips; und, B. J. .KroggeV; ^,r\•■i\n»^, 
Jo.se Orll'/; adaplHlloti. Gabriel .rfoiln. Klviru 
de la . More. At ("liie-reairo Alunicria, Mex- 
ico City. Running time 10.' .inlnntv.H 



Poncluno.-i 
Roaarlo. , , 
Poiiclrtno fn's lio.v). j , 
Rosarlo (as girl*. . . . 

Meri'C'les. . : . . . 
.TUftnoii .'; . ... . ... • . 

.Tx)l6.'. . . .'. ... .. . . ...... . \ 

l"la...v..;.. 



t'hui'lio Solovza.no 
, . .('on.Mieio Vi'-^nk 
I.. . .. I'fpito (1»1 TtlQ 
. . ...yKya Azcarnte 
eive'l^.'s Aycav.'ite 
. ; . ■Lfopol.lo Crlln 
■.Carlos .. . . Jjopez 
. . . ; . iMiirla Lvilvb 



Spanish) 

This pi , off to a hew lii^H record 
start— it played ; two' ;weeks . to sock 
b.o. at the class Cine^Teatiro , Ala- 
i meda— ^has niuch , to; recommend it to 
American audiences,. : Thoiigh the 
basic theme centers arOund a niata- 
dor was was the idol of late 19th 
century Mexico it is not overly 
bloody. SOria and Senorila de la 
Mora did, a neat adaptation job. 

Camera work is very. good,. 
"There are several shots .Of pastoral 
Mexico which possess rare beauty. 
Sound is . adequate' and the cast, 
headed . by Solorzano, outstanding 
Mexican : matador-v and Consuelo 
Frank, who' has a. rep £is . a stage 
actress , here,- is exceptionally well 
chosehv 

Story affbi'ds an interesting insight 
into the .glamorous life of the late 
'80s and is laden with not very well 
known, biit neverlheles.s incrlguing, 
Mexican, folklore. Costuming is the 
McCoy and pleasing. 

Music is tiineful and thete are 
some plea.saht dances, especially 
those of the Mexican , sequences, 
'though , it is .too bad that a snappier 
Sjjanish dance doe.s not grace the 
otherwise exccileht Old Madrid 
bullfighters' rendezvous' shots. Grah. 



Der Mann, Von Pern Man 
Spricht 

('Man Who Is Talked About') 

(GER;man MADE) 

Berlin, April 28. 
Slegel Moiiopol releaae of Ih-ojcctograph. 
Flltn production. Directed bv K; M. ISuio. 
Camera, Eduard Hosch. . At Vfa -Kiirfur- 
Btendamm, Ufa FrleitrlchslrAaa and Atrium. 
Running time 02 mlri«, 
Tonl Mathle . ;Helnx Rtfhmanri 

S^^^,'*';/ • ••• • • •••••• ••• • . iTheo Llngeu 

Tont'a^ Uncle. . . . . , ; , . ; . . . .... . , Hans Moyer. 

.Zarattl.. . ,. , .;. .Heihz Snlfrier 

Blanca ....,> , . . . •. .UustI Hiiber 

Carasflo.^. i .. j, Gtrlmrd Blenert 

y_ (In German) 

Thi& chuckle provoker is the cine- 
matic wallop oi the season. And this 
despite hardly a new situation in the 
total footage. Even such ah old 
wheeze as going to bed in the show- 
.window of a furniture store is Very 
funny because the business is top- 
notch and dialog side-splitting. Di- 
rector has given, the tale a shappy 
-gdit-and the actors propel it capably 
to its happy end. 

Story revolves around toni Mathis, 
a lovable, happy-go-;lucky collegiate 
who just can't Say "no." Even his 
being enrolled as a student of 
zoology is the result of not being 
able to deny is uncle's Vish. 
Through the untiring effortsLof Has- 
sler, Tohi's mah-sei-Vant, ai questiohr 
able amount of Scientific erudition 
has- been crammed into the young 
master's head. But failing to turn 
up for the flnal exams, he is expelled 
and the uncle decides that matri'^ 
inony is the only thing left for Tohi. 
So he shows him a snapshot of three 
gals. Ordering him to choose one' as 
a wife. Toni, amiable as usual, pro- 
Imses hiaking b target of the photo 
and popping the question to the oiie 
he hits. He misses and the bullet 
lands in the pocketbook of a passing 
beauty. 

. She makes a date with him for the 
circuis that evening , but: gives no 
narhe and he. finds her oh the fly- 
ing trapeze. It's love at first sight, 
but old man Zarattl turns him down 
as . a son-in-law, saying thait his 
Banca can marry only, a trouperi 
Nothing ' .daunted, Toni buy s a book 
teaching the short-cuts to vaude 
acting but doesn't miake the grade. 
Then it gets good and screwy. 

Slap-stick farce . is a sure sock, 
not only because of the dearth of 
comic comedies. E. M. Emo is an 
old hand at the garne and knows 
what's ..what As .for Heinz. Ruh- 
manh;. he., is Germainy's top-notch 
juve comedian and : this ; is one 
more feather in his cap. . 

Rio Grande Romance 

Victory- release of Sam Katzmnn produc- 
tlon.': Startr .Kddle >Nugent and' MaxIne 
Doyle, Directed by Bob; Utll; .story, . Peter 
B. Kync; screenplay, Al Martin: came'i'a, 
Bill Hyer: editor, Diin. MUner. Ai Liberty, 
Lincoln, Neb.,- dou'ble bill. Running time, 
70 mins. 

Bob Andrew*. ,*'.....,. .Kddle Nugeiit 

•Joan' .Williams '.....■..',.;.... . MaxIne Doyle 

Elmer ............ r. , .. . . ... Fuzzy Knight 

Rose Carter ...'.;.....'...;. ...Lilicllle l..uhd' 

Jack Carter . ', , v . ., Don Alvarado 

Bates ............. .1..' .Nick i>tuart 

Bradley ^. Ge(>rge Walsh 

Patricia .......'.';... ; , . ; . ..Toyce Kay 

Sheriff ......... ....... vGertrgc .Cleveland 

Shelby .'............;. ; .'. . . .' t'orrCHt 'J'liy lor 

Lampsbn ..'.;. I'irnle Adning 

Lewis ..,.'...,. i .'. Ed Caasldy 



•. Title will lure a lot of people In 
figuring it's a western, but since it's 
an action toUch-aind-gO nobody ill 
be hurt. Picture runs overlong and 
could, still stand scissoring without 
loss of story ..maneuvering. Photog- 
raphy is blurred>nd this print was 
spotty. Sound also was not up to par. 

Couple of featured players are 
starred; Eddie Nugent , and Maxihe 
Doyle. Nugent is an FBI agent On 
a busman's holiday. His collegiate 
looks are against him filling the 
rough assignment convincingly, but 
he does the best talking job of the 
entire cast. Maxine" Doyle,, recruited 
from vaude, iS: not so forte as the 
sheriff's daughter. 

.Forrest Taylor is the .slicker, play- 
ing the crime side while posing as 
an. upright attorney. Don Alvarado 
and Lucille . Lund are placed in the 
secondary interest, AlVaradO .getting 
about three phiz minutes-^all regis- 
terihg worry> Nick Stuart, whose 
memory has been dulled to the point 
of extinction for the fans, has only 
a minor roleV 

This is a. weak attraction; a mill- 
stone eVen to a dual bili cbriibo un- 
less in strictly action houses where 
it'll hold its o\wh.. Barn. 



THE LAST NIGHT 

(RUSSIAN MADE) 



.Amklno relea.se.- oC .Maslll 
Diri'Med by 'Vuri- Uelsnirtn; 
E. Grabllovitcli. and Tin) 
Canico, N.; y.,. week Aiiril 'liT 
time. 83 mins. 
Ziikhfirltlri. . til 
His Wife... 
PjtnrJJukharljln. 
Ku/.nKi. Zakharkin-. ....... j 

Hya Ziikharkln. . '. .... . . . ; , . , 

Leontlev, the ■ fiith'er. .' 

Alexei LpontlPv . . , , 
Lonh Leontlev. ..... ... ;..T. 

Mlcliaildv. . . '. , . ... . . ... i, 

.Semikhaiov ...... . .'.,..■..... ; 

Soskin, iin Officer. '...:,.•. .... 



Ill' TToiliictlbri. 
.' fJci'iiario liy 
P.cj.siiian. At- 
'^7. Itiinnliig 

"PeKspr: 
'iiHilHknyii 
., IJorokhin 
. , lion.srtv.'iljy. 
. A, I'opoV 
• Jlybnlkbv 
. ,. Verhcslbv 
Oldiucvskaya 
', V, Cifliltbv 
J: Arkn'dln. 
KliojodoV 



(In Russian, /with English Titles) 
Every now and then art Arnerican 
producer revives a patriotic theme 
on celluloid,, the motive, however, 
being chiefly the mercenary one of 

firofits through emotional .stimulus; 
n. Russia the situation is a bit . dif- 
ferent. There the patriotic arid 
propaganda films arc rriuch more 
frequent, if not constant, with the 
idea first of keeping at a hi^h pitch 
the fervor of a redeemed proletariat. 



and profits last. . Such is 'The Last 
Night,' a gun-shot filled tear-jerker 
of the last days of the 1917 revolu- 
tion and the victory of the bolshc- 
viki over the White Russians. For 
those sympathetic to the Soviet, it's 
okay; for others,, it's grim business, 
Avith the current Spanish Revolution 
a perfect counterpart. 

Story is a constant battle, with - 
jections here and there of human in- 
terest of the type dear to Russian 
directors ^ of the present-day. school. 
Grim pictures of poverty and human 
suflerihgi all l^tid directly or indi- 
rectly on the doorsteps of the cap- 
italists, ■ are portrayed.' Besides, 
there's .the battle scenes; the -almost 
complete wipe-but of the bolsheviki' 
Zakharkin family; the tragic death 
of a young army student shortly 
after he leaves the arms of his. 
sweetheart, etcv ? 

That's for the Russian masses— an 
ever reminder that their uprising 
was not in vai . In America, it must 
also give some types and classes of 
peoples ideas. . For -the latter, it's 
serious propaganda. 

Production is okay and, in ' spots, 
the acting is excellent. Standouts 
are M. G. Yarotskaya, the mother 
who loses practically her entire 
family,, and N. I. Dorokhin, iis her 
last remaining son and revolutionary 
leader. Schp. 

OKAY FOR SOUND 

(BRITISH MADE) 

London,' April 30. / 

- ' Galnsboroiigh Picture, released 'in United: 
Kineduni through General Film -.DIstrllK- 
utbra; .^tafB - thia Crdzy .Gang, NerVo aiid 
ICnox, Flanagan and AUon,. Naugliton and 
Gold. Directed by Marcel Vafnol; From 
the London FallMium ntago show, Catnertt- 
nibn. Jack Cox. . At the Phoenix theatre, 
London^ April . 127, '87, Running tlme^ .8V. 
mins. 

Goldbergcr .Fred Diipres 
Secretary. . . . . . ... .... ; . .Enid Stamp^T^ylor 

Pageboy. ; . . . i . ; .... . . . . . .Qrahain Moffat 

Guggenhelmer. , . . . .., . ..Melnhart Maur 

John Blgby . . . ... . . . ... . . . . ;H. F. Maltby 

All-lh-WrQstlera '.Jan Qotch and 
. '. Lpuls Pergantcs 

TNervo -and Knox' 
Studio Diaorgnnlzors. . '{ Flanagan and Allen 

\ Maughton ' and Gold 

Practically a photographed version 
of the Crazy Show staged successfully 
at the Palladium recently. The six 
comics are let loose in a studio, 
where they are mistaken for rich city 
men. "They are really down-and-outs 
related to the pageboy who got them 
dolled up as extras, but revolutionize 
the place before the mistake is dis- 
covered. Should be a riot locally, 
where these teams are . considered the 
tops; probably in the U. S. the pic- 
ture won't mean a thing. 

Fred Duprez gives a splendid char- 
acterization of ai .film magnate, accent 
and all, surrounded by gold and in- 
conipetence . and imminent: ruin. 
After insulting the refll financial 
lions who have reluctantly come to 
interview him, he discovers his Ger- 
man director inarticulate with rage 
at having his ballet ruined by the 
six impostors, who promptly bur- 
lesque it. They also stage a mock 
wrestling bout, with Nervo and Knox 
doing their slow-motion act; then a 
contrasted version of broadcasting 
commentary, as done by an. American 
and 9 British commentator, which 
raises plenty of laughs. 

There are clever dance Interludes 
by Lucienne and Ashour, Three 
Little Words, the Robinis, Sherman 
Fisher Girls, and all too brief grace- 
ful twirls by Patricia Bowman. Pro- 
duction is slicks 



MARTHIE RICHARD 

(FRENCH MADE) 

Paris, April 28. 
Tiirls Kllin voloa.MC of U. 11, iliililm pro- 
diu-Uon. I'Vnlurc.r. Kdwigo Kouillori',' Hiio 
Yon .sirblTPliii. Diirl'ted liy IlMMnoiid. 
nprnaril, . usir, Arthur ^lohnejfi^i'- At 
Mavignun und .i urlvjiux, Parl.s, week April 
18, '!{7. Uunning Hini», M mins, 



Murthe. Ulclmvd., 

Von Ludow , , , 

Von Falkon :, , ;. . . 

Mata-Hari 

Comroandrtnt UoiiuiiU 
Un .\gont Friitii'iilH. ; 
Lp Tenunclor ; . , ; , .;'.,., 
Andre . '. > .„ . . . , ,~. / ; .'. 



.KdwigC' Foulller* 
. , , . Orlc vun'iitroheini 
. .- .'. ... . . Jean (Julliind . 

Delia. Cot 
....... . Miii'cM Andr».. 

. .• . .Uorgoron 

...... .., ... .iJftlltt 

. al'Vrdlnunil Uurcher 



LEFT-HANDED LAW 

Unlveranl pioduntlon and release. Strira 
Buck Jones. Features Noel Francla. PI-/ 
reotpd b.v' Lcaley .Selanrter. S'tory by (Jharles 
M, Wnrlin; camera, Allen Thompson, Wil- 
liam SIckn<*r. At if>i)a, N. y,, April lid, 
W. dual, Hunning time, 02 mlnii. 

Alump Howie, ,»Uclt .Tonea 

Hetty Clolden. Noel Frani'ia 
One'Shot Brudy. . .Matty Fain 
Snm Lngan. ; , , . .(ieorgo. Ilcg.iH' 

Tom Wllllfl..., .,ll(>bprt FniBlor 

Sheillt Crunl. . .:. , . . . . . . . .Leo Phelpa 

Workmanlike edition of typical 
Buck Jones weiitern. He-man action, 
cattle rustling, stagecoach holdups, 
bronco busting, pursuits, with Buck'.s 
faithful six-shooter doing its stuff, 
and One-Shot Brady, the demon bad 
man, biting the dust in the last reel. 
Hot stuff: for the urchins. 

No adult could take Buck Jones 
seriously. But he's right lip the juve 
alley. He never missed 'ai shot in his 
life, rides unbroken ponies without 
batting a sombrero, has. a propier dis-. 
dain for the gals, never cusses, drinks; 
or touches John Barkycorn; and he*s 
not even inti idatcd by a Buck 
Jones script. . 

'Left Handed Liaw' . is. a worthy is- 
siie of the series. Action is the word 
iand there's plenty Of it, .Film 
scarcely bothers with such trifles as 
logic or continuity and love interest 
is kept at a minimum) But Buck's 
trusty shootin'. iron .Wings at least 
one critter, every couple Of minutes 
So the moppets will be enchanted. 

Story is stereotype. Buck is per- 
suaded, to take charge of Pa Golden's 
ranch and clean up the bandits in 
the region. He docs'— and in spades. 
Hint of romance!. in. the fadebut, but 
not niuch danger' probably. Good 
old Buck will weather, the storm. . 

irection and photography are up 
to requirements. Jones and the 
other principals play with sufficient 
emphasis for youngest spectator in 
the hou.se to recognize the Villain at 
first glance. Just right for westerns 

Kobe. 



.(.In French) 

Another Of those spy pics which 
have had a great deal of success i 
•this country lately; 

Includes si great many old shots 
taken when the Americans .fiirst 
landed in France and story ' some- 
what woven around their, getting 
here, with an eye' to Yank business* 
but its abilities to pull in the U. S. 
are doubtful. It is naive in mainy 
respects. Von Stroheim, while ob- 
viously conscious of his accent, car- 
ries the role of chief of the German 
spy service in Spain, with his stiff 
back and neck, monocle and all.' 

Edwige Fcuilliere, as a French girl 
who has seen her father and mother 
executed by a firing squad c6m- 
manded by. Von Stroheiip when ha' 
was still in the army, comes to Paris 
to turn spy for the, Erqnch service . 
in Spain. Keen characterization 
which the part requires is not al- 
ways there, but she goes after the 
role in a workmanly manner. Jean 
Galland. as Strohelm's chief lieuten- 
ant is effective. 

Some of the submarine shots loqik 
most unreal, while the landing of the 
Americans and subsequent scenes in - 
;Paris after the war, is over add nbth-. 
ing to the actual worth of the pic- 
ture. Story, lacks continuity and 
several incidents are not entirely exr- 

Elained. Photography is sufficient 
ut that's about all 
.' Most moving scene is when Von 
Stroheim; in the presence of Miss 
Feuillere, commits suicide when he 
learns she . has tricked hitn, : In his 
own luxurious . apartment he ad^ 
ministers the poison with a hypo- 
deritfic needle, then sits and plays 
at the piano until he dies. Hugd, 

Rad Bizom a Felesegem 

('Look After My Wife') 

(HUNGARIAN MADE) 

Budapest, April 23. 
bbjektiv Film production, Ufa releun*. 
made at Hunnla studio, Uudapcot. Book 
and dirtictlun; .lanoa Vikazary, .Caat: Mital 
Brdelyi; Atilul Pagor, JullO; Ivomar, Bahdor 
VethPH, Antlor AJtuy.. Tlvudar Blllvay, Mlk» 
log HnjmaHsy, PIrotika VaBxaty. 



Un Huii0arian). 
Sometime in the dim future Vas- 
zary may -direct a really funny pic» 
ture, but this isn't it. Every eftovt 
is made to produce pure farce, but 
long drawh-out slapstick scenes and 
reiterated, smashlngs of furniture aiid 
crockery pall if there's too much of 
them. . 

Mitzl rdelyi is the. shrewish wifa 
of a doctor^ jealous of her husband's 
.secretary, , with whom the doctor 
goes off to a medical convention 
and a spree. Mitzi wants to shoot 
her rival, sd the doctor asks Pager^ 
a former patient who oweis him a 
good turn for saving his life, to 
look after his wife until the trai 
leaves, the station. ., 

Pager is left with the formidable 
Mitzi on his hands. She makes- life 
difficult for him, gets him into trou- 
ble with the police, provokes a 
heavyweight champion to fight him, 
smashes the furniture of a night 
club and busts up the situation gen- 
erally. Finally the husband rieturns, 
they are reconciled and Pager :can 
marry his secretary. 

Plenty of gags and 'funny epi^- 
sodcs, . but the whole thing lacks 
tempo and pep and shows too much 
effort. Pager docs the type of help- 
less, clumsy, good-intcntioncd bloke 
very well and Mitzi Erdclyi is bright 
and has a sense of humor, biit the 
pieture is no better than second- 
rate. 



23»/2 HOURS LEAVE 

(WITH SONGS) 

. rii'aiid .NiiHonnl rclCillic of DoukIiih Mac-. 
Leiiiii .proiliiulion.' Htnra JamcH .Klllaon iin<S. 
Tcri'y Wnlltoi-.' J>rro(:ii>(l liy John 'UlyHlo'ne. 
:Kt6i;y,- 'Miiry HobcrlH 'ItlhchMrl;; Hrrfloit piny, 
H.'iri'y Jtunldp -.unci. -Henry -McCVirly; dialog, 
S. ji • Waraha'w.slcy ;.. ciuncni, .'Incit- Mack-- 
ericlo. . At'Viii'Hily, 't.lric.p'ln, ul, Uunning 
time. 7;i mInH, 

Sgt. Oiuy.-- . , . .... i . . .. 

Peggy. . ; ■ . ... '■- . • v ..... , J . . . 
Tommy, , i. . ; . ,., ,-. .',-, . ...', . 

Turnpj-. , ..... . ,.. . , . .. ■. , . . 

CJenenil. . . . ■, . : • . -.'.'-.-. .;;•... ,-, , . ... 

Biinnlir.;... .-. .' . ... .',.■.. . ... , ; . 

'Holomfiji,". , , . .',.•■.•■,';»; ...... , . 

SfhiillJS ....... 

M(iuii)i>i.v. 

TUIilii*. , . ... ... . , ', , 

nrirker; .'....';'...., . ,', . .;.'■:'; 
Top Kl''l<, ; . . 



Highly amusing training camp 
yarn .wliich will attract the action 
group, as well as the fast growing 
Jimhiy Ellison fandom which pat-, 
ronizos the B houses. It's the first 
war background story in a long time 
to lay off the fireworks and provide 
mo.s't of its action in a eotnpany b<ir- 
racks. Everything is kept as close 
home as possible— ^even to the jser- 
geant wooing the general's daughter. 

'23 Hours Leave' is from the 
Mary Boberts Rinchart SatcVepost 
yarn and is a production under guid- 
ance of the former silent screen 
comic, Douglas MacLcan. 

Jimmy Elli.son. fresh from 
(Continued on page 28) 



14 



VARIETY 



Wednesday,^ May J2, 1937 



s4<v< V:/b .-*-=5# , 




HELD OVER 3rd RECORD WEEK RADIO CITY 
MUSIC HALL! Held Over United Arfists and 
Wilshire- Theatres, Los Angeles; Penn Theatre, 
Pittsburgh; State Theatre, New Orleans; Capitol 
Theatre, Springfield; Warner Theatre, Worcester; 
Worth Theatre, Ft. Worth; Ohio Theatre^ Gol umbus; 
Vendome Theatre, Nashvitlel 

HELD OVER 3rcl WEEK UNITED ARTISTS 

THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO (and stiff gQing ^rron^) I 

. . ..Held Over State Theatre, Providence; Stanley 
Theatre, Utico; Loew*s Theatre; Rochester; College 
Theatre, New Haven; Palace Theatre, Bridgeport; 
Long Beach Theatre, Long Beach, Calif.; Arlington 
Theatre, Santa Barbara; Palace Theatre, HartfotrdI 

HELD OVER INDEFINITELY ALDINE THEATRE, 
PHILADELPHIA I • « Held Over Cbpitol Theatre, 
Wilkes -Borre; Strand Theatre, Scranton; Apolb 
Theatre, Atlantic City; United Artists Theatre, 
Chicago; Denver Theatre, Denver; Paramount 
Theatre, Salt Lake City; Palace Theatre, Montreal; 
Loew*s Theatre, Torontoj Orpheutn Theatre, S<in 
Diego; State Theatre, Clevelanid I 

..-AND SPACE LIMITS US AS HUNMEDS OF ADDITltMl- 
HOLDOVERS ARE ANNOUNCED ALL OVER THE COUflTRY] 



' .v>i>.i;..'.. 



SIIZNICK INTERNATIONAL pr^tenii 







wiih A DO LP HE MENJOU • MAY ROBSON ANDY DEVINE • LIONEL STANDER 
Produced by DAVID O. SELZNICK Directed by William A. We lima n • keteased thru United .Artists 

the First Modern Picture in TECHNICOLOR 



IHTERNATIONAL HEWS 



Cnltlo Aildrosii: TARIETT, I.6ND0H f ji 

T«Iepliun« Temple Bar a(M|-Bb *%■ r 



Coronation and Welcome for New Gov. 
Bnng Truce m Aussies Quota Tai^le 



Sydney^ April 20. 
Flag of truce is showing on the 
quota headache Governmeht too 
biisy right now welcoming ai new 
governor and arranging Coronation 
celebrations to worry much about 
QUotaSi 

Sir Hugh Denison, chairman of 
Directors National P^;-ods., and 
the big boss of Associated News- 
papers, stated during the week that 
he was sending Fred Dahiells to 
Ebgijind and America to • probe the 
overseas* market regiarding Austra- 
lian pjx on the strehgth of the 
Americans stating they were willing 
to assist local production to hecoihe 
established, Daniells, who is con- 
nected with National, will also han- 
dle the distribution abroad of that 
unit's production, 'The Flying Doc- 
tor.' Americans said they would dis- 
tribute fbr the locals, but \yould 
deflnitely npt produce pix this 
territory; 

Deep huddles are taking place at 
the Motion Picture Distributors' 
(Continued on page 53) 





OFF; GOVT NK? 



London, May 2. 
•Revolt in the jjeiserti' chronicle of 
Lawrence of Arabia, announced for 
production by Korda a couple of 
years back and' since passed over to 
Bob Kane's New World (20th-Fox), 
Is off. 

Humors are that the picture, has. 
been taken ofC all production sched- 
ules following hints from gpverri- 
ment circles that it would, not be 
viewed with favor, though this is 
denied at the studios. 
Tremendous amount of work had 
ready been put into the prelimi- 
naries, with Zbltan Korda . haying 
even taken a crew to Arabia for gen- 
uine backgrounds. When Korda^ took 
it over, Harold Schuster was en- 
trusted with direction, Jiriimy Wong 
Howie iassigned to the camera, and 
the unit was set to go .oh location 
when the final ukase came through. 



PARIS EXPO MAY NOT 
BE READY BY MAY 25 



Paris, May 2. 
. Scheduled; to take place on May 1 
with a big Labor Day demonstration, 
the Cabinet has gust decided that the 
offcial opening of the International 
Exposition will take place May 24 
and will open to the public May 25. 
And why it has been delayed, why 
many of the buildings Won't be open 
even on the late opening date, has 
been the subject of hpt discussion 
aiid a bitter press, campaign here 
which has been growing in intensity 
for the last month. 

The best answer to it all is that 
the promoters did not give them- 
selves time to really do the job right 
When work was first started. Bar- 
ring no accidents, labor troubles and 
the flooding of the Seine early this 
^ring, the. show could have opened 
May 1. But almost everythihg which 
could stand in the way, of pr-ogress 
presented itself at one time or an^ 
other to retard construction and 
completion of plans.. 

Labpir troubles stepped in first, and 
« was only after some stiff riegoti ^ 
"ons in which Premi Blum him- 
self took part; that the Unions- could 
Pe persuaded to allow their men to 
.work 6h. Saturdays and Sundays, 
inat. finally ironed out, a flooded 
?>eme and a long rainy season ' 
larded many of the buildings. 

Many predictions have been made 
as to actually what will be ready 
."jy May 25. Soine place: the figure 
as high as around 90%, but a visit 
10 the grounds themselves show this 
^ be excessive. More conservative 
estimates, state that only 100 of the 
m pavilions which will make up 
we entire expo will be fully com- 
pleted by that date. But it . is a cer- 
lamty that visitors coming to Paris 
J'rectly following the Coronation 
ceremonies , in London are going to 
°e sorely disappointed in what they 
see here. Expo will continue. 

Have kept to their promise of 
.Keeping open for six months, closing 
«ate now being set as November 25 



BULOFF TO POLAND 
FOR YIDDISH FILM 



Joseph Green has signed Joseph 
Buloff, Hymie Jacobson and Miriam 
Kressyn (Mrs. Jacohson) for a new 
Yiddish film, 'The Jester,' to be pro- 
duced in Poland, Will be the pic 
debut for all three. They jexpect to 
sail for Poland late this Week. 
Others of the cast, will be recruited 
abrpad. 

Green previously produced a 
Molly J^icon film, 'Yiddle with His 
Fiddle.' Buloff was a click in his 
only two English stage appearances 
early this season, both flops. 



Veloz-Yolanda Going 
Into Cochran's Revue 



London, May 11. , 
Veloz and Yolanda, American 
dancers, open June 7 at the Adelphi 
as specialty act in Charles Cochran's 
revue,. 'Home and Beauty.' 

Pair are also being sought for 
doubling, engagement 'by two nite- 
ries, Dorchester House and Giro's 
Club. 



All-Femme Legit Co. 

Rome, May 1. 

Among the various plans for 
formation of summer companies, one 
which seems most likely to go into 
effect is a company called 'Femi ,' 
composed entirely of women. 

Would put on de Stefani's 'Dopo 
Divorziefemb' ('After We Are 
Civorced'); Robert Milton's .'Fascino' 
('Fascination,); and 'Carcere Senz 
Inferriate' ('Prison Without Prison- 
ers'), by Giha Krauss and T. B. 
Forster. Mesdames Solbelli, Gheraldi, 
Garella, rignpne, De Micheli and. 
Banfi would be among the cast. 



'MARIE' AUSSIE SMASH 



'Plainsman' Also ip. Down Under; 
'Lloyds' Slips 



Sydney, April 

Metro's 'Rose Marie' (MG) goes 
quickly into- the smash class and is 
sockp-socko on all.sessions. It broke 
record on first week by topping 
every other Metro pic to play here. 

Outside of 'Mari ,' next best pic is 
Par's 'The Plainsman,' Trade is 
slipping somewhat for 'Lloyds' 
(20th), and: 'Charge Pf Light Brigade' 
(WB) comeis off after moderate run. 
'It Isn't Done' (Cinesound) sixth 
week, is being boosted for extra 
playing time, but must soon quit. 
'Sally of the Regiment' (G-B) and 
'Soft Lights and Sweet Music* (G-B) 
may run into something over short 
stanza. Universal's 'Show Boat' is 
still oke and trying for year's run. 

'My Man Godfrey' (U) has done 
well and should stay a week or so 
longer. Weekly changers are *W6- 
man-Wise' (20th), 'Penrod and iSam' 
(WB), and 'Murder with Pictures' 
(Par). 'Wintersef (RKO) -swings 
into third week and staying. New 
oties. coming 'Beloved En- 

emy' (UA) Million' 
(20th). 



Melbourne, April 20. 
ix playing here include 'Swing 
Time' (RKO), 'It Isn't ' . (C), 
'Rarigle River' (Col), 'Plainsman' 
(Par), 'Romeo and Jiiliet' (MG) 
'Hi Lordship' (G-B), 'Rembrandt* 
(UA). 



MOUY PICON QUITTING 
CAPETOWN FOR PARIS 



Capetown, April 26. 
Molly icon, her husband, Jacob 
Kaltch and pianist Abe Ellstein sail 
May 7 for England, then proceed to 
Paris. 

Expected to return to America 
later;- Have jiist completed success- 
ful vaude engagements here, in 
Johannesburg and other South 
African towns. 



2d Reich-Jap Goodwill 

Film to Be Produced 

Tokyo, April 20. 

To promote friendship between 
Gerniany arid Japan, another gopd 
will picture, 'The Daughter of a 
Diplomat,' will be made by Dr. 
Arnold Fanck, this time in Germany. 
Miss Setsuko Hara, star of previous 
good-willer, is set for similar role 
iri new pic. Koscak Yamada; Jap 
composer, will write, the score. 

Understood German Propaganda 
Ministry is furnisiiing most of the 
coin, with a slice being chipped in .by 
Society of International Cultural 
Relations here.' 








ORGANIZED 



Melboiurne, April 20. 

New production unit is making a 
bid to break into the local field in a 
hig hway. At iiresent, unit is in 
process of organization under A. R. 
Harwood and Neville Burns. Will 
have title of New World Films, Ltd. 

Unit .will prpbably try for prpduc- 
tioh ito V Vict^p-ia;' and New South 
Wales if present plans mature. Re- 
ported that capital is all lined up to 
allow for an'-eilrly siati. A. R. Har- 
wood made some mi here 
some time ago. ^ 

Officials .connected: ith World 
Films, Ltd., are at present in Sydney 
looking for a studio site arid players. 
May tie with one of the regular stu- 
dios for production purposes on 
(Conti 53) 



2 NEW LONDON 




London, May 11. 
imple Sarah' opened at the Gar 
rick (4). It has an tm imaginative plot, 
partially redeemed by . some, clever 
pointed lines, but still unlikely. 

'New School for Scandal* at ' the 
Embassy the same night looks des- 
tined for same plight. Unlikely that 
it will reach West End because of 
its age and collpquialisms. Para- 
phrases Sheridan*s classic with. addir 
tion of modern clothes and does have 
some brilliant witticisms. 



Hayakawa Scored 

Tokyo, April 20. 

Sessue Hayakawa, more or less idol- 
ized by jap pix fans, is being openly 
criticized here because of cpntinued 
connection with making of French 
pic, 'Ypshiwara,' which is declared 
uncomplinientary to Japanese. 

Industry also feels that Hayakawa 
wUl suffer further criticism .-and loss 
of b.o. draw here' if he appears in 
contemplated French spy film, 
which allegedly contains scenes with 
'racial discrimi ' ' 




2 AMERICAN EXHIBS 
DROWN IN MEXICO 



Mexico City, May 11. 

Two American exhibitors of Ciudad 
Juarez, across from El Paso, Jacob 
EUeriay and. Ray Holloway, were 
drowned last week when their skiff 
capsized: during a squall while they 
were fishing on the great iEl Elefante 
dam about 60 miles south of Juarez. 
The inen, managers of rival theatres, 
were on a vacation. 

Tragedy was discovered; when dam 
attenclartlts found the Americaris' up- 
tiirned boat. 



China Okays 2 Banned 
U. S. Films After Confab 



Shanghai,, May 3. 

Usually , stringent Chinese censoi^- 
ship has been relaxed in the cases 
pf two recent American pi . Ban on 
.'Theodora Goes Wild* and 'After .the 
Thin Man' by authorities was finally 
eased through conferences between 
Board of Film Trade (China) and 
Nanking officials. 

Presence of Sol Wurtzel (20th- 
F6x), J. H. Seidelman (Col) and. Joe 
Hummel (WB), is thought to have 
been ■■ instrumental in getting the pix 
okayed. Recent appointment Pf Shao 
Li-tze as supervizing executive post 
oh censor body is also thought to 
have had effect. Shao is considered 
extremely broadmir.ded. 

Objection to the two films is 
understpod to have been . pn the 
grounds, of Chinese menials in the 
cast. 



London; May 11. 
Approximately a dozen West End 
shows are operating under 

sipnal closi with 
others waveri Un- 
less hiz ups considerably after tho 
Coronation ceremony, there wlil.be 
plenty of closings. 

Big film attractions, usually kept 
on ice for summer months,, but re- 
leased for the Coronation, are doing 
an appalling business. Only enter- 
tainment phase doing well is the 
nitery field, which is . cleaning up. 

Peculiar twist the nitery fes- 
tivity is the arrival of guests in 
court attire. Those attending state 
functions in. regalia regain isamd 
trappings for their, nocturnial ^ayety; 
furnishing impromptu treat for vis- 
iting rubbernecks. 



Last, minute adyices report inces- 
sant downpour. Inclement weather 
i? forcing gazers' iri to amusement 
palaces to bt-ighten matters finan- 
cially. 



Ban on 'SWin^ High, Swing Low* 
(Par) has been lifted by the gov- 
ernmental authorities in the Repub- 
lic of Panama. ' 

Understanding in. New York is 
.that the film was banned originally 
merely on advance reports. When 
officials actually Ibolced at a print, 
they permitted its ing. 



Panaman Go?t. Urged 
To Lower Fdm Fees 



All. interested picture corhpanies 
are preparing figures to present to 
the government of the Republic of 
Panama' to show thajt U. S. distribu- 
tors ca'n*t afford to pay the new $10 
per, reel fee recently set up. These 
statistics, which :will include com- 
parisons With what other nations are 
charging, are expected to prove to 
Panama officials that the latest high 
fee. is prohibitive. 

'. In the meantime, American dis- 
tributing companies are not shipping 
any new pictures into the country 
because the limited hurhber of thea- 
tres there fails to justify such an 
outlay of coin. 




FILM QUOTA 



Dubli , May 2. 
Prominent Interests in the 
Free istate think the film quota is a 
good Idea, and are following up 
news from the U.K. of legislation be- 
ing extended a further 10 years by- 
pressing for similar laws. 

President Eamon de Valera has 
consented to hear q deputation rep- 
resenting universities, judges, 
churches, teachers, natlonalisti 
.leagues and exhibitors, which haai 
already . submitted a memorandum 
urging legislation in the l.F.S; 

He's had to put the date back a 
bit, because of more pressing busi- 
ness, but says he will see them just 
the same. " 

Sp&smodic efforts cpntinue to be 
made towards launching - Irish pro- 
duction, but sponsors of all enter- 
prises so far announced have been 
too little known to rate taki 
ously. 




Compromise for Reciprocity Demands 



• London, May 
lowing cold by turns, 

joint trade convei^satiojris between 
distributors, exhibitors and produ- 
cers; have; reached a precarious turn, 
with hopes ;6£, success : turning on 
whether a compromise can be 
reached whereby producer demands 
for reciprocity the American 
market will be satisfied. . 

Producers' Group of the Federa- 
tion of British Industries is standing 
insistent the other parties must ad- 
mit the matter to : their talks as 
price of its participation in seeking 
a basis of common trade agreement. 
Exhibs and distribs contend the plea 
is irrelevant, purpose of the discus- 
sions being to establish a permanent 
trade corhmittee . with powers to 
handle and pass all domestic 
problems. 

Hectic sessions hcve taken place 
during; the week with meetings, split 
into subsidiary get-togethers of dif- 
ferent interests. On generjal prin- 
ciples of trading practice, Cine 
(Continued on page 53) 



U. S. Pix in South Africa 



Capetown, 

Percentage Of American pi 
rently showi is running higli in' 
South Africa. 

In Capetown: 'Ex-Mrs., radfoid* 
fRKO) at the Alhambra; 'Camilc*. 
(MG) at the laza: 'Farmer Talccs' 
a Wife' (20th) at the New Grand; 
'Design for Living' (Par) at the 
Adelphi; 'Marietta' (MG) at the 
Royal; 'Scarlet Empress' (Par) at 
the Ritz Bio-Cafe. . 

Johannesburg has 'Ballots or ul- 
lets' (WB) at the Colisseu 'Ib- 
betspn' (Par) at 'the Palladium; 
'Coironado' (Par) at the Standard; 
'East of Java'.: (U) at the Plaza; 'Di - 
honor Bright' (MG) at the Bijou, 
and 'Song and Dance Man* .(20th) at 
Prince's. . . 

In Durban, the Playhouse is 
screening 'Secret Interlude,' 'Hcll- 
ship Morgan' (Col) is at the Cri- 
terion; 'Thin Man' (MG) at KinR's, 
and 'Redhead.s Pn Parade* (20th) is 
showing at the Cameo. 



Mahoney, Evie Hayes, 
Griffin, in England 3 
Yrs., Now Must Scram 

..London, May 11. 
Will Mahoney, Evie Hayes and Joe 
Griffin, all American acts, have been 
advised by the Labor Ministry not to 
accept further work here after their 
current four-week engagement 
the Ictoria Palace in Kurt Robits- 
chek's vaude revue, 'Wonderful 
World.' 

Mi istry never giVes explanations 
for such acti , but it's understood 
the reason in this case Is that the 
acts have been in England for three 
years, considered too long a time, 

Mahoney has been oiit of tiic show 
.si last week's opening (3) be- 
cause of illness. 



Larry Adier Topping 

s London Gross 



, May M. 

Openi 
Hya.ms 

nia May 10 acclaimed 

thing, in years by the management. 

Other local vaude opening is that 
of Larry Adler with. Kis own it at 
the Holborn. Adler's first trip into 
the West End, after months in the 
provinces, is bettering that of Rudy 
Vallce's gross of last week. 

Openings of Maurice ;and Cor 
and Rudy Vallee here were 
successful. 

Dance team prcemed at the Dor* 
Chester hotel, whore they weie im- 
mediately a hit. Vallce's bPw at 
Giro's also splendidly received. 



16 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 12, 19,17 



WASHINGTON GOES WILD OVER 

THAT WILD. WILD "WOMAN"! 





IT WOULD MAKE YOUR REPUBLICAN 
UNCLE WILL, WHO HASN'T LAUGHED 
SINCE HOOVER, ROAR IN SHEER, VERY 

SHEER GLEE '...Now we know why they ddver- 

tised this film as the second -It Happened One Night// 
But don't let ^em fool you; it's better I — f. B. G., 

V/ashingfon Herald 

"Woman Chases Man'' comes along to jar the re- 
public's liver v/ith untomeable mirth... It is rough- 
house, slapstick and funny! — J. C./Wd$Mngfon Evening Sfar 

Will be ranked ai one of the top-notch entertain- 
[ments of the year. Miriam Hopkins makes the picture 
the most uproarious and riotous since /'Mr. Deeds 

Goes to Town"! — f . C. Washington News 

Gay, uproarious force... gaily and zestfully done... 

thoroughly delightful! — J. W. B., Washington Times 

And so does Syracuse! 

One of the merriest things I've seen in many a moon! 

— Heteh Tail Walker, Syracuse Posf-Standard 

Yes, chase yourself to Loew's for q laugh this week, 
because one scene, if no more, is worth the price of 

admission! — R. r. B., Syracuse Journal 




PRES6NTS 




MIRIAM HOPKINS JOEL WCVEA 

C\M^VAI.S WJiSlNfMGER'ERIK RHODES 

EUA tOGAN • tEONA MARIGLE • BRODERICK CRAWFORD 
Dirccfed hf jbhn S/yslon. Released fhru United ArUsts 



Wednesday* May 12, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



IT 






(Por information of ikeatre and film exchange bookers, Variety presents a complete chart of feature relv.ases of all the Americah distributing companies fot 
She current quarterly period. Date of thg reviews as gii^en in Variety^ 

COFTBIGHT, 1937, VAEIElCr, ALL SIGHTS 



OF 
BELEASB 



3/26/37 



TITLE 



WHEN 
TIME RE VIEW 
MINS. BY VARIETY 



LET'S GET MARRIED 
23 \<i HOURS' LEAVE 

MAYTIME 
WAIKIKI WEDDING 
, QUALITY STREET , 
TRAIL OF VENGEANCE 
. SEVENTH HEAVEN 
WE HAVE OUR MOMENTS 
KING AND CHORUS GIRL 



E. Riski 
D. McLean 
H.. Stromber 
A.. Horn blow 
P. Berrhah ' 
A. W. Hackel 
' R. Griffith 
G. Rogiers 
M. LeRoy 



Cbl 
GN 
MGM 
Par 
RKO 
Rep 

U;.. 

WB 



Com-Dr 
Comedy 
Musical 
Musical 
Rbm-Dr 
C6m-Dr . 
Rbm-Dr ' 
Rbrh-Com 
Musical 



Deniiy-Lupiino 
J. Ellison 
MacDiOnald-Eddy 
Crbsby^Raye-B. Burns 

Hepbiirn-Tone 
. Trayls-W. Livingston. 
Siinone- Stewart 
Dunn-Eilers^ 
, Gravet-Blondell 



A. E. Cfreen 
J, G. Blystone 
R, Z. Xebr»ard 
■ F. tutUe" ' ' 
G. ' Stevens 
S. .New field 
•H; Kitig 
A. L. Werker 
M. LeRby 



■Am. 

m-. 

/24. 

/n 
m. 



ido 

se- 
as 



4/2/37 



MOTOR MADNESS 
RACKETEERS IN EXILE 
BACKSTAGE 

GIRL Loves boy 

HITTIN' THE TRAIL, 
SONG OF THE CITY 
MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF 
LIGHTNING CRANDALL 
: MIDNIGHT TAXI 
HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT 
WHEN LOViE IS YOUNG 
MEN •IN .EXILE- -., 



H. ii. Decker Col . Com-Dr 

Col Col Melodrama 

H. Wilcox GB Drama 

B. Zeldman gN, Roni-Cbrri 

E, Finney GN. Western 

L.. Hubbard MGM.. Drama- 

' Ci Reia, RKO Drama 

A. W. Hackel Rep Western 

. M.Fetd 20tK\ Melbdram 

W. Wanger ^ UA Rbni-Cot 

R. Presneir U Rbm-Cbm 

WB WB Drama 



D. Wilson-C. Quigrley 
Bancroft- Venable 

Nagel-Tracy 

E. .Linden-G. Parlier 

Tex Ritter 
3. DeaiiTM; Lindsay . 
eal-P. Huston- J. Fontaine ' 
Bdfbby Steele < 
Dinehiart-Ddnlevy 

Boyer-Arthur 
V- Bruce-K. Taylor 
D. JPurceU- Travis 



D. E. Lederman 
E. C, Kenton 

H. Wilcox 
. D. Mansfield 
R. N. Bradbury 
- E.; TasR^rt 
L. Landers 
S. Newfteld 
: E. Forde 
F. Borzage 
H. Mohr 
J.;F£(rrow 



61 
66 



5/5.. 
4/1,'t 



...5/5 
,4/14--. 

4/7 
3/31 
4/2t 
5/5 



^•a :37 



TWO GUN LAW 
THE GOLD RACKET 
GIRL FROM SCOTLAND YARD 
TOO MANY WIVES 
SOLDIER AND LADY 
JIM HANVEY, DETECTIVE 
FIFTY ROADS TO TOWN 
MARKED WOMAN 



Col 
Condor 
E; Cohen 
W. Sistrpm' 
iP. Bermah- 
A. E. X,ev6y 
R. Griffith 
WB 



Col 
GN 
Par 
RKO 
RKO 
Rep 
ZOtbi 
WB-.-- 



'Melodrama 

Western 
] -Mystery;, 
: Rom-Com 
Meiodram 
•Mystery 
Cpm-Dr^ 
Melodrama 



Charles Starr ett 
Cv NageI-£. Huni .. 
. Morley-R. Baldwin 
Shirley- J; Morley 
/ WalbrooK-E. Allen 
K>bbee-T. isrowh 
Aiheche-Sbtherh 
Davis-H. Bogart', 



Li Barsha 
L.; Gabni 
R/ VtRubla 
B. Holmes 
G. Nichbls 

P. Rdsen 
N. TaUrog 

L. Bacon.: 



4/28.. 

4/14 

5/12 

/i4 



4/16/37 



4/23/37 



4/30/37 



5/7/37: 



5/14/37 



5/2V37 



.5/28/37 • 



6/4/37 



TWO WHO DARED 
MAN IN THE MIRROR 
ROMEO AND JULlEt 
WAY out WEST 
HILLS OF OLD WYOMING 
INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY 
OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAi; 
GUNS IN THE DARK 

NAVY BLUES 
STEP LIVELY, JEEVES 
LET THEM LIVE 
THAT MAN'S HEBE AGAIN 
CALL IT A DAY, 



,E. 'i'renke -GN . Drama. 

j. Hageh GN • Comedy 

I. Thalberg MGM. iRom-Com 

H. Roach MGM. Comedy 

H; Sherni Par Western. 

B. Glazer' Par,' Drama 

. R. Sisk RKO Western 

A. W. ^ Hackel Repi Western 

B. Kfelly - Rep . Comedy 

J. Stone 26th Comiedy 

E. Grainger U Drama 

WB WB Comedy 

WB WB Coniedy 



Sten-Wilcbxoh E. Ffenkd 

E. E. Horton'^G. Tobin M. Elvey 

ShearerrHoward G. Cukor 

Laurel-Hardy ,J, Home 
William Boyd N. Watt 

McCrtfa-Stanwyck A. Santell . 

P. Foster-J; Muir C. Cabartne 
J.. M. Brown NewHeVd 

C. P.urcell-W. Hyme: R. Staub 

Treacher-Ellis E. Fordei 

j. Barrett-J., Howard-N> Gray H. Young 
M. McGulre-T. Browp L. Kihg 

De Hayiiand-lan Hunter A. Mayo 



I PROMISE TO PAY 
SPEED TO SPARE 
THUNDER IN (CITY" 
SILENT BARRIERS 
KILLERS OF THE SEA 
GOOD OLD SOAK 
NOBODY'S baby; 
KING OF GAMBLERS 

WOMAN I LOVE 
GUN SMOKE RANCH 

HITPARADE 
WAKE UP AND LIVE 

ELEPHANT BOY 
TOP OF THE TOWN 

NIGHT KEY 
MOUNTAIN JUSTICE 



M. Connolly Col Drama 

R. Cohh Col Melbdrama 

Atlantic Col Com-Dr 

GB GB Dramia: 

R; Friedgen GN .. Giitdopr 

H. Sti-bmber MGM Drama 

H. Roach MGM Comedy 

R. Flofey Par Drama 

A. Lewis RKO Rom-Dr 

S. Siegel Rep Western 

N. Levine Rep Musical 

K. MacGowan 26th Musical 

A. Korda UA Outdoor 

Li. Brock U Muiiical 

R. Presnell U Mystery 

WB WB Melodrama 



C. Morris-H. jaaok-Carrillo 
C. Qulgley-D. Wilson 
E. G. Robinson-L. Deste 

R. Arlen-L. Palmer 
, Calit W. Casswell 
. W. Beery- J. Beecher 
P. Kelly-R. Arthstroni: 
. Taihirofl-L. Nolan-C. Trevor 
Muiii-Hopklns. ' 
W. Llvingstoh 

F. . Lanigrldrd-P. Rejan 
Winchell-Berhle-Fiye-Haley 

W. E. Halloway.D. J. Wllliami 
P. Nolan-G. MurphyrH. Herbert 
B. KarlojerrJ. Rbgers ; 

G. Brentr'J. Hutchinson 



D. R; Lederman 
L. Hillyer 
M. Gering 
M. Rosner 
R; Friedgen 
R. Thorpe 
G. Melns 
Robert Florey 
A. Litvalc 
J... Kane 
G. Meins 
S. Lanfield 
R. Flaherty 
R. Murphy 
L. Corrig^n 
M. Curti 



CRIMINALS OF THE AIR 
KING SOLOMON'S MINES 
JUGGERNAUT 
NIGHT MUST FALL 
MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW 
YOU CAN^T BUY LUCK 
EOOtiN' TOOTIN' RHYTHM 
ESCAPE FROM LOVE 

that i may live 
a star is born 
kNight without armor 
california straight ahead 

SLIM 
MELODY FOR TWO 



Col Col Action C. Quifley-M. Keith 

GB GB. Spectacle C. Hardwicke-R. Younf 

J: Hagen . GN Melodrama Boris Karlbff . 

H. Rapt MGM Comedy . Montffomery-R. Russell 

L. McCiarey Par Comedy. V. Moore-P. Hall 

M. Cohen RKO Comedy O. Steyens-H. Mack 

A. Schaefer Rep' Western Gene Autry-Armida 

Li Landau 26th Rom-Com ; G. Stuart^M. Whalen -. 

S. Wurtzel 20th. Rom-Dr R. Hudson-Robert Kent 

D. Selznick UA , Rbm-Dr, Gaynor-March 

A. Korda UA Rom-Dr. pietrich-ponat 

T. Garr U Action J. Wayhe-L. Latimer 

WB WB . Drama Pr O'Brleh-H. Fonda 

WB WB Musical J. Melton-P: Ellis 



C. C. Coleman 
R. Stevenson 
H; Edwards 
J. W. Ruben 
Li McCarey 
L. Landers 
M, E. Wright 

E. Forde 
Allan Dwan 
W. Wellman 
j. Feyder 
A. Lubin 
R., Enriqht 
Louis King 



FRAME UP 
THEY GrAVE HIM A GUN 
SHALL WE PANCE? 
GUN LORDS OF STIRRUP BASIN. 
CAFE METROPOLE 
IT HAPPENED OUT WEST 
WOMAN CHASES MAN 
AS GOOP AS MARRIED 
PRINCE ANP PAUPER 



R. Cohh Col Com-Dr 

H. Rapf , MGM RomrDr 

P. Herman RKO Musical 

A. W. Hackel Rep Western 

N. Johnson 20th Com-Dr 

S. Lesser 20th Western 

S. Goldwyrt UA Colnedy 

E, M. Asher U Com-Dr 

WB WB Rom-Dr. 



P. Kelly-J. Wells 
, Tracy'^Tonie-G. GeorgrA 
Astaire-Rojrers 
Bobby Steele 
A. Mehjoii-L. Younjs: 
, Kelly-J. AUen-J. Arthur 
Hopkins-McCrea 
J. Bbles-P. Nolan 
E. Flynn-Mauch Twins 



D. R. Lederman 
W. S. VahDyka 
M. Sand rich 
. S. Newfield 
E. H. Gi'lrtith 
H, Bretherton 
John Blystone 
E. Buzzell 
W. Keighley 



VENUS MAKES TROUBLE 
NON-STOP NEW YORK 
FOREVER YOURS 
THIRTEENTH CHAIR 
TURN OFF THE MOON 
BEHINP HEAPLINES . 

affairis of cappy ricks 

michael o'halloran 
great hospital mystery 
david harum (reissue) 
love from a, stranger 

cherokee strip, 
draegermaN courage 
oh, doctor 



W. McDonald Col Com-Dr 

GB GB Drama 

Iberto Giacalone GN Musical 

J; J. Cohn MGM Melodrama 

Miss Fanchon Par Corriiedy 

Cliff Reid RKO Com-Dr 

B. K.clly Rep Com 

H. Schlom Riep- Rom.-Dr 

S. Wurtzel 20th Mystery 

.8. Wurtzel 20th Comedy 

M, Schach UA Melodrama 

WB WB Western 

B. Foy WB Rom-Cot 

Grainger U Comedy 



J. Dunh-P. Ellis^ 
A. Lee-J. Loder-D. Tester 
Beniamiito Giffll 
M. Evans-H. Daniell 
C. Rugglcs-E. Whitney 
Lee Tracy-D. Gibson 
W. Brennan-M. Brian 
W. Gibsoh'^Jackiie Moran 
Ji Dar>veli-S. Ruhianh 
W. Rogrers-L. Dresser 
A. Harding-B. Rathbbho.. 
b. Foran-J. Bryan 
J. Muir-Bj MacLane 
E. E. lIorton-^Eye Arden 



G. Wiles 
, Stevenson 
tariley Irving. 

G. Sietz^ • 
Lisw Seller 
, Ri Rosson 

Carl Brown 
J. Tinling '. 
3. Cruze 
R. V. Lee 
Noel Smith 
Louis King 
Ray McCarey 



DEVIL IS DRIVING 
SING, COWBOY, SING 
A PAir AT THE RACES 

NIGHT OF MYSTERT 
THERE GOES MY GIRL 
COME ON, COWBOYS 
CHARLIE CHAN AT OLYMPK^S 
WINGS OVER. HONOLULU 
THE GO GETTER 



' Col' Col Meller 

. E.. . Finney . GN Western; 

L Weingarten MGM .Rom-Cbni. 

"Par Par Musical 

; W. Sistrom iRKO ' Cornedy 

Sol Siegel Rep Western 

J. Stone 20th; Mystery 

£. M, Ashet U Rom-Dr 

Cosmo WB Rom-Di-. 



R. Dix-J. Perry 
Tex Ritter 
MarX Brbs. 
R. Kariis-H. Burgfiess 
> Rayihond-A. Sothern<rB. Holmei 
B. Livingstoh-R, Corrlgan 
W. Oiand'^K. de Mine 
R. Milland-W. Barrie 
G-' Breiit-A* Louise 



H. LachiTian 
R. N. Briadbur 
S. Wood ; 
E. A. Dupont 

Joe Kane 
. B. Iluhn'stone 
Hi C. Potter 
B. Berl 



LEAGUE OF FRIGHTENEP MEN 
GANGWAY 
EMPEROR'S CANPLESTICKS 
HOLLYWOOP COWBOY 
I MET HIM IN : PARIS 
THIS IS MY AFFAIR 
UNDER THE RED ROBE 
DREAM LliPS 
THE MAN IN BLUE 
KID GALLAHAD 



E. GhodorOv - Col 

GB GB 

•J. Consi ine ^MG 

G. A. Hirliman RKO 

W. Ruigles Par 

K. MacGowan 26th 

r: T. Kane 20th 

M. Schach UA 

K. GlasiTion U 

WB WB 



Drama I. Ilervey-.W; Connplly 
Musical J> Matfheiys-B. Mackay 
Rpm-Dr Poweil-Raiher 
Western - O^BfienrC. Parker- . Scott 
RomrCohi Colbert.-Melvyn Doiiglas- 
Musical B. Taylor-B.. Stanwyck- 
Drama 0« Veidt- ,. Massey. ' 
Ronv-Dr Bersrner-R. Massey 
,Melodratna Wilcox-N; Grey 
Dr^ma . Robihson-B.. Davis 



Al \ 
Sorinie 
G. Fitz 

. W.. Ruggles 
W, A., Seityr 

V, Seastriim 
Paul .Cziniier 

M.Caviuth. 
M, Cuitiz 



RECKLESS RANGER 
BANK ALARM 
PARNELL 
HOTEL HAYWIRE 
MISSUS AMERICA 
DOOMED AT SUNDOWN 
ANGEL'S HOLIDAY 
THE CALIFORNIAN 
WHEN THIEF MEETS. THIEF 
THE WILDCATTER 
CASE OF STUTTERING BISHOP 



Gbl Col 

;Condor GN 

J. Stahl MG 

Fa I , Far 

Al Lewis RKO 

Criterion UA 

A. W. Hackel Rep 

,J. Stone 20th 

Sol Lesser 20th 

Geo; Owen U 

WB WB 



Western 
Melodrama 
Rom-Dr 
Comedy 
Comedy. 
Rom-Di- 
Western 
Dram ^ 
Western 
, Drama 
Mystery 



Bob Alien-B. Weieks 

Conrad Nagel 
C. Gable-Myrna Loy 
L. Carrillo-L, Overman 
If. Broderlck-V. Moore 
Fairbanks, Jf.-V. Hbbden 

Bli/ Steele 
J. Withers-Robert Kent 
Ichard Arleh'tRlcardo Cortex 
S. Colton^J. Rogers 
D. Woods-Ann Dvorak 



S. G, Bctuibtt 
Louis Ga.snier 

John $tahl 
G. Archainbaud 
Joseph Sanlfey 
Raoul WaliJh. 
Sam Newfield 
James Tlnliti|i 

Ray Mc 
W. Clemens 



10/26/36 

5/5- 

5/12 

:5/5^ 

5/ii 

4/7 

4/21. 
5/12 



6f 



3/3 

4/28 
3/31 

4/28. 



:4/2l 



4/28 
4/7 
3/31 
4/21 



S/5 

5/A2' 



B/12 
4/28 



161 



.70 
7« 

lis 



B/12 
5/3 

m 



n 



't/2l 



165 



18 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 




who read and saw Erich Remarques 
"ALL QUIET on the WESTERN FRONT" 
now await its mighty successor 



THE NEW UNIVERSAyS 






A JAMES WHALE PRODUCTION 

Screen Play by R. C. Skerriff onil Chorles Kenyon Edmund Grainger, Associate Producer 



CHARLES R. ROGERS 



Executive 
Producer 



Weaiiesday, May 12, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



19 



Advance Production Chart 



. Hollywood, May \l. 

:pespite the stnke sltuaii6n, mdtjor studio prpdwc tion is being carried on 
u;ith (Bucrt keel, ,45. pictures being hepre the cameras. Du'^ing last two 
weeks 14 have been previeioea and reodied jor release. Tota} of 89 
pictures are; beinej edited. Survey shows tftat 97 stories are irp the various 
stages of. prcpordtion. During the pas pictures Have gojie 

before the lenses. 

Grand Nationdl led with three starting. Samuel Goidwyn started 'Hufri- 
' and 'Dead End' \ at United . Artists.., . Others 'startinsi pictures were'. 



Columbia, two; Monogra'tn, two; Metro, tioo; mounts two; RKO-Radi' , 
one; Republic, ; iOth,-Fox, ; Universal, one, nd Warners, two. 

Pictures previewed included: Metro, two; P'araviQunt, ; RKO-Radio, 
threej 20th-Fox, two;- United ArtistSy itiuersal, two, and Warners, 

three. 

. Greatest production actii^ity is centered at Paramount^ wh^re nine fihm 
are in work. Other itudios show, in Wofki Golumbia, four; Grand N ci- 
iionai, three; Monogram, two; Metro, ' ;- RKO-Radio, four; Republic, two; 
20th-F.ox, three; ited Artists, ioiiry iiiversal, two, a.nd Warners, 



Columbia 



Four in worl(> 14 edlilbtr; 10 preparihgr* In work: 

'ONCE A HERO,' reported Variety April 7, and ?THE MAN BEHIND 
THE liAW/ reported as PROFESSIONAL JUROR,' April 28. Started: 

•FLASHING SKATES,* produced by Irving Briskin, directed by t). Ross 
Ledisrman, original Jiay Benton Cheney, screenplay Fred Niblo, Jr., Grace 
Neville. Cast; Charles Quigley, Rita Hay worth, J. Farrell MacDonald, 
John Gallaudet, Max Hoffman, Jr., Ward Bond,; P^ul Fix, Arthur Lbft, 
iiarry Strange, Dicfc Curtis. ' 

Story descril?es the inner workings 6£ professional hockey. One mem- 
ber of a team is murdered by gangsters attempting to .muscle in on the 
league. A brother of . the* dead player comes dpwh from his- Canadian 
home ahd poses as another maii in order to obtain a position on the team. 
He falls in love "with the coach's daughter and learhis that her father has 
become indebted to gangsters unwittingly. Remainder of the yarn has the 
daughter saving her father froni disrepute and the boy turning up the 
murderer of his brother, 

• 'BLACK: ICORRENT,' produced by Larry Darmoiir, directed by Ernest 
B. 'Schoedsack, original by Ralph Graves, screenplay by Charles trancis 
Royalv Cast;, ^. Jack Holt, Mae Clarke, James Bush, Harold Huber, Ray 
Walker. 

. Story concerns two rival oil coAipipnies attempting to obtaiii franchiises 
in China, Bandits are alditig 6n'6 of th6 outfits when Jack Holt arrives to 
take over oil properties for his company. Mae Clarke, dumb- in the ways 
of oil, atteinpts to aid him, but proves herself a nuisance. They eventually 
fall in love and wind tip the yarn by obtaining the franchise for Holt's 
flrm. Oil well Ares and numerous fights aire interspersed throughout the 
story. . — . . 

^Readied to start: TARK AVENUE; DAME/ 



Grand National 



Tliree in work, six editing, nine jpreparinp. Started: 'SWEETHEART 
OF THE NAVY,' produced by B. F. Zeldman, directed by Duhcain Mans- 
field, ori inal by Garrett Graham, and Jay Strauss; screenplay, Carroll 
Graham. Cast: Eric liiiideh, Cecilia Parker, Roger. Imhof, Bernadene 
Hayes,- Jason Robards, Cully Richards, Don Barclay, Art Miles, Edward 
Waller, John T. Murray, Henry Rpquemore, Etta McDanieli' Benny Burt, 
Fired Murray, Vance Carroll; Reed Howes. 

Story tells bf the struggle of Cecilia Parker^ proprietress of a San Diego 
cabaret, to stair off her creditors whiie she makes sufficient profit off the 
U,. S. fleet to keep going. Situation is enlivened by a prize fight between 
Ciiamp Robards and young Eric Linden, in love with Cecilia. Linden wins 
enough to pay off the cabaret's debts, then goes to Annapolis, happily 
planning to marry Cecilia as soon as he gets his comrriissiori. 

'RQ>ERS .OF THE ROCKIES,' produced by Edward Finney, directed 
by R,. N. Bradbury, ori inal by Lindsley Parsons, screenplay by Lindsley 
Parsons aiid Robert Emmett. Cast: Tex :Ritter, -Louise Stanley, Charles 
King, Snub Pollard, Horace Murphy, Earl Dwire, Heeber , Snow, Yakima 
Canutt.' 

Story Is laid along the ilio Grande, where Texas Rangers', Tex Hitter, 
Snub Pollard and Horace Murphy,, framed by a ' gang of .cattle rustlers, 
desert across ttie border to obtain evidence of their innocence. Rustler 
leaders, Charles Kiilg and. Earl Dwire, ciapturing Pollard and Murphy, 
hold them as hostaiges when Ritter brings the Mexican Rurales and Secret 
Agent Louise Stanley to the rescue. Prisoners escape opportunely, assist 
in the capture, of the rustlers and return triumphantly with Ritter and 
Miss Stanley to the ranger post. 

'THE SHADOW,* produced by Max. and Arthur Alexander; directed by- 
Lynn Shores, original and screenplay by Al Martin. Cast: Rod LaRocque, 
Lynn Anders, Norman Ainsley,' Walter McGrail, James Blakely, Kenneth 
Harlan, Muriel Gold, Myrbn Marsh, Cy Kendall, James Morton, John 
Carnavale, Ray Johnson, Harry Harvey. John St. Polls, Wilson Benge, 
John Wilson, John Elliott, Eddy Kay, Blackie Whiteford, John Kasier, 
Allen Roberts. John Bagle, Jack. Buchanan, Jack Ingram. 

Story describeis the successful maneuvers of The Shadow, super sleuth 
Rod LaRocque, in protecting Lynn Anders from two sets pf criminals, 
both bent on doing her out of her grandmother's legacy. He triumphs 
finally, playing the two criminal agencies against each other in a gunplay 
climax. , 

Residied to start: 'LOVE TAKES FLIGHT,' 'SOMETHING TO SING. 
ABOUT,' 'GRAND CANTON,' 'FACE THE FACTS,' 'GORGEOUS/ 'KING 
OF THE SIERRAS,' 'HONOLULU HONEYMOON/ 'MAYBE IT'S LOVE/ 
TRONTIER TOWN.' 



Metro 



six In w6rk, Ave editing, 10 preparing:. In work: 'BROADWAY MELODY 
OF^l937,^ reported' Variety March 3; 'MADAiyiE WALEWSKA,' reported 
March 10; 'TOPPER/ reported March* 24; 'FIREFLY/ reported April 28. 
Started: . ■ . ., 

'SARATOGA,' produced by Bernard Hyman, directed by Jack Conway, 
original arid" screenplay by Anita Loos and' Robert Hopkins. Cast: Clark 
Gable, Jesiri Harlow, Lionel Barrymbre. Una Merkel, Cliff Edwards, John 
Eldredge, Jonathan Hale, Frankie Diarro. . 

Story concerns Jein Harlow, beautiful >nd' spoiled, whip has been sent 
to England, by her father, the owner, cif a great Eastern breeding, farm. 
Thinking of her dad, Ha^^o^v puts in a telephone call from, England and 
talks, to Clark Gable, business associate of hifer father and a bookie and 
facing man. He orders her home, stating her father is ill. She returns 
.to Saratoga: with her fiance.' Her father, di . Harlow is infuriated when 
she learns' that Gable is closieiy aligned with l)et dad. Then, tbo. the 
owner of the ranch, Jonathan Hale. agrecs. tb tiirn over the deed to Gable 
i» payment, for services ihuch against Harlow's wishes. Ho\yever. she 
starts but to redeem the ranch. She. wins plenty of horses, and Gable, 
attempting to snare a isucker, goes to .see John Eldredge. who has bought 
one of the rancho's best iDets.- He tells Eldredge that Harlow is in love 
Jyith him, but he knows differently— all he wants is Eldredge's big bets. 
Locale . swings from track to. track, wlien Gable hooks Eldredge to a big 
bet. 'A fake hoss race results with Gable winning out. i . 

.'YOU'LL BE MARRIED BY NOON/ produced by Sam Zimbalist, ,i- 
rected by Edwin L. Marin, original by Harry Ruskiri, screenplay by George. 
Oppehheimer and Everett Freeman. Cast: Florence Riqe, Robert Young, 
Barnett, Parker, June Clay worth, Hugh Marlowe; ^ . 

Story depicts a young man, tired of a: routine ]pbi selling -a_ .shaving 
ream to a manufacturer arid putti imselt in the big coin. His marr 
riage now is a certainty, arid in arrariging a honeymoon trip he meets a 
gal when she brings the tickets to his home. . He is giving presents to all 
his cronies and asks the gal what she would like to have. She says she 
■wants to get married . and that this is, impossible urile.s.s. her boy. fi"iend 
sells an insurance policy to a milkman before his rivals.^ They grab a 
cab and attempt to find the milkman, but the vehicle is comrfiandeered 
.My thugs and driven to the scenie .of a projected" robbery. They slug the 
thugs and escape, but police threaten to arrest theiin for driving a cab 
jvithout a license. ChaSe results in the situation being eventually cleared. 
Gal finds that her insurance salesman is now too busy to wed, so she falls 
to I" the inventor. - . 

eadied to start: 'ONCE THERE WAS A LADY* 'ROAD SHOW/ 



Monogram 



Two in work, two editing:, jo preparing:. Started: . 

'BLAZING Barriers,' .produced by. Ken Goldsmith,, directed by 
Aubrey Scotto, ori inal arid screenplay by Edwin C. Parsons. Cast: Fi"arik 
Coghlan, Jr., Florine McKiririey, Edward Arnold, Jv... Irene Franklin. 
Guy Bates Post, Herbert Corthell, Milburn Stbnei Addison Randall. 

Story. sho\ys Coghlan . and Arnold as hoodlums jdi ing the CCC iii order 
to evade police authorities. Leader of this CCC outfit is sldin by an ec- 
centric crank and blame is put on Coghlan, v/ho beats it to the riearby 
hjlls to hide out.. Florine McKinney,. sheri 's daughter, warris Coghlan 
that deputies are on the. way to arrest him, but Coghlan is shot by the 
crarik and then, goes to warn the CCC office of a huge forest fire. He 
saves McKinney, but Arnold is killed. Fade shows the crank as the mui-i 
derer.- 

'THE THIRTEENTH MAN/ produced by Lon Young, directed by Wil- 
liam Nigh, original and screenplay by John Krafft. Ca.st; Inez Courtney 
arid Weldori Heybufri. 

Story describes the murder of Weldon Heyburn just as he announces 
over the radio that he . is goirig to indict the 13th man. Many suspects 
who had cause to kill the district attorney are questioned, A newspaper 
reporter is slain also, when he unearths a clew, and hi.s pal, a columnist 
and commentator, swears to avenge his. death. Latter i.scoyers the pub- 
lisher; of his own newspapier is responsible, for the slaying^^^ 

Readied to start; 'PARADISE ISLE' and <THE HOOSIER SCHOOLBOY/ 



PAR PLOTTING 






Paramount 



Nine in worlc, 13 editing, 10 preparing. In work: *ANGEL/ reported 
Variety March 31; 'LAST TRAIN FROM MADRID/ reported April 14; 
•EXCLUSIVE/ 'EASY LIVING,' 'ARTISTS AND MODELS/ . 'WILD 
MONEY/ reported April 28. Started: 

'LET'S TALK OF . LOVE/ produced by B. P. Schulberg, directed by 
Charles Vidor, original by;JariaeS Edward Graht, screenpliiy by George 
Bruce and Frank Partos. .Cast; Ann Dvorak^ John Trent, Harry Beres- 
ford, Guinn Williarns. 

Story describes the lives of society jewel thieves' aind romantic denoue- 
pierits. Trent, an apparently inebri ted young man, strikes up a hotel 
flirtation with: Dvorak. She learns he's incited to a party where she . and 
two cbhfedefates plan a, diamond snatch, and she plans to. Use him as a 
tool. He aids therii to escape! with the gems, but snapping but of his pre- 
tended stupor, holds therii up and drives away. Later he finds Dvorak 
has switched purses arid that he. doesn't have the gems. Dvbrak warns 
him via phone that male confeds are out^ to slay him, and she rushes to 
Trent's apartment just as the thieves arrive. A riot follows and all are 
h^led into court and, when the diamonds are found, they are escorted to 
the scene bf the robbery for the washup. ^. 

'DOUBLE OR NOTHING,' produced by Beniamin Glazer, directed by 
Theodore Reed, no writing credits. Cast: Birig Crosby, Martha Raye, Andy; 
Devine, Mary Carlisle, William Frawley, Benny Baker, Sam Hinds. , . 

Story depicts Crosby, Raye, Devine and Frawley receiving $5,000 each 
in an eccentric millionaire's- will. They're, told to double the coin in 30 
days and receive the entire fortune. The quartet pool their resources and 
talents, with Hinds, one of the eccentric's ih-laws, baffling them at every 
turn. Hinds swindles Frawley out of his share; Devine is tripped up by .a 
gal, arid Raye is jailed: Crosby leases a nltery and falls for_^Cai'hsle- 
Crosby will croori songs written by Arthur Jbhnston arid Johnny Burke. 

Readied to start: 'FLOOD CREST/ 'THIS WAX. PLEASE/ 'STRANGER 
THAN FICTION/ 'THE BARRIER/ 'WHAT HO,' 'BONANZA/ 'GOOD- 
NIGH'T LADIES/ 'EIbB TIDE/ 'BULLDOG DRUMMOND/ 



RKO-Radio 



Four in ^ork, U editing, 10 preparing. In work: 'NEW .FACES OF 
1937,' reported Variety, Apjil 7; 'VIVACIOUS LADY' and 'EASY GOING,' 
reported April 28. Started: x ^ « c» , » 

'SUPER SLEUTH/ piroduced by Edward Small, directed by Ben StolotT, 
original by Harry Segal, no screenplay credits. _Cast: Jack Oakie Ana 
Sothern, Eduardo Ciannelli, Bradley Page, Edgar Kennedy, Paul Guilfoyle, 
Joan Wobdbury, Alan Bruce, Willie Best, ^ .... • ^ i 

Story describes a series of murders in Hollywood with piominent plc- 
(ContiriUed on page 23) 



P R O D U C T I O N TABLE 

{This table showi number of fcQtmes promised to be delivered 
to exhibitors by the major distributitig organizations, and the inde^ 
. pendehf producers coutributing prodiict to their producing organiza' 
iions for the, \936'37 seaion.) 



I • • p 



Producers and 

contributing; 
companies. 
COLUMblA 

Larry DarmoUr 

GRAND NATIONAL. , ; 
METRO . . 

H»l Roach.. 
MONOGRAM. 
PARAMOU NT ♦ . 

B. . Scliullier . . , . . t . 

Ema^niiei Cotien . . > ^ t ,\ 

Harry Slverman ....... 

Franli Lloyd.; 
RKO RADIO. .. 

David Loew. ;. . . 

Gebrgre Hirliniah 

Sol Licsser. . . . . . . 

REPUBLIC 
.. A. *V. Hackel. . 
20X11 CENTURY-FOX 

Sol Lesser ; 
UNITED ARTISTS: 

Samuel Goidwyn. , . 

Walt.r Wanfer...... 

Selznick . 

E. Berber, 

Criterion . 

Korda London > .,>'••.•• 
UNIVERSAL 

Buck Jones. ' t.' 

WARNERS 



Number 
Number now 
of pix , c6m- 
romised. pieted. 



I. V • « • • * 



50 

44 
48 
4 
42 
48 
8 
8 
<i 
I 



21 



Balance 
Pix . to be Stories, 
how placed in 
intha beforo prep- 
cuttinit the .ara- 
rooms, cameras, tloni 
n « 



10 



10 



588 



31 
A 

333 



9 over 
i over 
:> 18 over 



98 



i;(8 
33 over 



lOtt 



With its chiVin of .theatres iaclu 
labor, trpuble.s . this; summer, together 
with all bthor hbuses against which 
brgariizin^ rivos are platined, para- 
mount is .cohsideririg establlshmerit 
of a' labor departrtierit at the, home' 
bfTice. It has had ho such depart- 
ment since, bankruptcy, although the. 
other ins all havte labor execur- 
.tiyes speci " .dealings 

with Unioriis. ■ 

Department Would .on 
behalf of th Par../ home of flee, 
over, the .theatres it directly coritrola 
hs well as for the many jPai" parlrier.s. , 
Company is undecided on . whbm .to 
place: in charge.. Harry Sher 
former union executive, who fbr 
sevei-al years, was in control of all 
labor matters for Publix when the 
Par theatres were known by that 
name, is reported the most likely 
candidate for . th^ : post, under . Yv 
Frank Freeriian, Par and " 
aire head. 

. After' leaving Publi , prioir . 
bankruptcy^ Sherman becariie presi- 
dent of Local 306, N. Y. Operators. 
Resigriing from thta union; he was. 
for about: two years in the South 
Dakota . territory operating f oi" Par. 
H^ his been uriattiached for the past 
six. months. 

Par chaj is more than twice the , 
size 'Of any of- the other majors.. At 
Warner Bros;' Friarik Phelps is in 
charge of . labor matters; While in 
RKO Major L. E. "Thompsoh is the 
labor executive and in Lbe\y's it is 
CJ' . MoskowitT:. Charles Skouras 
attends to labor questions for Fox- 
West Coast and other Skouras 
operations. 



MG Speeding 'Dress' 



May II. 

Metro plans immediate production 
of 'Wedding Dress,' corsfarring Rob- 
ert Montgomery and Rosalind Bius* 
sell, . ith 'riarry .Rapf prp«iu<!'ng. 
Bob Berichley draws the top comedy 
role. 

Pic will be made from- 
by (jrate Carlyle and Marion 
.sonnet's screenplay; 



Thos. Dixon Named Clei-k 
of No. Car. Supreme Court 

,-Charlotte; N, C., May 11. . 

Thomas Dixon, author of one of 
the early picture money-inaker.s, 
'Birth o£ a Nation/ and various 
novels, plays and pictures, has been 
named clerk of the Eastern North 
Carolina district of United tales 
Supreriie Sourt. 

Says he will continue to work on 
plays and pictures too. He is now 
flnishing dramatizations of 'The 
Southerner' and 'The Man in Gray," 
two of his most successful hovels. 



Oiff to Singapore 

Hol ly wood. May 11. 

Clyde P. Eljiiott,, Paramount cai 
eratnan; 'Wilfred Dcming, / 
aht^; and CoHn Tapley, actor, 
to. sail for Singapore May 20 with a 
camera crew to flim scenes for * o- 
loo.' 

camcr 



KISS MANSON AT KAJOR 

Holly wopd, May 11. 

Frances Mansbn has taken over 
the story editor berth for Major 
prods. 

She, as formerly at Columbi 



G-B Unit ftuits S. Aft-ica 



CiXiimorit- 
fbr England, 
shopti of local 
Solomon's Wives.' 
Cohnbchie, 



sailed 
coriipleted 
'King 

production and 



business manager, will stay over for. 
a. few weeks to clean up. 



Ilu^hes In Aussie. Pic 

. ifoJlywood, May 11. 
Lloyd' Hughes i.s en rpule to S.yd- 
ney, Australia, for. the male lead in 
'Luggers and Loveh,' Cincsoiind 
Prod, pic, with tli rl--drv'iii, in» 
duslry as locale. 
Ken Hall direOU. 



20 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 12, 193 7 



Writing 
the 





1937-38! 



Watch the press-room at the 
Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y: for the 
tip-ofF on the big news of the 
new year! These reporters 
know a good story when they 
get one — and they're getting 
the greatest movie headlines 
of their lives right now at 

Warner Bros. 

Sales 
Convention 

May 10th to 13th 





f^»:' <tp-o^ 



en 



'to 



Wednesday, May 12, 193T 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



21 



ROOM FOR SHOWMANSHIP 



U. S. Army Posts Contribute 

Annually to Distribs 
For Pix; Leery of Local ExUbs 




Annual distrib income from rental 
of pix for showing in U. S. Army 
po'sts amounts to around $600,000. 
Total of 77 theatres are operated by 
U." S. Army Motion Picture service. 
Estimated they give approximately 
24,000 performances a year, most of 
them being lighted 365 days. While 
rental of feature pix varies any- 
where from $7 to $35 a night, it's 
figured average program, including 
feature and two shorts, runs about 
$25. 

Films for soldiers, unlike U. S. 
Navy pix showings,, are self-support- 
ing proposition. Generally army 
theatres break even, but in few ex- 
ceptions where they show proflt, 
money is used for athletic equip- 
ment or recreational facilities. Ad 
mish for service men is 20c. cash 
or by coupon, books of 10 tickets 
reduced to $1.40. Soldiers may buy 
script admissions on credit, coin 
being charged against their pay 
Figured it's only credit admish sys- 
tem in U. S. films. 

Army theatres can't legally bar 
civilians from attending shows, but 
to avoid squawks from nearby ex 
hibs (as well as to keep army houses 
for soldiers), scale for civilians is 
set at same figure charged in neigh 
boring communities. Absolute nix on 
civilian use of army admish coupons 
Soldier admish .coupons are theoret- 
ically non-transferable, but rule is 
not enforced except to curb theft 
or the scrip being used for gambling, 
Despite price tilt to civilians, it's 
reported that commercial exhibs 
periodically howl about' army the 
atre competish, but usually it's pooh 
poohed. 

Current Releases 

Pix shown in army houses are al- 
ways of current release. Leery of 
commercial exhib shrieks, army 
never seeks pre or early release 
films. On other hand, it can't run 
behind nearby commercial theatres 
Usually two run about concurrently, 
Programs are usually in three units 
If feature is of extraordinary length, 
however, only one short is included 
Change of bill nightly in majority 
of theatres prevents army from be 
ing choosy about pix it takes from 
distribs. But weakies are always 
supported by strong shorts as much 
as possible. 

Problem of censorship is non 
existent in army .pix. Theatres be 
ing on government property, state 
laws haven't jurisdiction. Any cen 
- sorship duties would lie with com 
mander of the post, but no cases of 
military scissoring are on record. 
All lunds of pix go for soldiers, but 
service stories (unless they contain 
too much service hoke) are faves. 
Since the War 
U. S. Army Motion Picture Ser 
vice came into being sobn after 
World War. Matter of government 
regulations regarding army pur 
chases soon arose, law requiring pix 
to be bought by contract via bids 
That method was obviously unwork- 
able, and how pix are handled by 
Acting Adjutant General E. T. Con 
ley. Officer in charge is Major Wil 
Ham E. Bergin. Civilian director is 
Raymond B, Murray. Branch ex- 
changes are located in New York, 
Washington, St. Louis, Seattle and 
Dallas, each booking pix for army 
posts in its territory. Thomas H. 
Marten, head of the New York ex- 
change, arranges deals with distribs. 
He and most of the other exchange 
heads are former theatre men. 

Each post theatre is under the su- 
pervision of post commander, with 
recreation officer as house manager 
and various non-commissioned of- 
ficers and privates serving as oper- 
ators, ushers, ticket men, etc. Men 
get extra pay for work and, it's re- 
ported, take particular pride in duties. 
Claimed projectionists in particular 
are much more fussy about equip- 
"^ent and condition of films than 
many commercial theatre operators. 

Each exchange services equipment 
in its territory, main service depart- 
nient being located in St. Louis. Ex- 



Beaver Bored 



Hollywood, May tl. 

Paul Muni, announced as 
pencilled in to do 'Old Jules' 
next, is bored with playing 
bearded leads and wants to 
come out in the open for a 
change. Actor has just finished 
'Life of Emile Zola* which, 
like his 'Louis -. Pasteur' aind 
"Woman I Love,' was played 
behind a muff. 

Weary of the beaver routine, 
he has asked to play General 
Goethals in 'Panama Canal.' 
General merely had a' soup- 
drainer. 



GN SALES MEET' 
ON PROD, m 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Grand National's sales convention, 
May 16 to 19, at the Ambassador 
Hotel also marks GN's first anniver- 
sary in production. Around 60 sales 
representatives and 20 studio eX' 
ecutives will attend. 

New York delegation will be 
headed by Treasurer Timothy Mur- 
phy, Comptroller W. J. Neary and 
General Counsel Ann Rosenthal, 
who will be accompanied by about 
20 others. Prexy Edward L. Alper- 
son and Edward Peskay, vice-presi- 
dent in charge of distribution, are 
already on the Coast. 

Alperson will announce the pro- 
duction line-up for the 1937-38 sea- 
son. He is now readying deals for 
signature with producers, writers, 
directors and playiers. 

Grand National reached its pro- 
duction peak of the current season 
last week with two pictures brought 
in, two in work and another pair 
starting. 

'Love Takes Flight' rolled last 
Thursday (13), with Conrad Nagel 
directing for Condor-GN. It's Na- 
gel's bow as a director. Bruce Ca- 
bot is featured. 'The Californian,' 
with Ricardo Cortez, started Tuesday 
(4), Gus Meins directing for 20th- 
Fox release. 



Sympathy, But — 



London, May 2. 
Judgment has been given against 
Frances Day in favor of her agents 
with costs for $2,900 commission on 
hei'. engagement with Gaumont-Brit- 
ish. 

Miss Day walked out of her con- 
tract with G-B and had to pay dam- 
ages for breach of contract. Court 
said he felt sympathy for her— but. 



change and service personnel totals 
about 45 persons for whole country. 
Sunday the Top B.O. 
Booking schedules for army houses 
figure Sunday as big day for grosses. 
Super-specials are always skedded 
that day. Monday is light, weakies 
being spotted. Tuesday is up a bit. 
Wednesday eases off. Thursday, Fri- 
day and Saturday build, latter two 
being 'family' days, when sweet- 
hearts are present on visits and 
when officers drag along fraus and 
moppets. 

Booking offices setting pix sched- 
ules figure on about 50 big films a 
year. Plan about CO to 70 above 
average shows, around 150 average, 
nd in neighborhood of 100 fair or 
poor. 

While necessity of making ex- 
penses keeps army pix managers 
and bookers o.o.-ing the b.o., they're 
not quite so jittery as commercial 
film exhibs. Have never used duals 
and after brief experiment with 
banko and dishes, they've fono back 
to straight pix. 



VETERIIN EXilBS 
EITEIIIIIE 




Despite the Formula Chain 
Methods, Managers Can 
Exercise Initiative — - It's 
Being Advocated to En- 
courage This by Proper 
Salary Standards to De- 
serving Showmen 



SOME WRONG IDEAS 



A retreat from press book show- 
manship, elevation of managers' sal- 
aries on basis of merit or results 
shown, and development of individ- 
ual house; managerial policy, accord- 
ing to patron, taste and locality,,was 
suggested this, week by veteran ex- 
hibitors as a possible answer to. com- 
plaints that circuits today are oper- 
ated on a too highly mechanized 
scale. Same exhibs thought this 
would considerably reduce patron 
squawks over what they term lack 
of even ordinary courtesy or atten- 
tion from chain-operated theatres. 

Under the present system of cir- 
cuit operation managers must take 
what pictures are handed them ex- 
cepting in isolated instances. Since 
the exhibitor cannot comply with re- 
quests for specific pictures, more 
rigid regulations on theatre operat- 
or's duties and compliance with pa- 
tron requests is likely to result in 
an automatic increase in showman- 
ship. If this can be accompanied 
with a general readjustment of sal- 
ary structure on a strictly merit 
system basis, veteran showmen fur- 
ther contend that there undoubtedly 
will be some return to individual 
house operation policy even with 
circuits. 

Policy of booking certain features 
solid for an entire circuit in New 
York and other cities, or for a major 
portion of the chain, keeps house 
managers from exerting much influ- 
ence in selection of product. How- 
ever, some means of instilling inter- 
est of the house representative in 
the main picture to the extent of 
displaying inordinate enthusiasm 
would h6lp build patronage, accord- 
ing to vet exhibitors. 

Even the Lowly House Org;an 

One form of publicizing or show- 
manship which is almost entirely 
overlooked by major circuits is the 
house organ containing lists of com- 
ing attractions and purportedly de- 
signed to gain helpful suggestions, 
they contend. As now operated in 
some instances!" circuit theatres make 
it difficult, rather than easy, to have 
one's name placed on the mailing 
list. One patron recently reported 
the experience of being told to write 
a letter to the theatre in order to 
obtain this theatre booklet, suppos- 
edly available for the asking, be- 
cause he had phoned the box office. 
He promptly forgot the theatre, his 
interest in pictures and the entire 
circuit because of this impertinence. 
Claimed that it was just another in- 
stance of wholesale methods em- 
ployed in circuit operations, and 
neglect of intimate details. Potential 
screen patron figured that if he 
spent his own money and evidenced 
that much interest in what the the- 
atre had on view, the least the man- 
agement could do was to instantly 
put his name on the mailing list. 

Overlooking of the personal wants 
of potential customers is a matter of 
routine with circuit m'ana?ers, the- 
atregoers aver. A recent check made 
by one pati'on revealed only one or 
two house operators, in an area ex- 
tending for 40 blocks through the 
heart of Manhattan, actively dis- 
played any interest in the custom- 
er's likes or dislikes. In many in- 
stances it was a difficult matter even 
to locate the manager. 



BLYSTONE ON 'MADAME' 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Jesse L. Lask.v hns ,is.';i'^ned John 
G. Blystone to direct 'Music f^^r 
Madame,' Nino Martini stan'oi'. 

Pic is for Radio relonso. 



Clearance Muddle Has Chicago 
Trade in Dither; May Mean Late 
Start on Sale of New Product 



What Is That Last? 



Hollywood, May 11. 
. Edgar Rice Burroughs, pappy 
of Tarzan, binds Sol Lesser to 
three inviolable rules in the 
'Tarzan' pics. 

Tarz must not be 'killed,' 
maimed or held up to ri icule. 



E. M. Loew Chain 
Soaked $3,000 on 
Cycling Charge 



Holding that shorts come within 
the intention of the U. S. copyright 
laws, the Federal District Court, in 
Boston, last week, assessed damages 
of $3,000, inclusive of attorneys' fees, 
against the Hutchinson Amu.sement 
Co. (E. M. Loew) of Portland, Maine, 
against which Vitaphone and Vita- 
graph, Warner subsids, brought suit 
charging violation of copyright on 
charges of 'bicycling,' 

Court assessed $250 per short 
damages on eight of 'Broadway 
Brevities' series which were in- 
volved. 

V and V charged that eight shorts 
had been exhibited without author- 
ization at the New Portland theatre, 
although purchased and booked for 
the Casco theatre only. By its ver- 
dict the court takes a healthy slap 
at 'bicycling.' 

Court held that this unauthorized 
exhibition constituted an infringe- 
ment of the plaintiffs' copyright. 
Complaints by V and V against other 
defendants, 13, M. Loew's Theatres, 
Inc., Elias M. Loew and the Casco 
Amusement Corpi, were dismissed. 

E. M. Loew's Theatres, Inc.^is the 
holding company for Hutchinson 
Amusement and Casco Amusement 
and Elias M. Loew is president and 
treasurer of all firms involved. 



Default judgments were awarded 
in U. S. District Court, N. Y., Mon- 
day (10) to 20th-Fox, RKO Dis- 
tributing Corp. and the Van Beuren 
Corp. against Amusements Parkway, 
Inc., Isador Liebman and Edward 
Spjegel, operators of the Parkway 
theatre, for exhibiting films without 
permission. In each action the de- 
fendants were ordered to pay $250 
for each showing. 

Twentieth had complained the de- 
fendants showed 'Under Your Spell' 
at the Parkway from Jan. 17 to 
Jan. 19. 

RKO-Van Beuren plaint was that 
the shorts 'Molly Moo Cow,' 'Robin- 
son Crusoe' and 'Bugles from Blue 
Grass' were shown without permis- 
sion Dec. 27-29. 



Rowland's Flag-Wavers 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Richard Rowland is making tests 
in a search for two male leads for 
his projected series of four 'Stars 
and Stripes Service' pix for Grand 
National. 

Tentative title of the first is 'Kelly 
and Stone in the Marines.' 



Thempson on 'Swing' 



Hollywood. May 11. 

Musical to be produced by Harlan 
Thompson for Paramount will carry 
the tag 'College Swing.' 

An 'all-star' .;ast will ihsd the yvc. 



Chicago, May 11. 

Coming selling season Will see the 
worst protection and clearance 
squabble in many years here, ac- 
cording to present indications. Hav- 
ing lain dormant for many seasons, 
the clearance question has suddenly 
loomed on the horizon as an ii 
portant film item again. 

Clearance problem ha^ been get- 
ting steadily worse, and the serious- 
ness of the situation was recognized 
by the Chicago Film Board of Trade, 
which last week held, a meeting to 
discuss the matter. While the dis- 
tributor members of the Board will 

make no decision In the protection 
matter, the exchanges did talk over 
the situation. 

Likelihood of court action is be- 
ing considered in several instances 
if the ever-growing, protection 
wrangles aren't ironed out across 
a conference table; and it's gener- 
ally admitted along Chicago's film 
row that the coming selling season 
will be in the nature of a business 
earthquake unless these problems 
ai-e smoothed out first. 

Indie Growls 

Independent theatre owners are 
growling that the circuits have 
steadily increased their protection 
and clearance throughout the ter- 
ritory, and that It's up to the ex- 
changes to give the smaller houses 
a new deal. In the past the price 
of admission governed almost com- 
pletely the protection setup, but in- 
creasing pressure in the past couple 
of years forced a number of houses 
to play farther down on the release 
line than they desired, even in in- 
stances where they were ready to 
slap on an admission charge which 
would be commensurate with their 
week-of-release. 

Most recent squabble is occurring 
in the north side Evanston suburb, 
where the Stadium, owned by Leo 
Solomon, can get only Paramount, 
Metro, United Artists and indie 
product In the first week of re- 
lease; while the other pictures can 
be had only in the second week of 
release due to protection claimed 
by the Balaban 8c Katz Valencia. 
Solomon has retained attorney I. B, 
Perlman to negotiate some treaty on 
this. 

On the south side, the indie 
Radio theatre Is playing in the 
.seventh week of release, but would 
like to be in the second, with clear- 
ance being Ijeld at the seven-week 
mark due to demands made by the 
Schoenstadt circuit. On the north 
side the Essaness BiOgraph is hold- 
ing protection over the Balaban & 
Katz Covent on pictures which have 
previously played at the B. & K. 
Century, across the street. B, & K. 
has been in considerable of a dither 
about this situation, but hasn't been 
able to do anything about it yet. 
Fears 

These are just a few of the in- 
stances which have the local film 
row worried, and . unless it's 
smoothed out shortly it's generally 
figured by both exchanges and ex- 
hibitors that the coming film buy- 
ing-and-selling .season will be held 
up far beyond its normal length, due 
to the fact that an increasing num- 
ber of exhibs are threatening a sit- 
down strike on product purchase 
until the exchanges and major 
houses agree to a satisfactory re- 
vision. 

While unvoiced, one of the main 
items in back of the film industry's 
heads in Chicago is the Balaban & 
Katz demand for a full extra week 
of protection for the 'C houses. For 
two years straight B. & K. has 
wound up the loser in its battle for 
this increased week of clearance, but 
two years of losing doesn't mean 
that B. & K. has given up hope and 
the exhib.s charging 2,'jc or less are 
still carefully watching B. & K. for 
another move in this direction. 



22 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, Maj 12, 1937 





Everywhere Tyrone and Loretta 
ore being cheered os the new icing 

- ..'IS .. . 

ond queen o romonce • • whjle^^jCqf e 
Metropoie^' scores boxoff ice tri- 
umphs over ''Love is News'' in Rich- 
mond (doy-and-dote), Springffieid 
(iii.), Buffalo, Detroit, 

^ 

And it's iust starting, follcsl 





THE KEYSTONE 
OF YOUR FUTURE 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 2J 



Advance Production Chart 

(Continued from page 19) 

ture stars as the victims. Police are groping in the dark when a film star, 
noted for his characterizations of a successful sleuth, gets a note from 
the celebrity killer that he's next on the list. He's friendly with a pro- 
fessor who owns a 'crime doesn't pay' exhibit at a beach resort. Gal head 
of a studio publicity department is in love with the picture star and when 
she discovers that the professor is the celebrity killer she frames the star 
into jail for protection. However, the professor bails him out and takes 
him to the beach resort. Everything is eventually washed up when she 
calls out the gendarmes. 

Readied to start: 'WINDJAMMER,' 'JUNIOR G-MAN,' 'HOUSE IN THE 
COUNTRY,' 'MAKE A WISH,' 'MUSIC FOR MADAME,' and 'TAKE THE 
HEIR.' 

RepubGc 

Two in work, 14 editing, eight preparing. Started: 

•MEET THE BOY FRIEND,' produced by Colbert Clark, directed by 
Ralph Staub, original by Robert Arthur, screenplay by Bradford Ropes. 
Cast: David Carlyle, Carol Hughes, Andrew Tombes, Pert Kelton, Warren 
Hymer, Gwili Andre, Oscar and Elmer, Jonathan Hale, Cy Kendall, Mary 
Gordon, Syd Saylor. 

Story tells of Carlyle, former truck driver, becoming America's leading 
ether crooner. His 'sponsor, .Tombes, in order to retain the singer, sends 
Andre, his sweetheart, to Hollywood and lands her a pic contract and at 
the same time insures the singer against getting married. Hughes, niece 
of the insurance company head, makes a play for Carlyle in order to pre- 
vent his marriage, but falls in love with him. He discovers the plot and 
decides to marry Andre just as the insurance company fakes a kidnaping 
of Miss Hughes. Carlyle finds her but the snatch turns but to be the real 
thing. They are being held in a nitery, and in an effort to escape, they 
are married over the air as a part of the entertainment. Police effect a 
rescue. Sponsor hears the duo singing over the air • and decides two will 
have more appeal than one, so he calls off the payment of the insurahce 
policy. 

•YODELIN' KID FROM PINE RIDGE,' produced by Armand Schaefer, di- 
• rected by Joe Kane, originbl by Jack Natteford, screenplay by Nattef ord, 
Stuart and Dorrell McGowan. ' Cast: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Betty 
Bronson, Leroy Mason, Charles Middleton, Russell Simpson; Tennessee 
Ramblers, Jack. Dougherty, Guy Wilkerson, Frankie Marvin, Henry Hall, 
Snowflake. 

Story shows Autry as the son of a cattle rancher in the turpentine forest 
country of Georgia. Middleton, his father, and others believe their cattle 
are being rustled by the lowly turpentiners. Dougherty and Mason are 
the rustlers. Gene reveals, and in a fight is disowned and forced to leave 
the country. Autry returns years later from a wild west tour. Betty 
Bronson, daughter of a turpentiner, aids Autry in rounding up the rustlers, 
but when he goes to see his father he learns he has been murdered. He 
sets out to find the murderer and walks into the home of a slain suspect 
just as the sheriff arrives. Autry escapes jail and rounds up his former 
wild west trouDe to aid in wipine out the gang of Tustlers. 

Readied to start: 'RANGE DEFENDERS.' 



20th Century-Fox 



Three in work, six editing, 10 preparing. In work: 'YOU CAN'T HAVE 
EVERYTHING' and 'THE CALIFORNIAN,' reported Variety April 28. 
Started: 

'BORN reckless,' produced by Milton Feld, directed by Mai St, Clair, 
original by Jack Andrews, no other writing credits. Cast: Rochelle Hud- 
son, Brian Donlevy, Barton MacLane, Robert Kent, Pauline Moore, Chick 
Chandler, Harry Carey. . 

Story characterizes. Brian Donlevy as a daredevil race driver winning 
a fat stake at the Indianapolis Speedway and then losing it in a hoss race. 
He drops off a freight, penniless, into a taxi cab war, He sees a driver 
knocked unconscious and drives the cab to the garage and gets a job. 
He tries out an armored taxi, wrecking everything in sight, and meets 
up with the racketeers. He witnesses a crash in which one of the rack- 
eteer's autos kills his pal. He takes the case into court against threats 
made by the racketeers, but surprises everyone by refusing to identify the 
killer. He then swings over to the rival outfit. He obtains names, in- 
formation, etc., and in a frameup reveals that he has. been working for 
the police and consequently everything is washed up satisfactorily. 

Readied to start: 'HEIDI,' 'WILD AND WOOLLY,' 'ALI BABA GOES TO 
TOWN,' 'JEAN,' 'THE JONES FAMILY,' 'MR, MOTO,' 'THIN ICE,"ROYAL 
BRISTOL HOTEL,' 'CHICAGO,' and 'DANGER, LOVE AT WORK.' 



United Artists 



Four in work, one editing, eight preparing. In work: 

'VOGUES OF 1938,' reported Varietv March 24, and 'STELLA DALLAS,' 
reported April 7. Started: 

'HURRICANE,' produced by Samuel Goldwyn. directed by John Ford, 
original by James Norman Hall and Charles Nordhoff, screenplay by Dud- 
ley Nichols. Cast: Jon Hall, Dorothy Lamour, Jerome Cowan, C. Aubrey 
Smith, Raymond Massey, Barbara O'Neil. ^ o 

Story depicts Jon Hall as a peaceable native on one of the South Sea 
Islands. He is beloved by the countrymen and is living peaceably as a 
mate on one of the island trading ships. In a mainland bar a white makes 
a crack about him and he socks the latter in the jaw. Blow eventually 
causes his death, and the white governor, anxious to set an example, jails 
the lad. Latter recently was married and escapes confinement and returns 
to his bride. He is found and returned to jail but escapes repeatedly, un- 
til his sentence reaches around 50 years. Finally, in desperation, he kills 
a guard and goes back to his bride. Just as gendarmes are closing in on 
them a hurricane wipes out everything on the island with the exception 
of the couple. . , 

'DEAD END,' produced by Samuel Goldwyn, directed by William Wyler, 
play 'Dead End' by Sidney Kingsley. screenplay by Lillian Hellman. Cast: 
Joel McCrea, Sylvia Sidney, Humphrey Bbgart, Allen Jenkins, Claire 
Trevor, Wendy Barrie and the Six Bad Boys from the New York play. 

Story is a preachment against bad environment for big city lads. It 
shows a group of boys living in a dead end street, vicious, little human 
rats. Humphrey Bogart, formerly a member Of the vicious tribe, now a 
man, returns to the neighborhood. His face has been operated upon, a la 
Dillinger, but Joel McCrea, an architect living in the vicinity, recognizes 
him through the scars. Much of the action is laid in the rear of a luxurious 
apartment house. Front is being redecorated, causing the various and 
sundry tenants to come in contact with the habitues on the dead end street. 
In the fade, story has McCrea identifying Bogart as the babyface killer be- 
ine sought by the coppers. , „_„^^^ , 

Readied to start: 'ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER.' '52ND STREET.' 
'STAND IN,' 'SUMMER LIGHTNING,' 'NOTHING SACRED,' 'MARCO 
POLO,' and 'THE GOLDWYN FOLLIES.' 



Incorporations 



NEW YORK 

Albany. 

Parklilll-Broadwar Corp., NeSv York; 
tlieatrlcul business; capllnl stock, 10 
shares, no par value. Incorporator.s: 
Gertrude Schorr, 2007 C2na street, Brook- 
lyn; Miriam •Teltelbaum, 104 West 79th 
street. New York City; I.llynn Manilla, 
707 West 171st street. New York City, 

Olive Trenton StiidloH, Inc., Mnnhattnn: 
theairlcal business; capital stock, . 200 

shares, no par value. Incorporators: 

Sally Wagman, Ferdinand V. Caputo, 
James R. Murphy, all of 1 Cedar street, 
New York City, ' 

'Wallaofl-Itaymond Corp., Now York; 
theatrical goods; capital slock, 200 
shares, no par value. Wallace .T. Katz, 
311 West 44th street. New Yprk City; 
Paula RothemberB, 270 Fifth ovenuo. 
New York City; Raymond Duport, 311 
AVest 44lh street. New York City, 

Ice Carnlvnl, Inc., Manhattan; winter 
sports promotion; capital stock, 100 
share!), no par value. Incorporators: 
Julius KIrchIk, Annette Wesserman, 
Mary Slepel. all of 295 Madison avenue, 
New York City. 

Sherman Amunenient Corp.. Manhat- 
tan; theatrical business; capital stock, 
200 shares, no par value. Incorporators: 
Matle llammersteln, MoUle Siegfried, 
Helen Stelnberp, all of 1540 Broadway, 
New York City. 

Allied Sports Club. Inc. Manhattan; 
promotion of athletic exhibitions, etc.; 
capital stock, 100 shares, no par value. 
Incorporators; AVUllam S. Sllkworth, 233 
Madison avenue. New York City; .John 
F. Lilloy, 405 West 23r(l street. New York 
City; Frederick Cauohois. 153 West SCth 
street. New York City. 

Wliltree rictnre Corp., Manhattan; mo- 
tion picture. Alms, eteV; capital stock, 100 
shares, no par value. Incorporators; 
Lew White. 505 Fifth avenue. New York 
City; Hazel E. Reeves, 1000 BVondwav 
New York City; Bernard Jj. Miller, DCu 
Fifth avenue, New York City. 

Pleanurebound, Inc., New York; amune- 
ment parks and devices: capltol stock, 
260 shares, $100 par value. Incorpora- 
tors, Charles P. Keller, Jr., 621 3:nil 
street. Union City, N. J.; Raymond K. 
Oviatt. and Hnrry Bloom', both of 203 
Kast 42nd street, New York City. 

I.evjao Amusement Corp,, ICInffs: the- 
atrical business; capital stock, lO pliares, 
no pnr value. Incorporators: Esther 
Gcrshcnsbn, Milton Stern. Robert Ross, 
all of 220 West 42nd street, New York 
City. 

Jmperntor Pictures Corp,, Jfanhattan; 
motion picture business; capital stoi-k. 
100- shares, no par value. Incorporators: 
Cassrell Greenberg, 35 McClelInn street, 
The Bronx; Martha Harris, 140 Knst nr.th 
street, ^Brooklyn: Eleanor Brook, 1009 
Sterling place, Brooklyn. 

Depth Portrnlts, Inc.. Manhattan: mo- 
tion picture business; capital stock, 100 
shares, no par ' value. Incorporators: 
Carl Percy, 138 East 3Clh street. New 
York City; Arthur Swallow, 14 VliRlnla 
place, Ln'-chmont, N. Y.: J. George I.eld- 
hel.ser, 25 East Magnolia avenue, May- 
wood, J, 



Today s Stars Are Tomorrow's Extras, 
Says Lefty, Recalling White Rats Strike 



By Joe Laurie^ Jr. 



Universal 



Two in work, five editing:, eight preparinif. In work: 'LOVE IN A BUN- 
GALOW,' reported Variety April 13, Started: 

'WEST BOUND LIMITED,' ptoduced by Henry MacRae and Ben Koenig. 
directed by Ford Beebe, screenplay by Beebe and M, Geraghty, Cast: 
Lyle Talbot, Polly Howies, Henry Brandon, Frank Reicher, Henry Hunter, 
William Royle, Tom Steele, Charles Murphy, Monte Vandegrift, J. P. 
McGowan. 

Story shows Lyle„Talbot, station agent, fighting off' a bandit attempting 
to steal a mining company's payroll. In the struggle the semaphore signals 
ave changed giving the limited a clear track. Train roars past and crashes 
into a freight, killing many persons. Talbot is unable to clear himself of 



CALIFORNIA 

Sacramento. 
Hollywood Seroen Test Corp., I.os 
An.i?eles; capital stock, $110,000, none 
subscribed. Directors: A. W. Crawford, 
H. E. Crawford, Lois Weber, Wllma Van 
PeskI, Cyril AV. Connolly, 

Creative Tnlentfi Guild, I,os Anpeles: no 
capital stock. Directors: Eric Heath, 
Bulirn KInff, Jack P. Leonard. 

Corlincate of dissolution. Ma.ver- 
Kempner (talent nffencyl of Log Angalea. 

Hollywood Little Theatre; capital 
stock, 100 shares, none subserlbeil. Di- 
rectors: Chorles B. Delon?. Viola G. 
AVIsler, Edith A. Delong, ■ Thomas L. 
Hlpbee, Dorothy Powers.- 



Dear Joe: 

Well, I finished my picture in five 
days and they say I'm pretty good 
in the rushes. Now if the guy in 
the ciitting room don't let me stay 
in ther^ with, him when he sends out 
the picture, I may get a break. I 
haven't heard anything more about 
any work; for that matter, very few 
people have, on accoimt ,of every- 
body is excited- about the strike. AU 
the big guys walk around with mys- 
terious looks on their pans; you 
know one of them looks like a kid 
has when he knows somethin'. 

In a way I'm glad I'm not workin' 
right now because it don't put me 
on a spot with the stiidios. You 
know you gotta work with all those 
actors the rest of your life. Didn't 
Aggie and me walk during the White 
Rats' strike? That was no fun 
throwing down, a 40- week route 
which took us a' long time to get 
back. 

Met a guy who tells me about a 
new wrinkle the hotels out here 
have got for guys that don't pay 
their ro(?m rent. They don't plug 
your lock, they just take out a winr 
dow from your room; when you're 
a few weeks behind you have no 
windows, and when you pay some- 
thing on accoimt, they put a window 
back at a time. 

See in the papers where Tony 
Canzonei*! lost to Ambers; well, Tony 
was plenty good and gave the fans 
a run for their dough every time he 
fought. The new kids, have got to 
get a start sometimes; they gotta 
get a hunk of the spotlight and take 
their bows. You know I saw plenty 
of 'em — jockeys, fighters, actors — 
come on the Big Street, and they 
remind me of kids On graduation 
day, they all make a little ciu'tsey, 
I think they caU it, and then get off 
the stage. Some of *em stay a little 
longer than - others, but they all 
sooner or later have got to duck into 
the entrance to make room for the 
next act. Well, they "can say that 
they've been 'on'. . . . Ldok at all the 
guys that can't even get a break-in; 

Everybody is happy out here about 
W. C. Fields being back on the job 
again. Me and A^gie heard him on 
the air the other night and he was 
swell. Saw S. J, Kaufman; he has 
been pretty sick, but is getting along 



fine now. Got a letter from Joe E. 
Brown; he says he's got a colt that 
will be the ne*t winner of the Derby. 
. . . Well, my married sister scz she's 
got the next President of the United 
States. Got a letter from some of 
the boys at the Lambs; they tell me 
that Bill Gaxton has done wonders 
for the club. 

Well the inkwell is running dry, 
so I'll call it nine innings and say 
it's from your pal, Lsfty, 

P.S.— Just heard that the strike i 
settled as far as the actors are con- 
cerned, so I will take a whirl aroun 
the studios and give them a chance 
to hire a genius. 

P,S,P,S.— The rea.son the Stars 
foltght for better conditions for the 
extras is because the stars of today 
are the extras of tomorow. 



criminal neglect charges and escapes from his guards following his coo- 
viction. While tramping through the country Talbot meets up with P0IJ5 
Rowles when he seeks a handout at her home. Her father suffers a heart 
attack, and realizing that he'll lose his job unless someone carries on, Tal- 
bot operates the telegraph key for him in the railroad signal tower. Due 
to a lover's quarrel between Miss Rowles and Henry Brandon, latter re* 
veals Talbot's identity. Fight follows in which Talbot learns that Brandon 
is the bandit that attempted to hold him up. 

Readied to start: 'REPORTED MISSING;' '100 MEN AND A GIRL,* 
'HEATHER OF THE HIGH HAND,' and 'YOUNG MAN'S FANCY.' 



Warners 



Six in work, 13 editings, ei^ht preparingr. In work: 'THAT CERTAIN 
WOMAN,' reported Variety April 7; 'A GENTLEMAN AFTER MIDNIGHT/ 
'ANGLE SHOOTER,' 'VARSITY SHOW,' reported April 28. Started: 

'MR, DODD TAKES THE AIR,' produced by Mervyn LeRoy, directed 
by Alfred E, Green, original by Clarence Budington Kelland, screenplay 
by William Wister Haines and Elaine Ryan, Cast: Kenny Baker, Jane 
Wyman, Gertrude Michael, Alice Brady, Frank McHugh. Henry O'Neill,. 
Clifford Soubier, Ferris Taylor, Sybil Harris, Maidel Turner, 

Story depicts Kenny Baker, baritone singer, with ambitions along elec- 
trical lines. He works for an electrician, doing small wiring jobs and 
laboring on a gadget to eliminate static interference in radio sets. Home 
town boy, who has made good as a mattress manufacturer, discovers Baker 
singing at a strawberry festival, and offers him an audition. He has a 
sore thi'oat and the medico tells him he can't warble for some time. How- 
ever, he goes through the audition, but his voice has changed,. He is now 
a tenor, arid the response to the program causes him to receive a higher 
salary and national fame. Jane Wyman, a broadcasting secretary, keeps 
Baker out of the limelight in an effort to prevent fame from going to his 
head. Miss Wyman applies for a patent on his invention but Gertrude 
Michael steps in to sweep Baker off his feet romantically. Another gal 
goes for him, also, and in the end he's without his invention and his gold 
derived thei-efrom. Suddenly his voice changes back to baritone and he 
returns home, no longer wanted on the air. Wlien he's approached to sell 
the patent rights to the gadget, Miss Michael as.serts it is hers, but Miss 
Wyman steps out with the papers, 

'FIRST LADY,' produced by Harry Joe Brown, directed by Michael Cur- 
tiz, from play by George S. Kaufman and Katherlne Dayton, screenplay by 
Rowland Leigh, Cast: Kay Francis. Victor Jory, Vorrce "Teasdale, Anita 
Louise, Walter Connolly, Louise Fazcnda. Marjorie Gateson, Marjorie 
Rambeau, Grant Mitchell, Frank Sheridan, Harry Devenport, 

Story is a comedy-drama, surcharged with the atmo.'jphere of political 
Washington. Kay Francis is the grand-daughter of a late U, S, president. 
Purely because of an inherited instinct for politics, she is involved in 
everything that goes on in the capital. She loves her country and has 
ambitions for her husband, Victor Jory, a young western senator, has 
made his maiden speech, which was written by Mis.s Francis. This irks 
Verree Teasdale, who is fighting Miss Francis for social leadership, but 
Jory likes the situation and particularly her niece, Anita Louise, Louise 
Fazenda, elderly prexy of a woman's organization, arrives in the Capital 
to make trouble. Miss Michael causes Miss Fazenda to back her hu.sband 
for the Presidency, and Grant Mitchell, publisher of a chain of newspapers, 
supports the boom. Miss Francis knows that Miss Michael's first husband, 
a prince, is about to conclude a treaty with the U, S. and that divorces, 
previously obtained in his country, are not recognized in this country. 
When the prince arrives, Miss Francis persuades Mi.s.s Michael to with- 
draw her candidate and another candidate is nominated. 

Readied to start: 'THE PERFECT SPECIMEN/ 'ALCATRAZ ISLAND.* 



KAO Profits Up $240,000 
Over '36 in April Quarter 



Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corp, and 
subsidiaries' net profit, after all 
charges- excepting federal surtax, 
rose approximately $240,000. in the 
April quiartcr, as compared with a 
similar period in 1936. Cdmpanies 
reported a net of $512,803 for the 13 
weeks ending April 3, against $274,- 
049 in comparable quarter of the 
previous year. This makes the 
quarterly earnings $7,97 per pre- 
ferred share, against $4.2G in 1930. 

Corporation and subslds reported 
a net profit of $1,539,499, after all 
charges excepting federal surtax on 
undistributed earnings, for the 53- 
week pei'iod ending on the April 
date. This is equal to $23,94 per 
preferred share, there being 04,304 
shares of the 7% convertible pre- 
ferred now outstanding. 

B, F. Keith and subsidiary com- 
panies' net profit, after all deduc- 
tions except federal surtax, were 
more than $100,000 higher than those 
in the comparable quarter of 1930. 
Net profit was $383,862 for the 13 
weeks ending April 3, against only 
$238,326 in the comparable period Of 
the preceding year. 

Net profit for Keith and its sub- 
slds in the 53 weeks ending April 3 
totalled $1,232,918, after the usual 
deductions, excepting the federal 
surtax on undistributed profits. 



Columbia Net Up 



Columbia Picts. net profit for the 
nine-month period ending Mai'ch 28 
totalled $1,189,354, as compared with 
$958,578 for the comparable three- 
quarters in 1936. This is equivalent 
to $3,27 per common share, as against 
only $2.54 a share reported in the 
nine-month period of the preceding 
year. Per share earnings were calcu- 
lated after covering full preferred 
dividend requirements on a $2.75 
annual basis. 

Columbia Pict.s. working capital 
was approximately $9,<500,000 as of 
the March date, with assets placed at 
$11,037,957, 

Company's net profit for the third 
quarter ending March 27 amounted 
to $550,582. wliich is equal to. 51.01 per 
common share. 



Consolidated Net 

For Quarter Drons 

Net. profit of Consolidated Film 
Industries, Inc., and subsidiaries was 
$229,704 for the March quarter, com- 
pany announced this week. This is 
equal to 5c. per share on the com- 
mon, after making provision for divi- 
dend requirements on the $2 pre- 
ferred stock. 

This net compares with $290,249 or 
17c, per common share in the March 
period of 1930, 



NEW INDIE PROD. 

New producing company headed 
by C, Kenny, John T, Doran and 
Marie Kenny moved into the old 
Edison studio in the Bronx, N. Y., 
Monday (10), prepared to turn out 
features, shorLs, commercial films 
and make screen tests, Company is 
known as Film Art Studios, Inc. 

Initial production will cover the 
making of a series of shorts based on 
the Constitution and known as 'We,' 
the People,' 



24 VARIETY Wednesday, May 12, 1937 




THE LION'S ROAR HEARD 
'ROUND THE WORLD TODAY! 

And every day throughout 
the globe the pubhc says: 
"Leo the Lion is the Leader 
of the Amusement World!** 




THE ROYAL FAMILY OF FILMS START 
THEIR REIGN OF 1937-38 WITH 
GREATEST LINE-UP OF HISTORY! 

(Ask the M'Q'M Boys returning from the Big Cmventionl) 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



25 



Inside Stuif-Pictures 



More general prevalence of double bills throughout the United States 
this summer is expected to work a greater hardship than usual in cities 
observing Daylight Saving time. Shows running three hours or longer 
mean the last shows operate xmtil midnight, with the early night perform- 
ance hitting the screen at 6 p.m. In either instance, the late daylight hours 
put a crimp in attendance. 

Matter of Daylight Saving has been before the Hays organization almost 
every year, but it has adopted a hands-off attitude, decreeing that it is 
strictly a local matter and up to individual exhibitor organizations. 

Daylight Saving now is looked on by industry leaders as a distinct 
detriment to summer boxoffice, but a matter about which nothing can 
be done. 

Metro boys are handing bouquets to J. S. MacLeod, head of exchanges, 
and Bill Ferguson, exploitation chief, for an outstanding convention job. 
MacLeod laid out the itinerary for visiting delegates, handled hotel ac- 
commodations, general program biz, entertainment and looked after indi- 
vidual wants. Ferguson provided the ballyhoo and showman's touch in 
layout ,of assembly room, novelties for all sessions and grouping of 
delegates. 

Frank Whitbeck dispatched Hal Elias as aide and functioned himself as 
studio contact. Howard Strickling assigned Barrett Kiesling, Clarence 
Locan, Frank Pope and George Johnson from the studio publicity staff. 

Heavy caliber wordslingers are reported in brisk demand at Hollywood 
press agent bureaus, with few able to fill the topnotch requirements. Con-, 
ditlon boomerangs from the insistence of dailies, syndicates and mags on 
superior literary product from studios. 

Personality serials, individually prepared feature stories and other qual- 
ity material can find ready acceptance in class mediums, but must be good. 
Result has been both better basic pay and more jobs, with some angling 
being done between studios for puff-purveyors who have what it takes. 

Timeliness , of a portion of the recent 'March of Time' issue depicting 
the Black Ar'eas in the British Isles brought a voluntary tie-up with Lon- 
don newspapers. Newspapers, including the London News-Chronicle and 
the Herald, employed sandwich board bulletins with newsboys telling of 
photos taken from the 'Time' reel which were in the latest daily editions. 
First time that 'March' received such extensive street ballyhoo in the 
British metropolis, where such means are usually limited by law. 



Exceptionally vivid 24-sheet lithographs blazoning the boards at Radio 
Studio to exploit the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers production, 'Shall We 
Dance,' are the result of long experimenting on the part of Barrett Mc- 
Cormick, RKO-Radio advertising and publicity chief. Black-and-white 
halftones generated much talk in the trade and McCormick plans to plaster 
the nation with them. His next problem is how to extend the new pro- 
cess to color prints. 



Mrs. Richard Barthelmess sailed to London in a hurry last week to see 
the film star, who is in a nursing hospital there recuperating from his 
fourth operation for sinus. She had been in New York with Barthelmess' 
mother, who died last week, and attending to funeral, etc. 

Kay Francis, a close friend of the family's, flew in from the Coa£>t to 
attend the funeral and flew right back, making the trip in three days be- 
cause she was on call at the WB studio. 



No tighter monopoly of theatre conditions exists anywhere, perhaps, 
than the domination of the St. Louis theatre situation by Fanchon & Marco 
interests. This sway over St. Louis comes because of government inter- 
vention on behalf of F. & M. against the various firms then involved. In 
view of this peculiar situation the trade and observers generally are curi 
ous about the government's actions in any possible anti-trust suits else 
where. 



'Spirit of Variety,* adopted at Variety Club Convention as national 
Variety Club song, was written and composed by Gene Ford, manager of 
Loew's Capitol, Washington, for first local Variety Club banquet In 1935. 
Has been used for Capitol Variety affairs regularly for two years. 



Interstate Convention 
In DaUas May 24-27 



Convention of executives and 
managers of The Interstate chain, 
whose. 100 houses blanket the Texas 
territory, will be held May 24-27, 
under plans of its heads, Karl Hob- 
litzelle and R. J. O'Donnell, for dis- 
cussion of policies, current oper- 
ating problems, etc. Y. Frank Free- 
man, vice-president of Paramount in 
charge of theatre operation, left for 
Dallas Thursday night (6) to confer 
with Interstate chieftains on this and 
other matters, returning to New 
York yesterday (Tues.). 

Freeman and other Par executives 
from the home office are expected to 
attend the meeting. It will be held 
in Dallas. 



No Tilling-Yet 



Majority of exhibitors and major 
circuits will make no concerted ef- 
fort to increase box-office prices 
generally until this fall. Although 
agreed that there must be a material 
advance in scales all along the line, 
they consider the hot. summer 
months as unsuited for such tilting. 

Most exhibitors now are planning 
to wait until grosses are on the up- 
beat and when they can point to new 
and better grade of product. Then 
they plan to install a comprehensive 
hike. 



Ed Anderson at Par 

Hollywood, May 11., 
Edward Anderson has been given 
a writing termer by B. P. Schulberg 
Paramount. . Initial chore wiU be 
an original. 

Anderson authored 'Hungry Men* 
and Thieves Like Us.' 



'Gaston Means' Film 



Film rights to The Strange Life 
of Gaston B. I'eans,' by Frank 
Campbell Waldrop and Mrs. Gaston 
B, Means, have been bought by 
David Garrison Berger, N. Y. film 
attorney. Production will be started 
as soon as the shooting script is 
prepared, Washington background 
will be used. 

Story is based on incidents in the 
life of the former Department of 
Justice investigator now serving a 
15-year sentence in Leavenworth for 
extorting $104,000 from Mrs. Evelyn 
McLean on a promise of restoring 
the kidnaped Lindberg baby. Wal- 
drop is editorial writer for the 
Washington Herald. 

Berger is now producing a film 
based on 'The Nine Old Men,' Drew 
Pearson and Robert Allen book 
about the Supreme Court. 

Hoisting 'Em in HVood 

Hollywood, May U. 
Masquers Club held its sixth 
Seidel Night last Thursday (13), 
with Joe Ratliff functioning as brau- 
meister. 

Participants in. the program in- 
cluded Frank McHugh, Bob Arm- 
strong, Joe CaWthorne, Mitchell 
Lewis, Russell Hopton, Charley 
Chase, Billy Gilbert, Jimmy Gleason, 
Gus Van, Alan Mowbray, Bob Chis- 
holm,. Pat Collins, Frank Morgan 
and Monte Vandergrift. 

Par's Prof P. A. 



B & K INSISTS 
ON DUAL BILLS 



Hollywood, May 11. 
Paramourtt has added Dr. Bruno 
David Usher to its publicity staff to 
exploit the studio's musical achieve- 
ments. 

Usher has been on the faculty of 
the University of Southern Califor- 
nia as a music prof. 



Chicago, May 11. 

Balaban & Katz will remain in 
double features despite every effort 
and pressure being brought to bear 
on the company to return to singles. 
This decision was revealed in an 
unofficial confab between John 
Balaban and Aaron Saperstein of 
Allied last week. 

With the town's major circuit thus 
remaining on a bargain bill basis it 
is obvious around film row that 
there is no immediate likelihood of 
doing away with the extra feature 
at this time. 

Small houses have been complain- 
ing bitterly about twin pictures in 
recent weeks, with business having 
hit a considerable slump throughout 
the town. Even the major B. & K. 
houses, have noticed a b.o. decrease 
during . the past few weeks. How- 
ever, despite this slide B. & K. is 
determined to continue on .the two- 
bill basis, in the belief that the slump 
is due to other causes. 

But nothing will convince the 
smaller nabes that double features 
aren't hurting them, feeling being 
that the big houses with two top pix 
will outdraw the weaker line-up iat 
small houses. 



Joan Lowell Must Show 
In Court or Lose Her Suit 
Against Van Beuren Pix 

Joan Lowell, co-author of 'The 
Cradle of the Deep' and other deep- 
sea tomes, must show up on June 1 
at the N. Y. Federal Court on her 
personal damage suit for $250,000 
against the Van Beuren Picts, pic- 
ture producers, will be tossed out. 
Judge John C. Knox decided Thurs- 
day (6), when he denied a further 
postponement. Not only will Miss 
Lowell lose her suit, but possibly the 
$300,000 counter action brought 
against her by the producing firm. 

Miss Lowell's action is based on 
the' grounds that she was not prop- 
erly protected from injury and sick- 
ness by the defendant during the 
filming of 'Adventure Girl' in 1933 
in the British West Indies. Van 
Beuiren answers by stating that Miss 
Lowell was practically on her own, 
having selected her father to com- 
mand the vessel on which she 
travelled, as well as its crew. 

Counter suit by Van Beuren is 
based on claim it sustained damages 
amounting to $300,000 through Miss 
Lowell's 'inefficiency and careless- 
ness.' 

In seeking the further adjourn- 
ment, the author's attorneys pleaded 
with the Court that Miss Lowell was 
'somewhere in Brazil and out of 
communication.' 



Going Places 

By Cecelia Ager 

Miss Tough Writes « Rave 

'Make Way For Tomorrow' is a fortiinate picture. For it's got something 
to say, unhampered by star names or fat production budget, it can speak 
its mind. But better yet, it knows how to speak its mind. Feeling it* 
subject deeply, it presents it with dignity and compassion; taste and in- 
telligence guide it in a straight line. Though its theme is rife with detours 
beckoning to sure-fire maudlin orgies, uncompromisingly it holds to sin- 
cerity. It has confidence and conviction that what it has to say is big 
enough and important enough to carry unadorned; it.s courage uplifts the 
whole business of pictures. 

That they were doing something they could believe in has inspired 
everyone engaged in 'Make Way For ITorhorrQw.' The script, the dialog, 
the direction, the acting, ring with truth, with sensitive observation, re- 
verberate with understanding. No matter how cruel the immediate deed, 
there is a background of understanding to explain it. Neither virtue nor 
evil is absolute here. As the characters take shape, the good ones aro 
made genuine with faults; the bad ones, with kindnesses. As in life, no 
one is free to express the best that's in him. As in the stratum of life 
that 'Make Way For Tornorrow' considers, the devil is economic pressure. 

Nor, in telling its universal story, does 'Make Way For Tomorrow* 
traffic with the currently popular mood of understatement — which is as 
much theatrical trickery as the now despised melodramatlcs — it uses, sim- 
ply, honest statement. Its actors, particularly Beulah Bondi, Fay Bainter, 
Elizabeth Risdon, are fine enough not to have to underplay. The cdlnedy 
springs from natural sources, so Victor Moore does not have to deal in 
comic mannerisms. 

Or in other words, 'Make Way For Tomorrow' is a great moving pic- 
ture. Hearing about its subject matter, unhappily, conjures up expecta- 
tions of an unbearable tear-jerker; it will have to fight audience I'C- 
luctance, based on harrowing past experience, to submit itself to the kind 
of stuff that 'Make Way for Tomorrow,' hallelujah, turns out not to be. 



N. Y. Stagehands Union 
Re-elects Brennan Slate 



Granting by the Roxy, N. Y., indi- 
vidually of a 15% outright increase 
to stagehands on the q.t., without 
any other New York houses going 
along oh such a boost, in no way 
affected thie election strength of 
James Brennan, who, in Sunday's 
(9) election, was retaiined in the 
presidency of the union. He arid 
his entire ticket won by a big ma- 
jority, polling 764 votes against Sam 
GOldfarb, opposition, which received 
462. 

When the Roxy voluntarily handed 
stagehands a 15% increase two weeks 
ago, it was feared that the move had 
some political significance and might 
be the means of putting Brennan and 
his present administration in the 
New York local (No, 1) in an odd 
spot since the local recently turned 
down a blanket offer of maJiafjcrs 
for restoration of cuts through in 
creases in three installments. This 
offer was for a 15% increase for 
circuit houses and an 18',;. incrca.sc 
for de luxe theatres, one-third to be 
granted now, one-third this coming 
Labor Day and the remaining one 
third in September, 1938. 

Offer was accepted by the rook 
lyn local (No. 4), whore stimeliaiiri , 
were paid retroactively to Mny 1 



Bobby-Boy, the Cute Assassin 

So remorselessly does Robert Montgomery's past cling to him that when 
at last, in 'Night Must Fall,' he dearly wants to reform by killing people 
dead, they all laugh. "They all laugh at Bobby-boy's pretending not to be 
a darling, they all laugh though he's giving them the performance of his 
life. He twitches and trembles, and they laugh; he chills and freezes, and 
still they snicker. It is a ghastly thing, but not the way he meant it;, 
they've indulged him in too many charming drunks with the same meas- 
uring, glassy stares, to shudder at him now. 

They like him, they want to play along with him playing bogey-man, 
but what can they do— they like him. They can't suddenly hate him, 
they've liked him too long. After all, they're not actors like him, they're 
audience. They want to help, of course they do, but they can't make the 
quick changes he can. Just when he's succeeded in working them up to 
terror, along comes the lightning flash of memory, reduces it all to the 
good old funning. 

Perhaps if he hadn't chosen as the means of his finding a new and bet- 
ter life, such a phoney psychological study as 'Night Must Fall' — stretched 
out in feature picture length to the limit of its transparency — Montgomery 
might have found the going easier. But its once taut theatricalism, when 
examined in magnified slow motion by the camera, is disclosed as slap- 
dash reasoning tied together loosely with dangling paper ribbons. All 
right, Montgomery's mad — but there's no method in his madness. 

Miss Rosalind Russell is fascinated by him, then repelled, but there's 
monotony in her mutations; one never overtakes the other; she always 
comes back to scratch. Dame May Whitty, Merle Tottenham, Kathleen 
Harrison, are fine — but they at least aren't 'deep,' they've escaped tho 
author's untutored preoccupation with case histories, luckily they have to 
take care of themselves. 



Pop Corn as Erotic Symbol 

'Internes Can't Take Money' is a 'different' kind of hospital picture. It 
gets the hell out of the hospital the minute it's taken care of the word 
'intei-nes' in the title. Performs its operations anywhere else but. Dis- 
dains, too, the good old ether bag wheezing the fear of death into tho audi- 
ence and instead makes them look away by using bar. gadgets for surgical 
instruments, lime-squeezers for forceps. 

Sets rise from solid foimdations, their dressing instantly explains them. 
Mighty photography makes Titans of the doctors by gazing up at them, 
creates pathos for the little orphan girls by peering, from great heights, 
down at them. Lighting couldn't be more serious and respectful if it were 
illuminating 'The Eternal Road.' Director, if he doesn't mind being called 
a technician, gets his actors to behave like people, shines them up with 
interesting idiosyncracies, keeps them nimbly on the move. All in all, 
the production experts dish up 'Internes Can't Take Money' so fancy, they 
very nearly disguise the fact that the fundamental ingredients they've got 
to work with are only stale left-overs. 

Not that the writers didn't try. They even evolved some symbolism, for 
the villain, Stanley Ridges, explains to Barbara Stanwyck that yielding 
to him is like acquiring a taste for pop-corn, and so every crisis in tho 
picture is marked with pop-corn, whereas hope is represented by hot dogs, 
which the hero, Joel McCrea, happens to like. Miss Stanwyck takes her 
customary quota of buff etings-by-f ate more quietly than usual, though no 
less intensely; Mr. McCrea is tried and true; Mr. Ridges' importunities givo 
off a nice blend of menace and insidious fa.scination; and Lloyd Nolan adds 
depth to his essential hardness with occasional bewilderment and finely 
executed snarls. 



but N. Y. turned it down. Then the 
Roxy gave its .stage employees a 
straight 15% boost. 

In union circles, while this action 
may have been somewhat embar- 
rassing to No. 1, it is believed that 
theHoxy handed out the increase as 
a means of embarrassing other thea- 
tres, notably the Music Hall. Roxy 
and Music Hall have been particu- 
larly jealous of ea:ch other this sea- 
son. Roxy has been going strong on 
20th-Fox pictures \vhich it was in 
a position to obtain after 20th and 
the Mu.sic Hall couldn't get together 
on a deal. 

New trustee, Frank Co.sgrove, was 
elected to the board of trustees of 
No. l at the Sunday election, to fill 
a vacancy. He was not from the 
opposition Goidfarb ticket, however. 
Otherwise, it was a ci ;an sweep for 
Brennan. 



53 in MG Dragnet 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Metro casting office rounded up 
53 bit players for 'You'll Be Married 
By Noon' last week. 

Sam Zimbali.st is producing, with 
Robert Young and Florence Rice in 
lop ftpo[< f"H F,H\v!'i rlirccl- 
ing 



Springer Quitting N. Y. 
Chain; Cocalis on Own 

Control of the Springcr-Cocalis 
circuit, largest indie chain operating 
in Manhattan and the Bronx, will 
pass to Cocalis interests in the next 
few days. John W. Springer is sell- 
ing his. share in the enterprise and 
retiring from the business after more 
than 15 years of active participation. 

Bulk of the .prize theatres in cir-. 
cuit are situated on upper Broadway,- 
starting in . the 90's, and in adjacent 
territory. S. D. Cocalis will bo the 
principal office" in the new opera- 
tion. 



AGENT SUIT SETTLED 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Commission suit against Grace 
Bradley was settled out of court by 
Al Rosen, plaintiff. 

Agent had been asking an $18,00(1 
slice of the girl's earnings. 



Humberstone's Incendiarism 

Hollywood. May 11. 

Darryl Zanuck has handed Lucky 
Humbcrslone the directorial a.ssign- 
ment on 'The Chicago Fire' l)laze se- 
quences, budgeted at around $500,000. 

IIumberstoMi.^ dirci-lfl .several 
C'liarlic Ciians. 



26 VARIETY Wednesday, May 12, 1937 




Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



27 



SEC Tears Into Par 



(Continued from page 3) 

Loeb), and the management. Report 
concluded that the principal issue 
ivas domination of company affairs 
in order to clean up financially, 
rather than to eliminate abuses. 

'It is clear that the original pro- 
gram which Mr. Fortington stressed 
concerning management of the com- 
pany was not executed,' the S.E.C. 
told Congress. 'And it is clear that 
the ultimate arrangements concern- 
ing management of the company and 
underwriting of the securities were 
profitable to the group and were 
probably not inherently necessary to 
protection of its financial stake in 
Paramount, 

Had to Compromise 

'On' the other hand,' the Fortington 
group probably had to compromise 
arid make deals in light of the prac- 
tical situation and the pressures of 
various interests. Furthermore, it 
never undertook to represent secur- 
ity holders generally; it never so- 
licited their support. It acted only 
for itself. It cannot, therefore, be 
charged with faithless stewardship. 

'From the point of view, however, 
of the effect of its action upon se- 
curity holders generally, serious 
question can be raised. It appears 
that the ultimate spoils of reorgani- 
zation — control of the new company 
—were divided among the Forting- 
ton group, the bank creditors, and 
the Vanderlip committee. Provision 
was made for the continuation of 
memberships on the board of direc- 
tors for . one, two and three years. 
In additic»>, it is subject to serious 
question whether this change in con- 
trol was more than a mere substi- 
tution of another set of investment 
bankers for Kuhn-Loeb — a change in 
dramatis personae, rather than a 
new scheme for management. 

'The inference is strong through- 
out that, for various reasons, the 
members of the group were inter- 
ested in control of the new company: 
control for purposes of profitable 
business arrangements; control in 
the form of directorships; control 
for the purposes of investment bank- 
ing and other connections. 

'Good Illastration' 

'Certainly, then, the group ad- 
vanced its own interests exceedingly 
well. The history of this group il- 
lustrates how those who enter the 
reorganization in the independent 
advocacy of the interests of the real 
owners can readily take unto them- 
selves the spoils of victory. In this 
case the spoils were a share in the 
control of the company.' 

Criticism of the Fortington group, 
mollified by the concession that some 
reforms were effected, was based 
principally on the tie-up with Atlas 
and Lehman Bros. Tracing at length 
the formation of the bloc and its 
subsequent activities, S. E. C. ob- 
served that one of the chief accom- 
plishments was monopolization of 
imderwriting business for the suc- 
cessor qorp.,""" distribution of favors 
-In the shape of securities and profits 
and continuance of the banker influ- 
-ence, which th^ group originally at- 
tempted to eradicate. 

Remarking about the use of 'busi- 
ness patronage,' the commish pointed 
out that the Fortington group aban- 
doned much of its original platform 
When the bankers were given 
chances to clean up. Although Atlas 
did the new Par underwriting cheap- 
ly, there is grave doubt about the 
propriety and ethics of some phases 
of the financial operations, the re- 
port said. Government group par- 
ticularly raised its eyebrows at plac- 
ing of several bankers on the board 
and cutting the houses of these di- 
rectors, in on refinancing profits. 
'Detour' 

Charge that the Fortington group 
detoured from its initial goal was 
one of the chief complaints. Com- 
inlsh noted that the leader of the 
bloc set out several concise objec- 
tives in rallying support and then 
pointed out how much and how little 
had been accomplished toward car- 
rying out these principles. In this 
connection, report remarked that: 

1. Outsiders made no concerted 
effort to minimize reorganization 
costs, besides holding down under- 
writing fees, opposing fee applica- 
tions of committee attorneys and not 
asking for compensation for its 
members. 

2. No investigations or suits were 
started to recover money illegally 



spent under the stock repurchase 
plan. 

3. Some effort was made to end 
preferential treatment for bankers, 
but the Fortingtonites did little be- 
yond taking the position reflected in 
its original memorandum of pur- 
poses. 

4. Promise to oust inefficient ex- 
ecutives and give investors a louder 
voice was not carried out. Commish 
emphasized that bankers continued 
to have heavy representation on the 
board. 

However 

Despite shortcomings, the Forting- 
ton faction had 'remarkable success' 
in steering clear of insiders, the 
commish declared. Group organized 
without instigation of the manage- 
ment and interested financiers, the 
report said, and did afford some rep- 
resentation to bona fide investors 
and groups with respectable claims. 
Motives behind the group's activities 
.were not, however, entirely praise- 
■worthy, according to the S. E. C. 

Endeavors of the old management 
and original bankers to stick in the 
saddle drew commish rebukes, with 
the report bitterly assailing the va- 
rious protective committees which 
were set up by insiders. Particular 
fire was directed at the stockholder 
group, which was termed 'a joint 
banker-management product.' Com- 
mish said freedom and aggressive- 
ness of these blocs was curtailed be- 
cause of the auspices under which 
they functioned and the identity of 
members. These forces were 'about 
to consummate a plan of reorgani- 
zation of their own liking' when the 
li Fortingtonites entered the picture, 
the report observed. 

Treasury raids by counsel for va- 
rious factions, which were arraigned 
by Judge Coxe, who pruned claims 
drastically, were hit again, but the 
trustees were praised for their vig- 
orous efforts to preserve the estate. 
Report called attention to deposit 
fees of $148,349 pocketed by agencies 
designated by protective committees, 
huge bills submitted by lawyers for 
warring groups, and allowances to 
receivers and trustees. Commish 
found that the Hilles-Leake-Richard- 
son trio 'acted with vigor and in- 
dependence,' recalling mismanage- 
ment suits and thorough-going in- 
vestigation of claims. 

Many of the recommendations for 
law changes were an outgrowth of 
discussions of Par activities. Chief 
suggestions were to strengthen pro- 
tection for the real security holders 
and their representatives, while de- 
nying bankers and former manage- 
ment any opportunity to dictate re- 
organization methods. Commish ad- 
vocated granting broader powers to 
Federal courts, insistence upon dis- 
interested trustees, more comprehen- 
sive study of reorganization plans, 
limitation of expenses and fees, full- 
er publicity and prevention of col- 
lusion. 



BRUCE M. DENHAM 

Please communicate with me 
^ once with reference to Johnny 
JSppert accident August, 193C, 
important. Pinkney Grlsaom, 
1801 Republic Bank Bldg., Dallas, 



History 

The Fortington group, in those 
transitional days of Paramount's re- 
organization, included H. A. Forting- 
ton, representative here of several 
British insurance firms. Atlas Corp., 
Lehman Bros, and Lazard Freres 
(Frank Altschul). Atlas-Lehman 
end included Floyd Odium and John 
Hertz. 

At the tjme, the Fortington ele- 
ments were reputed to control 
around $4,500,000 to $5,000,000 in Par 
securities, outside of what the Atlas- 
Lehman-Lazard end held. 

Fortington group was opposition to 
the Kuhh, Loeb-Frank Vanderlip (de- 
benture holders committee) group. 
Break in the situation came -when 
the William Greve (Allied Owners) 
and Erpi (John Otterson) creditors' 
committee lined up with the Fort- 
ington group. Otterson became pres- 
ident of Paramount and Fortington 
chairman of the executive commit- 
tee. 

From the start Fortington became 
opposition to Otterson, Britisher 
never feeling that Otterson was the 
qualified individual to be Par's 
proxy. An internal situation arose 
which was climaxed eventually by 
others of the Par board joining Fort- 
ington's viewpoints. Par was in the 
red at that time. 

Sparks which sprung from that 
situation Ignited a stronger feud 
later. 

In the meantime, Joseph P. Ken- 
nedy, former SEC head and now 
chairman of the U, S, Maritime 
Commission, was invited by the 
board to make an inquiry with rec- 
ommendation. 

Kennedy made his survey, handed 
his findings to the company's bpard 
and severed all connection with the 
situation. 

Adolph Zukor. who was chairman 
undei' Otterson and president of the 



Goldwyn Tags Truex 



Hollywood, May 11. 
Samuel Goldwyn lias signed 
Ernest Truex, stage actor, to a term 
contract. 

Truex reports June 1 for a fea- 
tured role in 'The Adventures of 
Marco Polo.' 



ASK FORECLOSURE ON 
PARAMOUNT, OMAHA 



Omaha, May 11. 

Omaha National Bank filed a suit 
in district court Friday (7) in an at- 
tempt to foreclose the mortgage on 
the Paramount theatre. Suit was 
filed against A. H. Blank Theatre Co. 
(Tri-States) of Nebraska, claiming 
the company to be insolvent and un- 
able to meet its obligations as they 
mature. Bank is asking that a re- 
ceiver be appointed. 

Paramount is the town's ilecond 
largest de luxe house (2.765 seats) 
and was built in 1927 as a Publix 
house. First several years, as the 
Riviera, were successful on a combo 
policy. Since 1933 straight pictures 
have failed to keep it open more 
than a few months at a time. 

Uptown location and rental figure 
set in boom times are given as chief 
reasons. 



So. Calif Exiiijbs Wail 
Over lipped Cost of Pix 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Southern California indie exhibs 
are rebelling against the increased 
rentals and percentages asked by 
major distributors on new season 
product. There are threats of a film 
buying strike as a measure against 
the chief squawk, parting with 30- 
40% on percentage runs. 

Twentieth -Fox is asking 35% on 
seven or eight films and a stiff bite 
is expected from other majors. Dis- 
tribs claim that increased produc- 
tion costs are responsible for the up- 
ping, while exhibs state they can- 
not elevate admish in face of pres- 
ent economic conditions. 



MPLS. LAYING OFF 



Divorcement or Other Show Biz ills 
Not to Be Considered— Yet 



Minneapolis, May 11. 

When the state legislature meets 
May 24 in special session there will 
be no attempt to pass the theatre 
divorcement bill or any other legis 
lation affecting the theatre industry, 
it has been decided by the forces 
behind the various measures which 
failed to go through at the regular 
session. Latter includes an anti-zon- 
ing bill which would compel ex 
changes to release pictures simul- 
taneously to all theatres charging 
the same admission. 

W. A. Steffes, in charge of the 
national Allied States campaign to 
force " producers and distributors 
to divorce themselves from theatre 
ownership and operation, has decid- 
ed to defer further efforts until the 
1939 session. In the meanwhile, 
however, he says, the fight will be 
carried to all legislative districts 
and the groundwork built for a suc- 
cessful climax two years hence. 



Neb. Retrial Asked 

Lincoln, May 11, 
Fox Beatrice Theatre Corp. has 
asked for a new trial in the case 
which- the Gage County District 
Court held that bank night was 
illegal in Nebraska. 

Court must rule on the motion for 
a new trial before the corporation 
can appeal to the Nebraska Supreme 
Court from the decision. 



firm for many years, continues as 
chairman and chief p£ the firm's pro- 
duction activities. 

Frank Altschul, of Lazard Freres, 
retired from the situation even be- 
fore the actual reorganization took 
place. 

When Otterson left, Barney Bala- 
ban became president. 

New faces were put on the Board. 
These included E. V. Richards, Neil 
Agnew and Y. Frank Freeman, be- 
sides a few downtown lads such as 
Harvey Gibson, of the Manufactur- 
ers Trust, and Stanton Griffis, of 
Hemphill, Noycs. 

Floyd Odium, Atlas chieftain, left 
the Par board when his firm became 
heavily interested in RKO. Porting-, 
ton resigned as chairman of the ex- 
ecutive committee but remains on 
the board. Griff is Is chairman of 
the executive committee. 



All Together, Boys 



One of the most oulstandinR 
victories scored by picture and 
other show business interests 
during the legislative season 
how coming to a close occurred 
in Iowa, where a total of 23 
bills, all adverse to show busi- 
ness, were killed with the close 
of the session last weelc.,. 

In that state every element of 
.show business stood shoulder 
to shoulder against the unfav- 
orable measures introduced at 
this winter's session, something 
unusual in the industry. Much" 
of the credit for the defense 
put up and the unity main- 
tained goes to Myron Blank, 
son of A. H. Blank, circuit op- 
erator, who held the forces to- 
gether and helped direct the 
legislative drive. 



Col's Non-Theatrical 
Servicing in Penna. 
Draws Ire of MPTOA 



Philadelphia, May 11. 
Continued servicing of non-the- 
atrical accounts by Columbia's Philly 
exchange led to an indignation meet- 
ing Friday (7) of the board of man- 
agers of United Motion Picture The- 
atre Owners. Committee of three 
was named to call on Harry. Weiner> 
branch manager. They are Lewen 
Pizor. Abe S^blosky and Charles 
Segall. 

Weiner told the committee he has 
'nothing to do with it here. It must 
be taken up with the home office.' 
Fearing a spread of such situations, 
committee was authorized to call on 
Abe Montague at the h.o. today 
(Tues.). Board will reconvene to 
hear findings within two weeks and 
a boycott of Columbia is threatened 
if satisfaction is not reached. 

Particular thing complained of is 
servicing of a church three times 
weekly in Bridgeport, Pa., in opposi- 
tion to Mike Egnal's Broadway the- 
atre there. 



SCRIPTING FOR STEN 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Dr. Eugene Frenke has assigned 
John Reinhardt and Leonard Levin- 
son to script an original for his wife, 
Anna Sten. 

Grand Nati ill distribute. 



BUYING COMBO 
FOR INDIES UP 
AGAIN IN CHI 



Chicago, May 11. 

Plans are under way once more 
for the establishment of a fllin buy- 
ing circuit by the local Allied inde- 
piendent theatres. For three years 
Allied locally has laid low on the 
question of a buying combine, ever 
since the exchanges here licked the 
previous buying group by refusing to 
sell product to anyone not interested 
financially in the theatres concerned. 

There was a half-hearted proposal 
made last season to get the Allied 
buying group started once again, and 
to circumvent the 'financial interest' 
clause by giving the buying group 
one or two shares in each theatre as 
payment for the buying and booking 
work instead of the regular weekly 
or monthly fee. However, the ex- 
changes served general notice at that 
time that they wouldn't sell' to a 
buying group under the one-share 
clause, on the basis that this was 
only a trick to get around the dis- 
tributor nix. 

This year, however, the indie thea- 
tres are more determined than ever 
to go through with their buying 
hopes, since, with double features 
now standard throughout the city, 
the theatres feel they are on the 
short end of the breaks in any ne- 
gotiations for product. 

Exhibs are yelping that the ex^ 
changes, in getting together to refuse 
to sell the group are guilty of 
conspiracy. On their side, however, 
the distributors insist that it's the 
buying group which is the combine, 
if any. 



Still an Indie 



Los Angeles, May 11. 

Jack Y. Berman, prez of the local 
indie theatre operators, entered the 
primaries in a race for city council- 
man. Nine others stampeded in be- 
hind Berman. 

Berman and Howard E. Dorsey, 
an engineer, came through to the 
finals. Berman looked elected, but 
forgot to count the balcony and Dor- 
sey won 12,636 to 10,651. 



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CAPITOL 1^ 



"CALL IT A DAY" 

Olivia DeHAVILAND, Ian HUNTER, 




Anita LOUISE 4 bl| Warntr Br«i. cait 



COMTNia TirURSnAY 
"XnKY GAVK IIIM A GUN 




"For Every Movle-KO«r" — Americas 

TTie PRINCE - PAUPER' 

with Errsl FLYNN and tht MAUCH Twlni 

llroadwRy find 47lh Hired— MIdiilglit Slioivni 



^to^F 9RC to Opcni 

^^^^ * tiOlp.m. o;30i.i 



lioiviw 



tSi' MUSIC HALL 

ASTAIRE and ROGERS 



IN 



"SHALL WE 
DANCE" 

Spectacular Stags Produotlana 



1th Av. * Mih M. 



ROXY 



1^' 1 r.; 



TO 



'TALK OF 
THE DEVIL" 

On tli0 Stncei 
MANNKnS 



STATE •rJirJi 



Binjr 
OBOSBY • 



It AYJQ 



'Waildid Wedding' 



VAUDEViriT^T! 
N.T.O. luid hkvur 



M-G-M'b NewoHt Trluini»h 

''Captains Courageous'^ 

FrtddU BARTHOLOMEW— Bptneer TRACY 
Lltnel BARRYMDRE — MeWyn DOUGLAS 

AQTrkR TwIcB Pftlly, 2:45. fiM5. 
/\Ot\JW\. nij, 8i,„,y; tjgt.. Bun. 

B'Mray at 45tli St. 8, 0, 8;45. Mali. SOc to tl. 
All Seat! R«itrv*d Kv««. l>Ua to $2; Bat. 

MatB., flnt. MIU., bun., 
.0 P.M., GOc to $1.50 (IMui Tax). 

PARAMOUNTb'^""" 



I SQUABB 



BARBARA 

STANWYCK 
JoelMcCREA 

"Intornes Can't 
Tak» Money" 



In Person 

XavierCUGAT 

MARY SMALL 
DIXIELAND 
JAZZ BAND 



"CAFE 
METROPOLE" 

Loretta Young, Tyrone Power 
Adolphe Menjou 

R I V O L I 



UNITED 
ARTISTS 



VASIETY 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 





Improved Bftby XJontest 

Almost any baby contest is a win- 
ner for a picture. theatrei but M. Sc 
P, Theatres, the Paramount, New 
England chain, has developed a 
slightly different style contest that 
milk? the last drop of publicity. 
These contests have lately been held 
in a majority of the houses and have 
proven uniformly successful.. Prac- 
tically all were in cooperation with 
the Ibbal paper, and all of the papers 
.are set for an encore next year. 

The first step is to procure the 
newspaper co-op, the paper donat- 
ing space for preliminary announce- 
ments and sharing the credit, with 
the house. This done; registration 
blanks are printed in thef paper, to 
be filled in by parents. Meantime a 
deal has been effected with a local 
photographer to make the prints, 
giving one to th^ parent and one to 
the house oh each baby brought to 
the gallery. In the recent contests 
about 20 percent of the parents 
ordered additional prints, which is 
where, the protographer gets his 
profit. . 

All photographs are mounted for 
display in lobby frames, iand a ballot 
box is provided. The newspaper runs 
a ballot each day, good for 10 votes, 
while the house issues a ballot with 
the number of votes proportioned to 
the admission price. Tbis is. generally 
on the basis of one vote for each 
penny of the admission price. 

Meantiriie the local merchants 
have been; contracted for co-op 
pages, and in these pages each ad- 
vertisement carries a number of 
vQtes proportioned to the space 
taken.' All is set for the preliminary 
ballotb.^. 

. Experience shows that from 200 to 
iSOO or more babies are apt to be en- 
tered> For the finals as many babies 
are selected as there are advertisers. 
If there are 40 in the co-op section, 
the 40 babies receiving the greatest 
number of votes are declared for the 
finals. Each is numbered and these 
numbers are drawn by the co- 
operating- merchants. Thereafter that 

' particular baby becomes the store 
entry, a cut of the youngster is car- 
ried in all merchant ads, and: the 
clipped ad of that merchsuit is good 
for a certain number of votes for. 
that sponsored baby. 

In some sections additional votes 
miay 'be had for purchases, these 

. votes, unlike those in the ads, being 
igood for any child in the contest. 
Some of the more expensive articles, 
such as radios and phonographs, may 
carry as many as 25,000 vptes.. 

Balibtihg on the finals runs for 
four weeks, with prizes awarded 
those in the' top flight It all sounds 
a trifle involved, but it works out 
simply, and there is.plenty in it for 
the theatre, the paper and the store-r 
keeperis. 

P. A. Addi Voice 

New Haven. 
Max Abramson, U. A. advance 
man oh 'A . Star Is Born,' arranged 
and participated in a radio tie-in 
which seems to be the last word in 
sustained gratis plugging for a pic- 
ture. . A week before the picture 
opened at Loew's Poll, Abramson 
grabbed a spedial 'Search for Talent' 
<::ontest tie-in with Station WELL 
Abramson personally spoke over the 
air nightly. He not only plugged 
the picture and talked about Holly- 
wood, after being introduced by 
the station's regular announcer. 
Golly, but he also remained at the 
station until nine o'clock, following 
the broadcast, and' interviewed con- 
.testants. 

Finalists appeare'd in a broadcast 
audition the night before the picture 
opened. The following night a 
radio transcription w'as broadcast 
so that listener^ could compare the 
flayers with the amateurs. Out- 
standing stunt. Great business at 
the box office. 



Three Gags 

Ed Siegal, of the Jerbihe, Bronx, 
has been getting . the kids with' a 
Safety Cliib, designed to lirge the 
kids' not to get . run over. Each kid 
gets a badge numbered, and a book- 
let. Latter is a stiff card four-page 
folder. At the. bottom is the word 
'consolidated' with each letter boxed. 
One space punched each visit and 
good for a free admission when the 
ten spots are cancelled* Twelve 
local merchants pay for the metal 
badges in return for . ad space in the 
booklet, and the latter is supplied by 
the printer in return for the biack 
page. Parents approve and the 
police send officers each week to 
talk on safety. As a side issue, pres- 
ence of the officers peirmits Siegql 
to run in child actors on the stage. 

Another good stunt is presentation 
bf baseball pennants to all kids who 
pass the door the first hour: at the 
Saturday mats. , There: are 16 to" the 
set, representing the two. major 
leagues, and their iise .hak more than 
tripled the early house, which gets 
the kids out .before the grownups 
happen along. Pennants ' are felt, 
but apparently inexpensive. 

Putting bn a new serial recently 
a poll was taken from.' the aidults. 
small sheet carried voting spjices to . 
indicate whether or not the balloter j 
wanted the serial on at the night 
shows Friday and Saturday, laesf 
was tp persuade the older folks that 
the serial was not just juvenile fod- 
der. Siegal is plugging with about 
200 one-sheets posted through the 
section and is getting a favorable 
b. 0. reaction. 



Ask Banko Rehearing 
In UL Supreme Coiirt 

Chicago, May li. 
ahk night, though ruled out as 
illegal by the State Supreme court 
several months ago, refuses to: lie 
down arid die. Nb tide has been filed 
by the Iris Amusement Co., Operat- 
ing the Iris theatre here, that it will 
seek a rehearing before the State 
Supreme Court. 

Court clipped the baink night , as 
a lottery in its decisiohv. 



Wild life in Bnef 



Hollywood, May 11; 

Series of one, two and . three, reel 
novelty shorts will be produced by 
Wild Life. 'Productions, Inc., being 
organized by Mervyn Freemari, who 
recently: resigned from 'Uniyersal 
Newsreel after being its coast man- 
ager for nine years. , 

Initial production, titled 'Friendly 
Enemies,' Will be started soon. Free- 
mian and associates are negotiating 
for studi space. No release for the 
shorts bias yet been arranged. 



Theatre Changes 



Denver. 

Lloyd Kirby new manager at the 
Alpine. 

Kenneth Mead, from assistant 
manager of the: Main, Pueblo,; Colo., 
to manage Mission, Grand Junction, 
Colo., succeeding Irwin Manning, 
who goes to the assistantship at the 
Av^lon,' Grand Jundtion; and Lyle 
M!cCue,.new assistant 3,t the Main in. 
Pueblo. 



Lincoln, Neb. 

Wally . Johnson, Friend, Neb., ex- 
hib., took over Fillmore, Exe;ter, 
Neb., from .^T^ O; Sherwood. 

Taking Qver Cass, Plattsmouth, 
Neb., from N. F. Westerlund, Ralph 
Blank added 1.4th house to ^Central 
States Theatres, Inc. 



Canton. 

Harry and Jack Steinberg,, who 
operate, the Harbor, Ashtabula Har- 
bor, have' taken over the Home, dark 
for five years. 



Salt Lake City. 
Harry David, g.m., Ihtermountaiin 
Theatres, Inc., moved Holden Swiger 
in as manager of Paramount, re- 
placing Earl McClurg. Henry S. tJn- 
gerleider named theatre statistician, 
coming from Paramount in New 
York. Harold Chesler becomes as" 
sistant to'. Bill. Borack, company 
booker and buyer^ and Wallace Run- 
swick, former usher, upped to man- 
age service in five David houses. 



'Scandals* Infriiigenient 
Suit Aired by Court 

Ihfringerrient action .broug|it by .F.. 
Fay Kaplan . against Fox. Film Corp. 
for using front page dekigii' of the 
Theatre. Magazine: in a 'sequence of 
George White's '1935i Scandals' was 
dismissed Thursday (5) by N. Y. 
Federal Judge Patterson. 

Miss Kaplan, assignee Of the maga- 
zine, sued for an injunction to re- 
strain showing of the' film and an 
account! 



Coast Indie Spanither 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Antonio Moreno has been set for 
'El Camino de Hollywood,' initial 
release of Cantabria Films, . Spanish 
language production. Jaime del Anio 
heiads the firm. 

Rbsita Diaz has the feinme lead 
and Ramon Romero directs. 



KANTNEB'S MG EXIT 

Holly wood, May 11, 
Ernest Van Pelt has triahsf erred 
from Metro's Culver City puiilicity 
department, whei'e he has labored 
seven years, to San Frahcisco^ where 
he' replaces Osciar Kantner as. 
ploiter. 
Kantner has left the fold. 



Memphis. 
Old Rio Opera House, Van Buren, 
Ark., scene of many of Radio Bob 
Burns' tales, has been leased by M. A. 
Lightman. Will be renamed for 
Burns. 



Spreading 

Wichita. 

One bf first krioinrri 'Candid Camera 
Nights' in theatre in middle west 
was held at fifteenth anniversary 
show of Miller Theatre Monday 
night. First few rows bf seats were 
roped off in order that camera own- 
ers could shoot stage show offerings 
brought here especially for anniver- 
sary dielebratibn. 

■ By .Coincidence, news reel on bill 
showed candid f ahs in action in a 
night club, 



Second Birn Best 

Greenville, S. C. 

Fred Curdts, Ritz, by laying it on 
thick in papers, and posters took sec- 
cond rUri MeCreS-Stanwyck pic, 
'Banjo Oh My Knee' and broke 
Greenvilie pix history. Pic which 
proved no great shakes here as flrst- 
runnei? dragged in 18,000 cash cus- 
tomers at Curdts' house which is an 
all time high for this tank town. 

Curdts played up the mammy-belt- 
you-all angle of the pic, and house 
which rpns each film only two days; 
found it necessary to hold 'Banjo'^ 
over five times. 



Charlotte, N. :C. 
Frank IX Fowler, Broadway, 
Reidsville, will take over New Prin- 
cess, Mpcksvill*. 

. New theaitre opened at Wadesboro 
by Mr, and Mrs. L: L. Drake. 

Sam. Suggs named manager of 
Carolina, Columbia, . to succeed 
Francis • Falkenburg, who replaces 
him -ait Birmingham, Ala. 



Geo. Schaefer to Coast 

George Schaefer, v'p. irii charge 
of distribution for United Artists, 
leaves fbr the; Coast, tomorrow 
(Thursday). 

, Going on general company busi- 
ness. 



illy Foota«:e Tax 
Philadelphia, May 11. 

Footage tax to be paid by exhibs 
on film is among new levies pro- 
posed to the city council by Mayor 
S. Davis Wilson. Exactly how much 
the treasury would cut in for hasn't 
been, definitely announced, but ex- 
hibs aire up in arms, declaring it 
will tax them out of biz. 

Many have threatened to shut 
(entirely, . although few observers are 
taking such protestations seribusly. 
Levy, .would replace the present $100 
license fee. 



Cleveland. 
: Walter Brandt from Toledo, to 
Wairner's exchange here as ' city 
salesman, ^dward Catlin succeeding 
him; in Toledo. Jiidd Spieglei form- 
;erly- in Paramount,., Pittsburgh, tak- 
ing Catlih's plaice.. James Mooney 
staying on as Warner's exchange of- 
fice manager here,, despite rumors of 
resignation., 

Omaha, Neb. 

Don Nelson, booker for Republic 
at Omaha, to Des Moines to Monor 
gram. Leo Riley r^laces. 

Joe Rosenberg, Columbia salesr 
man, to Republic. Columbia job 
taken over by J. Armims* ex United 
Artists,. Cincinnati. 

RKO salseman Elmer Hunhke is 
undei: doctor*s care; Car turned 
over last week. Second time within 
a yean 

Rochester, N. Y. 
In Schine shakeup City Manager 
Howard M. Carroll takes charge of 
the Riviera with Eddie May trans- 
ferred to the Lake. Manager Hiram 
Gordon shifted from Lake to Olym-. 
pic, Watertown. John Christiano 
moves from State to asst. - mgr. of 
Riviera, Claytpn Cornell fromCamea 
to Sitate, and Max Rubin from Rivi- 
era to Cameb. 



CONTRACTS 

Hollywood, May: 11. 

Paramount: resigned Frariciska 
Gaal to one year contracti 

Peter Milne, Warner writer, has 
been renewed for another year. 

Coluhibia tobk up George McKay's 
acting contract foi' a year. 

Monbgrarii signed Addison Randall 
for series of musical westerns. 
• Grand National tagged Betty Laid- 
law and Robert Lively as a writing 
teani to turn biit four scripts a year. 

Art Arthur ticketed for year to 
20th-Fox writing staff. 

Maurice Conn sighed Leslie Good- 
wins to direct three- pix. 

20th-FQx ; lifted option Bbris 
Ingster, writeri 



STORY BUYS 

Holly wood, May 11. : 
Screen rights to 'Kidnapped,' by 
R. L. Stevenson, purchased by 20th- 
Fox. 

Universal bought 'Let* s Be Candi 
original by Laurence Pbhle and 
Thomas Ahearn. 

B. F. Zeidman has purchased 'Love 
Runs into Money,' original by Erwin 
S. G^lisey, for next season's Grand 
National program! 

Radib bought 'Highway to Hell,' 
original by Helen Vreeland and 
Hilda Vincent. 

'This Woman Is Dangerous,' by 
Dpnn Byrne, has been purchased by 
Warners. 



Film Reviews 



231/2 HOURS LEAVE 

.(Continued from page 13 ) 
Hopaiong Cassidy series and a fair 
shake in 'Plainsman,' is teamed with 
Terry Walker, a comparative new- 
comer. Ellison, with a trench clip 
and soldier tmifbrm, makes, a hand- 
some lad— a soldier who'll bet his 
comrades' shirts : on anyth^ing he 
never loses. . Terry is the .general's 
daughter, who runs a free taxi for 
the boys incog, which is something 
.a bit different in army life. . 

Paul Harvey is the general* and a 
general target for all the. tomato 
throwin" and shying horses in the 
outfit. . He's handled almost as rough- 
ly as a keystone copper and a lot of 
the laughs go his way. Arthur Lake 
funs around, also in uniform, and 
still looks as yoUng as ever. Andy 
Andrews, former band, singer; is 
wasted as tb pipes, in the group sing- 
ing. She used to be with Jimmy 
Joy. 

Sammy Stept and Ted Koehler 
penned the tunes^four of them. 
'Goodnight, My Lucky Day' is the 
best. Others are -It Must Be Love,' 
'Now- You're Talking My Language,' 
and 'We Happen to Be in the Army.' 
Three of them, feature Ellison, who 
is no singer but faces it like a man: 

Film' is apt to do better than fair 
business in alrnost every spot apd in 
isome bookings! will, be f buhd strong. 
Will do more than its share to 
strengthen a dual bill. Bartf,. \ 



SANTA FE BbyND 

Billable releaBia' o! Bernard B. Bay pro-, 
ductlon. Stars Torii Tyler. Features Jennhe 
Martel, Richard . Kramer, Charles AVhit- 
taker. Directed by Henri .Samuels. .: Screen 
play, Rose Gordon;' camera,' William Hyerr 
editor. Garl Hlmm. . At Liberty, Lincoln, 
dual. . BuTinliiK time, 58 mine, . 
Tom Granshaw. .'. . . . . .' . . . . . .:. . . .Tom Tyler 

Molly Bates. ; . .Jeanne Martel 

Stanton. ^ . . . . . .v. , .Bichard 'Kramer 

Klorgah .... ...... .Charles Wblttaker 

Logan : , Edward. Cassidy 

Sheriff.... i.. ........ i ', Lafe McKee 

Bridfiret Dorothy Woods 

Denton Charles King 

Tobbets Earl Dwire 



Getting away with a bushwacking 
start which nets a couple of killings, 
'Santa Fe Bound' doesn't let down 
at any time in its, short hour and has 
entertainment provision in enough 
quantities to satisfy. 

Tom Tyler, who is starred In it, 
gets a break in femnie, leads. Jeanne 
Martel handling the calf -eyed as- 
signment nicely. Although most of 
the stuff is in serious vein, Tyler 
and Whittaker work out one good 
comedy sequence which calls fbr 
the latter to shed his pants and be 
doused in a rain barrel. Tbe Martel 
girl is attractive, has no trouble re- 
membering her lines, and has a nice 
chasis. . . 

For no reason that is apparent, 
Kramer is trying to get the gal and 
the ranch, going to the lengths of 
having , her father potted from the 
roadside brush; He was toting a gob 
of money just loaned him by the 
bank, which Tyler gets to bring back, 
to his daughter. His having the 
dough is misconstrued and he's 
compelled to don the clothes of an 
outlaw. But ,to the girl the wolf's 
duds never fool her — she knows he 
has a heart of gold all the time. Barn. 



ing the beautiful gowh, ahd all ends 
happily. 

■ Picture is very Italian in gestures 
and manners; therie is a great deal 
of expert Italian arguing going bn 
about everything: from taxi fares to 
wedding gowns. And the coyness of 
the heroine about Deing picked up 
by a vei-y good-looking guy is some- 
thing that an American audience 
would find a bit strange. The Italian 
clothes are a bit strange, tbb; 

But the r.ctors are excellent, Mari 
Denis is cute and trim as the girl ' 
f riehdi and Antoni Centa ' ■would 
satisfy the: most exacting American 
femme audience as to looks. Photog- 
raphy, is good, and directing clever. 
' ^ ■' Helii. 

COMPLAINT SEASON ON 

Hays Office Listens to all Squawks^ 
But With One Ear 



With the sale, canipaign on new 
season product In full iswirig, the 
customary flow of complaints from 
exhibitors are beginning to pour irjtp 
the Hays office. Majority bf these 
kicks claiin unfair treatment at the 
hands bf the distributor arid to tlie 
alleged advantage df competing the- 
atre, or exhibs, . Association is ap- 
pealed tb bjecause generally a niem- 
'ber ..d^strijErtitbr . is involved " the 
'all?giitl#s.'^> '^r---' 

After years bf listening to these 
exhibitor charges Haysians feel that 
the protesting exhib often gives only 
his side of thei story. In about 19 
instances out of 20, they Claim, the 
charges overlook essential details. 

Recently an exhibitor protested 
that his old clearance of seven days, 
in effect for years, had been shifted 
tb 28 days. Theatre operator con- 
tended that it was spite work on 
the part of a competitor. Check 
confirmed the clearance switch, but 
also showed that the complainant 
had cut his admission in half and 
had added duals. ' 



Par Reel Moves 

Paramount newsreel is leaving Its 
present . quarters on Eleventh Aver 
nue, N. Y., and moving to the Gen- 
eral IService studios, Astori , Long 
Island, this summer. Work on the 
extensive moving job will be started 
in the next few months but all of- 
fices, studio facilities and' equipment 
will not be entirely instialled until 
late August or September. 

Shift to the General Service plant 
is an economy move, because of the 
old interest which Paramount still 
retains in the plant. Besides saving 
rent, newsreel will be taking advan- 
tage :of the concurrent overhead at 
the Astoria studios. 



La Contessa di Parma 

('The Duchess of Parma') 
(ITALIAN MADE) 

Rome, April 25'. . 
ICI production and release. Directed by 
Ales^5ahd^o Blaaettl. Story, Alossandro Bla- 
settl; music, Escobar, ontagnlni, Pusco; 
camera, Martelll. 

Marcella .Ellsa Ceganl 

Her friend .;Marla Denis 

^'np, »annl Antonio Centa 

gis trainer . . . . ; ..... . Ugo Ceseri 

.Owner of Printcmps mberto Melnatt 

Martha Boss!. .;..;Pina Galllnl 

(In Itdlicn) 

TTiis is a very Italian film, but 
with some, judicious .cutting it should 
go well in America, ' too, beciause 
it's light and amusing and has some 
original situations. 

Owner of the Printemp Dress 
Shop has the bright idea of having 
his models pose as - society ladies-^ 
hoping thereby tb have his dresses 
talked about at the right places by 
the right people. Accordingly, . the 
little model Marcella is parading as 
the Duchess of Parma; While she 
is showing off at the races- she is 
picked up by . the popular football 
hero, Gino Vanni. But they become 
separated in the crowd and he never 
gets a chance to give her the 2,000 
lire she won on "her horse, and which 
he had offered to collect for her. 

During the rest of the film they 
chase each other around. First he 
chases her to; repay her; Then he 
has * to spend the money to meet 
the overdue payment on his car. :Of 
course, when he meets her they have 
to make a date for another time, at 
which he is'tb pay her. In fact, they 
are always .making dates, and then 
something happens to prevent theiri 
from keeping them. 

In the end, Gino bursts in on a 
fashion show at the hotel and, find- 
ing Marcella dressed as a briiie, 
makes a great speech about Duch- 
esses who lead poor - guys like him 
around by the nose. Whereupon, he 
I finds out that Marcella is only model- 



TALKING CABTOON 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Leon Schlesinger has finished 
'Uricle Twn's Bungalow,' Using a 
narrator to describe the action, a la 
Pete Smith, first time the stiint has 
been tried on a cartoon subject of 
this kind. 

Pic is in the Merrie Melody series. 



DERR'S 'DBUHS' BOIL 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Cameras rolled last week on E. B. 
Dear's iseventh histbrical action 
drama, 'Drums of Destiny,* featur- 
ing Tom Keene, Ray Taylor directs. 

Shooting at Hollywood Studios for 
Crescent release. 



GABL J^VY HI 

Carl Levy, New .York ivision 
theatre operator for: Loew's, is in a 
serious condition : at Mt. .Sinai hosr 
pital, .N. Y.i where doctors are air. 
tempting to isave his life. 

He was operated on a week .ago. 



Detroit 

Detroit; May 11.. 

Film exchanges here face the pos- 
bility bf a greatly, increased, city tax 
assessment bn pictured. City council 
is preparing a test, case. 

Cbntendihg that film is raw ma- 
terial, plus labbr of developing, rep- 
resentatives of a dozen local ex- 
changes last week declared before 
the Council's session- as a . board of 
tax review that l%c a foot, or 
around $120 for a feature-length pic, 
would be suitable. City Assessor 
Kenneth J. McCarren insisted, how- 
ever, that a full-length film, renting 
as high, as $6,000 per week, is . worth 
more than $120. 

. Suggesting ah arbitrary assess- 
ment of $50,000 to take the question 
to court, council referred the ques- 
tion tb John H. Witherspoon, assis- 
tant corporation counsel, for a re- 
port on advisability of a radically 
increased valuation. 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETt 



29 



PEDAGOGS 



OWN 





ue 




Hindehberg horror 6£ last Thursday (6) inspired the usual huniber 
of speciiai stunts by the several networks and. stations near enough to 
I^akehursti N. Ji, lo do anythinjg. Radio was at a bad disadvantage in 
not being able the first 24 hours or longei: to actually get to the scene 
of the tragedy. Some of the first eyewitness accounts were strictly 
friend-of-a-friend-of-a-guy who saw the explosion an^ crash. 

Most remarkable radio slant was the WLiSj' Chicago, waxing niade 
at the, air field via a Presto recording. 

Herb of that remarkable event was the engineer, Charles Nehlseh, 
who remembered to put the needle back in, the groove after 'the 
explosion . displaced it and thereby made possible a thrilling trianscripr 
tion.. NBC relaxed: its usual animUs against trariscriptions to permit 
a network, broadcast ol the sensationally dramatic record at the scene 
of the explosion, with the iahnburicer's (Herb Morrison) incoherent 
btaliiblihg giving douhle-kick to the; realism. 

Newsreels got the big break on the tragedy through having their : 
cameras set iip and grinding when it happened.. 



Y. IdeplioiKi C(k Chides NBC for 





NBC was rebuked Monday (10) in 
from the New Ybrjc Tele- 
fpr using a phone-bOoth 
, N. ; J., to broadcast an 
eyewitness account of the Zeppelin 

indenburg disaster. ■ scored 

.network for Violatiiig a. rule 
against such practices ' and termed 
NBC as being inconsiderate when it 
assumes , to tie up a limited public 
facility under emergency conditions. 

Communication was addressed to 
Lenox iollbyring a com- 

plaint, made to the phone company 
by CBS. What also prompted the 
verbal . paddling was a picture car- 
ried in the N, Y. joxtrnal last Friday 
(7) showing an NBC pennant strung 
up on a Lakehurst phone booth and 
network reps it for 

In conveying;;, its; , peeve to. the 
phone comipahy Columbia pointed 
Qiit that regardliess ol phone, com- 
pany rules there had /always been a 
gentleman's agreement between the 
networks to refrain from the use Of 
other than especially assigned , lines. 
CBS stated that it could have like- 
wise tied, up a public phone on or 
near the field, but that it had been 
fold by its chief engineer, Edmund 
Cohan, that any such resort would 
get the network into difficulties with 
the tfelephone company. 

Last time that the phone company 
administered a similar rebuke was 
following the Morro Castle catas- 
trophe in 1934. It was not so long 
ago that a . station in Pennsylvania 
was denied hobkUp facilities for all 
time because it had broadcast a pub- 
lic, event ■ inating. firom a jpriVate 
phone wire. 

NBC regarded the complaint from 
Columbia as strictly a case of sour 
grapes. It said that Columbia had 
done a similar thing duTiiig the ie- 
bent Missisisippi floods ahd tbait if 
the.: latter web coiild have resorted 
to the same, device at Lakehurst it 
would not have hesitated, despite 
'gentlenriain's agreements' or sqUeaitir. 
ishness about phOnfe combahy rules.; 



Reformatory Sponsored 

Seattle, May il. 

Swing band composed of 14 lads 
from the Wash. State Reformatory 
had a one-shot before .KJR's mike 
last week on a program bankrolled 
by Bon Marcihie, dept. store. 

It viras the first time any of the Re- 
formatbry inmates ever broadcast. 
Lads weren't paid in coin, sponsor 
entertaining 'em at feedfest after 
their mike march. 





'COMMIT AID 



Washington, May 11. 
"^StrOng-arm methods are expected 
by the Federal .. Communications 
Commission grbup pirobing irregu- 
larities in handling radio cases. Re- 
sort to force looks probable in ef- 
fort to counteract refusal Of . wit- 
nesses to testify about reputedly 
scandalous evienta connected With 
prosecutibn of miscellaneous broad- 
caist operations..; ., 

With the special inyestigatipn par- 
tially blocked, members of the, 
(Continued oh paeg 53) 



HILLBILLY F^ODEO 

St. Louis Fiddler— Ticklers, Others 
Test Their Skills 



t. Louis, May 11. 
Some 6,000 natives paid 40c for 
general admission and 50c for re- 
served seats at 1937 Radio. Stars* 
Jambbree; sponsored by National 
Radio Artists' Association, and held 
in Municipal Auditorium last week; 
Pappy Cheshire's hillbilly band, fea- 
tured on KMOX's programs, won 
first prize in string band contest, re- 
taining n a t i o n a 1 championship 
copped last year. Natchee's Arizona 
Indians and KWK's Range R,iders 
finished second and third, respec- 
tively. 

Roy Fields, member of KMOX's 
Barnyard Follies won accordion con- 
test and 'Cowboy Jack', Monroe, who 
has been si ing over local stations 
for last few years, was adjusted best 
singer. Natchee, San Carlos, Arizbna 
Indian dropped national title in fid- 
dler's contest to Guy Blakeman, one 
of KWK*s Ranger Riders. 



Packard's Yes or No 



Jones, Hare Off 'Sing' 

Hollywood,. May 11. 

With the show cU to 30 minutes, 
Gillette Community Sing agreed to 
a parting with Billy Jones and 
Ernie Hare, 

Pair trained' east last Saturday (8) 
tor auditions. 



Hollywood, May 11. 
is expected today (Tiies. ) 
on the summer renewal the 
Packard show. Producers i?om Harr- 
ington and Joe ; Stauffer are con- 
sidering two possi ■ "They are 
a symphony orchestra, and a variety 
show built around Johnny Green. . 
Renewal would take Effect June 8; 



Bob Hotz at WMCA 



New assistalfit sales manager at 
WMCA, N. Y., is Robert Hotz, oner 
time chief of the radio .department in 
Blackett-Sample-Hummert's Chicago 
office; 

Moving into new spot this, week, 
Hotz will work under Bertram Leb- 
.har; Jr., commercial chief at WFCA^ 

ill tiellatly 6fT WOR 

William B. Gellatly has quit as 
sales manager at WOR, New York. 

Leaving radio altogether to go into 
biz for self in Bermuda. 




S. E. Frost, Jr., of National 
Advisory Coiihcil on Radio 
in Education, Tells Educa-: 
' tiorial Convention to Stop 
Blaming Other Peoplei foir 
Their Owii Lack of Real- 
ism 



HECKLED 



Columbus, May 
Educational radio's annual get-to- 
gether occurred, la^t week the 
museum bf Ohio State University 
with about 200 in attendance. Meet- 
ings were marked by several con- 
troviersial matters. Pedagogs In par- 
ticular didn't like the criticism lev- 
elled at them by S. . Frbst, „ of 
the National Advisory Council oh 
Radio Education. Educators .them- 
selves, else, were to 
blame for the loss of Ireciuencies 
and licenses, he said. Over 100 edu- 
cational stations once broadcasting 
are now silent. 

Delegates bobbed up several -ti ihes 
in an effort to refute the charges 
flung at them by Frost. Conditions 
within the ivy-clad walls of the 
various colleges Were responsible 
for the bungling, according to Frost. 
Usual attitude of the profs to 
blame commercial radio, 
eral Communications Commission, 
the devil and the heavy rai 

Of 203 licenses granted educa- 
tional institutions since 1921 some 



M.Pv Form Orchestra 



Cleveland, May 11. 
i Orchestra composed entirely 
of physicians is novelty stunt 
atlStation yj^K. Band includes. 
20 sawbones who play instru- 
ments a^ a private hobby. r. 
John W. ' Conwelt organized 
them at suggestion of John 
VOrpe, station's productiori 
manager. 

No bbvious plugs, but names 
of medics are so well known 
that orchestra rates plenty of 
publicity, 



81% were lapsed or sold.; Each 
school had a few enthusiasts but the 
admi •'.•E.tiohs were lukewarm, in 
the niai/i. Faculty members were 
indulgent condescending, would 
hot actively support radio programs 
of an educational character, licenses 
were not valued when they had them, 
now accusations iare hv .!id against 
businessrrien. Where . the reverse .was 
true farrsighted universities, 

etc., ib's importance a 

differeht story has been recorded. 

Lack of enteirtainmeht, lightness, 
showmanship in educational pro- 
grams as produced and broadcast by 
(Campus persbhhet also was a facto;*. 
Teaichers who had lecessary 
touch or talent could not get re- 
lieved from part of their, duties ejser: 
where to specialize on radi "They 
just did not have the time or energy. 

Irving Reis of Columbia in New 
York told the convention about the 
CBS workshop progrartis. 

Ernest LaPrade of NBC, New 
York, explained latbst dope on the 
technical side of musical presenta- 
tion oVer the air as one of seyeral 
talks oh production matters. iEdu- 
catOrs awarded an annual prize for 
'Let Freedom Ring,' which was 
WPA-presented over CBS under the 
direction of Nila Mac of the latter 
web. 





ives 




at 





Imitiators All 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Milton Berle took a brother 
comic oh the Radio lot to task 
for. pushing back the front brim 
of his hat,; Berle wanted him tb 
know that it was his. gag... 

Other comic ^ot back, *Di 
yoii ever hear of Napoleon?' 



NO VOX POP ON 
WINDSOR 




A spokesman for the Quai D'Orsay 
informed Paul White, CBS special 
events chief now in London for the 
Coronation, that the" French govern-? 
riient would hot permit any broadr 
casting of the impending marriage 
of the Duke of Windsor and Wallis 
Warfleld; nor any imposition' by 
radio on- the affairs of the couple. 

Talking on the . across-Channel 
phone f rbm . Paris the French gov- 
ernment's ofTiciai spokesman said, in 
response to While's earlier query, 
that use of telephone wires to broad- 
cast any activities of the couple was 
also banned by France. 

Conversation took .place yesterday 
(Tuesday), with White at once re- 
porting outcome to CBS' headquar 
ters in N. Y. 



WEEI WORRIES SHEPARD 



IntensUjr of New CBS Signal May 
Force Tanliee Exee i* Act 



Boston, May 11. 
John Shepard, 3fd, is reported to 
be considering moving the Ibcation 
of his WNAC-WAAB, Boston, trans- 
mitter, in order to cbntend with 
the intensity of the signal now be- 
ing laid down by WEEI'3 new trans- 
mitter. 

Latter now achieves a thorough 
spread over every point in the Bos- 
ton area and in addition does a 
blanketing job of the important Mer- 
rimac Valley, according to maps 
made available by CBS's engineering 
department. WEEI's antenna is Ib- 
cated two miles north of the hub of 
Boston. 



Rehearses With Gun— Dies 



Detrbit,' May 11. 

While rehearsing in his home a 
'tough-guy' role for skit over WEXL, 
Royal Oak, Raymond Budzanow, 24, 
shot himself fatally last week with 
a supposedly empty gun as a com- 
panion looked on. 

A feW hours before he: was. to ap- 
pear in the skit, Budzanbw was giv- 
ing his lines a final once-over. With 
the companion - provi ing the cues, 
the young ether actor ^ Was demon- 
strating a suicide when the gun went 

off. '■ - 



WHN's labor Huddle 



1 

I Labor huddle of Amefican Radio 
Telegraphists and Louis JC- idney 
of WHN, New Ypi"k, down for to- 
morrow morning (Thursday), .Galled 
to discus^ establishment , of new 
ing wage scale, regulation . of hours, 
guarantees of permanence in job.s', 
etc., for technibians of station, who 
claim now 100% organization, 
i Tiiere was a threat of a strike two 
' weeks ago. Trouble was temporarily 
smoothed whien union agreed to 
await L. K. Sidney's return f t-om 
Hollywtiod. Sidney returned over 
the weekend and immediately made 
an appointment through his assistant 
Herbert Pett.ey. 



Indianapolis^ May !!• 

Lenox Lohr doing a guest of 
honor at the Governor's Day outing 
at Lebanon, .Indiana, last week; had 
a bad moment or two. Havihg reeled 
oft several anecdote^ appropriate . tb. 
a Governor-'s Day outing, but nbt to. 
the chaste NBC netwbrk, Lohr went 
white when up stepped Jack Still- 
weU bf WIRE, Indianapolis, and 
sounded off, the ,musical chimes and, 
station identiflcalibn "juist as if the 
whole talk had been broadcast. 

it turned out to "be the Indiana 
boys pulling a rib on the guy from 
the big city. Probably first, time 
network prez ever got the dead mike 
biz; He took it good-humoredly and 
felt okay after reassurances that it 
was i rib. 

Next day Lphr was par tied by 
Eugene. Pulliam of WIRE at Colum- 
bia Club here for luncheon, with^ 
around 30 guests, including R. F. 
Blossom, manager of WFBM, CBS 
outlet here; Wai^d Dorell, Clarence 
Leich and W. W. Behrman, who re- 
spectively manage WOW6, Ft. 
Wayne; WGBF, EvansviUe; and 
WBOW, Terre Haute, all thr^e other 
NBC affiliates in Indiana; J. X Pritch- 
ard, prexy' of Indianapolis Power & 
Light Co., which owns WFBM here; 
Jacob Tarshish, Mutual's 'Lamp- 
lighter'; Glenn Van Auken, In- 
dianapolis lawyer, who holds the ' 
permit to build the third Indianapolis 
station'. Govs, -fownsend land 
Chandler, of Indiana and Kentucky; 
and Mayor Kern of Indianapolis. 

Lohr's views anent television, 
which he has been voicing in 'his 
nation-wide ■ jaunts, got big press 
splurge here. 

Gene Pulliam, Jr., son of WIRE 
owner, and in charge of the NBC 
outlet news-rOom,. annexed the gov-* 
ernor's outing golf cup on a 79, grps.^ . 
scOrie. 'Gridiron' razz session that 
victiini^ed Lohr' was handled by At 
WynKoop, Lebanon city, editor. 



Uoyd s Insures 
Louis Armstroiig 
Delivery in N Y. 



Paramount Pictures has taken out 
ai , policy of $5,000 from Lloyd's t9 
indemnify Standard Brands' in the 
event Louis Armstrong isn't die- 
livered back tO New York from the 
Coast by noon of the day preceding 
his May 28 broadcast. It's the first 
bond of thie sort obtained by a film 
producer and made payable to an 
air commercial. 

Armstrong is diie to leave by plane' 
for Hollywood immediately after 
his May 21 show for Fleischmahn 
Yeast on tlie NBC*blue (WJZ) link 
to do .a bit in musical With an all- 
colbrcd cast which Paramount will 
have in production by. that time. 
Armstrong's contract with the food 
packer stipulates that he be in New 
York- for all broadcasts, with the 
exception of the. period it would take 
to make a. single picture for Para- 
mount. 

Trumpetist. didn't want this lone 
exception to count until he went out 
this slummer to participate ih a Joe 
Penner prbduction for Paramount, 
and when the agency on the account, 
J. 'Walter Thompson, bbjected to the 
possibility oh the May 28 broadcast 
thrbugh failure of plane connections 
the producer came fbrWard with the 
indemnity propositiph. 



Fritz Blocki Divorce 



Chicago, May 1^* 
Suit for divorce was brought 
against Fritz Blbcki, of . the State- 
Lake theatre, .here, Friday (7), by 
Loui.se Barclay Boldchweck Blocki, 
a radio actress. Pair married three 
years ago. 

She was represented by Attorney 
Milton J. abalh. 



»0 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



TTednesdaj, May 12, 1937 



CBS Buys Sports 
Tennis Costs 





Intense bidding bietween NBC ^xiA 
Golumbiia for the broadcasl rights to 
Bjports everits has -spread to field of 
horseraci Gblumbia is ' trying to 
ti up the Kentucky Derby on a 
five-year basi During the past 
yreek this same network obtained 
the exclusive air rights to the: cham- 
pionship matches supervised by the 
U, S, Golf Association and the U. S. 
Lawn Teiinis Association. 

GBiS under contract to pay 
$10,000 a year for five years to the 
golf combine and $20,000 a year for 
the tennis rights. Aftfer CBS closed 
the USGA diear it discovered that 
one of the big matches \yiH be played 
on the westcoast. On the eastern 
ehd the time of this broadcast woUld 
be from 7 p^m. With the result 
that it could not be picked up unless 
a dock of commerciials were can- 
celled. In bidding for the tennis 
, inatcheg NBC stopped at $12,500, 

in the Cplumbi camp claim 



Baseball Epilogs 



Eief6re-and-afte;r the baseball 
games iis fated choice tinte . and 
is easy to sell. This added 
gravy has become a notable 
revenue item . for the stations 
taking play-by-play. Quarter 
hours, or longer, can be ped- 
dled' fore and aft, providing 
thef e<s .no product conflictioh. 

General Mills and Socony- 
Vacuum object to . any sponsor 
of their own: classification do- 
ing a sneak on the baseball 
bandwagpn. 



.GoriOG's; 

DIES IN COURT 



Saleisinan Sttinp VirrM Evans, Vl'SPA, 
Cbllapses While Testifying 



Spartanburg, iS, C; May 11. .. 

Sudden death ended H. A; Hamil-: 
ton's stiit against Virgil V. Evans, 
doing business as WSPA, here, last 
Friday (7 K While undergoing cross- 
examination, Hamilton, former New 
Yorker and more recently connected 
with the station is an •advertising 
representative, suddenly slurnped in 
his chair. Judge Arnold Mer- 
chaht hurriedly had a physician 
summoned and court attaches called 
an ambulance. Hamilton died en 
route to a hospital. 

iEie was suing vans, owner and 
manslger of the station, over certam 
financial considerations, he claim.ed 
had been promised in a .purported 
letter from Evans to him in New 
York in 1936. Late that year Hamil- 
ton came here and joined the WSPA 
staff. A^ter he left the station, he 
put on baiik nites for Wilby-Kiricey 
theatres here and more recently had 
held a .'gover nment position, the bank 
nites having been abandoned by the 
.theatres. Evans entered a general 
denial to all allegations. 

Fun,eral rites weire held here the 
night of Hamilton's death and the 
body Was taken to Camden, N. J., 
for burial. 




EAST and DUMKE 

"SISTERS OF THE SKILUET?' 

Knox, Gelatine Co.— CBS. Kel- 
logg'.s Corn Flakes-r-NBC. Comedy 
shorts for Educationali- 



is made that NBC started the auction 
furore by trying to tie up the broad- 
cast rights to the James raddock- 
jpe. Loui^ fight without first having 
a commercial committed to take it. 
For yeai's there has been a gentle- 
man's agreement between the two 
major, networks to refrain from pay- 
ing for sustai ihg sports broadcasts. 

CBS turned down : Jack Adams' 
bffet to get the rights to the fight 
for $66,000j which iwbuld give him 
$10,000 for his own. end, and set out 
to do business by itself. While Co- 
lumbia, was trying to find out who 
the responsible parties were for such 
transaction NB(!3 got Joe Gould, 
Braddock's mdnager, and Mike 
Jacobs, the bout's promoter, together 
and closed for $50,000; Buick will 
do the underwriting of this event, 
through the Arthur Kudner agency. 



Baltimore, .May 11. 
Hearst-owned WBAL will feed 
NBC-blue three coast-to-coast pro- 
grams coming weo/c-end in associa- 
tion with the running of the Preak- 
^iess at Pimlico oval Sat. (15) after- 
noon. 

On Friday night Gleiti McCarthy 
wjll interview jockeys and trainers 
of the three-^ear-qlds. whq will vie 
following day, along with young Al 
Vanderbilt, who is chairman of the 
conimittee publicizing the race as 
well as Maryland's top- ing hoss 
owner.- 

■ Running of the race will fed 
.to the liet, and on Saturday night 
the Preakness Ball ill be given a 
siihilar. 



BaUplayers Demand Coin; 
Gratis Guestiiig Gets Ha-Ha; 
$100 for Ruth; Cook/$300 



Baseball players ai'e not only in 
demand as guest-gabbers on network 
commercials, but haye learned; to 
ask for mazuma. Babe Ruth's twice 
a-weeker oyer CBS for Sinclair gas 
pays players a flat $100 for an ap 
pearance, and has had several turn 
downs . . f rorh a couple of diamond 
names, who held out for. bigger pay 
off. 

To {date Ruth has had as guests 
Tony Cuccinello, Kiki Cuyler, Buddy 
Hasset, Buddy Meyer. Tonight 
(Wed.) Paul Waner will put in an 
appearance.. . 

Bill .Terry, Giants* manager, has 
a standard raite of $500, and •won't 
cut. Mutual network wanted him to 
grace a special sustai ini^ b^'Q^dcast 
just before opening of season, but 
balked .at his money demand. Terry 
wouldn't cut, .and he got his figure 
from Al Pearce show, f oi: Ford Deal 
ers on CBS, later on, Burleigh 
Grimes, Dodgers' boss, also plucked 
half a grand from the Pearce pro- 
gram. 

Joe Cook's iSat. NBC-red period 
for Shell has also been investing in 
baseballers since season opened. Pro 
gram has pkid players $300 for a 
march up to the rtiike. To date Bob 
Feller, Dizzy Dean and Carl. Hubbell 
have, collected. 



Detroit. May 
Writ of mandamus to compiel 
Western Union to furnish WJBK 
with telegraphic reports of Dettoit 
Tigers' out-of-town, balseball .° gameis 
was denied Mbhday (lO).by Federal 
Judge Ernest O'Bri . Latter inti- 
mated he had;. no jurisdiction since 
no one complained vvhen W. XJ; filed 
its tariff list with F. C. C. 

WJBK plans to carry fight 
F. C. C;. aided by other stations. 



to 



Uiiioii Vs. WPA Music 



San FranciscOj May .11. 

Despite the recent ban against 
broadcasts by WPA musical organir 
zations effected in a ruling of San 
Francisco Local No. 6 of the Ameri'-. 
can Federation of Musicians, station 
KGGC here is airing regularly 
transcriptions made by WPA talent. 

Permission for use of the records 
was siecured from WPA execs in 
WashingtoiL 



N. Y. Ball Clubs 
Reaffirm Group 




How to Handle Sponsors and Jokes 

By Hal Block 



Rule number one: tay iii good with the sponsor. If he wants you 
change a joke do so. It is very siiiiple. 
Example— -Comedian: I found a poverty stricken, skunk. 

Stooge: What do you ;ihean a- poverty .stricken skunk. 
Comedian: It didn't have a scent. 

, Now Efupposing the sponsor objects to the wotd scent. 
Joke can easily be changed. Viz.: 
Comedian: I found a poyerty stricken skunk. 
.Stooge: What db you mean a poverty stricken skunk? 
Coniedian:' it didn't: have, a farthliag/ ' 



Rule nurhber two: Always have the joke on the coirtedian. 
Example— Comedian: Say; i'll have you know I'lh the comedi 
program.. 

• Stooge: That's what, you think (this will Invariably bri 
belly laugh). 

or-' 

Comedian: All I. can say is there; is certainly a bi 
on .this program, . . 

Stooge: Quit talking about yourself (this is also very forte),. 



Rule, number three: ild up yoUr jokes so that the slowest 
tan get it. 

'Example— Comedian: Who was that lady I saw you with last, 
Stdoge: , What was that? 

Comedian: I -said who was that lady I saw you with last hite?. 
Stooge: Oh, who v/as.that lady you saw me with last niie? 
Comedian: Yeah, who was it? 
Stooge: Why that y?as no lady, that wais my Wife. 
Comedian: .( isgustedly.) ITiat was no lady, that was niy 
wife. See her-e you, 

If your network reaches New Mexico jand Southeast: Flor- 
ida another repeat of the ^ag might not be a bad idea. 



Owners of the three ma joir league 
ball- clubs — ^^Dodgers, and 
Yanks — in the N. Y.. area met last 
week .and irmed their agree- 
ment not' to sell air ri their 

games, accomplishied 
jointly. 

Several years ago the three clubs 
signed a pact to sidestep radio over- 
tures until 1040. At that time Horace 
Stoiieham, iants* prez, was the 
gui ing spirit. This season Stoneham 

acquired the franchise of the Albany 
(Int. League) team, moving club to 
Jersey City, where air rights were 
peddled to General Mills for broadr 
casting over WHN, iN. Y. Carefully 
watching the situation, it is. .under- 
stood that Stoneham has come to the 
conclusion that broadcasting is an 
attendance boon thus far this season 
at the J. C. park. 

Giants' prez this year thumbed 
down .iain offer f rojrn General Mills of 
$1,000 per game for the right to spon- 
sor play-by-play description of the 
team's 77 home games. Since the 
N. Y. . Nationals, despite a pennant 
plucking outfit last season, haven't 
been doing top well at ti\e gate, ru- 
mors are rife that all three major 
clubs in Gi-eater N. Y. yfill .next 
season accept bids for air spohsor- 
shi 



Rule number four: 
to kid it with. 
Examples— There goes a floporoo, 



over, have a fevv ad li 



or 



Well, that certainly was a' lollapalooza. 

Well, there's an bmelettie for yibu. (This invariably takes the 
curse off the gag.) 



..Rule riuniber five: Ring in the name of the product into the program 
cleverly so it won*t seem so business-like. 
Examples: For instance, if you are on the Acme'Rye Bi'ead Company 
program you might do something like this: 
" Comedian: What do you mean well bred? 
Stooge: Well bred from the Acnie Baking Company is the 
nuts. (This is very acceptable. ) 

or 

Comedian: Horray! Hooriyl 

Announcer: And when you hear Hooi-ay think of Hoorye 
and when you think of Hoorye think of rye who and when 
you think of rye who think of Acme Rye who bring you 
this program. (Now. isn't this! jhuch nicer than a straight 
commercial?) 



Rule number six: 'Try not to use old /gags but if you mUst at lieast s 
'em so they sound new. 
Example— (Old gag.) COMEDIAN: YOtJ LOOK LIKE A MILLION 
DOLLARS. 

GIRL: YES, AND I'M JUST AS HARD TO MAKE. 
THE REVISED GAG WILL READ: 

COMEDIAN: MY LITTLE CHICADEE, YOU LOOK LIKE 
TWO CEN-rS. 

GIRL: YES, BIG BOY, AND I'M JUST AS HARD TO MAKE. 
(Can you recognize it now? ) 



O'KEEFE STALKS WRITERS 

Goes to Hollywood to Line tip 
Material-Providers for. July. 



Auto Classic Unsponsorei 



Indianapolis, May 11. 

Indications are that the , Memorial 
Day 5bb-mOe race; will not be sold 
for sponsbrship this year, ith the 
bi igs. behind the race having about 
givein up hope of sponsorship. 

NBC, Colunibia sind Mutual ill 
probably carry it sustai ing on pres- 
ent plans. 



Chicago, May 11. 

Chicago's city fathers have ottered 
for coniihercial etherization the 250- 
mile auto race Which will be held on 
the^ Grant Park roadway, on July .14.' 

Race will be held as part . of . the 
Chicago Cjhafter. Jubilee. Local sta- 
tipnis, with the exception Of the NBC 
stations, aren't interested in the race, 
since they are loaded with .baseball 
play-by-play^ 



Doc Levy's Laiid yacht 

Philadelphi , May U. 

'Doc' Levy, WGAU prexy, left his 
office Monday afternoon for Clam- 
deh shipyard to see when his new 
yacht will be finished. He returned 
driving new auto, modelled along the 
lines of a dachshund. 

Wise guy hanging .out the window 
quipped: 'Here comeis Doc driving 
the yacht up Chestnut street.' 



Sealtest Program Set to 
B'dcast from Exposition 

Cleveland, May 11. 
To daite the following network 
shows have been carded for broad- 
casting from Radioland, which opens 
with a flourish on May 29: Uncle 
Ezra, Fibber McGee and Molly, Fire 
side: Recital, 'Stainless' show with 
Mario Cozzi, Singing Lady, 'Girl 
Alone,' : Gene and Cllenn^ Sealtest 
prograirn. Cyclie Trajdes' show, Ben 
Bernie's Am. Can period, Guy Lbnri- 
bardo's Bond Bread period, General 
Motors' Hour, Phillip Morris, Bab^ 
Ruth's Sinclair oil show and the 
Gillette Community sing.' 

Other network (conimercials. for 
which' Ralpii B-- Humphrey, radio 
director of the Expo, and Arthur 
Cook, assistant and N.. Y, rep, are 
dickeHng, ; include Cilhrysler; . (bities 
Seryice,' Cocomalt and Texacd. CBS,' 
Mutual and NBC nets have- cardied 
regular pickups from the; Expo. Mu- 
tual \yill carry the heaviest sked of 
the four .webs, approximatih ine 
hours: weekly frbnri Expo 



Walter O'Keefe, accompanied by 
his mainager, Nelson Hesse, leaves 
next Monday (17) for Hollywood to 
line up a couple of writers for the 
series that the comic starts for 
Bristol-Myers July 7, replacing Fred 
Allen. Duo O'Keefe has in mind are 
now on the Packard show, winding 
up June 1. While on the Coast 
O'Keefe will do a guestee on the 
Chase i Sanborn program May 23. 

Another Coast chore will be that 
Of talking over with RKO execs the 
potentialities story ich 

O'Keefe sold to film company 
recently for $5;000. It's titled 'Roll- 
ing Stones,' deals with trailer 'addicts 
and was bought with the idea of 
having Helen Brodeirick . and Victor 
Moore head the cast. 



Bridge Fiesta Broadcast 

San Francisco, May 11. 

Pre.sented as pairt of the 'Radio 
Stars Night' which; will be part of 
the Golden. Gate Bridge Fiesta, cele- 
brating the opening of the (3olden 
Gate span, .the Albers Bros. Mill- 
ing Co.. program, 'Cood Morning To- 
nite,' will be broadcast from the 
Civic Auditorium on Tuesday,': May 
.25. Tiie regular cast, of . eight sing- 
ers and Gyula Ofmay's orchestra 
will participate. 

Show, produced by Erwin Wasey 
agency, is aired over the coast 
NBC-Red web, and will probably 
be the only commercial originating 
at the auditorium on this occasion. 



G. 0. m RADIO 
SHOWMANSHIP 
MAS 



FEMiE HYGIENE IS 
WXEO FAST BV CBS 

N.. -— 

io continues to icily ignore all 
overtures made for time by femme 
hygiene preparations. Latest bid was 
made to CBS by the N, W. Ayer 
agency on behalf of Veldown. 

Proposish was that sponsor would 
build a big one-hour weekly vari- 
ety show, and indulge ih no com- 
mercial copy other than mehlipn of 
the trade name as presenting the 
show. Columbia, nixed sumniarjly. 

Kotex has also never been able to 
use radi 



CBS Musicians on Notice 

Chicago, May 11. 

Columbia musicians were handed 
four-week closing notices oh Satur- 
day (8), by local CBS office, as a 
protective move. i 

Several changes in staff being con- 
sidered, arid some talk of a complete 
new inusician set-up. 



Washington, May 11, 
Touchiness of politicians about 
siudiene reaction culminated in ex- 
ceptional concessions last week when 
John D. M. Hamiltbn, chairman of 
Republican National Committee, was 
partly gagged for remainder of his 
series of broadcasts on public issues. 

With G.O.P. chiefs evincing un- 
usual boncern .about what the back- 
home folks say, party headquarters 
hastily revised . plans for airing the 
redrheaded committee leader vi 
Columbia and NBC. Instead of do- 
ing solo, Hamilton was turned 
into a glorified m;c., with pinch- 
hitters added to the program and 
given most of his time. Both webs 
cooperated with Republican office, in 
trying to cover up, but were unable 
to completely conceal fact that ar- 
rangements were shifted in response 
to grass-roots rumblings and uneasi- 
ness in Congress. , 

Sapolio was appli because po- 
litical pulse-takers feared Hamilton 
would pull a boner by making 
vicious attacks on President Foosc- 
yelt and, secondly, because the hi 
terlanders, particularly womeii, wcr 
tut-tutting, Hamilton's; marital diffi- 
culties which brought a separate 
maintenance suit by his wife ftc 
last month. 



Rambeau's New Man 

Chicago, May 1 I.- 
Hal, Holman has been added to 

the Chicago office of the William G. 

Rambeau Co., station reps. 
Was formerly with Paul 

Associates. 



WedneBday, May 12, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



31 



MANY 




DEALS PEND 




One of the Broadway press agents has launched an attack on the 
New York pulSlic school music teachers On behalf of a radio singer. 
Cimpaiign is tops in the letters-tOfthe-editor stunt how extensively 
employed by private press agents to get clients names in print. 
Essay over the radio singer's signature reads in part as follows: 
•To attempt to show the shortcomings of the present courses would 
only necessitate a wordy description and outline of what might be 
done, but suffice it to say that at present the courses fail to include 
material and subject matter which would make a complete under- 
, standing oi the rieasohs for the course and the impetus for continued 
intereist on the part of the students. In secondary schools the neces- 
si^ for a siinple presentation of the history of music in conjunction 
with the courses is uncalled for because by the time students have 
reached these grades they are fairly well acquainted with what music 
can and shoiild mean to them. But it is the younger children whose 
attempts to undjerstand a course which is merely presented sis a 
inathematical subject or a foreign language course fall short in ialmost 
every respect when it cdmes to reially appreciating and vmderstanding 
what music is.' 





New Bar Association Presents the Kilocycle 

Follies of 1937 



Washington, May 11. 

Merciless roastinjs for members 
and subordinates of Federal Com- 
munications Commission, climaxed 
first stunt dinner of Communications 
Bar Association Monday night. Lab- 
eled as informal, engineering confer- 
ence, event staged by radio lawyers 
before numerous government offi- 
cials included sharp harpooning for 
inconsistencies in decisions, delky in 
promulgating reallocation,, and vul- 
nerable personal characteristics. 
Executive cominittieemen adminis- 
tered, razzing, turning guns partic- 
ularly on Commissioners Stewart and 
Payne, recalling that Willard Hotel 
incident, and poking fun at engi- 
neers' predicament. 

Commish red tape drew . continu- 
ous jibes, with aittorneys poking fun 
at practice of making . decisions.; and 
then trying to find legal reasons, and 
capitalizing on internal feuds. Bed- 
faced commissioners, counsel, and 
engineers joined laughter over 
phoney broadcasts stabbing at Arde 
Bulova activities, sudden switch in 
plans to fill secretaryship, and sim- 
ilar recent incidents. 
. Speechless affair was. eniceed. by 
Louis G. Caldwelt prez, while ar-. 
fangemenfs were handled by Ben S. 
Fisher, Frank D. Scott, and George 
p. Sutton. 

Only business was acceptance of 
routinel reports. 



WRVA, Richmond Talb 
Own Sales Rep; Raymer 
Goes South for Rebuttal 



Paul Raymer, station rep, has been 
m Richmond^ Va., the past several 
days attempting, to straighten out a 
Kink which has developed in the rer 
wUpns between his organisation and 
WRVA. Station has been giving 
thought to establishing its own na- 
tional sales, setup in New York for 
fconomy purposes and as a prelim- 
inary step in that direction relayed 
notice to Baymer. 

Barron Howard, WRVA sales mgr., 
was in New York last week, and 
gaymer accompanied him back to 
Richmond to talk things over, with 
the stdtioh's other ^ exeCs, Similar 
situation popped last year but it was 
smoothed out and WRVA remained 
on Raymer's listJ 



Kiauber on CBS Board 

Edward KlaUber, Paul W. Kesten 
and M. R, Runyon^ all v. p;'s, have 
^een made members of the CBS 
board of directors. * 

Previously William S. Paley was 
ine .only CBS 'employee' represented 
on the network's board. 

Myrt and Marge's Ingenae 

ingenue is to be added to Myrt 
and Marge serial, daily over WABC 
«J ,2:45 p. m. Idea Is to build love 

Auditions being held by William 
*Iorris office. • 



RADIO EDTrORS' 
WAXtREVlEf 



Transamerican Broadcasting ft 
Television has arranged to 'preview' 
a disked . version, of its latest pro- 
duction, "The Uncrovmed King,* 
dealing with Lawrence in Arabia, 
tomorrow afternoon (Thursday), it 
will be two half-hour installments. 
Lionell Atwill heads the cast. 

Transamerica figures ' on making 
the preview for radio eds a regular 
thing, the . latter hearing them be- 
fore the shows; are offered, to ad- 
vertisers or agencies. Next one will 
be samples from the dramiaitization 
of Booth Tarkingtoh's This Boy . 
joe.' 



PHIL BAKER RENEWED; 
MAY HIT HOUYWOOD 



Although it doesn't distribute in 
that area^ Gulf Oil will provide Phil 
Baker with a Los Angeles outlet for 
his Sunday night CBS broadcasts 
if he goes put this Fall to make a 
picture. Account's hookup covers 
the east, south and midwest and runs 
as far west as Denver. Kansas; City 
miay also be added by the time the 
program starts emanating from Hol- 
lywood but in this instance there 
will be local distribution uiider way. 

Baker last week got a. new two- 
year contract with the usual options. 
Deal was handled between Young & 
Rubicam and Lyons & Lyons. Pro- 
gram goes off the air the last Sun- 
day in June and comes back Oct. 2. 



Boake Carter's Luck 



iladelphia, May 11. 
reaks pi timing on major events^ 
have marked Bpake Carter career.. 
Last week Hindenburg exploded at 
7:23, ith the Englishman skedded 
for the lanes. 22 minutes later.. rig- 
inai .script hurriedly scrapped as -he 
extemped .pn tragedy; 

Other breaks ^which Carter says 
have 'smeared him with luck' are« 

Death of King George V— 6;55 p.m. 

TWA plane crash .at; Pittsburgh 
with 15 killed— 6;45 p, m.. 

T^nnouncement of .finding of body, 
of Lindbergh baby— 6:18 p. m. 

General Motors strike settlement— 
6 p. m. 




Silinmer Will Probably belay 
Cohsummatibn : ^ — 'D o ii ' t 
Want to Work for T^lc- 
phphe Company' — First 
Phase of Station Expan-t 
sibn to Be Reached in 
Autumn 



BUCKEYE WEB 



iUyV?!; pwt ihfflOPen crevices in 
the |iui|;^al,|^J(ir(||rl§ injap will not be 
completed before next autumn. At; 
thiat time, according to present plans, 
the station li ing-up phase of Mutual 
will have completed its first cycle* 
Currently expansion negotiations 
concern the Pacific northwest, Ohio, 
south-pf -Richmond in Dixie and the 
Twin Cities. 

Mutual may include the Cleveland 
Plain Dealer group of stations in 
Ohio. With WHKi Cleveland, due to 
take NBC blue service, the situation 
will soon be considerably smoothed. 

.Imminence of summer will slow 
sbme of the pending deals as Mutual 
does not 'want to work fbr the tele-- 
phone company.' Line costis, top, 
are an integral part of the Pacific 
northwest problem amounting to 
some $90,000 annually: Don Lee at 
.present does not travel north of Sian 
Francisco. 

. Some further extension oi! Mutual 
Service into Texas is anpthei: possi- 
bility Pf the falL Mutual wants to 
have the 35 leading markets, coast- 
to-coast, plus supplements. Then 
thinks it will be competitively set 
up to tackle other problems inherent 
in organization's newness. Business 
volume for 1937 suggests, a gross pf 
around $2,500,()00. 

Not itemizing stations on the 

Colonial leg in New England Mutual 

facilities now include: 

NORTH ROUND ROBIN 

WON, OhlcaBo; GKLW. WlndsorrDelrolt; 
WGAB, Cleveland; WOR, Newark. 

SOUTH ROUND ROBIN 

WOBi Xewark; WFW, i*hlladelphla; 
WBAIj, Baltimore; WOL, WQshlnBtori; 
WRVA, Richmond; WCAE, Mtt.sburjrh ; 
WLW, Cincinnati: WSAI, Clnolnnntl; 
W3M. Nashville; KWK, St. Louis; WQN, 
Ctilcagp, 

WEST COASfT SECTION 

KSO, Dea Moines; WMT. Cedar Rnpld.s; 
KOIL. Omaha; KFOR. Lincoln; WIIB, 
Kansas City; TCTOK, Oklahoma City; 
KADA, Ada; ICVSO. Ardmore; IvASA, J31k 
City; ICCRC. Enid: KBIX. u.sUopcc; 
WBBZ, Ponca City; KGFF, . .Shawnee; 
KFKL. Denver: KFICA, Oreelcy; KHJ, 
Loa ADfjelea; KDB, . Santa BarVimi; K(.r1i, 
San DIcKo; KFRC, San FranclHco; KCOM. 
.Stockton; KDON, Monterey; Kl'.MO, 
BaUorHnold; KFXM. Son Beriiurdlno; 
KVOE, Santa Ana; KXO., El Centro. 



Sandra Gould's Clocking 

Sandra Gould, of cast of 'Having 
Wonderful Time,' at the Lyceum, 
N. Y., is cast from time to t|me in 
'Court Pf Human Relations,' bank- 
rolled by Macfadden publications at 
9:30 p. HL, Fri days over CBS. 

Actresi^^*^"?h her legit stint 
at 9:23, '-^"fes for 

her to ' 
studio. 



., May. 

Penetration Mutual-Don Lee 
into the northwest is a topic- of per- 
sistent conversation among broad- 
casters hereabouts, C. W. Myers, 
president of the N;A;B.-, has clarified 
his position with regard to Mutual, 
If and wheh Mutual hits this terri- 
tory KALE may be interested, ■ but 
Myers, whose KQIN is ith CBS, 
has declined to actively initiate the 
promotion Of a horthwcstern loop;. 

. Portland and Seattle ai-e the mar- 
kets appeal i.hg to Mutual. Inclusion 
of other Oregon or Washington radio 
stations is considered remote. . KGL, 
Seattle is generally mentioned as the 
prospective Mutual station for that 
city. 

Tom Symons pf KFpy, Spokane, is 
due to have KXL, Portland if and, 
when F.C.C, confirmation is \tprth- 
cbming. 



Columbus, May 11. 
.United Broadcasting Co.'s Buckeye 
Network faded. recently when Crazy 
Water, Crystals cancelled the Georgia 
Crackers daily show. Although 
WHKC, Columbus, and WHK-WJAY, 
Cleveland, Were exchanging Upwards 
of 30 programs a; week, the Crystal 
half-hour was the young ' network's 
.•-•ofcial and the Columbus- 






ency 

stem m Ear- 
Idea Given Orally to Stenog 



Spokaiie Spanks 



Spokane, May IL 
Spokane F e d; c rati o n 
Women's, ibrgahizations 
Week went ion record .as op- 
posed to five radio prpgrams.. 
'March of Time' was called the, 
most prtensive; 'Johjn'sv'.bther 
Wife' was branded as. libel on 
business . men and . worrien; 
'Twenty Thousand Year^ 
Sing Sing,' 'Gangbusters' and 
'Pretty Kitty Kelly' were called 
generally offensive. 

These are the worst offending 
programs, ifeported a committee 
which has been investigating^ 
air prpgrams here two inbnths. 
Others will be named later. 






Lawrence Lowmani CBS V-P-. de-: 
blared Monday (11) that the net- 
work was nPt contemplating turning 
over its artists': bureau for operation 
to some outside • organization but 
what it might do is absorb an estab- 
lished talent booking organization. 
Main idea fpr this mPve would be 
to get a wedge into the booking end 
of the picture business and to ac- 
quire personnel experienced in that 
field. 

It is understood that. Larry White 
of Columbiia-s . talent selling; office 
has approached several Hollywood 
agents on' the sellout angle, but 
without any tangible results. 



DENVER RADIO ACa. 
DRAWS FTC FROWN 



Washington, May 11. 

Crack-down on Mauthe & Son 
Remedy Co, of Denver, was prom- 
ised by "the Federal Trade Commi 
sibn if putflt does not : ans\yer. a comr 
plaint against its 'Radio Active Hair 
Restorer' Within 20 days. 

Claims made in radio, talks that 
the preparation is not a dye and that 
it will not injure 'delicate scalps' 
are untrue, Commish declared, and 
Mary MaUthe, proprietor of the dye 
company, must quit falsely repre- 
senting product or: face a cease and 
desist order. 

Instead of restoring natural color, 
promoting. growth and generally im- 
:proving hair, tinting cpmpound is 
just another dye, Commish pointed 
out,, and may prove harmful 'when 
used by certain persons.' 



WLW Retags Frim listers ; 
Also Signs Cooway, Wester 

Cihcinnati, May: 11. 

Three acts , added to Crosley's. tal- 
ent staff this week: Modornaires, 
male vocal: and. instrumental fpiir- 
some, headed by Bill Cobway; llan , 
Wester, tenor, lately with the Buca- 
neers, and the Frim isters, vocal 
swing trio. 

pb Kennett, program manager 
for WLW, conducted auditions in. the 
Transamerican studio. He was. as- 
sisted by Arthur Chandler, Jr., Cros- 
ley's vet ear-bender, oh talent. 

Frim Sisters will Undergp a name, 
.change for their work on the 500,000 
Watter. Agented by Henry Frahkel. 



Cleveland line was yanked im.- 
mediateiy it went, off the. air. 

Thrire is some t^lk of reviving the 
Buckeye in the fall, within or in- 
clusive of a Mutual dicker now ap- 
parently being worked out. 



Very latest method by which an 
agency, in Qealing ith submissions 
of freelance program 'idea' persons, 
attempts to protect itself f rom, sub- 
sequent :plagiarism suits is the on 
adppted by the William Esty agency. 
And method imposes the Severest 
straps yet tied to the 'idea' thinker- 
uppers. 

When, and If . the freelance, gains 
access to the Esty script ogler,- his 
typ^d prpspectus is not looked at, 
rather he describes his brainchild 
while a secretary sits, by and takes 
his wprds down jn shorthand. De- 
iscription Is immediately converted 
into type, on a form upon which ' 
printed statement that the idea 
the property of* the agency, 
fprm must be signed, by the program 
ponderer before he is interviewed 
further; Form is also filled in with 
the figure the agency will pay the 
writer in . event, the 'agency's;, idea* 
is ever used. , 

Iron-Clad 

Fact that the aigned. form 
Iron-dad and -yet the Esty agency 
continues to get 'Idea^ conce Ivors to 
agree to its terms has other agencies 
cpnsidering adoption of same form, 
boors of agencies have been long 
locked to thinker-uppers and latter 
seem willing to sign almost, anything . 
to get ideas before a possible buyer, 

.Figure Which the Esty agency asks 
those interviewed to sign for accept- 
ance is rarely more than $100; more 
often' it is around $50. And in the 
signed agreement: there is no prom- 
ise that Esty will ever use any of 
the ideas submitted.. 



Lever Bros. Summer Wax, 
Seeks New Circulation; 
Uses NBC, Sidesteps CBS 



Ruthraiiff it Ryan is placing a 
pack of flve-min. e.t.'s for Lever 
Bros. (Rthso and Lifebuoy) on sta- 
tions from coast to coast for summer 
campaign. 

Agency is spotting the biz on NBC 
affiliates and indie broadcasters, 
skipping where at all possible CBS 
cogs, Thought is that Rinso and 
Lifebuoy Columbia net shows during 
winter sank, the grappling irons in 
one slice of public, so to get another 
listening group the opposish hinter- 
land stations will receive the warm- 
months' transcription campaign. 



itateDSTforD. C. 



Washington, May 11. 
ot dispute as to. whpther the. na- 
tion's capital shall join up with plher 
cities in daylight, saving for the sum- 
nicr months will be aired Wedriosr 
(12) and. the. next day oyer WRC, 

Talk. by Representative Lop, Sacks, 
Demberat, . pf . Pcnhsylyani , who. has . 
introdliGed a bill for sunlight extcn- 
siPn in the District of Columbi' . will 
make an appeal to the natives dui-ing 
the first prpgrajh. Gordon liitton- 
mar , WRC announcer, ill follow 
up Thursday .with his 'mari-in-lhe- 
sti-eet' prp/jram — contacting govern- 
ment worker,}! as tho leave- Ihei. 
buildings and. also slopping 
trians. and motorists to get 
i 



r-r, —y 

pale WimbroW's Revival 

Detroit, May ' 
Dale Wimbrow, skipper of the old 
'Natchez' program heard over. CBS 
several years ago, has resurrected 
the. show for thi-icc-weekly broad- 
cast over WXVZ, where he's produc- 
ing commercials. 

Wimbrow, who was known 
'Misslssi i Min.sti'cT on the old pro- 
granii guides the new 'shov>boat,* 
abetted by Marguerite Werner, or- 
ganist, who provides 'caliope' tunes. • 
Skipper also usinj,' lutmorous poems 
he's written but never published. 



30 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



CBS Buys Sports Exclusively; 
Tennis Costs $20,000, Golf lOG s; 
Braddock-Louis, WC, $50,000 



Intense bi ing between NBC and 
Columbia for tbe broadcast rights tq 
fepotts events, has spread to field of 
horseracing. Columbi is trying to 
tie up the Kentucky Derby on a 
five-year basis. During the past 
yreek this same ^ network obtained 
the exclusive air rights to the chamT 
i)ionship matches supervised by the 
U. S. Golf. Association and the U. S, 
Lawni Tennis Assbciatloni 

CBS is under contract iq -pay 
$16,000 a year if or 'five years to the 
golf combine and $20,000 a year for 
the tenniis rights. After CBS closed 
the USGA deal it iscpvered that 
one of the big inriatches will be played 
on the westcoaSt. On the eastern 
ieiid the time of this broiadcast would 
be froin 7 p;m; on, with the result 
that it could not be picked up unless 
a .flpbk of commercials Vere can- 
celled. In bidding for the tennis 
matches NBC stopped at $12,500. 

In the Columbia camp. im 



Baseball Epiloigs 



Befpre-and-after the baseball 
games^ is. rated choice, time, and 
is- , easy to sell.^ This added 
gravy has become a notaible 
revenue item for the statipns 
taking play-by-play. Quarter^ 
hdiurs, or longer, can be ped- 
dled' fore and aft, providing 
there<6,no product confliction. 

Geneml Mills and Socony- 
Vacuum object to any sponsor 
of their own classification do- 
' ing a sneak ph. the baseball 
b'ahdwagpn. 



is mkde that NBC started the auction 
lurpre by trying to tie up the brpad- 
cast rights to the James Br^ddpck- 
Joe Louis fight without first having 
a commercial cbmmitted to take it. 
For years theire has beien a gentle- 
man's agreement between the two 
major netwp^ks to refrain irom pay- 
ing fbir sustaining sports broadcasts. 

CBS turned down Jack Adams' 
offer to. get the rights to the fight 
for $60,000,. which would give him 
$10,000 for his own end, and set out 
to. do business by itself. While Co- 
lumbia was trying to find out who 
the responsible parties were for such 
transaction NBC got Joe Gould, 
Biraddock's manager, and Mike 
Jacobs, the bout's promoter, together 
and closed for $50,000. Buick will 
do the unde^^yriting of this event, 
through the Arthur Kudrier agency, 



DIES IN COURT 



Salesman Suing Virgil Evans, WSPA, 
Collapses While Testifying 



Spartanburg, S. C., May 11. 

Sudden death ended If. A. Hamil- 
ton's suit against Virgil V> Evans, 
doing business as WSPA, here, last 
Friday . (7)., While undergoing cross- 
examination, Hamilton, former New 
Yorker and more recently connected 
with the station as an advertising 
representative; suddenly . slumped in 
his chaii:. Judge Arnold R. Mer- 
chant hurriedly hiad a physician 
summoned and court attaches called 
ah Ambulance, r Hamilton died en 
route to a; hospital. 

He was- suing Evans, owner and. 
manager of the station,, over certam 
financial considerations he claimed 
had been promised ih .a purported 
letter from Evans to : him in New 
York in 1935; Late that year .Hamil- 
ton came here and joined the WSPA 
staff. After he left the station, he 
put on bank nitea for Wilby-Kincey 
theatres here and more recently had 
held a government position, the bank 
nites having been abandoned by the 
theatres. Evans entered a general 
denial to all allegations. 
, , Funeral rites were held here the 
liight of .Hamilton's death 'and the. 
body was taken, to Camden, N. J., 
for burial. 



Baltimore, May 11. 
Hearst-owned \yBAL will feed 
NBC-blue three coast-tb-cbast pro- 
grams coming we&k-end in associa- 
.tion with the running of the Preak- 
Iness at Pimlico oval Sat. (15) after^ 
noon. 

On . Friday night Clem McCarthy 
ill interview jockeys and trainers 
of the three-year-olds who will vie 
following day, along with young Al 
Vanderbilt, who is chairman of the 
coipmittee publicizing the race as 
well as Maryland's top-ranking boss 

Running of the race will be fed 
to the, net, and: on Saturday night 
the PreaknesS Ball will be given a 
similar ride. 



Detroit May 11. 

Writ of mandamus to compel 
Weiiterri Union to furnish WJBK 
•with telegriiphic reports of Detrpit 
Tigers' but»ofrtown baseball games 
\vas/d^nied Monday (10) by Federal 
Judge Ernest 6'Bri Latter intir 
mated he had 'no jurisdiction since 
no one complained when Wi U. filed 
its WiflS list with F. C. e. 

WJBK plans to carry fight , to 
F. C. C. aided by other sta^tiohs. 



Union Vs. WPA Music 



Ballplayers Demand Coin; 
Gratis Guesting Gets Ha-Ha; 
$100 for Rutb; Cook, $300 

Baseball players are not only in 
demand as guest-gabbers on network 
commercials, but . have learned to 
ask for mazuma. Biabe Ruth's twice- 
a-weeker pver CBS for Sinclair gas 
pays players a flat $100 for an ap- 
pearance, and has had sevieral turn- 
downs from, a couple' of diamond 
names, who held out for bigger pay- 
off. 

To date Ruth has had as guests 
Tony Cuccinello, Kiki Cuyler, Buddy 
Hasseti Buddy Meyer. Tonight 
(Wed.) Paul Waner will put in an 
appearance. 

Bill Terry, Giants- manager, has 
a standard rate of $500, and won't 
cut. Mutual network wanted him to 
grace a special sustaining broadcast 
just before opening of seasbn, but 
balked .at . his money demand. Terry 
wouldn't cut, .and he got his figure 
from Al Pearce show fbr Ford Deal- 
ers on CBS later on. Burleigh 
Grimes, Dodgers' boss, also plucked 
half a grand from the Pearce pro- 
gram. 

Joe Cbok's, Sat. NBC-red period 
for Shell has also been investing in 
baseballers since season opened. Prb- 
gram has. pkid players $300 for a 
march up to the mike. To date Bob 
Feller, Dizzy Dean and Carl Hubbell 
have cbllecled. . 




EASTandDUMKE 

"SlSTERS OF THE SKlLLET" 

Knox; Gelatine Co.--CBS. Kel- 
Ipgg's ebrn Flakes-^NBC. Comedy 
shorts for Educational. 



N. Y. BaU Clubs 




Auto Classic Unspdnsored 



Indianapolis, May 11. 

Indications are that the Memorial 
Day 500-mile r^ce will not be sold 
for sponsorship this year, ith the 
bigwigs behind the race having about 
given up hope of sponsorship. 

NBC, Columbi and Mutual will 
probably carry it sustaining on pres- 
ent plans.. ' 



Owneirs of the. three major league 
ball clubs — Dodgers, Giants and 
Yanks-r-in the N. Y.. area met laiist 
week irnied ^heir -agree- 

ment sell : air .their 

games, acconiplished 
jointly. 

Several years ago the three clubs 
signed a pact to sidestep radio over- 
tures until 1940. At that time Horace 
istoheham. Giants' prez, was the 
gui ing spirit. This season Stonieham 

.acquired the franchise of the Albany 
(Int. League) teanri, moving club to 
Jersey City, where air . rights were 
peddled to'Geneiral Mills for broad- 
casting oyer WHN, N. Y. Carefully 
watching the situatlpn, it is uhder- 
stbod that Stoiieham has come to the 
cphclusion that broadcasting is an 
attendance boon thus, far this season 
at the J. C- park. 

iants' prez is year thumbed 
down an offer from General <Mills of 
$1,000 per game for the right to spon- 
sor play-by-play description of the 
team's 77 home games. Since the 
N. Y. Katiohals, despite a pennant 
plucking outfit last season, haven't 
been doing too .well at the gate, ru- 
moris are rife that all three major 
clubs in Greater N. Y. will next 
season accept bids for air sponsbr- 
shi 



San. Francisco, May II.. 

Despite the recent ban against 
brpadcasts by WPA niusical organi- 
zations effected in a ruling of San 
Francisco Local No. 6 of the Ameri- 
can Federation bf Musicians, station 
ICGGC here is airing regularly 
transcriptions made by WPA talent. 

Permission for use of the records 
was secured from WPA execs in 
Wasbingtom 



Chicago, May 11. 
icago's city fathers have offered 
for commercial etherization the 250- 
mile auto race which will be held bn 
the Grant Park roadway on July 14. 

Race will be held as part of the 
Chicago Charter Jubilee. Local sta- 
tions, with the exception of the I^BC 
stations, aren't interested in the race, 
since they ai-e . loaded with baseball 
play-by-play. 



Doc Levy's land Yacht 

Philadelphia, May 11. 

'Doc' Levy, WCAU prexy, left his 
office' Monday afternoon for Cam- 
:den shipyard to see when his new 
yacht will be finished. He returned 
driving new auto modelled along the 
lines of a dachshund. 

Wise guy hanging out the window 
quipped: 'Here tomes Doc driving 
the yacht up Chestnut strieet.' 



Sealtest Program Set fo 
B'dcast from Exposition 

Cleveland, May 11. 

To date the following net\york 
shows have been carded for broad- 
castihg froni Radioland, which opens 
with a flourish on May 29: Uncle 
Ezra, Fibber McGee and Molly, Fii:e- 
side Recital, 'Stainless' show with 
Mario Cozzi, Singing Lady, 'Girl 
Alone,' Gene and Glenn,. Sealtest 
program. Cycle Trades': show, Ben 
Beriiie's Am'. Can period, Guy Loni- 
b.ardb's Bond Bread period. General 
Motors' Hour,' Phillip Morris, Bab^ 
Ruth's Sinclair oil show arid the 
Gillette Community sing.- ' 

ther. network commercials for 
which' Ralph ..B. Humphrey, radio 
director of the EJcpo, arid Arthur 
Cook, assistaint and N. Y. are 
dickering, include Chrysler, ities 
Service, Cocbmalt arid Texaco. CBS, 
Mutual and .NBC jriets have? carded 
regular , pickups fi:om the Expo^Mu- 
tual will carry the heaviest sked of 
the. fpiir webs,^ apprbximatirig nine 
hours Weekly from Expo igrbunds. 



Bridge Fiesta Broadcast 

San Fraricjsco, May .11. 
resented, as part of the 'Radio 
Stars Night' which will be part of 
the Golden Gate Bridge Fiesta, cele- 
brating the opehirig of the Gblden 
Gate spian, the Albers Bros. Mill- 
ing Co. program, 'Good Morning To- 
riite,' Avill be broadcast, from the 
Civic Auditorium- pn Tuesday, May 
25. The regular cast of eight sing- 
ers and GyUla Ormay's orchestra 
Will participate. 

Show, produced by Erwin WasCy 
agency, is aired over the coast 
NBC-Red web, and will probably 
be the only commercial originating 
at the auditorium on this occasion. 



How to Handle Sponsors and Jokes 



J3r Hal Block 



llule number one; Stay In gobd with the sponsor, 
change » joke do so. It is very siniple. 
Exathpie— Comedian: I foimd a ppverty stricken skunk. 

Stpoge: What do you nieah a ppverty stridken skunk. 
Cpmedian: It idn't have a scent. 

Now. supposing the isppnsor objects to the word scent, 
joke can easily be changed. Viz.: 
Cpmedian: .1 found a. ppverty stricken skunk. 
StQOge;,:What do you mean a poverty strict skunk? 
Comedian: It didh^t have a farthlnrl ' 

Rule number two: Always have the jPke on the cpniediah. 
• Example — Cornedian: Say; I'll have you know I'm the comedi 
program. 

- Stooge: That's what you think (this will invariably bring a 
belly lau^h). 

Comedian: ' All I can isay ig dummy 

on this program. 

Stooge: Quit talking about . yourself (this is also very forte).. 

Rule number three: Build up ybur jokes so that the slowest listener 
can get;:i't; 

Exanrtple---Cpmedian:/ Who was that .lady I siaiw you with 
Stbogie: What was . that? 

Comedian; I.said who was that 'lady I saw ybu with last nile? 
Stooge: Oh, who was that lady you saw me with last nite? 
Comedian: Yeah, who was it? 
Stooge: Why that Was no laidy, that was my wife. 
Comedian: (Disgustedly.) That was no lady, that was my 
wife. " See; here you,, etc. 

If your network reaches New Mexico >nd Southeast Flor- 
Idai another repeat 6f the <gag might hot. be a bad i 



Rule numbet" fpur: If a gag doesn't go over, have a few ad li 
to kid it with. 
Examples — There gPes a flopibroo, 

or 

Well, that certainly was a lollapalooza, 

. ' . . ' or 
Well, there's an omelette for you. (This invariably takes the 
curse off the gag. ) 



Rule number five: ing in the name of the proiduct Intb the program 
cleverly so it won't seeni so busii>ess-iike. 
Examples: For instance, if you are on the Acme Ryei Bread Comi)any 
program you might do something like this: 
Comedian: What do you mean well bred? 
Stooge: Well br^d from the Acme Baking Company is the 
.nuts. (This is very acceptable.) 

or 

Comedian: Horray! Hooray! 

Announcer: And when you hear HoPray think of Hooryc 
and whien you think of Hborye think of rye who and when 
you think of rye who . think of Acme Kye Who bring ybu 
this program. (Now isn't this much nicer than a straight 
commercial?) 



Rule number six: ry not to use old gags but if you must at least switch 
'em so they sbund new. 
Example-^(01d gag:) COMEDIAN: YOU LOOK LIKE A MILLION 
DOLLARS. 

GIRL: YES, AND I'M JUST AS HARD TO MAKE. 
THE REVISED GAG WILL READ: 

COMEDIAN: MY LITTLE CHICADEE, YOU LOOK LIKE 
TWO CENTS. 

GIRL: YES, BIG BOY, AND I'M JUST AS HARD TO MAKE. 
(Can you recognize it now?) 



O'KEEFE STALKS WRITERS 

Goes to Hollywood to Line tTp 
MaterlalrProvlders for July 



Walter O'Keefe, accorilpanied by 
his manager. Nelson Hesse, leaves 
next Monday (17) for Hollywood to 
line up a couple of writers for the 
series that the comic starts for 
Bristol-Myers July 7, replacing Fred 
Allen. Duo O'Keefe has in mind are 
now on the Packard show, winding 
up June 1. While on the Coast 
O'Keefe will do a guestee on the 
Chase i Sanborn prograrii May 23. 

Another Coast chore Will be that 
pf talking over with RKO execs the 
potentialities of story which 
O'Keefe sold to the film company 
recently for $5,000. It's titled 'Roll- 
ing Stones,' deals with trailer addicts 
and was bought with the idea of 
having Helen Broderick and Victor 
Moore head the cast. 



FEMME HYGIENE 
NIXED FAST BY CBS 

I^adib continuies to icily igriore all 
overtures made fbr time by femme 
hygiene preparations. Latest bid was 
made to CBS by the N. W. Ayer 
agency on behalf of Veldown. 

PropoSish was that sporisor would 
build a big one-hour weekly vari- 
ety show, and indulge in no com- 
mercial copy other than mention of 
the trade name as presenting the 
show. Colupibia n.ixed suhimarily. 

Kotex has also never been able to 
.use radio. 



CBS Musicians on Notice 

icago. May 11. 

Columbia muisicians Were handed 
four-week closing notices on Satur- 
day (8), by local CBS office, as a 
protective move.' 

Several changes in staff being con- 
sidered, and some talk of a complete 
new musician set-up. 



G. 0. P.^ RADIO 
SHOWMANSHIP 
IDEAS 



Washington, May 11. 

Touchiness of politicians about 
atidiene reaction culminated in ex- 
ceptional cpncessions last week when 
John b. M. Hamilton, chairman of 
Republican National Committee, was 
partly gagged for remainder of his 
series of broadcast^ on public issues. 

With G.O.P. chiefs evincing un- 
usual concern about what the back- 
hbme folks say,' party headquartiers 
hastily .revised plans for airing the 
red-headed committee leader vi 
Columbia and NBC. Instead of do- 
ing a solo, Hamilton was turnied 
into a glorified m:c., With inch- 
hitters padded to the program and 
giyen most, of his time. Both webs 
cooperated With Republican office in 
trying to cover up, but were urtable 
to completely conceal fact that ar- 
rangenients were shifted in response 
to grass-ropts rumblings and uneasir 
ness in Congress. 

Sapblip was applied because po- 
litical pulse-takers feared Haniillon 
would pull a boner by making 
vicious attacks pn President Roose- 
velt and, secondly, because the hin- 
terlanders, particularly wonrien, wcr 
tut-tutting Hamilton's marital diffi- 
ciilties which brought sepfiiate 
maintenance suit by his wife ]»1e 
last month. 



Ranibeau's New Man 

Chicago, May H- 
Hal Holnrian has been added 
the Chicago office of the William 
Rambeau Co., station reps. 

Was formerly with Paul 
Associates. 



Wednesday, Mvf 12, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



31 





Broadway S(Mirship 



One of the Broadway press agents has launched an attack oh the 
New York puBlic school music teachers oh behalf of a radio singer. 
Campaign is tbps in the letters-tb-the-editor. stunt now extensively 
employed by private press agents to get clients names in print. 
Essay over the radio singer's signature reads in part as follows: 
'To attempt to show the shortcomings of the present courses would 
only necessitate a wordy diescription and outline of what might be 
done, but suffice it to say that at present the courses fail to. include 
material and subject matter Which woiild make a complete under- 
standing of the reasons for the course and the impetus for continued 
ihterest on the part of the students. In secondary schools the neces-< 
sitV for a simple presentation of the history of music in conjunction 
with the courses is uncalled for because by the time students have 
reached these grades they are fairly well acquaihted with what music 
can and should mean to them; But it is the younger children whose 
attempts to understand a cotirse which is merely presented - as a 
mathematical subject or a foreign language course fall short in almost 
every respect when it comes to really appreciating and understanding 
what muisic is/ 





lOWttOWH 




New Bar Association Presents the Kilotycle 

Follies of 1937 



Washington, May 11, 

Merciless roasting for members 
and subordinates of Federal Com- 
munications Commission, climaxed 
first stunt dinner of Communications 
Bar Associiation Monday night. Lab- 
eled as informal engineering confer- 
ence, event staged by radio lawyers 
before numerous govemiiient offi- 
cials included sharp harpooning for 
inconsistencies in decisions, delay in 
promulgating reallocation, and vul- 
nerable personal . , characteristics. 
Executive committeemen adminis- 
tered razzing, turning guns partic- 
ularly on Commissiphfers Stew;art and 
Payne^ recalling that Willar^ Hotel 
incident, and . poking fUn at engi- 
neers' predicament. 

Commish red tape drew . cbhtinu- 
ous. jibes, with attorneys poking fun 
at practice of making decisions, and 
then trying to find, legal reasons; and 
Capitalizing on internal feuds^ Red- 
faced commissioners, counsel, and 
engineers joined laughter over 
phoney broadcasts stabbing at Arde 
Bulova activities, sudden switch in 
Plans to fill secretaryship, and sim- 
ilar recent, incidents. 

Speechless ' affair was emceed by 
Louis G. Caldwell, prez, while ar- 
rangements were handled by Ben S. 
Pisher, Frank D. Scott, and George 
O. Sutton; 

Only business was acceptance Of 
routine reports. 



WRVA, Ricbnond Talks 
Own Sales Rep; Raymer 
Goes South for Rebuttal 



Paul Raymer, station rep, has been 
in Richmond, Va., the past several 
days attempting to straighten put a 
kink which has developed in the re- 
lations betweeh his organisation and 
WRVA. Station has been giving 
thought to: establishing its own na- 
tional sales setup in New York for 
economy purposes iand as a prelim-, 
ihary step in that direction relayed 
notice to . Raymer. ' 

Barroh Howard, WRVA sales mgr., 
was , in New York last week, and 
Raymer accompanied him back to 

ichmond to talk things over with 
the station's other exeCs. Similar 
situation pppped: last year but it was 
smoothed out and WRVA remained 
on Raynier's list. 



Kbiiber on CBS Board 



Edward Klauber, Paul W. Kesten 
and M, R. Runyon, all v. p.- s; have 
oeen made members of the GBS 
board of directors. 

Previously William S. Paley was 
the Only CBS 'employee' repreg,ented 
on the network's board. 



Myrt and Marge's Ingrenae 

IngesnUe is to be added to Myrt 
and Marge serial, daily over WABC 
at 2:45 p. m. Idea is tp build love 
interest. 

Auditions being held by William 
Morris office. 



RADIO EMTiHlS' 
WAXTREVIEW 



Transamerican Broadcasting, & 
Televiision has sirranged tp 'preview' 
a disked version, of its latest pro- 
duction. The Uncrowned King,* 
dealing with Lawrence in Arabia, 
tomorrow afternoon - (Thursday) . It 
will be two half-hpur installments. 
Lionell Atwill heads the cast. 

Transamerica figures oh making 
the preview for radio eds a regtilat 
thing, the latter hearing them be- 
fore the shows arie offered to adr 
vertisers. or agencies. Next one will 
be samples from the dramatization 
of Booth Tarkinjgton's This Boy 
Joe.' 



PHIL BAKER RENEWED; 
MAY HIT HOUYWOOD 



Although it .doesn't distribute in 
that area. Gulf Oil will provide Phil 
Baker with a Los Angeles outlet f or 
his Sunday night CBS broadcasts 
if he goes out this Fall to make a 
picture. Account's hookup covers 
the east, south and midwest and runs 
as far west as Denver. Kansas City 
may also be added by the time the 
program starts emanating from Hol- 
lywood but in this instance there 
will be local distribution under way. 
• Baker last week got a new two- 
year contract With the usual options. 
Deal was handled between Young & 
Rubicam and Lyons .& Lyons, Pro- 
gram goes oft the air the last Sun- 
day in June and comes back Oct. 2. 



Boake Carter's Luck 



. PhiladiBlphia^ May 11. 

Breaks Of timing on major events 
have marked Boake Carter career. 
Last week Hindenburg exploded at 
.7:23, ith the Englishman skedded 
for the lanes 22 . minutes later'. Orig- 
inal script hurriedly scrapped as he 
extemped oh tragedy. 

Other breaks which Carter says 
have 'smeared him^with luck' are:; 

Death of King George Vr-6:55 p.m. 

TWA plane crash at Pittsburgh 
With 15 killed-^6:45 p. m. 

Anr^ouncement of finding of body 
of Lindbergh baby— 6:18 .p. iri. 

General Motors strike settlement— 
6 p. m. 

Sandra Gould's Clocking 

Sandra Gould, of cast of 'Having 
Wonderful Time,' at the Lyceum, 
N. Y., is cast from time to, time in 
'Court of Human Relations,' bank- 
rolled by Macfadden publications at 
9:30 p. ipi. Fridays pver CBS. 

Actress is through her legit stint 
at. 9:23, leaving seven minuteS for 
her to tnake the seven blocks to the 
studio; 




Summer Will Probably Delay 
Cbnsummaf ion > — 'D on ' t 
Want to Work for Tele- 
phone Company* — • First 
Phase of Station Expan- 

to Be Reached 
Autumn 



DEALS PEND 



Esty Agency develops hotectiv^ 
System in Ear-Opening Move; 
Idea Given OraDv to 



BUCKEYE WEB 



Filliiyi^.put oMl%op9n crevices in 
the ,:^[^itj^liMHri€ msi) wiU not be 
ppinpleted before hext ' autumn. At 
that time, according to present plans, 
the station lining-pp phase of Mutual 
will have completed its first cycle. 
Currently expansion negotiations 
concern the Pacific northwest, Ohio, 
south-of-Richmbnd in Dixie and the 
Twin Cities. 

Mutual may include the Cleveland 
Plain Dealer group of stations in 
Ohio. With WHK, Cleveland, due to 
take NBC blue service, the situation 
will soon be considerably smoothed. 

Imminence of summer will slow 
some of the pending deals as Mutual 
does not 'want to work for the tele- 
phone company.' Line costs, too, 
are an integral part of the Pacific 
northwest problem amounting to 
some $90,000 annually. Don Lee at 
.present does not travel north of San 
Francisco. 

Some further extension of Mutual 
Service into Texas is another possi- 
bility of the fall. Mutual wants to 
have the 35 leading markets, coast- 
to-coast, plus supplements. Then 
thinks it will be competitively set 
up to tackle other problems inherent 
in organization's newness. Business 
volume for 1937 suggests a gross of 
around $2,500,000. 

Not itemizing stations on the 

Colonial leg in New England Mutual 

facilities now include: 

^ORTH ROUND ROBIN 

WON, Chicago ;'CKLW, Windsor-Detroit; 
WOAR. Cleveland; WOB, Newark. 

SOUTH BOUND ROBIN 

WOR, Newark: WFIL, Philadelphia; 
WBAIj, Baltimore^ WOL. Washington; 
WRVA, Richmond;, WCAE, PIltHburtrh; 
WLW, Cincinnati; WSAI, Clnclnnotl; 
W9M, Nashville; ItWK, St. Louis; WON. 
Ctilcagro. 

WEST COAST SECTION 

KSO, Des Moines; WMT, Cedar Rnplds; 
KOIL, .Omaha; KFOB, Lincoln;' WIIB, 
Kansas City; KTOK, Oklahoma City; 
KADA, Adn; KVSO, Ardmore; ICAS.V. KIk 
City; ItCRC, Enid; KBIX, Muskogee; 
WBBZ, Vonca City; KOFF, .Slimvnce; 
KFBL, Denver; KFKA, Oreeloy; KHJ, 
Los Angoles; KDB, Santa Barbtnii; KCB, 
Son DIepro; KFRC, San Francisco; KCJPM, 
.Stockton; KDON, Monterey; Kl'MC, 
Bnkorsllcld; KFXM. San Bernardino; 
KVOK, Santa Ana; KXO, El Centro. 



Portland, Ore., May 11. 

Penetration of Mutual- Lee 
into the northwest is a topic Of per- 
"sistent conversation among broad- 
casters hereaboiits. C. W. Myers, 
president of the .N.A>B., has clarified 
his position, with regard to Mutual. 
If and when Mutual hits this terri- 
tory .KALE may be interested, but 
Myers,: .whose .KOIN is ith CBS, 
has declined to actively initiate the 
promotion of a northwestern loop. 

Portland and Seattle are the mar- 
kets appealing to Multlial." Inclusion, 
of other Oregon, or ' Washington radio 
stations is considered remote. KOL, 
Seattle is generally mentioned as the 
prospective Mutual station . for that 
city. 

Tom Symons; of KFPY, Spokane, is 
due to have KXL, Portland i£ and^ 
wiien: F.C.G. riTiatioii is forth- 
coming. 




Columbus, May 11. 

ited Broadcasting Co.'s Buckeye 
Network if aded recently when Crazy 
Water Crystals cancelled the Georgia 
Crackers dally show. Although 
WHKC, Columbus, and WHK-WJAY, 
Cleveland, were exchahgln^g upwards 
of 30 programs a week, the Crystal 
half-hour was the young network's 
only commercial and tht Cblumbus- 



Spbkane Spanks 



Spokane, May ll, 
Spokane Fe^eratioii of 
Women's Organizations last 
week went on record as op? 
posed to five . ip prpgrams, 
'March of Time' was called the 
most oflfensive; ? John's Othfer 
Wife' was branded as libel on 
business' men and ylrpmen; 
TPwenty Thousand Yeiars at 
Sing Sing,' 'Gangbusters' and 
•Pretty Kitty Kelly' were <:alled 
generally offensive. 

These are the worst offending 
programs, reported a coilnmittee 
which has been investigating, 
air programs here two months. 
Others will be named later. 




AGENCY ANGLE 



.,. Lawrence Lowman, CBS v.p., de- 
claried Monday (11) that the net- 
work was not contemplating turning 
over its artists' bureau for operation 
to some outside prganizatlon but 
what it might do Is absorb ati estab- 
lished talent booking organization. 
Main idea for this moye would be 
to get a wedge into the booking end 
of the picture businesis and tp ac- 
quire persOnni&l experienced in. that 
field. 

It is understood that Larry White 
of Columbia's talent selling office 
hais approached several Hollywood 
agents on the sellout angle, but 
without any tangible results. 



DENVER RADIO ACCT. 
DRAWS FTC FROWN 



Washington, May 11. 

Crack-down on Mauthe &. Son 
Remedy Co. of Denver, was prom- 
ised by the Federal Trade. Commis- 
sion if outfit does not answer a com- 
plaint against its 'Radio Active Hair 
Restorer' within 20 days. 

Claims made in radio^ talks that 
the preparation is not a dye and that 
it will not injure 'delicate scalps' 
are untrue, Commish declared, and 
Mary Mauthe, proprietor of the dye 
company, ; must quit falsely repre- 
senting product or facie a cease and 
desist, order; 

Instead of restoring natural color, 
prohioting growth and generally im-' 
proving hair, tinting compound is 
just another dye, Commisli pointed 
out, and may prove harmful 'when 
used by certain persons.' 



WLW Retags Frinl Sisters ; 
Also Signs Cittoway, Wester 

Gihcinnati, May 11, 
V Three acts added to Croslcy's lal-; 
erit ..stall: this week: Modcrn.aires, 
.male, vocal and jristrumenlal four- 
some,- headed . by Bill Cooway; Allan 
Wester, tenor, lately with the- Buca- 
heers, and the Frim Sisters, vocal 
swing: trio. 

ob, Kennett, program manager i 
for WLW, conducted auditions in the 
Transamerican studiOi He was as- 
sisted by Arthur Chandler, Jr., Gros- 
ley's vet ear-bender on talent. 

Frim Sisters will undergo a name 
change for their work on the .500,000 
watter. Agented by Henry Frankel. 



Clevel&nd line was yanked ini- 
rnediately it went off the air. 

There is some. talk of reviving the 
Buckeye in the fail, within or in- 
clusive of a Mutual dicker now ap- 
parently being worked out. 



Very latest method by which an 
agency, in: Sealing with submissions 
of freelance program 'idea' persons, 
attempts to protect itself , from sub- 
sequent plagiarism suits is the one 
adopted by the William Esty. agency. 
And rnethod imposes the severest 
straps yet tied to the 'idea' thinker- 
uppers,, 

When and If the freelance gains 
access to the Esty script ogler, his 
typed prospectus is not looked at, 
rather he describes his brainchild 
while ia secretary sits by and takes 
his wOrds down, in Shorthand, De- 
scription Is immediately converted 
into type, oh a fprifi upon which is 
printed statement that the idea 'i3 
the property of the agency. Thii 
form must be signed by the program- 
ponderer before he is interviewed 
further. Form is also filled in with 
the figure the agency will .pay. the 
writer ih event the 'agency's idea* 
is ever used. 

Iroii-Clad . 

Fact that, the signed form, is so 
iron-clad, and yet . the Esty agency 
continues to get . 'idea' concelvers to 
agree to its terms has other agehcies 
considering adoption of same form. 
Doors of agencies have been long 
locked to thinker-uppers and latter 
seem willing, to sign almost anything 
to get ideas before a possible buyer; 

Figure which the Esty agiehcy asks 
those interviewed to sign for accept- 
ahce is rarely miore than $100; more 
often it is around $50. And in the 
signed agreement there is no prom- 
ise that Esty will ever use any of 
the ideas submitted. 



Lever Bros. Summer Wan 
Seeks New Circulation; 
Uses NBC, Sidesteps CBS 



Ruthrauff &■ Ryan is placing a 
pack of flve-min. e.t.'s for Lever 
Bros. (Rinso and Lifebuoy) On sta- 
tions from coast to coast for summer 
campaign; 

Agency Is spotting the biz on KBC 
affiliates and indie broadcasters, 
skipping where at . all possible CBS 
cogs. Thought is that Rlnso,. and 
Lifebuoy Columbia net shows- during 
winter sank the grappling irons in 
one slice of public, so to get another 
listening group, the opposlsh hinter- 
land stations win recclvO thie warm- 
months' transcription campaign. 



Agitate DST for D. C. 



Washington, May 11. 

Hot dispute as to whether the na- 
tion's capital shall join up with other 
cities in daylight saying. lor the sum- 
mer months will be aired Wcdnc.sday 
(12) arid the next day pvcr'WRC. ^ 

Talk by Representative Leo Sacks, 
Democtiatf of Pennsylvani , who has 
jritroduced a bill for sunlight extc 
sion in the.Dl.strict.of Columbia, 
make an appeal to the natives during 
the first program. Gbrdoh IliltGn.- 
markv WRC announcer, will follow 
up Thursday with . hi,<j 'man-in-the- 
strcet' progfam-r-coritacting goyern- 
•mcnt workers as they leave, thei 
bjuildings .and; also stopping .pedos- 
trians and motorists., to get. their 
i 



Dale Wimbrovr's Revival 

Detroit, May II. 

Dale Wimbrpw; skipper of the old 
'Natchez' program: heard over CBS 
several years iago, has resurrected 
the show for thriccrwcekly broad- 
cast over WXYZ, \yhere he's produc- 
ing commercialsy. 

Wimbrow, who was known as 
'Mississippi Min.sti'elVon the old pro- 
gram, guides the new 'showboat,* 
abetted by Marguerite Werner, or- 
ganist, who provides 'caliope* tunes. 
Skipper also using iuimorous poems 
he's, written but never published. 



$2 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 




These people paid 



*'Oiie of the best Pve 
ieen in years !"-C^ar/es 
Arodeci, 670 Bushwick 
Ave., Brooklyn. 



** One of the best! " Mary 
Synkeiv, Raritan, iV. / 





"Should be seen by 
eyerybody!" ^Nathan 
Schnippery 1486 Morris 
Ave., Bronx, 



Would advise everyone 
to see it!'* — Elizabeth 
Schwarz, 320 Washing- 
ton St., Hoboken, N. J. 





**MarYcli 
like a re 
Little fi 
steeli i< 
Ave., Br6 ( 



"As a mother I think it 
is the best picture I have 
seen !"--Mr5. R. Soklow, 
302 Eastern Parkway 
Brooklyn, 




MAKE WAY FOR TOI 

BEULAH BONDI, FAY BAINTER, THOMAS MITCHi 



1 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



VARIETY 



II 



MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW" surprised Hollywood 

At sneak preview picture-wise audience commented: "Joyous, touching and tragic^' 
, . /'absorbing". . /'tremendous panorama of life". . /'beautifully acted and direc- 
ted". ./^One of the most sincere pictures we have ever seen." Douglas W. Churchill, 

____ 

in New York Times of May 2nd wrote: "One of the finest motion pictiifes to 
emerge from Hollywood in many seasons/' 



MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW repeats in New York 

World premiere at New Criterion Theatre, New York, brought this amazing com- 
ment from newspaper critics: "An extraordinarily fine motion picture . , . may 
be counted upon to bid for a place among the ten best of 1937" — Frank S. Nugent 

New York Times. "Here is a motion picture masterpiece" — Robert Garland, Journal 

"31/2 stars . • . Deeply moving film drama" — Kate Cameron, Daily News. "A new, bold, 
handsome, infinitely stirring picture" — Bland Johaneson, Mirror. "Should not be 
missed"— Howard Bsirnes, Herald'Tribune. "Should be Seen by every mother, father, 
son and daughter" — Eileen Creelman, New York Sun. "Excellent. . . hard to remember 
" when the screen has been honored with a more bitterly tragic and truthful pres- 
entation from life." — Archer Winsien, New York Post. 




see "MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW" and loved every minute of it! 



> picture.,* 
family!*' — 

Fields 
5 Popham 




"Wonderful ...there 
aren't adjectives enough 
to describe ilV^-Stanley 
Mahler,212E,117ihSt., 
N. Y. C. 



"One of best pictures 
I have ever seen!"— Mrs. 
John J, Crowley, 3934 
New Hempshire Ave., 
Washington, D. C. 





*'We thought the picture 
>vas the nearest thing in 
life to ours!"— Mr. ond 
Mrs. Minhofer, 2035 
Palmetto St., Brooklyn. 



"Wonderful picture!'' 
^Kate Ross, 629 W 
115th St, N. Y. C 





Made me laugh and 
cry!" Ralph A. Marshall, 
22 Riverside Drive, 

^. Y. c. 



* Hundreds more commenU on file. 



with VICTOR MOORE Hfe 



Produced and directed by Leo McCarey 



34 



VARIETY 



RADIO REVIEWS 



Wednesdaj, Maj 12, 1937 





%M Radio, Feeds 
United States Bawdy Bedroom Farce 



By BOB LANDBT 

Vallee'^s Londoti broadcast 
last Thursday (6),, was notable for^ 
amdhg other thi 

(a) Sheer spectacularity in in- 
ternational radio showmanshi 

(b) A very/ very English ;an- 
: noqncer trying to put that Yankee 

into his descriptions of Royal 
Gelatine and sounding very funny 
ipd^ied to American ears. ■ 

(c) Charles L aught on doing^ 
*Lpve For Love,' naughty restora- 
tion farce by Congreve and doing 
it unexpurgated with the broadest 
sex innuendo probably, fever heard, 
on the customarily chaste Ameri- 
can kilocycles. 

Maybe, all things considered, iteih 
C ishould be mehtioried first. There 
•was a loud bellowing two years ago 
When, ia Mexican government-spon-' 
sored ^ program used, a song with 
Archaic Spanish lyrics that trans-, 
lated naughty. This Laughton ear- 
ful in English Was all too cleaf and 
prfecise afteir the fashion of its ero.tic 
iiuthor, who always managed to con- 
vey the thought. 

Beginning with, the loudest actor- 
generated kisses ever to leap the At- 
Isintic dcfeaii with the aid of radio- 
telephonic impulses, the indigo ses- 
sion with Elsa Lanchester (Mrs. 
Laughton) as tlie femme half was 
nothing more nor less than a slightly 
fancy siiduction scene, The dialog 
permitted no two interpretations as 
to what the. lilier tine had . iii mind 
after pushing open the bedroom 
door. 

Maybe it proves something about 
American adviertisers who. go. to 
liQndon for ispecial programs. Al- 
ways sophisticated, the Rudy Vallee 
Variety program has now passed tl^e 
Tubicpn. And it remained for Engr 
land, home of the 'superior' radio 
about which so much propaganda is 
.heard in American educational 
circles, to touch a new high — or low 
•^ih bawdiness. 

That 'Love For Love* thing may. or 
may not draw a .smacko reaction. 

tatlc Thursday night may have 
cushioned the Impact. But. whether 
a big. splash or just a minor ripple 
follows, it was a major blunder. It 
violated the radio proprieties so con- 
spicuously and so boldly that it must 
have given many thoughtful Ameri 
caii bi'o&clcasting executives goose 
pimples. 

Static was the unknown quantity 
of the program anyhow. On the 
Manhattan west side reception Was 
poor after a day of explosive elec- 
trical showers. Audience noise came 
through like the muffled roar of the 
stadium at a Yale-Princeton messing- 
arouhd. Both applause and laughter 
disturbing throughout A. T. & T. 
(not RGA) brought la program from 
]^,B.€., which broadcast in England 
' "but rigorously excluded commercials 
— eveh from studio audience. 

Vallee himself sounded best. After 
hitn Sterling Holloway's Lancaster 
dialect registered clearer. Oddity in 
that; And perhaps a fine tribute to 
the perfprmer's diction. Will Fyffe 
was crisp, but did not; have, quite 
the crystal ring of Hollo way. Engi- 
rieering or atnipspheric factors may 
of cpurise be the explanation. Binnie 
Hale suffered most from fading, al- 
though Richard Tauber*s high regis- 
ter did riot survive the journey weill. 

Program .was nicely timed; and ar- 
rariged barring the Laughton indis- 
cretion; (especially noticeable; coming 
duri the peak .of the burlesque 
clean-up in New York), and the cph- 
ceptiph and shpWmanly sPck of the 
whole undertaking are Worthy pf 
high commeridatioiL Vallee was 
gracious and tactful in a fPreign 
land; neither gushing over the Eng- 
lish nor bringing in; the hands- 
acrpss-the-sea- line of paitter. He 
brought With im a spiel abput real 
strawberries inster of chiemically- 
simulated ones. Iricluded, top, in-: 
evitably was the literary allusion, to 
the coronation and royalty and the 
'Royal' gelatin trademark of Stand- 
ard Brands. 

Assuming that static (frequently 
bad in west side Manhattan on 
stormy nights via WEAF) was not a 
seriou$ question elsewhere, the spon- 
sor had a good show for his money. 
And perhaps a gpoc' scare for the 
dip into the 'classics' from the old 
Vic. 




Jack Pearl's weekly stint anent 
the dialect tribulations of Baron 
Muhchhausen on last week's hearing 
(7) seem forced and unfunny, espe- 
cially in the latter half. ■. Pearl is a 
noted word-mangier, bat he . needs 
snappier hiatferial than this pi'esent 
script. 

Topical stuif about burlesque shut- 
down and Hollywood film strike is 
okay; aqd .many of thfe comic's pUns 
a BBg iftthy, but. the hbu^e decorating 
s^Bf«lll flat, a3 did the Mimchauisen 
DramAi Guild presentation of 'The 
PrivSe*€^ife bf.; Christopher Coluiri- 
bus' as the prbgram finale,. Latter 
sequence is... savied somewhat by. 
amusing sound effects and Tommy 
Dorsey's orchestral interruptions. 

Dorsey band fills in - some tricky 
rhythms in the 30-minute workout, 
with Edith Wright chirping a chorus 
or two . at intervals. Morton Bpwe, 
tenor soloist provided a singly bal- 
lad, smoothly sung, and 'SKiarley' 
Cliff Hall, as usual, straights effec- 
tively for the- baron.. \: 

Sponsoi-'s plugs for the two brands: 
of ciggies^is Handled'- by -ah lintr^uei?' 
tory spiel- (in - several Voices') -at-^thfeJ 
start 'Plus a somewhat'^- silly fifakle 
commercial in which a confab is held 
between a Kentucky Derby trainer 
and his. horse -i!Qnc^rj0D|&^}tbe->][>riadr 
iicts and their valuable premiums. 
Trainer seemed , to try to talk like 
W. C< Fields without much . sUccess. 
Chatter was tied up to the fact that 
sponsor finances the Derby broad- 
cast from NBC. 



Court of .Human Relations . period 
on . NBC, sponsored by True Story 
mag, went in for lot of intricate and 
unbelievable, plot- weaving in the 'I 
Betrayed My Own Son' installment. 
Story from the June issue of the 
mag, as per xisual, the court's verdict 
is left to the radio jiuy, with cash 
prizes, at a $100 top, for the best 
decision.' 

In .order to pack a complete dia- 
logic yam inta 30 muiutes it is, of 
course, necessary to skip rapidly 
through the action of a tear-jerker 
such as this,, but the result was too 
sketchy, in its development for com- 
plete listener cbriifort This partic- 
ular story, a success yarn climaxed 
by tragedy, is trashy stuff at best, 
and it is not belped by the double- 
quick methods Used, Fault is not the 
actors' for the playing is .okay. It 
is the story itself that fails to im- 
press, dUe to its jerky exposure. 

Prograin has the usual' organ 
background for atmosphere and 
Gharles O'Connor is the. announcer. 
Commercial plugi go a bit heavy in 
selling the merits of True Story. 

Delmar Edmnndsen, who has been 

the 'editor' on Heinz morning show 
(CBS), has enlarged duties now that 
guest stars' from the literary world, 
etc., seem to be but On the Friday 
(7) broadcast he delved into the 
relationship of Sir, James B^rrie to 
his mother. Tied up with Sunday's 
ihbther's day and' Barrie's 77th 
birthday. 

All in all, it was a touching mono- 
log that had been written in advance 
to bring but the rich human values 
and was delivered by Edmuhdson 
in just the right combination of 
sentiment and dignity. It was— as 
shefer talk can sometimes be — a 
dramatic one-two to the button. 



HINDENBURG CRASH DISC 
Herbert Morrison, Charles Nehlseh 
Talk ' 
10 MIns. 
Sustaining 

Thurs.« May 6 . 
WE AF— NBC; New Tork 

NBC shelved lO-year policy 
ai^ainst broadcasting recorded mate- 
rial in order tP b^-ing this extrapr- 
diriary documeM - to iisten«Jrs. It 
aired the disc oil two occasions the 
day after the catastrophe^ over 
the blue (WJZ) link at 5:30, EDST, 
and again over both the blue and. 
the red (WEAF) network at 11:30 
that night. What has been imprinted 
on . this platter Will likely serve as 
spine-.tingli stuff for years tp 
come, with the chances being thait 
it Will bfe Iparied from the WLS, 
Chicago library, each time, tha.t a 
program undertakeis to review the 
outstanding events of 193'? br tb pre- 
sent spme of modern 
tiragedies. 

Herbert: Morrison, WLS staff an- 
rioUncer, andi Chas. Nehlsen, ah ' en- 
gineer with the station, had come 
to Lakehurst N. 'J,, to record the 
landing of the Hindenburg for use 
at some future date when the out- 
let elected to put on a progratn cele- 
brating some ahhiversary of trans- 
atlantic .passenger aviation. It was 
while Morrison was pouring into his 
equipment on the field a' description 
of the Zeppelin!si arrival that the 
tragedy brokje. What 1 the disc cap? 
tured^aftenthat^ums up as an amaz- 
ing- study in Hprror-prbvoked' hys-. 
teriq; 

As reported by the disc, Morri- 
son's first reaction was a wild gasp. 
He is. next heard yelling for his 
partner, to get out of the way. A 
few seconds later there is an ex- 
plosion and then a de.var,tating quiet. 
When the sound is on again it is 
Morrison, babbling , incoherently and 
crying betwe'eh stiaccato outbursts. 
He keeps repeating that he can't look 
any miore and pleads that he must 
step away.: . When his voice resumes 
it is that of a man who has gained 
control of himself and he teUs of 
helping some of the escaped passen- 
gers to the sidelines. ' Od«c. 



. en Bernie's. American Can shP.w 
last week (4) over NBC blue wais 
notable for. several reasons. One was 
that it: marked comedian's debUt 
with his new . orchestra. Other wais 
presence of Ethel Shutta as guestee. 
Both lifted session. ; 

In general .setup,, Eiernie's: program 
remains pretty mUch along lines that 
have brought listener following. 
Major portion devoted to twisted- 
En£{lish spbofihg. - "Orchestra gets in. 
ia few riutribers, with Bernie's 'lads' 
also coming in for a: turn apiece; 
With Freddie Berrins batoning, new 
band is improvement over Bernie's 
former: crewi 

Ethel. Shutta:was.wallopy, showing 
nice enunciation, personality, vibrant 
voice arid Pxceptional . rhythm sense 
with: 'That's Why the Lady Is: a 
Tramo' and theri comedy knack with 
'The Mer-ry-GprRoUnd Broke Down.' 



DI7TCH REGAN 
Today's Winners' 
iS.Mins. — Local 
rENN TOBACCO CO. 
9:15 p. m. Dally 
WHO, Des Moines 

This sportcast suriuharizing the 
day's , happenings in the world of 
sports will be handled by 'Dutch' 
Reagan, WHO'S ace sports announcer 
until he leave? next month for 
Hollywood to make: pictures for 
Warner Brbs. A natural for Reagan 
who has built local prominence as 
an all 'round sports announcer since 
he joined "WHO'S staff four years 
ago. 

Opening to the tune of 'In the 
Good Old Summer Time,' baseball 
scores, including runs, hits, errors 
and injuries, are listed on. games 
played . that day,, in addition to 
schedules and personality highlights 
oh the players, of natiorial note. 

Also included are reports on the 
latest boxing bouts, horse and aUto 
racing, and this particular program 
gave detailed information on the 
'One Play* O'Brien memorial' foot 
ball game scheduled to be held at 
Notre Dame on May 2. 

Although the program is sponsored 
by the Penn Tobacco Co., Regan 
took occasion to tell Bobby Griffin 
(announcer on the program) about 
a talk with a 15-year-old boy he saw 
smoking that day— the reasons he 
gave the boy for waiting to smoke 
until he was older— the boy's reac- 
tion, etc. This bit was cleverly in- 
troduced. MoorMad. 



John Charles Thomas offered his 
own composition, 'Mother,' as one of 
three song nuinbers for his guest 
shot Jiast Sunday (9) night on the 
General MotPrs syniph ■ hour' over 
NBC blue. . Was in connection with 
Mother's Day. Baritone also sang 
'Road to Mandalay' arid Toreador 
song from Bizet's opera, 'Ciirmen.' 
Had choral accompaniment for final 
one. Baritone whammed ' all three 
Over in his customary socko style. 
One of the best voices in the cbricert 
fieldi plus Unusual showmanship 
flair. 



Jello's commei^cial on Jack Benny's 

show last Sunday night (9) was some 
sort . of new blurbing high. With 
color the keynote of the season, read 
the spiel, listeners should buy Jello 



DELL KIKG 
Discs, Dialect Blurbs 
:i5 Mins.-^Local 
PETER FOX BREWING CO. 
Daily, 5:00 p. m. SDST 
WON, Chicago 

(Schwimmer ^ Stoit) 
rofiiram idea is , slick example of 
opporturiism. Garribles ori the 
amount of tihie after finish of the 
ball: gaime,; up to the next 15-minute 
mark, pr. to 5:15; Consists of Swing 
recordings introduced, by high pres 
sure icomedy announcing. Dell King 
does a swell job as the announcer, 
keeping up the pace set by the 
swihgiest of the swing records, and 
the commercial is done in comedy 
dialect thtoughoutj sometimes one 
accent, and sometimes another. 



iot its beeootiful tints an^ Shades. 
Nothing will make a dinner table so 
gay and colorful and inviting, as a 
dish of lovely, sparkling Jello 
Which should rate spme thing pr 
other for pulling a reason out of the 
distant ozone. 
. Saime Jack Benny show also of 
fer^d an exariiple of a growing trend 
in Studio, audience programs. Benny, 
Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris and 
Don Wilson were all plenty slow on 
picking Up lines: That was probably 
due to waiting ior audience laughs 
to fade, but it merely slowed the 
comedy to the pthfer . listeriers.. Just 
ariother instance of the difficulties 
oi adjusting radio entertainment to 
the two distinct audiences. 



BEN DOVA (Jotoph Sffah) 
With Robert L. Ripley 
FtEISCHMANN 
Suhday» 7.30 p. m. EDST 
WJZ, New York 

U. Walter Thompson) 

Heire was a grand piece of ^show- 
manship fumbled by clumsy han- 
dling. Ben Doya (real name Joseph 
Spah), standard vaudeville acrobat 
was one ol the survivors of Thurs- 
day's Zeppelin explosion^ William 
Morris agency, which handles him, 
quickly had him substituted for an- 
other guestee on Robert L. Ripley's 
Believe It or Not' show Sunday (9) 
night for Standard Brands over the 
: ^^BC blue. So far so gobd. In fact 
so far a masterpiece. 

As should be obvious to anyone, 
particularly a radio iscripter, how- 
ever, any interview or story for radio 
or newispaper shOuld' tell the whole 
story, or at least all the essential der 
ails. Listener or reader shouldn't 
lave to ask further questions. And 
that is precisely Where Ben Dova's 
guest shot failed worst When the 
interview was over, therie Were any 
nuriiber of vital points unexplained-^ . 
in fact not even riientioned. 

What, for instance, is the acrobat's 
stage name? That was never re- 
vealed. What Was he doirig on the 
Hindenburg, was it a pleasure trip 
or was he returning to the U. S. to 
111 an engiagement? How was he 
lurt and what wiere the extent of bis 
njuries? Only thing to suggest 
:3eridova. was banged Up was men- 
tion that he was taken from thie hos- 
pital for the broadcast. What are the 
acrobat's opinions about another zep 
rip. and what does he think of air 
ravel in general? A"^ so on and 
on, 

Furthermore, in a script show of 
his kind, the constant cross-ques- 
ions by Ripley served merely to in- 
errupt the flow bf what might have 
)eeii a thrilling story; If Bendova 
isn't naturally a ready talker the 
scrijptirig should have taken cang of 
hat. But Ripley'.s repeated prompt- 
ing and his taking over of the nar- 
ration from time to time softened the 
dramatic wallop. Hobe. : 

'VANISHING NEW TOILERS' 
With Frankle Basch, Roy Campbell 
Quartet, Joe Tobin, Anton Leader 
Novelty 
15. Mins.; Local 
Snstaininr 

Wednesday, 8:45 EDST 
WMCA, New York 

Okay twist on the 'human interest' 
vogue in radio. Station WMCA's 
versatile chief exploiteer, Larry 
Nixon, is writer and director of a 
quarter-hour program that lays con- 
duits to unusual occupations for pro- 
gram material. On the sample 
caught, one of the handful of black- 
sriiiths still whamming Hhe anvil in 
New York was brought to the studio 
and interviewed. Quizzing done by 
Frankie Basch was the core of the 
prograrin. But production, values 
wiere added through orchestra, quar- 
tet and narrator. 

Blacksmith's history was suggested 
musically, and historically as a pre- 
lude to the actual example. Tech- 
nological unemployment has received 
considerable discussion in recent 
years, so on the economic, as well as 
the human and dramatic side, pro- 
gram's idea is of interest. It's been 
nicely timed, placed and broken up 
for -light and. shade. 

Miss Basch has had plenty of in- 
teirviewing experience on WMCA, 
and handles it okay. Anton Leaider's 
Voice is well suited to narratiniR, 
while Tobin does the routine spiel- 
ing. Prbgram as directed uses a 
variety of narrative methods to un- 
fold its theme. Land. 



PICADILLT MUSIC HALL 

With John Goldsworthy, Bennett 
and Wolverton, Fred Zimbalist, 
Jack Baker, Ruth Lyon,^ Charles 
Sears, Escorts iand Betty, Cadets 
Quartet, Sylvia Clark, Harold 
Peary, Jay . Rpmney, Arthur Kphn, 
Al Short's orchestra 

Variety 

60 Mihs. 

Sustaining 

Tuesdays, 10:00 p.m.- 
WENR, Chicago 

, At least one of the. reasons why 
radio producers often fail When they 
try tP do a vaudeville air revue, is 
pretty well illustrated : by this show, 
That reason is that they seeminigly 
do nPt know what Vaudeville is, nor 
do. they realize that some sort of a 
compromise between, the two media 
is necessary for a vaudeville iair 
show. 

This full hoiir shot, supposedly 
modeled after ari English music hall 
show, fails to do its. job, for the most 
part, because' the comedy turns are 
nothing but annoying waits betweeri 
excellent musical numbers. Without 
exception, everything connected 
with the musical-portion of the show 
was grade A; this includes Prchestra, 
vocalists and instrumentalists. But 
the so-called, comedy turns, intro 
duced in British* (?) accent are' of 
such stuff- that it . may now be 
doubted that a woman was the cause 
of Windsor leaving his vCouritry. 

Only comedy turn to get out of 
the mud was Sylvia Clark, and hers 
is worth a study by prodjicers. In 
the monologues, she . replaces the 
loss of sight stuff, with the advan 
tages broadcasting gives in more ef 
fective vocal gyrations. That, and 
the fact that monologues are within 
the bounds of radio projection, make 
Sylvia Clark as a standout on the air 
as. on the stage. 



W. C FIELDS 
With Edgar Bergen, Don Ameohe 
Werner. Janssen Orch,, .Ann Hafd- 
ihf, Dorothy Lamour, Richai-d 
Rogers, Larry Hart, Ray MIddleton 

60 Mlns. 

CHASE ft SANBORN 
Sunday, 8 P.M, \ 
WEAF-NBC, New York ^ 

(J. Wmier Thompson) 

Thompson agency spent a great 
deal of time, energy and worry ais- 
sembling the show, but as yet all 
details have not been smoothed. It 
is expected that show will be steam- 
lined during the sununer months, 
and emerge in its full flowering by 
autumn, 

Opening exhibit was so studded 
with niames and talent it couldn't 
poissibly have inissed altogether. 
Most impressive portion was the 
stretch devoted to: W. G. Fields who 
is set for a run bn ! this stanza. 
He had' Ameche straightening for 
him as well as Berigeri's duriimy, 
'Charlie MacCarthy,' and rari off with 
the show. 

Ameche dbes the general m.c.'ing, 
and the job he turned in on the 
opening program was an excellent 
One. He got in his oWn big inning 
opposite Ann Harding in two scenes . 
from Molnar's, 'The Guardsman.' 
Mi£S Hiarding strained a bit in her 
characterization^ but Ameche had ai 
headlock on his assignment Essence 
of the play not too well projected 
in the seven tninutes devoted to it; 

Bergen, .who has had: meteoric 
zoom in. radio since he broke, broad- 
cast ground on the Vallee period last 
December didn't have particularly 
good material for so au^icious an 
occasion as his first network star- > 
dom. 'His act continues a swell air 
novelty, but he'll have to keep his. 
grip via riiaterial. 

Songwriting teani of Dick Rodgers 
and Larry Hart gabbed . few 
answers to Amechfe's quizzing on. 
their trade, and baritone Ray Mid- 
dleton obliged by: singing team's 'AH 
Points West' the exceedingly long 
combo of oratorio arid playlet which . 
is team's most ariibitious. effort tb 
date; .Middleton did very well, and 
the iriclusion of the song wias de- 
cidedly one of the. program's high- 
lights. . 

Dorothy Lamour was . on early, 
singmg 'What Will I TeU My Heart?' 
in her sultry soprano. . 

Jarissen's orch isounded pretty slick 
on the whole, but director seems to 
have a teridency to Use arrangements 
that are too Complicated for general 
appeal. 

Commercial was inserted but 
thrice, each time briefly.), Bert. 

TRAPPED' 

With Joseph Boland, Lois Jesson, 

Jean EUyn,. Robert Broce, Blair 

Davies, WllUam Hackctt^ Ueinry 

Gnrvey, George Reld. 
Melodrama 
30 Mlns.; Local 
FiNLATrSTRAUS 
Wednesday, 9 p. itt^ 
WMCA, New York 

This is one of a series of 'detective 
mysteries', sponsored by. a local credit 
hoUse. Judged as a local station, 
small .budget: production, . it's pulp- 
wood stuff of probable appeal to the 
mental pitch of those fo whom Fin- 
lay-Straus no doubt apipeals. 

Author is Milton Lewis. He has 
the pulpwood knack of tricking the 
plot to keep suspense running. It's 
flapdoodle, but not without crafts- 
riianship. 'Trapped' is 'possibly some- 
what weaker as a story than some of 
his other efforts, and used the situa- 
tion of kidnapping, which . has been 
hashed over previously. After mak- 
ing it look bad for a political boss, it 
develops that latter is innocerit vic- 
tim Of Crooks. A sample of author's 
imagination and sense of novelty. 

WMCA averages about $20 a script 
for this type of writing. Plenty of 
sides to fill out the best part of 30 
riiinutes of solid gab. Breaks it up 
With a few tricks, such as broadcasts 
of news information as an integral 
part bf plot Sidesteps the old tele- 
phone stunt of story-telling. Phil 
Barrison directsi. 

Performances, like the production 
itself, suffice. Quickie stuff strictly. 
Limited to its own ■ class levfel, but 
for that .purpose probably good 
enough. f. Land. 



'HOUSE UNDIVIDED' 

With Noriiian Fields, Jane Morgan, 
Van§ie Beilby, Charles Carroll, 
Bea Behada,ret, Elliott Lewis, 
Mary Lansing, Cliff Carpenter,. 
Mary Mcintosh, Ed. Porter. 

15 Mins.-^Coast' 

GENERAL FOODS 

Daily, 11:15 a.m. 

KHJ, Dbn:Lee, Los Angeles 
(Young Ruhicam) 

Another . of the riiorning script- 
teasers that doesn't trainscend or fall 
below the mean level of this type of 
air performance. Piece was written 
by Herbert Conner in what he pre- 
ferred to call two books. After first 
ran its course as a sustainer and 
built up a fair following along the 
Coastr Young & 'Rubicam stepped in 
and . took • oVer the seqUel for La 
France and Satina^ a pair: of : wash- 
day helpers. 

Second section of home life in a 
small burg revolves about the ppU- 
tical ambitions of a Dr. Jim, played 
by Norman Fields with conviction, 
Jane Morgan, as his wife, is okay as 
are the others caught on the opener. 
James Burton keeps the production 
flavored with homey sentimentality. 

Ten stations of the Don Lee chain 
take the show. It should easily hold 
its own with the other ante meridian 
serial scriptera; 



Wednesday, May 12, 19.'J7 



RADIO REVIEWS 



VARIETY 



55 



KfiNTUeKY DERBY 
Clem McCarthy 
45 Minutes 

BROWN & WILLIAMSOrj 
Saturday; May 8 
•WJZ— NBC, New York 

(B. B. JP. & O.) 

Kopi igarette? sponsored the 
broadcast of the annual classic at 
Churchill Downs, a prized one-time 
dommeirciaU .■ 

Clem McCarthy described ^the con- 
test, turning in one of his best mike 
performances. He never heisitated 
nor was uncertain . in rfelatinig the 
important contest. Attempting to ex- 
clude the surge of enthusiasm from 
his voice, the thrill of the race was 
nevertheless always present, 
• Reporting a horse race is not the 
easiest of sports coverage by radio. 
Indeed, it's probably the most diffi- 
cult arid it is likiely that listeners 
learned more of what went on thiah 
those at the ti"ack because McCarthy 
is >yell informed ^and knows his 
iddy-aps. ■■ .. 

Prelimiriary comment^ too, was in- 
teresti , 'and all those with wagers 
the 20 nags in the race got a 
measure of satisfaction: though they 
didn't win. (Ardiirid New York the 
day of the race favorite was dis- 
•regarded and thoroughbreds of lesser 
class cariie into favor). War Ad- 
rhiral, the wiriner, never was in 
doubt after the barrier was sprung 
and MQCarthy sensed that. 

Commercials were bifief and well 
written but ■■ monotonously delivered 
in a flat thin voice hy an obscure an- 
nouncer. , 

In the three, quarters of an hour 
broadcast interest was maintained 
throughout. Race itself took slightly 
oVer two minutes arid 'seemed to . be 
over in half that tiihe. There will 
be a number of stake races, on. the 

ir diiring the season but none will 
probably be more satisfactory to the 
man listening. A difference of opin- 
ion creates the odds in races as^ tot. 
instance* the idea of Postmaster Far- 
ley who spoke -for a momeiiit or so 
and said he favored Reaping Reward, 
It is unlikely that there were many 
nays to McCarthy's report. 

Buzz ^df excitement was present 
but did not intrude. Soime locale 
boosting, etc., when the band played 
'My Old Kentucky Home.' fbcc. 



ACTORS REPERTORY CO. 
'Sapply and iDeniand' 
SastaiDiiig 
30 Mins. 

Sunday; 7 p.m. DST 
WA]IC-CBS» New York 

New drama Written for radio by 
Irwin Shaw, author of stage playlet, 
•Bury the Dead.' Shaw indicated a 
fair grasp of radio scripting . tech- 
nique, while Worthingtori Miner, who 
directed 'Excursion,' current legit hit, 
demonstrated his directional touch 
in collabing on the staging with 
Irving Reis. 

■Supply and Demand' theorizes and 
indicates that stepS should be taken 
to dirasticaily alter current methods 
of U. S. food distribution. May niake 
some people think .but, like other 
plays of propaganda hue, it offers no 
solution to the so-called problem. As 
a source of entertainment, produc- 
tion is useful only, as a study in radio 
presentation technique; 

Playlet employs symbolic effects, 
with refrains from 'America' running 
through and exaggerated episodes in- 
jected to stress the fofcal idea — ^^that 
everybody should be better fed than 
under the present system of supply 
and demand. Acting uneven; half 
excellent and the other half 50% 
poor or faltering. Players were 
taken from the Actors Repertory 
Company which did 'Bury the Dead.' 
Performances generally failed to 
measure up to the production and in 
cidental effects so plainly in evi- 
dence. Wear. 



JEAN PAUL KING 
News 

15 Mins. — Local 

HOUSEHOLD FINANCE CORP. 
Daily, 7:45 a.in. 
WABC, New York 

(b,b:d.. & o.y : 

Ne\ycomer to air news commen- 
tating although does l^ewgreel gab-r- 
for Hearst. Sticks to more or less 
straight recitatibn of United Press 
reileases. 

Sponsor is endeavoring, to interest 
possible borrowers . among early 
a.m. irisers. where cabbage scarcity 
abounds. : Has a break in being the 
first: news rejpiorter (stribtiy that) on 
the air, but needs a little more to 
Sustai intei;est. King uses a Graham 
McNamee delivery and iritonatiori. 
Aliso rioted sonrie speech slips;. 

On catch King^was' slightly tXiii^ 
tered up with mishap to the giant 
German zep Hinderiburg so conse- 
quently had little time for anything 
else on his quarter-houc: Slipped 
in a- good plug for newsreels,- 



UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA 
, With John Held, 
30 Mins. 
PONTIAC 

Friday, 10i30 mV EDiST 
WEAF-NBC, New York 

(McManus, John & Adorn) 
Pontiac's campus series still has 
one sti:6rig point, ' tiut. that point is 
also its greatest weakness. Fact that 
the. program carries appeal to selec- 
tive .audierice inevitably means it 
possesses, virtually little: draw for 
the overwhelming balance^ of dialers. 
So. thiis .broadcast from the Univer- 
sity of Nebraska very likely yanks 

■riiiajor shares of the college's alumni 
and fond, mamnias and poppas to. the 
loud speakers. But it seems iriiprob- 

' able that anyone , else would tune 
there intentionally or linger long if 

• encountered accidentally. 

.Cprnhuskers are about like; arty 
other stude outfit for talent. Have 
the usual college band, glee club and 
a, couple of youthful prodigies. But 
: cbllege band Which looks and 
sounds impressive in its bright uni- 

,,fprms a;rid amid the excitements of a 
big football gariie can be pretty sour 
via , the ozone. Arid uriderprad glee 
tlubs were, never serious competish 
musically to anybody.. As for the in- 
dividual prodigies, they're undoubt- 
edly hot. stuff: to their friends and 
relatives. 
Still Pontiac may be gratified. 

..There's a potential circulation of 7,.- 
000.000 via the 'college vi/orld' appeal. 
Any apjjreciable part of that maxi- 
mum might effectively answer arty 

outside criticism. ffobe. 



CHATEAU NEWS RE- 

PORTER 
lifews. Dramatization' 
30 Minutes— ^Regiohai 
BORDEN'S CHEESE 
WNAC, Boston 

(Young «fe Rubicflm). 
One of sevei"al , sectional, locally 
produced; dramatizatiprts of news,, 
this, brings to New England listeners 
local news in spot and f eature, f orm^ 
If standard of cbm^iarison' for 
dfamati'zed riews' programs ,■ " the 
-March of Time,' thiis is below par, 
accordirig to that, standard. . How- 
ever, as a seller . of cheese ..for Bor- 
den's- it is definitely okay; 

Local stories presumably hold 
more interest for local listeners. 
This .should build up, a stririg of 
turiers-in . . as the weeks; roll off.; 
'News Reporter' ir$ Tuesdays at 
6:30. 

Human angle, to each , story is 
heavily underscored and drama- 
tized by players. Announcers, do not 
attempt , to copy, the zippy pace set 
by the 'March of Time' key man, 
and for. that the prodiicer deserves; 
credit. . Blurbage ddWn to a riii i- 
mum and. in good taste. 

Feature stuff is from 12 to 36 
hours old — spot news is Up-to-min- 
ute: forest fires, etc. Two women 
ehasing a Ijiriei: :in a speed boat; a 
woman throwing a baby out a w.i 
dow at a fire", an oldster passing his 
road driving test in Massachusetts, 
and a Coast Guard rescue, were grist 
in the feature mill. Added touch 
was. mike appeararice of Robinson 
Russell, the 88-year-old man who 
passed the driver's test. 

Fair musical transitions, okay 
sourid effects of typewriters, and 
city room noises, help move along, a 
smartly paced program. All in all, 
a comniendable job that should at- 
tract a considerable following; 
Deailer campaign, coordinating ,with 
radio contract, includes counter 
card arid . window: display setups, 
dramatizing the news broadcast. 

Fox. 



JERRY COOPER 

Witli Raymond Pal e:c orchestra, Iiror 
Gorin, Shirley Ross, ErrOl Flynn, 
Mauch Twins, Louella Parsons, St. 
Luke's Choristers, Ken Nilcs. 

60 Mins. 

CAMPBELL'S SOUP 
Friday, 9 p.m;, EDST 
WABC-NBC, New York 

(F. Wfttlis Armstr ng) 

With the exception of Jerry 
Cooper replacing Fred MacMurray 
as m. c., . Campbell's 'Hollywood Ho- 
tel' continues . about as was. Last 
week's, shot .(7),' however, was super- 
high hat edition. Film iSamatizatipn,. 
was 'Prince and Pauper' ( WB ), with 
beiaucoup attentibri to Coronation 
ceremoni . Stanza .'also included 
tabloid version, of 'Rigoletto,' with 
Igor Gorin as lead tonsiler. All. very 
high-toned, radio, fodder. 

'Hotel' sticks to same program set-: 
up. First half- is, variety show. With 
Jerry .Cooper, Shirley Ross, Igor 
Gorin, Ken Niles and Raymond 
Paige band. Second half brings the 
pic dramatization, with Louella Par- 
sons. Errol Flynn and the Mauch 
Twins repeated roles they play in 
current 'Prince arid Pauper.' That 
prograi ' ari-angeriient is i-ather a 
mongrel ixture- but it carries 
plenty of .ammunition to catch and 
hold large audience. Particularly 
strong on marquee values. Continues 
one; of punchiest variety shows on 
the air, 

Jerry Cooper's stay ori program of. 
this' weight .should pivie him billing 
stature.. He has attractive ether per- 
sc)nalit.y and is. stronger singing bet 
thaii Fred MacMurray, whom he re- 
places. Liazy style is pleasant. 

Shirley Ross acceptable for 
femhie vocal , chores; though only a 
stand-in for Frances Langford, 
Whom she's replacing.. Fairly pleas- 
ant Voice, but needs more rhythmic 
zip and punchier soneVselling. .Such 
operatic : ventures as 'Rigoletto' seem 
misplaced on program of this sort. 
Apparently wowed the studio audi- 
ence. 

'Prince and Pauper'- portiori of 
show was meaty stuir. And certain- 
Iv cashed in oh current interest in 
Coronation and royalty in general. 
Show had one obvious dialog laose, 
either Miss Parsons or Flyrin flub- 
birig a cue entirely and cai)<;irig a 
lorig pause. Kobe. 



'SECOND HURRICANE' 
Children's Opera 
60 Mins. 
Sustaining: 

Sunday, 4 p. m. DST , 
WABC-CBS. New York 

This 'opera,' Columbia's final sa- 
lute to National Miisic Week, of lim- 
ited enteirtainment scope; Strictly in 
the culture mob. It's original chil- 
dren's operatic effort turned out by 
an American composer. 

Was given every opportunity to 
be an outstanding musical contribu- 
tion by CBS staff. Network used its 
symphony orchestra, .iput in 'Lanriort 
Engel as conductor and spotted 
Henry McNeil as narrator.. Yet, the 
net achfevement vjas only 60 min- 
utes of singirig, with the childish 
voices becoming irritating from con- 
stant repitilion; 

Copland'.s: opera contai many 
conversational chants or passages. 
His climax is deftly handled and is 
easily the most colorful portion. 
Earlier argumentative .phases be- 
tween parents; and their children 
eager to help ir» airplane rescue, 
work seiem to have been given over-. 
empha.'?i.s: .McNeil's narrating iis par 
ticularly bright. Wear. 



'HARTFORD SPEAKS' 
With Bob Martineau 
15 Mins., Local 
WHaLEN JEWELRY CO. 
Weekdays, 12:30 p.m. 
WTHT, Hartford 

Attempt to blend- VQX pop and 
forum idea by - man-iri-the-streeting 
cbntrbviersial questions turns out 
so-so. Showmanship of planting 
mike at sponsor's store plus ijassers- 
by word-of-mbuthing. ought be 
enough, however, to I'epay under 
writer. ■ , 

Show, .some months among 
WTHT's popularity toppers, has jfust 
gone commercial with Bob Marti- 
neau dishing the Q.'s, which range 
from Supreme Court and Wagner 
Act to baseball aiid floods, Difficult 
to. get much of substance in im 
prbmtU reactions to serious queries; 
and average answerer regards it as 
more .of an adventure than a chance 
to speak, opinibri. 

Problem of pulling m public 
.solved by pass tie-up with theatres, 
co-operating hou.ses credited, Tho-'ie 
Who mail in- questions get cash or 
merchandi.se. Commercials come m 
from studio. 



KITTY CARLISLE 
Songs 

GENERAL MOTORif; 
Sunday, 8 p. rii., EDST 
WJZ, New York 

(CaviTpbeU- idd\d) 
rano. guested Sunday night (.9); 
with Erno Rapee and the General 
Motors symph to sirig four numbers.. 

Best on the more pretentious por- 
tlon.s of the stiiit, Standout was the 
Jewel Song: from Gounod's 'Fausti'. 
In contrast, the simple 'Carry Me 
Back to Old Virginny,' which might 
be. thought a natural for an Ameri^ 
can singer of Kitty Carlisle's musical 
comedy training, was riegative. Oth-. 
er two offerings; sorigs: from Gilbert 
and Sullivan's 'Mikado', arid 'lolan- 
the,' were excellent, 

In the operatic assignment Mis.s 
Carlisle .showed voice of satisfactory 
tone, range aiid flexibility. Inclined 
to be slightly edged in the higher 
register.s, but other\yise plenty okay 
for the requirements. Singer also 
brought attractive personality to the 
nriike. In the first place , the arrarige- 
merit: was so pceteritious that it 
eritirely missed, the tbuchirig .senti- 
ment of the piece, but offered little 
in returrii Iristead of a folk song, 
'Virginny' became a concert compo- 
sition— arid rather a painful experi- 
ence. Handifcap was too .much for 
Miss Catiisle, \yho never caught the 
tender feeling' of, the song. Her 
chores the (3. & S. tunes >yere 
okay. ,. 

Debut; appearance for Mis."? Carlisle 
on General^iMotoirs, symph hbut". Re-, 
cently closed- in 'White Hor.se Inn' 
on Broadway . arid previously was hi 
pix arid miisical comedy. Hobc. 



MEMPHIS COTTON 
Songs and Music 
30 Mins. 
Sustaining 
Friday, 11:30 p.m. 
WEAF, New York 

Cotton Fete officially sparis May 
IMS, so as an advance buildup, 
WMC, Memphis, fed a flock of 
warblers and windjamimers to the 
NBC-red includirig winners of a Con- 
test conducted amorig youthful and 
student musical aspirants. As an in- 
terest-exciter for the coming, festir 
val, it might just as well have been 
trying . to entice back tw.o-a-day 
vaude. . 

Cotton .show , got no oral blurbirig 
that might have, explained it, and 
hence, awakened ho enthusiasriv 
from regions other than deepest 
Dixie. Entertainers werie relied 
upon,' and proved very lightweight, 

A. contest had been run off and the 
winners to show <were: . The A Ca- 
pella Choir of Harding College; bari- 
tone Sherman Barry bleating Wag- 
nier's 'To the Evening. StaP from 
'Tannhauser'.; fancy fiddler Frank 
Pullman going bravely bravura with 
'La Gitane;' one of the standard ex- 
ercises of Kreisler; tenor Walter 
Moore mooing 'Eyes Have. Told Me 
So'; Home Town Ramblers, a hill- 
billy . band thrum-thrumming 'Tur- 
key in Sti'aw'; soprano Ethel Taylor 
larking 'Canzone Primavera'; the 
Bcllvue Baptist Church Choir yodel- 
ing Handel s 'Hallelujah Chorus' arid 
having, difficulty soaring up to the 
high notes; coloratura Eugenia Mc- 
Gee experiencied some trouble hold^? 
ing within bounds Belli i's 'Qui La 
Voce.' 

Windup caime When the crowd was 
asked to climb up on their feet in 
the Memphis aude and shatter the 
air by joining in on 'My, Country 
'Tis of Thee;'. A good song for the 
occasionj but 'Dixie' would have 
been better. Bert. 



MAJOR McGONIGLE'S STOCK CO. 

With. Suitda Love, Riipers . LaBelle, 
Ethel Owen, Virginia Carle, How- 
ard Hoffman, Albert H^lufl, Earlf 
Dewey, Corey Hollowly, Mervirii 
Belvidere, Kenneth Christy, Ster- 
ling Quartet, Dion Craddock, Clay-r 
nibre E.ssig 

Oid-time Melodramas 

60 Mins. 

NELSON BROTHERS STORAGE 
CO. 

Saturdays, II :0O a; 
WBBM, ' icago 

(Selvi it) 

^East Lyrine' was the preriiiere bill 
on this full hour show.' Arid not. the 
least inclination toward satire. 

Specialties done by performer."? 
with lack of comedy emphasis 
srtieared along with gobs; of cortimer- 
cial, make a pretty, messy hour o.£ 
Major Mc.Gonigle's Stock Co., and 
the. limp voice rif the Major himself 
is the: sour whipped cream topping 
which is .quite in keepi ith the 
rest of. the pie. 

' But performers alone are , to 
blame; what the show needs ore 
Ihari anything else, is producliori. 
Experienced actors like Ethel Owen 
and Howard Hoffman ju,«t can't do 
so badly, even in such a hndf^c-, 
podge, without help. 



'THIRTEEN-SEVENTEEN CLUB' 
With Singing Waiters, Gladys Tell, 

Chris Seiter, BVrt Balls. 
60 Mlns.-^Looal 
KAHN'S DEPT. STORE 
Daily, .io a. m. 
WbAS. Philly 

Thi is entertai ing program for 
morning show that must be produced 
on small nut. Key lirie of '1370 ClubV 
(WDAS on 1370 kc): 'This is the 
night club of the air for :folks' who 
aren't able to. attend night clubs.' 
Jerry Stone, emcees. His ad libbing 
ability largely responsible for in- 
formality which adds much to popu- 
larity of program although he has 
tendency to .spiel too niuch iin- 
thought-out meaningless jabber at 
times. 

Show divided i half^ First 30 
minutes. 'is sustaining, with paid 
talent and studio band. Second por 
tion amateurs,: spopisored . by Kahn's 
Department Store. In this way sta 
tion ducks paying union scale tb 
band, as it is only qri sustaining ppr 
tion of prpgrarii. 

In first 30 minutes are.heard Chris 
Seiter,. fairly Satisfactorily wablef 
for this type show; Three Singing 
Waiters (Vic Palnier, Al Zine and 
jiJohnriy Fortis— the Three Naturals 
of KYW): Gladys Tell, . chirping 
member of Tell Sisters, who have 
been workirig niteries- about town; 
Bert Balis, guitar-: arid clarinet solo 
ist, and the house band. Leader of 
band sports Russian accent, which 
lead Stone to iritrb it as 'lyan Aw- 
fulitch nd his Streamlined Wolf- 
hounds,' 

On amateur side of show there are 
no auditioris. tudio. always crowded 
with would-bes and gabber just asks 
them to step up. Allows them only 
to sing choruses, no verses.. Talent 
not very hot and usually scared, al 
ways resulting in several false startis 
before right key is fdund. Stone 
capably fills in these sjJots and whole 
thing is good fun. ffcrb. 



HOWARD MARSHALL 
They're Saying in England* 
Vox Pop 
.SO Mins. 
Transoceanic 

Sunday, 4:30 p, m., EDST 
WJS!;-NBC, New York 

Second in' series of short yfnyeta 
jy English journalist to give Amer- 
icans idon of atriiospherc In London 
during pre-coronatiori days was il- 
luminating, despite spieling of Hbw- 
ard Marshall, Picked: up from Mar- 
ble Arch, at entrance to Hyde Park 
at 8:30 Sunday night (4:30 p, m. DST 
in New York, se.sSion revealed to an;. 

mazing degree the festive gay ety of 
the British man' on the street. But 
;hat Ibcol color was only what came 
through' MarshaU's long-winded 
slather,. 

, First ,20. minutes of the half-hour 
stanza, was taken by spieaker to di'one 
on about :almQs,t everything, but mat- 
tcr at. hand,: - Even went so fur. to 
infoirm breathlessly eager listener^ 
in America that his two moppets at'«S^. 
reicpyering from, whooping cough, 
that his wife has decided riot to use 
he coronation ducats he wangled for 
ler and that a certain building ori 
he Park doesn't look as he remem- 
bers It a boy. Marshall may be 
great shakes in. jolly • old Lbndbn's 
;purnalistic .setup, but he's merely 
a garrulous bore as registered from 
U, S. loud.speukc^s. 

Sounds of crowds^ singing; .shouting: 
and laughing formed a contiriuouil 
aackground against MarshaU's voice. 
And that portiori of the broadcast 
was Impressive dembristratiori of the' 
wriy the- British Empiire is taking the 
cpronatiorti For once, at lea$t, th* 
poriip arid pageantry of . Jhe cere- 
monies had «ome .'riiedning to Mti* 
'riltiated America, 

Vox, pop sessions, When Marshall 
Inally : got around to them, ■were 
hard to understand, partly due to at^ 
mosphcric difficulties and partly to 
thick accent of most of the inter- 
viewees. , But outstanding point of 
he broadcast was the way it Avas 
handled by Marshall. For once the 
Anrierican mikestei's, for all the crit- 
clsin they catch, could . be appre>. 
dated for how skillful they can be' 
at catching the color and excitement 
of a thrilling event. H«be. 



BOB HOPE 
With Frank Parker 
:{0 Mins. 
WOODBURY 
Sunday, 9 p. m, DST 
WJZrNBC, New York 

.(Lehnen & Mitchell) 

Bob Hope's addition to 'Rippling 
Rhythm Revue' as m, c. and funster 
appears just; what the doctor ordered. 
Certainly his presence patches those 
lulls that have befen; bobbing up of 
late. (Judy Ganova, Arinieand:Zekei 
now ■ Hollywood., are misslYig,). 
Fashion in which Hope maneuvers 
the program, glibly filling in gaps 
and introducing new nuriibers, defi 
nitely sets h'mi up, . Result was one 
of swiftest moving Rippling stanzas 
in many week.?. 

ifjope added enoiigh fresh chatter 
and gags to give entire broadcast a 
lift. It's even reflected: in: the orche.s- 
tral work, and Frank Parker. . Lat- 
ter, now that he doesn't shoulder the 
' ceremonial duties, shows up better 
; in cross-fire aiid also with hi.s mel 
odious warbling. Folk.s were -given 
! an inkling , of what Wa.s coming by 
the novel back-handed Slapping 
; build-up for Hope, Kentucky derby 
'•riifties, too, were new until he 
I reached the Mother'.s day pun* which 
( .suffered from having been heard ut 
i.lea.st once previou.'^ly the same day. 
Indicative of the , riew lilt given 
wa.s the combo .sketch and duet 
framed about 'Let's Go Slumming 
tune, with Bob Hope and Parker 
joi ing iri song, backed, by. en.senible 
singing, latter uncreditcd. Honey 
Chile, heckler for, Hope on olhor 
broadcasts, was missing on hi.s debut 
for this program. Wear. 



CINCINNATI BASEBALL 
Afternoons — Local 
SOCONY, WHEATIES 
WSAI, Red Barber 
WCPO, Harry Hartman 

Socony and Wheaties divide thi 
sankrolling this season on both sta* 
tiori,Si Mikers are free to ring in the 
blurbs when and how they deem 
best. Wisely, the commerclalfi are 
few and far between- 

It's the ninth straight year of 
such duty for Hartman. Vernon 
Thorriburg is his hew a.Mslstpnt. 
Hartman's style is right in the 
groove for the bleachers mob, .Airi 
lustily and applies the heat in the 
clutch. Pauses between pitches arid 
plays. 

Barber has made rap! advance- 
ment as a baseball blaster since 
coming up from a small Florida. sta- 
tion in 1934. During , the past , two 
years, he Was one of the broadcasters 
of the world series for Ford, on 
Mutual and NBC. His delivery and 
chatter are riniost popular with the 
grandstand element. At ease and . in 
even :pitch he talks steiadily. When 
not describing action ori the field 
he fills in with dope on average and 
humorous yarns about the, players. 
Doe.s, a; thorough job of detail, Ex- 
plaining batters' po.<>itidns at the 
plate, delivery and mound conduct 
of twirlers, changes In defensive posi- 
tions, locations of hits and advances 
of runners. . Al Heifer Is Barber'0 
co-worker for the second consecu- 
tive ,sea.sori. 

Reds' out-of-town games, except 
those iri New York and Brooklyn, 
which teams ban radio, are covered 
by telegiraphic reports, the broad- 
casters Avorkirig ori their imaginn- 
tions for color padding. This dif- 
ficult nssignment is handled okay 
by both Barber arid -Hat'tman.. Koll. 



JOSEPHINE HaI'PI^' 

CoDimcntator 

15 lllf inH. — Local ■ 

ST. LOUIS DAIRY CO. 

M-to-S. 1:45 p.ni. 

KMOX, . Si. Loiiiir 

Announced as a program un.sten 
and uriheard by- spon.sor. until broad- 
cast, Jo.scphirie Hulpin failed at prni- 
gram caught to make most of .op- 
portunity. After, a sati.sfactoi'ily brief 
coriiinercial, Mrs. Halpiri launched 
into a dissertatiph pri the Spanish 
revolution, r e c o u n 1 1 ri g . horrorn 
wrought by rebel ' irplanes on 
civilian population in Madrid the 
day before, all of which was printed 
in ail local rags. Nearly bne-fourth 
of program \vas devoted to this topic,' 
enti rely too m uch beca use th is town 
has biil.y . a. . rihkling of Spanish 
born residents; : 

Best part, of program was an i 
view at Lanibert-St. Loui.s airport 
with: Mrs. Mairtin Johnson, widow of. 
explorer and big game hunter, 
rilaking fir.st air trit) since last Jan. 1, 
when her hu.sbarid ^as killed arid 
she was injured in^iilarie crash neat 
Los Angeles, 

Program could be made more 
entertaining, with less time devoted 
to ,subjec:ts familiar .to rno.st every^ 
one and more about activities in ■ 
woman's World, as profjram is ai icd 
to ciilch the fomme ii.'it^ntM-.s. 

S«htt. 



36 



VARIETT 



RADIO REVIEWS 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



t^ANNT ROSS • 

ilVith Tommy Thomas, Heather Hal- 
lidajr, Margaret McCrae, Nadlne 
Conner^ Molasses iand January^ 
, Frances. Reynplds 

3ongs, Comiedy . 

MAXWELL HOViSE 

Thursday, 9 ' p.m. DST. 

WEAF, New York 

{Benton ds. Bowies') 
Show Boat show is now ia singirig 

variety show. No longer, is -there 

repartee between Tiny Ruff her, the 

cap and Lanny, Plot has been 
. tosstd . to the winds. Virtually aU 

mic biirden rests . on Lahny Ross. 

But still needs more ' comeay, Mp- 

Isisses and January, blackface teaiii, 

help, but need support on an hour 

show. ■ 

■ Ross on early with a duet with 
Margaret VMcCrae, which had dis- 
tinctivie tone o£ the old 'Boat/ Ef- 
fective additional background for 
stbry song were baby imitations: by 
Trances Reynolds. So. realistic that 
t'ne ripple of - audience appreciation 
was. heard over radio sets.. 

Thomas Thomas, now pegged 
Tommy Thomas, tried his hand at 
the difficult .'Mother o* Mine' for a 
starter,, but. g^ive a:' more thorough 
demonstration of his vocail qualities 
with the encore, 'Thaiik God for . a 
Garden.' Twq inale soloists on one 
program' may seem unusual though 
voices are not conflicting. 

Nadine . Conner is another voice. 
She driies a t"in rendition of the 
Italian Street Sohg,. but her singing 
is 'muffled in a craxy combination 
of classical music (which she sings) 
and al so-called Harlem swing bade-, 
ground, played by part of Al Good- 
mian's band: Lani^y Ross Inquires 
.'let's hear how it souxmIs.' Elizabeth 
Wilson introduces her old-time Snitp 
zelbaum tune, with questionable air 
returns. Good idea but not adapted 
well here to radio. 

Besides presiding over proceed- 
ings except for opening announce- 
ment.. . Laniqr Ross is as smacko as 
ever with , his vocals. Heather Hal- 
liday, who is designated as a come- 
dienne, starts interrupting I«anny 
early because of gag that she thinks 
it is her. turn. Resembles Beatrice 
Lillie in delivery hiit certainly not 
in results. 

Reference to curtain going up for 
second half of show has, after all 
these years, .become awkward and 
irksome. Wear. 

''BARRt WOOD 
Sonffs 
15 MiM. 

PROCTER * QAMBLE 
Thuriday, 7:4S p.m.. 
.WJZ, New York 

(Bldckett-SampU-Humrtiert) 

Latest lad to leg it up> to the mike 
for P.&G.'s Drene hairwash fits in 
neatly in the wake of two prominent 
predecessors, Frank Parker and 
Jeri-y Cooper. Wood ' (Lou Rapp, 
brother of Barney, band batoneer) 
formerly sang with Abe Lyman's 
crew. Since severing that spot and 
ambling out oh oWn, this is his first 
important whirl. 

With a pair of pipes that approxi- 
mate a Bmg : Crosby baritone. Wood 
seems to have the woo to attract 
the femme listeners the. sponsor 
fishes to get. He Intro's self and 
selections, an intimacy-establishing 
thought that works out Well. 

On opening broadcast all his pieces 
were current reigning pops; for 
sentimentality's sake, and consider 
ing his audience, hie might well oc 
casionally slip in one of the endur 
ing ballads. . 

When caught the ieommercials 
sprawled nearly three minutes, too 
long and too tedious for night-time 
in that the cOpy Was repetitious and 
redundant. Bert. 

'BARGAIN BOB' 

With Gordon Castle, John Slagle 

Mnsie, Chatter, Time Signals, 

Weather 
39 Mlns. — ^Looal 
PONTIAC DEALERS 
Dally, 7 a,m. . 
WXYZ, Detroit 

fJVacAf anus, John A Adams) 
. This Is an entertaining bit of fare 
for eatly-moi-ning risers. Virtually 
a one-man show, being authored, 
produced atid m.c.'d by Gordon 
Castle, scripter and announcer at 
WJR. 

Includes selection of recorded mu- 
. sic, plus usual earlsr morning stuff 
consisting: of time signals, weather, 
6tc. Although tunes are waxed, con« 
tiiiulty is so written as to iool th6 
average listener. Castle's chatter 
■with John Slagle oke. 

Commercials center on Pbntiac 
dealers' us6d cars, and while some- 
what overtaxing (a 'bargain' after 
each musical selection), it should be 
oke f or thosie just gettihjg up. 



JOAN CRAWFORD 
With Franchot Tone, Judith Ander- 
son . 
<Mary of Scotland' 
60 Mins. 
LUX 

Monday, d p. m. 
WABC-CBS, New York 

(Ji Walter Thompson) 
Lux; slipped a cut under its ayer-^ 
age of ^icripts In selecting Maxwell 
Anderson's poetic drama. On the 
stage and on the screen, the; pagean- 
try... and brisk; action ; of the piece 
largely contributed. . Air Version,, not 
too well adapted, lacked those quali- 
ties. . ■ , 

Miss Crawford in the title role evi- 
dently thought a constant croak of 
heartbreak in^ her voice, would carry 
the characterizationL Tone mahaged 
for the most part as the gusty Both- 
well and the Scpttish burr he as- 
sumed was quitie good. It wais Miss 
Anderson, with her b^ll-clear ring- 
ing, voice and imperious playing as 
England's Elizabeth, wbo hopped off 
with the honors. 

Also on the program was the Earl 
of Warwick (McCoy) who is now in 
Hollywood aihgling for a film future 
under nanje of Michael Brooke. De- 
Mille questioned hini' between acts 
of 'Mary,' and. the Britisher made a 
neat impression discussing the his- 
torical: significance of the Mary- 
Elizabeth duel. He was possibly the 
only. Englishmen marched to a U. S. 
mike in thie last several months who 
did not give vent to an effervescent 
eulogy of the Coronation. ../^tit. 



EXPEBIeInCES OF A 

MEN' . 
With Jack Mttlhah, Barney P^lllp'it; 
Stanley Price, ' Frank l:ills, 'Eilcettc< 
Garrick, Mel Blank, Clayton Post, 
Fred HarrbifftOB, Gerrle Gall, 
Noreen Gamllle 
30 Mins.-^LooaI 
HUDSON DEALERS 
^ursday, 8 p. m. 
KFWB, Hollywood 

Air theatrics stark with realism. 
Presented by Lieut. William L. 
Biber. By giving ieach episode, a 
strong production backup, WB has 
taken it out of the category of 'just 
another war drama.' Effects are ex- 
pertly applied and the timing is 
aimed at sU3penseful buildup. Cast, 
headed by JackvMuhall, is well 
chosen, and .wbr]ra< ihard under the 
direction of Lieut. Biber, who knows, 
his war stuff. 

Material for each show Is supplied 
by war vets. Who are supposed to re- 
late their oWn personal experiences 
during the big fuss of 20 year» ago. 
Check for $25 goes out to the one 
whose ^arn. is dramatized. 

Commercials, light oh sales come- 
on, emphasizes . object of the air 
series as affording vets a clearing 
house for the reunion with Old p^ls 
of the trench days. Ultimate hope 
is to stage get-togethers of. different 
outfits, which, right off, gives it a 
heavy Legion piish. 

LeOn Leonardi's musical backup 
is scoried for imaginative atmospheric 
effect. Helm. • 



KAY KYSER ORCHESTRA 

With bh Kablbhlei Virginia Sims, 

Lyman Gandee, Siilly Mason and 

Harry Babbitt 
Musical 
30 MIns. 

WILLYS-OVERLAND CORP. 
Sunday, 10:00 p.m. 
WOR-Mutual^ New York 

(U. judvertisihg Corp.) 

Ah otherwise pleasant half hour is 
messed up With too much and badly 
spotted commercial bally and Ish 
Kabibble, a carbon copy comic. In 
view of the travelling, ballyhoo of 
white cars (sponsor's make) and the 
weekly hitting of the tanks as re^ 
mote locations. for broadcasts, which 
is plenty of advertising to start with, 
the aired advertising might be less- 
ened.:. 

Somie of the commercials on this 
show are excellent; others are brutal. 
The patter job of ' Willis and Phyllis' 
is fine; but that closing 'buy a Willys 
and watch the gas stations go by' 
is a cheap pick-up of the Ford pro- 
grani's closing line, and the public 
is . going: to think it's miighty smart- 
alecky to copy another program's 
closihg line pattern, especially since 
it's, a competiti^^ product. And :in: 
any comparison with the Ford setup, 
the: llViliys idea must wind up behind 
the eight ball. The entire effebt, in 
fact, is; to give a gratis plug for. Ford, 
by association of ideas. 

Kyser's band is one of the .better 
dance groups. Also serves nicely as 
accomp for its talent array with its 
alternately sweet and hot dishings.; 
A f ave with the school kids, it can 
also interest their pjarents with a 
couple of minor revi^ohs. 
. Specially arranged; songs ate well 
tended. i|t. the ,handS' of Virginia. Sims 
and her tienor consort, Harry Bab- 
bitt Gleii (nub backing helped pair 
click with 'Only a Rose' and 'Song of 
the Vagabond' dttet from Rudolph 
Friml's 'Vagabond King.' Lyman 
Gahdee's piano solo .in same top 
rating as pipers. Pop torcher, 'Lull 
in My Life,' well suited to Miss Sims' 
voice. Hurl. 



RICHARD FISHBLL 
l^>art» Comment 
IS Ulna. 
Sastaialnr 
Nightly, 6:30 p. m. 
■WMCA, New York 

Old hand at sports. And knows all 
the games/ Specially noted as a 
football caller in the autumn. Cur- 
rently it's baseball, of course. 

Not a new turn, .1>iit hasn't been 
reviewed. For the. records — an able 
professional commentator on . muscu- 
lar pastimes with a pleasant chattery 
radio voice. Land.; 



JEAN ABBEY 
Shopping Talk 
15 Mins. 

BLOOMINGDALE'S 
Tuesday, 9:15 a, m., DST 
WOR, New York. 

One of the few 15-minute com- 
mercials still left on the air. Billed 
as 'valuable shopping notes,' but it 
might as well be a stiraight reading 
of Blbomingdale's ads. 

Jean Abbey, sporting the ^title of 
'Woman's Home Companion radip 
shopper,' bielabors the' ozone with 
quarter hour of solid plug for yari- 
oiiis articles and prices. On the 
theory^jjossibly correct — that de^ 
partment store ads are hot news to 
the housef raus, . this session may' be 
okay. But on any other bJisis it's 
just blather. . Articles plugged on 
stanza caught (4) included moth 
eradicators, linenjs, shoes, beauty 
preparations, glassware, waffle irons, 
carpet sweepers, .floor wax, electric 
mixers. Iri other words, everything 
in the shop— ^and if Blooniingdale's 
has it, it's the best there is; and the 
price is just right, ;etc., etc. Heavy 
wading for dialers. Miss 'Abbey's 
voice' is okay. 

Using Macy's Hobe. 



'BIG SISTER' 

With Alice Frost, Martin Gabel, 
Haila Stoddard, Junior O'Day 

LEVER BROS. ' 

Dally; 11:30 a.m., EDST 
WABC-CBS, New York 

(Ruthrfiuff Sc jtyan) 

Authored, by .Lilian Lauferty, is 
is slightly bettisr than averiage 
script serial, with its weight derived 
from fact it quiet-tones its dramatics 
and . isn't guilty of making the cast 
become hysterically histronic. Yarn 
is the usual, meandering lOve lesson. 
Has just enough suspense to hold 
'em; not too much nonsense of the 
sort that drives to the distraction of 
drifting airoimd the dial for some- 
thing else. ' Rinso, a soap «pr6duct, 
is: being, offered; will get an oJc au- 
dience. 

Cast composed of legiters, led .by 
Alice Frost, in the lead, with Matiin 
Gabel, Haila Stoddard and Junior 
ODay. Players troupe a. brand, of 
acting a cut above standard for these 
a.m. serials. Bert. 



C. . 

G6;;klp ■■. 
' 5 i .ins.— Lqcal 
MILLER JEWELRY 
Drily, 5 pan. 

WWJ, Detroit ^ . 

C. C, Bradner, long a f ave with his 
news digests over WW J, swings into 
a new role a^ dispenser of gossip 
aboiit Newyawk. It's a five-minuter 
and spotted immediately follawlhg 
daily play-by-play of Detroit Tigers 
baseball contests over same station. 

Stuff, provided by a syndicate, 
comjprises short and snappy bits 
about Broadway perspnalltips, plus 
a feature story jor two. Well han- 
dled; ■■ ■ ' \ . ' . 

Spieling lorig for a short session. 

P6te. 



YELLOW BLANK SALUTE 
IHtuilc, Readlnffs 
15 Mins. — Local 
WESTERN UNION 
M. to F; 2:15 p.'m. 
WHAS, Lonlsyllle 

New series riding over lotal LoiuS' 
ville air waves is worthy of notice, 
in that it marks the debut of the 
telegraph compahy on a sponsored 
program over a local station. Spot 
chosen, is not the best, froni the 
standpoint of sharing a large listen^- 
ing audience, but those who arc 
tuned in. any day at 2:15 will be re- 
warded by some smooth organ ma- 
nipulation, nice violin soloing and a 
polished reader of verse. 

Herbert Koch,, organist and long a 
fixture in several Publix . houses 
some years back, is currently draw- 
ing out tunes from a Hammond elec- 
tric Organ* while waiting for the in- 
stallation of a new Kilgen iour- 
nrianual job. . Effect oh the air is 
pleasant, and the vjoliii work of 
Charles Hurta, combined with the 
organ, makes a listenable combina- 
tion. 

. Announcer iis Foster, rooks. Com- 
mercial credits are in good taste^ 
Brooks lends some variety midway 
in the stanza via the redtations. 

Hold. 



MARGIE ANN KNAPP 
With Dob Alkcrt Band 
3t Mins.— Local 
Snstafaifaig 
WHN, New York 

'Child prodigies' are nothing new 
to radio. In judging the vocalizing 
of a child simulater of adult sing-, 
ing, the question is projected 
whether a listener must be mindful, 
or not, of the singer's extreme youth- 
fulness. . What percentage of the 
subject's allure may be credited to 
youthf ulness or to ability? 

Margie Ann Knapp is 12 years of 
age. She is a good singer of rhythm 
songs, but her delivery, due to im- 
maturity, is mechsinical and her in- 
terpiretatitm of tunes lacks person- 
ality warmth. 

If the fact of her youth is a strong 
factor then Margie Ann Knapp is 
superior to ttumerous of her ilk on 
the air. Oyer.a period.:of-30 minutes 
on a participating program of or- 
chestra music provided by .Don Al- 
bert and his band, at WHN, When 
caught, youngster sang three songs 
and pleased in each. Her songs were 
'I^m Bubbling Over,' 'September in 
the Rain,' and *He Ain't Got Rythm,' 
which should serve as an indicator 
of her song types. 

Her. stay on WHN is. under an in- 
definite arrangement. She is not hew 
to professional work having ap- 
peared at hotels and clubs with well- 
known bands as a guest singer, 

Shari. 



CURRENT EVENTS BEE 
60 Mins.— Local 
BROOKLYN EAGLE 
Saturday,^ May 8 
WOR, New York 

For 22 years the Brookiyri after- 
noon daily ! has been lining up en- 
tries from 16 Brooklyn high schools 
and ;making 'em cudgel .their crani- 
umis to answer questions on current 
events and general, knowledge. For 
14 years the aiihual bee has been 
broadcast. Last Sat, (8) it didn't 
prove very interesting, and it . is 
unlikely that, anyone other than 
those interested in some participant 
kept the program tuned. 

No special effort was made to 
adapt the quiz to radio. Most of the 
young 'uns wer^ badly tnike fright-, 
ened, and Bob Emery, who tossed 
the" teasers' at 'em, let. the pace 
lag. Probably no reheai^sals. 

Questions were . o.k., if rather ele- 
mentary. Had they been tougher ot 
more twisted, it would have made 
fot* stronger listener appeaL fierf. 



ART McGlNLEY 
Spoirts Chatter 
10 Mlasn Loeal 
SAVITT JEWELRY CO. 
Tnes.-Sat., • pja. 
WTHT, Hartford , 

Sports ed of Hartford Times, Art 
McGinley makes, a natural attraction 
for his paper's air property, WTHT; 
He's -been around, hot only in press- 
boxes but ;lh the general fields, iahd 
his comments show complete pos- 
session of his materiaL- 

Preisehtaticm is friendly, smacks of 
authority and brightened by humor, 
a r.ombination that spelTi; easy listen 
ing. Baseball, . of course, dominates 
script, and since spOnsor exploits a 
semi-pro club, all the )nore reason. 
' Commercials, spotted on both ends, 
nicely clipped. First airings have 
found McGinley ruhning over, but 
statioh doesn't seem to mind. 
Neither do attenders. Elei 



JUVENILES ON I^VlEW 

With Fred; M. Truax; Lorraine Sand- 

bcrff 
Variety show 
15 Mins.— Local 
Snstalnhiff 
Saturday, 11:30 sjn. . 
KSTP, St. PauL.BUnneapolls ^ 

St Paul's commissioner of parks 
and playgrounds, Fred M. Triiax, 
got the idea several years ago that 
moppets kept off the streets and 
steered into various avenues of ar- 
tistic outlet would do good all 
around. Talent so developed, by 
Lorayne Palarine, the commish's 
production manager, nOw does its 
stuff throughout the city, at various 
church and cliib meetings, gratis, 
and recently made its ether bow. 

Truax emcees this once weekly 
KSTP stint and does a :masterly job, 
with his tyro performers offering 
vindication of his original hunch. 
Lorraine Sundberg opens iand closes 
with a marimbaphone themer, 'When 
My Dream Boat Comes Home.' 

Rash. 



JOE BROWN'S RADIO KIDS 
Variety 

6t Mlniites— Local 

seebAsco corp. 

Saturday 11 AJM. 
WMBG, Richmond 

An all-kid show, built and ex- 
pertly m.c'd by a showmanly- adult, 
Joe Brown, that's ringing the com- 
mercial bell locally for an ointment 
marketeer. In its seventh week, it's 
netting box tops, mail pull, and 
word-of-mouth comment. Show is 
put on before audience (about 400) 
in, the Green Room ,6f the swanky 
Jefferson Hotel. 

Aside from ientertainmeht angle, 
show packs socko appiMl in fine com- 
petiye spirit of youngstersi Thiey're 
competing for three popularity 
prizes. Brown's smooth m.c.ihg sets 
'em off right. 

Bob Mitchell, WMBG's merehan- 
dise director, credited with tie-iipS 
to give program gdod-sizfed audi- 
ence from start. Kiss. 



'YOUR PARLOR. PLAYHOUSE' 

With Bill Bouchey, Jeanne DeLee 
Rowena Wllllamis, Morton and Mns'^ 
mano, Lovely Lady Serenaders, 
Robert Trendler orchestra, Forrest 
Lewis, Jean Jnblller, Cornelius 
Peoples, Norman Ross. 

Variety 

30 Mins. 

LOVELY LADY COSMETICS 
Sundays, 9:30 p. m. CDST 
WGN-Mutiial, Chicago 

(Kittland'Engel) 

Sunday night air show is framed 
like a picture house bill. Presumes 
to present cartoon comedy, n^wsreel, 
musical, short, novelty, feature, and 
commercial credit trailers: Too many 
of the latterj though. 
. Best part of bill is Robert Trendler 
orchestra. Work is outstanding, botlfi 
in cueingv novelty effects, and in spe- 
cial arrangements for ^elections. 
Music for cartoon comedy and news- 
reel spots h6ld; plenty of real atmos- 
phere for action and songs in each. 

Weak spot on show is the 'feature.' 
this timie a dramatic presentation of 
the Story supposedly behind the song 
'Little Old Lady.' While acting was 
none too . good,: particularly on part 
of . ingeniie "and character woman, 
script was mainly at fault; Quickies 
of this kind have to be Stripped of 
every thing, except basic emotion ap- 
peal or they're meamingless. 

Show needs just a. little more ex- 
planation before it plunges into itS' 
routine; on the premiere, the car- 
toon comedy was almost, over before 
it could be understood, losing half 
minute of sparkling: miisic ahd .voicte. ! 
Copy voices and selections Of pic- 
ture cartooh stuff ' iare used. 

:N6Wsreel was played in a more Or 
less humorous fashion and included a 
commeircial.plug. ; Musical short was 
swell. Voices and orchestra blended 
into a mighty earful, changing, mood, 
and tempo, with clasis. 

Of soloists, RoWena Williams came ! 
through best. Selections .were well' 
chosen to fit her voice and style, and 
she was; backed by chorus for a per- 
fect balance. ' Whole show should hit 
big. Goes 'bver split Mutual from 
Chicago: 



ED FITZGERALD St CQ. 

With Barbara Lam^rr. Sylvia Cyde, 

Walter Afarcns, Joe Bier 
SongSi Patter, Band 
30 Minutcs-^Local 
Sustaining 

Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EDST. 
WOR, ycwark 

WOR could develop this ona into 
an. attractive little session if more 
care were taken with its production. 
It has three capable singers and a 
comic Who seems to be finding his., 
way around, but the whole thing is 
so crudeily slapped together that the 
talent's, possibilities are niulEfed.. 
While the program seeks to project 
an air of casualness, what it actually- 
achieves is an air of drowsiness. 

Barbara Lamarr has What it tonally 
takes to get behind a torch ditty, 
Walter Ahrens toys nicely with a 
romantic lyric arid Sylvia Cyde 
proves a prima donna well fitted in 
both voice and charm for operetta- 
excerpts, but they all go at their 
tasks with a minimiun of zip and 
feel for their material. Studio com- 
bination gives about the same im- 
pression. 

Ed Fitzgerald plies the only 
breezy touch. Though his is 
cracker-barrel stuff it's humorous. 
Interlude where he and Joe Bier 
read the program's fan mail, with 
pans and praise about equally 
mixed, could be made mOre pointed 
by using different sound effects for 
each, the bell for the puffs and the 
Chinese gong for the pans. 

This studio show gets evening spot 
after daytime break-in. Qdec. 



Kathryn Cravens Views Nag^s 
Cincinhatii'May 
En route to New York frorii the 
Kentucky Derby at Louisville, 
Kathryn Cravens ^topped over in 
Ci^iicy Monday. 

Did her two CBS. shov^, News 
Through a Woman's Eye, for Pontiac, 
via WKRC. 



'READIN' AND WRITING' 

With Bob Provan 

15 Mins., Local. 

Sustaining; 

Friday, 10 piirn 

WDRCr HARTFORD 

Season's etymological vogiie heris 
refiected. in a feature intended prin- 
cipally as good-will offering. Idea 
is strictly, onerihan, loudspeakerites 
taking place of; contestants brought 
to mikes in kindred sessions. 

Bob Provan of WDRC spieling 
staff stresses station's aim to help 
listeners spell and pronounce bother- 
some words. Five Words are pro- 
nounced and then spelled correctly, 
with five-second breaks tapped off, 
and then five words vice versa, until 
20 are done. Chatter interpolations 
sustain interest, and another an- 
nouncer, Ray Barrett,, comes iri at 
half for sake of late tuners^ . 

Hearers at home are expected to 
score ..theriiselves, fiv6 points for each 
accUriate response. PrOVan wel- 
comes audience to* send in items that 
trouble them. 
1 All right for what it i lem. 



♦YOUTH SPEAKS' 
Discs 

15 Mins.T-Local 
Sustaining 
M.-W.-F.; 4:45 p.m. 
WJR, Detroit 

Opinions of college students on 
current topics are waxed on various 
Michigan campuses, and taken into 
Detroit for use on this twice-weekly 
program. Stunt should prove, popu- 
lar. •' 

Interviewing chore tiifned over 
to a male and femme student from 
particular college. - On - day caught 
(28) program briginated from U of 
Detroit campus, and interviewers 
kept things moving. Questions in- 
volved latest stuff about War, arma- 
ments, student* clothing, love, etc. 
Answers were terse arid pointed, al- 
though no rehearsals are. takbn. on 
prograrii. Pete. 



HARRIETT WILSON STRINGS (G) 
With Maureen O'Connor ' 
15 Mins. 
Sustaining 

Sunday, 10:30 EDST 
WABC-CBS. New York ! 

Harriett Wilson and her Singing 
Strings (6) emanate from Hollywood 
on a quarter hour shot iat 10:30 Sun- 
day riights, coming on the heels of 
the Milton Berle program. Latter 
formerly ran 45 minuties, but now 
Cut to a half hour, the r6mairiing^l5- 
mins, are taken up by this dulcet 
sextet which, as the Singing String.s 
billing implies; gives out with the 
syncopation in suave style. 

Maureen O'Connor is topper 
vocally, leaning towards the ballads. 
Arthur GiUmbre announces. A pleas- 
ant 15 mins, in toto. Abel. 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



87 





mm Talent 




Washington, May 11. 

Latest National Association of Broadcasters* estimates indicate out> 
lay tor tialient hit $6,985,790 in the January -March bracket, while wax 
programs brought $3,177,080. Former rose nearly three times as much 
as the disc business, $1,705,650 versus $627,510. Strongest percentage 
gain was in the spot field, wherev^income touched $3,350,220, a jump 
of $1,081,470. The total from records was $256,110, a rise of $72,140. 

Following is breakdown for the ifirst 12 weeks: 

1937 1936 
Na,tlonaI networik i , , * . . , . . t . ; ; . . . . . .$18,120,340 114^926,616 

Bcgloiul network 290,495 300,318 

Nati6ii»I non-web ...... ...i........ 7,867,700 5,670,550 

Local 5,901,500 4,611,880 



General Foods Gets Reversal 



Federal Court Sets Aside Jury Verdict Won 

By Aunt Jemima 



Actiion of the U. S. Circuit Court 
of Aiipeals Monday (10) in setting 
aside the $115,986 verdict obtained 
by Aunt Jemima (Tess Gardella) 
against Log Cabin Products, General 
•Foods and NBC for infringement of 
title came as no surprise to lawyers 
generally in the amusement field. 
It has been their dpinioh that while 
Miss Gatdella had a property right 
in her vaude characterization Gen- 
eral Foods had one by virtue of 
long commercial use of the title on 
packages of pancake flpiir, Appellaite 
Court affirmed part of this. View- 
point in dismissing the Gardella suit. 

In the trial of the original action 
in Federal court, Brooklyn, testi- 
mony was given that the .NBC Art- 
ists iSeryice had approached Miss 
Gardella about taking the, Aunt 
Jemima part in the syrup account's 



program. She . sued on the grounds 
of fair competition, holding that the 
title was hers through, use for years 
on the stage, screen aiid radio. De- 
fendants, claimed that the Aunt 
Jemima label had been cairried on 
food products since 1890 and was 
leg:any acquired when the flour com- 
piahy was made part of the GF com- 
bine. 

Finding of the circuit court was 
that long use of the name commer- 
cially entitled the defendants to 
continue to exploit it as they saw fit. 



Balph Sayres Quits 

Philadelphia, May 11. 

Ralph Sayres, KYW sales man- 
ager, has resigned, effective Satur- 
day (15). Will return to New York. 

No announcement yet of successor. 



S[[ OFFICE BOYS 




Radio Stations ImpAtient . of 
Constant Demands for In- 
formation from Sources 
Producing Little No 
Advertising Revenue 



WASTES TIME 



By BEN BODEC 

A practice which has begun to 
wear the patience of the more im- 
portant stations is the. one involving 
quests for wholesale iiif ormatloA. by 
advertising agencies. Stations* Have ' 
found that the more elaborate and 
comprehensive the questionnaire 
from such sources* the less chance 
there is of anything materializing. 
As much as the average broad- 
caster dislikes iiassing up a possible 
bit of business,: .these circular 
queries.' are generally treated as 
gags and either wind up in the 
wastepaper basket or are relayed to 
the station's rep for a once over 
lightly. 

More common form of quiz seeks 
to have the station supply a com- 
plete list of available spot periods, 
covering the morning, afternoon and 
night . stretches. Another goes a 
step beyond this and asks the sta- 
tion also to list whatever spot busi- 
ness it had .on active schedule as of 
a certain 'date. Still another poser 
is that, which adds that it would ap- 
preciate, the station's aid in keeping 
(Continued, on page 51) 



BIZ QUIZ 

4' . r. . . . — - - ■ .. ■ ' 



Test HOIer Process of; Recordn^ 
On 'Haflunersteb lUc Half 



Boston Radio 



Boston, May 11. 

Bearing out. the anecdotes 
told abotit Boston is. the broad- 
casting schedule over Station 
WIXAL here. .Harvard Univer-r 
city broadcasts regularly on 
such high brow and esoteric 
subjects as. thesis: 

'Greet Masters of Baroque 
and . Rococo Music* 

'Astronomical Tests Of the 
Theory of ^llelativity,' 

'Romantic and Impressionis- 
tic Aspects of Landscape Paint- 
ing in Music' 

'The.,..Nqhlfst M<>t\yi,nient of, 
English. Prose.' 

'Th.ft , ^qfiOT., Movement irpm . 

i865:;<;^>;;09o,!,u.,. 



Non-Union Labor Starts 
Strike, Delays CBS BIdg. 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Construction work on new Columbia 
Broadcasting studio is being stalled 
because of labor difficulties. Build- 
ing Trades Council called a walkout 
when non-union laborers were put 
on the job. 

Builder is in a spot because of 
contract with CBS^ .William Simp-: 
son,' contra^ctor, must turn oyer com- 
pleted building by December 1 or 
take a penalty. . 



. F. Roche to WCFL, Chicago, 
for early a.m. participation show. 



Group which is behind the Miller 
process of film recording last Tues- 
day night (4) took off for test pur-, 
poses the 'Hammersteln Music Hall' 
program as it was being broadcast 
over CBS. Two different inodels for 
the Miller method of recording were 
used to determine which was the 
superior. Experimenters expressed 
themselves as satisfied with the re- 
sult even though it could ha:ve beien 
better if they had been able to bal-r 
ahce the musicians on the show; It 
is intended to .make another test 
soon» but with a show of the group's 
own making. 

Organization which is to exploit 
the Miller ' device has not as yet 
been completed. Heading the group 
is WaddiU Catchings, utilities finance 
expert and ia membei* of the Warner 
Bros, board. Interested with him iti 
the development of the Miller proc- 
ess is Frank Hummert ot Blackett- 
Sample-Hummert agency. Kolynos 
account is on the B-S-H list out of 
the New York office. 

Wire whence the recording was 
made ran from CBS^s Manhattan 
theatre studio to the laboratories of 
Muzak, Inc.; A. subsid of the North 
American Co., of which Catchings Is 
an officer, Permission hais been 
granted by the Securities Exchange 
Commission for a stock setup to ex- 
ploit the Miller device. Miller is 
Under contract to Warner, with his 
patents controlled by the picture? 
producing company. 



Bud Salney, formerly 'Eairly Bird* 
oh all-night disk ride at Whn, Nevr 
York, blowing 6:i30 a.m.. 'Reveille* 
daily at WTIC, Hartford. 



"Good for TOU 



50,000 WATTS 




PHILADELPHIA 



BOBERT A. 



i Commercial Manager 



<A To M«Hrs. Arthur Gulniitu Sob & Co.. lid. . . . A Thouatind PdrdoM 



88 VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesdaj, Maj 12, 1937 



N.A.R MREaORATE DIFFERS WITH WEBS 
ON RESEARCH; CONVENTION MAY MIE 



Advertisers Favor Popularity Studies Against Sig- 
nal Coverage^Brand Latter of Little Value-^ 
Networks String Along with Joint Committee 



What gives evidence of possibly 
becpmini; a hot issue for the doming 
convention of National Asso- 
of Broadcastets Is the difr 
ferencea bf yiewpoint which have 
developed between flie present NAB 
ildministratioa and tlie two major 
networks oii the . course of operation 
taken; by the Joiot C<^mittee on 
Radio . Research, Chances that 
the matter will be brought to a 
showdown when the NAB's com- 
mcircial and radio research commits 
tee holds its meeting at the Sherman 
^ouse, Chicago, next Tuesday (18).: 

One sideline prediction is that 
thet two committees will vote to rec- 
ommend to. the conventioi^ that the 
NAB withdraw^ from the Joint Coin- 
ihittee on Radio Reseaxich and. set 
up its own research. bureaU» This 
niove is expected to be followed by 
fr declaration from the CRS spokes- 
inah bh the NAB^ riesearch coihmit- 
tee, Ken Bpice, that regardless of 
what the committee recpmmends his 
organization will stick along with 
the agency* advertiser supervised 
project,' with Columbia looking to 
NBC to ia^e the same position. In- 
dications are that NBC will first 
try to; effect a compromise on the 
situation and, if unsuccessful, join 
CBS tb ttie walkout. 

NAB reps on the Joint Conunit- 
tee have 'carried their dissatisfaction 
■with tiie way things were going in 
the bureau to the pbiht of Refusing 
to contribute anything to the lat 
ter's . operation. Objections have been 
many but the chief point of issue 
has been the Joint Committee's dis' 
regard of the NAB delegation's in 
sistence that the. bureau/confine its 
testing tb station coverage and not 
Undeiialce to. measure a station" by 
its popularity, or showmanship. 

' Agency and advertisers reps, on 
the committee have contended that 
information about a station cannot 
be> anywhere hear exact unless its 
regular listening audience, forms the 
basis of all measuring devices and 
that this approach is what they want 
and ' that ;they propose to hold on 
to it NBip and Columbia reps on 



the committee have bowed to this 
expression: of principle. 

Whether the broadcasting industry 
as a whole will yield to this change 
of approach to radio research is the 
question- that is expectied to cause 
prime agitation at the NAB coiiyen- 
tion in Chicajgo, which opens June 
21. Advertisers and agencies dele- 
gates on the J'oiht Committee cannot 
see what the broadcasters have to 
fear from this attempt to arnye 
at a mbre effective yardstick for 
station circulation. Tb them the idea 
of buying b' statidn on the basis of 
radio homes within a signal's area 
is" obsolete and thait the sooner the 
broaiicasters: realize the sooner will 
their metiiod of sales, approach be' 
put ph : a':' 'ifttabli|^;v,j;puiidx 
CoW«*bi9tvjiiii;.;i|^^ 
fact ^atf1« 

Radio Rej^tuKhblor^^ thei:«t)^^e 
certain^ \ol -ttil^^T^^ «ei 
seibirch: Foun&tMSw^ 
trblied by \the^ Assbeiation of Na^ 
tional Advertisers, taking bveir this 
-function, tf there, is anything the 
two major webs want in the. field 
of research, it is to keep their busi- 
ness outside the province of the 
Advertising Resiearoh Foundation. 
NetwPrk^: do not cotton tb the idea 
of having their medi^m measured 
by an organization which also probes 
the new£^aper, marine and out^ 
door advertising fields. 

CBS prbpbses to go tbrpugh with 
its plan of conducting a self -financed 
survey ' on rural listeninig audiences 
in the fall. It expects NBC to coine. 
in on- the project , and that the &d^ 
vertiser-agency factions on the Joint 
Committee will give their blessing 
to the method and questioniiaii^c 
which CBS proposes to 'use in this 
study. 

Columbia has had Buckley- 
Dement bhart a complete and de- 
tailed compilation, of the primary 
listening area market data on six of 
the. CBS-owned-and-operated sta- 
tions, WBBM, Chicago; WGCO, Min- 
neapolis; WBT, Charlotte; KMOX. 
St. Louis; WKRC, Cincinnati; and 
WJSy, Wash., D. C. 

Compilation breaks down, the buy- 
ing population, listing 36 classifica- 
tions of retail outlets by counties. 



Sans Affidavit 



Agency which had hithertofora 
done almost npthing in 
sent out a quizz on time avail- 
ability to several outlets in the 
far west One of the stations 
f otWarded the query for check-i 
ing to its station rep in the 
east and the latter called the 
agency to find out what; it %yas 
all . about - 

Rep was told that the agency 
knew of an accourtt which spe- 
cialized, in the manufacture of 
overalls for bowlegged cow- 
boys, and it occurred to the 
agency that the manufacturer 
might be sold on the idea of 
taking a flier in spot broad- 
casting, 



Sponsor Mentificafidii 
JShof s % Oka| Generally 



Rbss-Federal has completed a tele- 
phone research, study for the 'Grand- 
stand and Bandstand' afternoon pro- 
gram'rover WMCA; New York; This 
is the' three-hour marathon no^usic- 
sports-news program sppnsiored by 
Wheaties; 

As a secondary break-down of the 
calls, sponsor identification. was tab- 
idated on the . various New York 
stations in quarter-hour segments 
throujghput the marathon foir Gen- 
eral Mills. In three, days WMCA 
found. 134, or 80% of listeners tuned, 
in correctly named the sponsor 
against 33, or 20% that 'did not 
know".' - 

Other stations and products 
showed comparable ratios on com- 
mercial: credit consciousness by 
afternoon listeners.; 



WGT, Schenectady, has new an- 
nouncer—production man in Rad- 
Cliffe Hall, one-time University of 
Pittsburgh footballer. 



In that the names ' of the retailers 
are counted, survey is such as has 
been made in the past only by the 
U. S, Deptr of Commerce and Cen- 
sus Bureau. 

Columbia is. now conducting sim- 
ilar surveys for KNX, Los Angeles 
and WEEI, Boston. 



IK 



A 




hside Stuff-Radio 



Tentative plana for btiilding television studios on the sixth and seventh 
floors of the RCA building have been made by NBC, Television studios 
Will differ from those ;ripw -used for radio broadcastinj^vin that they Svili 
be clbser together with control rooms located near the narrow passageway 
which will make possible quick^ movemient between two ^different studios. 
The Hallways will rUii on the outer sides instead 6% down the center of 
the building, as with 4he radio siudios. 

Crosley Radio and subsidiaries wound VP With a lo^ in the three-month 
pe;riod ending March 31 as compared with a profit of $687377 in similar 
period last yean Interruption in operations and' heavy loss sustained by 
floods early .this year are blamed for the showing, Crosley turning in a 
report of $31,559 los^ after taxes and-charges. .Earnings in linevwith those: 
shown! in. 1936 and; prbbabiy are ahticipated in succeeding quarterly 
periods. 

Mutual last month grossed $167,590 from time sales, which was 19.8% 
better than the figure which prevailed for April, 1936, BiUings in the lat- 
ter month were $137,934. 

Web's cumulative bilhngjs for the first fbiir months of '37 tally $769,901, 
or 16.6% ovbr. what they were for the ^1^ ' 

George Haiirick, on WtAM,, Cleveland, annpuntih'g Staff, has horse- 
shoe liick pr rubber bones. Falling' 18" feet 'down' bit .'6]>en elevator shaft 
he was taken to liospital uncbnstioirs^. ' Broken ' pelvic bPhes or concussion 
of skuU feared but Hartriek limped but of hospital in less than week with 
badly sprained knee as only Injury. 

At board meet last week Columbia ainnounced a quarterly dividend of 
80c per share on A and B stock, ptayable June ll to stockholders on record 
a^ of May 22. Gravy has grown richer; in past CBS usually declared but 
a 50c dividend* 



Kentucky Derby broadcast which went over Mutual last Saturday (8) 
was a ticker tape version. /It was oiigmated in the studios of WGN, Chi- 
cago. Mutual claims that it was only 30 seconds behind NBC's annoxince- 
ment of the winner. NBC had the track rights exclusively. 



4tli Indiaimpolis Station 
Is Asked by Sales Manager 

Indianapolis, May -11> ' 
Des[>ite two operating stations 
here, and a third perihit holder who 
will probably start cohstructibn this 
month, fourth applicant appeared on 
the scene last, week.' C. Bruce- Mc- 
Cohnell, who is sales inanager for 
Hamilton Harris Co., local tobacco 
wholesalers, filed petition with FCC 
for proposed fourth station here. 

He says he's considered plans for 
some -time, and this was first, definite 
step. He . asks for 1,500 kilocycle 
wave-length, with, 250 watts daytime, 
and 100 watts at night. This fre- 
quency wouldn't conflict directly 
with either of three permits granted 
here, biit looks like there'll be plenty 
of kickback on the economic basis. 



WPA' s Coronation Show 





Eidht Statlohs In 
Michigan's Ei^ht 
LdKgesli Cities 

TERRITORIAL POPUUTION 
OVER 4> MILLION 



WBCM^aAYCITY AMD SAGINAW WIBM- JACKSON 

W F DF - FLINT WELL ^ BATTLE CREEK 

W J l M - LANSING WKZO-KALAMAZOO 
WOOD'WASH-GRAND RAPIDS 



WXYZ- 




BASIC BLUE NETWORK OUTLET FOR GREATER DETROIT 



Even the WPA got in oh the wave 
of radio programs saluting rthe Cor- 
onation. U.' S:' radib project btt 
WHN, Ni y.i Monday (10) ight 
aired a dramatization built up around 
England's history and various Cor- 
onations. 

Seven writers carved out the con- 
tinuity, with Leo Fontaine editing 
and doing the final streamlining. 



ill Seymour Weds May IS 

Cincinnati, May 11. 

Bi ll Seymour, news editor of 
WKRC, is to wed Patricia Garrity, 
dancer. May 16 in Chicago. 

He Is a brother of Ann Seymour, 
of the Grand Hotel radio show. 



McKenna, ^gested' 
Amos Y Andy Use Cork, 
Dies FoDowing Operation 



Benjami McKbnna, , died in 
White Plains, N. Y., hospital May 7 
after an abdominal operation. From 
1925 through 1928, McKeima, as pro- 
ihbtion manager and goodwill getter 
for the Chicago Tribune, had a hand 
in the ciiperation of the sheet's WGN. 
At the time of his death he was in 
the Kew York office of the Crowell . 
Publishing Co. 

At WGN McKenna suggested to 
uke-harmony team named Gosden 
and Correll 'that they, change their 
style and entertainment and become 
script serial blackface comics^ Fol- 
lowing his suggestion,, teani did sb, 
to eventually emerge as Amos ' ' 
Andy. Another contribution at WGN 
to radio was the establishment, of 
regular newscasts at regularly 
skedded periods, thus making stati 
first in the midwest to adppt style 
now familiar throughout, broadcast- 
ing. 

Burial in Chicago May' 10. 




In New York 

John McCormick, WKRG, 
hati. 

Barron Howard, WRVA, 
mond, Va. 

Frank Smith; WLW, Ci 



THOMAS S. LEE 



ANNOUNGES THE OPENINQ OF HOLiLTWOOD 



THOMAS LEE ARTISTS SERVICE 



SUITE 427-429, EQUITABLE BUILDIlSia 



6253 HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD 



ROBERT BRAUN, Manager 



APFIIilATIONS— DON LEE BROADCASTING SYSTEM 
MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



VARIETY 



39 








Open . . . Wide Open . . • 
Every Pocket-Book and Change Purse that Milady Owns 
...Open to NBC Advertisers All Summer Long 



Summer is the spicy season of gay romance and 
high adventure, Milady spends eagerly ! Spends 
for glamorous accessories to enhance the Big 
Moment . . . for trips way out there'* and back 
again. . . for Cinderella's glass slippers. . . spends 
even for food— different chilled exotic food or, 
perchance just juicy cold cuts and crisp; crunchy 
salads/ And the Golonel's Lady and Judy O' Grady 
are indeed sisters-under-the-skin >yhen it comes 
to buying. . , artichokes or apples . . . lipstick or 



RCA pmenis the ''Magic K,:y of RCA" • Sunday, 2 to 3 P.M., E. D. S. T., on th NBC Blue Network. 



liniment. . . caviar or cabbage. And as the mercury 
flirts with the century mark, docs she stop listen- 
ing? A thousand times !No I NBC ^advertisers have 
discovered this fact, andlastSummer they invested 
72 per cent more than the previous Summer i 
NBC week-day daytime programs alone! Many 
products touch new isales peaks during the tor- 
rid term, . . and manufacturers are learning that 
there iis no *^off seasipn" when NBC programs 
invite to buy. May we tell you how . . . and why? 






A Radio Corporation of America Service 



^<..v!■:■>^.■.■J:^y^X■JJa:■J>: 




4» VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesdaj, May 12, 1937 



Hazeltine Is 4th Televisjon-Testhig 
Teclmical Group Active in East 



One of four firms actively eixperi- 
menting with television, Hazeltine 
Service Corp. of N. Y„ is testing 
own method for patent, licensing. 
Other companies also working are 
RCA, Philco and Farnsworth. WhUe 
all are experimienting along similar 
lines, using cathode, ray tubes, Hazel- 
tine employs method developed by 
W. A. MacDonald, in charge of re- 
sear-ch. . 

Principal research is dbne at firm's 
Baysi , !>. I., iabbratories, with c6h- 
^''^ulti and conunercial work car- 
ried on at laboratories in New York. 
Hazeltine Service Corp. is not now 
engaged in manufacturinig or broad- 



Journalist Rons WSGN 



Birmingham, Ala., May 11.. 

Realignment in the staif setup at 
WSGN, Birmingham News Age Her- 
ald,, finds staff enlarged . with , men 
from the newspaper field. 

Henry P. Johnson, v.p. the 
News, has moved .in as statioii man- 
ager in active charge, and broue;ht in 
with him T. O. White as productioh 
chief, and Walter G. Allen as pro- 
gram peddler. 



IBESVLTSI 

CiHJJIITiNMMrV 

WTIC 

HABTFOBD M,fM*WATTEB 

DominatM all of Connec- 
ticut and moat of west- 
•rn Maaaaehuietts 





lUEED E compony 



casting of i^dio or television and 
has ho immediate plana la those di- 
rections. Businesi li entirely de- 
voted to research and commercial 
consulting.- 

According to Hazeltin* research 
experts, publie acceptance and com- 
mercial use of television if a matter 
of financial, commercial and pro- 
gram adjustment and preparation. 
Claim television Is now technically 
well enough perfected ior general 
use. 

While all firms engaged In tele- 
vision experinienti or manufacture 
are naturally hyper-sensltlve about 
revealing any of their research 
secrets, one of Hazeltine's develop- 
ments is a unique method of check- 
ing the scanning operation. This 
permits examination of Individual 
lines from any portion ^of the pic- 
ture, together with the various sjrn- 
chronizing impiulses. Firm uses What 
it calls a camera tube for scanning. 
RGA has the iconoscope and Farhs^ 
worth the dissector tube. AU are 
cathode ray tubes. 



KRNT'S PARBrr SHEET 
NOW USTS WHO SHOWS 



Des Moines, May 11. 

Des Moinei Registari-Tribime now 
carries program listings of Station 
WHO here. It ends seven years of 
careful neglect to mention the local 
50,000-watter in the sheet that owns 
KSO and KRNf . Des Moinet* other 
two stations. 

Several oi^t-of-towm stations will 
also be publicized oa spipcial pro- 
grams. Mary lilttle, Registerr 
Tribune radio edltof^ kas the okay 
to also give WHd i tumble in art 
and prominenc«h 

Surprise all around at the sudden 
switch. Also reported newspaper 
was surprised by volume of oOmpli- 
mentary mall from radio fans on 
the new servlceu 



W. O. Fields* eontrael with Chase 
Sc Sanborn Coffee^ is for 16 consecu- 
tive broadcasts. 



Communities^^' 
Broadcast 



WHIG 



III • 



0C£ 



Community broiadcasls are clickmj^ in tha "WHIO prir 
mary areat Starting Jahuaty 31, thirty-miiiiite proKriama 
using local talent have been broadcast Sunday! from 
towns and cities in the area. Most program! have been 
broadcast direct—a few, using community talent, from 
WHIO studios. In all, 21 towns and cities wiU have heard 
their OWN shows broadcast over WHIO. A! a cliinax, 
talent from these communities will be combined in a 
broadcast. Listener response has been sweU* Voluntary 
front page publicity in the community papers backed the 
broadcasts. Here is a quantity market 
where listener loyalty means. $ales 
for WHIO advertisers^ 



THE TEST STATION 

OF THE NATION 

DAYTON, OHIO 




Tmiler Co. on Air 



Indianapolis, May Ih 
Newest 'big' business in the 
nation, the trailer indus try, has 
hit the air from WFBM here. 

Local state sales organization 
for Hayes Trailers has set half 
hour of discs and blurbs on 
Sundays, from 12:30 to 1 p.m. 



Early Time Buys 




S-Week Qaiise 



Chicago, May 11. 

Early selling ..season is reported. 
Already coming in are time orders 
for fall and winter periods^ Due to 
the fact that priactically all stations 
have regulations which refuse to ac- 
cept any contracts earlier than six 
weeks (sometimes 60 days) within 
the starting date of the program, the 
contracts are lying in the desks 
awaiting station signatures. . 

Great bulk of these early deals are 
for strictly winter-time products, 
especially cold remedies with Pinex 
fligiuring as the top buyer of cold 
remedy time among the. Chicago- 
placed contracts. However,; there are 
many across-the-board strips being 
sought after for femme and food 
products. 



Press-Radio Barean Fixes 
New Inchsife Cost for 
Service in Gotham Area 



Press--J^dio, in the N. Y. area, 
has installed a hew setup through 
which news service will absorb the 
cost of the teletype circuit and 
charge each subscribing station a 
flat $55 monthly, Formerly a sta- 
tion, paid a monthly rental for the 
printer, paid the A.T.&T. a Wire 
charge and Press Radio $12.50 a 
month for service. Under the new 
setup cost to station will be about 
$3.25 more than formerly. 

Gradually the new system will be 
piit into effect on all the other cir- 
cuits maintained by Press Radio 
around the country. 

Kiimber of stations In Greater 
N. Y. subscribing to Pi-ess Radio has 
been dwindling for .some time. 
WNEW dropped service several, 
weeks ago, leaving only WABC, 
WJZ, WEAF, WOR, .WMGA and 
WQXR on the list, WFAB has 
messenger service. All the other 
stations In and around the Big Burg, 
including Brooklyn aiid North 
Jersey area, either subscribe to other 
services or do without news. 



CBS' Shortwave Sked 



Columbia starts daily short-wave 
broadcasts to Europe, when web's 
W2XE bows in today. Programs 
will be aired In the languages of the 
European countries at which they 
are pointed. Majority will be aimed 
at the British Isles. 

As yet no provision has been made 
for South American broadcasts, but 
one of the five frequencies of W2XE 
is being reserved for that coverage, 
with CBS . planning to add' S.A. pro- 
grams sometime in the summer.-: 

NetWork has ^et up a program de- 
partment for tlie short-wave wafts, 
headed by Elizabeth Tucker. Dedi- 
catory ekercises will include E. K, 
Kohan, top engineer, and William 
Lewis, v.-p. i charge of programs. 



Raymer Acquires WJJD 

Chicago, May 11; 

Ralph A^l^ss has appointed the 
Paul Raymer office as national reps 
outside of Chicago for WJjb here. 

Weed represented Atlass' WIND 
outlet. 



Seidel to WCAE, Pittsburgh 

Columbus, May 11. 

Frank Seidel, head continuity 
writer at WHKC, has been made as- 
sistant program manager of WCAE, 
Pittsburgh, Meanwhile Jack Tritsch, 
WHKC chief announcer, is also off 
for a hew connection in Miami, Fla. 

Reorganization of WHKC an- 
nouncing staff makes John Moses 
day studio supervisor and Fred JOy- 
ner night studio supervisor. 



Agencies-Sponsors 



Sehwarts Ginger Ale Ce,, through 
Frank Wright tc Associates, using 
time signals nightly for six months 
on the KJBS, San iVanciscb, Owl 
program, aired after midnight. 

Union Pacllle, through Caples Co., 
Los Angeles, placing quarter-hour 
transcriptions, 'Romance o^ Trans- 
portation,' between July 4 and Jan. 2, 



Loals Needliam ft JPrerby ad 

agency is to handle radio end of 
Chicago Wieboldt department stores. 



BeantlCnl Lady cosmetics using 
three 15-mi spots weekly on 
WJJD, Chicago. 



A. Harris ft Co,, department ^store, 
signed for daily 15-minute hews pe- 
riod for 52 weeks on WFAA, Dallas. 
Tracy-Locke^DawsOn agency. 



Lawrence Gnmbinner agency set 
Roi-Tan cigars for three a we ek fl ve- 
minute sports confabs oh WFAA, 
Dallas, using Hal Thompson as com- 
mentator. 



General Mills is supporting a play- 
by rplay ticker version of some of the 
National League baseball games 
over KMA, iShenandoah. Jerry Har- 
rington is doing the calling. ASCP<7 
is Khox-Reeves. 



Afodlspn Lean has hc^jped aboard 
WHN, N. Y., with a series of seven- 
a-week quarter-hour e.t.'s Of dai^ce 
music. Set for 52 weeiks by Klinger 
agency. 



'Jfimlpr 'G Men,' thrice weekly 
dramatic show on WOR, New York, 
for Fischer Baking Co. has renewed. 



Hecker Prodncts plugging its 
cereal 'Force' on WOR, New York, 
with spots on the 'Uncle Don' kiddie 
program. 



Evans Fur Co. renewed Don Pedro 
and piano, WGN, Chicago, and in- 
creased time to five i5-minute pe- 
riods a week. 



Lord: ft Thomas set Commonwealth. 
Edison, ' Chicago, for three a week 
'Man on the Spot' interviews on 
WMAQ. To be done by Charles 
Lyon from loop Edison shop. 



Rossell C. Comer agency, of Kansas 
City, has opened N .Y. office, with 
R. V. Hanson in charge. Outfit also 
has cubicle in Chi. 



Tonnff ft Rublcam auditioned Fred 
Lightner last week with an. eye to 
him subbing for Phil Baker on the 
Giilf (CBS, iSundays) program dur- 
ing the summer months. 



Corn Products (Karo and Linlt) 
three-a-week quarter-hour, after- 
noon programs, labeled 'Five Star 
Revue,' fade off CBS with May 28 
broadcast. Periods have used Mor- 
ton Bowe, Merl Bell, Bill Johnstone 
and Ray Sinatra's orch. 



signed for special midwest Columbia 
set-up to air Prof. Foirdney's Minute 
Mysteries, for the A, J. Krahk Co., 
plugging cosmetics and shaving 
creams. 

Show, to originate In Chicago, win 
riin once Weekly, probably at 10:15 
p.m. on. Tuesdays, although not defi- 
nite yet because of time clearing dif- 
ficulties. Scheduled to start May 
25. 



. Acme Breweries, through Emil 
Brisacher, San Francisco, spotting 92 
announcements on KGO one daily 
through July 31. 



Procter, ft ■Gamble, through Comp- 
ton agency. New York City, plug- 
ging Crisco in 50 spot announce- 
ments staggered over a one year 
period on KGO, San Francisco. 



Bedlick Newman Co. .(furniture) 
signed for thrice weekly quarter- 
hour programs oh KYA, San Fran- 
cisco, using Sam Moore, singer- 
guitarist, and George Nyklicek, pian- 
ist. Starts May 10. Placed direct 



Standard JBeyerage Co. (Nehi and 
Royal Crown Cola), through .Emit 
Reihhardt, signed three monthi' 
contract for four time signals daily 
on KJBS, San Francisco. Starti 
date not set^ 



At Conners weekly poetry- 
philosophy isessioh, 'Cabbages and 
Kings,' Oh WELI, New Haven. 



Arthur Hpyt, technical director of 
WPA theatre, Bridgeport, conducting 
mixed chorus at WELI,' New Haven;' 




McCord agency, Minneapolis, has 



Now Located In 

new; 

Studios and Offices 
22nd Floor Fidelity Bld^. 

FORMAL OPENING 

MAY 15 
It Is Now 

K X B Y 

in Kansas City, Mo. 




Affiliated m Management with WKY 

; ad the Oklahoma Publishing Co. 




Roprf.scntcH by E. Katz Special Adv. Agency 




We speak of information — ^the cur- 
rent facts on stations, programs, 
agencies, sponsors and all other 
phases of radio. 

In the form of an encyclopedia and 
reference book titled. Variety Radio 
Directory. Page after page of in- 
formative facts and figures, 

Yariety Radio Directory will he 
issued annually commencing this July. 

Suhscriptions at'e now being taken 
for the 1937-1938 edition. 

Price: $S the copy. 



1937 



42 VARIETT 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 12* 1937 



RADIO SHOWMANSHIP 

Atteniion'Getters, Tie'Ups, Ideas 



Outstanding Stunts 



BLOOD DONORS GLUB 
WHEG, ROCHESTER, N. V. 



WHEC Blood Donors Cluli 

Rochester, N. Y. 
Al. Sigl, Times-Union newscaster, 
who spiels twice, daily over WHEG, 
has organized . ai blood-donors club. 
Over 200 signed up and 50 already- 
typed are Avilling to give blood for 
ill persons needing transfusions, but 
. unable to pay the cost of professional 
donors. 

Sigl's donors carry an orchid-col- 
ored membership card printed in 
blood-red inK. TimeS-Union promo- 
tion department handles the records 
of the organization and membership 
details.: 

Galls for donors average two a 
week, and the. cliib plan makes for 
efficiency, as it is possible to call a 
single donor already typsd .instead 
of a .dozen volunteers of unknown 
type. 



Movinf Day Covered 

St. Paul. 

Something new iii the way of a 
broadcast was KSTP's May 1 moving 
Day ispecial, opening at 7 a. m. and 
signalling the Bedouin tirek of 5,000 
Twin' Cities families. 

Sation tagged the first family tb 
move oh that day, rigged up its mo- 
bile transmitter in the bloke's house, 
talked wih the man and wife about 
the job ahead of thenx. Many good 
humorous angles popned up, with 
the announcer saymg in conclusion 
that.he hoped the 5,000 families mov- 
ing today won't find the man upstairs 
taking tap daincing lessons, the gar- 
bage can across the lot always 
kicked over, the purp in the next 
house barking into the wee small 
hours. 

Not only were the master and 
frau quizzed as they lugged, their 
chattels out of the house, but the 
furniture heavers likewise came in 
for a word or two. 



KOA Prograia for Newly weds 

Denver. 

A new program, sustaining, over 
KOA, is one dealing with the prob- 
lems of newlyweds. Script aiid idea 
is the work of Margaret Smith and 
Jack Orsen. locals, and is tagged 
'Adam and Eve.' 

Quarter hoUrs three time weekly. 

GetUng Out the Vote 

St. Paul. 

Pa r a p h rasing Mark Twain's 
weather crack, KSTP announced that 



THE NEW CRY 
OLD WEST 

GENE O'FALLON, Manager 



everybody talks about bum govern- 
ment, but hbbody does anything about 
it. Tlien station pitched in, put its 
mobile transmitter into service at a 
Minneapolis polling booth shortly: 
skfter its opening at 7 a. m. Monday 
(10), urging citizens to get out the 
vote for the Mill City primary; 

Oh. for a 10-minute shot, unit 
stressed duty of citizens to ballot, 
picked up news on the bulk of the 
early vote, some byrplay of the bal- 
lot-scrachers and a word or two 
f rom the judges. 

Aof leg on Vox Pop 

Columbus, O. 
Three inquiring repo'rters waiting 
within a block and a half to tangle 
with the lioontime crowds here. 
Although all three sessions are 
sticking to the stereotyped brain- 
teaser queries, competition has 
spurred a few toubhes of showman- 
ship in the broadcasts.. 

WHKG started it by sending Rose 
Kaye along with Fred Joynier to add 
a touch of ^ex appeal, and; inciden-; 
tally, , soften up the males for the 
mike appearance. Bob Seal has 
countered with a *Do You Want to Be 
an Inquiring Reporter?! istuht, frank- 
ly modeled after the Haven McQuar- 
rie broadcasts. 

Seal - grabs a passerby,^ ' jams va 
script into his hand and l{i.ts the vic- 
tim be the inquii;ing repprter and 
quiz the viarioud subjects. Even has 
the amateurs, reading the commer- 
cials. Admits it's full of dynamite, 
but has been making it go a couple 
of times a week to add novelty in a 
field where it's badly heeded. 

All stations ,are using the same 
come-on-rfilm tickets, with occasion- 
al passes to name band dances. 
WHKC also tosses in a copy of a 
radio fan publication to every person 
questioned. 

Student Musicians Program 

Cleveland. 
Musical students in city's public 
schools are getting ah officially ap- 
proved chance to strut stuff oh air, 
through a new tie-up between 
WGAR and Cleveland Board of Edu- 
cation. 

Leading pupil in each school's 
music classes is picked' every^ week 
by teacher for participation in series 
of 3:30 Friday . afternoon: student 
broadcasts. } 

Writers^ Rejection Club 

. > Santa Barbara, Gal. 

KDB is airing a twice weekly half- 
hour program labeled 'Writers' Re- 
jection Club,' on which scribblers sit 
in at a round-table conference and 
discuss best-sellers as well as their 
own rejected yarns. 

With at least five writers on each 
period, talk runs generally to what 
sort of pieces are in demand for 
mags and volumes. KDB's idea is 
that hopeful tyr6 pencil-pushers may 
benefit from inside advice on the 
fiction market. 



Music Festival OA WMT , 

Cedar Rapids, la. 

WMT will broadcast portion of the 
State Music Festival, held at the U. 
of Iowa. Fvent attracts 6,500 high 
school studes who vie for honors. 

Station idea is .that parents and 
pals of the participants will pant- 
ingly cling to their radios all over 
the area during the three-day Festi- 
val to hear how their hopefuls make 
out. 




VIIKY 



IT'S 



:ii trs OH n IV I 

'oh their MIHBS! 




St. Paul, Muineapolis OK'd 
For Dual Air Identification 

Washington, May 11. 
From now on, 'This is station 
Whatsit in St. Paul and Minneapolis, 
by authbrity of the Federal Com- 
munications Commission' will be the 
identification announcement of the 
thre^ transmitters in the Twin Cities 
area. 

Change, in rules for the benefit of 
kSTP, WCCO and WTCN was voted 
by the commish last week upon pe- 
tition for permit to capitalize oh the 
distinction of the two burgs. Pre- 
viously, WGGO a;nd WTCN were 
tagged as Minneapolis plants while 
KSTP identified itself as St; Paul 
outlet. Henceforth, three stations 
will use the same tag line for sta- 
tion breaks and . sign-off s. 



KING - MAKING 
BIGRAMODAY 
M CANADA 



Montreal, May 11. 

Canadian Broadcasting Corp. will 
present a 23-hour radio program for 
Coronation Day bVer the trans- 
Canada network, this to include .the 
ceremony in Westminster Abbey and 
the King's niessaige to the Empire. 
Normally, CBC broadcasts six hpuris 
a day; tomorrow (Wednesday) CBC 
will go on the air at 4:00 a.m. E.S.T. 
and -will remain continuously until 
3:00 a.m. the following morning. 

Supplementing overseas stuff will 
be the Canada-wide Coronation pro- 
gram to which will contribute Mbh-. 
treal, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Win- 
nipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. 



WMT Tirated' BasebaH 
Ssnis Kickback— Yet 



Cedar Rapids, la., May 11, 
WMT has wiggled around broad -v 
casting ban imposed by local West- 
ern League ball club by spotting 
mike on roof of a house outside the 
park. 

Ball club would not permit broad- 
casting in. any form from confines of 
its yard; so Bill Quarton, commercial 
chief , at yfMT deyised scheme of 
renting the housetop of a home lo- 
cated just beyond the centerfield 
wall, erecting a platform and run- 
ning a wire from station^ Bert 
Puckett does the play-by-play de- 
scription. 

Though evidently not pleased, the 
OMvners of the ball team have not as 
yet attempted to oust station from its 
peering perch. 



Frisco Bay flook-Up 



San Francisco, May 11. 

Transbay program exchange be- 
tween KGGC, San Francisco, and 
KLS, Oakland, was inaugurated last 
Friday (7) with a special two and 
a half hour broadcast in which 
staff artists of both stations and civic 
biggies participated. Union of tlie 
two transmitters will be known as 
the Bay Broadcasting System. 

KGGC, a 100-watter, is the pirop- 
erty of the Golden Gate Broaddast- 
ing Co., while KLS, a 25p-watter, is 
owned by Warner Bros., Oakland 
radio dealers. Former's time sched- 
ule is limited. 



WCQL Joins the Parade 

Columbus, May 
WCOL joins the parade of stations 
all over U. S. A. presenting unem- 
ployed persons whd will seek jobs 
over the air; . 

Program is to be aired with the 
co-operation of tlie Ohio State Uni- 
versity Unemployment Bureau, 
which will furnish applicants for i - 
terviews from its files. 

Bob Seal will handle assignment 
for station. 



KSO-KRNT Staffers Turn Prof. 

' Des Moines, May 11. 
To bring practical radio problems 
and operation to the Drake Univer- 
sity School of Radio, seven members 
of the KSp and KRNT staff each 
took over a class for instruction. 
Included among the 'prdfs' were 
Lansing Benet, assistant program di- 
rector; Marvin Meyers, engineer, and 
Gwen McCleary, Ed. Linehan, May 
Floyd Sinex, Esther Sipling and 
Dave Nowinson of the continuity 
department 



Auto-Bike Crash Thone 
Pole; Affei^ts 1st Use of 
WOWO-WIRE HookrUp 



Indianapolis, May 11. 

First broadcast of the tie-up of 
Wd WO, Ft. Wayne, ahd WIRE, In- 
dianapolis, in the first regularly 
scheduled commercial hook-up in 
Indiana, almost became a period of 
Indianapolis studio fill-ins for WIRE.. 
•Let's Pretend,' set by Ralph Jones 
agency of Cincinnati, - fpr Drackett 
Chemical Co. (beauty preps) origi- 
nated in WdW itUdios and w-as to 
be fed over tested wire to the In- 
dianapolis NBC outlet. . 

Impaired reception resulted from 
auto striking bike pedaler, and then 
crashing into telephone pole near Ft. 
Wayne; This bi:oke the special tested 
wire (resulted in' death of bike 
rider). 

Program: was finally switched to 
untested wire, and poor reception 
naturally occurred. 



NBC ACTOR-BOOKING 
DEPT. REORGANIZED 



Realignment .of personnel of NBC 
Artists Service continues,, with 
Ernest Cutting switched from audi- 
tions to talent scouting, with Jack 
Von Tilzer assuming pop auditions 
and Bob' Smith classical ones. 

S. L. Ro^s; 'Who has been Artists 
contact for NBC maniaged and oper- 
ated stations,, has been shUja^ed over 
into the ad agency sales dept. 

Fred Niblo . has been named chief 
of all pic bookings, with Jack F'ptter 
assisting and continuing as salesman 
to . W.alter Thompson. Chester 
Stratton has been named booker for 
sustainers, and Billy Hillpot con- 
tacts program dept. on commercials. 

Changes into effect Monday (17). 



RICHARDS' COAST OKAY 



F. C. .C. Sanctions Detroiter'S Acqui- 
sition of KMPC 



Washington, May 11, 
George ichards' long campaign 
for a West Cbaist outlet was con- 
cluded satisfactorily last week when 
Federal Communications Commis- 
sion, af tei: •weeks of head-scratching, 
consented to acquisition of KMPC, 
Beverly Hills, for $125,000. Richards 
is prez'of WJR, Detroit, and WGAR, 
Cleveland. 

Deal was approved in conformity 
with recommendations two months 
ago by Examiner Ralph H. Walker, 
who pooh-poohed fact that the price 
tag was approximately ten times the 
valuation on the transmitter. Com- 
mish found no fault with the fact 
that the figure included' substantial 
allowance for good-will to wipe out 
large losses during early days of sta- 
tion's existence. 



Bob Braun's Starter 



Hollywood, May 11.. 

Bob Braun launched his Holly- 
wood quarters of Thomas Lee 
Artists Service with the first Mutual 
network commercial from the Coast. 
He signed the Hollywood Sunshine 
Girls for a quarter hour weekly 
music turn. 

Skol products (sunburn remedy) 
biankroUing. 



EXEMPT RADIO 

STATION FROM 
UBEL 



Des Moi , May 11. 
Sponsored by Iowa Association of 
Brbadcasters, House File 302, known 
as the radio libel bill, was passed by 
the 47th Iowa general assembly and 
becomes a law iVith the signature of 
*Gov. Nelson G. Kraschel. In effect 
the new bill relieves Iowa radio sta- 
tions of responsi ility for defama- 
tory statements 
broadcasts by persons 
connected 'vyith the radi 

Members of the Iowa association 
include the following stations: KFJB, 
Marshalltown; KFNF, Shenandoah; 
KMA, KOIL, Council 

Bluffs; KRNT, Des Moines; .KSO, 
Des Moines; . WHO; Des Moi 
WMT, Cedar Rapi WOC, Daven- 
port and WSUI, Iowa City. Officers 
are J. O. Malahd, WHO, president 
and Earl N. Peak, KFJB, secretary. 

•Text of the hew law is as follows: 
■An Act in relation to the civil lia- 
bility of . owners, lessees, licensees 
and operators or radio broadcasting 
stations .and the. agents and . em-, 
ployees of- any such owner, lessee, 
licensee or operator, for radio def- 
amation, 

■Be it Enacted by the .General As- 
sembly of the State of Iowa: Section 
1. The owner, lessiee,. licensee or 
operator of a radio broadcasting sta- 
tion, and the agents or employees of 
any such owner, lessee, licensee or 
operator, shall not be liable for any 
damages for any defamatory state- 
ment published or uttered in or as a 
part of ^ a radio broadcast, by one 
other than such owner, lessee, li- 
censee or operator, or agent, or em- 
ployee thereof, if such owner, lessee, 
licensee, operator, agent or em- 
ployee, shall prove the exercise of 
due care to prevent the publication 
or utterance of such statement in 
such broadcast. Section 2. This act 
shall not be applicable to or affect 
any causiei of action existing at the 
time this act becomes effective.' 

(New York lawyers specializing in 
libel law quesiion whether the Iowa 
law will prove of practical value. 
They point out that two factors' can 
easily militate against its enforce- 
ment: (1) a libeled person cannot be 
deprived of the right to bring ah ac- 
tion, and (2) since broadcasting is an 
interstate matter there is nothing to 
prevent the plaintiff from, bringing 
his suit in the Federal courts.) 

WHTB 



NnriONQL REPRESENTRTIVES 

EDWARD PETRY & CO. 




\ starring COL. JAY C. FLIP PEN 

IRVINO AARONSON AND HiS COMMANDERS 
Outil Start Every W««lcl 



Represented by E. KATZ SPECIAL ADVERTISING AGENCY 



O When n |5rociuc;l i.s 
on WKY, riccilprs knew 
il s (joinci to be on the 
mind-, c( most ol their 
curlomcr:;. 

Thtll S w.'ly :! :. CCISH.T 
n sriii' -mcin who 
li::',.:; WKY to trilk bus) 
nr.... \'~-:\)\ Oicliihoma 



WKY . (I lo.-. o tin Y 
1' , IV (■ l( , ' . . . cm circn; 
r-,i :;l liny .-(in undi-r- 




kat;: si'i/-;A:. al vi.itT;:;;N' . A'-.i Nr-y 



Wed nesday, May 12, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



43 



NBC EVENS OFF 
MWASHOKTON 



Washington, May 

GhQp-lickinig oyer the prospects of 
better biz for NBC's Washington 
eet-up was speeded up last week by 
good news from the Pederal Comr 
.inunicatibhs Conimission. All set to 
blossom out with new studios, new 
equipment and other improvements^ 
If BC was further cheered when the 
Cbnunish reconsidere4 and okayed 
a juice-jump of froigl 500 watts 
nights, 1 kw days, to 1 kw. nights 
and 5 kw dayS; for statioii WRC. 

Web's enjbyrhent was" not spoiled 
by fact that favc^rs for networks aire 
not being dispensed too lavishly 
during the present eria of suspicion. 

Previously handicapped by CBS* 
10 kw assighnient for station WJSV, 
NBC was further perked up over 
Commish. approval of a /new WRC 
transmitter site located in nearby 
Maryland. Boost to 1-5 kw, coupled 

ith' construction of a $75,000. trans- 
jnitter - on a site considered vastly 
superior to WRC's present location, 
brought big grin fronv Kenneth H. 
Berkeley, station manager. 

'lltTfrc- wilt fie^^^ 23 acres of 
th'e h^w .transmitter site to the state 
of Maifyland and Prince George 
County for a proposed park. 

Bow-wow Foods Compete 

Chicago,. May 11.. 
Red. Heart dog food is readying to 
change its program complefely. Will 
cancel oflE its current NBC weekly 
shot, tagged 'Tea Time at Morrell's/ 
at the conclusion of the. present con- 
tract on May 27, and expect to re- 
-place with an entirely new setup, 
through the local . Henri, Hurst & 
McbonaldL agency. 

Also in the market for a progiram 
Is Cliappell . Bros, for its Ken-li- 
Ratioh product. Are primarily in- 
terested in a script show idea for 
fefnme daytime appeal. 
. Also tklki a radio spliurge Is 
Wilson Bros. 



Firestone, Johnson Wax 
Figbt Oyer Choice NBC 
Spot; Weh in the Middle 



NBC sales department has beien 
trying for the past week to solve the 
ticklish position it got Into when it 
assigned the .spot .now occupieid by 
Firestone Tires to Johnson Floor- 
wax. Former account had wavered 
about stayihg on duriiig the. summer 
and as the deadline set for its re- 
newal expired jOhnson. was given , a 
oral okay for the period. 

Firestone had originally asked 
NBC to . retain for it the 8:30 to 
9 p.m. spot on the . red (WEAF). 
Mondays while , the tire account 
went off for ' the summer. .NBC 
vetoed tlie idea. Firestone's next 
move was to ask for a little /time to 
thi it overj a veirring that it might 
arrange to stay through the sumr 
mer. Roy Witmer, NBC v.-p. in 
charge: of sales, set noon of the Sat- 
.urday a week ago (1) as the dead- 
line for, Firestone tb decide either 
way. 

Shortly before the' deadline was to 
become effective NBC got a call ask- 
ing: for an extension Of t?me to the 
following Monday morning. Witmer 
at the monient was ' in White Sulr 
phure Springs, W. Vav, attending the 
conyentiOri of thfe American Asso- 
ciation of Adv.ertisihg Ageiucies. Be- 
fore the request from PirestOnei 
could be passed on to some higher 
authority for action, somebody else 
in the department informed Johnson 
FlOorwax, which had previously put 
in. ai bid for it, that they could have 
the period, Johnson reciently. took 
over the 9 to 9:30 Monday stretch on 
the . same link but it hasn't liked the 
competition fi:om the Lux Radio 
Theatre (CBS). . 

. Pressure from, the Firestoriib sector 
last week had. got tO ^the point where 
the account was offering a 52- week 
noncancellable, if it coiild stay 
where it is. Johnson saw no reason 
why it should give up soniething 
that it had obtained under good 
busi circiiinstances. 

irestone is one. of NBC'tt oldest 
and steadiest 'accounts. ; 



Al Botzer has taken over the gong 
and chiiries on the midnight show at 
kOL, Seattle. 



Here and There 



Biliy Jones and Ernie Hare, no 
longer with Gillette's. Commiinity 
Sing, have a play of their own au- 
thorship, 'Nice Weather We're HaVr 
ing,' that they would like , to produce 
this sumnner. 



yinceht Callahan has qiiit as com- 
mercial mgr. of . WRC and WMAL, 
Washington, to become gen. mgr. bf. 
WWL, New Orleans. Move becomes 
effective May 15. On NBC'js pay- 
roll ovei: eight yeair^. 



RCA; Magic. Key to be produced in 
Chicaefo NBC. studios for first time 
next Sunday (16).' 



Milton Hertb, , leaving 

WIND, Chicago, guest show 

on Hal Kemp, hoiir, arid follow with 
13-week New .York commercial tdjt- 
tfact,: 



George Neise, formerly of WISN, 
Milwaukee, joined announcing staff 
of WJJD, Chicago. ' 



Jimmie Thompson, WFBC, Greenr* 
ville, S. C-» news and sportscaster, 
running for alderman. 



ingham and Wells, song arid pi- 
ano team, and Ken Keriyon, recently 
with. Singing Samj the Barbasol Man, 
have joined studio' staff of ICANS, 
Wichita.' ■ 



John Thompson hew^ assistaiit^ tb 
Ken Fry, Chicago .NBC news editor. 



Fred Moegle has been tipped to 
chieif mikeman at WTMV, East: St. 
Louis, his place being taken by War- 
ren Ghamplin, announcer of WEW. 
St. Lbuis. Other changes in station 
put Alex Buchan in charge of 'Man- 
in-the-Street' progi-airi, which is be- 
ing done daily in St, Louis for a fur- 
niture account. 



Three-day Silver Anni Convention 
of the Institute of Radio Engineers 
closes today . (Wed. ). iri;N. Y. 



Bob Klimeiit, new announcer at 
WSAZ, Huntington, W. Ya. Formerly 
with WCKY, Covington, Ky, 



CBS has carded, a series of talks 
on labor, starting Friday (14) hight 
with John L, Lewis larynxi Fol- 



Wax Continues as Medium for Yankee 
Advertisers Using South America 



lowing week William Green will 
have a whack, with Gov; Frank 
Murphy o,f Michigan Avindirig It up. 



Buss Baker has rejoined announc- 
ing staff at WOW, Omaha. Harry 
Burke, program director, is relieved 
of announcing chores by addition of 
Baker,, arid .will devote entire time to 
program 'departmerit. 



KQA, 

B. Long, Jr. 



sales staff ; 



leaspn si 
tiucky Strike guest. 



May 29 as a 



Wayne Randall, NBC publicity 
chief,., returns next . week from va- 
cation in. Florida; 



Blbbard Ayer, station. rei>, toiiring 
Ne.w England ariglirig for . accounts. 



Peggy Wooil guests on the. -Ham- 
merstein Music Hall' <Kolynos) over 
CBS oh May li. 



Mrs,; I : Sarah '<■ ' Delano ' 'RoosevieU, 
nyjther - of 'tHe'^ Prrifejide^ht, 'will make 
^ue§t . a'p'^eif ance , qri a chain ■ cOrii- 
ni^tciat; Monday /'(n)^^ virhifen.'she ^fi' 
interviewed'by Cecil B,'.lieM^lle,on' 
the Lux Theatre over CBSi- 



William M. Brandoii, secretary of 
WHO, Des Moines elected governor 
of the . 11th district of Iowa Rotary 
clubs. Prior to takirig/Office On July 
1, he will attend the International 
Assembly in Nice, France. 



Frank Seitz's station. WFASi 
White Plains, N. Y., starting in- 
stallatiph of - new transmitting an- 
tenna. 



Pauline Frederick and illlps 
Holmes set. by William Morris of- 
fice for Kate Smith s'how May 20'. 
Will, do scene from 'Amber,' 



WELI, New. Haven j play-by-playing 
Sunday ball games at Savin . Rock, 
with Phil Buxbaum, ;Jr., at mike. 



Ariierican advertisers continue to 
spot biiz dircbt On South American 
broadcasters and snub RCA over- 
tures to have their U. ' prograrirjs. 
puriiped below the equator . , via 
short- w:avei .for stations down there 
to pick Up and spurt but. to listen- 
ers. Some 95% of the programs on 
S, A. stations, for Ariiericah adver- 
tisers 'consist ot recorded music with 
Spanish announcements. Rest are 
dramatic skits. 

Three Yankee agencies spotting 
bulk of the S. A. biz are J, Walter 
Thonip.son, N. W. Ayer and Mc- 
Canh-Erickson. Tiirie Abroad, Con- 
quest Alliance and Broadcasting 
Abroad are the three outfits han- 
dling most pit the biz placed on the 
sub-equatorial broadcasters. Sta- 
tions give coriimlssions of between 
15 and 25% to the outfits getting 
'em the American accounts. Bigger 
broadcasters kick, back 15%, while 
the smaller ones have to make thd 
commissions larger to bait biz. 

At present American products get- 
ting plugged down there include 
General Motbris, Tangee^ Kolynos^ 
Socony, Chrysler, BaVier Aspirin, 
Carter's Liver Pills, Alka Seltzer, 
^Jarrier Air Conditioning, Frigid- 
aire t(nd Packard, These piroducts 
are spending the ihost hibney on the 
Stations, having large campaigns 
underway. 

Top card rate is S. A. is asked 
by 20,000-watter In Ruehos Aires, 
$280 pei:; hour. Lowest Js .CB82, 
1,000-watter in Chile, $3.42 per hour, 
with scale as low as $2.74 pier hour 
oni a 52-week contract basiis. Quar-- 
ter^hoiirs c^m be had for 83c 6ach. 



WFBM IsiiH lonely How 
Indianapolis, May 11. 

WFRM had beeh sole tenants of; 
former Indianapolis Power & Light 
Co. building when utility, which 
owns WFBM, moved but and r'e- 
nanraed it the 'WFBM Building.' 
As result of air mentions radio 
station has attracted other, tenants 
until buildinjg is now set for. com«, 
plete occupancy. 



★ 




IS POWER 

WLW's 500,000 watts wilt deliver your 
prbgrarii into countless homes, with 
the best possible clarity and with the 
greatest satisfaction to radio listeners. 



WLW...THE NATION'S STATION 



44 VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 12, I937 



BEER OKAYED IN VIRGINIA 

roaiicasters Reassured — Hard 
Likker Is Verbbteii on Air 



Xiynchburg, Va., May 11. 
irgi ia alcohol beverage control 
board announced Saturday (8) that 
it had decided not to ban beer ad- 
vertising oh Virgi ia radio, stations.' 

Stations had been in a sweat since 
board let it be khoyrn in April that 
it was toying with the idea of pro- 
hibiting such broadcasts from orig- 
inati in Virginia. Decision not to 
do came after broadcasters 
proiniised not to (emphasize too 
strbngly the pleasant side bf beer 
guzzling. 

Ruling doesn't affect policy 
against advertising distilled liquors 
on the air. Stations haven't beea 
doing it, and ABC board told 'em 

hot to try it. '.. .. . 




TRUMFKT KDfa OlP SWING 

★ LOUIS * 
ARMSTRONG 

AUn HIS OBCHESTRA 

FLElSCHMANN YEAST 

(J. tValter Tbonpaon) 

si P.M. D.S.T. Every Friday. WJZ 
lae Network 



Just Concluded 3 
Successful Weeks 
Paramount, New York 
★ 

RECORDS 



MGT. JOE OLASER 
ROCKWELL-O'KEEITE 



F.C.C.'S WASHINGTON DOCKET 



DECISKIIIS 



Washington, May 11. 

Alabama: . W. Page Corp., Phenix City, application 
for new station to he operated on 1240 kc with 250 
watts dismissed at request of appliqant. 

California: Merced. Star Publishing Co., Inc., Ven- 
tura, denied new statioh to be operated on 1170 kc with 
250 watts days only, commish reversing Exaniiner P^ 
W. Seward.' Valley Broadcasting Co., Pomona, denied 
new statioh to be operated days on 1160 kc with 250 
watts; commish sustai ittg Examiner R. H. Hyde. 

Colorado: KIUP, C. Guy Shepard,-Durango, granted 
voluntary assignment pf license to San Juan Broad- 
casting Co., 1370 kc with loo watts. 

District of Columbia: WRC, Washington, reconsid- 
ered action of April 2, designating for hearing applir 
cation ior power boost from 500 watts nights, 1 kw 
days, to 1 kw nights, 5 kw . days, and granted same. 

Florida: F. VT. Borton, Coral Gabies, ismissed, 
request of applicant. 

Illinois: Mutual Broadcasting System, Inc., Chicago, 
granted extension of authority to exchange programs 
W:ith CKLW, Windsor. 

Massachusetis: WMAS, Springfield, denied applica- 
tion for freiquency change from 1420 to 560 kc, power 
boost from 100 watts nights, 250 watts days, to 1 kW 
all times, installation 61 diresctional antenna, chapge 
location of studio and transmitter, commish sustai ing 
Examiner Melyin H. Daiberg, 

'Michigan: WWJj t)eti-oit, granted night juice jump 
froni l^to 5 kw for 30 4ays on a temporary basis, sub- 
ject to VevOcatibii Without notice or h^ ' 

Minnesota: Albert lica Broadcasting- Corp., Va/ert 
Lea, rec6nsidM6id ;iictiph *61 April 2T, designating; for. 
hearing application 'ibr new* station to be operated on 
1420 kc with 250 Watts dajrs only, and granted same. 

New Jersey: Young People's Association for the 
Propagation of the Gospel, Shark River Bay, denied 
petition asking continiiahee of hearing; now scheduled 
for May 12, on application tor nevr station to be. oper- 
ated. daytimes oh 640 kc. with 5 kw._ 

New Tork: WLWL, Missionary Society of St. Paul 
the Apostle, New York, granted voluntary assignment 
of ILcerise to Arde Bulova, 1100 kc with 5 kw, specified 
hours. 

Oklahoma: WKY, Oklahoma City, denied special tem- 
porary authority to operate with power of 5 kw night- 
time in order to overcome interference caused^ by 
XENT. Neuvo Laredo, Mex. 

Pennsylvania: WFIL, Philadelphi , grarited authority 
to transfer control of corporiation to Strawbridge & 
Clbthieir, 560 kc, 500 watts nights, 1 kw days; WFIL, 
Lit Brothers Broadcasting System, Inc., Philadelphia,, 
granted authority to: transfer control of corpoation to 
Lit. Brothers, 560 kc with 500 watts nights, 1 kw days; 
WKOK, Sunbury, application for day power increase 
from 100 to 250 watts dismissed with prejudice^ 
applicalt's request for . withdrawal was received, less 
than 30 days prior to scheduled hearing; WiSAN, Allen- 
town, denied petition asking commish to reconisider 
and grant applications of WSAN for voluntary assign- 
ment of station license of WSAN (Incorporated) a 
Oelaw:are Corporation, to WSAN (Inc;), a Pennsylva- 
nia corporation recently formed, and for the voluntary" 
assignment oiC license of WCBA> AUentown^ to WSAN, 
Inc., the Pennsylvania corporation; WHAT, Philadel- 
phia, granted petition to reconsider commish. action 
denying' frequency change from 1310 to 1220 kc, in- 
crease of power from 100 watts to 1 kw, and change iii 
hours of operation from sharing with WTEL, Phila- 
delphia, to unlimited; Pottsville Broadcasting Co., 
Pottsville, denied new station to be operated on 580 
kc with 250 watts days only, commish reversing Ex- 
aminer palberg; WBAX, John H. Stenger, Jr., Wilkes- 
Barre, application for change in hours of operation 
from specified to unlimited remanded to docket for 
further hearing on engineering features. 

Rhode Island: WPRO, Providence, granted aihended 
petition asking commission to approve transaction by 
which control of license was relinquished and in con- 
nection therewith suspended operation of Rule 103.18, 
particularly paragraph (b) thereof, relating to trans- 
fer of control of licensed corporations. 

South Dakota: KELO, Sioux Falls, granted installa- 
tion of new equipment and present antenna system of 
KSOO, Sioux Falls, to be used for KELO. 

Tennessee: WTJS, Jackson, denied . petition asking 
commish to reconsider action in denying frequency 
change from 1310 to 920 kc and power jump fr<)m 100 
Avatts nights, 250 watts days/ to 250 watts nights, 500 
watts, days, and to grant same; Ted R. Wqpdward, 
Kingsport, denied hew station to be operated' on 1210 
kc. with 100 Watts days only, lExaminer R. Walker 
sustained. 

Texas: rownWood Brpad(5asting Co., Brpwnwopd, , 
denied new statibh to be operated on 1370 kc with 100 



watts day^, commish reversing Examiner Hyde; Sweet- 
water Broadcasting Co., Sweetwater, denied new sti-. 
tioh to be operated days on 1310 kc /with 100 watts, 
Examiner Hyde reversed. 

NEW APPUCATIONS 

Alaska: KGBU, Ketchikan, changes i equipment, 
change power from 1 kw nights, 5 kw days, to 1 kw all 
times.. 

Arizona: KGAR, Tucson, change frequency from 1370 
to . 1340 kc, change power from 100 watts nights, 250 
watts daysl to 250 . watts all times, install vertical 
antenna. 

California: Airfan Radio Corp., Ltd., San Diego, new 
station to be operated on 1420 kc with 100 wattis. 

Oeorgrla: WTOC, Savannah, install new transmitter 
and jump power from 1 kw to 1 kw nights,, 5. kw days. 

Illinois: Martin R. O'Brien,. Aurora, new stsition to 
be operated oh 1500 kc with 250 watts, days only. 
WTAD, Illinois Broadcasting Corp., Quincy, change 
hours' of opera,tlon from days to unlimited, usini£ 1 kw. 

Indiana:.C. Bruce McConhell, Indianapolis, new sta- 
tion to bie operated on 1500 kc with 100 watts nights, 
250 watts* days, specified hours. ... '[ . 
. Iowa: N. B, Egeland, iCbland, new station to-t>^ oper- 
ated on 1500 kc with 100 wa:tts nights, 250 watts days, 
specified hours. 

Michigan: WKAR, Michigan Stipiite 
sing, install new transhiitter, make chahgeis in antenna 
system, boost power front 1. to 5 kw. 
, .Missoiirl: KWOS, Jefferson City, boost power from 
lOO, watts to 100 watts nights, 250 watts, days, and 
change hours of operation froni days to unlimited. 

New York: 'WBNX, New. York, change hame from 
tahdard Cahill Company, Inc., to WBNX Broadcast- 
ing Co., and make changes in directional antenna. 

North Carolina: Broadcasters, Inc., Gastoni new 
station to. be operated oh 1420 kc With 100 watts nights, 
'250 watts days. 

Oklahoma: Meno Schoehbach, Woodward, new sta- 
tion to be operated on 1500 kc with 100 watts. 

Oregon: Pacific. Radio Corp., Grants Pass, new sta- 
tion' to he operated on 630 kc with 500 watts. 

Penhsyivania: WBRE, Louis G. . Baltimore, Wilkes- 
Barre, jump day power from 100 watts to 250 watts. 

Texas: KRIS, Corpus Christi, increase night poWer 
from 250 watts, to 500 watts. 

EXAMINERS' REPORTS 

California; Boost in power and chanige> of frequency 
for KDON, Del Monte, was recommended to the com- 
mish by- Examiner P. W. Seward, who at the same 
time turned down an applicatioh lor a new daytime 
station in|' he nearby town of Salinas. 

Applicants in each case were newspapers— KDON 
belonging to the owner of the Monterey Peninsula 
Herald and the Salinas request coming from S'alinas 
Newspapers, Irtic., a new outfit cohtroUed by a group 
of Iowa publishers. 

Plans to extend service of KDON, now operating 
on 1210 kc with 100 watts, were approved by thie ex- 
aminer yvho praised transmitter's method of aidvertis- 
ing and declared a change to 1400 kc and a power 
increase to 250 watts nights, 1 kw, would have a bene- 
ficial effect on the entire community. Salinas News- 
papers, however, would create interference to KDON, 
if its application for a statioh; oh. 1300 kc with 250 watts 
days were granted, Seward contended. • Backers of the 
Salinas outfit !• ve never resided in California, with 
the exception of a 10%" stockholder who: has lived in 
Salinas, a year and who, proposes to dictate the policies 
of the new station, the examiner pointed out. 

Legal representative of KDON was H. H. Shihnick 
with Clarence. C. Dill and James W. Gum appearing 
for Salinas Newspapers, Inc. 

Rhode Island: Gb-ahead signel for WJAR, Provi- 
dence, on a day juice jump from 1 kw to 5 kw was 
approved by Examiner Ralph L. Walker. Veteran 
NBC outlet, which has been operated since 1922, would 
not provide interference to WELI, New Haven; WORL, 
Boston, or other New" England stations. Walker de- 
clared,, but would be enabled to increase iu' daytime 
service to serve a larger population through the 
change. 

Providence transmitter was represented at the hear- 
ing by Horace L. Lohnes and Fred W. Albertson. 



SET FOR HEARING 



Louisiana: WDSUi New Orleans, new statibn to be 
operated bn 1500 kc with 100 Watts nights, 250 watts 
days. 

Minnesota: WMIN, Edward Hoffman, St. Paul, change 
frequency froni 1370 to 1400 kc and increased night 
power from 100 to 250 watts. 



THi O'NEILLS' 

By JAWE VVE5T 

NC)V\/ RADIQ'5 A/iQ5T POPULAR 
i-AMILY BRINGS YOU MORE 
iAUGhTi;:R "B:ARS ^.nd [-j EART-T5^R0BS 

Presonfed by Ivory Soap 99" in' puro 



LISTEN '''^'^^ ^^'^^ 

■ NBC Blue Network, Mon. to Fri. 11 a.m. DST 

NBC Red Network, Mon. to Fri. 3:45 p.m. DST 
COAST TO GOASt 

Dir., COMPTOX ADVERTISING AGRNCT 
MGT., ED WOLF-^RKO BLDG., NEW YORK CITY 



IN 



POLISH A SPECIALTY 



But WMBC Stili Pushing: the King^s 
Language 



Detroit, May 11. 
With ah eye to building up Eng- 
lish-language clientele of station, 
WMBC here has organized a board 
pf dramatics tb be headed by Mary 
Lucille Roth, women's household 
editor. Others on board are Billy 
Repai Don Morris and Jack Mc- 
Carthy. 

Station, known for its Polish, and 
other foreign-tongue programs, figr 
ures it can't neglect its English lis-, 
teners and therefore has set out oh 
prograth-building spree. Object is to 
build up dramatics as station's forte. 

New board will not affect present 
setup working on Polish, programs^ 
which includes 20 full-time actors, 
three announcers, six-piece ork and 
about $2,200 mpnlhly for talent out- 
lay. 



FARM STATION RAPS 
U. S. WEATHER BUREAU 



Des Moines, May 11. 
; H. R. Gfbss. news editor of WHO,, 
Des Moines, hgs opened a campaign 
for an 'adequate' weather forecasting 
systems: Claims that twb weathier 
maps a day, now supplied by the 
U. S. weather bureau, ip practically 
a, 50% service to the agricultural 
industry; says all major nations of 
Eurbpe prepare at least four weather 
maps each day as a basis for weather 
forecasting. 

Listeners are invited to" express 
theii: opinions in writing to WHO for 
transmittal to the Congress of the 
United States. 



DOUBLE DOUBLING 

Baseball Alternates Daily Between 
Sponsors, Also Stations 

Atlanta,. May ll; 
WATL and WGSy have an un- 
usual deal whereby stations both 
carry play-by-play descriptions of 
games of^the Crackei-s, local South- 
ern Assn. ball club, on alternate 
days. 

Two sponsors bankroll, General 
Mills (Wheaties) and Goodrich 
(tires) ialsb alternating on the sta- 
tions. 



Ed Davies, NBC Chicago baritone, 
booked with. Paul Whiteman's or- 
ohestia for Loew's Capitol, Wash- 
ington, Di C, week May 21. 



Josciili M; Barnett has: merged 
with Ben Rocke's producing outfit. 



Fred Allen 
Portland Hoffa 

. in.'*Town Hall TonighH 

SAL HEPAtlCA-IPANA 
IVEAF— Wednesdgy* ••to P.M. BSi* 
Dir. I WALTER BATCHELOB 



^nd His 
Orcheetra 

BE-ENGAGED 

2ND YEAR 

OPENING MAT IS 

HOTEL ST. REGIS 

NEW TOBK 




MGT.. 
M.C.A: 



"BARON MUNCHAUSEN" 

JACK 
PEARL 

RALEIGH and 
KOOL CIGARETTES 

WJZ— 10 P.M., D.S.T.— Frldayt 
NBO Network 

Dlr.t A. * sTlTONS. 



Phil 
baker 

^E' 
OBEAT 
AMERICAN 

• « D -1 T O R 
GULF REFINING # 
COMPANY * 



SUNDAYS . 
9:30-8 P.M.. DST 
WABO 
CBS 



EASY 
A C E S 

B R O A D C A Sti N G 
6th Y E A R O R 
BLACkETT - SAMPLE 
H U M M E R T, I N C, 

A N A G IN 



II 



JACQUES 

FRAY 



^ MARIO 

BRAOOiOTTI 



I II III II III 11 III II 



"Broueht down the liouse." . 
—Boston Evening Tniii«t ri|il. 

NBC NETWORK 

TWICE WEEKliY 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



RADIO 



VARItTY 



45 



Lawyer Raps WMEX, Boston, Tactics; 
36 Exceptions to Examiner s Report 



Washi May 11. 

Sharp attack on redommendiatioh 
of Examiiief John: P. Bramhall tha;t 
YTMEX, Boston, receive 50-lold 
powjer boost came last week on the 
heels bit Federal Communications 
refusal to grant pleas lor rehearing 
to clear various unsettled' issues.; 

Although further - ventilatipn had 
been believed probable, Broadcast 

-Diyisionites were hard - hearted 
toward request of WHDHj Boston, 
for recommitment of the contro- 
versial Bramhall report but did ex- 
tend time for filing objections to ex- 
aminer's findings. Losing no time, 
counsel for competing transmitters 
fired barrage of bleats, accusing 
Bramhall of isregardiixg pertinent 
points and . of overemphasizing 
WMEX contentions. 

Principal blast came from WLAC, 
Nashville, and WAAB ahd WNAC, 
Boston, which, via Paul P. Spear- 
man, took 36 specific Exceptions to 
the examiner's analysis of March 
hcari . iRequests for oral argu- 
ments accpmpanied appeals for 

" added hearings and; attack on Bram- 

'^haill recomftiendatidn; ■. 

, .Spearman's Poliitis 
iCrbing into multiple phases of the 
ispute, Spearman laid stress oh four 
objections. Namely, financial re^ 
sponsibility of The Northern Corp., 
WMEX license-holder; type, of ser- 

• vice ' previously rendered and con- 
templated; economic effect of boost 

^to .5 ,.kw ori competing outlets; and 

" ehgipeerlng problems. 

In challenging the evidence of 
llnahdal ability, Spearman pointedly 
raised the quiestion whether North- 
ern Co. stockholders have made 
secret agreement to transfer inter- 
ests to undisclosed parties. Hinted 
he suspects construction fund of 
(Continued on paige 46) 



Press Agent oh Oath 

Philadelphia, May 11. 

J. W. Stanistireet, who presents 
"Your Neighbor' program on WDAS, 
us^d to be an upholsterer. He wrote 
poetry on the side. . With the depres- 
eipn t^e upholstery hiz slipped but 
from under him and he turned to 
full-time musing, reading his poems 
on the kir. 

Last week listener recognized his 
voice and name and wrote him a 
complaint about an upholstery job 
he did for her four years ago. 



Bob Barns oft on a fishing trip to 
nowhere. 



Pacific Coast Notes 

Fierii McChesney McNeil is return^ 
ihg to NBC staff in San Prancisco ias 
assistant to David. McKay, in charge 
of sales promotion. Mr is. McNeil, 
formerly in the sales traffic office, 
succeeds Adeie Hooyer, who has re- 
signed to go in for freelance adver- 
tisi 



Harold Moore new head of San 
Francisco office of Thomas Lee 
Artist Bureau. Succeeds Wilt Gun- 
zendorfer, who has been shifted to 
LoS' Angeies headquarters. 



Zarova, Russian canary on NBC's 
San Francisco staff, trilling again 
after several days 'tween the sheets 
in a Los Angeleis hospital following 
an auto, accident during a brief va- 
cash. Jeane Cowan, another network 
Warbler, also back after several days 
in Los Angeles. 



J. Savlngton Crampton of William 
Esty agency ended his Coast, stay. 



Irving Parker passing a couple of 
weeks in N, Y. -with his boss. Earl 
Ferris. 



Kin Piatt how Writing for Ken 
Murray and Oswald. 



Williaih Lnniiigan* radioite from 
Syracuse^ has been re-christened 
Russ Parker for pictures. 



Duke McLeod is with the Victoria, 
B. C, Broadcasting. Association 
doubling from sportscasting to sta- 
tion promotion. 



Bette Davis and John Beal will do 
'Another Language' for Lux May 17. 



race Moore and her mate, Valen- 
ti Perera, seeing the west in a 
trailer between, broadcasts for Nash. 
Has everything in it, includi a 
mi iature piano. 



Lloyd Pantages will do a Holly- 
wood . coverage for a shaving lotion 
outfit. 




WCPO Derby Specials 

Cincinnati, May 11. 
As a Kentucky Derby eve feature, 
WCPO sent Harry Hartman, sports- 
caster, and Bob Bentley, general 
miker, to Louisville for. piping of 
six quarter-hour programs Friday 
(7). iStahzas, 3\\ sponsored, were 
for Truly Warner, Jimmy Brink's 
Town Club, Fuller Ford and Lincoln 
dealer, Beau' Brummell ties, Kool 
and Raleigh cigarettes, and Cincin- 
nati Post. 



New Spielers at WSK 

Cleveland, May 11. 
Carl Mark from WHN, New York, 
and Guy C. Wallace from WCAU, 
Philly, being taken on by Cleveland's 
twin stations of WHK-WJAY as an- 
nouncers. Replace Charles Lutz and" 
Bud Sweeney, shifted to WHKC's 
staff in Columbus, O.' 
^Duke Lidyard also made Beverly 
Dean's assistant in handling ^-adid 
publicity. 

Lynn Willis to KYW 
Philadelphia, May 
Lynn Willis, who resigned ftom 
gabbing staff of WIP last week, after 
six years' service, has taken similar 
post at KYW. 

Crew at latter outlet being aug- 
mented for installation of universal 
five-day week.,r 

Helen Gray fin WHN, New York, 
Helen Gray heW f eihme commen- 
tator on WHN, N. Y., ith a brace 
of afternoon siistaineri weekly. 

Bounded into the big burjg with 
backgrounds at KYW and WFIL, 
Philly. 



Wax Authentic Gurgles 
Of Hills for POX, St. 1 

t. Louis, May 11. 
Several members of KMOX staff 
flew to Lake of Gzarks, Wednesday 
(5) to make special sound effects to 
be used in forthconniihg episode of 
Union Electric Light & Power, Sun- 
day p.- m. show 'The Land We Live.. 
In,' a draniatized presentation , of the 
history of St. Louis; Tri-rnotor plane, 
owned by company. Was used and 
those making trip wei:e Ci Q. 'Tiny' 
Renier, program director; raham 
Tevis, chief engineer; Don Phillips, 
sound effects man; GoirdOn Sherman, 
engineer and Bradford Simpson, 
<iuthor of 'The Land We Live In.' 

New portable recording equipment 
was used to make records of native 
sounds of. the mountains and the 
modern sounds oiE the . great Bagnell 
Dam, one; Of company's power units. 
Recordings will be used in program 
entitled 'The Ozark Mountai , Old 
and New' to be presented in a . fort-, 
night. 



Philco Strike End Near 



Philadelphi , May IL 
Negotiators, who confabbed all 
day yesteriday, said^ a settlement is 
near iii the strike which, has kept 
8,500 Philco eniployees put- oj; work 
since April 30 and tied up Philly's 
largest payroll. 

Strike was called by United Elec- 
trical and Radio Workers, C.I;0. 
union, after three months of fruitless 
conferences. Employees demand a 
10 cents an . hour increase with 5 
cents differential for night work. 



Pole ah Oratory Doc 

Boston, May 11. 

Alfred J. Pote, director of WMEX, 
given Doctor of the Art of Oratory 
degree by Staley College. 

Also dubbed at same .ceremony 
were Gov. Charles Hurley, of Mass,; 
Gle'ason L. Archer, dean of Suffolk 
Univ., and Myron Weiss, an asso- 
ciate ed. of 'Time.* 



Rapid Okay for WLWL, New York, Sale 
Bespeaks Politicians Satisfaction 



Washington Pun 



Washington, May 11. 
rde Bulova, the correct ti 
sponsor and; prospective 
work creator, has a new tag, 
resulting from his recent ex- 
pansion of radio interests. 

industry circles locally, 
he's described is 'the watt-^ch 
maker:' 



Jockey Club on KYA 

San Franciscb, May 11. 

California Jockey Club is signing 
checks, for daily broadcasts of the 
top race at Bay Meadows, over KY A, 
iSah Francisco, with Joe Heriiandek 
announcing. Races are run every 
afternoon except Sunday .and. Mon- 
day, with the season folding May 29. 

Quarter-hour sponsored broad- 
casts are.in. additipn. to a. half-hour 
night ..p^ograiifi. during' which Ker- 
nand'er /descriptions of the. day's 
races, ^ipade .over the p. a. system 
at the Irack, are heard via elec- 
trical, tramscrlption. , 



WPA Talent on WOR 

WPA radio project, hooks onto 
WOR for first time, par'ticipating oh 
the daily afternoon sustaining half 
hour program m. c.'d by Norman 
Brokenshire. 

Uncle Sam's nieces and nephews 
will put .on a hews dramatization 
labeled 'Radio Almanac,' which baS 
been airing on WHN, coihmencing 
next week. WPA part of the pro- 
gram will be handled by Ira Ashley, 
and WPA actors will cuffp for. the 
stati their psrt of the period. 



Margiaret rayion appearing 
five different Hollywood shows. 



on 



Washington, May 11. 

Disregarding Congressional agila-. 
tion over proflt-itiaking in stati 
swaps. Federal Communications 
Commission last week . ha.stily rati- 
fied purchase of WLWL, N.isw York, 
by Arde. Bulova, watch, magnate, 
and promotcir of a , prospective At-' 
lantic: seaboard web, .• 

While the deal proporti 
ately one of the costliest ever ap- 
proved, the Commlsh unanimously 
granted permission for the ticker- ^ 
maker to acquire the franchise from 
the Patilist Fathers without setting 
the matter down for hearing. En- 
thusiastic consent Was due to uni- 
versal desire to end the years of 
feuding With the Catholic order. 
Broadcast divisiojnites heaVed visible 
sigh of relief When the case was 
out of the way. 

Desire to . write ■ flnal chapter i 
record hf scrapping over better fa- 
cilities for WLWIj. was stronger 
than Coinmish' concern about what 
Congressional critics may say about 
a transaction at the rate pf $55,000 
per kilowatt, one 6f the highest fig- 
ures ever, rubber-stttmpedi Because 
the Paulists have plagued the F, C. 
C. ever since its fprmatlon, Brbnd-' 
cast Divisiphites were, eager to give 
permission under any circumstances. 

Completion of the deieil advances , 
Bulova a step nearer )a.\i plan , for 
a seaboard chain of local outlets. 
Watchman previously' h^d interest 
in four staUons, WNEW &nd WOV. 
New York; WELI, Ijewf Haven, and 
WCOP, Boston, and fs in on WNBC, 
New Britain. Prospects are WLWL 
will be scrapped, With- Bulov^ try- 
ing to piit over a series of frequericy 
shifts which will increase the .value 
of his other properties and brighten 
putlopk for the coastal string. 



Tommy Harris now warbling wit 
Fibber McGee and Molly in Holly- 
Wood. 



HELD OVER 

2nd WEEK 



(MAY 12) 



PARflMOUNT 

N E W YORK 



XAVIER 



CUGAT 



AND HIS ORCHESTRA 

ALSO APPEARING AT THE 

WALDORF ASTORIA 

NEW YORK 

VICTOR RECORDING ARTIST 





MANAGEMENT M.C.A. 



HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF 
THE OBI INAL 



DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND 



(ORIOmATED 190a) CREATORS OF JAZZ AND SWING MUSIC 

PARAMOUNT, NEW YORK, THIS WEEK (MAY 6) 



Direction CONSOLIDATED RADIO ARTISTS 



46 



MUSIC 



Wednesday, Maj 12, 1937 



On the Upbeat 



Bob (Crosby closing at Congress, 
hotel, Chicago, May 14, plays two 
weeks of one-niters before retui'n- 
ing to Chi's Aragon ballroom May 
29. Ambassador hotel, Atlantic City, 
N. J., f 611o^ys June 18: for indef stay. 

Al bonahue one hites in New Eng- 
land for Charli Shribman before 
opening at Rainbow Room,. N.. Y„ 
June-2. Woody Herman's crew does 
same for Shribman after closing at 
Ndrmandie ballroom, Boston; 



Hal Kemp pilays Steel Pier, A, C, 
July 3: for three days. Returns Aug. 
2l for another duo with Isham Jbnes, 
Will Osborne, Tommy Dorsey and 
Guy Lpmbardo, filling July 9, 25, 30 
and. 26, respiectively, ' the 

interi 



WashlDfton Park race track, Chi- 
cago, ill open May 24, with Henry 
Busse selected to blow the bugle. 

Busse closes at the Chez Paree 
next day (25) to go on, tour. 



Harry Reser will divi four 
weeks between Arcadia and Gray- 
stone ballrooms, . Detroit, starting 



Announclngr 
Tliree BIr Sodk HUb 
from "SING AND BE HAVPY" 
The New 20tli Century-Fox 
Musical 

'Sing and Be Happy' 

'What A 
Beautiful Beginning' 
'Travelin' Liglit' 

Ready Soonl 



f MOVIETONE 
MUSIC CORPORATION 

Sam fox PuBL'SHIN', to . A^..,.i< 

1250 SIXTH AVENUE 




N EW YO 



WARREN AND DUBIN 

'top the lilST WITH 

SEPTEMBER 
IN THE RAIN 

MELODY FOR TWO 

SUMMER Nl 

A TERRIFIC HITt 

HOW COULD YOU? 

•' 

COMING! 

WARREN arid DUBIN'S 
<iKKAT SCORE FROM 

THE "SINGING MARINE" 

• 

REMICk MUSIC CORP. 

I2S0 Slitb Ave.. RCA Bldg.. N. X. 
CUARI.IB WABKEN.. frot. Msr 



Miay 26. After that he goes south to 
Dallas territory and then to the 
Coast. 



Whlieman at ifginia Beach 
for single hightcr May 30 at Cava- 
lier Beach Club. Emerson Gill band 
into Cavalier for regular summer 
engagement. 



Marvin Frederic, recently signed 
by CRA and current at the Bpok- 
Cadillac hotel, Detroit, follows. Reg- 
gie Childs into the Commodore Perry 
hotel, Toledo, O., May 28. 



Bob Grayson's orchestra opens ahd 
stays for summeir season at Gunter 
hotel. Sari Antonio, Tex., May 20. 
CRA set through Biilly Rubush of 
Dallas dffice. 



Lew Piatt's dance pavilion at 
Summit Beach, Akron, O., has set 
Dick Fidler, Blue Barron and Aus- 
tin Wylie bands for' summer dates. 



Benny Meroff now at Riverside 
theatre, Milwaukee, plays Earle the- 
iatre, Philly, May 28, arii Earle the- 
atre, Washington, June 4 for R-Q'K. 



Carl 'Deacon* Moore follows Clyde 
Lucas at ' Beveri;^ d. ' ,C;;v' Newport, 
Ky., Maiy 25. Barney Kapp' Succeeds 
l&tter on June 15'. * ' 



Bunny tterlBah ■b0wS ''at 'Cb'c6^nut 
Grove, Ambassador hotel, Ni Y., 
June 1. Tommy Dbrsey replaced 
Ber.igan at Pennsylvania hotel. 



Ken Moyer is MCA's rst into 
Tybee Beach, Ga., on May 29. Emer- 
son Gill follows, on June 26 and Red 
Norvo July 10. 



• Ted Fio Rito opens at the Beverly 
Wilshire hotel in Beverly- Hills after 
a tour of first nighters winditfg up in 
August. 



Sleepy Hall and Joe Haymes play 
Rocjcy Glen Park, Scranton, Pa., 
May 26 and 31, respectively, for 
ROC. 



Leo Mosley, slide saxophonist, 
formerly with Louis Armstrong's 
crew, is organizing his dwn putfit 
for ROC management. 



George Hessberger will play at 
Black Forest; Ft. Worth, Tex., this 
summer. 



Ted Blacl( and Rita Rio set for 
Pleasure Beach Pjark, Bridgeport, 
Conn., IViay 16 and 23,, respectively. 



Johniiy Green passing out record- 
ings of .'Shall We Dance' numbers to 
friends on the Coast. 



Freddie Berrens set for City Col- 
lege jProm, Mecca Temple, N. Y., 
May 14, by Abner Greschler. 



George Hall plays for Colurhbia 
TJ. prom-, Y., May 31.. 



Lou Blake opeiis at Plaza hotel, 
St. Louis May 14 for CRA, 



Joe Cappi's crew now playing at 
the Murray Hill hotel, N. Y. 



Harry Horton' at Le Mirage, N. Y. 



Maurie Sherman and Grand ball- 
room, Chatworth, 111., meet June 9 
for CRA. 



Phil D'Arcy replaces Ray O'Hara's 
band at Governor Clinton hotel, N. 
Y.. May 15. 



Paul Tremalne plays weeks of one- 
niters June 12 to 20 for Jerry Cook, 
ROC's New England promoter, 



Hy Clark arid Edgar Hayes will 
battle musically at Mummie's Club, 
Newark, N. J., May 21. 



Enoch Light's band doubles from 
the McAlpin hotel, N. Y., into 
Loew's State week May 20. 



Glen Gray and the Casa Lpma prk 
opens at the . Palomar ballroom in 
Los Angeles May 26. 



TOPS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS 

Another "Foolish Things" 



THE YOU AND ME THAI USED TO BE 



The No. 1 Song 



CARELESSLY 



New 



New 



WOULDN'T IT BREAK YOUR HEART 



Coming 



Coming 



A STAR IS BORN 



LITTLE GENIUS 



GONE WITH THE WIND 



IRVING BERLIN, inc. 

799'3EVENTH AVE., NEW YORK HARRY LINK, Gen, Prof, anager 



Geprise de Horth Jailed 

Philadelphia, May 11. 
George de Horth, 48, song Avritef 
and former New York batoneer, 
was held in $600 bail for grand jury 
last week on charges of defrauding 
Broadwood, Robert Moirris and 
SpriiQe 'Hotels out of $153 in board 
bills. 

Magiistrate Gpstello, in reply to a 
plea for .leniency by de Horth's at- 
torney, -said: 'He is a dangerous man 
to be permitted to roam at large.' 
de Horth was paroled last year after 
conviction in a $100,000 stolen securi- 
ties, conspiracy. 



Newsreel Biz 



(Cpritiriued from page 1) 



of expediting, the shipments. JDick 
Merrill, who had sought to interest 
newsreel companies unsuccessfully 
for weeks, was besieged with bids. 

Flyer was - said to havfe swung 
$60,000 financing in Wall Street for 
the deal, with the N. ,Y. Mirror also 
rumored chipping in. Uriderstood 
nothing was set wheri Merrill left 
New York for eastward flight across 
the ocean, idea being that deal would 
be fixed at London. Expected he will 
fly reels back for all five coriTipanies. 
If not, any company may- get his 
services, Heiarst-Metrotone figured to 
have the edge.- In any case, what- 
ever companies set deals with 
Merrill, prints will also be placed on 
first boat sailing, as precaution in 
case flyer is forced down or hieets 
with disaster. 



The Coronation 

London, April 30. 

Earl Marshal and the Westminster 
Abbey authorities seem to have the 
newsreels just where they want them' 
as regards filming the Coronation in- 
side the Abbey. This week all units 
were summoned to a rehearsal, at 
which each of .the five companies 
was allocated one camera position 
and detailed to go through the 
motions of shooting the event. 

Object was to satisfy the Earl the 
crews would be unobtrusive and 
would not deflect interest f rorh the 
royal centerpiece by moving around 
dui-ing the ceremony. Cameras must 
all be camouflaged behind the 
Abbey's interior architecture or 
under banks of floral decoration 
One crew— the Par unit — has to be 
satisfied with a tiny cockpit 60 .ft. 
from the ground, concealed in a 
chamber only 3 ft. 6 ins. high. In 
.this miniature black hole of Calcutta 
the crew will need to squat on their 
knees — maintaining this position 
from 5:30 a.m. till 3 in the afternoon. 

Plans for ensuring rapid release of 
seqUerices Sho\yirtg the crowning 
have gone all ' haywire following 
official pronouncement that nobody 
will be perriiitted to quit the Abbey 
until the Coronation tiirough. 
Reels of exposed film will, there- 
fore, need to go into cold storage for 
several, hours, arid prints are not 
expected to be available till com- 
paratively late the same night. 

Color shots of the Abbey sequences, 
ihcidentallyj ar6 definitely . out. 
Movietone strove a long time to get 
a visible picture, in Technicolor, but 
there n't be enough light in the 
Abbey, 



Last Week's 15 Best Sellers 



tLittle Old Lady ..... 

Love Bug Will Get You ................... 

Boo Hoo ^ - f • • • > * • • • • •> •••••• 

*Will You Remember? . . . .... ..>... . i . , . . . 

♦September in thie Rain i— .-. . , . 
*Blue Hawaii ............................... 

*Tqo Marvelous for Words ...... 

♦Moonlight and Shadows . 
♦Never in Million Years . . . i . 
♦Wherie Are You? ; . ; . . . .... 

Carele.ssiy .. 

What Will I Tell My Heart? 

♦Sweet Leilani . . . ... .... 

♦It's Swell of You.. 

♦Let's Call Whole Thing Off^ ........... .. . . 

* Indicotet filmuaicai song, icatea. stage 

other* ore pops. 



• ••••• a B.i 



t • k « • • » 4. » • • • »'• • 

> • * •.• • • •-• f 

» • f ' • .« «•'•*•• • • • a « • 

I • • • • •••'••.«'• f • 

I • ■ • • « • r'«' 



Chappell 
. . . . . . .,. Santly-Joy 

Shapiro 
Schirmer 
Remick 
4 . .... . . . Famous 

...... . . Harms 

. .Popular 
. . . •'. , i ; Robbi. 
'. '. . . . Feist 

Berlin 
. . .. .... Crawford- 

Select 
........ Bobbins 

...... . .Chappell 

production song. 



The 



Boston Tactics 



(Conti 



from page^^) 



$87,000 to build a new station was 
advanced by outsiders in return for 
mortgage ph the property or option 
to grab, the, transmitter. 

Moriey issue, which was the prin- 
cipal point of controversy during the 
hearings, becamei of niajpr impor- 
tance after the .three losers formally 
reminded the Coriimish that WMEX 
attorneys refused to furnish re- 
quested data about the source of the 
company's bank deposits. 

Spearman charged Bf arnhall with 
errors in failinig to point out the 
cash was hurriedly banked before 
the hearing; the. corporation auditor, 
only witness, who testified about 
finances, was poorly ihf orriied; no of- 
ficer or stockl^oldcr appeared; and 
ample business data was not sup- 
plied. Attorney for Nashville and 
Boston stations recalled that Brainri- 
hall at the windup of hearings said 
he was dissatisfied with evidence of 
financial responsi ility, declaring 
statenients in the fprriial report did 
not constitute the examiner's 'true 
judgthent.' 



Cleve Expo Orchestras 

Cleveland, May 11. 
Qrchs have seen set. for series "of 
fortnight-each summer runs -at the 
Aquacade, featiire of the Cleveland 
Great Lakes Exposition, beginning 
On May 29 and extending until 
Sept. 6. 

Wayne King opens, followed in ro- 
tation , by crews of Joe. Venutl, 
Xavier Cugat, Dick Stabiie; Ted 
Weems, Shep Fields, Isham Jones 
and Little Jack Little. 



Casa Loma Heads West 



Casa Loma band has been booked 
for an eight- week, stay at the 
mar ballrpom, Los Angeles, 
May 26, by Rockwell-6?Keefe. 

Enrpute to ;the location job, band 
one nites it at Coronation Ball, N. Y., 
May 12; Lakeside Park, Biarnesville, 
Pa;, 13; Penn State U., 14; Valley 
Dale ballroom, Coliinibus, 6., 15; 
Showboat, St.: Louis, 16; Forurh, 
Wichita, Kan., 17' Adolphiis hotel, 
Dallas, 18 to 23. Last three days 
before L. A. reem to^e sperit. on 
the hoof. 



Ned Bradley current at 
Heath, Oklahoma City. 



^F<Z>X<7 



11 



And NtnV'Tlie New 
Novelty Song Sensation 
Thut Is Sroiiplnr All siiows! 

'THE ORGAN, 
THE MONKEY 
AND ME' 

A SMASH HIT 
^. ON EVERY PROGRAM! 



SAM FOX 

PUBLISHING COMPANY 

IISO SIXTH AVtNUt 
nCAOuil-OiNG ftAOIOCITY 
NEW YORK 



Naihe Bands for Auburn 

Enna Jettick Park, at Auburn, 
N. Y., is latest of the dariceries to 
switch to. name bands with decision 
to use namers one night out.of eyery 
two weeks as a big come-on. Here- 
tofore sppt. used strictly local bands. 

Prices will be upped for the name 
attractions. Torrimy Dorsey and Oz- 
zie Nelson are already set by MCA, 
with, date still open. 



Navy intelligence officers iittached 
to the New York City office looked 
at some newsreel cli^s of the Hin- 
denburg disaster last Friday (7). 
Subsequently, all newsreels turned 
over duplicate prints of their corti- 
plete coverage of the accident to the 
naval intelligence division working 
in the investigation. These arid un- 
usually good still photographs are 
expected- to prove invaluable in the 
probe by establishing where the first 
flames appeared and other details. 



Westlake Terrace Opens 

Indianapoli.s, May 11. 

Westlake Terrace, summer dine 
and dancery, takes down the shut- 
ters and opens Friday (14), ith iPaul 
Collins band set for the sumrtier. 
Eleanor Hanson will pipe the vocals. 

Management dickering for Indi- 
anapolis radi nightly except 
Monday. 



The New Cotton Club HIt»^ 

WHERE 
IS THE SUN? 

OLD PLANTATION 

I.ovelleMt of I.ove SunicA 

Serenad e In t he Night 

I'LL NEVER TELL YOU 
I L OVE Y OU 

The Corned); SenMHtion nt 1037 

Today I Am a Man 




THE EDWARD B. MARKS MUSIC CORPORATION 

Announces the Appoinlrnent of 

SID LORRAINE 

As General Professional Manager 
A cordie! invitation to visit or write to him is e;;tenclad to liic 

msny friends 

EDDIE LAMBERT 

Continues as Professional Manager'and, with the rest of the staff, 
offers you these fine songs 

i-P(<>.^£ TWO NC-;\N, Ml^iKAi. SHOW S I CC 

"SEA LEGS "ORCHIDS PREFERRED" 

7)1/ ,Vu'fi7i.s(roPi and CleaT\, HeTendeen and Stamper 

,vo. , - "A Million Dollars" 

[en OCock sown .^^^^ ^i^,^ p^^^^., 

"Wake Me Up A Star" ='What Are You Going To 
"The Opposite Se;;" Do About Love" 

Al!;o many swell popular tunas including "You're Precious To Me," 
" A ■ l-l unt I nt) I Will Go," and several others 

Room 605 RCA BIdg., Radio City, New York 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



MUSIC 



VARIETY 



47 



Weber Warns Locals Beware CLO.; 
Detrdf s Dual Union Card Situation 



Joseph N. Webier, president of the 
American iFederation. Musicians, 
has tiiken recognition of an attempt 
being mad6 to set up a rival imion 

ith Committee on Industrial Or- 
ganizatidn affiliations, Every AFM 
local has been warned by Weber to 
steer clear of any aipproach from this, 
source. Any local which, treats with 
the CIO element in any way but an- 
tagonistically would be regarded as 
'scabbing* on thie APM. it has beeh 
suggested by AFM headquarters that 
most of those active in behalf of a 
CIO musicians' union are expelled 
members of the. federation. 

Several locals have folio wed up 
WTeber's order with a query that the 
AFM seeks to sidestep for the pres- 
ent. What they want to know is 
what procedure, to follow in the case 
of members who make music a side- 
line and whose regular industrial 
jobs have allied them with a CIQ 
tmion. This dual cardholding is com- 
mon, for example; in Detrdit. Many 
members of the Detroit musicians' 
local work In the auto plants, where 
labor organization is CIO dominated. 



Music Nates 



lack Mills has obtained the Ameri- 
can rights tQ /Old Sailor,' 'Cowboy' 
and *Why Did You Fall for the 
licader of the Band?' from Peter 
Maurice, London ptib. Chappell, 
..which" holds ah iexclusive contract 
ion this side with' Maurice, okaiyed 
lh6' release of. these' numbers;' Mills 
aUo^ took over the Ameiricaa rights 
to; io symphonic;numbers irbm Beal 
Stuttard &~ Co.,. London publishers 
of concert music. 



Jimmy. Campbell is due back in 
New York witiiin the next 10 daiys. 
Indications are that he will take 
John Klenner ahd Maurice Sigler as 
a writing teani for British-Gaumdnt 
picture. They will replace Sammy 
Lerner, Al Gdodhart and. Al Hoff- 
man, the team which Campbell put 
together and imported last fall. 



Hollywood Sonirs, Inc., has the 
American rights to 'Cuban Pete,' 
originally published by. the J. Norris 
firm of London. Rudy Vallee is 
do^g the nimiber on his broadcast 
from Britain .totebrrpw ([Thursday ), 



Billy mil ls writing the lyrics and 
music for a. musical with a western 
background, 'Yippee/.which the Shu- 
berts will produce. Otto Harbach 
and Owen Davis, Jr., are doing the 
book. 



' George Sutherland, of Allen & Co., 
Melbourne publishers, sailed from 
New York for the Coronation last 
Tuesday (4). He wiU be back June 
15. to. close for- several American 
catalogs. 



J< t'red Coots and Charles New- 
man have placed 'Southland Sere- 
nade' and 'Chinky Chinee Charley 
Chan' ith Mills Music, Inc. 



Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adam- 
son are tuning up Buddy DeSylva's 
'Four Black Sheep' ahd .'Young 
Man's Fancy ^ at Univelrsal 



Sid Lorraine^ formerly of Chappeil 
Co., has joined the E. B. Marks 
Music, Co. as prof iessibnal manager, 
Eddie Lambert remains as Lorraine's 
assista;it. 



Dr. Albert Slrmajr, Chappell & Col 
fexec.V is spending a mbhth in Holly- 
wood li ing up new filmusicals; for 
publication. 



Metro has assigned Edward Ward 
to work up. the musical treatment for 
^ratoga.' ^yard scored INight Must 
Fair for the same studio. 



Martha Riye will warble 'Publie 
Melody Number On6/ deffed by Ted 
Koehler land Harold Arlen, in Para- 
mount's 'Artists and Models.' 



' Sam Coslow is working on music 
and lyrics for 'On with the Dance,' 

Miss Farichon production for Para- 
mouht. 



Bill Fleck collabed with Lysl^ 
Tomerlin and O. M. Watson on 'Let's 
•Not Lose a Moment.' 



VJncertt Lopez caught cold day 
after he landed in Holly vi^ood,. and 
niotored out to Death Valley to bake 
It out ~ 



to 



Frank Kel ton has closed with Reg, 
Connelly to go to London and work 
on the exploitation staff of Camp- 
bell-Connelly Music Co.. Kelton's 
negotiations with Jkck Mills fell 
through, due to their inability to 
agree on bash. 

Keltbn won't leave until the end 
of July, since Connolly will require 
that interim to obtain an entry per- 
init for the former from the British 
Home Office. Keltbn was formierly 
gen. mgr. of Shapirb, Bernstein 
&, Co. 





sprrzERTo 




Harry Spi mgr. of the 

Chappell Co., has quit' irman 

of the availability committeb of the 

publisher facti the American 

Society of Composers, Authors and 

Publishers because of poor health. 
Spitzer resigned altogether from the 
committee .. but John G. Paine, 
ASCAP gen., mgr., induced him to 
remain and then appointed Lester 
Santly ' to the chair rnanship. 

Unde-r doctor's orders, Spitzer has 
been working on a three-hour day. 
This arrangement has made.it nec- 
essary for him to give, up all out- 
side tasks. 

Availability committee, which, also 
includes .Gustav Fischer, was ap- 
pointed late last year to work out 
a formula for determining the cata- 
log ratings of the publisher members 
of the society. 



Musicians Union 
Upholds Job Tax 
At Philly Meeting 

Philadelphia, May 11. 

Factional fight within Musicians' 
Union here on 2%Ajoh tax ' ended 
with victory for administration and 
continuance of fee at general mem- 
bership meeting oh Mondjay (10). 

The !2% levy on every job played 
by a union musician has been in ef- 
'fect for some years. Proceeds go 
into an organization and defense 
fund. Although admittedly neces- 
sary, the rake-off has always been 
poison to the rank and file^ 

Operating on this known anti- 
pathy, Romeo Cella, former prez of 
the local and twice defeated by A. A. 
Tomei, present chieftain, organized 
the dissenters and brbught the fight 
into the open; It came to a head 
with yesterday's meeting. . 

Although about 500 members were 
present, pnl.y 391 votes were .cast. 
The bthers were opposed to the leyy, 
but refiised to cast a ballot against, 
the administration Tomei. Re- 
sults were 229 votes against the tax 
to 162 for it, but as two-thirds vote 
was required tb beat it (260);, the 
tax was cpntihued; 

Tomei's promised organiziitioh . of 
musicians in city's niteries, which 
has been lagging pending .outcome 
of yesterday's balloting, will get un-. 
der full steam this week-end he. said. 
Brpadwbod hotel has • already been 
visited and given three weeks tb 
cease using . rionruriiori bands at 
fuhctioris. Stephen Girarid and Rit- 
tehhpuse hotels also notified, but no 
ti ■ it set. 



Tompkins Sails June 11 



M. E. Tompk i , head of Associated 
Music Publishers, Inc., is sailing for 
Europe June 11. He figures on stay- 
ing there until the middle of Au- 
gust. 

. While on the other side Tompkins; 
will. coyer the music publishing field 
for agency affiliations and studjf^-the 
latest developments in sound on film 
record i 



Most Played on Air 



Combined plugs on WEAF, 
WJZ and W ABC are computed 
Jof the week jrom Sunday 

through' iSaturdav (.May 2-$)^ 

Carelessly 

'•■Septembet' in the Bain 
*Neveir In a Million Years 
*Whe^e Are You? 
•There's a Lull in My Life 
tLittle Old Lady • 
*Tp6 Marvelous fpr Words 
Boo Hoo 

•'That Foolish Feeling 

it Looks Like Bain 
*Let's Call Whole Thing Oft 
■*Sweet is the Word for You 

Dream Ranch 

Love Bug Will 
■"How Coiild You? 
*Blue Hawaii 
■»They All Laughed 
*You Can't Take That Away 
*Swlng High,, Swing Low 
*Sweet LeilanI 

Dream of. San Marino 
*1Ay Little Biiokarob. 
'Jamboree 

You Showed Me the W<^y 
When Two Love. Each Other 

^ Indicates yilmusical song; 

t. Production., number. 



JOE MORRIS CO. CLAIM 
FOR BACK ROYALTIES 

Joe Morris Music Go. has piit in 

a claim with the American Society of 

Composers, Authors & Publishers for. 
the performance royalty shares allb- 
cated on 'Memphis Blues' since 1934. 
Society has credited Handy Bros, 
with the copyright ownership of the 
tiine and paid the latter firm what- 
:ever royalties, were set. aiside for it 
on the' basis of performance points. 

Mprris has cbntrolled ' the .copy- 
right on 'Memphis Blues' since 1922, 
but was unaware until recently Of 
the Society's crediting the ownership 
to another Qoncern. .Cpmppsitibn was 
bought outright frbm W. C. Handy, 
its creator, by iTieroh C, .Bennett for 
$50 in September, 1912, Bennett 
transferred the copyright - to the 
Frank K. Lawson Printing .Co. in 
1918 and four years later the copy- 
right became Morris' prpperty by 
purchase. Handy briginally titled 
the. melpdy /Mister Crump.' George 
A. Norton In 1913 contributed both 
the present lyric and the title. 
'Memphis Blues' has earned its copy- 
right owners hundreds of thousands 
of dollars, with the major, source of 
this income being phonojgraph rec- 
ords and performances. 

Another one of these outright buys 
which has brought big returns is 
owned by the Morris firm. It's 'Mel- 
anchbly Baby,' which its author, 
Ernie Burnett, sold ori inally to 
Bennett for $100. 



Coast Bands to Jam 

In Crosby Benefit 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Half a dozen bands are skeded 
to Ting the welkin May 23 at a 
swing concert being promoted by 
Bing Crosby as a benefit for Joe 
Sullivan, ailing pianist. 

Event is scheduled to start at 3 
p, m. and cpntinue until tootlers 
are tob tired to blow, Pan-Pa- 
cific Auditprium has been engaged 
and bands lined are those bf 
Jimmy Dorsey, Young, 
Geprgie Stoll, Harry Ted 
Eio- itp, and probably ray. 



Abner Silver, and Al Sh<erman sail 
for London next Wednesday (19). to 
dp the score for a picture; 



Tumulty, Woodrow Wilsons Secy, 
May Join ASCAP in Waslnngton 



Hoagy's 3 N(ew Ones 



Hollywood, May 11. 

Hoagy Carmichael has disposed 
three new numbers to 'Paramount 
for future productions. 

.Songs are 'April in My Heart 
Again,' lyrics ...by'. Helen Meihardi; 
<The Hum pf My Heart' and 'The 
T\yo of You,' bpth ith lyrics by 
Stanley Adanis, 



DREYFUS BUY 
OF DASH CO. 




V London, April 30. 

Atti|>jnnipt of . the OAVJier^s of the 
C.hapi:>ell iQo* 'to acq,4jire a controlling 
interest lii the Ir\viii .Dash Music Co. 
has failed. Chappell partnership, 
which consists, of Lopis and Max 
Dreyfus and Louis Sterling, sought 
to buy . Reg Connelly's stock In the 
Dash outfit,^ offering to pay him far 
more than the issued price, but Con- 
nelly refused to sell. Connelly was 
also offered a substantial bpnus for 
the goodwill of the business. 

Connelly cdntrpls 59% of the Dash 
firm. Dash himself holds 40%,. with 
the . balance in Jimmy Campbell's 
name. Dash has the title of manag- 
ing director and as a condition of the 
sale Chappell had bffered to retain 
him in his present position. 



Nick Lucas Wins Law Tilt 
Based on Alleged Failure 
To Plug SmaH Town Song 



ittsburgh. May 11. 

Nick Lucas won a Federal Court 
battle here last week over a song 
written by two Canonsburg, Pa., 
men without having to put in a de- 
ifense. Jury didn't even get a . chance 
to decide on the complaint,, as Judge 
Nelson Mc Vicar granted the motion 
of the defendant's counsel for a com- 
pulsory nbn- in ' the action 
brought by Stasio,. miisic 

teacher and orchestra leader, iand 
Ralph Anthbny, .coal company clerk.. 

Plaintiffs charged that Lucas had 
failed to live up to an agreement 
to. lend his efforts to having their 
tune, 'When Your Road Leads My 
Way,' published. Lucas, on the stand, 
claimed that he had plugged the 
number on several broadcasts be- 
tween. 1931, when, it was given hirii, 
and 1033, when the suit was filed, but 
that it didn't awaken sufficient in- 
terest for any publisher to chance it. 

Lucas siaid he tried to interest a 
fiock of publishers in the tune, but 
without avail.. His agreement with 
Stasio and Anthony called for 50% 
of the publication royialties, with the 
remainder being split, between the 
writers. Oral testimony tendi tb 
show 'Other agreements between, the 
par.ties. was ruled put by. Judge Mc- 
Viear, who. placed the costs ph the 
plaintiffs, 




Rentihg to Non-Union Social Fetes 



Cariipaign to induce Nevi/ York 
hotels to put their banquet booking 
departments pn a strictly union basi.s 
has been launched by Local 802, It 
is reported that the Pennsylviania. 
Hotel and the . Essex House have al- 
ready acquiesced to this proposal. A 
clause stipulating- the use of npnebut 
union, musicians for banquet dates 
will be incbrporated in the next conr 
tracts the New York Musicians Union 
makes with the local hotels. 

Previously the hotel managements 
have resisted efforts to make all 
music in their places 100% union, 
holding that the local had no right 
to extend its demands beyond the 
main di ing room. 



To Knight Sterling 

London, May 11. 

Lpuis Sterlifig is among those on 
the Coronation . for 
knighthood. former head| of 

defunct . ictures and now 

connected with ' music 

publishers. 

Sterling qualities thrpugh political 
and public service. 



Whitney Blake, music pub, cut in 
on the. coronation furor vyith a new 
one, 'London Ori a Foggy Afternoon.' 



Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary of 
the late Wopdrpw Wil- 

sbn and an active figure in national 
Democratic circles, may be retai 
by the American Society of Com- 
posers, Authors and Publishers i 
legal and contact capacity. Move' 
vyould be with the general 

change in approach to political iand 
public relations matters which 
ASCAP bias been undergoing recent- 
ly. Tumulty's; appointment was dis-** 
cussed at a meeting bf the Society's 
newly created, administrative com- 
mittee Monday (10). 

Tumulty has been practicing layr 
in Washington for the past 16 years. 
His connections have been ahd arie 
particularly strong in the midwest, 
iand west, arid it Is figured that the 
ASCAP assignment would place him 
ih charge not only of Washington 
legislative matters, but of the drastic 
situation fpr ASCAP deriving from 
the epidemic .o.f anti-Society state 
legislation which is sweeping the 
country. Tumulty would also con- 
tribute his services to the campaign 
for better publie relations and un- 
derstanding of the functions of 
ASCAP which that organization in- 
tends to put into full force in the 
hear future. 

With Tumulty allied with it, the 
administrative Committee believes 
that it will have a well-rounded set- 
up fbr dealing with politiciEil and 
public relations subjects. Job. that 
E. C' Mills is now doing for the so- 
ciety is strictly in that direction, 
while John G, Paine, the. Society's 
new gen. mgr., is expected to make 
valuablie use of Washington contacts 
he made as. chairman- of the board 
of the Music Publishers Protective 
Association, (flection of Turhulty 
for the post has. It is understood, re- 
ceived the full endor^ment of Froh« 
lich & Schwartz, general counsel for 
ASCAP. ■ 



CONSOUDATED SETS 
BESTOR AT CONGRESS 



Chicago, May 11. 

Congress Hotel's Casino has been 
snapped tip by Consolidated Radio 
Artists' office. Highly competitive 
situation arose over the- Casino band, 
booking, with three of the ma^or or- 
ganizations of the country bidding 
for the spot. CRA came in breezing 
with Don Bestot orchestra which 
will open: there on Friday (1*).- 

With the take-over of the Casino 
by CRA it gives this organization a 
quartet of the prime rooms in Chi- 
cago; the others being the Drake 
Hotel's Gold Coast Room, the La- 
Salle Hotel's Blue Fountain Room 
and the Cafino Parislen In the Mbrr 
rison hotel. 

CRA also well repped In St. Louis 
with its Lou Blake at the Plaza 
hote]> opening May 14, and Barney 
Rapp current at the. Chase hotel. 



GumUe by Acclaim 



Mose Gumble> incumbent prez of. 
the .Professional MUsic Men,; 
pluggers' organization, . was unani<- 
niously nominated for repeat term at 
meeting of the group last Friday (7) 
night in the Hbjel Astpr, N, Y. 

Other nominations included Rbcco 
Vocco for first vlce-prcZj' Joe Sant» ' 
ley for second vice--prez; Mack Stark, 
Harry Liebman,.^ Bob Miller and 
Johnny . White for. third vice-prez; 
Irving Tfanz for treasurer; Harry 
Liebman and Michael Schtoss for 
flrianciial secretary; Louis E. Schwartz 
for riecpr ing secretary and various 
candidates fbr sergeant-at-arms, 
board: and board bf 

es; 

Firiahcial i-epprt was read. 
Second nominations and the electi 
.will take .place at the next meeting 
Friday night (14), also at the Astpr. 



Indiana Sumniier Policy 

Indianapoli , r May 11.. 
Indiana Roof goes to summer pol- 
icy this week, remaining, open only 
on : Friday, Saturday, . and Sunday 
nights. Johnny Courtney orchestra 
pliaying currently. Lack of c';')ling 
ayiitcm inspired dropping of bthci 
two nights from weekly achedufc. 



4 s 



VAKIETT 



DANCE TOURS 



Vednesdaj, M«7 18, 19ST 



Ladies Free' Lure for Factory Girls; 




Has Lots of BaUroom Showmanship 



.May 11. 

Oncoming summer months finds 
the local ballroom managers formu- 
lating: niew pbllcies and showman- 
ship stunts, in endeavoring to bring 
out the patrons to spots . in town, 
and compete against the outdoor pa^ 
ylUons around Indianapolis, and at 

distance. 

Tom Devi , who operates Indiana 
Roof Ballroom, largest spot in In- 
dianapolis, has closed dov/n to Ftir 
day, Saturday and Sundiay nights, 
and as has been his practice in pre- 
vious years, will undoubtedly shut 
up entirely for. at least three months 



e host of lake resorts in Northern 
ncliana, which are "within motoring 



escnts 



THE LiniE 
OLD FASHIONED 
MUSIC BOX 

VIENNA DREAMS 

BRAND NEW— ^ 

I'M HATIN' THIS 
WAITir AROUND 

From 

WILLINO AXD ABLE" 

TOO 
MARVELOUS 
FOR WORDS 

tHE MOON IS IN 
TEARS TONIGHT 

From WB Prod., "Kid Calaliad" 



HARMS, INC., RCA Bldg., N. Y. 
MACK GOLDtf AN, Prof. Mcr. 




f.MOONtlOHT 



EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATIONS Inc 

1619 BROADWAY NEW YORK 



of summer seasoh. Although 
merly going to the West -Coast for 
the hot months hp may remain over 
for theatre management oif Indiana 
theatre, ';where he has some combo 
stage-screen bookings lined up. 

Devine's femme assistant, Aline 
McMahon,. will ti:iayel up to Lake 
Manitou, where she'll manage the 
Fairview Hotel outdoor pavilion, 
and handle publicity for the entire 
resort. She's set Johnny Burkhardt 
band for three .nights opener of the 
pavilion, bancf corning in from. Casa 
Madrid at Louisville, Ky. jimmie 
Cathcart (brother Jack toots li:um- 
pet for J'oe Sanders), frorri campus 
of Indiana University at Blooming- 
ton-, will follo\y Burkhardt in for in- 
definite stay. 

Free Before iB:45 

Crystal Dancie Palace, upstairs 
hanig-out for the I?^eal,,SiIk iposieiry 
M ills , fiB'mlnei limli Mi fflin^ w«i§ the 
ladies. 'c6Mftg '^l iMe7,*OTphfe 
of the^heal;^ by admitting them^free 



out the tunes. 

Casino, east-end dahcery, is only 
place town where part of the 
members' pf band own the business. 
Hal Bailey, band leader, and Heiff 
Stuart, another of the . musicians, are 
in partnership on the venture, and 
are now approaching 200 ^weeks of 
continuous Operation. They iise aU 
most every known ballroom show- 
manship stunt, and for summer, 
have semi-outdoor floor. They also 
use the 'Ladies' Free' comeon, but 
Wednesday nights only. 

Chez Paree is only floor-show 
nitery in operation in city, and vvill 
try to last out the summer. Dick 
Burrows' band from Dayton suc- 
ceeded by local combo under com- 
bined guadance of Denny Dutton 
and Earl Newport. 

Indianapolis continues to be the 
largest city of any throughout the 
nation, which doesn't have a single 
ho'tV ith hotel dining rooms using 
dine iaihd dance policy. There's not 
a band to be found in any major 
Indianapolis hostelry at present. Sad 
plight of local situation is partly ex- 
plained' through most Of coin flow- 
ing into city's three clubs, although 
the three operate strict member, or 
member and guests, policy. Colum- 
bia club and Indianapolis Athletic 
Club are considered the top twO, 
with Hoosiei: Athletic Club tagging 
on as the third. Columbia Club used 
three-piece femme trio, the Harmo- 
dears, in its Cascade Taproom; and 
Amos 6tstot band, in club di ing 
room and. ballroom. Indianapolis 
Athletic Club used Louie Lowe band 
in di ing room and ballroom. Both 
clubs do without music for summer 
months. 

HoosieV Athletic Club has roof- 
garden for sunnmer months on split- 
week policy, while winter months 
find indoor liallroorh used on same 
basis. Bands are set in on spot 
bookings, and this club uses non- 
union outfits. Other two club§ stick 
with the union aggregations. 



HaDett at Hershey/Pa. 



Lancaster, .., May 11. 

Mai Hailett and his orchestra was, 
the second attraction of the season' 
in the Hershey Ballroom, Hershey. 

Until the. season gets farther ad- 
vanced, the ballroom ill. operate 
only oil Saturday nights. Wednes- 
day dances are expected to be added 
later, SHep Fields, Tommy Dorsey 
and. Bob Bro.wn are some of the or- 
chestra leaders booked to appear in 
Hershey within the next few we^ks. 



GO RDOW and REVEL Click Ag ainl 

in 20th Gentury-Fox^s "WAKE UP AND LIVE" 
Featuring Walter Winchell, Ben Berni and Alice Faye 

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS IT'S SWELL OF YOU 
THERE'S A LULL IN MY LIFE WAKE UP AND LIVE 
Vm BUBBLING OifER 



Ftobblrts Music Corporation * 799. .7th Ave., New York 



Asbury Park Grosses 

Asbury iPark, N. J., May 11. 

Bepny Goodman's one-night stand 
drew 2,538 paid, admissions. at $1.10 
a ticket in Walter Ready's beach<- 
front Casino here Sunday (9). The 
b.6. was a bit disappointing in view 
of Horace Heidt's turn before 3,997 
here, three weeks ago. 

Paul Tremainie,. who played , an en- 
tire season at the same spot about 
seven years ago, lured about 1,100 
cash customers to the Casino the 
previous night (8).. 

Charles Boulanger slated for Sat- 
iirdaiy (15), and Ina Raiy Hutton for 
Sunday (16). 



HOME UNLIKE 





New Beverly Club, Newport, Ky., 
giant, wide-open casino, is about the 
freakiest nitery in existence and cer- 
tainly one of. the most considerate 
of its f ired talent and musicians. 
Spot has. installed shower conveni- 
ences, rest room, locker rooms, 
etc., for" comfprt of performing help. 
Differs greatly from ustisal dress-in- 
the'-kitch^n-'?flH^;- • ■ 

Payoff: •.i5>Hpf ' club's food source, 
which is part of the site. Grows its 
own vegetables, has cows and chick- 
ens, etc., for' meats and milk drinks. 
Consideration for boys with store 
molars has i n a u g u r a t e d ., f rieak 
chicken raising which, with the aid 
of a'spring netting; does not permit 
a chick's feet to . ever touch the 
ground. It. keeps the muscles soft, 
unlike .tough drumsticks on yard- 
free hens. 



ROCKWEL-O'KEEFE 
PLANS LOOP BRANCH 



Rockwell-O'Keefe is planning 
opening of a Chicago branch office 
to better compete with its two major 
competitors. Music Corn, of Amer- 
ica and Consolidated Radio Artists. 
Latter two have Chi offices as well 
as arms in Hollywood, Dallas and 
Cleveland. R-O'K is repped only in 
N. ' Y. and Hollywood. 

All Rockwell biz is handled by the 
two offices it now maintains with 
N. Y. group working west to Kansas 
City and Hollywood outfit picking 
up from there. With no field sales- 
men as others have, Rockwell office 
has tougher time peddling its y/ares. 
Expense of long distance telephoning 
and wires is calculated to ' defray 
cost of establishing midwest loca- 
tion. 



Switch Policy in Boston 

Ritz Carlton hotel, Boston, having 
signed with MCA for bands, has 
switched its policy of long run en- 
gagements to a policy of new bands 
every three weeks over the suihmer 
for its roof garden. 

Jerry Johnson opened the aerial 
niteiry yesterday (Tuesday), ' 



Sissle Opens Detroit Spot 

Detroit, May 11; 
With Noble Sissle's band, as open- 
ing attraction, Jefferson Beach 'play- 
ground' opens, doors Friday (14). 
Booked to follow Sissle are Ray 
Pearl and ;, Sammy Kaye. Set by 
M.C.A. 

Stephen Focht, who planned. light- 
ing installation for (5reat Lakes 
exposition at Cleveland last sum-, 
mer, has been added to Beach's per- 
sonnel to supervise new equipment 
and lighting effects for: playgrbund. 

Jules Dtike In and Out 

Philadelphia, May 11. 

Seven-piece Jules Duke combo 
brought from Hollenden Hotd, 
Cleveland, . to Arcadia-Ihternational 
here to succeed Happy Felton last 
week, is out. 

Place taken Over by Milt Kellem 
with nine-man cr^w. ^ 

^ ' — I ' — I' 

Wildwood Signs Denny- 
Philadelphia, May 11. 
Earl Deiiny Orch, out of Benny 
the Bum's last week, goes into SpOrt- 
land, Wildwood, Pa,, on Memorial 
Day for summer stay. 



PITTSBURGH CAFE MAN 
HIKED AT KAYE DATE 



Don Maria musics for Greensboro, 
N. C Chamber of Commerce May 29, 



Pittsburgh, May ll. 

Musjoiana circles here'; Buzz with 
the alleged peeya of cafe owner Bill 
Green against th^ Music Corp. of 
America. Cause is the booking of 
Sammy Kaye'k orchestra into the 
Williarn Penh hotel. 

Road house piroprletor Is said to 
feel that M.C, A.; in booking Kaye's 
Pittsburgh return; at the big hotel 
has not giyeni Green the benefit of 
having taken a gamble with Kaye 
when; he was an unknown factor., 

Manag[er feels that the exploitation 
and radio biiild-upi etc., ar- 
ranged for Kaye by himself Is re- 
sponsible for the orchestra's popu- 
larity' in Pittsburgh. He had beeri 
under inipression that when next 
available for a Pittsburgh date . he 
would get the nOd; Instead M.C.A. 
took thei Perm date at more money. 

Whiteman's Drake 

Repeat in November 

Paul Whiteman has already been 
booked . for ' a return at the Drake 
hotel, (Chicago, for Nov. .5, follow-, 
ing his departure there last week. 
Whiternaih broke attendance, record 
held by Jack Hylton's band when 
$14,000 was taken, at the inn on his 
first week. 

rake • engagement was White- 
man's first in that territory in sevr 
eral years and proved, an. instanta- 
neous hit. Hotel : arryinged future 
booking on strength of recent four 
weeks. 



Goodman on the Go 



Benny Goodman played to lO.OOt) 
dancers within a closely knit trio of 
hoof spots in the east Over the; past 
weekend. 

On May 7 band played George F*. 
Pavilion, Johnson City, N. Y., to 
4,000 and followed with -2,500 at 
Reade Casino, Asbury Park, N. J., 
and 3,000 at Valencia ballroOm, York, 
Pa. All oh the $1.10 ticket. 

Lucas* Detroit Duo 

Whether or not close . theatre and 
ballroom date in same location can 
effect biz at ieither will be seen in 
Detroit when 'Clyde Lucas band 
opens at the ''Michigan theatre, May 
28. 

Band has also been set for the 
Edgewater Beach ballroom for June 
4 to 6. Theatre will not permit park 
to adyertise band's coming until the 
theatre date is already four days 
under way. CRA set experiment. 



Name Bands in Ky. 

Louisville, May 11. 

Name bands strongly represented 
hereabouts, and grabbed some nice 
grosses from Derby visitors. 

Tom Gentry orch, playing Casa 
Madrid Derby Festival Ball, took 
$1,600. Admish was $2.36, including 
taxes. Ted Lewis band, with , a cast 
of 30, playing the Jefferson County 
Armory Saturday (8), and sponsored 
by Quadrant Club, pulled $2,500, at 
$1.75 per person charge. > 

Brown Hotel did fine biz with two 
bands, Benny Strong in the Blue- 
grass Room, and Bobby Meeker in 
Crystal Ballroom. Carl 'Deacon' 
Moore combo attracted, crowds to 
Iroquois Gardens. Johnny Burkarth 
band closed Sunday (9) at Casa 
Madrid, ith gala farewell party. 

Kyser's Iowa dlicko 
(Tlear Lake, la., May 11. 
Kay Kyser packed the; Surf ball- 
room here May 5, drawing biggest 
crowd . the seasoh. Carl' Fox, 
dance den mgr., even p\it reserve 
tables on floor to handle, over 1,000 
attending. . 
Bob (brosby is due May 25. 



A. C. Steel Pier Books 
Three Name Bands 
^ For Hofiday Weekend 

Atlantic City, May 11. 

The Memorial Day vireekend pro. 
gram at the Steel Pi will include 
Guy Lombardo and his iRoyal Cana- 
dians, enriy Goodman and his or^ 
chestra, and Tommy Dorsey and his 
orchestra. These dance bands will 
play successively, thrpugh the Satur- 
day, Sunday and Monday holiday 
period each alternating with Alex 
Barthai and liis band. 

Sally Rand, fan dancer, will head 
her own revue as another feature for 
that weekend. 



Presents 



>'cuerokee: stkip'' 

SUrrini OICK FORAN 
THE GREATEST WESTERN BALLAD 
IN YEARS - 



MY 




BUCKAROO 



M. WITMARK & SONS 

12B0 Slxtlv Ave.. J<CA BIdr., N. T. 
CHABUE \VABB£M, rrof. M»r. 



1 




Just Purchased ! 

The EnirUHh Smash Swlnr 
Bbamba Hit 

'CUBAN 
PETE' 

YVatch This Nnmber Sweep 
The Conntry t, 

StlU the N<itlon's Walt« 
favorite 

'SEVENTH HEAVEN' 

HOILYWQQD SQNG S"^! 

ICA BUIUNNC-RAl>IOCnV-NEWVCMUlN.V. 
PWILKPaNHEIiER. Cm.Mqr. 



I Hum a Waltz 



From 20th Centnry-Fox's "This Is 
My Afl'alr" 



WithoutYour 
Love 



Kitchy- 
Mi-Koko Isle 



2 Hits From New Unlversal's "Top of the Town" 

WHERE ARE YOU ? 
THAT FOOLISH FEELING 

By JIMMY McMUGH and HA^tOLD ADAMSON 



SIGMUND ROMBERG AND GUS KAHN'S NEW WALTZ 

A LOVE SONG OF LONG AGO 

If'RO.M MCM's "TMjEy GAVK HWI A GVS'' 

LEO FEIST, Inc. • 1629 BROAPWAY • NEW YORK 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



YAUDE-MITE CLUlBS 



VARIETY 



49 



Vaude licenses (or B'way Houses 
Delayed, So New Policies Mark Time 



Vaude plans of some ot the New. 
York butlesque houses, shut , down 
beciiuse of lack of licenses, have .ap- 
•parehtly beeni stymied . temiporarily 
the License Department. One 
house. Minskiy's ^ Oriental, applied 
for a license to show colored, stagie 
shows last week for aii ppening 
Friday <W, i>ut as yelt, the permit 
hasn't come through. 
' Called Monday (10) regarding the 
delay in handing out licenses to the- 
atres willing to switch from bur- 
lesque to vaude and unit policies, 
Licens® Commissioner Paul Moss de- 
clared to Variety that he had 'noth- 
ing to say.' Then he arnended thiis by 
saying the licensing was a 'routine 
matter,' but that he di not know 
of any applications for variety en- 
tertainment liceiises that had been 
delayed. 

Another burlesque house "reported 
have applied : for. a license last 
.week, but still waiti , iis the Gaiety, 
jalso oh Broadway. This thieatre, 
operated by Abie' Minsky and Izzy 
jHerk, intends putting in white vaude 
and unit shows.: . 

Plans of the- other burlesque the 
^tres are still indefinite in most 
cases far as .switching their 
policies. Most of Ihiem are sitting 
back awaiting a possible court re- 
versal of Moss' refusal to issue hew 
burlesque licenses on the grounds 
that the hurley theatres had bver- 
'stepped the bounds of decency .'and 
were a; menace to the morals- of the 

cHy. 



PHILLY NlTERY OPS 
USING NEW CHISEL 



mum 





Chicago, May 11. 

Another wave of the periodic talk 
about a vaiide revival has hit the 
town, and maybe a little stronger 
this time, with the North Center and 
Sheridan already playing regular 
shows, Great States supposed to start 
soon, and ah assurance that "Warners 
will open its houses in the fall, start 
ing off probably with the Capitol 
on the far south side, the first of 
September. 

Lot more aicts around, town now, 
since Stratford, WB house, has ar 
ranged for^ weekly showing nights, 
and claim made by William Morris 
office, which books it, that approxi- 
mately 65% of . turns showing there 
get work afterwards. 

Agents land bookers, iseizing upon 
elimination of bank nights as an op 
portunity, have been plugging hare 
Tvith house operators for return of 
Vaude, and seem to be making some 
progress, both, ith circuits and 
indi 



i'hiladelphia, May 
Agents here. iare squawking against 
many itery . t^erators who, they 
claim are chisfeling thtim oiit of their 
commish. Agents maintain i$pots are 
liripig , acts . through them, keeping 
them one, week and laying them off. 
During, the . time act is playing, nitery 
owner gei3; name-, iand address. 

inning of {ollowing 
owriei: . calls; act on phone and asks 
if it wantjs. return engagemient. Acts 
take, job Vrithout telling agent, com- 
mish saved. going to employer.. 




Comiiosers Going Into 
'JnmboV Ft. Worth Spot 



Port Worth, May 11, 
'Melody Lane,' a tableau featuring 
.pop composers, will be spotted in the 
large red building at the Frontier 
Fiesta which housed "Jumbo' last 
year. 

Among th^ eight ; ill be Paul 
rmstrong, who wrote 'Sweet Ade- 
';. Joe Hbwardi composer of,'! 
Wonder Wh6's .Kissing . Her Now,' 
and Jim Thornton of 'When Yoir 
Were Sweet Sixteen!' 



Beets Officers; 
Supports SAG 



At Hs annual liafeeting Monday 
(10) in New Irbrfc, the American 
FedeTation' of Actors adopted a reso 
lution supporting- the Screen Actors 
Guild in Its ftegoti ith the 

film companies. AFA offered the 
Guild 10,000. of its inembers to picket 
theatres nationally in the event of 
a strike. 

Another resolution, passed at . the 
AFA ineeting supports i«:e . candidacy 
of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia for 
re-eiection. He was extolled for his 
clean administration, as well as his 
frequent, aid to labor in ^general and 
the AFA in particular. 

Election of officers for. the ing 
year placed Hiidy Vallee in the post 
of honorary president,' With Sophie 
Tucker as president. Joie Laurie, Jr., 
Ben Bernie, Chic York arid Harry 
Richman as first, second, third and 
fourth vice-presidents, respectively. 
Ralph Whitehead was re-elected ex- 
ecutive secretary, and Charles Mos 
cohi, trefasurer. 

Council, elected for a term of four 
years, includes Laurie, Richrnan, El 
Brendel,- Eddi ;Garr,.-Matt Shelvey, 
Louis J. Pope, Guy Magley and Daii 
Healy. 

2 UNITS SAIL FOR SA 
NITERY DATES; 8 WKS. 



Two nitery units,, assembled by 
Har Sands, sailed Saturday (8) for 
Rio de Janeiro. Both are set for 
6ight weeks, with options, opening 
end of May. First is headed by 
Glori ilbert and will play the 
Urea Casi . Other outfit cpn- 
sists of the Vernons; Whitey and 
Ed Ford, Bernards and Duvals, Illis 
Deon and 10 girls, and will play the 
Atlahtico.. 

•With the. winter season starting in 
South America, Sands will have two 
shows running till September. Line 
girls iU stay, ith specialty 
acts spotted for eight-week standis- 
unless iield over by the ; niteries! 
Sands has also set the ' Milt ritton 
band for a summer run iat the Copa- 
cabana, Ri in July. 



DANCER'S BODY FOUND 
IN ROCHESTER CANAL 



Rochester, May 11. 
Mystery surrounds death of Helen 
Boyl^ Smith, cabaret dancer. Whose 
almost nude and nautilated .body was 
found floating, ih the barge, canal 
here. . . 

Possibility -of suicide w 
by authorities, as no signs 
found of her clothingv 



couted 
e been 







ON LIMB 
FOR NAMES 



ittsburgh. May 11. 
Cancellatiori of Ethel Shutta and 
return to Coast by Henry Armetta 
for pic assignment practically left 
Stanley without stage, show for week 
begi riday (14). iSome quick 

bopki , , produced Benny 

MeroUf's band il Regan as 

headliher. 

Regan's date will give rival Fulton 
a living trailer on Stanley stage for 
five days, i his latest picture, 
'Hit Parade,' opens at former house 
May 19, concurrent 1th his p.a. at 
deluxer. 

Flesh probliem becoming serious at 
Stanley, With management experi- 
encing more and more difficulty cbr- 
rallihg names for sumnier.. Shep 
Fields' band comes in May 21, with 
nothing set so far for following week, 
and local Wilkens Jewelry amateur 
show (WJAS every Sunday), headed 
by Brian McDonald; Jerry Mayhall 
and Jack Logan, is pencilled in for 
June 4. After that, there's nothing 
in sight, Hpuse holds contracts with 
both Hal Kemp iand Benny Goodman 
but they're 'when available' and at 
the moment they aren't.. 



Cleanup Drives on Det. and Chicago 
Niteries; Strippers Must Dress Up 



MRS. CHAS. MORRISON 
IN CHI FOR DIVORCE 



icago, May 11.: 
Mrs. Chiitrles Morrison, wife of the 
agent,- abandoried. her suit^ for 
vorce in Reno,. to her home 

i filing another tiirough 

ill! : courts Fri . (7 ). ince 
charge is desertion, no other grounds 
are needed arid divorce can be se- 
cured within 10 days. 

Benjamin H* Ehrllch, acting as her 
attorney, also obtained her' first di- 
vorce from Billy Kent. 



PhOa. Strike Ends 




DecidetoWalk 



Honky Tonks 



(Continued from page 1 ) 



Pieeple Leaves Sun 

Chicago, May 11. 

Resigning ' as manager, of the local 
Gus Sun office, T, Dwight Peeple has 
gone to the Pol a ck Bros, raternal 
Circus, as general agent. 

Will remain with the show, ich 
has been on the road for four con- 
secuti years, until fall, when he 
will become manager of office which 
Polack. Bros, plans to open here. 



Haley's. NeW Spot 

Charles Kaley, formerly " at the 
Somerset in Hollywood, moves over 
to the new Club Marti as featuried 
'iwarbler. 

Club Marti aiso has taken on 
Chairles Bourne, piatiist, who trans-, 
ferred from the Cinegrill. 



Hershey Sports Stunts 
Clips Lancaster Theatres 



Ms^y 11. 

-Hershey . sports- a rfena continues to. 
divert. the'atre-Koeiis Lancaster 
and adjacent territory, 

.Swimming stars ffom lym- 
pics and .currently a rodeo have 
drawn- hun reds from this. -.section: 
bin-ing the winter. lici-shey Hockey 
lea roved a strong drawing, card. 



Washburn's P.A. 

Hollywood, May 11. 

Bryant Washburn trained for 
Omaha to open a vaude tour. 

Silent pic actor will star, in a con^. 
densed version 
Nowhere.' 



of 'The Man from 



restricted to strippers and. bumpers, 
but eyery now iand then :aIong 
comes: a gal with a figure, a young- 
ster with a rhythmic pair of feet, or 
tuneful pipes. 

Chicago and New York alone each 
have some 75 to 100 of these storie- 
show niteries, using table singers upr 
wards to fiopr shows of five or six 
spfecialties. Average price is $3^ per 
performer, though some of the m.c.'s 
with a rep for having a following 
may ride up as high as $125. But 
to get the latter means to be abso- 
lute tops in the, honky line; and 
when acts get up that, high they start 
edging into the better class cafes dnd 
vaude. 

Most of the strippers are "from 
vaude and burlesque chorus: lines; 
gals who found they could hike their 
salary from $22.50, $25 and $30 to 
$45, $50 and maybe $60 by shelling 
their duds as ah individual instead 
of j a uhit. 

ideaways and the new 
ent go hand-in-hand, because in 
these joints anything goes and the 
talent therefore has all the free rein 
any trouper would want to put hi 
self across. 

is is typical of the 

country at .since repeal, and 

particularly in the pa.st year or so, 
with improved conditions upping 
general amusement standards., tie- 
suit has , been that where the piibs 
and . taverns at the crossroads could 
get. away with an automatic coi 
operating phonograph, now th6y spot 
in some iive-.talent. 

That, perforce, 
descript in the mai very 
siirn budget, is an ecoribmic e)iige)icy 
in that the di -a-beer and quartcr- 
a- ighball joi' can't very well add 
on anything to. absdrb. the cost of 
the added eritcrtainment. 

However, the band, coOh-shouling, 
m.c., bumpers and ' other floor .show 
trimmings have worked out satis- 
factorily as a means to keep 'em on 
the premises.- The taverns' attitude 
is that the longer they stick around, 
the more they mu.st spend. 

Whether froni that anything of 
significance ^o contribute to new 
faces for vaUde, pix or legit, can 
eventuate, in appreciable numbers, 
has yet to be proved. 



iladelphia, Msiy' 11, 
^With the orchestra pulled Out by 
Musici local, speedy settlement 

of six-week strike, of waiters, cooks 
and bartenders at s.wahky Arcadia- 
Interriational here' was reached last 
Wednesday (5); ; Agreement was- 
made in the. Mayor's office. 

Break, came at noon Wednesday, 
when A, A. Tomei, prez of musicians, 
called operator Art Padula and told 
him the Jules Duke band was being 
pulled out .at once. "Tomei, who was 
backed by, his membership in cpn- 
sistent refusal to take the band from 
the Arcadia, id the board of direcr 
tors of the union felt Padula was 
being obstinate in his, refusal to at- 
tempt a settlement. 

Padula immediately hired two 
nbn-uion bands, one for the Arcadia 
and one for the Anchorage, which he 
also owns but which hadn't been in- 
volved in the strike up to this time: 
"The bands were paid for the day but 
never went. on. the stands, as the 
strike, agreement was reached at 
6.30 p. m. 



Putting White and Negro 
Niteries Under 1 Roof 



Policy of separate white and 
Negro niteries under one roof will 
be tried by 1523 Locust, in Philadel 
phla. Intimate walkup spot has 
been operated there for several sea 
sons by Ike Beifcl. Opening tonight 
(Wednesday), Ben Rasch will run 
colored shows i intimate Piccadilly 
Room, upstairs front. Undierstood 
management and operation will be 
separate.. 

Bubbles Shelby has topped 1523 
Locust show for full season. 
Gladys. Bentley will be the h.eadliner 
in the colored show. 



Surfside Debuts May 27 



Surfside Beach Club at Long 
Beach, K Y., ill be among the first 
of the .Long islarid road, hpuses open 
ing thi.^ season, ; Scheduled to debut 
May 27. 

Opening .show vl'ill include B.enriy 
Field.s, Paul Sydell and Spotty, and 
Rositci and Fontana. William Morris 
ofTice agented the tri 



Nitery Placements 



Laui.se, Ri6harcis()n, Mori's, N. Yi 

Ray and Grace MiacDonaid, Savoy- 
Plaza hotel, N. Y. 

Lee Wiley, Ver.saillc.s, N. 

Frances Macfdux. Paneho and Dp 
lores, Stevens hotel, Ghi. 

Harriett Hoctor, Four Californians, 
Drake hotel, Chi, 

Four Vespers, Versailles, ., be 
ginning June 10. 



Howard rooks, rnagician; goes 
into the Mayfair hotel, London, May 
31 for four weeks. 

Sailing from New York May 19. 



Detroit, May 11, 
Nitery biz hereabouts' ' }n • 
dither. Looks like police" cleanup 
drive is the McCoy and ops :iare hav- 
ing a tough tinrte replacing kayoed 
iacts. 

Princess Chang Lee, Chinese stri - 
per at Cbrktown Tavern, first to feel 
law's pinch, was found guilty Fri- 
day (8) of indecent exposure dur- 
ing a dance earlier in the week. 
Arrested twice on idifferent • nights, 
stripper will receive se^ntence some 
time this week. 

At a general conference of eight 
nitery owners with Police Supt. 
Fred Frahm Wednesday (6), Frahm 
ordei'ed all femme imp. choruses out 
of nite clubs hei-e. . Male choruses, 
playing in about 20 local spots, were 
either dre.ssed in masculine garb 
replaced by other acts. Strip-teas- 
ers hereafter must .wear trunks and 
brassieres, go to' jail, decreed 
Frahm. 

Operators at parley, 

pleading they sinned under duress 
p.f speakeasy competish, declared 
they'd gladly' drdp all floor, shows ili . 
every spot was forced to do so; ' 
Clubs .represented included Blue 
Lantern, CorktoWn Tavern', Black 
Cat, Frehch Casino, Cafe Frontehac,. 
Club Villa D, Gamble's Inn. 

Frahm, who ordered all spots to 
clean up or close, has recciVeid back- 
ing of state liquor cqmmish, which 
said it would revoke licenses of 
clubs violgtlhg Frahm's orders. 

Chicfligo, May 11. 
Local reform wave has developed 
into a general campaign of /clothes- 
dressing and mqterial-cleaniinig 
among the amusement spots in Chi- 
cago, which takie:: in vaude and 
niterifes and as well as burlesque. 

Chicago, Daily Times started the 
campaign,' with the Daily News and 
other papers following.. There hoB 
been considerable hullabaloo . about 
the situatidn. So much so, that a 
couple of the city heads have called: 
a halt by stating that conditions; in 
Chicago aren't as bad as they ar» 
painted in the papers. The censor*' 
ship branch of 'the police depart- 
ment, headed by Lieut. Harry Cos- 
tello, has been keeping a close watch 
on all amusement spots. 

However, with the initial squavyk 
in . the dailies, brassiet-es went on t.hei, 
girls who had been stripping In 
niteries, vaude houses and burlesque. 
Oriental, vaudfilmer which has been, 
gping for strippers , afniost weekly 
for the past couple of months, even 
booking one girl who had been ar- 
rested in a raid, is discontiniiihg thi 
policy. 



2 PHILLY SPOTS 




Philadelphia, May 11. 
With biz suffering badly from the 
heat, two combo houses here have 
arinbunccd curlainis for vaude season. 
Fox leaves flesh behind for straight 
pic policy starting this Friday (14). 
Jeno Donath house band Will be 
held , at present, strength of 35 men 
uiitil June, when paring Will reduce 
it to 15. 

Sid, Stanley, manager of Fay's, . id 
this, week that he will ■.probably call: 
it quits wh^h 'Parlez-Vous Paree' 
unit cld.ses Thursday (20). If sud- 
den fri id wave strikes, however, 
and it is possible to book anptiier 
unit^ Stanley said he might continue 
an additional ^yeek. The house shuts 
down altogether, dropping pi too. 



Paradise Switch 



Shp.'i. and ayitiood replaced Bario . 
and. Mann the Paradi.s Restau- 
rant, N. Y., show last' week; 

Switch was made -when an injury 
to George Man n'.s knee forcdd act to 
withdraw from the floor show. 



MacQiiarrie's Opener 

Hollywood, May 11. 

First slop -for Haycn MacQuarri 
on his 16-week personals tour will 
be Denver, with Chicago.i«-^llow. 

Max Schall travels ahead and Bill 
O'Donncll .fuhchions With the *Do 
You W^nt to be an Actor?' troupe as 
assistant director. 



50 



VARIETY 



▼AUDE-NnE CLUBS 



Wednesday, Maj 12, 1937 



Nitery Reviews 



NIXON CAFE 

(PITTSBURGH) 

Pittsburgh, May 6i 
For the hot-cha tastes of Tony 
Confotti's thriving spot, his current 
show is too placid. ' What's m(»re, 
it's topiheavy on terp and the 
steady display of footwork grows 
monotonous. Acts are all class, and 
spotted properly would be extremely 
effective ringside fodder, but they 
don't fit as a whole here. 
■ Nixon's a peculiarly jpatronized. 
nitery and smart turiis invariably 
fare only moderately well. When 
three of that type, however, are 
delivered in a row, the result is 
bound to be tough, on the performers. 
Evien the chorus of eight Daugherty 
gals specializes in the casual parade 
ensembles and that doesn't help the 
generial effect any. 

Topping lin&-up" is swank ballroom 
team of Loper and Hayes, with cou- 
ple of numbers that ^pots them up 
front among the whirl-and-glide 
fraternity. Gal's a striking blonde in 
slick contrast; to swarthy Csstilian 
appearance of her partner and they 
catch the eye and keep it with their' 
smooth routines, climaxing with a 
stunning version of the 'Merry 
Widow', waltz.,. Two femmes, Kol- 
lette and Dean, are senii-adagioists,; 
mixing effective hoofing with some 
:slight acrobatics,, but failing to de- 
liver the fliash that their looks prom- 
ise. Backed up by a chorus in 
a stage production flash, gals' stuff 
Would fit perfectly^ but it's a little 
too pat for the cafe trade. 

Even the m.c, Rudy Horn, special- 
izes in hoofing. A gangling gent, his 
chief contribution is ■ an eccentric 
drunk that could be labeled a cross 
between contortion, and soft-shoe 
For a strictly sober crowd it would 
be in the bag, but the alcoholics are 
likely \& grow restless oyer Horn's 
slow preliminaries. 
:. Line does four humbiers; including 
.finale, but- that middle .'Easter 
Parade' thing could be dropped. A 
production flash without a topper is 
a floor misfit, and there's no reason 
for ltd being here. [ . . 

Still a fixture at Nixon is Angelo 
Di Palma, operatic tenor, roundirtg 
out 15th consecutive montii here, 

Herman Middleman's band has 
added ari. electric piano,: which 
maestro himself plays, and it's added 
a tonal sweetness to the outfit; 

Cohen. 



Now Appearing 

CLEO BROWN 
ROY ELDRIDGE 

And Band 

"Hone off Swing" 

In Chicago 

FAMOUS 
THREE DEUCES 

222 North Sti^te St. 



BEVERLY HILLS 



(CINCINNATI) 

Cincinnati, May 10. 
The last word in casino-nitery de- 
luiers in these parts, the Beverly 
Hills is located two miles back of 
Newport, Ky., opposite Cincy. Opened 
Wednesday (5), Pete Schmidt, New- 
port sportsmaihi is :chief bankroUer. 
His isori, Glenn, 20, is manager.. Lay- 
out, including 45-acre; tract, land- 
scaped, and a hew structure of the 
clubhouse type, is reported to repre^ 
sent a $200,000 investment. 

For swank, it's easily tops in this 
neck of the woods. 

Tariff the first night was $7.50 a 
head. Regular scale is $2,50 mini- 
mum for Saturdays and $1.50 other 
nights.; 

initial taient layout includes Clyde 
Lucas and his' orchestra. Belle Baker; 
Countess Emily Von Losen,. dancer; 
Jackie Green, m.c; DeAngelo and 
Porter, classical terps team;, Five 
Jansleys, risley; Billy Severin, aci-o-^ 
batic .dancer, and a line of 16 giirls 
directed by Sammy Hose. It's the 
highest-priced, floor show ever for 
Cincy and puts the Beverly Hills far 
afront of Arrowhead Inn and Look- 
out House, local competitive spots. 

Bands will stay three •< weeks or 
lohgiEsj!;. Line, is V stocky with^ costume 
and JvrputHxe , chang^ f drthightly, 
Flodi)c;s..iaqts clx^ipge every •^W'tf'weeta. 

Placid :is unto i^lf onlai hligh hill, 
with priv^ite ' tlriVe from ■ nigWay. 
ChecTc r66in;, cif(»Ulair bar, rest rooms, . 
loUngie and night club .ar6 on main 
floor. Main rooin, terraced for tables, 
seats 500. .Comfortable spa6e for 
dancing and floor show. Class deco- 
rations and furnishings;, nifty light- 
ing scheme and air conditioning. 
Upstairs, sound insulated, is entirely 
for the. casino. 

.Spot is catering strictly to the 
money trade. Eve of foirmal opening 
was devoted to cuffo spread for 
Northern Kentucky officials and 
press lads. Jaick Dempsey, special 
guest, did a mike rave oii the setup. 

orchestra broadcasts on WSAI and 
the: WLW line. KoU., 



Jean Withee, , and Lulu Bates, 
singer. 

Spot has made some very inane 
efforts to conform its interior decora- 
tions with its title. Those little pay- 
ings on its walls mentioning show biz 
and newspaper names, as an in- 
stance, are prime examples of what 
humor ain't. 

Tariff is nominal, which explains 
the heavy kid and otherwise small- 
spending trade. For $3, a couple 
can split six drinks between. 'em, see 
i;he show, watch turtle races and 
dance, the night iaway to fair enough 
music. Scho. 



VILLAGE BARN 

(NEW TOBK) 

Like most of the remaining Green' 
wich Village niteries, this is almost 
strictly a high school kids' spot, 
Doesn't even make a pretense of 
angling for the yokels with the old 
Village phoney Bohemianism; rather 
it's as clean in show and atmosphere 
as the old nabe vaude houses. 

Speaking of vaude, that's now a 
Village . Barn boast Instead of a 
production , floorshow, it's sticking to 
variety acts and . specialties, without 
any noticeable cohesion except for 
m.c. Larry McMahon's introductions, 
He's matter-of-fact, but personable 
in his floor job and does okay later 
on, along with the other male enter 
tainers, in traipsing with the femme 
ciistomers in an old-fashioned square 
dance, 

A couple of the acts in the show 
stand out in this particular spot 
One is Willie Solar, eccentric com- 
edy-singer long standard on the 
variety stages of the country; second, 
Texas Jim Lewis and His Lone Star 
Cowboys, a quintet of barnyard 
vocalizers and instrumentalists. 
Other turns, and only adequate in 
their spots, are the Whirling Twirlos, 
two femmes— one boy skating corhbo; 
The McArthurs, novelty dance team; 



The THEATRE of the STARS 




J . H . L U B I N 

GENERAL MANAGER 

SIDNEY H. PIERMONt 

BOOKING MANAGER 



CASINO PARISIEN 

(MORRISON> CHICAGO) 

Chicago, May 5. 
Third show for this s^ot is a de- 
parture from the original .policy. 
Spectacle has given way in great 
part to standard vaudeville turns. 
This does hot mean that spectacle 
is out entirely, nor are girls, but the 
production has been comparatively 
minimized, 'and the . original girls, 
who did little more :than parade,^ 
xave been replaced by a lines which" 
is equal to any when it comes to 
dancing,, 

Used throughout the' show, in 
every instance gorgeously costumed 
and doing pirincipally toe work, line 
forms sturdy and attractive base 
upon which the rest of th(s show is 
built. Two routines are in the out 
standing Class; One, the Indian num^ 
)er. which is in the shkyoting gallery 
scene -and brings .the girls on by 
dropping them to the floor as targets 
are hit by ' marks men; the second is a 
fan,, routihej and^ Very attractive. To 
these twd numbers^ might be added 
the opener, a circus routine. 

In the 'Charm Parade' number, 
working . behind Piroska, Russian 
dancer, and the finale,' are the only 
two . cases where the show reverts 
to the former style. 

Whole presentation works in the 
manner of a musical revue of the 
theatre, using no m.c, with acts 
coming on to do their turns with- 
out any announcement whatsoever 
Acts are pretty well known fOr the 
most part,vand this may be the rea- 
son for the lack- of billing. 

Show is well balanced for novelty, 
singing and comedy. Bob Hipa, with 
his fast, smooth showmanly routine 
of juggling scores; the Hudson Won- 
ders, two girl acrobats, are a sock 
with their slick contortions and dar- 
ing tricks; four Craddocks begin by 
shooting the clothes off a girl-target 
and .Vind up with a crack assort 
ment of comedy knockabout tricks 
and straight balancing woi'k; anc 
Charlotte Arren and Johnny 
Broderick bang Out some comedy 
and singing that takes the starch 
right out of any stuffed shirts tha : 
might happen in — it's roughhouse 
and hokey, but it bangs big. These, 
with Harriet Carr, violin-voicec 
prima dohha, and Piroska, who does 
a fast Russian .routine, make up a 
good hour's entertainment. 

Lou Bireese band does a .g.ood job 
with the show music, and .alternates 
for dancing with Lou Diamond's out 
fit. Business here is holding up well. 

Loop. 

COGOANUT GROVE 

(BOSTON) 

Boston, May 6. 
New summer line policy is okay. 
Biggest laugh in the current floor 
show is thie doubling-in-brass of the 
bus boys. When these lads: doff their 
white -coats to don Bowery outfits 
and tangle with the line girls wear- 
ing bustles in a Mauve Decade num- 
ber, the results are the show's high 
light. 

For spectacle and flesh flash, Ruth- 
ina Warner, bubble and veil dancer, 
has the edge. A straight .bubble 
dance is her opening piece and it's 
clean-cut. A partner in realistic ape 
outfit breaks! out of a bamboo .cage 
and totes her off at the finish of her 
veil number. 

Tommy Raffeirty, featured in ec 
centric taps and soft shoe, has some 
worthwhile innings on the floor. Ih 
appearance he is cross between Will 
Mahcney and Harry Langdon. Lor- 
etta Keller' has a sparkling, person- 
ality mbre full jr developed than her 
taps. Dorothy Farley is the current 
(Continued on page 53) 



Great Singers of Great Songs! 

By O. M. SAMUEL 



• • ••«#••• 
• * • • • « • • 



I •••«•'••'.• ■ 



• • • ••«•••••• «.• •'• • • • I 

»*»•»••.•* t •••• t t.' • * * • 4 



• ••••••••••'• 



..t.>........^. ...... 'He's My Pal' 

.-She's My Daisy' 
.... .'Nobody* 

. .^a . • «'« •.. BOn Bon Buddy' 
. . . . . . .> . . i ; . . .'Waiting at the Church* 

'My Wild Irish Rose' 



LOUISE DRESSER 
HARRT LAVDER 
BERT WILLIAMS 
BUDDY WALKER 
VESTA VICTORIA . ., 
CHAUNCEY OLCOTT 

JIMMY DURANTE * , ........ . .'Can Broadway Do Without Me* 

LYDIA BARRY :. .'Break the News to Mother' 

A\i JOIiSON.' fl •;•••••.«•*••"»*•■••' 4 •••>'•••*• t •••'•.'•••'•'•••*•«•*••••• AIsTtitiny* 

ALICE LLOYD 'Who Are You Getting at. Eh?' 

JOSEPHINE SABEL . . . . ; . ; . . . . w . . . . . . . , ', . /Hot 'Time in the Old Town' 

ERNEST BALL . ... ,V »*Love Me and tlie Wbrld Is Mine* 

EDDIE LEONA R D- . .. . .* . ..... ...... . ..*'• . .... . -. . ^ . .... . .. 'Ida' 

HELENA'M.ORA v.. t ..... i ... .'After the Ball' 

MAGGIE CLINE .'Throw Him DOwn, McClosky' 

RICHARD JOSE ....................... .'She's a Bird in a Gilded Cage' 

REESE V. PROSSER ........... . . .'Shade of the Old Apple Tree' 

BELLE BAKER 'Cohen Owes Me Nihety-Sevehty Dollars' 

RAE SAMUELS ... . . . . ... .'In His Own Home Town' 

GEORGE M. COHAN . . .' ive My Regards to Broadway' 

SOPHIE TUCKER ;' ifty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong' 

MORTON DOWNEY ....... 'Little Bit of Heaven' 

LIZZIE B. RAYMOND i . 'Just, Tell Them That You Saw Me' 

FAY ."TEMPLETON .... ... ;'So Long Mary' 

BARNEY FAGAN ....................... . . .'My Gal's a High Born Lady' 

ANNA HELD ........................ 'Just Can't Make My Eyes Behave' 

IRENE FRANKLIN ....... ... . ........«.> . « • > ... v» •••••••••• • .'Red Head' 

AL.H. Wilson , ...... .'Love is Ail in au' 

GEORGE HONEY BOY EVANS. ......... .'In the Good Old Suinmer 'Time' 

BLANCHE' RING . <......••....'.........••.. .'. .•.••.•...•.•••«.. . .'nr. 'Bedelia* 

Eva TANGUAY • '• .^I Don't Care^ 

ALBERT CHEVALIER . . . i...: . . . . , ; , .'My Old Dutth* 

FRITZI SCHEFF . . . ; . w , . . . : . . . ... .'My Hero' 

HARRY TALLE Y ........ 'When the Harvest Days Arit: Over, Jessie Dear* 

J. K. EMMETT . . . ...... . . . .'Sleep, Baby, Sleep' 

LOTTIE GILSON .. ..'Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay' 

CLARICE VANCE ............. .'Guess I'll Have to Telegraph My Baby* 

JOHN McCORMACK . .'Mother Machree' 

EDDIE CANTOR 'Baby Just Cares for Me' 

HARRY RICHMAN . . . . . . . . ..... . . . ... . . . . .'Birth of the Blues' 

FANNY' BRICE' . i . .'. .'My Man' 

CHARLIE KING • • • • • • ... . . . ..^ ............ i . ; . . . . . . . .' roadway Melody' 

RUTH ETTING . . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . ........ . . .'Shine oh Silvery Moon' 

RAY BAILEY .'Georgia Camp Meeti ' 

JOE HOWARD .......'I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now' 

ANDREW MACK . .'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling' 

EDITH HELENA . ..... .'Last Rose of Summer' 

ROSE PONSELLE .'Rose Marie* 

PAUL ROBESON ; i Ol' Man River' 

BLOSSOM SEELEY > . . . .'Alexander's Ragtime Band' 

TOQIBfl^T' liYnlAN • • ••'••'•« • • • • • • • • • • •-•«•'•••'•«-*«•« • • • • • 'ID^flinc^ 

ENRICO CARUSO iri Beri Bi' 



Saranac Lake 

appy Benway 



Margaret Newell, who saw ;10 
yearis of this thi in Scarsdale, 

N. Y., for bed-si ing 

Frisco DeVere. 

On May 2/ iers found skiing 
good on Mt. Marcy, something they 
couldn't do during .December, Janu- 
ary and February. 

Milt Matin, ex-minstrel and vaude- 
iartist, here as head-man of the enter- 
tai ing committee for the Veterans 
of Foreijgn" Wars big show for the 
convention in June. 

Claude Lawson back here for the 
Ozone, 

Sonny's Tavern, a new nite-spot, 
opened .with the Gay 90's atmos- 
phere. 

Write to those, you know In Sarr 
anae and elsewhere who art. sick. 



» IS YEARS AGO « 

(From Vabibtt and Clipper) 



Motion Picture Theatre Owners of 
America in isession in Washington. 
Sidney S. Cohen reelected prez, but 
his own state (N.Y.) bolted, him in 
favor of James. J; ^alkpr. Precipi- 
tated ah elegant row> Started Thea- 
tre Owners Chamber of Commerce. 



Bray Studios, shorts iproduct, an- 
nounced intention of. 'filming Wells' 
'Outline of History.' But not as a 
short, Never got around to it. 



Papers were full of the possible 
combination of Goldwyn and First 
Nat. Latter needed funds and GOld- 
•wyn had duPont coin back of it 



Griffiths' • rphans of the Storm' 
on first pix house release brought 
the N. Y. Strand $36,500 for the first 
week. 



Ted Lewis through with his 
Greenwich Follies date and into the 
Palace, N. Y., with his band. Went 
on at eleven for the nite show, but 
held 'em. His first 'vaude band date. 
Had done the niteries. 



lossom. Seeley ennie 
Fields, one of the toppers at the 
N. Y;. Palace. One of five big name 
acts on the bill. 



rady at the Brooklyn Or- 
pheum in an oriental skit staged hy 
Joe Hart. Shared tops with Galr 
lagher and Sheah. Comment that 
she had- slenderized— and profited 
thereby. 



Theatre in Wilkes- , con- 
sidering a radio' theatre. Dime .ad- 
mission and open :froni II a, m. im- 
tll rnidhite. Stay as long as you 
.want. Ed. Rosenbaum, Jr., promot- 
ihg. Joe Mann, cabaret, agent, had 
anpther plan. To give a shoAv in 
N. Y. and wire to out of town points, 
using the then new public address 
systeni. Both just dreariis. ' 



Bonfils Tammen,. who owned 
the Kansas City Post and the Em- 



press theatre there, had a hypnotist 
on the theatre program. . Used him 
to put a woman to sleep, using their 
radio station in the Post. One of the 
first air stunts. 



There were 31 B'way shows i 
cut rates. 



Irving Place theatre to get its first 
hurley show as a summer venture 
by Max Wilner. Idea took hold. 



Kitty Gordon offered as a nitery 
hostess. Promised she would wear 
a fresh gown every h6ur. 



Columbia btirley wbeel lifted i 
bah on bare legs, biit still down on 
cooch and dirt. 



ALWAYS 

Al. (Whitey) Robert* 

WORKING 



AGENTS 



Birthday, Everyday, Convalescent 
Greeting Cards .. 
. In. Boxed Assortments 
Very Liberal Commissioni 
Writ* for particulars 

DOROTHEA ANTEL 
226 West )2nd St. New York, K. V. 



Show People All the World Over WUI 
Be Interested to Know l^hat 

SIDNEY FISHER= 

( Vornierly at 29, Wardoar Stre^tV 
Is Now Located at. More CommpcllouB 
Prerhlpeft at 
75/77, Shaftesbury Avenue 
PICCADILLY, LONDON. KNO. 



SHOW PEOPLE'S 
EATERY I 

LINDY'S 

LEICESTER SQUARE 



MAE 



HERBERT 



HALLID A Y a-d CLARK 

DANCERS DEUGlIXFl'LLir. i5ll!Fi:RENX 

CASINO CONGRESS HOTEL, CHICAGO 
Mgt. HARRY KILBY - - BADIO CITY, NEW YORK 



Wedneeaay, May 12, 1937 



VARIETY 



SI 




ills 



NEXT WEEK (May 17) 
THIS WEEK (May 10) 

Numerals ~>n connection vyith bills below indicate pp.eni 
show, whether fuU or split week 



RKO 



CHICAGO 
, , Paliuw (7) 

iloxyetteto ,. 
•Bifl Skelton 
Buster Shaver 

Palace (14) 

Anita Jaccifcy - 
Paul Klvkland. 
Bud parria Co 
MKlnight Bath 



Jjdulse Massey Co 
jJddie Ciavr 

; ay 

B & EnleUsh Bfos 
Benny Ko'sb 
Callt ColleKiano. 

ice Follies -v 

. KANSAS CITT 

Malnstreet (14) 
Mdgiil. ■ . ^ 

SCHENKCTAWY 
Prootor^N (13-18) 
Follea Int'h'l 



Loew 



NEW IfOBK. CITY 

•State (14) ■ 
Paul Whlteman Ore 
■ WASHINGTON 

capitoi (14) 

t Arleys .: 



Helen Denlzdn 
12 Amer Rockets' 
Sheila! Barrett 
Colllnsi & Peteraon 
MQM Screen Test 



RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 

NBiV VORK 

WEEK MAY 13th 

RAY and TRENT 

ir.— LEQDY A SMjTH 



Geo Betlon , 
Premier 
Eciulllo Bro>t •' 
Cttstelll & Tforke 
HlllbHlles 

EDMONTON 
Empire 
T^eq Masters 
'i ;Manley Bros 
.Mianley '& Austin:^-.-. 
flNSOiURY PARK 

' Atttbriu 
Tettdy. Joyce Bd- 
. HAAIMERSMITH 

Pnlaite 
DaKenhain Gls Co 
Bobby HowcUBa : 
ISUNGTON 
Blue Hull, 
-lat half (10- J 2) 
Roper & Matsle 
AVyn & Hurwyri 

2d halt (13-15) 
Ohayo 3 

Wheeler & Wilson 
XEWISHAM 
Pola<« 

DaKenhain (ilrl Co 
Murray Stew.ai't 
Emersbn Smith Bd. 

leytonmtone 

Rinlto 

3 WHlarda 
liouiae & Dogs. 
OliU KENT ROAD 

Astoria 
Anion Bd • • 
Ted Ray 

Wllnon, Dake & H 
SHBPH'ROS BUSH 
. Payiilnit 

Dagenham Girl Co 



Paramount 



HEW YORK CITY 
: Paramount (12) 

Xavler Cugat Bd 
Mary Small 
Del Caalnb - 
Roslta Ortega 
Irfirry Blake 

BOSTON ' 
MeiropolltaB (14) 
West & Page 
'Tommy. Trent 
Don AsplazU 'Bd 
Gallarlni ' 
' Marlorl 
Rene Cabeza 

BUFFALO 
Buffalo (U) 

Horace Heldt Bd . 
CHICAGO 
CtaleaRO (14) 

Owen McGlveney- 
Mady & '. Partner 
Sybil Jasbh 
Singing ' Ensigns 

<;UICAGO 
Oriental (14) 
Muma o{ Paris 



CHICAGO 
Regal (14) 

Ii Armstrong Bd 
DETROIT 
Mlrlilgan (14) 
Ice Follies 
Sylvia & Clemence 
Jaekle Heller. 
MONT'»>:At 
. Txtew'M (14) 
Melba Brian: 
McKay & l^avelle 
Jean .Grahese .. 

NEW HAVEN 
: Paramount (14) 
King's Scandals U 
OMAHA 
Orpheum (14) 
M'aj Bowes V 
SOUTH BEN1> 
Palace (14) 
Gene Aoitry Co 
TORONTO 
Bhea'» (14) 
Kemper &.Haggerty 
I^ster' CoIe Co 
.Balabano-NV 6. 
I/IUIeJohns 
Nice, Flori & I> 



I.ANCASTER 
Capitol (10-.20) 
Bally Rand Rev 

FHir^DEnPHlA 
Alleghebj- (U-IR) 

51 French Misses 
Paul Regan 
Milt Douglas 
Rhythm Jamboree 

E^rle (14) 
Guy llombardo Ore 
(V) 

Sally Rand 

^•ox (7) 
Helen Reynoldn Co 
Chilton. & Thomas 
Louise Masaey & W 
Patricia Bowman 



Nixon. (1204) 
Mary Palmer Co 
Bert Walton 
Tip Top Girls 
(One to All) 

PITTAitURGH 
Stanley (14) 
Ben Merolf Ore 
Phil Regan 
(7). 

Guy .TiOmbardo Ore 
WASHINGTON 
Earle (14) 
Hal Kemp Ore 
(7) 

Shep Fields Ore 
YORK 
SiramI (17-18) 

Sally Rand Rev 



Bobby Howeli Bd 

■ STRATI'^ORU 
Rnmiliviiy 

l2qulllo Bros 
CaMtein & Vor 
Hlllbllllea 

sTkeatham 

' AHtorlu 

fiiljy C'-olCoh.Bd: 

.. Pitlnce 

.iJapr'ehham Girl Co 
M.iiiTH'y Siewiirt . 
Eimer.sujt Smith Bd 

TOOTING 

ii li «ltt 

Mant.oyanI Ore 
I'OTTENilAM 
Palace ■ 

Jones: &, ' Thomas 
Ellda. Sii >■ 

TOTTENHAM 
COURT KOAI> 
Paramount 

Harry Fryer Bd 
Joe Ortneji ' 
ii i^oose Screws 

WAliTHAMSTOR 
° Granadit 

Lpo Masters 
•Sobsky.'a Dogs 
,3. Alanley. Bros 

WOOO GRlReN 
Palace ': 

. (13-14) 
Rob .Diiymer 
Hukh Thoriie. 
Elliotts 

Pell & Francis 
Style 1 



Provincial 



Week of May 10 

ABERDEEN 



Tivoll 

Dave Willis 
Jimmy McKlnlay 
Vera Mclean 
John Tiller Gls . 
Jeo Boys 
ClIK Harley 
Florence Hunter 
J & P Desmond 
AstoE & Astoria 

BRIGHTON 

Regeht D../H. 

ROyce .& king 
Johnny Clayton & J 

CARDIFF 
Capitol ' 

Louis A'niae'r 
EDINBURGH 
Royal 

KlUle Jrs . 
Brodle & Steele 
Terry Wilson 
Ormonde Sis 
Dohoehue & R'ms'y. 
B Martin & Ptnr 
Edgley & Dawe 
,l2 Calendonlans 



GI-*SGOW 
Paramount 

Pola & Barry " 
Milo' 3 

Pavilion 
Kiida Biix - 
Irenei Re*. 
Act Superb 
Jessinian ' & James 
Roy Duvcy 
Chin Wu Co 
KINGSTON 
. . Empire 
Billy Bennett 
G S Melvlri 
Nina M McKlnney 
Leslie Strange 
Dixon & Pail 
3 Heltanos 
■Jean Kennedy 
Harry Marconi 
H'wood Beauties 
X<lVERPOOL 
Paramount 
RInrracH 

PLYMOUTH 
Palace 
Peplno's Circus 
Selma '4 
Belly Jumel 
Aniioui' Boys 



NEW YOiRK CITY 



Independent 



CHICAGO 
State Ijike (14) 

•Aforohl & Cora lee 
Barry A: >Vhltlege 
Will &. G AheHrn 
Blips, Lewis & A 
Muriel piirker. 

^CIil«>ngo (7). 
I Annsti-ong' Ore 
Ifeanore Whitney 
OrlvnthI (7) 
Jackie Heller . 
Bartel Hiirst 4 
Clifford & Marion 
Peplto 



Anderson & Allen 
KANSAS CITY 
■ Tower. (H) 
,Toy. & Wing 
Bobby Short 
Harry Savoy, 
lioulse 'I'obiti 
Wolfe & Hukiha 

laporte, ini». 

IjiPnrte (le) 

B'way.Ptissint!: Show 
^♦lEMI'HIS 
Orplienm (IS). 
Xed Cook 
Count Bernevlcl- • 



London 



Week of May 10 



^ Astoria I). H. , 

Herbert LsMartine. 
Tieddy Sherrv 
•rapM &:.'.l^inpb Gls 
Canl«irbury M. H. 
. l.st halt (10-12) 
. Qh«ye 3 
AVheeler & Wilson 
• 2d halt (13-ir.) 
•Roper to Mifiijie 
Wyn & Hii'rwyn ■ 

Domlhloii: 
Forsythe. S & F 

New VUrtorlH 
T.e.e Uonn 
.3 Jades 

Troradero' 
Miix Miller 
Ijlldegurde 
Hutch 

'fitrry Moore. 
■Vltim-ice 

Victoria Falaoe 

,., (10-24) 
y.iovj.nic.e. Desinond 
jylll j\i<hlioney 
VI.- liver 



Bern Ice Sione 
Revnell & W«st 
Wilson, Kepppl &, ri 
Paul Rfsnios. Co 
Talo "noyH '; 
.Toe Ori.rtin 
.Evie Hfiycs 
16 Vic I'alao.e. Gls, 

iihix'i'()N 

AHtorlH 

Anton Hd 
Van i>ii«k 
T^iHl nstia- & T.ain-'nf 
.'.Sliirs of . Kulni-p' 
CASIWKX TOWN 
GiiiniMint 
Ri'aKcllos 
Alut'lo T^oron.'/.l 
TnpV 'rpiuiio 
CI.AfTON 
Itlnk. 
Jones TItiiuiits 
Ellda .i^ln 

EAST HAM 
Grium«|lt 
.Beiniis Mil 1)1'. s 
S Lorrnn<Ios 



Barney Gallant's 

June Klkins 
Lunn Kltig . 
3 Musical Rogues 
Men Merlam 
BertnlotiL's 
Jimmy Whalen Ore 
Yula Floiirnby 
Fran Craven 
Joyce Faye 
Greta Lewis 
lllll'a Gay no> 

Eddie Leonard 
Rudy Madison 
Spike Harrison 
Rihel Gilbert 
Henry 'Lamftrr 

Cafe Ball 

Chic Farmer 
Kddie Tjambert 
Roger Steele Ore 
Jack Wallace Ore 

Iratlor 

Mnrtrie Hart 
Buddy Wagner Ore 
Vic Hyde 
Almit Bray 
JbiiH. Vlckera. 
I'par-i Reynold.^ 
Wairen He Bodee 
ried McKen/.ie Ore 
■Rltil Renau'd 
Phil Saxe 
Mllly. Convey 

Caliente 

Beth- Rabor.n 
Helen Shaw 
Ruth Wayne 
Carol Sis . 
.3 Rhythm .Boys 
.Caliente Cahelieros. 
ciiutenu liloderne 

r.oiil.se' "HKynipnd 
A 1 la li . Foster " 
Al Apollon' Ore 



Vacciiro's 
Jose Dill/ 
Trinl I'la/, 
Hosllrt. ■ 
Tieieii yil- 
Dinilirl 

llO>vd,V 

Jotin ,AdHm? - 
Al fJdnsfiii .' 
Shirley Watts 
■iVell 'Stoiio-- 

Anlnnln • 
.Sin'.itii llerrurii- 

IloKltii OrtPKa 

Don llilbiirtn 
Coltoii. t'ltih 

Filhel. Water.*) . 

TJeo I") Waslilnglon 

.Sicliol.TM Bros 
'l)iil(e UIDnKtoii Ore 

nt^s.sie. Dudlp.v 

H <;i;intH of Ifylh'm 

Ivie Anderson 



Ai.an & Ahlse 
Mardo Brown 
May Digges 
Wen Taiberf Choir 
Ed Mnllory Orch 
Bill Bailey 

jack beinpseT'f 
E Carpenter Ore 
Uii Pierrot's 
,Toe l''£ser -Ell 
Jane Stanley 
Tom & Chiirlie 
Louise Brydoii 
I Cliico 

Chita 

Lon Bancheros 
Adellna Durwh 
Carlos Montoya 
Roslta Rios 
Doii Alberlb Ore 

El. Morocco 
Ernie Hoist Ord 

El Toreador 

B'enero & Berry 
■Nen;i Montes 
Faii.slo Dclgado 
Mcd.irdo 

Freiicli Casino 

Adniet 
Keial Benga 
Belty Hiite 
Betty Kruoe 
Florence CliiiinbecoB 
Hilda Klforil. ' 
Rolf Ilolb • • 
Johnny C . 
Xavler I-em 
7. ^Maravlilas 

neki(.orH 

Rhoeiil'iidi . 
Florence Spencer 
Tullal) &.. Myl. 
Iris .Wayne • 
-Vera Asp ,- 
.lluiib, Mai'innl Ore 
V -.Travel's . Ore 
C Croin.weil Or'C:. 
l<yollrH 

. ria l|)h .\Vji.i kins' Ore 
Mai lln's Hh:inba Or 
.loe • l-ewl.M 
OsWiis A I,es.<5y .; 
lfa:rrlet i-Uoff 
K!<i.tsy Qij'lrii 
.loiiniiy ■. Coy 

' Greeh.wlcit ^'lllHce. 
CnHlno . 

"'Aii.pen C 
.Vera.ifiiiniV..' 
.I'eJ.tr. .lianilall;. 
Ann. Stiia'i't 
i,)ii.iyoira .Ooits. 
:Viil'.1l'ty 4' 
(;iy<le ■ Hreniiir 

GuUIo'h. 

Harry AVinlfin Oi'<; 
Doll A H rt-do .Oi c 
Vcrniiii Itickard 
I'lficfl * Hiinis- 
Sue A|ip|-giiM 

tlurlcni. Cproiir' 
Brskine HVyiins Bd 



Lillian Fitzgerald 
Edna Mae Holley 
Eddie Macron. 
B, Castle & Scott 
Mae Brown '■ 
Willie Jackson' 
Tiny Bunch 
i.ovey Lane 
Fairbanks Sis 
Dee L McKay 
Ebony 'Rascals. 
Kied & Ginger 
EdSvards Sis 
Pauline Brysht 
Thelma Midd|eton 
lll«'kor.T iroufie 

Job Marsrtla.Ore 
Adele iJiiard 
3 P^ppees 
II ' l,T w.'il Henf n li tn i} i 

Al I tche II. Ax res O rc 
Jean. SiFirKeHnt ' 
.Tui»6 Ijoi'i'ain 
Del.Casliio' 
li De bona Irs 
'I'ania & Kir. 
L. AlanniiiK & ■.\lltiil' 
.Kay ■Taylor ■ 
Hobby .loyce 
Ted Aduir 
Palrlclii Gllmore 
Churiuion; 

Agnes & T Nip Jr 
Ruth Gaylor 
'Ilotel AinbatiNutlor 

Larry SIVy OrO 
H W Thompson 
Eugieiie Leil 

otel Alitor 

Eddie Elkln>j Ore 
Campbell's Roy'lsts. 
Floria Vestoft 

otel IliKiiinre 

Gael Hoir Ore 
Florence &. Alvarc/z. 

Internailohnrs.- ' 
Albernlce 

otel Rtlliinn'.. 
Bobby Hayes Ore 
Ralph Torres 
Theodora Brooks . 
Oscar Deye '., 
Muriel.. Byrd 
Bob Berry 

Hotel: E«Hr> H<)U*e 

Nat Brandwynne' O. 
HaiTlH. & Ashbuvn 
4. Rhythym Boys 
Maxihe. Tappi 
Dick Stone 

Hotel nrili Ave 
Roy Strum. Ore 
Hotel Gov. Clinton 
Stuart Jliles- 
Kay ■ Marsh all 
Ray .O'liara Ore 

otel I.exInKto 

Shirley Lloyd . 
Jeiio Bart at .Ore 

■otel' Llnt-olD 
[sham. Jones Ore 

Hotel McAlpIn 

Enoch Light Ore 
Mary Dan is 
A. Uon^cflles Gn'f 
arurlel Sherman. 

Hotel Moniclair 
(OaBlno-lh'the-Alr.) 
Coral Islanders 
Hal Hope Ore 
Bill Lincoln 
Hotel .Murray. Htll 
(FonotalD Itoom) 

Joe CappL Ore 
Nancy Garner 
Hotel New Yorker 
(Summer Terraoe) 
Evelyn ' Chandler 
Baptie &' Lamb 
Hotel Park Central 

Jerry Blaine Ore. 
Iloscbe Ails 
Dorothy, Jeff era 
Betty Lewis 
Elaine & Barry... 

Hotel Park l.ane 
Junior Raphael Ore 
Hotel I'eniiH.vlvnhla 
Bunny Berigan Ore 

Hotel ricvHtlllly 
Trent. t*atlerBon 
Tonl Gaye 
Arno *; Zola 
Je'ri-y Stewart 
Dave Schooler Ore 

Hotel Pierre 

Basil Fomeen Ore 
Anne Heath 
Peppino & Camllle 
not el Plii7.H 

Velo/ & Y.olanda 
K<l<lle Duchln Ore 
Will McCune Ore 
Hotel Kottscvell 
Chas Dornberger Or 
Hotel SHvov'-l'laKn 
Ray & G' i cDonald 
Eniile I'elil Oi:«- 
Hotel Shelton 

Joseph Zatpur Ore 

Hotel St, tieorge 
(llhioklyny 

Ell D.ilVtziK 
3 Mack ■ Ui os 
Rila 

Htftel St..Morltf 

Jfiflt ' Slifcrr 
Grish 

!!Jac(lucs Fray Ore 
A' asclv l.laiioers ■ 

Hulel 'rnri 
Geo.Hall 
IJolly. Ds.wii . 
.robnhy McKeever- 
Viintlfrlilll 
ane Or 



&. S 



. Hotel 

kddi 



Goodelle & Farries- 
Dorothy Howe 
otel Wui«|urN 
Aatorin ' 

Leo Reismtin Or 
lOdgar Bergen 
Xavler Cugat Ore 
Eve Symington . 
Geurgca A: . Jalna. 

Hotel WellinRton 

Ed Mnyehorr Oro 

Hotel Weylln 

Al^x- Fbgarty 
Chnrlje W rig lit. 
tliiiiiny Kelly's ' 

Lionel -Rnnd; Ore ■ . 
■Joe 'C'ni)ello Orc^ 
Montmurtro Boys: 
.Cnrtev & Scbkub 
Jimmle Costello 
3 llnyinondjj' 
Danny 'lllggins 

, Larue 
,E5ddle Davis r 
• Carlo & J^orihii 
..'LiuireNln-i'lnes 
(Ijwke'ii'ood, N.. d;).' 
Terry Green- 
.»lona Si- Mariira . 
|i^-ed Berhens; Ore 

I.e Co 

Horaoio ZIKi Ore 
l.e Mirn 

MarS'on . Dale 
.S.'into & Molya. 
HillH Da.u 
Alice Welimrtn- 
Jiin- Kiirnty ' 
Wanda Goll . 
Harry Hbrton Ore 
CooklB Wllliains Or 

I.eon . &' K<|ille> 

William Fariue'r rc 
E<i:dlc Davis 
Rose Blane 
Hlliy Keed 
Nelsons • Cats ■ 
Lea. Teri'ln 
Haines ...'rttte 
Lane. & .('arrol 

Merry-(iu-itoiMi 

•Vadia Kortov. 
.Sylvio St Claire: 
Harry Rosenthal Or 
Boris .Korel'/kv ns 
TOny Sui-g Co 

.Mon .rurls 
Cen'e Fusdirk Or' 
Laiurence While 
Marion Pierce 
Versatile ! 

Mori's 

Vincent Sorey Ore 
T.<Ouise Richardson 
Loiils Catlero 

Onya V 

6 Spirits of Rhythm 
Stuff Smith. Bd 
Paradise 

Janlee Anore 
Richard Kc Carson 
Shea & Raymond 
,roe & Betty Lee 
Mary Roland 
Billy & D Bemls 
3 Cossacks 
Florence A Alvarez 
Johnny Riiaseil 
Jay Freeman Ore 
. I>lucfl ikieguiite 
Bill Farrell 
Alarlo Baslnl 
Toto -Cahglosi 
Rex Gavitte 
Larry Mado Or 

.kulnhow Grill 
Emery ' Deutscli Ore 
Dee Collins 
Hvalyn' Tyner 
C tk L Boiiner 
Glover & I,a MAe 

Rnliihow K<Mim 

Ruby Newinan Ore 
Holland & Hart 
Eleanor Sheridan 
Dr. Sydney Roiis 
Evelyn Tyner' • 
Alec Tenipleton , 
Eddie LeBarOn Ore 

Stork Club 
Sonny kendia' Orc 
Gu.a' Marlel Ore 
Tavern On tireen 
(Central Phrk) 

Hughie Barrett Ore 

. Ubangl Club. 
Ovie Alston Ore 
3 Gobs 
Otis Brown 
Mae JohnSd 
Tondelayo.. 
Gladys Benllcy 
Valhalla 
Maurice Shaw Ore 
Marlta 
Lorralhe^ 
Rond Hal 

Versnllles 

Lee' Wiley 
Freddie Xiiy 
S Morgan Dancers 

Village urn, 
Larry McMaliori 
,■■) .Flying Whirios 
Willie Soliir, 
M Montgomery 
Uarnct & Pur 
Tva Kli.chell 
Bo'iirbon &. Uain 
JeUu Kirk 
Hank IlHinsey;. 
Johnny KiiKScll 
llulh, Ot^iiveii 
Xe X I-.e \v i s l ; o w 1 1 o y » 

VlllaKO ' I're wery 
iViarty Hei:liert 
iatlit Clii 
.llminy l^fnrn ' 
Ann Ponitliigion 
3 ita<:ket'Clioei'M 
'I'Iny .Wolf 
..roliniiy A;' Gr'ortte 
Art Stiitiloy Oiy 



Miirtl 

Joey.. .Lee- rc 

oine. 

Gagnnn & Bnmgh'ri 
Dorothy Roberts 
Naomi' Warner ' 
Sjteck Waiklns 
Loyee Grnhoiu 
George Redman Ore 

PaclHo Sunset Club 

feirgy Pago 
VlcklFay.-, 
Kiiig .Sisters 
Janet Jordan 
Jluddy 1.0. Kii 
Al Ileatli Ore 

I'liloihu' 

• 'Che. Reddington 
BlU Burt-, 
Stanley HIckma-n. 
Mu^/y Marcellino' 
3 .Debutantes 
j-IudHon Met'/uer Is 
Ted- Flo RIto 

Pfirlfi In 

l>fimlrilo Coivm , 
■.ken Wenryson ' - 
Gabrltlle Cellita 



Yvonne 

Uiidy ,& I-uTosca 
Thoi-ft Ali(ltM:u>>on 
AlnrgueritiL del . lo 
Jiiah de Marl ir) is 
Pete Conlrelli Ore 



Lily Gibson 
.Lonhie Al(:l.ntlre Or 

House 

Beltv Bor 
Blll'Zerker 
Camille ^urtiy 

To|»s,t's 

The. Dee Sister 
Bonnie. -LUiil 
Dorot hy Hoy. 
Ginger ■VX'eldbn 
-Ppt .'('arroll . 
Aiiixin^' Minin 
lieohii Rico-' ■ 
.Tan >ror (i 
IrOh'e Berry 
Agnes .Tohnsoh 
Al. EldredgiB. Or 
TrooHilero.. 
Phil Ohman; Ore 



CHICAGO 



Itall-nnll 

Mark FIshrr Ore 
Easier & Hay/ell on 
llelcne t^arol 
ileleu Park 
Jerry . & Tur 



.Foe Sanders. 
Ruth Jfc Bw' mbrose 
.la he Kny 
Paul Olsen 

Parce 

Jimmy' Durante 
J Hi B TovrenCe 
CirosH & -.Dnhn' 
Hirrbia,rii. Parks 
Jack. Williams 
Thorne While 
M.aurie Stfl.ix 
Henr .:Bii»|»p, Orel),:. 

citib- Alabami 

Vlrglfiln Jn^mes 
Huddy & Betty 
Hernard.&- Henry 
Mue Sla . ■., •■ 
Ari VVIlUams . . 

Club Cliesterileld 

Pa tt Morgan Ore 
Devon Sis' 
Harlett Korrls ■ 
Hid Rchaps. 
Alice Logkn 



3 Variety Boy a: 
Mildred Rock 

4 McNally Sis 
Buddy & Selm?, 
4 Rhythm .Girls - 
.'Lou Saiea Ore 

Club Minuet 

Alvlna Morton 
Dorothy W'all 
Dee.,Downing '■' 
.Tana LrtVoVine 
BilHe Roberls 
Jerry Gildden Orb ■ 

Ciilostihoa 

Dbn' Enrico 
Bob Tinsley 
Mary Sunde 
Willie .Sliore 
Louis Miller 
Goulil Sis 
Bobby. Danders 
B &,F Gilbert 

Congress: Hotel 
(Casino) 

-Bob Crosby Orch, 
Chick Endor 
fJhas lOarrell 
Kav' Weber 
llalllday & Clark 
Howard Bi'ooks ' 
The Crusuders 



Colleen 

Georgia Lucky 
Lew King 
Jules Novlt Ore 
Marlon Miller 
Joan Houston. 
Jean. Bradley 
Jack Elklns 

Harry'* N. t. 
Cabaret 

Buddy Walifer 
Phelps 2 
3 Short Waves 
Marlon Morgan 

Ill-Hat 

Doris Rhodes 
feggy Moore 
fjGwIs sis 
-t.eUoy & Weayier 

HOIel lilsmarck 
(Walnut Room) 

Kddio Vary.os Ore 
Lurlo Garcia. 
Walter 3 
Tliu Duiliion 
IJoun Al.ui'phy 

'Hotel Brevd 

DolOrcH Dohnr' 
.Evelyn Drlggelt' 
Alitrgaret (lonrad ' 
Hene ■ I.,HevIn 
Jutt riirlalo 

Drake Hotel 
(Silver Forrest) 
r'aiil WIiKcina ' 



LOS ANaELJlS 



Br , 

Cbai'lf s 'La w re he 

lleTerly .Wllshl'-e 

Royiil JlaAVJiliii 
Harry- Owens 

Itlliihtire'ilo.wj 

.3 Radio l-togiips. 

'Vieri'e A Tcniiiie 
Hernicft I^y.niie 
liick Webster 

..r(jy Horlges 
3 ' Rhyl lrrn .. Hasca if 
Fred Si;oit, '■ 
ICnrioo Itli'ba Oic 
Mniiiiy Grier -Or- ' 

Cnff t'usHniirii 

Karl .<fc Jos T/yhcli 
(.Ih.sii nova rq 
Mclh • \Vll.«rtrj 
Hex- Welir-r 

Cafe 1 41 

rorU . A V 
yi -Hi-JidU-y 
Sla It Claji- 



Bob Grant ''Oro 

'.. Ctitioiiitut 

RiHIl' Robin ... 
(.'ulgary Bro.i ' 
Sarilsf'bi HiK-Kli-y 
:i'.hli Harris Org 

El Allnidoi' 

i)br.o(.hy : Cl.'ire 
Hii.iiisdell Oil-Is 
Sliiii Alarllii :Orc 



Eddl 
Loin. 

liuwiillitii riirnillw' 

Wiinila 

I (lima 'I'oy 

HiA HCiK Ills' Ore ■ 

liltlle; f'Inb 
'■riD'y' Aleredllh. 
.lane .fones 
Paul. Kendall 
Hflen VVarrier 
' fiii"- Valjda 



lintel Rdgewater 
Heacli 

.'(Marl.iie IC«Him.> 

Anson We,el<s 
Hodrlgo Fi'ancliie 
M H rgle ^Leo 
Frank Sapul 
;i Theodores 
'i'he Nelsons 
H Knilth Ballet 
John Hale ' ' 
HarriettSiiilllrsai* 

otel ' Msaile 
(llliie Fountain 

Rlniim). 
King's Jesters Ore 
Alftr.lorle Whitney 
C A Helen Slon 
Marlohette Rev 

Hotel ' .Morrison 
(Terrace Roo i) 
(Casino Parlsiea) 

The Lindstroms' 
Harriett .(;1arr. 
Hudson ,\\'onder'8:. 
Bob Ripa 
4 Kraddockn , 
Ar.reh &' Urodorlok 
Maurle Shermh Ore 
Lbu Breeae Org ' 
Hotel Palmer ' ouae 
(Empire Itooiiir .. 
Henry- King Ore." 
Mario & Florlo 
Russell Swan 
.Joa'tiulh .Garay- 
4 Aristocrats 
Abbott ' Dancer 

Hotel Sherman 
(CollcKe InnI 

Gertrude Ho 

Myrus 

Arlene Owens 
Jack Wllcher 
Russfll Crowell 
Don Amalo ..' 
Bill Trice 
Coleman. Allan 
Red Nicholas. Or 

Hotel Slcveits 
(Coiitinenlal R«hiiii) 

Jimmle Joy Ore 
Rohald & Roberta 
Rhythm Rackeieoi «' 
T.llllan Roth 
Tere Rudolph 
Cub >llgglns 
Helen. Heath 

Parotly Clti 

Phil' Ka ye 
Molly Manors 
Charlyne Baker 
SHnihvy. Haas 
Millie Travis 
.Freddy Janls Oro 

Royale Frolirs 

boiiy Kay 
Bobby PIncus 
Theodore & D 
Ray, Thrifty &~ R 
Jackson A Nedia 
Bosaile>Rrty 
Jack Hllllard 
Henri Llshon Ore 
606 Club 

Billy Garr 
Noi'a Ford 
'Boots' - Burns 
'.Kita Reed. 
Ford; A .Barnes 
Three Deuces . 

Sam Beers 
Cleo Brown 
Roy Eldrldge Ore 
.Zutly 

Gladys. Palmer 
Slim Greon 

Via I^BO 

.raeltie Hamli 
DIrIc Hughes 
Sally Keith 
Wallace & :Latisha' 
Stan - Carter ' 

Yacht Club 

Frances Faye 
Evelyn i'al 
Frank Hall 
Robinson 2 
Nino Rlnaldo Ore 

\ MH Club 

' Ed Furmun 
Hill Jvorrnin 
Hob PeatVy 
Esrhest Vlgiihll 

.Bclva: Ite 



Hotel Adelphia 
. iCafe MarguervV 

Enrico &. NuVella ' 
■Agnes 'Colle 
Tiiah 3 .. 
8 'I'exiiH; Rocketa 
Jean 'l^'avcrs 
Ross McLean 
Vini'oiit Uir/.o Oro 
llaruKI Knight Oro 
Evan B.. Foninlne 
liotet Phlladclpliian 

(Mirror Itoom I . 
Vlvhin & Bvo Uiofn: 
I'ltlriV-la Rcti 
Amlio .Purdy 
I'nisy ..'Clulr 
.Olive White . 
I.liirbara .Tasou 
.lay King 
.i, Friisei to Ore 
Waiter Donahue 
li'iiul Fioreny .Girls , 

.Uimlis Tavern 

Joe l.andy Ore: 
MUI« Ruthskeller 

.lack Griftih Oro 
Aiarty .Bohii 
.rarroll Sls-tt Nelson, 
Dancing Kenhorlys . 
Rhythm Steppers 
•Vandni 

.Mii.u<lo O'Malley 
N'aho.v Lee 
Ne»v" Dverbrook 
Villa 

(IJmleUwoUI. N. J.) 

.t'liylllH; Sterling 
Wnrren Sis 
Dines A A nice . 
EnuM-aia Sis, (3) 
Hiirl Wiirher 
Kltx'Curitori 
(Crystal. Room) 
Van Levis. Ore 
Henry PiitVick 
»|;<:iub : 
fleorgo '.(Mlvo.r 
.ibhoiiy angui 
Ted Hondrex 
Billy Beryl 
Ted IVnolyii 
'Geiia Osborne 
Evelyn Daro 
Dou Dougherty .Ore 
Nlck.v (JiilluccI 
Sliver Kjtke In 
. (t.leineitton) . 
Eli'/abnih Houstpn 
Dan. Hard In 
Sonya Sc, ■ Romoro 
Don Hooten 
Mlcl<ey Violin 2 

Huddy RoberlH 
Mickey Famllnnt r 
. Ii!l4 Sprnea 

R<)y Kipedley Oro 

Hal Hlxon 
Jimmy HInke 

Hi)lh Miller 

Miiude Saunders 

Lillian Unitell 

I'orlia Poi'tar 

Elinor Shaw ' .. 
20tb CieiMury Tuverh 

Uarnev 'yCeemau Uro 
Ted Pike 
Jack .Tack 

Ruth Ha'" per 

Deckon & Mario 

.Miisnn SlM 

3 Esq u I res. 

t!! Club 

Tommy Monroe 

Sugar Murcelle 

Sally. liaMurr' 

Ann' Hush 

Helen I lent h 

Warwick Sis 

Nancy Barry. 

Uicluird Itach 
' UbnuKi Club 

Doc Hyder.'s Oro 

Gladys ■ . ■ 

Lucille Howard 

Uhetlii McClaIn : 

Stump * Stumpy 

3 Chocoiale. Dropa- 

Hohbv' Evans ■ 
Roy McCoy 



FitllADEIFHiA 



ArVatlla [ht:i 

.M.ayfair Girl.f . 
.Si>k: *: ."^poi 
(;iiHH Baron 
.loan Biiilr 
Mario Vlilani 
Hurtoh .Pif'j'ce.' 
i rend, Coleman . 
.rule's.' IMike. Ore 
.l.)o ri : R e n a f.d b • Or e 



Eddie VfU'gitr r.c 
.lack Bi) Upr 
KIIk I. .\larlln . 
.loan l.'Ki'lter ■■ 
Ma hy Brciwri' 
tJollie Winler 
DIcU H.iiiiloh 
Sa 111 ■ K I'll g-' 
Tf ddy. Gon/.ii le.s .• 
lleiiei'Ue-SlrHtford 
.(PInnet K«m)iii) 
Meyer avis Qro 
Bert FrniikllM Hotel 
.Mjebrglaii Room) 
.liiffo ,Oi:o 
I ny the Bum's 
I l,«-n . /olio 
i Iti'tii Ohaliis , 
iilnt'S Diinclng^ Debs 
'roiii Lime 
Clui> Pnrrii 

Kvrlyn' Harnts 
M(i.\le W:ill<^r 
.«((i|iv .M(-i''H) hi lid 



Oic 



I'arrliih 

Frances Ah'siindf* 
Rastiis Sr. Mui riiy 
Vernon .Hiitri;ln(.ii 
■Vernon Guy . 
Parlsliin O.rc 

Tony. Murray's Cafe 

Jack Ai<isn- Ore; 
Flo Sylva ' 
Bunny ■ Clair 
Cell >Sheint;ld 
Toe' D<iy lo . 
lUhniy. riiwl. 
Tony Ciirniencltn 
lOloanor Miles 
Chicle Mullery 
Dutidn's Raihskcller. . 
AlanuL 
Elinor Nlles 
Saver * Neiil 
■Mario Schiii' 
Fre<tdio S-inin 
Viola KllilsH Oro 
li'rank Ponil 

Stump's Cafe 

Vic Earlson 
ii'lo lUilse 
Motto Si. 'lViv.se 
Klkl. Dlaiuond' 
Jerry A Soiiny 
NIkl KIkOla. 
Jack llutohlhso 

. Venice Grill 

lilanb Johnson 
Emily Ra.vV- 
.stollato Si :Sylvln 
Joo Rcllly 
Marty Barton 

VIkiiig Vtifr' 
Frtink SprlnKmo'lr 
Wynne FlKher 
Bob Gnrney' 
Dorothy Bach 
Phlly'a Rhyihrn's 5 
I'iiggy ■O'Nell. 
Penn. Fny. Ore 

Walton RaHtf 
Isabelle & Octaves 
HusaniiM AUHtlii 
H Walton i:ioi/8 
Armand & DIann 
Frank McOormiick 
Uulh Kldd 
Boh Flynch 
MyrnaUbbertH 
Cha's. Verna Ore 
Weber's Hot Hrau 

' (Camdert) 
Bob Morrill 
Carman Xi'AnlonIo 
Stanley ite Blaine 
Bob -Allen 
-Joe llamona 
Use Hart . 
Rose Kirk 
areKor.v Qbinn Co 
Louin Chalkln. Drc 
Rathskeller. Eldor' 

YorktowBe 'I'aVcrn 

Shdw & M.eHde 
Jane Valmar ' 
MuBlctnasler Ore 

TiiexInKt'oii Caaino 
Tcssloa 
Kell Sis . 
Gypsy Lee 
Joo Lhnigan 
Artia -Nelson 
Hnrry Mnson 
Clyde Ifamllton 
11 Parker rc 

SunM«t Inn: 
Cutlu Clai'k 
Betty Vallo 
.Tean .Nelson' 
Hill Boyd 
Chan Murthn; 
Dan Duncan Ore. 

Ya«iht f!liib 

Mary Hubbard 
Patricia Roblnso 
MarclH l..fo . 
Sicotty Middlelori. 
3 Martins 
Franclne Carlolle 
Parisian 2 . 
Viola K la 1KB Oris 



Dizzy Biz Quiz 



(Continued froin piige a?) 

the agency's records straight and 
up-to-date by submitting weekly 
corrections of the station's runni 
spot business. The agency explai 
in most instances that it plans 
maintain a file containing such in- 
formation on pi-actically every com- 
mercial station in the country. 

In the past two months seven 
agencies, as far as Is known to New 
York station reps, have circularized 
the trade with the file ideiii form of 
letter. Of this number only one 
has been known to have spot busi- 
ness runriing oil as. many a.s eight 
stations at one time, and at that 
this agency is an Jn. and outer i 
the spot field. "This agency alone 
of the group has s!;r:;nt tis much as 
$2ii,000 a year in s^^A busi Of 
the others one had a IQ-mihute live 
show running on a New York sta- 
tion for 13 weeks, with that the 
limit of. its spot participation, .while 
the five remaining have 
cleared a bit of radio business.. 
How li Works 
tation reps say that nio.M.. 
these circular questlpnnaiics ema^ 
•nate from a 'eoitiplete jack' of knowl- 
:edge about the radio business. :1^hey 
can . visualize, what prompts riib.si of 
these wjiioicsale queries. When the 
palaver runs thin at ,&n aeency .con-- . 
ference on new t)Usihes.<i somebody 
pipes u , 'How aboyt radio'.'' Some«- 
body oh the. other end of the Hable 
flips batik, Ves, how about riidip.?* 
and. ptjt. of the verbal whirlwind 
comes tiie decision to .start a radio ' 
department. There fdVlows a hunt 
for sornebody who isri't too bits 
with 'other things to take over this 
job. and the chances are that, one 
of. the piartners has a nephew who 
has been hanging arblind trying to 



Mildred .Boy:<ir 
Kru M ■ CiiHWeii 
Buddy Fisher 
Al Wilson 
UDly 'Xliornton 

■■ ...Clie« 

'.,loe 'Follina n Or 
W"H (lallflglier 
John ra'dy 

tiiib 

Margie TVr u ii i oio lid ■ 

'lyp.sy R;liit-/ 
.Siinny Il«y 
IXirolliy KIhIhs 
Dolly Del cint 
l''rHiice>i Matldiix 
Lilly. r.ovH ' 
3. <.:olcinlals Ore 

. ..Evergreeirrc; 

w'ila^y'^ " " ' 'car^i'" the •• advertising business and 

i<alii1een . Alay 
lioro.ihy lilaire. 
<'ad(iy . r,aVei;n 
Vai Dion 

Vincent Nor.rrrii i 
Kay Hamilton 

Frank k''aHiinii> 

ICddle •hiU! 
itdriiiilne /t^ (,"t liot'iK- 
Lee Harlf-j 
AluiM'ice Sr. I.«.<ina 
3 Itliylliiu-Clrlv 
Kddle .l>e i..in;H (jrc 



it is this lad that gets tagged. , He 'i 
a.ssigried a cubby hole arid ii .ctenb, 
to kisep himself and the. sten 
pcicupied he turns, to the circular. 
I qu^.stionnairc thing. To hiin this 
I touline signifies entry, into the 
i radio busihe.ss. The matter of find- 
I ing an account ' that niight u.s 
I brOadca.stiiig oaii Wait until he gets 
1 the iiri.'iwci'.s' to his letters. 



52 



VARIETY 



VARIEtY MOUSE REVIEWS 



Wednesday, May 12, 



LdEW'S STATE, N. Y. 

A combination of circumstances 
ractically insures Loew's State a 
ig week ciurrently— if the warm 
weather doesn't interfere too much. 
For one, there's the burlesque ban, 
which makes the booking of an 
N.T.G. unit especially propitious; 
secohdly, there's the girls and the 
promise, ■ ieven :thpugh unfulfilled, of 
plenty of bare cuticle;: third, the 
Bing Crosby-Martha Raye-Bob 
Burns cortibo in 'Waikiki Wedding' 
(Par) holds plenty b.o. draught in 
itself. 

. Per , Grahlund is getting by 
with minimum of entertainment 
and a maximum of hip-hip-hooray. 
Give the ex-p..a.nitery impresario a 
couple of dozeri lopkers and a cbm^ 
edy L.ct and he'll hold the custbtners, 
as well as bring 'em i . . It may hot 
be classy, but it's noisy; and N.T.G. 
appears to" have.; built .up. a. special 
clientele " whi<;h was : incubated;, on 
July Fourth. 

Holding the show together cur- 
rently is the. comedy knockabout 
trio of Mells, Kirk and Howard. Oh 
early in their own spot, they con-' 
tihue as a. running .gag through the 
presentation and • okay all. ..the . way. 
Three boys have been movihg tip^ 
for the past couple of. years - and 
now they constitute one of the better 
acts of their type, ;: The mayhem has 
beeh. discarded to a great ext<ent and 
replaced with special material, a 
sur^ sign of progress, as well as im- 
provement. They're doing, a lot lor 
this N.T.G. show, as well as for 
themselves. ' . 

Two dancing teams, Agnes and 
Tommy Nip^ Jr., aiid. VTiikins and 
Walters, stand' out in the melange 
of good, bad and indifferent talent. 
The Nips are budc 'n' wingers^ 
young, good-looking and fit for the 
nitelries. (they're currently at the 
Hollywood Best, N. Y.^ also with 
N.T.G.) as well as theatres. . The W^ 
& W. pair are ballroomers, graicefui 
in their . opening waltz and nice 
enough in the second and. rather in- 
tricate trot Third turn of conse- 
quence is the Earl,. Jack and Betty 
skating trio, which gives the .show 
a terrlAc laugh windiip Via the 
whirling of a heavyweight iemme 
Stooi^e who comes up out . of the 
audience. Skaters haven't much 
.room to work in front of Auby 
Zwerling's crew, currently out of 
the pit and on -the stage, put make 
the best of the cramped simce. .An 
injury to . one of the trio hiad kept 
them out for soime iimei 

Heloise Martin, chorine who had 
been attending Drake University 
Until some candid camera enthusiast 
snapped her under a shower, with 
the photo's later, given publication in 
a national mag, -is also from the 
Hollywood ftoorshow and an exploi' 
tation item for the State. She gets 
by nicely with a toe-tap routine, 
but. her important role, is being on 
the receiving ehd of a. kiss .irbm a 
collegiate, hired for the week at $30, 
Engaging of a couple of collegiates 
opening day of the show brought a 
mob to 46th street, spreads in a 
couple of the dailies and' later a rio 
squad to disperse .the uneniployec 
sheepskiii-holders, whose yen for 
the. $30 .was probably greatier than 
the desire for Miss Martin's lips. 

Of the remaining specialists, only 
Vera Fern stands out. She's, a ver- 
satile blonde whose first routine is 
' speedy acrobatics and second a 
rhythmic military buck. Gladys 
Crane is a looker, but mediocre in 
vocalizing and dancing, Whilie Chris 
tine Maple's sopranoing is more or 
less of a gag for Mells^ Kirk and 
Howard, with Jules Howard later 
on going into, one of the upper boxes 
to also heckle a femme, introed as 
a Russian princess-torcher. 

Included in the show is a parade 
of bathing beauts, the; majority of 
whom, • however, . . dOn't flatter the 
suits they're wearing. ' Scho. 



FOX, PHILLY 

PhiUdelphi , May t. 

Fox stag^ bill this week shutters 
vaude season at the 'house. Goes rinto 
straight pix next Friday, and will cut 
symph. from. 35 to 13 instru- 
ments. Original intention Of dismiss- 
ing orch altogether durihg heat v/as, 
nixed by miisiciiains' local. 

Show^ this week all quality stuff 
and fair . entertainment; but biz off 
wheii calught at Opener Friday aft- 
ernoon. Pic is 'Mountain Justice' 
<WB). . House continues use of two 
ieels of news instead of one hews 
and. one short. 

Louise Massey and the Weist<erh6rs 
(Log Cabin Dude Ranch and Max- 
Well House Showboiat) aire spotted 
next to last and ' are the real fea- 
ture, Outfit made up .pf gal and 
four guys . she calls her brothers. 
Pi'ovide some fine interludeis with 
chirping of western songs. Miss' 
Massey carries weight of warbling 
load: with men accompanying oh ac^ 
cordiph violin, mandolin and bass. 
They come in with vocal backing, 

Act makes very nice appearance 
oh stage, grouped around mike V'ith 
gal in. center, all dressed in white 
,\vith big White sombrieros. Femme 
has a large, ingratiating smile which: 
is pleasantly ready and male memr 
bers also willing smilers, which 
makes the act one which an au- 
dience enjoys because the actors 
seem to be enjoying themselves. 

Final spot on the bill is allotted 
to Patricia Bowman, balleirina. She is 



}londe and satisfactory, and certain- 
,y knows her terpsichorean ins arid 
outs. But not a hot variety house, 
number, especially as a closer. Does 
two short sessions. 

Opener' is Helen Reynolds and her 
Skating. Champions. .Consists' of 
eight femmes .. working on roller 
skates. Most of gals not bad lookeirs 
— and appear in silvery costumes, 
which makes attractive, line. Stuff 
they do on the wheels is much betr. 
;er than average act of this type, 
especially inasmuch as' thiis is all 
fesmme;! Pull a couple of hairrtaisers 
that draw lairge chunks, of applause.: 
Chilton iind Thomas is a boy-gal 
rhythm tapping duoi Distaff side 
also doies some ivoiry thumping arid 
piping while lad terps. Some .good 
rhythmic plate-pattering pyer three 
smiall hurdles and then, on tabarets 
of various heights. Toe imitations 
of horse, rain and typewriter okay, 
although do not sound particularly 
like the things they are supposed to 
be. Chatter could be perked up with 
some better gags than now being 
used.: Act well received. HcTb, 



Lmba$8y Nciwsreel, N. Y. 



Immediate box-office response to 
imagination-gripping tragedy is al- 
ways felt by the newsreel houses., 
yiot long ago- it was the stunning 
■jorror of the New London, Texas, 
school, NoW there, comes the. Hin- 
deriberg fire, which occurred right 
3efore the lerises of all .the. leading 
reels.. Hindenberg newsreel angles 
are told , in sbme detail, in news 
stories in this issue. ' £nd 'Of the ;Zep 
footage ■ On ■> th<i Em^aisf ' te'cfeien 
bi-ou^t big spilt ' and ' deai^ly iihdi^ 
cat^d what the customers -.wanted - to,' 
see.' Scores vCa^Qd nqthi for, the 
res.t>f:the-prb^iqi^. '.■'.■,;■■ '';, ']..'/' 

Notal}ie, too, ' thai' the' D'ionhe 
Quintuplet release, aft6r exhibition 
at the Radio City Music Hall, Roxy. 
and elsewhere, acts as a chaser— a 
welcome reverse twist this week, 
while the Zeppelin curiosity crowds 
the tiny house. 

Comparable to the actual scenes 
of the assassination of King Alexan- 
der of Jugoslavia the neWsreels got : 
an ariiazing pictoHal record of the 
Lakehurst disastier. No camera, 
however, caught the actual moment 
of explosion. Lensmien presumably 
were trairted on the ground crew 
and the big dirigible .was in full 
flame when first photographed. 
Thereafter^ however, every ghastly 
second of the all-too-qmck descent 
was pictured. Paramount perhaps 
had the best angle in being behind 
the narrow end as it tumbled toward 
the cariiera in final collapse. Movie- 
tone was alone in crediting its 
camerariian— Al- Gold. 

Black figures of human beings 
jumping or trapped, in the flame- 
eaten steel skeleton will long stand 
oiit in the memories of people seeing 
these newsreel: pictures of: hydro- 
gen's incredible, inflammability. A 
staggering thing, truly. 

Embassy runs all the reels ..un- 
edited and regardless of any repeti- 
tion. Latter was slight , and the 
whole thing, is so swiftly dramatic 
that it doesn't miattier. It is the 
sensible way to handle the subject. 
'■ Outside of the Hindenbetg nothing 
matters. Perfunctory stuff on pre- 
Coronatiori royalty, a stock flash of 
Windsor, a. long shot of a feriiinirie 
figure through a garden' that the 
newsreel says is Mrs. Simpson. Pub- 
licity plants for the bicycle industry 
and for Leon and Eddie's. Oaf e gets 
two in one week, first, fightirig cats, 
second, a beef trust chorus. Land; 



CHICAGO, CHI 

Chicago, .May 6. 
They're packing 'em in at the Chi- 
cago this week, with the Armstrong 
name on the marquee doing it; and 
rightly, for the aggregation gives a 
top-notch 60-minute performance. 
Eight specialty acts, and a ISrpiece 
band led by Louis Armstrong, are 
all tuned, to the fast screamirig pf 
his trumpet, cPhseqiiently^ thierie's ho 
let down. 

First part.' of the bill , sets a nice 
clip; then, about the middle of the 
show, things pick up and build to 
a bang^biang finish; Operiei- is done 
by the band With a selection typical 
of its style; Mayes arid . Morrison, 
girl tapsters, click off a fair routine; 
and Billy Adams, a shorty in white 
full-dress, > follows to giVe the first 
cbmedy of the session. Tap routine 
called for a beg-off, as did the sirig- 
ging of Bobbie Gastonj good looking 
gal. Her *Bdo Hop' is one of the high 
■spots of the bill; : •■ -,\ 

Two Zephyrs are. 'the only regular 
vaudeville act On the bill. 'TWo-man, 
hot washboard band gets 'em off to 
a good starti and. they proceed with 
a slick pantomime , of a dicie game, 
argument, and cutting. Registers 
solidly, and finish is strong with a 
good dance routine. 

Sonny Woodis is ahead of.- every- 
thing' else on the bill when it comes 
to sirigirig; smooth, , pleasant. : voice 
and three numbers raised to five at 
this show. Alma Turrier, ; doing a 
hot tap, and Cvordbri and Rogers, 
comedy -team follow.' Latter,, duo of 
boys> gets away With . some natural 
^comiedy, a little singing, and go off 
;,with some; flying , splits that spell 
sock* ^ 

' Cf^brge McGJlennon, boob comic. 
Winds >up the. show. Using Arm- 
stroftg, as straight, boy does a couple 
minutes gaggmg; then into a wham- 
mO clarinet specialty. Between the 
specialities, Armstrong band provides 
the. hot music for which the cus- 
tomers came. 

Also on the bill for the first three 
days is Eieanore Whitney. Balaban & 
Katz have given her an okay set- 
ting in which to work; ripplirig 
Water and moon backdrop, quite ap- 
propriate, inasmuch is whole 10- 
minute turn was a plug for Whitney 
»)icture, due in. two weeks. Wisely, 
B & K is having Jackie Heller 
double from Oriental, to conduct 
Miss Whitney through her paces 
He shows himself tip as a showman 
as he leads the girl, cutting her off 
in time- when she poes oictiire-star 
gushy, easing the affectedness when 
it creeps in, and makes a nice, 
charrining affair of something which 
could have been awkward. Girl can 
still dancb as well as ever, and does 
a couple smooth routines' here, but 
is hampered by a shoWy dress, not 
too suitable for dancing. Working 
alone with Hellef, she clicks niciely. 

Third shoW on Saturday saw .'em 
fichting to get seats, with a line but- 
side. Picture is 'Cafe Metropole' 
(20th). Loop. 



CENTER, DENVER 

Denver, May 8. 

With the Center brightened up 
by liberal application of paint, the 
old boxes removed, arid other im^ 
provements, acts loom up to betteir 
advantage. Not so many 'months ago 
the old house had many eyesores, 
but these are beirig removed without 
interrupting operation. . Show; cur- 
rently is bright, runs along fast and 
is good ehtertairirrient: 

Openers are Lester and Irmajean, 
who go through their act with prcr 
cision and in an easy-flpWing; man- 
ner. Clevei: balancing, feats of 
strength and a sort of sloW adagio. 
Vincent Yerrp, Filipino, does imper- 
sonations of film stars in. a way that 
forces applause repeatedly.- Finishes 
:With a hula dance, original. White 
and Stanley fiirnish the riiit stuff With 
chatter and songs, mixing in some 
plain and fancy tap daricing. "Their 
act clicks. 

Headlining is Joe Morrison, frorit 
Hollywood, Who sings in a baritone 
Voice Of wide rarige and plenty of 
volume; Does. 'When Did You Leave 
Heaven?' 'Little Mother of Mine' and 
sevefal its of co\vboy pops. Back 
for an; encore. 

^ Stalac Bros, and Pearl has the men 
doing; , several bits bf -toSising and 
the gal furnishing some fast danc- 
ing. Boys also dO some fstst arid 
difficult acrobatic dancing; 
, Art Reynolds With ai flVe-piece 
band (IriclUding Art) fake care of 
the musical honors. Miisic was held 
down arid the acts were giveri a 
break in not Ijaving to drown out too 
loud an accompaniment, which has 
hurt plenty of stage shows in Den* 
ver. 

With a, double feiature oh, the 
screen, It takes about 3Vi hours to 
see the show.' which ought to be 
money's worth at a two-bit top. 
House was about three-fourths full 
at the first show Saturday. Rose. 



provocation, proving no handicap at 
all in winriirig over the iemme con- 
tingent. ' 

As an entertainer in his line Blake 
leaves little wanting. It's a suavely 
molded routine arid the felloW him-f 
self packs plenty personality and 
personableness. When he isn't mim- 
icking the top run of Hollywood's 
character actors. Blake is regaling; 
with, racial impersonations and 
stories. Both the pari and the voice 
get around each characterization 
with' sri^art highlighting. His act 
piroves one of the top applaiise-get- 
ters of the show. Odcc: 



PARAMOUNT, N. Y. 

Lots of variety has been poured 
into the making of. the stage show 
Which is / linked to 'Internes Can't 
Take Money' (Par).. For. musical 
contrast there's the Xavier Ciigait 
prchestira giving put tangoes' and 
rhumbas in the sweeter vein and the 
Original Dixieland 'Jazz Band in a 
sizzling exhibit of pre-war rhythms 
The singing department mixes Tin 
Pan Alley torch, with stiff-bbisom 
crppning and Spanish yodeling 
through Mary Small, Del Casino and 
Gilda Roldan. Rosita O^^geta ac 
counts for Spanish daricing and 
Larry Blake for. some polished niimr 
icry of screen stars. 

Last time: that the Paramount pu; 
one band in front pf another on the 
;same bill , was when Casa Loma and 
Ed Riley and Mikie Farley of 'Music 
Goes 'Round' note played the house: 
Ciigat's repertoire on this date is 
anything but exclusively sugarlike. 
With his soothing interprbtations he 
dishes up a cbuple of hot ories. He 
swings a rhumba ;t6; a fare-thiee-well. 
With the result that, his aggregation 
not only shows up in a most versa- 
tile light; but actually make thiis the 
highspot in their repertpire. 

Of the. -six compounders of un- 
adulterated jazz in the Dixieland 
menage four; are of the original 
combinatiori: Their inning comes as 
the bilVs last item and they lay it 
out with all reflrieriient off. The 
stuff has substance' and sock, fash- 
ioried in sho'vvmanly style, to the erid 
that; it brings pleasant reminiscences 
to the oldsters and a sensation; of 
zip to the ears arid, feet of the 
younger generation, A coriiely lass. 
Boots CuUeris, joins them for a live- 
ly-Vbcal. 

Mary Smiall's vibrant style of in- 
teirpretiiig a pop rneiody gets her big 
acclaim, Hers has bben an excep- 
tionally strong developriient iii an 
upward directibn,. She's com6 out 
of the chrysalis and what once gave 
the impression of being a youhigster 
With a preposessing throaty tone is 
riow a crack .bit .of salesmariship, re- 
gardless of the type of lyric. For 
her encore she, gets into the spirit 
of the Dixieland Band's comeback 
and smacks out a; telling version of 
'Alexander's Ragtime Band.' Del 
.Casino's crooning range registers big 
With the femme payees; while 
Gilda Roldan puts a lot of vPcal 
vigor into la rhumba. Casino makes 
an ingratiatinjj choice of romantic 
ditties, with his tendency to swing 
from tenor to baritone at the least 



STANLEY, PITTS. 

ittsburgh, May 7; 
Giiy Lonibardo's : Sm;arteriing up , a 
bit on shoWriianship this; season. Oh 
three previous visits here he's been 
content to Ibt the Royal- Canadians 
ride alone, fishing out a little riiore 
than a half hour of music and call- 
ing it . a show. House never cared 
to book in extra acts because of stiff, 
payroll for the. band, but Lpmbardb, 
has seen the error of his ways hirn- 
helf arid: he's mpvi 'in right; direc- 
tion now.. 

Carries two vaude' turns with him, 
Rufe Davis and Gower arid Jearine 
(New Acts), and that makes the dif- 
ference between just a pleasant in- 
terlude of music and a sOck presen- 
tation;; Davis; of course, delivers: 
the mightiest.. Just back from coast 
where: he finished ai F'ar chore in 
'Mountain Music,' Davis is forced to 
go through his entire repertoire of 
Vocal tricks and registers as fe'w . acts 
have done here. 

Gower and Jeanne i^recedb him, a', 
couple of. cute kids With a ball- 
roomology expertriess. Youngsters 
do. two numbers and- With a flashier 
finish, ior their second "wOuld easily 
fihd an encore irievitable. 

Royal Canadians' are definitely 
stylists . and have fourid it unneces- 
sary to jog up the offering with nov- 
elty or trick stuff. Lombardo's 
trickery is strictly musical arid he 
sticks closely to the. pop hits of the 
day, spotlights his two brothers, Car^ 
men and Lieber, and the trio in 
vocal specialties and gives the two 
pianists an. inning, but that's all. 

That sWeet rhythm and, singing 
styre are too well identified with 
the LombardO'' organization to bear 
altering; and fact that he's rema:ihed 
close to the top ,bf the heap ior niore 
than ia decade justifies his style con 
sistency. There's still the feeling, 
however, that a femme vocalist 
wouldn't hurt Lombardo,' just to re 
lieye the steady procession of male 
voicesi 

Tune thiat gets the most attention 
-^and, incidentally, the neatest ar 
>rangement — is 'Bloo Hoo,* but that's 
only natural, since it's Carmen Lom- 
bardo's current best seller. Ti-umpet 
obligato on this orie is a cracker 
jack interpolation, heightening^ the 
ballad's projection ten-fold. 
. Picture with Lombardo is 'Moun 
tain Justice' (WB), curious fodder 
for the dance-mad crowd that flocks 
to ia name band, arid remainder of 
bill includes Joe Palooka short, Mer 
rie Melodic cartoon, and Par news 
reel, with Dave Broudy arid the 
house crew swinging {only briefly at 
beginriing and. end of presentation 
Biz at first show fair enough, with 
practically full downstairs and half 
a balcony. Coh^n. 



Alhambra,, Capetown 

(i:apetqvm, April 26, 
From her opening number ait the 
Alhambra, Molly Picon puts over a 
solid hit with , her clever shoAV, re- 
peating her click in Johannesburg 
Songs appeal to all classes and she 
smacks them across the footlights as 
only she cari,' Abe EUsteiri at the 
piano helps Miss Picon's act^ 

Presented previous week' at the 
City Hall here by AiEricari Consol- 
idaited Theatres : as a One-womari 
show. Miss Picori scores over a; good 
house with chai-acter and ' national 
songs and sketches, assisted by her 
husbarid, Jacob Kalich, and EUstei 
African Theatres is holding her oyet 
for recitals in other to.Wns. . 

Blue patter by the femriie; in thb 
act spoils the tvn of Ada and .]^ddie 
Darps, Coniedy is fair but blue stuff 
iri;dialog and gestures by the Woman 
dbesn't sit well With the audienice. 
Balance of the show includes Alda 
Campbell arid. Vic. Wise with okay 
chatter; Dai Jones, tenor click; 
Laurie; Jpy and Graham, sz^tisfactbry 
dancers; . Rpse . Perfect, pileasing 
singer; Tex McLeod; neat comiedy 
arid rppe tossing; Medredeff's Bala- 
laika band, with. Georges Wplkowsky 
arid Esriie Grande,, darice^s,^ clicks, 
arid Ted Ray , ' Hanson. 



STATE-LAKE, CHI. 

icago, May 7. 

ill this week has the rare qual'- 
ity of being oVerrun with comedy. 
Gets a little crude at times, when 
Garner, Wolfe, arid Hakins, in their 
nbne-too-high-class act, do a bit that 
is revolting enough to be tossed out 
of a dime burlesque house. Head 
lining as Ted Healy's Three Stobgeis, 
boys get as many laughs as the aver 
age rough; house act, and could get a 
flobk more with new material, .and a 
general cleari-up in costiinies. Spotted 
last hei-e, arid finished : off working 
with the house line. 

Opening turn, is a pip. Six De Car- 
dos, three' men arid three women, 
doing a teeter board and barrel 
jumping. act, that is fast, unusual and 
dafing./ Gets the bill off to a bang 
up start. .. 

Following the opener are ai couple 
Of acts that aris really, vaudeville. 
Both too similar in style to be spotted 
together, but even so; crash through 
here in fine style; One is Heller and 
Riley, man and Woman chatter team 
whose stuff is of the robust school 
Other act is Anthony arid Rogers 
Italian dialect act,, who come on, 
whip put their gags, and get off With 
a simple .dante routine. Ovef big. 

tage. band' preseritatiori is made 
Up Of Sybil Roth, Monroe and Adlams 
Sisters, and Garner Wolfe,' arid Ha- 
kins. State-Lakie Sweethearts bring 
on Sybil Roth, who does ah aero 
batic turn on top pf a piano. Nice 
for a prdductiori number with the 
line, but nothing sensatiorial. 

.Moiiroe and Adams Sisters, bah 
bouncing arid juggling turn, complete 
the picture, Good novelty act, ahc 
Ruth Adanis hits high spot with 
combo juggle, and dance routine. 

Third shbw on opening .day saw 
house practically capacity. Picture, 
'Racketeers in Exile' (Col). Loop, 



CAPITOL, WASH. 

■Washirigton, • May , 
Four straiight acts again, but b^l is 
dressed up fore and aft. arid makes: 
nice proof . that a little thought on 
novelty is wprth the effort. ' New'est 
idea is Producer Gerie Ford's airii tb 
utilize the lull usually filled by a' 
routirie exit.' march. Although still 
to be worked out, , stunt is launched 
this Week With Pit Maestro Phil 
Lampkin arinouncirig start of . regu- 
larly weekly Swing Sessions at close 
of stage show; Wiis week-it's a sock, 
iarrangement of - Ford's; own tune, 
'Siigarfopt.'., Plans are to work idea 
iritp a hit parade, perhaps using no- 
name yocalists to warble week's, top 
ditties. 

Mother's Day overture, iisirig liv-: 
ing tableau of mother and child tot 
finish, gets things urider way. Opener 
of regular bill is Dave JoheS and 
Co., clever dance revue with features 
being acrobiatic tap trip and ballroom 
tap duo. Jonies' emceeirig is a bit 
sugary, but it igets away . from the 
usual deadpaii br fixed-smile style 
and high-hat number, if : only an ex- 
cuse to get everybody on for .fin- 
ish, does that very satisfactorily. 

Next on is Jack Laivier, whose 
Gay Nineties costume and manner; 
makes act distinct novelty among 
trapeze ;bits in these parts. Building 
up difficulty of each trick, particu- 
larly balancing self on. rocking chair 
on swinging bar, and then doing it 
while still, apparently trying to sum- 
mon courage, he had house in palm 
of his hand at ishow caught; 

Anna May Wong, who shares top 
billing with. Mitchell and Durarit, is 
a pleasant surprise through actually 
having an act instead bf a walk-on; 
Chinese number, done in trick 
headgear, gives turn such a .good 
start it tends to run downhill, since 
as an American pop singer she's far 
from a riot, although doing 'Tell Me 
You Lpve Me,' in both French arid 
English, gets versatility across. 'An 
American Girl,' recitative ditty, stif- 
fers somewhat because audience 
probably would rather have had 
Miss Wong's impression of Am'brican 
:men. Curtain speech concerning her 
'little Offering' is shoirt, Sweet and 
worth copyrighting. ' 

Mitchell and Diirant,. as usual,- 
pirovide sock finale with rapid-fire 
iriiitaitions, slapstick and patter, wind- 
irig lip with offrstage Harlem vocalist 
accompanying pantomime for high- 
light, Pair make it obvious vocaliz- 
ing is faked, but don't give the War- 
bler a bow, which the audience eic- 
pects. Boys overdo the effeminate 
stuff, which Cap customers, except 
fp.r handful of guffaWers, are pretty 
tired of; .hut they move so fast most 
of housie .accepts it as a necessary 
evil. Pic is 'Woriian Chases Man' 
(UA), Craig. 



MET^ BOSTON 

, May 

Apparently designed for family 
trade because of the accompanying 
film Prince and Paiiper' (WB), this 
week's i stage 'show fills the niche ex- 
actly, Tito. Guizar is featured; 

Guizar sells his stuff smartly m 
summery costume and guitar plunk- 
ings. Grabbed good atteritiori from 
the femriies out front. 

Sock of the show Gondos 
Bros., seen, here recently in 'Wake 
up and Live^ (20th )> In a sweet ses- 
sion ; of, precision taps and heart- 
^quickenirig challenges these bpya 
Wham .all the way. For several min- 
utes ihey work without riiusic and 
the customers get a treat of some 
of the best taps on the. hoof heard in 
these woods since way back. 
. There's more good hoofing from 
Barr and Estes in the. deucer. Ec- 
centric soft shoe stuff by the . male 
half, of the duo- . earns plenty 
chuckles;, and taps by the femme 
please the trade. 

Owen McGiveneyv the quicU- 
chan.£;er. is perfect for this set-up 
and in the mid-spot holds undivided 
interest with his act that baffles 
even though the changes are oon« 



f Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS 



VAitlETY 



53 



in full viiew. Wildly received at the 
finish of his ace turn. 

Johnny Perkins follows with his 
haft of chatter and swift gags. After 
iifoading a big chunk of chortles 
iiT brings on Rose Veronica Coyle 
(Miss America, 1936), who feeds 
him a few lines, then finales With^a 
*.v,ng and dance. Recently signed by 
Warners for film training, it may 
be assvmied thait her song and , dance 
talents Will bfe polished up consider- 
ably from their present rating. Miss 
Coyle has art okay personality that 
oroiects quite, well, and looks like 
a picture possibility with the right 

Circus atmosphere Is introduced 
in the opening line nuhiber by the 
Sons of the Desert, tumbling, pyra- 
niid troupe. This line routine is 
only a background job for the tum- 
blers; but the finale May Pole num- 
ber is a stander-outer. One of the 
best of . the season. Girls (24) 
dressed in lieutral coistumes that 
iake many light effects, carry on 
around a , pole with long colored 
ribbons and prance, around With 
hghted, hoops; Sounds conventional 
and it would be except for ah excep' 
- tionilly . pleasing, intricate and sus 
taihirig routine. • Fox. 

CENTURY, Bi^LT. 

fialtimotei May 7. 

Presenting onia bf-^ the best stagie 
shows seen here in moons, Horace 
Heidt and his band brings to Loew's 
Century this w^ek a 63 minute ses 
sion chock full of variety, entertain 
. ment and good music. This theatre, 
playing: ah in and out policy of flesh, 
winds up its final week of its pres- 
ent two-week interlude with a stage 
show that should bring business and 
invite a return to' its former con- 
tinuous policy; Customers, at first 
show caught, at.9 up the doings .in 
grand style and yelled for more. 

Heidt is carrying a company of 33 
people made up of a band of 19, a 
glee club of eight, the four King sis- 
ters, Larry Cotton, singer and Buirton 
Pierce, hoofer. 

Band gets right off with 'Old 
Cherry Orchard* followed by the 
King gals swinging out in 'Men- 
delssohn, Beethoven and Liszt/ sold 
plenty well and earning an encore, 
•Marie,' started off with some hoofing 
by Yvonne King, smallest of sisters 
and an bkey clown, and finished in 
great style by entire band.. Novelty 
follows next with ensemble using 
niiniature4nstruments: for some legit 
playing and very tfiite. 

'Parnival in Venice' tripte-torigued 
by trio of trumpeters and sock ar- 
rangement of 'Liebestraum' by band 
followed by Bob McCoy of glee club 
going to town in bassb 'Asleep in 
Deep' and Xittle Old Lady' next in 
ordier, and okay. 

Two comedy numbers by glee club 
well spotted here building spot for 
Burton Pierce, hoofer a la Fred 
Astaire. 

Larry Cotton takes hold next, 
obliging With vocals of riequests from 
audience and has to. do three before 
Alvino -Ray, announced as originator 
of electrically amplified steel . guitar, 
can do his stuff. Spme legit singing 
with self accompaniment on harp 
by Lisbeth Hughes followed by a 
diiet with Bob McCoy, next arid also 
up to standard. 

Comedy impression of. Helen Mor; 
gwi by Dick Morgan here, after 
which Jerry Bowne, comedian and 
ttumpeter goes to town in 'I Love a 
Parade* assisted by glee club and 
Heidt with some okay manipulation 
of a drum major's baton. 

Heidt has a real aggregation anc 
has. improved considerably since last 
caught here about five years ago. 
Paces doings in expert style and uses 
plenty of showmanshi in selling his 

Filih is 'Good Old Soak* (Metro) 

BuTiri. 

PARAMOUNT, L. A. 

; Los Angeles,' May 
Hoping to cash in on the London 
floings, Fanchoh ;& Marco , is staging 
,a Coronation unit at the Paramount; 
Aside from a spectacular opening 
and closing of the show, which has 
peen pretentiously done, the offer 
ing has little merit. V ■ 

.Sans names with box-office appeal, 
snow must depend, oh the several 
routines by • the . Fanchonettes, 
.directed, by Carlos Romera. Femmes 
are presented in two picturesque 
routines, With the Coronation motif 
particularly effective in the closing 
spectacle. 

- Talent on . the bill . Includes An. 
inony, AUyn and Hodge, adagio trio 
in a couple of well^executed turns; 
.:;*rank CdnVille and Sunny Dale, with 
?*=Ofn^dy singing and dancing: off ef- 
Jng that clicks for fair returns; Roy 
"°y'?> conjedy juggler, who displays 
considerable proficiency; Sid: Chatton, 
inipressioiis of radio arid screen 
names that are oke but a bit too 
'ti'^^IJE^s. by reason of being overly- 
ampiifled on the p.a. system, and 
iom Halligari and Frances Pepper 
songsters.. . 

Introduction to show has an over- 
1""^^, batoned by Rube Wolf with the 
Dand boys in the pit that is a direct 
for the Paramount film, 'Turn 
'Jir the Moon,' produced by Fanchon 
^itn another plug given the picture 
curing the finale. Warbling of Miss 
J'epper in the opening doesn't im 
prove the plug any. 

»Jpening routine, by the Fanchon 



ettes Is a semi-military effect, with 
the girls scantitly garbed in white 
and purple outfits. Their closing is ai 
pretentious flash, with half a dozen 
;'emmes brought out in regal garb 
to represent Great Britain and the 
various' colonies, 

Screen feature is "Internes Can't 
Take Money,' (Par ) . with. Paramount 
News, Sportlight arid Pop-Eye car- 
toon for fillers. Trade at opener just 
fair; Edwd. 



LOEW'S MONTREAL 

Montreal, May 9, 
Charlie Keiiiper, well liked locally; 
carries the show currently^ at this 
house,' applauded before he opens 
his mouth iand continuously there- 
after until the Close. It is the riear- 
est' to old-time vaude that this city 
has seen in riiany months. 

Eddie Sanborn Starts with a coro- 
nation arangement featuring pic of 
King and Queeni, which gets only a 
languid reception. Musical toiir of 
the British: Dominions gets appliause 
On Scotland and lireland, rather . less 
on England, and a big harid on- Can- 
ada. 

Kemper actirig as rii; c. through- 
put arid using the same gags as . be- 
fore, warms, up the crowd and 
bririgs in the 15-gai line: in Spanish 
setting -arid costumes in back of 
Ernie Maida and Perez, acrobats^ in ' 
the deuce. They do a balaniiing act 
with pole, supported on riian's shoul- 
ders, building . up to .man swinging 
girl at end of piole with girl line 
circling them. : Turn earns a brace 
of calls. . - 

Keriiper back with George Hag;- 
gerty for a. clowning and patter act, 
bringing on Gpss an4 Barrows, first 
With accordion^ which 'is just an ex- 
cause for the. gal who is the whole, 
turn. She uses a man as foil and 
her material, is fast and funny. 

Kemper returns for more aniec- 
dotage and,, with Haggerty, stages a 
play on the old theme of imagi ing 
something and someone who isn't 
there. This always goes With a. Mon- 
treal audience, 

Show :closes with gal line sriappily 
caparisoned in groups of four as 
support for Francis and Carroll, 
adagio dancers, standard routine act. 

'Internes Can't Take Money' (Par) 
and 'The Girl from Scotland Yard' 
(Col) on screen.. Lone. 

FOX, DETROIT 

Dietroit, May 8. 
Sybil jason, kid actress from films, 
has an ingratiating personality 
which she wastes no time putting 
across as the headliner of current 
six-act bill here. Unlike a lot of 
juve perfoirmers, she's not affected 
and her mannerisms are interest- 
getters. 

Minus her . appearance, her songs 
and recitations Would be just aver- 
age. But in the flesh, stuff holds 
interest for almost any audience, es- 
pecially one composed mostly of 
femriies as at late show here Friday 
evening (8). On for aboiit 10 min> 
utes, with male accompanist at 
piano, kid gets through her turn 
without so much as a payee's cough 
to break tranquility. 

With a full-fiedged songster on 
the same bill, Everett Matshall, kid 
is wisely spotted early on card to 
give her a better break. Works out 
nicely all around; especially for Miss 
Jason. ; . , 

Marshall, who's appeared here . be- 
fore to good advantage, suffers no 
let-up this time around. Baritone!s 
pipes are at best, more than making 
up for his usual nervous appearance. 
Renders two ballads, topped off by 
'or Man River.' ' . 

Although house added at sixth, act 
to give the bill needed fuHhess, turns 
are pruned down to get show into 
50. fast minutes.. Production runs 
without hitch. , . . ,„ ^ „, , 

Carlton Emmy and. his 'Mad Wags' 
accorded opening shot and fill credit- 
ably. Pups put ori a nice round Of 
feats; abetted by . Emmy's constant 
bhatter. 

Lydia- arid Joresco, whose appear- 
ance here has been postponed sev-; 
eral tiriies receritly due to illness, do 
nicely under their tag. 'Poets of the 
-Dance.' Ballroorii and tango nuni-. 
bers are ■ graceful and get . over eas^ 
ily. Blue spot- on bailrobm turri isn't 
exactly flatteririg. 

Walter Wahl offers plenty of acrb 
comedy. Pantomime ■ sitiiff clicks 
withoiit any trouble, arid heard his 
stooge are forced to come back, for 
some real aero stuff. Three Olympics, 
two males and femme in white, know 
their roller skating. Perform on 
raised rink and have a sock finale 
with gal hanging from nieck halter 
while partriier whirls her arourid. 

Tagged 'Musical Welcome to 
Soring,' overture is urider Sam Jack 
Kaufman, who also does nice job 
with m. c. duties. Frank Connors, 
soloist with pit band, contributes 
two pop tunes. - . 

Downstairs almost filled at late 
show Friday' evening- (8): balcony 
closed. Pic is 'Cafe: Metropole' 
(20th). Pete. 



Mistaken Identity 

Henrietta Brown, whose miarriage 
to Cliff Whitner on May 6: was 
recorded in the last issue- of Variety 
is not the Henriette Browne now 
appearing in Lula VoUmer's play 
'Sun .Up" for the WPA. 

The similarity of names is causing 
confusion among the actress' friends. 



Unit Reviews 



MILLS BROS. UNIT 

(PALACE, AKRON, O.) 

Akrpn, May 8,; 
The Four, Mills Bros., radio sing:- 
ers, with a program of new numbers 
i the. iqiie . style that carried 
them to. overnight broadcast popu- 
larity^ have little difficulty in pleas- 
ing audiences at, the Palace here this. 
week— despite, the fact that they arie 
going it. alone. 

. The . four boys are aided. Viy a 
guitarist who knows the repertoire 
as well as the b.bys themselves, but 
it . is the orchestral iriiitations that 
are riibst entertai ' . 

'Sweet Lucy Brown' turns out to 
be the f avorite riumber of their pro- 
gram; but there are others no less 
well , done. Among them are 'Shoe 
Shirie Boy,' 'Swing for Sale' and 
'The Organ Griridet's Swing.' 

Boys received a rousing hand at 
the opening show and in spite of the 
small atteridance. at the first matinee 
they could have taken more . encoreis 
than they did. .. Mack. 



Redt Hot and Beautiful 

(CAPITOL, ATLANTA) 

Atlanta, May 9,. 

is one whips along- fast i 44 

minutes, under the guidance of Myles 

Bell, owner and producer, who 

knows how to emcee a show in an 

entertaining mariner, There are 16 in 

the; company, six of them baridshien, 

but what unit , lacks in numbers it 

makes up in the quality of perform 
ances. , 

Bell. 'opens with a cornedy bit and 
song, riiakirig way for Johriny 
Sanna, who does an acrobatic turn 
nimbly, 

Three Owen Sisters, (Sophie, 
Honey and Emmie), are, brought on 
next by Bell and warble 'Sing, Sing, 
Sing,' -in front of the mike, a la Bos- 
well femmes, and applause brings 
them back to offer 'This Year's 
Kisses'— arid good, too. 

Girls are followed by Johriny Spe- 
cial and his harriionica offeririg. Fin- 
ishes up With imitations Of a fife arid 
drum .corps and hurdygurdy. Nan 
Bedini, niece of Jean Bedi and 
wife of Bell, theri joins lattei: in a 
comedy song in front of mike and a 
bit of chatter and hokum; - , 

Toby Rando follows with a sami- 
strip dance to 'Sophisticated Lafdy.' 
Sanna reappears and does a 
'monkey act,' leaping hither -and ypn 
on stage, clinnbirig curtains,, jumpirig 
into aisles and mingling . With 
patrons. While band. plays 'Chloe' he 
goes through a number of gyrations 
and acrobatic stunts, some in slow 
motion. He iS followed by Roy 
Becker, guitarist. Who does a coriiedy 
imitation of John Barrymore imitat 
ing Ring Crosby singing 'Love in 
Bloom,' Bell and Bedirii step out.for 
more comedy- and girl, who has 
charm and a cute French accent, 
sings 'I Want to Be Bad,' encoring 
With 'A Thousand Good Nights,' dur 
ing which Bell peels off garments to 
reveal himself in long white night 
gown, which is good lor a laugh. 

Closing the show is Chic Thomas, 
monologist, dressed in doughboy out- 
fit, who does a nine-minute turn 
with plenty of laugh material; He 
closes with a song and Whole corii- 
pany comes on for finale, with 
Johnny Sanna doing skids and fiip- 
flops across front of stage as curtains 
come together. Luch. 



but it is a lengthy one, running an 
hour.' Dancers occupy., considerably 
more thari half that time, respond- 
ing to several ^ncpres, and even 
staging some impromptu stuff with 
the other two acts. Having scored so 
strongly on their previous appear- 
ance last year, they weire accorded a 
hearty " reception on entrance, and 
everi: more tumult when they fin- 
ished; 

Interest centered arourid the debut 
of Paul Gerrits arid, he seemed to 
sense it and was palpably ill at ease. 
He appeared uncertain, as to :his 
gagging, not kntjwirig how far to go, 
but Will undoubtedly open up. as time 
goes on. 

It was: not a typica;! tppnotch West 
End. midnight audience. Place was 
packed rcarly. with American visitors, 
practically all of whom tried, to 
dance on the liriiited floor space. 

Jolo. 



Niiery Reviews 



(Continued from page 50) 



British Film 



(Continued froni page 15) 



Exhi 



Ass'n and Ki -Renters 



si , from the jfloor and with Lew 
Conrad's band. 

Conrad, who serves capably as m;C., 
was booked; in for two weeks last 



Septeriiber 



iried for the . (en- 



tire season. 

In additi : to a large, open bar. 
adjacent to the main' rOom; the 
Grove has a: downstairs hideaway 
Melody Lounge that's clickirig. Pa- 
trons, after gettirig their, fill of food, 
fioorshow and dancing, cari saunter 
down to the Iburige, peek at the girl 
in the fish bowli perch at a Circular 
bar and hear the naughty ditties of 
suave, husky-voiced Ruth Manners. 
The three rpoms offer a complement 
of attractions riot fourid in other 
local riiteries. The tap is still .$.1.50 
miriimum (no cover).., Fox. 



GRQSVENOR HOUSE 

(LONDON) 

Loridort, ril 30. 

Grosvenor House Goronation flobr- 
show can be set down as a certain 
success. There iare only three acts, 
two of which will remain throughout 
the .crowning festivities, .and. the 
third, Gali-Gali, Egyptian magician, 
held over from the Jast show, will 
probably be replaced shortly by an- 
other American turn, as yet..-un- 
selected. The two newcomers are 
the De Marcos and Paul Gerrits. 

The De Marcos only do one show, 



Society be a 

fair way of agreenient, but F, B. 1. 
Group has shown some stiibbomriess 
in demariding its polrit of . view be 
recognized. 

Suggestions the new ;Qu6ta Act 
should incorporate .PFoyisiori for en-, 
suring U. S. release for British prod- 
uct, are hardly acceptable to Ur Si 
distribs operating hfere, for isuch a 
condition wbiild naturally' make 
their job , harder; and less certaiin. 
Variance between -producers and the 
K. R. S. isthiis delaying the outcome 
of the conversations, while C. E. A. 
in its turri is irked by demands, it 
considers away from the main issue 
and which are jeopardizing the joint 
effort. 

. General trade ppi ion sees, produ- 
cers as teriiporary. yillairis of the 
piece, for at the outset of the -talks 
it was conspicuously clear their pur- 
pose was to orgariize the industry 
from, within and so stall off Govern- 
ment control, npt^ at all to press 
broad prpbleriis of international 
trading. 

Unless, the producers conne down 
on their demands,, it is feared the 
siricere efforts piit irito the conver- 
sations by exhibs and distribs may 
have been wasted. 



Aussie Quota 



(Continued from page 16) 



Assoc:, in connection with the quota, 
but the boys are . keeping all biz 
chatter strictly .to themselves. M. P. 
D. A. is a powerful organization, 
handling all biz dealing^ covering 
the American distributors operating 
in Ausitralia and is headed by Sir 
Victor 'Wilson, with Percy Hunter 
second-'in-:charge. Sir Victor Wilson 
is at present in England, and Hunter 
is keeping quiet. 

Although much . inside pressure is 
still being brought to bear upon the 
gpyerninent regarding the Ameri 
caris and .^uota, nothing definite has 
been settled yet 'as regards produc 
tion enforcement. Inside has it that 
the government will not force pro 
duction on the Americans this year, 
at. any rate. Even probable thit this 
arigle I may never cpme about, es 
pecially if an Imperial Quota should 
eventuate within the next few 
months.; However,: it really all de- 
piehds oh hoW strong the pressure 
becomes from, oiitside ' sources 
whether the government takes fore 
ing action against the Americans. 

U. S, Share 

SquaWks.have gone out. from, time 
to time ■ about, l Americtin.s taking 
huge fortunes out of Australia on 
.filrti, hii-e, arid that the government 
should put a stop to such a state 
of affairs, Cin very good authority, 
it's learned that out of - every $5 
earned by the American distribs 
in Australi , actually only 40c, re 
turns to America; after allowing fpr 
6.vei?head, taxation and so. forth. 

Because of the huge tax grabs 
yearly by the government from the 
pic industry, it is Considered un- 
iikeiy that the government would 
force the Arriericaris out of . N, S. 
Wales, simply because of quota, pro- 
duction ehforcierhentv 



Melbourne, April 20. 

Although Victoria has a quota 
similar to that operating in N. S. 
Wales, the. government is taking ho 
steps to enforce production by 
AmericanSj. despite the fact ..that hot 
one studio is open here right now 

Officials here take the view tha , 
the distribs should not be forcec 
to create something which does no ; 
exist. 



^Contempt^ Rule 



(Continued from page 29) 



r. C. C. subcbnnmittee were reported 
today (Tuesday ) to be planriing . to 
ask the full commish -for subpoena 
powers with which to craCJt down 
on balkers. Only obstacle to com- 
pulsion is described as legal, which 
may make it necessary for the en- 
tire body to initial a mandate for 
desired witnesses to tell all< 

While the committee was created 
fpr the ^express piirpose of delvirig 
into a single isolated incident which 
involved tampering "ith recPrds, 
he reinforceriienta are wanted, ac- 
cording 'to gossip in Industry circles, 
3'ecause the ihquiry has .takep a new 
turn and is headed, for Other disr 
closures, probers are described as 
feeling it is imperative to have 
power to demand appieararices be- 
cause the tips about previously un- 
suspected irregularities.' are so 
serious.. 

Exactly what has t^ken place at 
recent .Closed-door : heiririgs has not . 
come out, yet industry circles are - . 
buzzirig With whispers that the iri- 
vestigatprs— Cbmn^issioners . George 
Henry Payne, Thad H. Browrt arid 
Paul :Walker-^are^^ on the trail of. 
something much hotter than the 
paper-switching incident which was 
the reason for / the probe. Alleged 
offenses said to have occurred 
repeatedly and the nature , is un- 
derstood to |)e far rinore impprtaht 
than mere substitution of affidavits 
in a single file. 

Ori the heels of these, reports, 
which coincided With disclosure that 
Paul M. Segal, one of the leading 
radio lawyers, had defied the Payne 
committee, were the tips that force 
will be . employed. Whether anyone 
besides Segal has rit^ed the probers 
lis another unanswered question, 
but it is indicated the Comnilttee 
has encountered resistance in other 
quarters. 

Request for subpoeria powers Is 
regarded a^ fpreshadpwirig a quizz 
fpr previpus applicants for comriiish 
favors, besides . hiritlrig that: the 
probing trio feels It is oh the trail 
of sprnething hot. If the . comni i ttee 
is 'granted the right to summon y/it- 
nesscs, and any defiance occurs, the 
comriiish theri would have an ex- 
cu.';e to administer punishment, for 
contempt via the. courts. 

isegal Incident .occasioned consid- 
erable tut-tutting among the broad* 
cact group here. While .most attor* 
rieys felt the F/ C, C. probe is gb» 
irig afield, there was a general agree- 
ment that Segal, Instead of saying 
he would not appear while Payne' 
was running the inquiry, should 
have shown up and then, refused to 
answer individual questions on legal 
groiirids. Segal is stickhig to his 
original position, however, and ex- 
pects to be vindicated on the con- 
tention that, since. Payne is un- 
friendly toward him, he could riot 
expect an unbiased quizi. 



New Anzac Unit 



(Continued from page 15). 



lease. Idea is to make pix for bot 
quota and overseas market. 

Learned that Commonwealth Prp- 
ductions may make another pic in 
the near future following 'Mystery 
Island.' Unit ijs an offshoot of Com - 
nrionwcalth Laboratories under . Jack 
J^ruce. 'Island' is being handled here 
by Par.' 

inesPund; after washing up ' 
Timber,' ill swirig. into production' 
with 'Lovers arid Luggers^' after 
which . a .Start wjlt be made on 'Gone 
to the Dogs,* featuring George Wal- 
lace, Under Stuart i*. , Doyle, Cine- 
soUnd i.s going ahead on continuous 
productipri irrespective of the qupta. 
Cirie'.<3 ix are released through 
Doyle's Own company, .. British Erii- 
pire Films, mostly .over the. Greater. 
Union chai 

If the Film. Advisory Coritmittee 
passes -Phantorii. Gold,' a ;pic made 
by an Jndie unit headed, by Rupert 
Kathner and; Stan. Tolhurst; RKQ.; 
will handle istributi . Pic has 
been laying around for quite a spell-; 
awaiting sanction and outlet. 

National Studio, and Natioriial Pro- 
ductions, Ltd.; still have no pix lined 
up for flooring, and the same applies 
to Mastercraft. As a matter of fact, 
there is only one studio open iri all 
Australia — Cinespurid. 

Capital is still hard to find for pro- 
duction owing to the attitude of the 
N.. S. Wales' governriient covering 
the Quota Act. Financial Interests 
will not play ball with the producers 
until the whole quota affair is 

cleaned up to everybody's satisfac- 
tion. 



54 



VARIETY 



LEGITIMATE 



Wednesdaj, May 12, I937 



•spa 



B'WAY SHOWMEN ALARMED AT ONE-MAN 
CENSOR POWER UNDER DUNNIGAN BILL 



Managers Seek to Persuade Gov. Lehmah Not to Sign 
Measure Passed by State Legislature— Claim Bill 
Was 'Railroaded* Through 



MeeUnr beld In the Theatre 
I<esrf>*e*s offices Toesday morn* 
iof wu attended hr representa- 
tives of every rronp (20) In 
shew bttslnegi, all agreed as be- 
inf oppoied to one-man eenser- 
shlp. A mass meeting 'will be 
held Sunday (IS) nlfht In 
theatre to .be selected and will 
Ire addressed by theatrical lead- 
ers. Lone telef rim with all sic- 
natories j^resent . was sent: to 
Governor' Lehmaii« . asklnf . for a 
'hearlnct- 

Another form pf pretest wlU 
seek pnblle support. Slips will 
be jpassed amonc andlences in 
all theatres, with the reqaest 
that patrons signify their oppo- 
sition to the Dnnnlfan bill. 
Starting Tuesday night (11) 
leading players In all leglt 
hboses stepped before the cur- 
.taln and appealed fo^ support 

Passage by both houses in Albany 
last week of the Dunnigan bill, em- 
powering the license commissioner 
of N, Y. to revoke a theatre's licetise, 
if he regarded the performance im- 
. moral, aroused consternation among 
legit showmen. General' Opinion was 
that the measure would create a 
one-man censorship, it . signed by 
Governor Lehman. 

The law would give Paul Moss, 
'license commissioner^ a measure of 
power to which showmen strenuous" 
ly object. Friday (7), when it be- 
came known" that the bill passed 
both houses, there were hasty tele-, 
phone calls to the executive man- 
sion protesting the manner in which 
.the meiasure was 'railroaded.' Mana- 
gers pointed put there had been no 
public hearings on the Dunnigan bill 
and they want the goverridr to 
receive their views before he makes 
decision on the. signaturing. It 
.appears that the church lelement 
^pulled a fast one' In lobbying for 
the biU. 

League of New York Theatres, the 
managers' own organization, is 
apparently at . fault, because of 
iailurei to notify members of the 
pending legislation. Other groups 
and the unions, including Equity^ 
were equally unaware of the Dun 
nigan bill, although it was Intro 
duced more than a month previous 
to passage. League's executive 
secretary is supposed to check on 

(Continued on page 61) 



Busy Trio 



Ernest Truex, Cracking about 
his kids, says all three are play- 
ing— two on BrOadway and one 
in Central Park. 

Smallest Truex is three years 
of age, the older lads being the 
progeny of his first miarriage. 



OMAHA MAYOR 
NIXES 'ROAD' 



Omaha, 'May ii. . 
Opening- , qt /v'^^obaccaj Jloaii' 
^kedded for two-n|ghi'stahdfat the 
Paramount iH^atre, \bere; Was pre- 
vented last Friday (7) by order of 
Omaha's mayor, Dan B. Butler. Al- 
thougli warned earlier in the week 
that the play would not be allowed 
to open, unless certain lines were 
deleted, Irving Becker, company 
manager announced that, the open- 
ing would take placCi despite atti- 
tude of city officials., 

Squads of 117 police aiid plain-, 
clothes men were on hand to pre- 
vent patrons from entering this thea- 
tre and to hold back throngs of .by- 
standers gathered to watch the fire- 
works. Only biz allowed :to go on 
was the refunding of ticket money, 
'olice made ho arrests, but some of 
those who had bought ducats in ad- 
vance voiced their ire and others 
complained about driving in from 
lundreds of miles around to see the 
play, one of the few road shows 
offered in Omaha thi^ season. The 
cast, headed by Taylor Holmes, re- 
(Continued on page 59) 



SL L Muny Opera 
Signs 39 Players 
For Summer Shows 



St. Loiiis, May 11. 

39 singers, dancers and Comedians, 
most of them new to natives here, 
have been signatured f Or appear- 
ances here duri 19th season of 
Municipal Opera, which gets away 
in open air' theatre in Forest Park, 
June 4. Casting of sieason's repertory 
of 12 shows has not been completed 
iand the special operatic group for 
The Bartered Bride' has not yet 
been assembled. Four Met opera 
stars are under considieratioh. 

Those signatured are Bernice 
Claire, Guy Robertson, Gladyis Bax- 
ter, Al Trahan, Margaret Dauni, 
ikidie Fby/ Jr., Olive Olsen, Wilbur 
Evans, George Meader, Mary Hopple, 
Jack Arthurj, Ren^e De Harnett, Eric 
Mia^tson, Harry Metsayer, Helen 
Riaymond,: Violet 'Carlson, Gus How 
ard, p'lanche' Ring, Ralph Riggs, 
Fritzi Scheff, Phil Porterfield, Ruth 
Urban, Lew Parker, Erika Zalranova, 
Annamary Dickey, Bert Prival, Pa- 
tricia Bowman, Ross Wyse, Jr. and 
Harris, Claire and Shannon, dance 
trio. These are all new. coiners. Old 
faVes.. returning are .Helen Denizdh, 
Rosernary Deering, Detmar Poppen, 
Joseph Macaulay, Leonard Geeley, 
John Sheehah, John Ehrle and Rob- 
ert Pitkin. 



ATCs Convention 
Delegates Represent 
All Theatre 



Groups 



irst . conventiori of the American 
Theatre .Council, which, starts a four- 
day /session one week from next 
Monday (24) has. announced dele- 
jgateS spread-eaglihg the field, ny 
One interested in the stagie may be a 
deleigate by so signifying to the ATC, 
234 West 44th street, N. Y. Mid- 
night supper on the final night (27) 
of the sessions Will be the only p.m 
gathering. There virill be four lunch 
eons and seven discussion meetings, 
Delega ties are idehtided lyith near 
ly every, group within the theati'e 
inclusive of the various associates 
and unions except the musicians. 
Also .to be represented are theatre 
publications^ ticket agencies, costume 
designers, organizations of theatre- 
goers, besides which there will be 
individual delegates such as leading 
players and managers. 



OENSUCB jons 
CENniAi on setup 



ROCKEFELLERS 




INLEOI 



Denver, May il. 
Donald penslager, N. Y. set de- 
signer, is the latest to be signed for 
the annual Central City \play fes- 
tival. Richard Aldrich will direct 
Ibsen's 'Doll House' with Ruth Gor- 
don starring aiid the male 'lead yet 
to be tagged. Jed Harris will stage 
the show, to run from July 17- 
Aug. 7. 

Localites added to the staff, in- 
clude Caroline Bancroft, writer and 
socialite, who is handling publicity, 
and Justin , W. Brierly, school teach- 
er, who cops the business manager's 
job, succeeding Frank White; biz 
manager since the inception Of the 
annual event. 



If Meredith Stays 

'High Tor' Continues 

trike Federated Motion 

Picture Crafts in Holly Wood may al- 
low Guthrie McClintic to keep 'High 



Tor' Tunning 



while longer, 



'Naughty Naught* for Frisco t 

The John .Krimsky office is con 
sidering a summer folding of its 
'Naughty Naught' at the American 
Music Hall to open in San Francisco 
under the same music hall setup. 
Deals are also on fOr second com- 
pianies in a couple of other key cities. 

Producer is talking with locals in 
Atlantic City and Boston, officials 
of the Cleveland expo, and Albert 
de CourviUe of London. 



Continuance of the Maxwell Arider 
son play, now doing profitable' busi 
ness in its, iath week at the, Martin 
Beck, N Y., depends on presence of 
Burgess Mei'^edith in the leading part. 

Actor is Under contract to RKO 
arid has comm.itrrient for one picture 
this summer; Before 'High Tor' viron 
the Critics' Award, Meredith and 
McClintic notified BKO. that the ac- 
tor could be on the Coast by May 15 
With business up* however, 'High 
Tor* could run indeflriitely. 

In any case, RKO is. not expected 
to call for Meredith's services with 
Out giving at least two weieks* no 
tice. McClintic riow expects actor to 
remain on Broadway until late Jui\e. 
Peggy Ashcroft, other featured 
player in the cast, leaves for Lon- 
don after May; 29. She will be re- 
placed. .Meredith expects to do the 
young playwright part in 'Stage 
Door' when RKO finally gets around 
to filming the Ferber-Kaufman play 
with Katharine Hepburn ancl Ginger 
Rogers; 



Bad Luck Tokeii 



George Curzon, who closed in 
'Hitch Your Wagon* at the 48th 
St., N, Y., recently, was pre- 
sented with a ' gold-handled 
cane by the cast. It was In* 
scribed: To the Unluckllest 
English Actor.' 

He first, appeared, over here 
in 'Parnell.' Earlier this season 
he was in * lack Limelight* and 
was made ah exception of , the 
six months rule by Equity to 
go into 'Wagon,' provided hk 
laid Off legit for one year. 
Both latter plays flopped. 



HENRY DAZIAN 
IS DEAD At n 



The Center Theatre « 
Rockefeller subsidi , is now defi 
nitely esiablished as a production 
entity and formally announced the 
presentation next season of 'Vir- 
ginia,' a musical which had been re 
ported in the offing for some time 
This marks the entry into legit show 
business, on its own of the Rocke- 
feller group. Attention is called to 
the fact that there will be ho put- 
side managerial nor financial, asso- 
ciation, such as with 'The Great 
Waltz,' and the recently-closed 'White 
Horse Inn,' both of which played the 
Center, N. Y., smaller of the two 
Radio City theatres. 

Reports that the Center might 
again show films have been set aside 
by the decision to produce 'Vir- 
ginia.' New show, unlike its two 
predecessors, will have an Ameri- 
can background. It is being written 
by Laurence Stallings and Arthur 
Schwartz with its locale in Wil- 
liamsburg, Va., during the Colonial 
period. That town has been recon- 
structed by the Rockefellers. 

Lieon Leonidoft, producer of the 
Radio City Music Hall stage shows, 
will be in charge of production for 
the new Rockefeller show activity. 
Kenneth Hyatt will be managirig di- 
rector of the. Center, with Louis 
Lotito, assistanit. Hyatt had that spot 
when the Centre was in pictureSi 



ARBITRATION DUE SOON 
IN 'HANNIBAL' CLAIMS 



An will Jto 

settle the ims of players 5 
turn of Hannibal' priesented in. San 
Francisco, by AdTienrie Morrison, last 
winter. Play waS given for one >yeek 

and • the management deducted re- 
hearsal pay, which ordinarily is al- 
lowable under the rules. Deduction 
may be made if hot more than eight 
performances are given. In the case 
of 'Hannibal,' however, players were 
called to . appear on a second Mon- 
day, at which time it was decided to 
close. 

Most of the players are in the east, 
for which reason the arbitration will 
be conducted in New York. 



Henry Dazian, whose theatrical 
activities spanned the' gap from the 
Jarrett & Palmer 'Black Crook* of 
the 'TO's to the Ziegfeid Tollies* of 
only a few years back, led in Miami 
Beach, .Fla., the ; day .foUowi 'Ms 
83rd birthday; 'Crook' and 

the • were 'COstuines by 

Dazi 'The credit line is still to 
be found on theatre programs, but 
he retired from the flrm. some years 
ago. One of the last productions to 
which he gave his personal attention 
was 'I>uBarry' done by Mrs. Leslie 
Carter in 1901. 

The. house ot Dazi was estab- 
lished abbut a century' ago by his 
father, Wolf Dazian, who had a small 
place at 4^ Marion street, now Lar 
fayette. iSoon. after the Civil war 
the establishment was moved to the 
BoWery : (then the theatrical cehter), 
near Spring street. The rernoval of 
the ialto to' Uiiiori Square brought 
the firm, then known as Dazian & 
Sons, to the east side Of the Square, 
near 15th street, in 1878, and the finial 
removal was in 1906 to 142 West :46th 
istreet, where it Is still to be found, 
Henry Dazian, eldest of the sons 
of Wolf,, was largely responsible for 
the position achieved by the firm. 
Until he joined his father the. es- 
tablishment had been little more 
than a theatrical dressmiiking 'shop. 
Young Daizian made a study of pe- 
riod costumes; important in a day 
when costume plays were more pop- 
ular than they are now and the 
Shakespearean repertoire was sup- 
plemented by more modern plays in 
similar vein; 'Spartacus,' 'Ingomar' 
and that ilk. The Dazian costuming 
was not only effective, but authentic. 
He costumed practically all of the 
iriiportant productions, including 
those by Edwin Booth, Lawrence 
Barrett, Richard Mansfield, Helena 
Modjeska, and at the same time his 
credit line Was appended to thib cur- 
rent circus ' programs, to which he 
supplied costumes for the then im- 
portant street parades and grand 
entree, forerunner of the current 
spectacle. 

He did not confine his activities to 
his . business alone. He. was an im- 
portant personage in the theatre and 
for 3.0 years had been a trustee qt 
the Actors' Fund; He was also one 
of the earliest.iriembers of the Lambs 
Club and, during, the regime Of 
Maurice Grau at the Metropolitan 
Opera, he; was one of the directors 
and as such he erigineeried the con- 
tract which brought Enrico Caruso; 
to this country. Follo>ying the death 
of the impresario; he was one of the 
two trustees of the Grau estate^ He 
was a director of the Excelsior SaV'^ 
ings Bank, arid of the old Commer- 
cial Trust Co., and associated With 
Al Hayman and William H, Rose in 
real estate trarisactions, largely the- 
atrical* 

His first wife was Eriima Berg, 
opera siriger, whprii he met through 
his connection with the Metropol- 
itan. 

His only suryivor Is a niece, Mrs. 
W. W. Cohen. 




Believing that the adriiisslons tax 
regulations covering tickets resold 
by agencies is. not tionstitutional, a 
group of brokers has gotten together 
to teist the law. They conte^nd that 
a ^tax upon a . tax' is illegal, 
havd. retained Briice Crariier, 
attorney of Washington, to start pro- 
ceedings. Most of those in the group 
are slated to appear tomorrow (13) 
for hearing on the charge of failure 
to stamp tickets sold .at a premium. 
Government men who treated the 
ticket lads roughly, however, are 
claiming that they withheld this part 
of the tax at least, as specified un- 
der the regulations. 

While the pj'esent move may 
haive an effect on the Federal 
Vestigation; the case^ if decided in 
favor of the ticket men; would prevent 
future embarrassment to them. Con- 
tention is applicable mostly to tick-, 
ets' interchanged by.^ the, various: 
agencies. Tickets may . pass through 
two or three brokers before reach- 
irig the purchaser; EaCh agency 
tilts the price a dollar. 

Regardless of the fact that 30c. is 
paid by the box office On a $330 
ticket, the broker is supposed to pay 
the collector additional cpi oyer 
10% of the abtual total, received. 
That is what tAie ticket, men say the 
Federal people Claim and explains 
:why the government figures a lot of 
money coming from the brokers, 

One of the curiosities of the law is 
that ' When a ticket printed with a 
$3.30 price is sold Under the price, 
the full 10% on the established rate 
is {payable. Brokers say if that is 
the intent of the law* not more than 
10% secured over the price should 
bis collectable. 

Tax law has never been to. the 
highest courti When -former U. S, 
District Attorney (jharles Tutlle In-, 
vestigated the ticket Situation some 
years ago, there was a partial com- 
promise in which the ticket men 
agreed not to test the Xayr. How- 
ever, it cost the brokers plenty* 



Lehore Ulric Injured 

Lenore Ulric, legit actress. Is in 
the ;i)pctors' hospital, N. Y„ suf 
fering from a" foot irijury that may 
possibly cripple her for life, 

Actress recently arrived frOm the 
Coast and had beeti staying at her 
home in Westchester. 



Maurice Evans Wins 
N. Y. Drama League's 
Third Annual Award 



Third annual award of the Drama 
League of New York for the most 
distinguished performance of the 
season, announced at a luncheon at 
the Hotel Pierre, N. Y., yesterday 
(Tuesday), went to Maurice Evans, 
English actor, for his performance in 
•King Richard II,* at the St. James, 
N. Y. Actor's plurality was revealed 
as 485 points. Others receiving 
votes were John Cielgud, for 'Ham- 
let'; Marta Abba, for 'Tovarich'; 
Burgess Meredith, for 'High Tor'; 
Ruth Gordon, for 'The Country 
Wife* and Henry Tr avers, for 'You 
Can't Take It with You.' 

Katharine Cornell did not receive 
any votes, although she won the 
award two, years ago and was run- 
ner-up last year. Helen Hayes won 
it last year. Evans is the first male 
actor and the first foreign-born ac- 
tor to win. Daniel Frphmari pie- 
serited the award and John Golderi 
was master ceremonies at iho 
lUncheori. 



DILUNGHAM PUYS 
ARE SOLD AT 



The rights in 111 plays, operettas; 
arid musicals owned by the late 
Charles B. Dillingham were disposed 
of at auction yesterday (Tuesday), to 
a group of theatrical personages in- 
cludirig Irving Berli , Oscar Ham- 
jnerstein, 2d, and Jerome Kern. At- 
torneys represented the buyers. The 
sale was held before Federal Bank- 
ruptcy Referee John E. Joyce in the 
N. Yi Federal building. The pui- 
chasing bid was $10,500. 

Sale, of the Dillingham property 
was done at the request of the Irv- 
irig Trust Co. as trustee of the late 
producer's estate for liquidation pur- 
poses. Other bidders were attor- 
neys fOr the Hollywood Plays,. Inc. 
which started the auction with a 
bid of $1,100, and the Shuberts, who 
went as high as $4,000 and then, 
dropped. 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



LEGITIMATE 



VARIETY 



55 



LEGIT BECKONS HOLLYWOOD 



— 



lambs Club Group Supports Blunkall 





The Lambs Club is. back in Equity 
supporting (E. j.) 

lunkall, the only candidate oppos- 
ing Frank Gillmore for the presi- 
pf the associ was 
intensely interested in Equity during 
the actors strike of 1919, but for the 
past 10 years cbncentrated on 
holding its own to- 
gether, its ranks having been de- 
pleted by the depressi 

Lanibs group has taken offices at 
55 west 42nd street on the. grounds 
that the election is riot a club affair. 
There is a committee for the third, 
party slate which also has nine can- 
didates for the council and there is a 
'.platform. For the council the third 
party has named Jack Norworth, Hal 
Forde, Jack Byrne, Earl Mitchell, 
l^ae Buckley, ,James Spottswood," 
Victor . Morley, Mabel Taliaferro and 
John Ravold. It endorses three can- 
didates ;0n the . regular ticket: Wil- 
liam Gaxton, Fi-anklyn Fox and Wal- 
ter Greaza. . . 

Progressive Party 

Calling itself the Equity Progres- 
sive Ticket has a slate which' em- 
phasizes reforms in Equity's general 
policy. It . seeks youth in the asso- 
ciation but wants 'selective youth' 
. which, is expected to give something 
to the theatre, not merely any tyro 
having the money for the initiation 
fee. 

Conditions, in the Works Progress 
Administration's Theatre Project 
will be cleianed up, if the third party 
has its way. -Progressives want. pro- 
fessionals in the Federar theatre's 
key positions so that 'actors will be 
iven parts to play instead of being 
supers, while amateurs play the 
paftis/ lt being charged that WPA is 
. (Continued on page J59) 



'Who's Blunkall?' 



Minnie Dupree was listed 
among the third party candi- 
dates for Equity's council but 
declared she had not consented 
to run. Actress, called at the 
association's office, asking: 'WhP 
is n.Blunkall?', who. heads the 
ticket and opposed Frank Gill- 
more for the presidency. 

Miss bupree's name was 
taken from; the list and Earle 
Mitchell • substituted. 






WITH PA'S 



THUMBS WEST 
DUE IN JUNE 



It is expected that the court action 
started on the Coast restrai ing the 
.priesentation of Thumbs West,' an 
intimate is 
week and the show Will be readied 

roadway. 

inances delayed the 

show, announced by Herbert Bar- 
num Seeley, but the coin end has 
been straightenisd dVit. W. k. con- 
tractor was to have been Seeley's 
partner, hut backed out when, the 
young manager refused, to engage a 
femme lead of questionable talent. 

Seeley inherited a bankroll, but it 
is .mostly tied upi in a trust fund ad- 
mistered by an uiicie who resides in 
a mansion -spotted in the middle of 
the .. principal park: of Bridgeport, 
Conn, ■-. Uncvle is opposed to See- 
ley's theatrical aspirations and has 
refused to release any .rnoney for the 
'West' , production. Seeley the 
great grandson of P. T, Barnum; His 
father drew wide attention by toss- 
ing a fabulous dinner in Niew York, 
Seeley has been interested in other 
shows arid last seasion was in on 
Stri Girl,', which played briefly. ' 



A meeting between Leiague of New 
Vork Theatre arid the vriew p.ress 
agents group, held to consider a 
working ' agreement, resulted in the 
matter being put oyer until attor- 
rieys straightened . but the phrase-, 
olbgy of ; the instrumerit. Managers 
are said to have expressed rio objec- 
tion to the minimum salary provi- 
sion of $100 weekly, since the better 
known p.a/s are paid more. 

There are. other provisions calling 
for pay for preliminary work, al- 
though most p.a.'s claim they have 
receiyied salary for such work. There 
is also a mi iplum of two weeks pay, 
Understood that the TMAT also pro- 
poses to . have company managers 
paid for Work done prior to open- 
ings. .Number of producers have not 
pilt their company niariagers on the 
payroll unless the show is operating 
and have not paid for work after 
closings. 

New NYTPA group does not; - 
lieve its membership. to be important 
to the managers, agents and treas- 
urers union because they are in the 
minority. There are around 40 riiem- 
beirs in p,a.. association, but only 
12 or 15 are corisecutively engaged. 
Others flu in with jobs maga 
zines and other publications.. 



EQUITY CANDIDATE 
DEADLINE REACHED 



Deadline for filing petitions plac- 
ing candidates in the field for Equity 
office or council was- last night 
(il). It had been stated that Fri 
day (14) was the last day for .filing, 
it being 20 days prior to election 
(June ,4) under the. rule^. Council, 
however, wanted more tiriie so that 
the ballots could be prepared 



Only Leading Authors Haye 
Pr6spei>ied Under 5-Year 
Asreeihent Preyenting 
Film Co. Backing on 
B*way Is Claim- — Lesser 
Playwrights May Force 
Dramatist Guild Actibn 



SEEK WAY out 



Undercurrent , within the brama- 
tists Guild calls for changing the 
five-year agreement en tiered into la^t 
spring with th^ managers. The idiea 
is to beckon back Holly wood tp the 
legit theatre because it is claimed 
the new set-up is not working out 
to the berieifit of a majority of au-, 
thors. 

The average playwright contends 
that the new contract is okay for the 
standout authors, but that many 
plays which . might have been prer 
serited this jsason were left on the 
shelf by producers who did' not care 
to invest, coin Withbiit Hollywood 
participation. 

The complaint h^s not been heard 
at the Gqild meetings, but the so- 
called lesser playwrights- insist that 
they have been shuffled but by, the 
methods of those top-notchers. Prob- 
ably unknown to the latter, a groiip 
of protestants haye been talking 
things .over and planning a way to 
woo back picture cbirii to Broadway; 

The Guild is reputedly controlled 
by certain dramatists, who are active 
in the Guild's executive board. The 
rules by which. it- operates do not 
permit a goodly percentage of the 
membership to (express their bpiri- 
ibns. That is explained by the fact 
that -there are two classes .of mem- 
bers and associate members are not 
permitted tb vote, 

Last Seasoih 

When the Guild and the managers' 
fought it piit last season, it was 
claimed by showmen that if the pic- 
ture people were alienated from 
stage production, the reaictiori would 
directly affect the average dram 
atists. That seems to have proven 
true in some instarices. Hollywood 
has backed a number of shows this 
isieason, biit the deals had been made 
prior, to the old contract's expira 
tion, 

. Leading authors never believed 
that picture people would lay 
off Broadway, insisting- that 'they 
wouldn't stick- to the agreement of 
the leading film, producers who oh 
jected to certain regulations and re- 
strictions imposed* One angle which 
irked Hollywood, first. Was the 
raising of the authors' percentage bf 
picture rights frbm, 50% to .60%, 
after had been declared by Guild 
leaders that the even split would not 
be changed.. Legit managers iseerned 
less disturbed over the lift, although 
they have been rnbre directly af 



Third party filed Monday, namirifi i'"^->' ""^^ "'"^e uneuiiy ai- 

candidate for office (BlunkallTljtScted m receivmg a lesser share 



Sl L. Calls If a Season 

is, May .11. 
American theatre, .town's only, 
legit house, has. closed • for season,: 
which was best since 1929. . Opening 
in October, American entertained 14 
road shows, a gain, of. four over pre- 
vious 

Standouts, from b.o. point of view, 
were 'Follies,' 'Idiot's Delight' and 
'Jane Eyre,' with .'End of Summer' 
•incl 'Pride and Pr .ludice' doin'g bet- 
than average biz. 



one 

arid a council slate. -Independents 
have rib names other than couricil 
candidates. All three tickets wjll be 
printed on ballot with blank spaces 
should the ticket be split. Under- 
stood that should any further 
didates spring .up before the official 
deadii ,- a .separ.ate ballot would be. 
mailed put; 



Joe Cook Plots Legit 
Appearance on B'way 



Joe 
for a 



Indianapolis, May .11.. 
Gook came into. Indianapolis 
two-day- Stay as headliner -at 
Indiaria Bankers' Ass'n banquet. 
Sneaked in for quiet hotel session 
in preparing his material for local 
appearance; Said tob much confu-, 
sion around hi uch, publicized es 
tate. 

Confided he has hopes of makinf; 
necessarjf. arrangements for straight, 
legit appearance in fall in New Yorlt. 
in play recently Completed by Clar- 
ence Budington Kelland. 



Equity s Indies Appose 
h Council Representation 




There is some iridicatibn that picture 
rights sales have tapered off, but for 
the plays wanted exceptiprially high 
prices have beieri ..paid this season, 
with the authors getting the breaks 
If there are to be any changes, in 
the agreeriient they .should be rnade 
before suriimer, ' showmen say, so 
that prbductibn plans for next, sea 
son' could be more concrete. There 
is provision, -n the agreement, and its 
supplementary rules which soured 
Hollywood. A joint committee of au 
thors ■ arid, manageris. has the' power 
to make , revisions, bi.it the commit: 
, tee has rarely gone . into .ses.sipn, 




aigii 



Still Guessing 



Though the picture rights of 
'Excursion' brought $125,000 
frbm Metro, the play at the 
Variderbilt, N, .Y., has npt lived 
up tp the, rave rating given it 
by. the critics. Fantasy, now i 
its sixth week,, has drawn 
moderate . grosses, its takings 
last weiek being around .$lQ,OpO. 

Management is still ponder- 
ing over the reason for the re- 
views". When, reading the rip:* 
tices one. of thie staff described 
hiis emotions 'slightly 
startled,' with others more so. 



ERNST AT ODDS 
WITH TURNER 
AT 




Mori-is: Ernst, one of the attorneys 
from whom Paul N, Turner, Equity's 
counsel, secured an opinion as to the 
meaning of the proposed amendmeint 
pn secret balloting, is reported' up- 
set, over Turner's alleged distortion 
of his comments. .Ernst is . id tp 
have asked the Equity official tb 
send. to the hvembers by mail his ac- 
tual ideas. He also wants it pub- 
lished in the Equity house prgan that 
the amendment might mean that 
even motions to adjourn be secretly 
voted on, which appears to have 
been the burn-iip reacti . 

Amendment, now in process bf 
referendum, has been quibbled over, 
say its proponents, ppinted but that 
the coristitutibn provides for parlia 
hientary rules at meetings, also the 
procedure as set fprth. in Cushing's 
Maiiiual. Prpposed amendment Would 
not upset either prpvisipn and it is 
further claimed that the . frequent 
riiention, of referendum and election 
in the draft indicates that fPr such 
issUes only would secret voting ap 
ply. Changes first made by Turner 
arid then the committee tepresentirig 
the petitioners resulted, in the 
amendment's phrasing being less 
clear than when x)riginally written. 



BURGESS MEREDITH 
PAINFULLY INJURED 



Burgess Meredith, featured in 
'High Tor' at the Martin Beck, N, Y., 
fractured a rib and. was severely 
bruised last Thursday (6) night. He 
has not missed any performances of 
the Maxwell Anderson play. 

Actor's mishap occurred when he 
tripped on loose board and fell down 
a flight of Btaiirs at the Manhattan 
O. H./ N. Y,^ where he was attending 
a benefit ^ance given by "The Eter- 
nal , Road' cast for Spanish Loyalists, 



With Equity's electlbn nipre thaa 
three weeks away It is i 
the indejperident or Pppbsiti 
(formerly Actors' Forum), while 
having no idates officers,, 
will iricrease i .representation oil 
the coi^ncil. Conceded that if the 
grpup. elects soriie of its candidates 
to that body, younger . eleriient 
would be in a positiori to cause 
plenty of interesting' council 
and maybie ' force change;?, even 
though the regular, ticket should 
placed its officers ' for 
three-year term.. 

Nominating /committee in retai 
Ing the same bfflcers on the regular 
ticket, the expected, but the 
selection of council, candidates was 
a surprise, since there were included 
names of players • selected by the 
opposition last season. For that rea- 
son the bPpositiori eridbrscd five on 
the regular , ticket and even -shpul 
it not elect any of, its own: ticket, 
will be" sure to have a stronger coun- 
cil represeritationi Admi istrati 
said the regular ticket was satisfac- 
tory. Opppsitlon figures the nomi- 
nating' committee made sohie Bolec- 
tibns as a. sop to. its side. Despite 
that, the group .was dissatisfied with 
the committee becau.se the adminis- 
tration electioneered f()r its selcc- 
tipns, while it did not, furtheir thaii 
to present a petition 1th over 500. 
names asking for ,a 'democratic'. com- 
mittee. 

Third Party 

Cliances of the third party's ticket 
which has one officer, E- J. BUinkall, 
and a cpuhcUislate are not Indicated, 
(Gontinued -on page 59) 



TMATPIKHING 
HERS DRIVE 



Elmer Kenyoii Ailing 



* Kenyon, press agent for the 
Anierican .Theatre Council, re- 
covering in a. Pittsburgh hp.spital 
from an operation, for gallstones 
Was" taken .suddenly ill and -rushed 
to his home town for the operation. 

A.tfent has headed number of road 
toil r.s for the Guild, last being 'Ciill 
It a Day' earlier thiis season. 



Cheryl Crawford Gets 
Hardie Albright Play 



Cheryl, Crawford iU .start off . her 
legit production schedule pri her own 
next .sea.sori via a play by 1- 
brigJit, picture and legit actor. It's 
untitled, and is beihg fixed up and 
cast how. Lee Strasbui:g Will .direct. 

Miss Crawford and Strasburg were; 
,ori the executive board of the Group 
Theatre jfbr the past few years,, but 
both pulled but recbnll.y tP go on 
their owri. 



'90 SaOs' for B'way 



Hpllywood, May . 11. 
W. P. Lip.scoriib will ari-ange for 
a roadway, presentation of his play, 
' , iriety Sails,' before returning to 
England. 

■writer now i.s toiling on the .script 
of 'Beau Gestie' at Paramount. 



New applicants slricie the recent 
drive to unionize treasurers, press 
agentis and company managers, now 
total 160 in the office of the TMAT, 
which expects this number sap- 
proximate 200 by the end of the 
week. Most of those who filed have 
already received membership cards. 

Report that a deadline to join up 
had been set for last Saturday (8) 
proved to be/errPneouis. Union ex- 
plained it had offered a slight reduc- 
tion in dues ior those Who filed by 
May 15. Applicants must pay $10, 
half of which Is for initiation and 
the 'pthisr half pays the first three 
months' dues, a saying of brie dollar 
(dues are $2 monthly), Majority of 
those who have joined are box offlce 
people, 

Meeting, 'was held with a 
mittee from thie New Yprk Theatri- 
cal press Agents, referred to ..as 
'high hats,' after which a TMAT 
officer said they would have lo joi 
'or: else.' New p.a> iiSociation 
stated that there had been no ulti- 
maturii and a decision, would 
be reached until the 
clear its aims, opened its member- 
ship, lists and answered *tai 
queries. ■ So tat as the NYPA i 
cerried the TAIAT is very vague i 
what it proposes doing; 
, Deal whereby TMAT would fu.s'e 
with the lATSE still hangs fire and 
may not be definite prie . way or an- 
other for several weeks; iThose who 
contacted James J. Brennan, presi- 
dent of the stage hands local, were 
referred to George Browne, head of 
the lATSE. Latter was out of the 
city, reported either in Chicagp. or 
ori the west -coast because of the 
studio strike. 

Company, managci's ah 
treasiirers have questioned the pro- 
priety of joining the uni on. the 
grounds that they are confidential 
employees or executives,. Union heads 
are said to have agreed that com^ 
pany managers, should be re- 
garded, but the TMAT claims that 
idea is out-moded. 



56 



VARIETY 



LEGITIMATE 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



Plays Out of Town 



SEA LEGS 



oston, May 11. 

Mualoal (ioinedy In two acts, based on fli 
play by .I>a\vrence' JohnsOn nnij Beulnh 
Kltip, Peuturlni? Dorothy Stone, Charles 
Culliii!!, Koscoe Atfes. Book and' lyrica by 
Arlliur - >S\Ynh3trom;. musle,. Michael. ' H. 
ClPHji'y; stdeed by; Bertram Harrison; 
dani-CH. by Johnny Mattlsori; settings, Mabel 
A. BUoll; musical' director, Frank Cork. 
I'rexentpa by "Albert Bannister and J; Kd- 
inund Byrne nt the Colohlnl, Boston,'.' May 

Jit. '37. 

Captain- Nordstrom. . .Charles King 
Mrs. Alyoe Wytoherly . ....... Mary Sargent 

George .\V. Tuttle. . . . . . . .Walter N. Greaza 

Jay Valentine, TuttlB;, ...Derek Falrjiinn 
MIKlrecl ..V . . . ; . . . . . Rosle, Moran 

Jiimes MeC'r . .Roscoe Ates 

Bill l^,alH<lny, Charles Coirin.s 
Jsoliel West. Kathryh MnyfleW 

tJarbara Deeds...;.. .;..Dorothy Stone 

Deedee ,>.. .i l', Decdee 

Pal , . . .... . .Patricia Knight 

Bi^n Yost's Catdllna. KIght. . . . .Themselves' 



A -two-act gabby musical with a 
smalt company, one set and a child- 
ish book is here for a week's tryout 
before a pi-6mised. opening oh Broads 
•way, 

; 'Sea Legs' has a company of smil- 
ing actors who couldn't possibly giet 
to first base with the mahy drab 
lines they have about a - cat named 
Henry the Eighth and a 16t of hack- 
neyed stuff about love. None of the 
tunes are naturals, but 'Opposite 
S?!x,' 'Catalina' and 'Wsike He 
With a Star' have a chance. There 
isn't a bright line- in the show, • al- 
though the costumes arfe fresh and 
the yacht set is excellent. 

Dorothy Stone was given a cordial 
welcome back to the musical Stage 
here, and her husband, Charles Col- 
lins, pleases as her leading . man. 
vRoiscoe Ates' stiittering amuses for 
awhile, but he has nothing to wofk 
with. Charles King, as the captain, 
makes the most of his role, as. do 
the others in the company.- 

K^tthryn Mayifield clicks m'cely 
with her vocal of 'Wake . Me With 
tt Star' and Rbsie- Moran. has several 
dance specialties, her acro-eccentric 

it in the first act being the best. 

Fox, 



ROOM SERVICE 

Baltimore, .May : 11. 

f'rtmedy In three nets by Jobn Murray 
and lien, Boretz; presented and directed 
by (; orge Abbott; settings, Clrkec .& ROb- 
bin.i; at the Maryland theatre, Baltimore, 
Mny 1(1, ':iT. S2.20 top. 
S.nHhd Smlrnolt ..... . v. ... . Alexander Asro 

Gordon MUIor ..,......,Snm Levcne 

Joseph Gribble .'...Cllir Dunstan 

Harry Binion .. .Philip I^oeb 

p!»Uer Englund ,.;...i,,......Teddy Hart. 

O.'Jrlstlne . Marlowe ....... argaret Mullen 

I^eo.DnvIs .Eddie Albert 

Hilda Monney .Betty Field 

Grcffory Wngner .........Donald MacBrlde 

KInion Jenkln.s i. Philip Wood 

TIniothy Hoffurth ............ ; .Ja6k Byirhe 

Dr. Glas.s ...... ......w v. .Hans Robert 

HiinK .Messenger William Mendrek 

Senator Ulnke .^..^^.......Italph Morehouse 



George Abbott, has turned to the 
story about th^. shoestring producer 
who finally produces a great hit, to 
turn in another hit for himself. It's 
a farhiliar theme of course, but giveji 
.the sure fire Abbott touch for laughs 
/Room Service' is bound to click on 
Broadway because it's strictly Broad 
way in , plot, characterization and 
idiom. 

Choosing his cast from former 
members of 'Three Men on a Horse,' 
^Boy Meets Gii-1' and 'Brother . Rat' 
Abbott has selected his characters 
as if the parts were written with 
these principals in mind and the re 
suit is a fast-nioving, skillfully piced 
comedy. With a sharpening of 
the second eict finale and the elim- 
ination of a blackout-to indicate pas 
sage of time in the third act, both 
tending to slow things up, play will 
easily bear comparison to the three 
above mentioned hits. 

Story doesn't count much, it's the 
treatment and incidental situations 
which carry the pace along at a 
•rnerry clip. .. 

Gordon Miller shoe string 

producer, all set with a script, di 
rector; cast, a six-week period of 



rehearsalsj but no .bank roll. Eris^ 
consed in a hotel "managed by his 
brother-in-.i.aw, (Grordoh . is on the 
cuff not only for his. own room and 
room service, but he has-movied ':n 
his entire cast, of 22 actors as well, 
so that they hang together waiting 
for the angel to appear. 

The brother-in-law. is having his 
oWn troubles squaring matters with 
an- efficiency man just, arrived and 
Miller adds insult to injury by 
checking iri his author as well, Just 
arrived from Oswego and' all set 
for a. session of big aiTie living as a 
successful . play Wright! ! 
Miller's giirl friend finally meets 
backer and everything seems 
set, the angel handing over his check 
for $15,000 only to get suspicious 
when the efficiency guy breaks in. oh 
the scene, and throws a most un- 
t i in e l.y monkey-wrench. They 
straighten him out, hbWiever, and he 
deposits the check with the hotel 
nianagement, meanwhile permitting 
withdraMvals against it for isceriery, 
costuines, piropevlies, etc' -Theatre is 
ho problem, as hotel cohveniently 
owns an, adjoining house as well; 

Promoters set out to get their opus 
on the boards in the five days neces- 
sary for the check to, clear. , Of 
coursie it botmces jiist as the curtain 
is about t(j go up. But, by- the grace 
of Messrs Murray. Boretz. and Ab- 
bott, ,jUie show i^des bri 'and,?rnot: only 
goes pn- ' but • bver,'*\vith-. «,all the 
wrinkles straightened out and every- 
body happy, at the,, last curtain; 

Not . a ver^ ~N»bri inal,. theme, 
but given. ,iithe;*s;fr^ it's a 

perfect setup thrpugK which A.b- 
bott can perform his familiar tricks 
of comedy and skillful tiitiing. There 
are wisecracks a plenty , and lines 
for the Broadway mbb;. Cast is uni- 
formly , good with especially good 
jobs turned in by Sam Levene^ 
Philip- Lo,^b, Eddife Albert, Teddy 
Hart, Donald MacBride and an ex- 
cellent bit by Alexander Asro as a 
Russian waiter, formerly of the 
Moscow Aft Theatre and still yearn- 
in i? for the footlights. 

Needs some sharpening in spots, 
but the makin,gs are there, and inr 
dicationS ; are t^at another hit has 
been born; Burm. 



TRAILER. HO 

Pittsburgh, May .7. 

University o( Pittsburgh Cap and Gown 
Club,pre.sents musical comedy in three acts; 
Book by G. Norman Reis, lyrics, aiid , music 
by Gus A.' Schnabel; ,Dr. Benjamin l>evnnt, 
John: St.' Peter, G.. Adrian -.Robson, Herbert 
Cohen,' Donald Joy.. Vernon Krahl, Sidney 
Rotutein, John Stephens, Charles Raugh, 
G. Norman; Rels. Xouls- M. Fushan, Leo 
Caflferty, Niok- Spanos, Robert Saffron and 
William Colker. rDlrected by Gene Kelly 
and Carl B. Cass.' At Nixon. Plttfiburgh, 
for one, week at !f2 top. 
• Cast; Leo' CafCertjr, Francis DevUti, Jack 
Hoevcler, Thomns Smith, Charles . Custer, 
John' Werry, Robert Marantz, Albert Bafr, 
Floyd NIcklas. Robert Graf, William Mur- 
ray, Hoffman, Alex Slobodlan, Hyman 
Leder.ilein, Albert Beacon, Milton Leder 
steloi John Danton; Sam Sothman.. WII' 
Ham Kunkel, . Robert Saffron, Nicholas 
Spunos, , Robert:. Crawford, ■ Karl Stark, Jim 
■Redgen. Beri . Slegel, Sidney Shore and 
Oscar OobdHteln. 



Pitt's annual Spring musical is the 
usual broad treatment of the inter 
collegiate scenie, with a bit of satire 
(Continued on page €3) 



ENGAGEMENTS 

Lowell Giimore, Kate Warriner, 
.Kathryn Collier, George Spaulding, 
Stanley G. Wodd, Francis SWann, 
Gordon Mills, Deer Tree theatre, 
Harrison, Me. (Permanent Co.). 

Tonio Seiwart, Philip Tonge, Dor^ 
othy Sands, Doris Dalton, Franklin 
Gray, Elizabeth Dean.Farrar, Perry 
Wilson^ Casino . theatre, Newport, 
R. I. (Permanent Co.). 

Johnny Culbertsbn, Eric Mathe 
son. Red. Bank Summer theatre. Red 
Bank, N. J. (Permanent Co.). 

iFlorence Barry, Joan Bancroft, 
Thomas E, Tracey, Stapletbn Kent, 
'Damaged Goods,' 




PLAYS ABROAD 



AND OH WE GO 

Londbn, May 1. 
Revue tii two pkrla of 10 scenes each; 
presented by Paul Murray; production de- 
vjHed and staged by Robert NesWtt; book 
by Douglas Furber; lyrics, Desmond Car- 
ter; muslo. JlihmIe Rogers, Kenneth Leslie- 
Smith, Dennis Van Thai, Arthur SCl»\vartz; 
dances' arranged by Freddie. Carpenter, Max 
Rivers; decor, Clifford Pember. Features 
June Knight.. Mlirle Lohr, David Hutcho- 
BMi, William Cavanagh, Chnrle;* Heelop, 
Robert Llndon. ' Alan La^vrance, . Ja'mes 
Hayter. At the Savoy theatre, Xiondon, 
April a2i , r37. 



MAOlMOISELiE SHOES 

mad* axprettly for I. MILLER 



90 

6.95 and 7.95 



iill I I C^N. "^•!"'s'''^'f^"*' Shoes: not h 562 Filth Avenue Slorei 
■MILLCiV) S63rimiAVE. 450FIFfHAVt 49W.34lhST 




If the first night's receptibn is any 
criterion, this revue is in for an ex- 
tended run.; While th€>re are spots 
in it that are Very weak, there s a 
good deal that is wbrthy of favorable 
mention, including the artistic pro- 
duction and costuming. Individual 
analysis bf .'the numerous scehes 
would only sum up to the afore- 
mentioned statement that a good 
deal of it is; good and some of it not 
quite up to standard; 

Somewhat of va sensation was ere- 
ated by casting Mairie Lohr, one of 
London's legitimate actresses, in the 
role pf a French can-can dancer. 
Plump, dignified and sbme.what ma- 
tronly in . appearance, this revolu- 
tionary bit bf casting set the first 
ni.ght audience aghast.. 

■The leading lady: is June Knight, 
American, one of the few musical 
comedy soubrets who sings with a 
strict adherence to the key. She 
also dances delightfully. 
. David Hutchesori, a tall, itianly 
'clown,? who singSr dahces and doe^. 
comedy and farce; should be okay 
for the U. S. 
Music is tuneful in spots. Jolo. 

JOSEPH II 

Vianna, April 23. 

Drama In ieight scenes by Rudolf Heinz, 
produced by' Burgtheatre. Viennu; sets, 
Franz-, erterlch. . 
Joseph 11. aoiii- Asian' 

ISlizabeth • von Hntvany 

Pope Plus . . . ; . . ..... ; . . . tto Tressler 



Piay depicts part of the life of the 
happy-unhappy Emperor Joseph II, 
who was misunderstood, by his peo- 
ple, carrying 'emancipation' too far. 
Religious and racial minorities in 
the former dual, mionarchy hailed 
him as their, savior. 

Raoul Asian here adds his sixth 
Hibsburg role to his parts. Asian 
blaims he likes this rble l>est of all, 
because he need hot change his 
facial iexpressions, he looks , like 
Joseph II. Valerie vpn • Hatvany 
takes the leading female part of 
Elizabeth of Wurtemberg. Though 
historically somewhat blurred, Eliza- 
beth' is shown as the emperor's 
greatest help. She dies two days be- 
fore the Emperor, an incident which 
the author describes. as 'triie love.' 

Otto Tressler plays thie part of the 
Pope, who opposed Joseph's ideas. 
State-owned Burgtheatre is the only 
legit where the person of the Pope 
may be named on the; program. 

Maass. 



UVEGHINTb 

('Glass Coach') 

Budapest, April 22. 

Comedy In three acts by Lajos Blbo at 
National Theatre. Budapest. 

Cast: Brzsi, Somogyl, Jull.xka LlKell> 
Joseph Kurtby, Arpad Lehotny, AtLlla 
Pelheo, ZoUan Hosazu. 



National excels in the staging of 
peasant comedies, of purely local in- 
terest; This one has to do with an 
upstart nouveau riche peasant 
woman whb wants a gentleman for 
a son-in-law. a glass coach, and a 
position i^in society. Shrewd husband 
cures her by pretending to risk 
money in pursuits of these aims, 
whereupon the wife comes to her 
senses and is content to stay in her 
peasant surroundings and keep her 
mbney. 

Devoid of interest for fbrei^ers, 
but it's the sort of thing that the Na- 
tional turns out i to perfection. Good 
clean fun. Jacobi. 



LONTANAZA 

('Distance') 

Rome, ril 30. 

Play In six scenes by Francesco P.'imI- 
nettl; 7)roduced at •Unlvpr.>;|tv' theatre, 
Rome; directed by Nino Meloni; fealiirinj; 
Murlo Plsu, Nlni TrucclH, Ko.Mett,-i (r.-ilji- 
yett,n, . Cella .Bern.icchl, iiSoe rncroiOi, ..MiirlH 
Teresa Guerra; 



hside Stdf-LegH 



This play was chosen for distinc- 
tion by the permanent committee oh 
literature of the Italian Society of 

. Authors and. Editors, It presents ah 
original situation in an orj inal way. 

.There, aire si:f characters in the 
play, a man and five women— and 
the story trades his relatiohship with 
eath of the women in turn. One by 

. bne the four -girls, who live together 
i the little valley surrounded by 
high mountains, fall in love; with 
Ludovici, each in her different way. 
Chiara, whb is paralyzed, undei-- 
stands him best perhaps, and would 
be able to give him most. Two of 
therh are conventional and bound up 
with the little things of everyday 
life. And Silvia, the youngest, 
doesn't have the courage to go with 
him. 

He goes away^ and in a far port 
finds another woman who is not 
(Continued bn page 62) 



It was iihnounced that Metro bbught the picture rights to 'Lost Horizons;' 
drama presented by Rowland* Stebbins (Laurence Rivers, Inc,) for $15,000 
but it cost the film firm double that siun. Stebbins was interested in the 
play originally subniitted by Harry Segall, but did not accept it for pres- 
entation until other authors revised the iscript. In the interim Segall went 
to Holly wbod and advised the manager that he had sold the play oiitri 
to Metro for $15,000. 

Deal with Metro tb prbduce the. play was then made by Stebbins and a 
regular author's contract was entered into, with Metrb named as the au- 
thor When the matter of film rights arose Metro clainned it had not re- 
linquished that perqtiiisite but the contract failed to indicate that point 
and it looked as thbugh someone in the film oftice put-smarted . himself. 
Matter was settled last week when Stebbins was paid $15,000. Stage pro- 
duction was costly, iiig With the show in- the, red for $70,000. It played 
the St. James, N. ., in the fall of 1934. 



Charles Washburn, who is press agent for the George Abbott attrac- 
tions, has entered into an agreement with the manager not to publicize 
other shows or pictures. The p.a.'s salary is tilted for each additional 
Abbott production. Manager is figuiring pn running three shows bn Broad- 
way during, the summer, he currently presenting 'Boy Meets Girl' and 
'Brother Rat,' vyrith 'Room Service' due into the Cort next week. 

Washburn's latest literary effort, 'Press AgentryJ has been published 
by the National Library Press. Volume is describe(J. as .'a practical hand- 
book on pixblicity,' author having designed it as a guide for those planning 
to enter that profession. He says theire are 25,000 press agents in New 
York, most of whom started in newspaper offices. Opinions of a number, 
of editors bn p.a. methods are included, in the book. 



. Sudden departure of Alexander Leftwich from 'Orchids Preferred,* for 
which he staged the .book, is reported to have resulted from an altercation 
with .Charles H. Abramson, . show's presenter. According to the story the 
lie was passed -and: then sbme punches/ with Leftwich said tb have been 
knocked fromi the stage to the oirchestra pit. Episodie happened in Newark, 
where the show played last. week. . after being mysteriously banned i 
Philadelphia. 

Jose Ruben was called in for the dirjecti Musical opened ait the 

Iinperiai, N. Y., Tuesday (11). 



Supplementary proceedings which had been started oh behalf of Laur 
Pierpoht, widow bf Taylor Granville, Who was awarded $5,600 on a 20- 
year-bld judgment against . Sarn Grisman have been . discontinued. Manager 
has appealed the decision but has signed two notes for $3,500 which will 
be accepted, in settlement in the event he loses the appeal; 

Judgment was for $2,500, but when Grisman remarked he did riot think, 
he oWed the money, court a'warded the full amount plus interest,, which: 
amounted to more" than the claim. Frederick Er Goldshiith represented 
the. widow;. 



Father of Barney Klawans, who manages the legit department for War- 
ners, went abroad last week and was clipped for $350 just before the boat 
sailed. He had a concealed. pOcket on the inside of his coat contai ing 
passport and letter of credit but his wallet with the coin was in a back 
trousers pocket. 

Klawans radioed pop that he had fotind the wallet inl his motor car, just 
to save the pater from worryin 



Jack Norworthis the only Lamb who has been given permission to Wear 
his hat when in the club. Says his wife has been trying, to get him to doft 
the lid around the hoiiSe for 14 years but. no. dice. Norworth is an in- 
veterate ciid chewer, and so is »Fred Allen. Former says only one store' in 
New York sells Allen's brand and plains buying up all the stock so Allen 
will have to put hiin bn as , guest star. 



William Gaxton was. presented with a cigarette humidor by the" directors 
of Suydenham hospital in appreciation of his work in arranging a recent 
benefit performance. Show grossed $20,000. 

Actor received an -accompanying letter from Simon Bergman, chairman 
of the committee and said, it was the finest token he ever got from any 
benefit he played. 



Unusual similarity in play titles is showing itself on Biroadway this 
month. Federal 'Theatre: Project's experimental unit is presenting Paiil 
Green's one-acter, 'Hymn to the Rising Sun' at the Ritz theatre, N. Y., 
at special matinees. 'Kneel to the Rising Suh,' adapted by Peter Marti 
froni Erskine Caldwell's stoiy, is to be produced shortly by an amateur 
group calling itself the Show Shop. 




Hymn to the Rising Sun 

Play, in one ai't, by Piiul Green, Presented 
by WPA Federal Theatre Projoof s experi- 
mental .unit. .Staged by Arun Foxnian; set- 
tlnf;.«, Robert Clie.i'tov and Theodore Fuchsi 
On. the .s.inie bill with 'I'nlo yucli Glory,' 
in one act, also by Paul Green; sl;aged by 
Miinhy Mn Isoff; •,\\ foiir sporial matinees, 
starting . May (t, at the RUz th atre, 

N.- y. AdiniKslon by Invitatloii only; 



Bright P.oy . . 
Pwi'riy (Jnt'es . . 
White Man 
Fir.st Guiivd 

Cook .:. . i . . . 

Captain • 

Hopi>)' 

Ciireli'.... iyove. . 
Second Guard. . 
Runt 



, .AYjiIler O'Keeffe 
. . Albert Patrick, 
hiirles. Thompson 
, . . Sidney Verekcr 
■.Ba.vid Wooavvard 
IjOiiis Polfin 
"Ivan Lewis. 
...Tack Curry 
rthur Sh.npkett 
anley •Williams 



FTP DIRECTORS MAY 
NOW PICK OWN CASTS 



Com-lcts.: e'rb TJIiei-liart, Geor«e Wbitti'hg 
ion; IMilllM Hilton, 'Henry Robovls, John 
Uorry, Anthony Heath, Gebriie' 'Vessncr. 
: Hercy.- Antlvony Heath'. CScovge Yossner. 



WPA Federal Theatre has Worked 
out a new system through which di- 
rectors may personally cast their 
productions, rather than take the 
actors assigned to 'em in biilk by the 
brass hats in the organization. 

Into effect is week is what the 
FTP terms ia ' All the trouper? 

awaiting spotting are li 
day and stagers 
o.b; !ern with, ah feyje to type- 



Uiito Such Glory 



Brother .Slmpklns 
lyiihle .Knnls ■ . . . . , 

U'tUt EiliilH.. . . 

Jodie ... , . .' ; . ; . ,,; , 

tsu't Mil.': ' 



...I. will Oeer 
, . . , :MHry Bell 
. . Odwiird Segal 
.'■"Curl Is Parker 
avid Wood wii'rd 



Two shOii plays by Paul Green are 
offered by -the Experimental Gi-oup 
of the WPA Federal Theatre for four 
special invitation matinees, with the 
possibility that, if liked, they will ber. 
come a regular double bill, presented 
nightly by the FTP. This pair oi one- 
acteisi by the southern playwright, 
who already has a Pulitzei- Prize to 
his credit, is contrasting in moods 
and formulae. 'Hymn to the Rising 
Sun' is an. unadulterated little drama 
of chain gang oppression; illuminated 
by some of Green's best writing to 
date.. Its Companiorf piece is a some- 
what ihawkish trifle,, in a comedy, 
vein, concerning a revival meeting 
preacher , whio almost seduces a triistr 
ing member of his flock.. 

Both plays are excellently acted 
< Continued on page 62 ■> 




ChiEZ PAREE, 
ICAlSd 



THEATRICAL MAID 

Picture and stage, with e.vcellent 
exnerlpnce. Very ' neat, (lulcli: - onti 
punctual. F,\celleiU- reference.*, 

Write R. M. 
IfMin Xtii Avoniie, New 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



tEGItlMATE GROSSES 



VARIETY 



57 




Hot s Delighf Scrams at 
'Can't Take If Grabs 131/26 m L 



, Chicago, May . 11. 

Iioop slides to a single show cur- 
rently, with only *Vou C^h't Take It 
with You' surviving. Two shows de- 
camped on Saturday (8), those going 
out heinig 'Close. Quarters' after two 
hrutal weeks and 'Idiot's Delijght' 
after four walloping b.o, sessions. 

However, on next Monday (17): 
the loop list wiU iiiake it a couple 
when Katharine Cornell comes into 
the Grand with a two-play reper- 
toire, 'Winjglesg Victory' and the 
Bernard Shaw 'Candida' fevival. 
Estinuites for Last Week 

'Close Quarters.' Selwyn (1,000; 
|2.75). Scrammed on Saturday (8) 
■after two said sessions, finishing to 
Uiider $3,000. Couldn't get started 
on bad notices and comments.: To 
Toronto for a week and then folding 
for ttie summer, with Philip Meri- 
vale and (Sladyis Cooper, co-starred, 
reported going to Europe for a 
couple of months. Nothing set for 
the house to follow. 

'Idiot's DeUffht/ Erianger (1.400; 
$3.30). Out after four , capacity 
weeks. Got top coin here In years 
!bn admission; getting $3.30 at night 
arid $l75 during the matinees as op- 
posed to regular admission tariff for 
dramatic shows of $2.75 and . $2.20. 
Bang-up finish at $22,000. House 
. goes to . films .with the arrival of 
Captains Courageous' (MG). 

•Yod Cant Tiike It with f qu,' Har- 
ris (1,000; $2.75) (14th week). Im- 
proved nicely, with Pulitzer Prize 
award aiding somewhat. Around 
$13,500, all right. 

WPA 

'Lonely Man,* BTackstone. Sched^ 
tQed to. get going tomorrow (Wednesr 
day). 

. 'Mississippi Balnbow,* Princess,. 
Advertising, last weeks. . 

'0 Say Can - Tou Sine?' Great 
.Northern. Still rehearsing revised 
version; 

"Dead -End' Indpls. $4,200 

Indianapolis, May 11. 
'Dead End,' here at the English 
theatric for three evening performi- 
ances and a matinee (3-4-5) did only 
moderately well at the box office to 
gross approximately $4,200 at $2.75 
top. 

Lack of public patronage- could 
not be blamed on paper cricks, who 
made it a'trio to sing the praises of 
the play. 



ONE SHOW OUT 



"The Eternal Road,' which is estir. 
mated having cost $500,000, will close 
at the Manhattan O. H. Sunday (16) 
after playinig 19 weeks. Biblical 
spectacle finally reached presenta- 
tion, after, being delayed Over a year, 
because the ori inal financing was 
Consumed. 
• Show* piled up considerable Oper- 
ating red ' before salaries and other 
expense items were, reduced. Lately 



'ETERNAL ROAD' 
Opened Jan. 7, '37. N. T.'t 
fli>st stringers were botli unani- 
moos and vociferons In their 
praise of Max Reinhardt's spec- 
tacle^ frequently reaching ecsta- 
eies in their criticisms. No di- 
Ter^ence of opinion In What all 
crlx took to be the last word 
in produiction. Brooks Atkin- 
son (Times) saw fit to 'under- 
stand and forgive the 10 post- 
ponements.' Gilbert Gabriel 
(American) called, it 'ah ex- 
perience as big and beaiitifui 
and deeply thrilling as the the- 
atre has managed, to devise.' 

Varikty (Ibee) thought prices 
high ahd possibility of an ' - 
.definite ran jiist a possibility. 



Ruth Draper's Cap 

Week Brings $7,500 

Wajshington,.Mj»y 11. 
.Ruth raper woiind lip first full 
week in Cap with approximately 
$7,500. igure is bhly slightly over- 
half last mid-season week rolled up 
by Cornelia Otis Skinner, but town 
is regular Skinner stop and she has 
nursed It carefully in. Miss Draper's 
absence. 

National playing Tollies' this week 
to wind up Cap's legit season. House 
goes pix next week with three 
stanzas of 'Lost Horizon' (Cbl) as the 
'finale^ 



it picked up and the irianagement 
has hopes that the road will return 
some of the enormous OUtliay. It is 
possible that after laying off 'Road' 
may resumie in New York for a short 
period. 

Show is the sole exception madie 
by Equity in its rule against. Sunday 
performances, ~ because of its relig- 
ious nature and brt that day 'Road' 
has drawn its best grosses. Sabbath 
matinees were particulai-ly ^bod, 

iih: nights, weak arid then disconr 



Volber Play 



incinnati. May 11. 
Lula Vollmer's latest play, 'The 
ill Between,' will have its premiere 
at the Cox, June 4 and 5. Announced 
as an Actors' Guild producti un- 
der direction of Owen Philli , it is 
being offered by Ralph Zimmerman, 
local impresario. 

Cast to include Earle 'Larimore, 
Therese Wittier and Ann Dunnigan 
and rehearsals to start here May 17. 




Week on Coast 



Los Angeles, May 11. 
Biltmore theatre continues to pile 
Up substantial grosses, and third 
week of 'Tovarich' held strong, with 
opus now in fourth and probably 
final stanza. 'Boy Meets Girl' folded 
at El Capitan (8) after weeks 
to excellent returns. 

Estimates for Last Week 
Tovarich.' Biltmore, Los Angeles. 
(D-1,656; $2.75) (3d week). Hit 
nifty $12,000 and should garner satis- 
factory lOG on final stainza. 
. 'Boy Meets Grirl,' El Capitan, Hol- 
lywood. (C-1,570; $1.65) (9th— final 
week). Held comparatively strong on 
final stanza' for oke $4,000. House 
dark until new piece can be readied. 
WPA 

'Tomorrow's a Holiday/ Mayan. 
Set to run until May 23. 

♦Blind Alley,' Hollywood Play- 
house. Gangster drama . starting to 
build ahd may run beyond original 
closing date, June 6. 

'Help Tonrself/ Mason. Repeat 
engagement after road show tour. 
With closing date set ior May 23. 



'Orcliids' $2,000 NSG 
At Shnbert, Newark 



Newark, May 11. 
.^Orchids Preferred,' neW musical 
with Eddie Foy, Jr., and Benay 
Venuta, which . Charles H- Abratrison 
rushed into the Shubert after police 
interference in Philadelphia, got off 
to a bad start with but one day's, 
advertising and the play still in the 
throes of rehearsals. Crix let it 
down gently, but b. b. never came 
to life. Very poor at approximately 
$2,000. 

Current attraction: In 
Tirst Lady.' 



Bankbead Tour Finale 
Grabs $5,500, Atlanta 



. Atlanta, May 11. 
Wmdmg up her tour of the hinter-- 
lands, Tallulah Bankhead gave three 
performances here last week in 
George Kelly's 'Reflected Glory' ahd 
grossed a neat approximate $5,500, in 
three, performancies at the Erianger 
theatre. 

: .Tollowing final, show Wednesday 
(5) the company entrained for N. Y. 




CAP & GOWN 7G 



ittsb.urgh. May. 11* 
Nixon uttered Saturday night 
(8) for the season, following a week's 
engagement of the annual University 
of Pittsburgh Cap and Gown show,. 
'Trailer, Ho,' jndirig up the most 
successful year the town's sole legit 
site hais had in almost a decade. 

Nixon looks for a late legit start 
next fall, with" three or foUr road- 
show pix practicaUy set to get under 
way late in August and wiir extend 
through most of September. ATS 
subscriptions for 1937-'38 are slow 
coming in since prospectus for the 
series, hasn't yet been outlined, with 
'Mascjue of Kings'. play thus 

far set. for subscribesr. 

Estimate for Last Week 
'Trailer, Ho' (Nixon; 2,100; $2). 
Annual Pitt Cap and Gown show 
topped figures for last five years. 
Around $1,200 window sale,, which 
gave musical gross of "approximately 
$7,000. Most of seats to these pro- 
ductions are sold on campus at cut- 
rates and through regularly-issued 
student booki5< 



TIRST LADY' $11,000 
OKAY IN BALTIMORE 



Baltimore, May 11. 

Waning season of legit here found 
'First Lady' getting a fair play at 
Ford's last week ringing fairly good 
$11,000.. Maryland, other legit house, 
tenanted the Columbia Opera Co. in 
a repertoire of ten operas in seven 
days at pop prices, and turned In 
$9,300 for its efforts, which was okay. 

George Abbotts latest attempt, 
'Room Service,' is the bill at the 
Maryland this week, ' with Ford's 
opening its sale for the 'Follies,' due 
in for week of May ,17, probably the 
finale of season, which has been .exr 
cellerit since inception. 

Estimates for Last Week 

•First Lady,' Ford's (1,988; $2.20). 
Got fairly okay $11,000. Good recep- 
tion from crix, and Jane Cowl rat- 
ing good local following, but season 
about through. In earlier might hiave 
accounted for more. 

Columbia Opera Co., Maryland 
(1,570; $1.65). Repertoire of ten 
operas in seven days at pop prices 
built nicely from opening with re- 
views favorable to capable if unr 
known singers, garnered at a satis- 
factory $9,300. 

'Barchester Towers,' a dramatiza-f 
tlon by Charles Pi Anthony, of An- 
thony Trollop's Cook by the same 
title skedded for next fall by Fred- 
erick W. Ayer and Bruce DeLette. 



B way Legiters 
Plus New 




Lending ci-edence to, optimism re? 
garding next legit season oh Eiroad- 
way, preparation of fall shows is get- 
ting Underway much earlier this 
year than customary. Several com- 
panies are already being cast. 

Although troupes won't go out until 
fall, two additional road companies, 
of 'You Can't Take . It With You' 
are being tentatively cast by Sam 
Harris office, with original., conipany 
firmly ehtrenched in 22d week at 
the Boothi N. Y;, and certain to stick 
well iiito fall, at least, and second: 
company in. 14th week in Chicago, 
third company will go to Boston and 
fourth will hit the southern trail. 

Original 'Brother Rat* " solidly 
set in 22rtd week at. the iltmore, 
N. Y., ith second company in .13th 
stanza in Boston and readying to 
hopi to the Coast. Abbott office is 
taking time put from rehearsing 
'Room Service' to cast third edition 
of 'Rat' for the south. 

Gordon office is setting .summer 
replacement players for 'The Wo- 
men,' another top grosser at the 
Ethel Barryinore, N. Y. Actiresses 
thus seasoned In the show will be 



formed into second; company to l^it 
Chicago in . the fall. 

Gilbert Miller headquarters ten- 
tatively is readying one and possibly 
two road troupes of 'Tovarich,' ori i- 
hal production of which is drawing 
heavily in Slst week at the -Ply- 
mputh, N. Y., with second troupe 
clicking, in Los Angeles.. 

Understood^ Marc Connelly is al- 
reaidy working pencil and paper to 
line up cast for a road edition, of 
'Having Wbnderful Time' for fall. 
Alfred de Liagrie, Jr., is expected 
to begin active casting, for one and 
probably two 'Yes, My Darling 
Daughter'- troupes When he gets back 
to N. Y. in July. Rowland Stebbins, 
in about a. month, will begin casting 
'The Astonished Ostrich' and 'Merely 
Murder' for fall debuts ori Broadway. 

The Shuberts are already casting 
several piroductipns for falC The 
Rockefellers are understood virtually 
ready to jump into production ot 
'Virginia,' the new Arthui: Schwartz- 
Laurence Stallings musical for the 
Center Theatre. Arid a number of 
others are already getting under way 
for next fall. 



Bmys Legit Season Nearing Finale; 
Grosses Taper; 'Road' Exiting at 24G 



"The waning legit season on Broad- 
way found most grosses slipping 
again last week, although attendance 
did perk up during the last half. 
That was attributed to an influx- of 

early vacationists, principally from 
the south. Was evidenced by 'crack- 
er' dialects over the telephone and 
at the box offices. 

.' Summer set-up has been somewhat 
disarranged and Hollywood is the 
principal cause. 'The Show Is On,' 
regarded a cinch stayer. Is an- 
nounced for its final weeks, with one 
of its leads due on. the Coast early 
in June. Some possibility of the 
revue holding on through next 
riionth, however. There is some in- 
decision over 'High Tor,' also, and, 
thPugh that plav has slipped, it was 
rated with the suinmer possibilities. 
Indications are the hot weather 



D'Oyly Bow Out 
$23 JQ in Hub; 
MGrahsSG 



Boston, May 11. 

This week finds 'Sea Legs,' a new 
musical, starring Dorothy - Stone, 
Charles Collins and Roscoe Ates try- 
ing out here: ahd 'Brother Rat,' a 
long'-termer (13 Weeks) nearing the 
end of a successful marathon. 

The D'Oyly Carte company wham- 
med with a four-week run of G & S 
repertoire, and swept up a total 
gross of about $&4,000 during the 
month's stay at the Colonial. 
Estimates :f or Last Week 

D'Oyly Carte, Colonial ($3.30; 4th 
week). • Finished four-frame date 
here in high gear, $23,700. Prac- 
tically solid all the way. Always a 
sock attraction for this town, 

'Brother Rat,' Plymouth ($2:75; 
13th weelc)-^Still doing icely, 
around $8,000. 

UOY' PHILLY EXIT 
WEEK UNDER $6,000 

Philadelphia, May . 
'Boy Meets Girl' folded rather sud- 
denly Saturday night, giving it four 
weeks at the Chestnut. . That's all the 
ads had- announced originally but 
house management hoped for some- 
thing h little better. Biz was only 
fairish after first week- 
Big trade is seen this week for 
Katharine Corriell on her two pro- 
ductions to be given for four per- 
formances! each at the Forrest, Ad- 
vance sale was big, although down- 
stairs was not capacity for the open- 
ing. 

Not a thing Is In sight for either 
Chestnut, Forrest or Erlartger for the 
rest of the season. 

Estimate for Last Week 

'Boy Meets Girl/ Chestnut (1,900; 
$2). Fourth and final week, ith 
management deciding rather sud- 
denly to close engagement Saturday 
night. Couldn't make $6,000 at pop 
scale. 



Current Road Shows 



. (Week of May 10) 
'Boy Meets Girl,' Chestnut, 

Philadelphia. 

'Boy Meets Girl,' 

Hollywood. 
'Brother Plymouth, 

ton. 

'Close . Quarters,' 

andri , Toronto. 

'Dead End,' Arcadi Wichita, 
Kans,, 10; Audi, Colo. 
12-13; Par'amount, Lake 
City, v., 15. 

'First Lady' (Jane Cowl), Shu- 
bert, Newark. 

'Follies,' National, Washington. 

Katharine Cornell Repertory, 
Forrest, Philadelphi . 

'Idiot's Delight' (Lunt arid 
Fontanne), Pabst, Milwaukee, 
,10-12; Parkway, Madison, Wis., 
13; St. Paul Audi, St. Paul, 14-15; 

'Sea Legs,' Colonial, Boston. 

'Tobacco Road,' Shrine Terii- 
ple. Cedar- Rapids.. la., . 10; Cecil, 
Mason City, la., 11; Grand, 
Davenport, la. 12-13; Shri 
Fort Wayne, Incl, 14-15, 

'Tovarich,' Billmore, 
geies. 

'You Can't Taki. It With You,' 

Harris, Chiqago. 



starters will not be deflnite f oi . 
eral weeks. 

'The Eternal Road' with the 
heaviest red on record will end filler 
Sunday (16) matinee at the Manhat- 
tan Opera House. Biblical spec has 
operated put of the red since final 
performances were announced arid 
last week again went close to the 
$24,000 mark. 

The event of : this week: is the re- 
vival of 'Abie's Irish Rose,' opening 
at the Little tonight (12). Plans 
of Anne Nichols call for. sending out 
two or more 'Abie's,' despite the 
Oncoming summer— record run cdmr 
edy originally opened at this time 15 
years ago (1922). One other open-- 
irig on the, card is .'Orchids Pre- 
ferred,' a musical which opened at 
the Imperial Tuesday after a last- 
minute booking. 

, Next week three entrants are 
carded: -Room Service,' Cort ('Boy 
Meets Girl' moves to Ambassador 
and cuts prices); 'Sea Legs,' Mans- 
field, and a revival of 'Damaged. 
Goods,' 48th St. 

Estimates for Last Week 

'Babes in Arms,' Shubert (5th 
week) (M- 1,382 r $3.85). Business 
picked up with visitor ihfiiix and 
takings approximated $20,000; ton- 
fldent of summer .stay, 

'Boy Meets Girl,' Cort (77th week) 
(C-l,059-$3.30). Still holds to profita- 
ble margin, with takings Slightly 
over $7,000; moves to Ambassador 
next week to make way for 'Room 
Service.' 

'Behind fleff Lights,' 46th St. (18t 
week) (D-l,375-$2.20). Will enter 
summer period; nielodrariia has been 
moderate draw, with takings esti- 
mated around $6,000 last week. 

'Brother Bat,' Biltmore (22nd 
week) (C-991 -$1,65). Making run . of 
it and nominated as good thing for 
summer; geared to operate at mode- 
rate coin; $10,000. 

'bead? End,' Belasco (81st week) 
(CD-1,000-$1.65). Holdover drama 
doing fairly with prices halved; tak- 
ings approximated $5,500 last week. 

'Excursion,' Variderbllt (6th week) 
(CD-804-$3.30). Not as strong as first 
indicated, but making money with 
gross last week slightly over $10,000. 
, 'Having Wonderful Time,' Lyceum 
(12th week) (CD-l,006-$3.30); Eased 
off then climbed late lalst Week, 
which sent. gross over $12,000; an- 
other summer stayer. 

'High Tor,' Beck (18th week) (D- 
l,124-$3,30). May not stay after thi 
month, although business warrants 
summer try; featured player (Bur- 
gess Meredith) due Jn Hollywood; 
off about $2,000; $13,000. , 

Orchids .Preferred,' Imperial. (1st 
week) (M-l,385-$3.30); Presented by 
Charles H. Abramsori; book by Fred- 
erick Herendeen; score by Dave 
Stamper; opened Tuesday. 
. 'Penny Wise/ Morosco (4th week ) 
(C-961-$3.30). Doubtful ;^fter this 
month; late spring entrant has 
dropped instead pf improving; $4,000 
or less, 

'Show Is On,' Winter Garden (21st 
week) (R-l,671-$3.30). List leader 
continues to 'draw excellent ■money, 
and figured through summer; $27,000; 
last weeks announced; leads due i 
Hollywood, 

'The Eternal. Road/ Manhattan O. 
H. (19th week) (M-2,780-$3.30). 
Final week; another Improved gross; 
close to $24,000. 

'The Women,' Barrymore (20th 
week) (C-l,048-$3.30), Ea.sed off. but 
easily the best grosser among 
straight shows; close to $20,000. 

'Tobacco Road,' Forrest (179th 
week) (D-l,017-$1.65). Topped $5,000 
again last week and that is profitable 
for long run drama. 

'Tovarich,' Plymouth (31st week) 
(CD-l,036-$3.30). Slijjped: further, 
with takings bit under $13,000;. 
turned goodly profit at pace; still' 
a summer candidate, 

'Victoria Reglna,' Broadhurst frcr 
sumed . eng.) (63d week) (D-1,H0- 
$3.30). In final stages of fine run;: 
business bettered $15;000 last week, 

'Without Warning,' National (2nd 
week) (D-l,164-$3.30). Mo.stly cut 
rates; first full week estiniatcd 
around $3,500 after weak .prcs.s. 

'Yes, My Darling Daughter,' Play- 
house .(14th week) (C-878-$3.30). 
Little affected if at all; laugh 'show 
generally plays to standee trade, 
with takings over $15,500. 

'You Can't Take It With You,» 
Booth (22nd week) (C-704-$3.30.). 
Pulitzer winner couldn't draw nipre 
coin with standees in all perform- 
ances; tops $15,000 regularly. ' 

evivais, Etc. 
'Abie's Irish Rose,' Little (Lit 
week) (C-530-$2.75). Anne Nichols, 
revives ruri record holder; opens to- 
night. 

'King Richard II,' . James; 
final weeks; still bi at.Jfl6,000. 

'Naughty Naught/ American Mu- 
sic Hall; meller in ight place, 

WPA 

'The Sun and 1/ Adelphi. 
'Power/ Ritz. 
,'Dr. Faustus/ Elliott. 
'Prof. Mamlock/ Daly's. 
'Candide' . and 'How Long Breth* 
ren.' Bayes: 'dance dramas/ 



58 



VARIETY 



GOMCERT— UTERATI 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



Conquest of Ethiopia, MusicaDy Told, 
Is Part of Florentine May Festival 



Rome, May 1. r 
r^ji>araitions for Florentine 
May Festival, Italy's of a 

springtime Salzburg, practically 
completed. Festivities jstart with 
Verdi's nejglected opera i$a 
ililler.* Carl Ebert directing with 

ittori Gui conducting orchestra. 
Mari iglia and Giacbmo Lauri 
Volpi irpni designed 

costumes and Donatello 

ianchini executed; Another Verdi 
opera, 'Othello,' will be given with 
entirely nev scenic equipment by 
Primo Conti. Opera Comique of 
Paris is arriving oh the. scene .with 
, all iW people and equipment for the 
performsince of 'Pelleas. and Meli- 
saiide' of Debiissy. 

Series of performances at the Piei'- 
goia and. Cpmunale theatres will be 
completed by a humber. of modern 
works;. -among which is 'II I)e^!erto 
Tentaio* ('The; Desert Atterriptied') 
by Alfredo Casella, with libretto by. 
Corrado Payolini. . This is to be. a 
sort of recital of Italy's exploits in 
Abys^i ia, starting with squalid des- 
ert . conditions and ending up with 
the fruits of civilization sprouting 
all over, pirecior Xpthat Waller:-' 
stein and 'Stage Designer Gianni 
Bagnettl coUabed on piece, which 
jpresented especially thorny prob- 
lems. , 

Outdoor performances during May 
festivities include 'Coronation of 
poppea' by Monteverdi, and Luigi 
Pirandello's last work, 'The Giants 
of the 'Moifhtain,' ,both of which will 
be produced in the Giardino di 
Boboli. 

Finally there will be dances done 
by Jia Ruskaia's baUet in the cotirt- 
yard of the Pitti Palace, as well as 
dances done by a liussian ballet un- 
der the direction of Colonel De Ba- 
sil, and by the Italian Sartorio group. 





i{ESIGNATIONS 



Cincinnati, May. 11. 

Resigniations of a number of lead- 
ing players in the , Cincinnati Sym- 
phony orchestra were disclosed last 
week, among them Vladimir Baka- 
assjistaht conductor and 

rst violinist. Others leaving are 
Karl Kirksmith, head of the 'cello 
secti ; Max HesS, head of the horn 
section; William Bell, tuba player; 
Joseph Quintile, harpist, and Samuel 
Rabinowitz, second stand player in 
the*, first violins. Carl Kohlman, 
trpmbohist and a member of the or-^ 
hcestra since it was formed 43 years 
ago, will retire at the conclusion of 
the. May Festival. 

Bakaleinikoff, who has been draw- 
ing. $4,400 a year, said the manage- 
ment's refusal to grant" him an in- 
crease is tb^e cause of his departure. 
He plans to give up viola playing 
for conducting, . His position wiU be 
filled by Erik Kahlson, for the past 

irie years first desk violinist of the 

leyelahd prchestra, and a member 
6f the Walberg String Quartet, on a 
radio network., for the last three 
years. 

Some .of . the players, it is reported; 
will join the Prchestra being orgari^ 
by NBC, to irected by 

rturo Toscani 

Quintile will move to Hollywood, 
■understood. 



CARL ROSA OPERA IN 
SOUTH AFRICA CYCLE 



Capetown, April 26. 

Carl Rosa Opera Co., due May 3. 
at Johannesburg. Schedule calls for. 
pei-forniahces of ^Carmen,' .*Pag- 
liacci,* " 'Cavalieria-Rusticana,' 'II 
Tf ovatore,' 'La Traviata,' 'Rigolettb,' 
fLa Bolieme,' 'Madam Butterfly,' 
-•Tarinhauser,' 'Samson and Delilah,' 
•Faiist,' 'Barber of Seville,' 'Don' 
Giovanni,' 'Die Fledermaus,' 'Tales 
oi Hoffman,' 'Maritana,' 'Bohemian 
Gill', and 'Lily of • Killamey.^ 

African Consolidated Theatres 
handling tour. 



LonisriDe h'dmotes 
'37^'38 Concert Skd 



.Louisville, May 11. 

Community Concert' Association 
will be in the field for the 1937-J938 
season. Officers were eliected recerit- 
iy, and atrangements closed with 
CBS concert management for five 
artists and: artistic groups to appear 
at Memorial Auditorium. 

Membership campaign will be con- 
ducted May 24 to 31. Thickets ^ill be 
sold by metnbership only and for en-: 
tire seasPh. ..Artists and. attractions 
set are Kirsten Flaigstadi Jose Iturbi, 
Jooss European . Ballet, Gordph 
String Quartet, and John Charles 
Thomas, baritone. 

Louisville Civi Arts Ass'n - 
cided, i^ot to present .any mpre con- 
certs during present season, but the 
organization expects to resiuhe . in 
the , fall, with the civic orch and 
chorus as nucleXis' for' series. 





TO 

HAVE LOTS OF 




PariSi May 5. 

Paris will present musical festivals 
of all types on an unprecedented 
scale during the expo. MPdern com- 
posers Will dominate ihe musical 
program of the fair according to 
Jacques Ibert and Albert Roussel, 
composers themselves, who have 
draWn up the plans. 

Each of the leading orchestras of 
Paris . will give a concert at the 
Theatre des Champs-ElySe^s. These 
.concerts, will be composed entirely 
pf French wbrks.and Will be under 
the direction of Albert Wolff, Eugene 
Bigot, Igpr Stravinsky Paul 
Paray. 

.Comedie des Champs-Elysees will 
house two series of. concerts, one 
modern operas .bouffes written by 
Jean Rivier, Maurice Thiriet, Ger- 
maine Tailleferre, Marcel Delannoy, 
Manuel Rosenthal, Louis Beydts. 
Other will be. nine concert's of pres- 
ent day chamber music. 

Foreign countries are also ex-, 
pected tp participate in the festivals. 
It is expected that the BayreUth Ther 
atre will comie to Paris under the 
direction of Furtwaengler, as well as 
the ballets of Monte Carlo and Phil- 
adelphia and the Vienna Philhar- 
monic Orchestra directed by Bruno 
Walter. Arturo Toscanini has been 
invited tp conduct three perform- 
ances of Claude Debussy's 'Pelleas 
aiid Melisahde' at the Theatre des 
Champs-Elysees. 



Cairo Orcbestra Starts 



Cairo, April 2S. 

Initial performance of the newly 
organized Egyptian State Broadcast- 
ing Orchestra , under the foun'der-^ 
conductor Joseph Huttel wjas given 
here this week befo.re a packed house 
in the Ewart Memorial Hall of the 
American Universityi 

Outfit has 60 instruments. Opener 
was broadcast on a short-^waye. 

Huttel announced that orchestra 
will make an attempt to . 'adapt 
Arabic music to the western Idiom/ 



WmS> SYMPH 




Indi May IL 

Walter Reideaux, musical director 
of WFBM, was last week appointed 
to post Of personnel director of Indi- 
anappiis SymphPhy. Orchestra, ' by 
Fabien Sevitsky, newly appointed 
director of the cl^issical exponents. 
Reuleauix will conti his duties at 
WFBM, where he's been located 
since 1930, and handle the symphony 
duties on the side. Main WFBM duty 
is direction of Bohemians, staff stHnig 
enseiinble; a three-piecer which 'has 
been airihg since 193.2. 

Sevitsky has already arrived in In- 
dianapolis' to make his home here. 
Ferdinand Schaffer, retired director, 
has been well received in past few 
years. 

Sevitsky plans .symphonic choir to 
supplement the orch, ahd is audition- 
ing talent to form same-. Concert 
plans for the 1937-'38 season call for 
aroimd 40 appearances, with guest 
soloists for drawing power. 



Liter ail 



W. B. H.'fl Birthday Stymies Gvild 

Birthday of WiUiam Bandolph 
Hearst used as a sentimental stymie 
to signing of an American Newspa- 
per Guild contract between L. A< 
chapter and Evening Herald Ex- 
press, best money maker in the 
Hearst string, v 

Dr. Frank F. Barham, H. E. pub- 
lisher, met a committee of the Guild 
after being turned down on a. yel- 
low dog cPntract which would give 
H.-E. staff everything asked for, 
provided they turned over to Hearst 
any income from any sourcies out- 
side the paper boys might make by 
their writings and Would be amen- 
able to transfer anjnvhere in the 
Hearst org. To scribblers . that 
meant even his ranches in Mexico, 
so they tojssed. it back. 

Barham then aisked to see list of 
Hearld-Express men in union. Dis- 
covered his staff wais 100% in ANG: 
camp. That shocked him so much 
he asked for a ppstponement till 
after the Chief's birthday. L. A. is 
strongest open shop, town in the 
U. S. With Hearst bowing to the 
uhioh and Boddy and Palmer al- 
ready in. Chandler of Times will be 
the last holdout 



JOHN McCORMACK AT 
EASE IN HOLLYWOOD 



Hollywood, May 11. 

John McCormack, who got 400 G's 
for one pic, isn't even answering 
agents on his present visit. His pres 
eht visit is to enjoy it, the way the 
original settlers did. 'That way and 
a little tennis on the side; 

He isn't answering telephones even 
for interviews. Besides he. has to 
Write his memoirs. 



Indianapolis Dates Set 

iatiapol^s. May 11. 

Mrs. Nancy Martens, director of 
Martens Concerts, Inc., which occupy 
the English theatre Sunday after- 
noons each season, has completed ar-^ 
rangements for the 1937-38 season. 
Scheduled to appear are Helen Jep- 
son, Richard Crpoks, Jascha Heifetz, 
the Jooss .Ballet, V. Bronsky and V. 
Babi , piano team, and the St. Louis 
Symphony prchestra. . 

Tickets for the. series of six scale 
from $5.50 to $13.20. Miss, Jepson 
and the piarto team will be making 
initial local appearances. 



Feuding in Pittsburgh Concert Set-Up 
Has Mrs. Thaw on May Beegle s Side 



Choos' Memphis Job 



ducer, 
has 



New York pro- 
iefly concerned with yaude, 
iPt as: producer for the 

Memphis Opera Co., ich will op- 
erate through the summer on the 
saitie lines as the St. Louis gro'vp, 

Choos' first show opens July 5 .arid 
will be ither . -Student Pri * or 
Three Musketeersi' 



Peabody's Music Week for NBC 
Baltimore, May 4. 

WBAL will feed*^ the Peabody 
Conservatory of Music Chorus to 
NBC Blue Network, Thursday, in 
connection with National Music 
Week. 

Group of 140 voices is under di?fec- 
tion of Louis Robert of Conservatory 
teaching staff; 



Pittsburgh, May 11. 

Tempest was stirred . up in swank 
Pittsburgh rchestra Ass*n last 
week when seven socially prominent 
directors resigned, at least orie of 
theih laying his withdrawal to high- 
handed methods of May Beegle, manr 
ager of group. . ^ 

birchestra Ass'n, not to be con- 
fused virith. Pittsburgh Symphony, 
presents series of concerts by out-of- 
town symphonies annually and set- 
up is guided by Miss Beegle, who 
also presents . annual series of her 
own and has a virtual stranglehold 
On music situation locally. 

Miss Beegle minimized importance 
of resignations, claiming them 'usual' 
at this time of year, but it's under- 
stood that efforts will be made to 
oust her from post next season. In 
her corner, however, she has socially 
arid financially powerful Mrs. Wil- 
liam. Thaw, Jr., president of the /as- 
sociation, Who denied the charges 
and termed impresario an 'excellent 
and efficient manager.' J 



Getting the News Pronto 

Fpreign correspondentis of. Amer- 
ican newspapers ha.ve adopted u^e of 
the shoirt-lvaye radio receiving set 
to keep in contact with U. S. news 
deyelppments, thereby dispelling the 
old handicap of not knpwing events 
at home until papers arrive by mail. 

Correspondents in the world's cap- 
itals use the wireless, as do the wire 
Services, clearing their copy through 
London and Paris. 

Newspaper reps keep a file, of sta- 
tions in U. S. airing daily bulletins, 
and keep the. ears tuned at those 
periods. 

Incidentally, the N. Y. Times reg- 
ularly sends out twice-daily news re- 
ports .via paper's sending-receiving 
wireless . statiPn on Long Island. Re- 
ports are chiefly for benefit of ocean- 
riding steamships the world 'round. 
Correspondents lean toward the 
radio for news rather than the wire- 
less. 



Baisy Fing^s 

Nat Ferber, busy on two items, 
•Exclusive Story,' his autobiography 
from childhood in . Williamsburg in 
Brooklyn till he quit the Hearst 
ehaih, and 'A New America,' has 
plunged into third one called 
'Relatives Incorporated,* hoyel 
about Hollywood. 

Ferber is one bf, those two- 
fingered scribblers who knock out 
8,000 words a day for two weeks, 
aiid then takes a 1,000-mile auto- 
mobile ride to get a breath of fresh 
ai;;. He's in Hplljnvood at present 
domg pieces fpr Liberty. - 

'Free Presentation Plan' 

American Writers Union has Ini- 
tiated a campaign to allow authors 
to offer manuscripts to more than 
one publisher at a time. Union calls 
this the 'Free Presentation plan' and 
asserts that it . will speed tip purr 
chases, raise prices _ and prevent 
stalling among book and magazine 
editors. 

A committee from the Union met 
with several New York literary 
agents to work out details for put- 
ting the plan into effect. 



Duped By a Diary 

very paper in Chicago fell, and 
fell hard, for the story of a girl who 
went Into a police station and weep« 
ing 'copiously, begged the police to 
search for her; diary^ which she 
claimed to have iPst somewhere near 
the Loop. All the papers, carried 
pictures of the girl, and all gave her 
plenty of space, the lost diary hinted 
to contain names of various married 
men associates of the girl, of her 
loves, and intimate experiences. 

Quite suddenly reporters from the 
Hearst Evening American were re- 
ported to have found the diary, and 
even more suddenly, , anhouDce- 
meht conies fPrth that beginning" 
Monday <l0) will publish this 'in- 
timate diary* of the .beautiful young 
lady of Evansyille, Ind,, . Margaret 
Chalmers. 

Re|)brted that the . whole stunt Is 
the work of Harry ieutlinger, City 
Editor pf . the American, who hai the 
girl installed at a Lbpp hotel. 



I/. I. Strike Again Settled 

The one-month's strike at the Long 
Island (Jamaica, N. Y.) Press . was 
settled: for the second time last week 
(13) and the 62 strikers immediately 
reinstated. Settlement folloiyed a 
conference at City Hall in Mayor 
LaGuardia's office, upshot of which 
was an agreement amend! 
one signed earlier, by v/ 
management may not discharge any 
of the strikers re-employed for 60 
days; arid then only at the rate of 
five percent, or three persons per 
moiith. Renewal pf the strike was 
caused by the management's attempt 
to discharge 27 strikers before they 
came back to work. 

The strike at the North Shor^ 
(Flushing, N. Y.) Journal cPntinued 
with np new developments last 
week. Decisipn by the arbiter in the 
cases of two discharged men from 
the Amsterdam (Harlem, N. Y.) 
News was expected last week, but 
is now overdue. 



rlze for Drama in Verse 

tanfprd University is again giving 
the Maxwell Anderson award for an 
original drama in yerse. Award 
carries cash prize of $300. Contest 
lis open to all dramatists, and sub- 
ject matter, verse form, length and 
type v are optional. Contest closei 
July 1. 

Scripts are being received by Dr. 
Margery Bailey at Stanford Uni- 
versity. 



Form Business Dept. Guild 
Business department employees bf 
the Cleveland Press have formed 
their, own guild and signed: a con- 
tract \yith the manageriient. Cleve- 
land Press is now the first news- 
paper i the country to have it^ 
complete staff organized, onJboth the 
editorial arid ^business , sides. 
. Organizing was . carried out with 
the assistance pf the paper's News- 
paper Guild it officials. 



Literati Deaths This Week 
Ernest R. WHlard, 83, editor of the 
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle fpr 
20 years before his retirement in 
1910, died at his :hoh;ie in Rochester, 
May 6. He is. survived by his wife, 
Mari Atki ' Perki Willard. 
Funeral services were private. 

Eugene McGuckin, Philly ad 
agency exec and business manager 
of old North American, ied Satur- 
day (8) at his honie in Jenkintown, 
Pa.. Born. in Philly, McGuckin un- 
til 1931 -was president of an ad 
agency bearing his name. He then 
joined the firm of Jerome Gray. Be^ 
fore organizing his own establish- 
ment he directed business end of 
Nprth American. Survived by 
widow, Cecelia; three sons, David, 
Daniel and Eugene, and two daugh- 
ters, Elizabeth and Sheila. 



read Loafers to Convene 

Bread .Loaf Writers' Conference 
will hold its. 12th annual session at 
Middlebury, Vt., from Aug. 18 to 
Sept. i. Paul Green will be in charge 
of play writing. 

Others on the staff Include Ber- 
nard De Voto, Edith Mirrielees, 
Helen Everitt, George Stevens, and 
Gorham B. Munson.- Theodore: Mor- 
rison will be in charge of the . con- 
ference. 



Jones Spreading on 'Wheeze' 

Grover Jones, Hollywood author, 
who prints a pamphlet entitled 
'Wheeze,' as a hobby, is going to 
put the periodical on the market 
soon. It will go to distribs and 
exhibs and will feature humorous 
comment on the picture colony. Pre- 
viously Jones issued the ' booklet 
whenever the spirit moved him and. 
the copy was available. 



World-Telly Drops Supplement 

New York World-Telegram, which 
initiated ai week-end mag supple- 
ment last fall, has abandoned it 
and will return to its usual daily 
form week ' its Saturday 

edition. 

Price for the paper, which was a 
nickel, will be dropped to three 
cents. 



Encouraging New Authors 
Dodd, Mead, in Ponj unction With 
Red Book magazine, is sponsoring a 
first , novel competition clbsing Dec.^ 
1, 1937, for American and Canadian 
authors, who have never published 
a hovel in book form. . 

Lenjgth must be at least 50,000 
words, and prize of $7,500 for seriaj 
rights and $2,500 advance aj 
royalties will be awarded. 



Post-Gazette Reinstates Four 

Fight of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 
chaiiter of Newspaper Guild for the 
reinstatement 6t four eriniployees dis- 
missed following the igning of re- 
cent contract, was dropped last week 
on the heels of some under- 
work by the unit. It was. an out- 
growth of mysterious hi-jacking of 
a Guild ballot-box at headquarters,. 

Detectives were called in b^^* 
(Continued on page 63) 



f 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



BURLESQUE 



VARIETY 



89 



The Killer of Burlesque-In 1931 



Cn Feb. .18, 1931, Vabiett carried o review of bur- 
tesauc headed hy a five-column streamer reading 'T?i« 
killer of Burlesque' . Sub-^hcads rcod 'Minshy's Mess 
at Republic Contains Everything That Ruined Bur- 
lesQue in U. S.— Cheapest Dirt, Dirtiest Coqchers and 
Wiy Talent— -Jtist Rotten.' The review itself, since it is 
' so appropriate at fhe moment, is rieprinted hererjoith. 

In the new stock burlesque show propelled by the 
Miijsky's at the Republic oh 42nd street, former 
legit opening on the day Lincoln was born to ^ree the 
slaves, are the new islaves to stock burlescLlie; 

Stock burlesque is the killer of all burlesque in the 

The hew slaves are the chorxis girls. ity. them.. 

While the Minsky mess at the Republic, tdo inele- 
gant too dumb and too dirty to be even calfed. a 
t:oup6, is everything that has. been pushed forward 
in past years to ruin the. name of burlesque to the ex- 
tent that no burlesqiie show, stock or wheel; can now 
live for any length of time. 

On the same 42nd street block is a dime mUse.um, 
also A flea circus. Either calls, for more skill than the 
projection of this, thing called stock burlesque. Either 
at 10c' is worth more than thiis appeal to the epileptics 
: at $1.50 top. . V 

For this^tock burlesque of Minsky!s at the Repub? 
• just rotten, with, parts of it lousy, comprising as 
it does, the cheapeist dirt;^ the dirtiest, 'cobchers ever 
forced upon a stage or platioT.m and with nQ^^^t^ 

?f any individual in this group is receivingi mpre 
$60. weekly^ the maha|[ement' is cheated. \ 
the chorus giris may receiv^ is but a gu^ss, but ac- 
';cpf.ding to a dirty ballyhoo for them, they may be pre- 
^ ^lihifed to earii more in. the ialley than in the theatre. 

'''■■'Arkey attached to ii .card is being distributed around 
imes Sqiiard It reads: 

'This key is to the stage door, at the liepublic thea- 
tre. Oiir girls do'nH. like to walk.' 

The dirt scenes, of Course, are blackbuts^ Coarse,- 
blatant, mongrel and usually with a bedstead. Were; 
they less crudely written and built, they would, still 
lie crudely playeid by this hohdiescr 

.'With two runways for t^e 32 girlis aiid for .-the 
epileptics on 42nd .street, the; Republic will draAy In 
the curious- for awhile, with the eps up above as ail- 
■ways. They ^o to see this teasers, weavers ahd tbssers. 
All there and bow-^ih silhouette, on their feet and on 
their backs. 

Copching has been extended a bit in this conipany. 
It's' the filthiest , exhibition ever seen any where, not 
excepting a stag; the original home of the coocher; 
And ' where she stUl belongs, although graduated to 
Broadway musicals and.wide open carhiaret, floors.. 

These pity 'em r chorus girls who perhaps believe 
they have to earn, their living this way, are said to. 
have been, advertised for by the Republic, as stenogra- 
phers out of jobs. Most of them look like ex-piaho 
movers. That they are inexperienced mostly is re- 
vealed through their flatfootedness. They stompi al- 
ways the. sign of the incbrripetent chorister or stager. 
They can do niothing else, besides coo'chirig, and it 
doesn't call for young, inexperienced girls to cooch— 
tramps can do it, tbo. 

Sinirkiiiir dopcher 

The teasing, wias tried by what looked li 



.Billy Watson's former chief beef trusters. She smirked 
as i$he unloosened her clothing, with half the house 
probably frightened that she might strip all the way. 
The more she smirked, the sadder it became. And 
she didn't strip down. Later another girl who thought 
she was dancing,, came oh wearing less thian the 
stripper did at any time. This second girl added a 
little realism that niust have highly pleased a couple 
of grey haired . women in • the audiience, unless they 
had gtown old in the service, 

Cohledians a perfect Islank. No one expects any in 
stock burlesque. Prima donnas or soubrets? Stop 
kidding. This is stock burlesque, strippers arid tpssers, 
hip weavers and .breast bouncers.. This is stock bur- 
lesque.,. And a ,'seveh-piece orchestra for . the rest of 
the noise. 'One and one make three* and the 'fafmer|s 
daughter' as a couple of the gags that came out in the 
50 minutes the. thingvwas endured. W.liile. orie. number 
on the two runways was plenty..' 

. How It .Commenced 

Shortly before 1910 the Western Burlesque Wheel 
gave dirty shows. Not as dirty as stock, burlesque of 
the present, but. dirty enough for 'those times, with the 
chief dirt the . epoch a^ always. Only then one coocher 
was featured per show. Now. the entire. chorus cooch, 
to show how simple it is aftej all, even for the stage 
inexpetienced. 

Western Wheel like, all dirty shows saw their audi- 
ences fade to stags and from that to zero. Up came, 
the Goliimbia Byrlesque Wheel with itis fairly -success- 
. ful try for. years with cleaner burlesque. The West- 
iern's dirty shows niade the Gblumbia's possible; the 
Cblumbials cleaner btirlesque made the stock burlesque 
pbssible years later; the stock b'urlesqueVvy ill eventu- 
ally' make a cleaner burlesque., iagai/ i>pssi , " but 
never, in .the future, under ^ the namfe-\ 6f ' burieS<ltje. 
Burlesque as. a title foj: an ehtertairinierit ^vashea■ ilp.i 
forever. It's, the name of dirt. 

The Mutual Wheel 

While all this was going on there arose the Mutual 
Burlesque Wheel, still doing business but in. prietty 
' bad shape. It believed it had to go dirty tb compete 

ith the; stocks; it was dirty ^when it finally absorbed, 
the Columbia Wheel and the Columbia passed but. 
With the Mutual retai ing. the title of burlesciue. • The 
only burlesque wheel remiaijriing. , And with the" Mu- 
tual now trying to rival the dirty stocks. ' 

It's anybody'^ guess. what will be the next burlesque 
circuit or ehtertainmeht, under vi^hatever name it ler 
ceives. The present show; wheel or stock, can't sur- 
vive. The Orpheum on State street in. Chicago that 
made- $4,000 weekly for two. years with stock bur- 
lesque,, finally quit. 

..Dirt shows narrow, the audience. There is no new 
business. Ah epileptic is not born every minute. 

The Minsicys have given stock biirlesque to Harlem 
arid the East side in New York. In Harlem it attracted 
the COPS but that rough, spot was taken care of, , al- 
though now the magistrates' . courts are tougher. On 
the East side the Minsky shows attracteid the Broad- 
wayites, who thought it odd down there aniidst the 
-smell of the fish. If they think it is funny on 42nd 
street, they can have it.. 

The Minskys will let 'er go while the customers buy 
standing room only^ and in the balcony, too. 

But the killer of burlesque has accomplished its 
mission. Sime. 



Court Refuses Y. Burleys/Plea 
For Jury; Nixes Mandamus Order 



$10,000 in three performances.. Com- 
pany figures loss in vici ity of $8^000; 

Mayor Butler says, one outcome- of. 
controversy would be a revival 6r 
the City Welfare Dept: Censorship, 
committee and intends to inaugurate 
policy of inspecting plays previous to 
showing here henceforth, 

Playing a . split week in the mid- 
west. 'Tobacco Road' grossed ap- 
proximately $11,300,- despite . .the. 
missed Friday ight^ The cbm- 
pany will remain on tour until late 
June, which time it goes into 
■the Garden .Pi , Atlantic City' for 
an expected ruii. 

AnbthW' 'Road' show will be 
spotted on a shp.w-bpat which will 
be tied up in Chicago as the. rst 
stand. 



AL REEVES 




Lambs^ Candidate 



(Continued from page 55) 



.'making amateurs out of profes- 
sionals.' 

Last fall Blunkall severely criti- 
cised Hallie Flanagan, directpr of 
the FTP, and contends that he might 
have straightened out the relief 
theatre's situation. He wrbte ,to 
Washingtbni and asked for Mrs. 
Flamagari's removal. It appears, how- 
ever, that Grillmore then wrote to 
WPA headquarters and repudiated 
Blunkall's conimxmicationis. Blunkall 
was formerly one .of the leaders of 
the militant group in Equity known 
as the Actors Forum at the time. 
Latter also has a; ticket in the field, 
aiming to place seven miembers on 
the council. 

Against Mass Reading 

Progressives alsp seek to eliminate 
the practice of mass readings- of 
plays, a. practice of calling 100 or 
more players who 'have to go 
through the ernbarrassment and 
humiliation of cpmpetitive reading.' 
Equity has . been seeking a solution 
of that problem ..for -some months. 
Third, party people also aim to ad- 
. just rehearsal pay, readju.ist the alien 
actor rules and the minimum salary 
matter. 

, 'We prpppse make ity a 
leader in the thesatre world, instead 
of lagging behind, particularly at 
this, time when eyerytlii is .moying 
ahead,' is expresset" by ird party 
backers."^^ The committee working for 
the ticket: Ralph Theadore, chair- 
man, Robert Ober, Herman Lieb, 
John Lprpnz, James Calican, Joseph 
Vitaie,. Tom Cowen, Joseph Radcliff 
fnd Reynolds Denniston. The slate 
is quite similar to that adopted by 
the second party candidates. 

While the opposed., grpups went 
into action a committee of 29 sup- 
porters of the administration issued 
a statement rebuking 'insurgent 
forces' in Equity for 'criticizing the 
efforts of our officers and em- 
ployees'. Kathari Cornell, Helen 



Hayes, Selena Rbyle, Arthur Byron 
and Walter Huston are leaders bf 
that committee.. In giving each group 
the privilege of . using, Equity's ad- 
dressograph. system, ' it was stiipu- 
lated that literature froin each could 
be sp distributed but once. 



Equity Indies 



^Road^ Ban 



(Cohtiriuod from 



(Continued from page 55) 



but the group is solidly opposed tb 
his candidacy, Indies charge that 
Blunkall blundered in his WPA 
activities, saying that if he continued 
his tirade against the Theatre. Proj- 
ect's executives, instead of aiding re- 
lief actors, the appropriation might 
have been slashed. It is claimed 
that for similar reasons, the. third' 
party ticket is doubtful of getting 
support of. those.: WPA. 'There- 
fpre, it looks as though there wpuld 
bie .rriuch a struggle between the 
twp oppositiibn groups a- between 
each and the regular partyi: 

Independent party denies that any 
of its candidates have ever expressed 
opposition to the American Theatre 
Cbuncil. In a circiilar sent out by, 
a committee identified as supporters 
of the adml istration, the ■'insur- 
gents' are criticized fbr believing the 
ATC 'creates, some kind of a ti rup 
Pr tpe-hold on Equity whiich can be 
used to the managers' advan*-age/ 
Comniittee avers that in the ATC 
set-up no grbup has any power or 
leverage over any other. 

Opposition contends that it favors 
the forthcoming ATC convention 
and, in fact, suggested such a gen- 
eral get-tog[ether two years ago., . 

Opposition's platform, in addition 
to the secret ballot; no return of re- 
hearsal pay arid one . rhi imum sal- 
'ary, includes shortening of the pro- 
bationary period, Equity shop for 
radio, clbser cooperation with other 
stage, unions, irepresentation on the 
council by WPA, cutting of expense, 
with the idea bf decreasing dues, 
issuance of bi-monthly reports of 
the. council's work and new method 
of naming the. executive committee. 



mained at its Hotel during all the 
excitement. 

An injunction plea against the 
mayor and police was filed by 
Becker latie Friday afternoon in 
Judge Donphoe's court. 

On Saturday (8) morning. District 
Judge Dineen granted play manage- 
ment ah order restraining the maybr 
and other city officials from inter- 
fering further in the presentatibn of 
the show. Performances were given 
in the afternobn and evening, but 
the previously announced midnight 
show Was cancelled. Matihee biz 
was disappointing but evening .trade 
held its own. 

Management; claims that the legal 
mixup dented the b.o. heavily, but 
rumored suit against officials 
failed to materialise. ; 

Judge gave his decision: after,' pe- 
rusing a Copy of the script bffered by 
company as : the puriified yersipn it 
would present in Omaha. After- the 
performances, patrons were, qubted 
in the dailies as saying that the play 
evidenced purging- Cast waS: in 
something of a dither over revised 
passages as expurgated lines messed 
up some, of the cues. Shorthand re- 
porters ^yere present for both sides, 
just case of further action, , biit 
the whole .riiatter was evidently 
dropped after Saturday night's per- 
formance, 



Jack kifkland and Sam Grisman, 
Ne\y York producers, of. 'Tobacco 
Road,' have wired to Omaha: 'We in- 
tend to take appropriate .action 
against Mayor and all concerned fpr 
damages occasioned by their illegal 
actions,' Attorney Jack. MarCr, rep- 
resenting producers, said wire means 
suit would be filed against city offi- 
cials for damages resulting .frpm 
Friday's cancelled performance. 

Law firm is awaiting statement of 
damages, before entering suit; with 
actual receipts around $1,500,. where- 
las theatre management estimated 
shov.' might reasonably have grossed 



('Give Me Credit, Boys') 
Reeves, whp used to lead a show 
around' the country breaking hou.se 
records arid . hblding the stage with 
his single specialty for. a solid half 
hour, dropped in on Vakiety last 
week to ask whyirihell and whatfor. 

'Here I ani,' he argued, 'one of 
the last bf the pld-timers and not a 
single mention of me. Tqlk. about 
Jean Bedini' and what he did, but 
not a mention of Al Reeves Whp was 
there long before Bedini came along. 
.1 Can still gp on at a private enter- 
tainmeht-'and. hold them for half an 
hour, and dp it without the aid of a. 
Strip tease or bare legs. If you want 
to see burlesque come back, ive 
some of us old-timers a chance.' 

Reeves is . 73 now, but no a.k., he 
says. He still has . a thick thatch of 
iron grey hair that might well be 
the envy of a younger man. He still 
has his banjo, which he says he stiJLl 
can plunk, but he can't seem to con- 
nect 

With burlesque in its pteSent 
front-page throes he argues that 
there should be some opening for 
the old-timers whb used to pack the 
London^ Miner's and the Dewey 
withbut the aid of a single bare leg 
or exposed torso. He argues that it 
should be a novelty to see. what the. 
old-timers used to do and hpw they 
did it. 

Time was when the announce- 
ment of Al Reeves Own Show could 
pack thiem in from the .Hbward, in 
Boston, to the Standard, St. Louis, 
and all points in between. Then 
things happened, both to burlesque 
and in the world outside. The 1929 
crash took much bf what Reeves 
had accumulatedi there were lio 
more ^vheei dates; no more demand 
for the old-fashioned shows in 
which the- girls backgrbunded the 
comedians and not vice versa, and 
it has been a long time since the 
show world has even, heard of the 
man who was once, among the 10 
best moriey-makers of the burlesque 
dates. He was not even . included 
in the mention of Harry Morris, 
Sam Scribner, L. Lawrence Weber 
and the rest. And he thinks that 
something should be dphe about it. 

Preferably in the way of dates. 
Which might be an idea at that. 



NEW YORK FROLICS 

(PBiNCESS, YOUNGStOWN, O.) 
(STOCK) 

. Voungstown, ., May . 
. Babe " Davis, known, in the burr 
lesque world as Princess Vanya, 
has been retained . at the Princes-s 
theatre in ■ a new - bill titled New 
York Frolics. It's .good- entortairi- 
meht, replete, with new songs and 
gags, with, better than, the usual 
"chorus routines. 

Miss Davis, has an inimitable style 
of tease' that has made her a favor- 
ite, here since her initial Princess 
appearance. She has one pf the; 
most elaborate arid extensive ward-, 
robes bf the general run of bur- 
lesque artists.. 

Others in the new show are Lucile 
Rutter, RcvellQ Blair, Mickey Jones, 
Aileen Randolph and Marie Deetz. 

Buddy Kane, the farm-boy. comic, 
arid Virgil Dowriard satirize the 
N. Y. bUrley isituatibn, which is good 
for a lot of. laughs. 

Bob Evaris is the i3traight,. while 
Bert.Wrennick handles the vocals of 
the production numbers and the 
character scenes. Mack. 



Burlesque's hope of surviving the 
Ciirrerit uproar agairist sXrip tease., 
acts and other alleged indecent per- 
ipjmances was given its body blow 
Friday ("7) when N; Y. Supreme 
CJourt Justice Samuel T,. Rpseirirhan, 
denied the right of the 14 closed 
houses tb present their sides to a 
jury; Court also refused to issue a. 
mandamus ..ordei". qompellirig License 
Comiitlissioner Moss to renew their 
licenses. 

Defendants were nbtifed . of the 
hearings on the matter to .be held : 
before CTbmmissioner Moss, Judge 
Roseriman pointed out in his deci- 
sibn, and they failed to appear to 
dispute the charges against them. No 
attempt was madie at that time to 
show that the perforrriances wei:e 
not lewd, lascivious and obscene, ho 
held. 

Judge Rosenman's 
lows: 

clairiis that tho 
comniissipner has , no.' povyer to re-' 
fuse a fehewal of . a license to a the- 
atre because • of the obscene 
le^w:d. nature of its performance, 
aekg . for a .peremptory order of 
.mandamus, directing the. commisi- 
'sioner ' to issue a renewal^ 

'The commissioner has discretion 
to deny a license or a renewal 
thereof, althpugh he has not tho 
power to revoke a liicense for the 
same, reason as might cause him to 
refuse to renew a. license, 

'.Not Unlimited'' 

'HPwcver, the discretion of the 
Commissioner is hpt unlimited. He 
may " not act in. a capricious, arbi- 
trary or unreasonable manner in, 
passing on applications for licenses., 
Ordinarily, if any facts were pre- 
sented to the court showing such 
cpnduct on the part: of the coromlfer 
sioner, an alternative order . .would 
be granted. 

'Since the argurhent of the mptlbn 
there has been submitted to me 'the 
complete record of the proceedings 
befpre the commissioner. This pe- 
titioner was represented at these 
hearings and was. given an opportu- 
nity to be heard. All of the bur- 
lesque houses under the jurisdiction 
of tho: commissioner were notified 
of the hearings and were, invited to 
be present. No denial or, explana- 
tion was made Of the reports of the 
theatrical, performances which had 
been submitted to the corrimissioner. 
No attempt was made to show that 
;the performances were not lewd, 
lascivious and obscene and calcu- 
lated to excite lustful and lecherous 
desires. 

'Nor' is such prcof presented on. 
this application to the coUrt, There- 
fore, there is no real issue presented 
by the papers to be tried by an al- 
ternative order. 

'In the Rudhlan Amusement Cor- 
poration case, an alternative order 
was issued' to try out the issue of 
fact as to iridccericy, which had beien 
contested befbre the commissioner. 
In these applications no diiscrimina^ 
tion is alleged and no facts are' set 
forth disputing the nature of the 
performances as fbiind by the com- 
missioner. The petitioner seems to. 
rely entirely pn the legal propbsi- 
tion of lack of ppWer in the com- 
missioner. 

The motion is denied, both as to 
a; peremptbry and an alteirnative 
order.' 

Attorneys representing the EUlnge, 
Irving Place arid People's Bowery 
theatres made the request for the 
riiaridamus. If granted an {Jllerria- 
tiye order, the; matter would have 
been left a. jury. This decisiori, 
. pf course, affects all Xyye burlesque 
houses in the city,, if not in the en-- 
tire State. 



Independent Burlesque 



Week pf May 16 

'NothliiK liut I>iimoH'--CiiHlno, Tltts- 
liui-(,'li.. ' 

'I..;!<JIfN T.lnKerle'— Oaycty,- 
iia.tl. : 

. 'I'ciijitT ..ndvuc'-^Troc, 
.l)hln. \ ' 

.'ri-iiuy iillf— Howarrt, Boston. 
. 'Ito/o Snyder'B Own aiiow'— (3ayetjr» 
1)nll)(norc. 

'Top Milt Rovue'— Capitol. Toledo. . 

'I'ardon tlie Glatnour'— Gayoty, Dclrol 



Another Jonesey Away 

Hollywood, May 11. 

•Top Much Limelight,' sixth , of the 
Jbhes Family scri s, got under way 
at 20th-Fbx yesterday (Monday), 
with Frank Slraycr djr^joting. 

Max Golden roduces. 



00 VJiSJETY 



CHATTER 



Wednesdaj, May 12» I937 



Broadway 



Lep Solomon in from the Coast 
for .a visit. 

Jo&. Bdberts recuperating from 
bronchitis. 

Sid Harris goi to' Hollywood to 
look abound. 

Sam Arno now talent iscouting for 
Republic: pix. 

llie Alger from the 

Arizona desert; 

Dorothy Wolf of Leblarig's lost Her 
mother last week. 

Harfy Goldberg out of Central 
Artists and on his own. 

■DaVe Blum has started commuting 
to his New Jersey faring . . , 

Sam Harris due back from the. 
Coast at the end Qf the week. 

Ralph Rolan back frpm Minneap- 
olis after a brief lecture tour. 

Frank Burke of CRA. rnoyed to 
Baldwin, L. I., for the summer. 

Winnie Sheehan in from the Coast 
ior a short business visit to N. Y. 

Martin W. (Mike): Spector, ex p.a., 
has. gone into the management biz. 

Charles Ford, Universal newsreel 
chief, on business jaunt to Washing- 
tori. 

Weldon and Honey, dancers, set for 
a. Warner shorts series by Central 
Artists. ■ 

Pat West's kids are growing taller 
than he is, out there in tbat Cali- 
fornia sunshine. 

Bill . Brennan, former treasurer. 
Blow manager of Jack pelaney's 
place in the Village. 

Mrs. Al Sherman^ wife of Colum-' 

la Pictures' shbrts publicist, into 

ost Gr&diiate hospitail. 

Word froni the Coast is that' Hor- 
ace McMahon has gained 20 pounds 
in HoU^^v/ood. Also wears 4 beret. 

Mrs. William Melniker, whose hus- 
band heads foreign theatre opera- 
tions for Metro, being tested for pic- 
;tures^ . 

Bill Norton will take over the 
company management of. the Chi- 
cago company o£ 'You Can't Take It 
With You.' 

Helen Deutsch now handling p.a. 
work for the American Theatre 
Council convention, due to injury to 
Elmer Kenyon. 

Mark Hellinger has a piece of 
. Nathan Mannj the New Haven 
fighter, matched with Eddie Blunt 
iat the Hippodrome. . 

'Around the Clock With the Fin- 
est' will be the police department 
exhibition at Madison Square Gar- 
den for three days starting June 2. 

Joe Weil, Universal . exploitation 
chief, planed to the Coast Sunday 
(9) to arrange details for .company's 
convention in LA., which opens 
May 17. 

Vince Hart back at d6sk in Code 
Administration division of Hays 
office, and his co-wbrker. Dr. Jaimes 
Wingate, happy. Hart was. absent 
pne week oil his honeymoon. 

William ' A- London arid Alex 
Sehreiber have returned to Detroit 
after annual visit, to home offices 
relative to new season picture deals. 
Both exhibs in Michigan metropolis. 

Sam Burger, special Metro foreign 
department exec, pulled a sneak 
wedding .with Hazel Davin last 
month. Hollywood for a honeyriioon 
this week, now that the lads found 
him out. 

Robert Garland, picture critic of 
N. Y. American, suffered a sieverely 
sprained shouldet when he fell off 
- the horse he'vi/afr riding near the Len 
Gaynor home^in New Jers6y, Satur- 
day (8) .afternoon. 

Annual play of Professional Chil- 
dren's School being staged by Frank 
Losee, Jr., former assistant director 
and actor at Paramount. Ira Ash- 
ley, formerly technical' adviser of 
Moiscow Art Theatre, is lightirig the 
show. Nate Beers, of the Shurr ofr 
flee, casting it, • 

Picture people; from whose ranks 
each year's General of the Kentucky 
Colonels has been selected for the 
. past four years, are relinquishing the 
coming semester to a railroad mag- 
nate; John J. Pelley. New General 
of the Kuhnels is president of the 
American Railway Assn. He suc- 
ceeds C. G. Petti john, of thie Hays' 
officei. 



London 



expecti 



Mrs. 



of 



on the General 



Jack 
over.' . 

Davi 
France; 

Cookie Bowers 
■Theatres circuit. 

Gbraldine and- Joe' playing an in 
definite fUn at Copenhagen. . 

Romhey Brent is wanted for the 
hew Beverly . Nichols revue. 

Paramount wants Teddy BrOwn 
for Hollywood for a musical 

Final licenses granted to Winter 
Garden for reconstruction as eatery. 

L. Pinker to do new show for 
the West-End, Which will star Edna 
. Best. 

Harry Richman refuses to double 
In vaudeville from the Cafe de Paris 
ite'ry. 

Gauhiont-British latest deluxer, 
seating ^,000, at Oldham, opens 
May 24. 

Charles Cochran's minimum fee 
for broadcasting is $52&, take it or 
leave it. 

Frank Libuse goes iftito the Cafe 
de Paris, May 31, following Harry 
Richman. > 

Sir Neville Pearsbn's divorce de- 



cree against Gladys Cooper made 
final April 26. , 

Maurice Goodman, vice prez; and 
foreign sales manaiger of Republic 
Pictures, here. 

Cliff Fischer aind his lawyer, Alan 
Deutch, off to Berlin arid. Budapest 
to scout for talent. 

Harry . Foster off to Paris to close 
deal with the Paris Exposition for 
the Cotton Club Revue, 

lum's Monte Carlo Russian Bal- 
let looking for a West-End theatre; 
may rent the . Piccadilly. 

Sam Smith, head of British Lion 
Films, dickering with Helen Morgan 
to make a musical here: 

Empire and most of the West-End 
piicture theatres stayirig open all 
night on Cprohatiori .eve.. 

(Ginephonic and Gauriiont-British 
jointly throwing cocktail party at 
the Savoy for Rudy Vallee. 

Theron Bamberger here looking, 
for leading man to take to New York 
for Gladys Hurlbut's new play.y 

Ruth Chatterton, . after, provincial 
tour, at Globe theatre in Soinerset 
Maugham's "The Constant Wife.' 
. Twickenham reopening' with Jack 
London's 'Meeting of Elsinore,' 
which Argyle Films is doing in May. 

Special showing of Metro's 'Good 
Earth' was given at Windsor Castle 
at the request of the King, and 
Queen. 

Charles Heslop leaves 'And On We 
Go,' Paul Murray revue, at the 
Savoy, to go into Charles Cochran's 
'Paganini.'. >" ' 

Ann Todd replacing Elizabeth Al- 
lan in the femme lead of film ver- 
sion; of Edgar ■ Wallace's . 'The 
Squeaker.' . t; . . 

James . A. ,.'Fitzpatrick .just back 
from Ireland having lined up somis 
Irish .singers for Tom Moore,' next 
picture for Metro, 

South AiErican Theatres' report to 
the IVTA, its London office, is that 
Molly Picon scored the biggest hit 
there of ^kny importation. 

Guy Bolton writing ^hbw, with Ed- 
die^ Horan; doing the music, which 
Jack Waller is interested in as a hew 
vehicle for Bobby Howes. 

John Masefield, Poet Laureate, 
makes his initial television appear- 
ance on Coronation Day, and will 
render his Coronation Ode. 

Charles Raymond and Caroline Le 
Jieune, latter film scribe of Sunday 
Observer, selected to write articles 
oh film industry for St. Martin's Re- 
view. 

Marianne Davies, playing a part 
in a Gavunont-British film starring 
Will Mahony, was offered a three 
year coritracti with GB, but turned it 
down. 

Gerald Savory, author of 'George 
and Margaret,' the season's hit cur- 
rently at Wyndham's theatre, had 
walkon: part in 'Boy David' at $15 
per week. 

Kurt. Rbbitschek refused permis- 
sion for Helen Morgan to go on the 
air for. British Broadcasting Corp. at 
the last minute, with. Sylvia Froos 
taking her place. 

William K.. Howard and Skeets 
Crallagher are seeing the Coronation 
as guests of the Government, 
through the instrumentality of 
Fanny Holtzman. 

Greta Gynt, of the Albertina 
Rasch girls, currently appearing in 
the Dorchester hotel cabaret, being 
Elizabeth Lambert, same group, get 
ting Paramount test. 

Glasgow framing an exhibition 
for next year, with the Government 
having granted the. Glasgow Corp. 
$3,750,000 towards construction. Will 
be at Belle Houston Park. 

'Night Alone,' at the Duke of 
York^, was to have folded after a 
fortnight' run, but cast decided to 
adopt a Commonwealth plan, anc 
the show is now likely to continue. 

After recording for Rex (Crystal 
ate Gramophone Records) for one 
year, Larry Adler returned to Co 
lumbi .Contract calls for 18 rec- 
ords yearly, with American rielease 
Albert de Courville has the Eng- 
lish rights of Harry Gbetz' and Max 
Gordon's current' Broadway hit, 
'The Women,' which has just come 
back with drastic censorial dele 
tions. 

Globe Theatre of Varieties, Stock 
ton-on-Teas, has been sold to .the 
ABC, John Maxwell outfit. House. is 
modern and has been operating 
vaudeville for 15 hibnths,. since i; 
opened.' 

Brian Desmond Hurst , off to Italy 
for a fortnight's vacation, then starts 
work for: Aliexahder Korda on ah 
Eriglish film from. French script, ho; 
.'Lawrence of Arabi ,' as origihally 
intended. 

Stanley Wathon and Eniile Littler 
off to the continent to line up nov 
elties for the latter's pantomiriies. 
Littler also interested in a French 
musical, of which he Wants the Eng 
iish rights. 

Free passes being issued by. Oscar 
Deutsch for his 200 Odeon picture 
houses to oyerseias. troops taking 
part iri the Coronation procession, 
London Casino ialso /entertaining 
igratis— about 200 a week. 

"'The Romantic Rogue,' by H, 
Kraft, now set to miisic by Ed wart 
Horari, may be done here in the fal' 
and will star Harry Welchman. This 
is a reconstructed show originally 
written by Sidney Howard and pfo 
duced on Broadway by Gilbe):i; 
Miller at the Empire sbme 12 years 
agb. 



Paris 

, Bea Ergervary to . Lille. 

Rene Clair back to London. [j 
■ Irvin Marks Chez jFlorence. 
; Jean Tranchant at the Baigdad. 
Arnold Meckel off to London. 
Gretl Vernon at the Grand Jeu. 
' .Jascha Heifetz back to America. 
Andre RandaU in from America* 
Pierre Brasseur off for Brussels. 
M. Bouwer here from the Hague* 

Mother of Lily Pons to- America. 
Mildred Berman back to: America. 
. Liarii O'Flaherty in f rorin London. 
King Reep at the Cirque Medrario. 
Jacqueline Meyer due from Lon- 
don. 

Gaspar Cassando oh a Euiropean 
tbur. 

Ernst -Glaeser in from Berlin for a 
visit. ■ ' 

Paul Derval ing the Empire 
show.. 

'La Belle Traviersee' opening at the 
Alhambra. 

planriirig a New 



Jacques 
York visit, 

Marianne Davis at the 

Sheheraze. ■. 

Lillian Ellis signed fOQr television 
broadcasts. 

Joan Warner toi)pi the next 
Bobiho bill. 

King of Sweden vi 'Yana' at 
the Chatelet. 

Premier Blum attending an .Opera- 
Comique gala. 

Georges Thill, to give his first 
in. recital May \7. ' 

June' Cole out of the hospital aftet 
more than a year. 

Parisiana to be :a. 
music-hall Aug. 15. 

Lily and Emy Schwartz broadcast- 
mg over Radio-Cite. 

Lost Horizon' (Col) at the Cinema 
des Champs-Elysees. 

Minister of National Education 
Zay in from Athens. 

Gabrielle Dorziat resigning from 
the Union of Artists. 

'StowawayV (20th-Cehtury Fox) 
opening at the Balzac. 

Reviamped Marseillaise reyue 
openmg at the Alcazar . 

'Le Club de Gangsters' revived at 
Theatre Deux-Masques. 

Marcelle Chantail writing her im- 
pressions of New York. 
.. Zoiga and Rachel scheduled for 
the next A. B. C. show. 

Marga Waldiran giving ai dance re- 
cital at the Salle Pleyel. 

'Julius Caesar' past the 100th per- 
formance at the Atelier; 

Doris Niles and Serge scheduled 
to dance at the Marigny. 

Cabaret de Monseigneur, new 
Montmartre nightie^ open. 

'That Girl From Paris' (RKO) 
opening at the Edouard VII. 

New 40-hour laws compelling 
nighties to close Monday nights. 

Police chief prohibiting distribu- 
tion of leaflets at the expo entrances. 

Radio Luxembourg broadcasting. 
'Paris en Joie,' Casino revue starring 
Chevalier. 

Willie Lewis to open the Restau- 
rant des Amba^sadeurs with his band 
oh May 19. 

'Fric-Frac' passing the 200 per- 
formance mark at the Theatre 



in .from Algeria, 
, of 'Serati-le-Ter- 



Michbdiere 

Andre Hugbn 
where exteriors 
rible' were shot. 

Deriise Bbsc, daughter of Henri 
Bosc, making her screen debut in 
'Le Fauteuil 47.' 

Maurice de Canonge preparing a 
film in which all actors and actresses 
will be imder 10. 

Lisa Duncan, giving a matinee 6f 
dances , with her students at the The- 
atre de Athenee. 

Sheherazade giving cocktailer to 
celebrate, its 10th annivjersary and 
new decbrations. 

Wilhelm Furtwaengler in with the 
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for a 
concert at the Opera. 

'Siizet Mais engaged for the femme 
lead in 'Les Hommes Sans Nom' 
('Men Without Names'). 

President Lebrun officially inau- 
gurating the restored Theatre de la 
Montansier at Versailles, 

G. W. Pabst will direct 'Katia,' 
film Which Danielle Darrieux is mak- 
ing before going to Hollywood. 

Robert Trebor engaging , Ceci 
Soirel for a revised version of 'Un 
Coupe de Rouge' at Theatre Miichel, 
'Three Waltzes' ith Yvonne Prih 
temps and Pierre Fresnay at the 
Bouffles: Parisiens the hit bf the sea: 
.son. 

Madeleine Lambert engaged by 
Charles Dullin for the femme lead in 
'Atlas. Hotel,' coming up soon at the 
Atelier. 

Vivianne Romance and Christian 
Jacque off for Vienna to shoot ex- 
teriors, of 'Une Spir a Vienna' ('A 
Night in VienhEi'? 



By Maxwell Fox 



Arthur TUohy back from Bermuda 
wedding trip, ' ' 

Freddie Rush new merriber of 
Keith publicity staff. 

Charlie Koernef packing for 
summer jaunt to the Coast. 

George French's boat will be 
ilauriched soon. Cyl-Champlin's al 
ready afloat. 

Ann Marsters. local feature writer 
signed by Paf for role of femme re 
porter in 'Exclusive.' 
I Gertrude Niesen order to rest sev- 



eral weeks by Hub doc. Versailles 
and £d Wynn radio dates out. 

Margaret Hewes, known here for 
her promotion of Wharf Players in 
Provincetown^ now wife bf . Major 
Sir Ambrose Gosling, M. P. in Paget, 
East, Betmuda. Contehiplating thea- 
tre mbvement there. • 

George Holland tapering off an ex- 
tended run with a broken leg at St. 
Elizabeth's hospital. His xoom is 
known unofficially as 'Grand Hotel,' 
and well named. Experience of in'-, 
troducing- visiting .acts during the 
game-leg siege should rate Holland 
high as an m.c. on hid release. 



By lies Rees 



at 



Leo Adler, UA home officei 
;or, in towri. 

Harry Hirsch 
French Lick. . 

Phil Dunas, Columbi istrict man- 
ager, a visitor. 

National Screen employees' club 
held first outing. 

W. A. Steffes back frorii a i^ 
cago business trip. / 
J. L. Stern, of Majestic, back from 

Y. business trip. 
Warner sales' staff off for New 
York sales' convention. 

Ralp\}. Cramblett,'UA branch man- 
ager, back from a vacation. 

Fred Ableson, GB exchange man- 
ager, to Chicago on business. 

Variety club wound up season 
activities with dinner meeting. 

Bill .Woods . at. Paramount pro: 
moted. frorii advertising assistant to 
assistant booker. 

Jack Thoriia here ahead of 'Lost 
Horizon/ scheduled for Lyceum, 
week of May 14. 

Louie' Blumberg, Warner sales- 
riian, stalled for two days, by sriow- 
storm, iri northern Minnesota. 

Mo^ Levy, .20th-Fbx district man- 
ager, off. to. Des Moines to confer 
with W, C. Gehring, division man- 
ager. 

Tommy Charek, Warner salesman, 
skidded off. road in North Dakota 
and smashed car, . but escaped in- 
jury. 

Al Stern, RKO office manager, 
promoted to city salesman and L. P. 
Kline, assistant booker, moved up 
to office manager.- 



Hollywood 



Sydney 

By Erie Gorrlck 



Sir Ben Fuller still in town. 
Harry Hunter arrives to take' over 
the Par office here. 

Wirth's Circus will soon be going 
out oh the! road again. 

Everybody's oh their toes for the 
Marcus opening, N. Z. 

Roy Rene will head a new reviie 
unit for Frank Neil in Sydney. 

New Zealanders are taking kindly 
to the Monte Carlo. Russian Ballet 
under Williamson-Tait management. 

Newspapers have quit Quota tales 
for the. time being and pressure is 
easing somewhat on the Americans. 

Dave Martin is one of the proud- 
est exhibs in Sydney now that 'Show 
Boat' (U) has tbpped all.- other rec- 
ords on long run. 

Following revival of 'Lilac Time' 
in Melbourne, Williamson-Tait will 
revive 'Merrie England.' Firm is re- 
viving 'White. Horse Inn* also. Soon 
there won't be many shows left to 
revive. ■ • 



mg 



Pahn Springs 



Mr. and Mrs. Leo Robi 
around. 

Henry Busse buzzing around in 
new gas chariot. 

The John Blystones siestaing at 
the Town House. 

The Leo McCareys and daughter 
bn a sunriing spree. 

Shirley Temple Siinhing arid 
swimming at EI Mirador. 
. Charlie' Butterworth jogged out of 
town with Townsend Netcher. 

Bill Gargan here to charge dyria- 
mo for new fling, at Hollywood. 

The Bill Hays given a surprise 
party by their neighbors just before 
trekking out. 

Sam Harris, George Bancroft, 
Mack Gordon, Harry Revel chinning 
in the Colonial house lobby. 



Chicago 



Morris Silver back after a week in 
N. Y. 

. Jackie Cooper ipress-pai^tied at the 
Blackstone. .. ■ 

Arthur Willi, RKO Scout, in town 
for a couple days. 

Joe Sherman caught his 15th Ken 
tucky Derby on Saturday. 
. Major Lenox R. Lohr, NBC prexy, 
m town last wieek, arid busy. 

Phil Friedlander given testimonial 
dinner by what are termed Civic 
Leaders. 

Frank Dare of Equity off to Michi 
gan to look over a couple of legit 
projects there. 
, Considerable huzzah at the Mor 
rison Casihb when Sam Ward dis- 
.eovered a drink nariied after him on 
menu. 

. Patricia Garrity. daughter of John 
Garrity pf the Shuberts here, en- 
gaged to William Seymour, ether 
actor, brother of Ann Seymour. 



Jack Y. Berman on the desert. 

Pinky Tomlin battling ptomaine. 

Harrisbn C^ri^oll back from N. Y, 

Henry Wilcoxon and wife planed 
in. 

Joe Cunningham recovered from 
flu. 

Dolores Del Rio a ptomaine vie 
tim. ^ ^ ■■■ ■ 

Buck Jbries back from flshi 
age. 

Pauline 3wanson fliew 

N.Y. ; 

Clarence Wilson played 300th fllm 
role. 

Joseph Anthony now Metro ^crib-; 
bier. 

Henry Lehrman better after oner, 
ation. — ■ 

George Raft planed to Kentucky 
derby, ■ 

Williarii PbWell 
Siriieon. 

Porter Hall planed in. from St 
Louis p.a. 

Harold Young and Danny 
from N. Y. \, 

Madeleine .Carroll headi 
New Ybrk. - 

Irving Ciunrini 
tb visit son. 

Edwin Knopf 
Cbperihagen. 

The Al Santells back f rbih Broad- 
way igander.. 

Gebrge Giyot cavoirts Sonja 
Henie's' next. ^ 

John Bbles went for library of 
first editions. 

Madge Evans sharing finny tri 
off Ensenada, 

Marian Marsh taking upland ozono 
at Arrowhead. ; 

Scott R- DUnlap to. Chicago for 
Monogram meet 

Hans von Twardowski donning 
greasepaint again. 

Mary Livingstone spotted in Par's 
'This Way, Please.' 

Gale jSbndergaard tbok fli 
Broadway saunters. 

Wallace : Beery home frbni pisca- 
torial perambulations. 

Dolly Tree offed Honolvdu saili 
twice, but finally made it. 

Natalie Bucknell again research- 
ing for. Metro after illness. 

Eddie Alperson . installed in Toiil 
Mix's Beverly Hills palalzzOv 

Metro sales crowd guested at 
Woody Van Dyke's hacienda. 

Nanette Bordeaux, French actress, 
taking studio tests and a house. 

Al Parmenter moves from 20th- 
Fox to National Screen Service. 

Paul Perez checked. out of Cedars 
of Lebanon hosp. after a once over. 

Louis Cohen, theaitrical real estate 
exec, is now in business for himself^: 
Mrs.. Leslie Howard and sons, Ron- 
ald and LesUe, visiting on the Coast 
Howard Herrick here first time i 
many moons, ahead of 'Idiot's De- 
light.' 

Nathaniel West resting three 
months from Republic scribbling 
chores. 

Florabel Muir eyeing strike for 
N. Y. News, London Telegraph and 
Paris Soir. 

Wesley Ruggles planed to Lake 
Louise to finish vacash started at 
Del Monte. . 

Robert Seidel picking, lip pic 
flashes in Hollywood for the Indi- 
anapolis Times. 

Coy Poe, Jack Wakesriiith and Jo- 
sef Macke conferencing on musical 
at Palm Springs^ . 

Marge Decker Lewis is Columbia s 
new fianmag contact yice Fanya 
(iraham who goes globe-circlihiS. 

Harry Brand now 'caballero de la 
Fiesta' for Golden Gate bridge cele- 
bration. Mayor Ahgelo Rossi of 
Frisco conferred the title. 

Stuart Erwin's dog best Scottie at 
Ventura. Variety mugg Ross Mut; 
phy's 'Mormuir Midnight Reveller 
,bl«e-ribboried as best American 
bred. 



Berlin 



Maria Roland back to Berlin, 

Aribert Mog signed for Ufa's 
roussel.'- . , 

Setsuka Hara, star of 'New. Earth, 
in Leipzig. 

Manuela del. io dated, for Berii 
for three days. 

'Born to Dance' iti second montn 
at the Marmorhauis. 

'3,000 Jahre Kabarett' has 
its 100th performance. 
, Herbert. Selpin has 
iug 'Alarm in Peking,' 

Alleissandro Blasetti 
premiere of . his 'Mario.' .. 

Lilo Hartmann back after, a legit 
engagement iri Hamburg. 

Ludwig Hess, writing niusic 
Konig's "The Haunted House.' 

Gigli to the Deutsches Opern 
in June with the Milan Scala. 

Hitler and Goebbels at the pre- 
miere of the Italian pic 'Marie?. 

Harald Beehmelt writing the iriusi 
for two forthcoming Eichberg pix. 

Heinz Werinper signed for iiew 
Hans Albers pic, 'Sherlock Holmes. , 

'Kaiserin Katherlna' reaching us 
iOOth performance: at the Admiiais- 

Ivor Murillo in 'The Barretts of 
Wimpole Street' playing at the Eng^ 
lish theatre. , 

Jack Trevor to be > vis-a-vi 

(Continued bn page 61) 



fdr 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



OUTDOORS 



VARIETY 



61 



Circus Union Next 



Efforts Reported Made to prganizfe Ring- 
ling-B^B Perf brmers 



ircuses are , the next division in 
amusement field slated for, 

uhioni^**^°'^' ^^^^ *° hiave been : 
Iven the nod by the American Fed- 
eration of Labbr^ jPerformiers will 
be the first , to approachied and 
proselyting': was reported started oh 
the lot iii Brooklyn early this week 
amopg. the,.B,ingli Barnum & 
iBailey people. 

George Smith, formerly of the big 
top's staff, is namied as the organizer, 
pe was to have rejoined the outfit 
had the pilan of John Ringlirig to buy 
back the show , been cbnsurnmated 
shortly before his death. Nq pre- 
vious attejnpt was made to bring 
circus peot)le Into unioh, al-. 
though some perfornrjers were mem- 
hvcs of the Whitie Rats. 

Understood that the circus people 
will cpme under, the jurisdiction of 
the Ameirican Federation of Actors, 
which holds the: charter, for vaude- 
'yille ahd putdpbil'. If circuses are 
/organized the movement will pirob- 
abljf extend to the canvasmen and 
.razor, tacks, but . claissed diffeirently. 



Pliilly Police Nixing 

UnsponsoFed Cariiies 

Philadelphia^, ilay li. 
Police departniiBrit again' has biars 
up against .licensing, carnivals not 
under auspices of fraternal \ org or 
church. Shackles were removed for 
a while last year, but nb chance of 
the same this season, ing to 

Major Edward Hubbs, superintend- 
ent. 

Expect about same number of 
/sponsored' shows as last year.. 



Showmen Alarmed 



(Gohtihued from page . 54) 



all bills ., introduced which may 
affect the/ theatre, but the Lieague: has 
had no. one actively, on the jo j sli-iie 
the death of Dr. Henry Moiskowiiz. 
Managers decided jiot to appoint a 
successor this season as. ah economy 
move. While all the shownien were 
asleep, ' the Civu I^iberties League 
protested to the Assembly without 
effebt. 

Marcus Heimah, head of the 
ijeague, called ah emergency meeting 
Monday (10) after stating the bill 
would give too much power to one 
man. Moss recently closed all bur- 
lesque theatres i New York by re- 
fusing to issue new licenses, Frank 
Gillmore was more indignant over 
the passage of the bill than the maiir 
agers, regardinjg the. measure as 'a 
vicious; bill.* He sai 'They never 
approached us i . it was. rail- 
roaded' through and it's contrary to 
the .spirit of the American constitti- 
. tipn. I'm simply amazed that the As- 
sembly should have passed a . piece 
of legislation without' asking the 
views .'of the citizens whom it af- 
fects.? ' 



Beating Barnes In 

, May 11. 

Heading the amusement schedule 
for Reno this month is the Al G. 
Barnes-Sells Floto circus, which 
plays May 13, but two large carnival 
companies, including Siebrand Brpsi 
Piccadilly Circus and Ho^ye Bros, 
carnival and circus, have moved, in 
ahead of the Barnes-Floto outfit and 
skimmtid the cream off the availablie 
gate. 

Siiebrand pitched tents and 
parked its traiidrs vacant lot 

Sunday (2). for » orte-week's sojourn 
while Howe Brps. skirted around 
Reno, but is hitti nearby small 
towns. 



Tyson to A. C. Agaiii 

.May 11. 

George Tyson, managing director 
of Harris-Alvih theatre here, r 
tained a three-month leave of 
absence to direct exploitation again 
■ for the annual Atlantic City Show- 
men's Jubilee, which . culminates in 
a beauty pageant to ick 'Miss 
America.' 

He leaves ior the shore . spot June 1 
and will' return his Pittsburgh 
post Sept. 15. 

During his absence, Alvin will be 
under guidance of Bill Zeilor, 
Tyson's assistant. 



Kick Came Tipo late 

St. Louis, May. 11. 
Hennie ros. carhy, ^sponsored by 
Elk's lodige, operated for week in 
?ast St. Louis despite objections of 
108 residents in habe, Original site 
sought by show was not pbtairiable 
and one Was. found- in residential 
nabe.' 

Objectors' petition was sent to 
City Council but next meeting of 
that body was after carny concluded 



Nothing for Creditors 

St.' Louis, May II. 

Assets of bankrupt Winter Garden 
Amusement Co, operators of., ice 
skating ring in West End, were not 
sufficient to pay a dividend oh ap^ 
proved claims of 22. creditors 
amounting to itioi'e than $46,000, ac- 
cording to final report filed by pri- 
ville Livingston, trustee, i bank- 
ruptcy court last week. 

Company filed prPceedihgis last 
July. Total liabilities listed amounted 
to $133,828, of which more than $80,- 
000 represented claims for injury 
against company. These were all dis- 
missed by Referee in Bankruptcy 
Hopt. 



Albany, May 11, 

Only the signature of Governor ' 
Lehman ' needed to make the 
license commissioner of New York' 
City the sole judge of what con- 
stitutes immorality iii the, theatre. 

One of the final, acts of the Assem- 
bly before adjournment last Satur- 
day (8) was the passage of the -bill 
intrpduced by Senator John J, Dun- . 
nigan, amending the penal la>y so 
as to extend tljie powers of licensing: 
authorities. . The measure had. been 
held, up in Senate committee since 
its introduction April 13 until , last 
Wednesday (6), when it was reported 
out and passed without debate. The . 
Assembly acted on the bill favorably . 
a few hours before adjournment. 

In' substance the amendment pro- 
vides that the licensing authority 
may revpke' a theatre license upon 
satisfactory proof that a theatre is 
violating the law against immorality 
after a hearing before him. Hereto- 
fore it was necessary that the theatre 
oWner or performers had been ar- 
rested, tried and convicted. The law 
becomes effective next Sept. 1, pro- 
vi ing the governor approved it 
A 3p-Day Measure 

Bill is Wha^t is known as a '30-day 
measiire,' meaning that Governor 
Lehman has that length of lime to 
sign or Veto it. Should he fail to, do 
either, the meiasure automatically 
becomes law at the expiration of . 30" 
days. 

Hearing on the measure may be 
demanded, but the governor may or 
niay not grant the request. At the 
close, of the 22rh6ur final session of 
the legislature. Governor Lehman 
left for Williamsburg, Ya., and ex- 
pects to take a. week of rest before 
returning to Albany. 

The Assembly, paid 'no heed to a 
telegraphed .protest against the bill 
from the American Civil Liberties 
Union of N. Y. The message 
dressed to , Speaker Oswald Heck 
ahd the- Asseipbly Rules Committee 
was signed by Prof, itatcheir Hughes 
of Columbia, Univ., chairman Morrii 
L.: rnst arid Alexander Lindsey, 
Cdurisel, and Hazel . L; Hughes; sec^ 
retary. 

W»ai It Meansi 

amendrhent jpfpvi that 
'upon proof satisfactory ' the 
licensing authprity of a violation of 
this section Pccurring premises 
licensed for apy such exhi ition, 
drama, play, show or entertaininent, 
though there shall have been no 
conviction therefPr, the licensing 
authority, after a hearing held on 
reasonable nPtice to the licensee, and 
an opportunity given the latter to be 
iieard in person or by counsel, or 
both, and to adduce proof in rebuttal, 
may revPke such license unless the 
person hamed as chargeable with 
the violation shall have been prose- 
cuted, tried and acquitted, theriepf. 
Within the meaning hereof 'reason- 
able nptice' shall consist of serving 
on the licensee in the :manner pre- 
scribed by law for personal service 
of. a summons or of delivering to a 
person on the licensed premises in 
charge of the office, booth or box 
for the sale of admission tickets or 



Midges in ISt Paul 



St. Paul, May li. 

Midget auto racing will be intro- 
duced to Twin City sporte fans Juhie 
9, when the first of a summer-long 
series of weekly races wiU be staged 
in iSt. Paul's Highland Park Stadium, 
local summer play-spot. 

Jesse Stone and Fred Schuele, both 
vet drivers of standaird and midget 
cars Will co-manage the events. 






Needs 

Bad Sbowmadiip 



Cantpn, ., May ll. 
Kew liagenbeck- Wallace circus 
continues tP struggle along, taking 
the bad breaks and. hoping for 
smpother sailiitg ahead as it swings 
through eastern Ohio an4 western 
Pennsylvania adhering a . route 
that includes, many of the smaller 
industrial towns which have not had 
a .rajl circus in more, than, a decade. 

its trek through the 
show has. left a bad impression with 
the. public and administration offi- 
cials. Stressing in their billing and 
r»ewsi»iper advertisi that the 
show has reistored the old time jpa- 
rade. ^this anhduncemeiiit is elimi- 
nated in the last two days' advance 
exploitation and finally if there is a 
radio station in the tow.n a norpa- 
rade announcement, is broadcast, 
and if hot air facilities the . newspa- 
per story, of the jplay date says .theire 
will.be, no parade and g:oes oh to 
say that the show this year is so 
large that it was found necessary 
to dispense with this feature. The 
story dpes not appear usually Until 
late in the afternoon after thou- 
sands have waited downtpwn since 
early morning in anticipatipn of 
seeing the pageant. ' Pisappbiiited 
by no paradp, man/ hundreds don't 
even go out to the. lot 

Business has been pathetic is 
week, . Cincinnati pn Sunday being 
the piily big day th<e show, has, 'had 
in its two weeks on tour. Three 
shows were given here. Columbus 
the following day was fair. Mans- 
field pn Tuesday was less than half 
a house afternoon and iiight and 
business here, which With a parade 
would have been capacity, was 
light, due also to a heavy downpour 
which started about the time the 
doors were opened for the. night 
show. Hundreds asked for their 
money back; their seats being under 
water or beneath a leaky streak. Al- 
liance on Thursday, the last Ohio 
st>ip for the show, was also light, as 
was expected. 

Opposition, mostly from the Cple 
Bros. show,, is pounding it from all 
sides. There was more paper up 
here by the -Cole brigade than the 
H-W had for the date and the Cole 
car hasn't even bpen here yet to bill 
for May -24. 

The show needs draft stock badly, 
there being at least 15 head of ailing 
horses with the show when it 
played here, none of them being able 
to worki Local truckmen are pick- 
ing up the wagons after they are. 
dragged off: the lot by ho.rses. On 
a wet Ipt the bulls are being kept 
on the lot late to .hel . get show pif. 



Circus Routes 



1!); 
22; 



Week of May 17 

Barnes-Sells. Floto 

Metfforrt, 18; Eugene, 
Corvalls, 21; Salem, 



ros and Bcaity 

Clncfnnatl, ,. 16-17; SprlnKflcld, lit; 
ColumbUK, 10; Steubenvllle, 20; TlttH-. 
burirh, .21-22. 

\nt;\\n% Bros.-Barnum & Bailey 

WABHlnicton, D. .C. 17-10: Baltlrnorc, 
Md., 20-21 ; .Lancai!ter, Pa,; 22i 



the collection oi admission, fees, at 
least five days before the hearing, a 
written notice stating the violations 
charged, the name or narnes of the 
peirson or persons allegedly resjpon-.' 
sible theirefor ahd the place, of hear- 
ing. Such revocation and the pro- 
ceedings therefor shall be; review- 
able by certiorari, on relation of the 
licensee but without stay. Upon 
such revocation or, if certiorari be 
granted, if art when the revocation 
is sustained, the licensing authority 
shall have power to refuse to issue 
a new license for a period of not 
exceeding one year from the date of 
.such revpcation, or of the order.sus- 
taining it.' 



DaUas-R W^^^^^^ 

Advance Sale of Coupon Books 



RmgHugShwmSpGt 
Philly Stand on 2 Lots 



Philadelphia^ May II. 
irigiing-B. B. show will play herie 
ninp 'days in two spots. Big tent 
will go up for opener May 24 at 
usual stand in NPrth Philly. Will 
remain there, six days until follpw- 
ing Saturday. 

Then will mpve to a new spot at 
69th and Market streets, on western 
outskirts of town, where it .wiH re- 
main for three days. 



HUNGRY LION LUNCHES 
ON HIS GIRL TRAINER 



Atlanta; Ga.,. May 
Marjorie Kemp, who takies lions 
riding 'arouhd the walls Pf Royal 
American . Shows' motordrome/ was 
severely clawed by one of her 
chargeis Fridiay (7) while being in- 
terviewed over .'WSB by Lambdin 
Kay^; general manager of station, on' 
carny'd midway; 

Phdtogs were . shooting pix of. re- 
mpte .broadcast and lions, being 
hungry, were fractious. .Kemp girli 
trying to pacify animals so lensmen 
could get a shot, stuck her arm in 
cage and ahimal let her have it, lay- 
ing fiesH pf her right arnl open to 
bone. 

Nervy . worhaii turned and said: 
'VTell, he did. it,' then w.alked to car 
and was brought to cityi where' sev- 
eral stitches were taken in injured 
arm aiid treatment given to prevent 
blood poisoning, 

65 Car Carney 



Atlanta, May 11. 
Royal, American Shows (Carl 
Sedlmayr), pulled up stakes Saturr 
day (8) night after completing its 
only \9Zi still date-^and siiccessful, 
too^ Show was sponsored by Amen-, 
can legion, which took lO-cent gate 
admission to grounds as its cut. Date 
here was profitable despite half-and- 
half weather and fact that carny 
played on new. grounds not served 
by public utilities conveyances. 
Legionnaires have already signed to 
bring carny back .1938. v 

Outfit's 3,300-fodt midway, with 
24 shows and: 21 rides, makeis a 
showy layout, half a dozen flood- 
light towers, outlined in neon, 
centering w;hole shebang. 

Show wintered in Tampa, and 
travels on 65 railroad cars, personnel 
numbering .1,200. "They've been: olit 
five weeks and will cover ■ 18,000 
miles before winter. Booked solid 
,on fairs, they go from here; to 
Memphis, Tenn., for Cotton Carniva], 
jump to Peoria and Cedar Raplaa, 
Iowa, and then travel 1,400 miles to 
Manitoba, Canada, to be followed 
by Calgary Stampede and Winnipeg 
Jubilee dates. 

Jack Dadswel], show's advance 
man, is traveling by motorized 
equipment, this year. He has twp 
trailers, one an office the other is 
iiving quarters. While on the road 
he ..edits 'The Shpwrnan's Journal, 
published in -Tampa, Fla.,: by remote 
control. 

Garny's 1937 season will last 43 
weeks, four Weeks longer than cus- 
tonjary. 



Human Net 

London, Canada,- May 11. 
Leo Lalande, sword swa.ilower and 
fire eater, with the Wallace Bros. 
Canadian Shows/ when i>laying at 
Welland, saved the life pf 22-year- 
old Patricia Lamar, diving girl, when 
she misjudged the 35-fopt leap from 
a tank ladder. 

Lalande darted under the falling 
fprm of the girl and succeeded in 
breaking her fall.. He suffered' a 
wrenched shoulder. Dive was the 
girl's first attempt and- the mishap 
occurred during, a rehearsal. ,. 



OVERCOAT WEATHEK 

Charlotte, N. C , May 11. 

The Cctlin-Wilson shows remained 
at Winston-Salem fPr a second week 
under the auspices of the Clyde 
Boiling Post. 

Because .pf the cold and wet 
weather the show had cancelled a 
Staunton, Va., date to play the 
North Carolina city a second weeft. 



Dallas, May 11; .. 

Dallas and Fprt Worth expositions 
shPiild have a pretty good case is- 
tory within the next few weeks for . 
guidance pf pther fair executives tn 
advance sale of tickets^ 

Last year Harry; Harrison 
neered the sale of 2,300,600 tickets 
for the Pallas Centennial and local' 
groups in Fort Worth helped Billy 
Rose sell 2fOO,00Q tickets. This year 
Harrison has transferred his 
ergies to Port Worth and plans to 
sell 1,000,000 tickets. This year It isr 
the Dallas exposition which, is using 
hpme-town groups to dispose of 
250,000 cPmbination books which 
represent 500.000 gate admissions. 

Dallas campaign, headed by Phil 
Fox, last year'd publicity director, 
has sold 200,000 bopks. Attractions 
listed on the Dallas book, include 
Cavalcade« Rbad to Rio, Black For-- 
est, the. Bowery, and on 50,000 tickr. 
ets Show Bpat has a stub. Each, book 
will haVP two gate aidihissions, and 
two tickets ta Cavalcade. Dallas 
expo headst claim a fabe value pf 
$3.60 for theiir boipks which are re- 
tailing at $2.20 and being sold in 
wholesale blocks of 1,000 at $1.75 
each. 

Harrison begins wpirk in Fort 
Wprth this week on his advance 
ticket campaign. RPse claims a face 
value of $5;50 for his books which 
Will retail at $3. Values represented 
on the Fort Worth bopk. include gate 
admissions and tickets to Ca.sa 
Manana, Melody Lane (hPused in 
'Jumbo' building), Pioneer Palace 
and ah outdoor garden with Salici 
puppets, to be called Fiirefly Gar- 
dens. 

While Harrison is in current ar- 
gument with Dallas authorities over 
disposition of hiis Globe theatre 
Avhich hpused a Shakespearean . rep- 
ertoire last year, this controversy 
was not responsible for. his transfer 
to Fort Worth all hapds ' insist. Har- 
rison wanted to dismantle and nnove 
theatre either, to Ifoustbn or Fort 
Worth and Da'llasites insisted it re- 
main here. Fine legal point was 
raiised by city that structures oh city 
property could not be moved with- 
out municipal permission. City is 
understpod to have offiered hiip 
$10,000 for theatre. He. probably 
will accept. 

Point to inter-city situation is that 
high-pressure advance ticket cam- 
paigns are excellent 'way to raise 
cash but Dallais officials insist plan 
develops unhappy aftenhath. They 
cite their experience last year when, 
books which -got in hands pf specu- 
lators turned up to cut-rate . front 
gate admissions. 

Speculators who bought books in 
huge quantities found them staling 
on hands when anticipated attend- 
ance failed tp develop. They set up 
booths opposite main gates of expo- 
sitions and unloaded books at de- 
pression prices^ The fair reports 
idea pf. competing with itself for 
those front-gate half dpilars Wasn't 
appeali 

Dallas fair executives makei it 
plain they intend, no criticism of 
Harrison's worlc last year. They con- 
fess they counted too many chickens 
before the setting hatched. 

For his part, Ro.se claims he tried 
to get Harrison to handle his sale 
last year. 



Barnes Leaves Cal 



Lps Angeles; 'May 11. 

Al G. Biatnes & Sell8-;ri6to circus 
will move out of California . next 
Thursday (13) after traveling more 
than 3,000 miles within the state and . 
taking in grosses running far ahead 
of fprmer .yearsi 

After a one-day stand at Reno the 
circus moves to Aitura.s, Calif, for 
a night stand ^4), .next day into 
Oregon and (16) back again to 
Montague^ Calif. Outfit next will, 
proceed through the northwest 
reaching Portland May 23. 



HODGES TAKE9 THE BATH 

Macon, May 11. 
James teel Hodges, tent show 
Pperatpr and actor, last week filed 
a voluntary petition in bankruptcy 
in United States District cpiirt here. 

Hodges listed liabilities at $7,215.04, 
including $864 in wages and $6,051.04 
in unsecured claims. Assets of $900, 
all claimed exempt, were listed.. 
Hodges' shpw had just completed a 
week's run here. 



6% 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



]S[ews From the Dailies 

This department contains rewritten theatrical news items as pub- 
lished during the tdcefc in the daily papers of New York^ Chicago, 
San Francisco, Hollywood and London. Variety tokcs no credit lor 
these news items; each fias been rewritten irom a daily paper.. 



East 



ill of the late William Gillette 
urges executors to see that the estate 
does hot fall into the hands of some 
'blithering saphead who has jio con- 
ception of where he is nor with what 
surrduhded.' Particularly anxious 
about the continuance of his nar- 
row gauge railway. 

John Corigliano to he concert- 
master of the N. Y.' Philhariiionic- 
Symphony prch dui-ing the Stadium 
cdncerts. Mishel Plastro, regular in- 
cumbent of the chair, making a trip 
to the Orient. 

Mary Nolan arrested ior debt 
and taken, to the psychopathic ward 
of Bellevue, released whert Al Reinis 
assumed, her debts , and. persuaded, 
the author itiies. to release her. 

Gertrude . Niesen. christened the 
new United Air Lines 14-passenger 
plane at the Newark airport last 
week. Busted a bottle of cham- 
pagne on its beak, 

.Reaf Admiral Yates Stirling, 
U,S.N;, retired, teams with Mabel A. 
Buell as scenic desigiier. May try 
piay writihg,. tQO. 

• Joe Codk throwing 4 party Ipr the 
newspaper boys at his Lake, Hppat- 
<:orig place next Sunday. 

Martin Viedy, who runs a pix 
theatre at 1441 Third avenue, was 
locking up the house early Thurs- 
day (6) morning when approached 
by a . 'would-be bandit. Instead of 
handing bvet the cash Viedy hit him 
with a broom handle. He Was still 
.:out cold when the cops came to col- 
lect him. 

Richard Neeley, dancer, given an 
indeterminate sentence in general 
-. sessions for running down ' and kill- 
ing a woman. May run up to three 
years, but indicated term will be 
shortened, because he was. swerving 
to avoid a truck. 

Castle Baths, at Long Beach, L. I., 
originally operated by. Vernon and 
Irene Castle, destroyed by fire Tliurs- 
day. 

Margaret Anglin has presented 
many 6f her old stage costumes to 
the Washington Sq. players. She's 
A member of the advisory board. 
. Novir it's 'Excursion' to creep be- 
tween . coyers.; Random House will 
publish. 

Time maigazine again , banned in; 
England. This time an issue con- 
tained excerpts from 'Coronation 
Commentary' which the Duke of 
Windsor protests. 

Loew's Lexington, N. Y.* pulled a 
waiters' race as a press stunt last 
Thursday. Got a couple of stories, 
but the Hindenberg crash spoiled 
newspaper chances. 

New Friends of Music announces 
an upping of subscriptions for the 
coming season. Has already sold 
47 7o of the seats. Wound Up last 
season without n deficit. 

Metropolitan op season next year 
be two weeks longer than the 
one just closed. Starts Nov. 29. 

Frances Heenan (Peaches) Brown- 
ing declared by N. Y. supreniie court 
to be the widow of the late Edward 

rowning. Gives her dower rights. 

Frederick W. Ayer associated 
with Brude DeLette in a new .pro- 
ducing hrm. Latter has not been 
active since '25. 

Joe Jackson had planned to take 
the Hindenberg to keep a date at' 
Radio City Music Hall. Previous film 
held over and he was cabled he 
could take his time. Possibly salved 
his life, as he is coming by steamer. 

Post office inspectors picked up 
280.000 tickets in the St. Paul's Hos- 
pital sweepstakes in' a Harlem .flat 
9 i lUuj . ■ ■ Pret'-ogjce>m en say -the'dirt- 
Ht has taken in some $2,000,000 with^ 
oiit a cent of payoff. 

HersH Tayvaiy winner ol first 
prize in the Young Circle Leagiie 
one-acter contest. It's about a sitr 
down strike. 

Film Art Studios. ., takes over 
the old Edison studio in the Bi:ohX. 

Town. Hall club gave a dinner to 
the Metropolitan opera people last 
Sunday, Several of the guests told 
stories of old opera days. 

Constance Cummings snagged by 
Theatre Guild for its next season's 
'Mrne. Bbvary,', 

Ethel Barrymore Colt out' of 
'Orchids Prefen*ed,' Part written but 
of .musical. 

' Ed Wynh guarantor Of the salaries 
.for 'Abie's Irish Rose.' 

Harry Owens, trick rider, and his 
wife Rita Ty-Bell awarded $4,000 in 
Pi-ovidehce for alleged breach of 
contract by Hagenbeck-Wallace. 
Show dropped them in the 1934 sea-, 
soil. 



nuisance, aciiording to . a neighbor 
who has f^led suit. It is also charged 
that the Jones' manse cost less than 
$12,500, violating restrictions of the 
swank nabe. ... 

Jean Carrhen, time Wampas 
baby star, was granted a divorce: 
from Waltetr Lohmah on cruelty 
charges in LoS Angeles. 

Sani Mintz, screen writer, cut his 
throat while in Glendale. sanitarium, 
being treated for sinus troUble. He 
will recover. 

, Mrs. Stan Laurel withdrew a pe^ 
titi " to have her divorce decree 
set aside in Los Angeles, . 

Tingjan Holt, Chinese exhib, is in 
Hollywood for survey of film pro- 
duction methods for the Chinese 
ministry of industries. He will also 
visit New York and Europe on his 
touri 

Mrs., lizabeth Young Mankiewicz 
filed suit for ' divorce from Joseph 
Mankiewicz, Metro writer-producer,, 
in Los Angeles. • , 

Mrs. Faith Cole Moody, former 
wife . of .Douglas MaicLean, was di- 
vorced from Capt. Moody, retired 
officer of Marines, in Los Angeles, 

Los Angeles county grand jury re- 
bpened the William Desmond ^Taylor 
murder investigation, questioning 
Mary Miles Minter; her sister, lArs. 
Margaret Fillmore, and her tnother,' 
Mrs. Charlotte Shelby, Name of 
James Kirkwbod was- brought into 
the case with Mrs. Fillmore' asserting 
actor and Miss Minter had been 
friendly while he. Was directing her 
in a picture, at Santa Barbiira years 
before the slaying- of. Taylor, 

Superior Judge' Kenny in Los An- 
geles absolved Duncan Renaldo f rom 
further payment' of $150 monthly ali- 
jnbny to his/divorced Wife, ' 

Iris Adrian, film actress, ..won, a 
final decree of divorce from; Charles 
H, Over, broker, in Los Angeles. 



MARRIAGES 

ictOria Astlett to Howard M, 
Lang, .in Yuiiia, May 4; room iis 
an agent, 

Rita Vale to Jack Loiisada, April 
27, in London. Bride is U. legit 
actress. 

Carol Dietrich to Ben Pollock, in 
Los Angeles, May 4. Bride is a film 
double. Groom is cowboy actor. 

Laidyriei Hughes to Edward E. 
Muhl, at Yuma, May 2, G^oom is 
head of U's legal department, 

Leona Julian to Paul Palmentola, 
April 25, at Los Angeles. Groom is ' 
art director at Grand National, 

jean Rouverol to Hugo Butler, 
.film writer. May 7 in Hollywood. 
Bride is film actress, 

Sara Ferrer to Murray Goodrich, 
in Omaha, May 10, Grooni is a Los 
Angeles p.a; Bride is related to Ed- 
ward Alperson, president of Graind 
relational Films. 

Henrietta Brown to Cliff Whit- 
her, in Chicago, May 6, Bride is 
secretary to Bobby Brown, WBBM 
program director^ 

iN^atalle Cantor to Joseph Metzger, 
May 6, in Beverly Hills, Cal. Bride 
is daughter of Eddie Cantor, 

Norma Butler to Johnny Gor- 
man, in Atlanta, May 7; Bride is 
comedienne and grOom musician at 
WSB, Atlanta; 

Nina Verchi ina to Newell Chase 
in Santa Ana; Calif;, May 7. Bride 
is a dancer. Groom is a compo<ier. 

Ruth Leslie- to. Milton Wissinan at 
Catalina Island; Calif., May 8, Bride 
is a film dancer. 



Coast 



• Samntiy Cohen, screen cornedian, 
divorced Doris Roche, actress, in 
Los^Aiigeles. 

. Emmett Flynn, former film direc- 
tor, serving 30 days in L. A. county 
jail on drunk charge. 

• Chickens, ducks, a pair of deer. 
14 dogs, a monkey and -a pig kept 
by Grover Jones, writer, on his Cali- 
iohiia Riviera estate constitute a 




and a convert to his preachings. 
When Lanie's dimwit husband sud- 
denly gets a message himself, the 
preacher retreats in battered aisar- 
ray, Will Geer, late of the Actors 
Repertory Co., plays Simpkins with 
unctious comic malevolence and his 
acting is about all that, can be rec- 
ommended in the play. 

These two short Works by Paul 
Green were acted, in January, 1936, 
by rhembers of the caist of 'Let Free-, 
dom Ring,' cuirrent on .Broadway at 
the time., RowU 

Tobias and the Angel 

■ €ornedy .Ih three acita (six «?anes) by Jninei 
.BWdle, Preaented Ajy Federal (WPA) Thea- 
tre I'roJe<:t'» Studio Theatre (Community 
drama) unit. Staged by Kllpn Van Vol- 
kenberK: .BettlnKS, Samuel I^ev^; costumes. 
Mary Merrill; miislc, Lora Deju, arranged 
by Nelle Fisher. At Provlhcetown play- 
house, N, T., April 28,; '37, Admission 
free by reservation, 

Tohlt. . . i , ^ . , .Harry Brooks 

ToblHB, li^dwln Michaels 

The Archangel ....... .ICIrk liUcas 

Anna, ; .• Dorothy. Chesmoiid 

Bandit , , , . , . . . ; David Gnessln 
Kish , .-, . , .> . .'. Anne 'Weiss 
Azorali , , . . , . . . , . , 4 , , Maya Riviere 

.Shera. . , . . . .■. . ,. . , , V l^'dia' Balsam 

TIrhkuh. . ; , .Esther Goodman 

Sara. .Florence I'kimes 

Raguel i . ... . ; .Claude Thalniors 

Sam. . .;, . . William Simmons 

.^smnduy .-. .i^ . . . , , .• win McKemia 

Toby . .Himself: 

singers. ..; Sylvia Garner, Nannie Burden, 

Anne- "Week . ■- 
Musicians, . ..'. .Tt Brym-n> Ralph LaIng, 

.Curtis Lalng, ax Less 



With all . the fantastic trappings of 
a miniature. Arabiah Nights tale, the 
Studio theatre unit of the Federal 
Theatre Project has made a colorful 
and moderately amusing production 
of . James Bridie's retelling of a 
Biblical : legend. Upon the diminu- 
tive stage of the PrOvincetown Play- 
house in Gree^^\ich Village, the 
Apochrypha story of Tobias, his dog,^ 
the Archangel Raphael and the 
DemOn Asmoday iS performed' with 
considerable zest by WPA actors. 

It is a worthwhile venturie, with a 
special nod going to the maginative 
and resourceful sets designed' by 
Samuel- Leve,: .-• 

'Tobias and the Angel' is a loosely- 
written , comedy in . the modern 
idioni relating the various adven- 
tures of Tobias, the young Jew of 
Nineveh, supplied with courage by 
the Archangel, The traveller to 
Persia is a timid soul, but, through 
Raphael's watchful patronage, he 
plays a dangerous fish, fights off 
Kurdish bandits and wins Sara, a 
girl bewitched by Asmoday,. as" his 
bride. 

Play is hardly a masterpiece of. 
construction nor a . commercial bet, 
but it supplies fair entertainment of 
an informal sort. Author Bridie is 
the same Scottish ..physician who 
wrote '.The Anatomist' and 'A 
Sleeping Clergyman' and who 
adapted 'Storm. Over Patsy' done by 
the Theatre Guild on Broadway this 
season. His is a leisurely arid some- 
what inexpert style of writing, but 
he has the knack' of creating amus- 
ing dialog. 

Edwin Michaels plays the Tobias 
role with skill and a nice realiza- 
tion of its comic values. ' At times, 
though, he is given to overacting the 
Milquetoast qualities of the part. 
Kirk Lucas is suave as Archangel 
Raphael and Florence Eames effec- 
tively plays Sara, the much-married, 
gal of Ecbatana, The others suf- 
fice, as does Ellen Van Volkenberg's 
direction. A capital hit of super- 
natural pantominie is provided by 
Edwin McKenna as Asmoday. 

Rowl. 



PUYS ABROAD 



LONTANAZA 

(Continued from page 56) 



Hymn lb the Rising Sun 

.(CohtinuGd from page 50). 



arid are . nicely staged In an unpreten-: 
tious fashion. The Convict play is, 
of course, the standout of the two, 
being a. miniature tragedy of a 
southern prison camp ruled over by 
a criiel, self-important captain. On 
the mprhing of July 4, this imperious 
warden delivers ai long speech to his 
chain-gang charges on the Spirit of 
Independence that is,l)Oth brutal and 
patronizing. In this playlet, Paul 
Green, with brilliant wordage, shows 
his utter contempt for inhumanity in 
mankind. It is a forceful indictrnehl 
rich irt bitter express! 

Directed by Aruh.Foxman, the Cast 
is headed by Louis Polan as -the 
overbearing captain. His Is a per- 
formaince that is grirnly effective and 
his reading of . the long speech is es- 
pecially cortirhended. The balance of 
the cast is made up of both white 
and colored actors as downtrodden 
prisoners. 

'Unto Such Glory,' the curtain- 
raiser, seems trifling and trite in 
comparison with Green's , convict 
dramalet. W^ritten in 1927, "it is a 
rowdy farce dealing with Brother 
Simpkins, a small town revivalist-' 
voluptuary, endeavoring to run away 
with Lanie Bdnis, wife of a farmer 



bothered by scruples or conventions. 
Girls in the. valley follow his ex- 
periences: and - adventures - With in- 
terest; for them he represents the 
world beyond their little valley. 
They never admit to. each other that 
they love him until it is too late. 
When he finally comes back.to them 
it'is too late: Michela and Teresa are 
tpo settled, in . the . ruts of . cpnven- 
tioriality, Silvia will never haive the 
necessary courage, and Chiara has 
died. 

Pl^y was put: on simply, and uhr 
pretentiously. Story was so well 
handled through tracing of various 
relationships that it seenis likely it 
would interest: American audiences, 
too. Heln, 



L'ABITO NUOVO 

('Thfl New Suit^) 

Milan, April 20. 
, rinyin three ael.s; story bv r.iii^l riviin- 
(lello; dlalojj. br I'MuarUi) De Klllt»j)(>. i'ro- 
clUi'fil iit the .M>iM-/()nl Ihcalre, Milim, bv 
Ibe.De K|lll>i>'> (••mipitiiy^ !=fiii-rlnK Kilimrdo 
Db l''IHi>i')o. I't'inilno De l''lll|itnj amj Tli,lnu 
De I'Mllpiiu. 



The De Filippos are Italy's great- 
est dialect actoi'.s, famed for their in- 
terpretations of Neapolitan roles. 
The late Luigi Pirandello worked to- 
gether with one of the De Pilippo 
brothers, Eduardo, on the dramatiza- 
tion of his novel, ?L'AbIto. Nubvo.' 
Playwright made the chariges neces- 
sary in the story to adapt it for stage 
use, and De Filippo did the dialog. 

Play deals with case of Micheie 
Crispucci, a poor clerk, whose wife 
deserts him and their small daughter 



OBITUARIES 



HARBT X. CORT 

Harry L. Cort, 44, producer and 
writer, led in New York, May '6, 
of a heart attack. 

He will be best remembered for 
his 'Shuffle Along' a Negro musical 
in which Miller and Lyles were 
starred and the late Florence Mills 
came;, into recognition. He was one 
of the co-authors of 'Listen Lester,' 
■Just a Minute,' 'Jim.Janv Jems/ and 
other musicals^ had produced a num- 
ber of plays and had formerly man- 
aiged the' Standard theatre and 
toaly'S, both in New York. He was 
a Paramount scenarist for two years. 
Laist season he - managed 'Love on 
the Dole.^; -He had recently finished 
two new plays, He; wias the. son of 
the, lafe John Cort, horthwcstern 
theatre tycoon. 

He is survived by his widow, two 
daughters, a son and a brother. 



SAM FRANUlO 

Sam Fraiiko, 80, died in New York 
May 6, He hiad fractured his skull 
in a fall down a short flight of Steps 
in the Hbtel des Artistes, Sphere he 
had gone to call, on a friend. 
, A brother the late Nahan 
Franko, he was well known in his 
own right as an orchestral conduc- 
toi:, and his concerts were a feature 
of New York musical life 30 years 
ago. He had been less active pub- 
licly of late, but devoted his time 
to study and research, rediscovering 
many tuneful works by forgotten 
composers, . , , 

He is survived by four sisters and 
Edwin Franko Goldman, a nephew^ 
the bandmaster. Interment was at 
Hartsdale, N. Y. 



WALTER E. HUDSON 

Walter E. Hudson, 73, theatrical 
manager, died at his hoine in New 
York May 4. His first theatrical 
eniplOyment was in the box office 
of the Union Square theatire where 
Shook & Collier presented their 
melodramas. In 1885 he managed 
Helen Dauvray in 'One of Our Girls' 
at the recently opened Lyceum the- 
atre (on Fourth avenue). He was 
with Joseph Arthur's 'Blue Jeans' 
and in advance of Otis Skinner when 
his sister, Lizzie Hudson Collier, was 
the latter's leading woman. 

He left no immediate survivors. 
Interment was in Calvary cemetery, 
Brooklyn. 



CONRATH J. PUCKNER 

Conriath J. Biickner, 33, former 
band and orchestra bobker and 
saleshian, died in N. Y., May 6, 



Death attributed to a cerebral hei 
morhage. 

He worked for Irving Mills at the 
Dallas branch, and later for Consoli- 
dated Radio Artists when that fin 
absorbed Mills' bookings. 

His. widow survives. 



CHARLES HORNBROOk 

Charles (GUs) Hornbrook, 6.?, for- 
mer vaiide performer, died in Los 
Angeles May 8 following an attjck 
Of pneumonia. 

He was one time owner of vaude- 
ville act 'Cheyenne Days,' but had 
been working at Metro studios dur- 
ing past few years. His widow sur- 
vives. ; 



Henrt dazian 

Henry Dazian, 83, for more than 
half a century costuhier io the the- 
atrical profession, died in Miami 
Beach, Fla., May ,4. 

More extended notice in the Le- 
gitimate department. 



WILLIAM J. CASEr 

William J, (Pat) Casey, 31, pi 
diied suddenly Sat. (8) at P.hysici 
and Surgeohs Hospital, Jackson 
Heights, N.Y. 

Survived by widow, Vivj 
terment in Denver, Coh?. 



BENJAMIN McKENNA 

Benjamin McKenha, 37, died i 
White Plains^ N, Y^ hospi I May 
7 after an operation. 

Was. prominent in Chicago radio 
1925-29 as prornotion manager for 
WGN. Details in radio section. 



W. T. BEBOAME 

W. Truman DerOame, (BD, vet stock 
actor, died May 4 at Waterloo, la., 
after an illness of several weeks. 
He had lived in Waterloo 18 years. 

Survived by his widow, Viola, a 
former actress.. 



Mother of Fred Beetson, Mrs. Mar- 
garet, 77, . died in Los Angeles, May 
10. Son is executive ■ secretary of 
Producers Association. Another son 
also survives. 



Mother, 6d, Of Robert Speers, Uni- 
vjersal publicity man,, died. May' 4 
in Hollywood of a heart allhient. 



Mother, 82, bf Harry Link, general 
manager for Irving Berlin, died in 
Philadelphi May 7. 



Father, 75, of Monroe Owsley, fllra. 
actor, died May 7 in Los Angeles. 



. Father of Sonja Henie, Wilhehn, 
65, died in LOs Angeles, May 9. 



and eventually becomes a famous 
demimbndaine. Micheie is so hurt 
by her desertion, and by the many 
tales of her exploits arid extrava- 
gances and successes brought to his 
ears, that he withdraws from all 
contact . with his friepds and ac- 
quaintances, and leads a Ibnely life, 
solely devoted to making the daugh- 
ter. Assunta, happy. . 

The last straw for Micheie comes 
wheri^ Concettiiio elopes with As- 
sunta, to make sure her father does 
not change his mind -about allowing 
them to marry and accepting the 
fortune, Crazed, Micheie cries that 
his wife is not dead, that she lives 
on in Assunta and in all the others 
who wanted, her ill-gained wealth. 
AS^ i?^^^® exclaims brokenly, 'I am 
the one "who really diied;' his'hearf 
breaks. Heln. 

SIE, JOHANN 

('You, John') 

Vi April. 25, 

Mu.sJenl come^iy. by Vrltz ttrucnbauiiti and 
.Ki-n.^t Hehn-ndL; lyrics. I.«ns3felder and 
riauh: nnisic, Pnul' Weiss; produced »)y 
K iwalsky; fllrijctlon, Fritz Schulf.!; at 
■A oliCHoper, . Vienna. 

Dr; Kiirl Boss. Frllz ■ Gruenbaum 

*-lly. ..... . . ............... ,..l'nula I'duger 

.Tosellne. ... .............. T.Ola von Huebner 

.Tolmnii 11 oss|n . . Krlti. Schullj! 

Combination .of old-time Vien- 
na operetta with conriedy bf French 
finesse and Hungarian temperament, 
Fritz Gruenbaum, author and actor, 
has discovered a new. composing 
.talent in Leo Fall's; home town, 
Brno, CzechoslOyaki . Paiil Weiss 
in his first musical score shows more 
than casual talent.' 

Plot^ Dr. Boss needs an assistant. 
Enter Fritz Schultz. Btit he gradu- 
ally degrades himself to the role of 
the servant in the home. Falls in 
love with the beautiful daughter. 
Climax: Daughter studies medicine 
and Johann is a member of the ex- 
amination board of the local univer- 
sity; Third act, the. examination and 
beautiful Paula Pflueger does not 
pass. Deciding negative yote is cast 
by J ohann! Re-enter Vienna operet- 
ta; all is well at the end. Paula be- 
comes a good housewife, does not 
want to have anything to do any 
more with 'stupid medicine.' 

Mdass. 



Chatter 



(Continued from page «0) 

Ahny Ondra's 50th picture, ' 
for Divorce,' 

Magda Schneider the 
femme in 'Die Primanerin,' 
the Kurfurstendamm'. 

Paul Kemp and Three Lingen 
signed for the Martha Eggerth-Jan 
Kiepura pic, 'Boheme.' 

Premiere of Gerhard Hauptnriann's 
'Der Bogen des Odysseus' at Baden- 
Baden for Hitler's birthday. 

Briggite Horney's neixt starring 
vehicle is tagged 'Revblutionshoch- 

zeit* ('Revolution Weddi '), 

■• •• - -■»-••. -■ . »■ . ■ V 

Wilhelm Furtwaengler closes his 
Berlin Philharmonic season with 
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. 

Ufa has grabbed off pic rights to 
Willi Kollo's operetta, 'My Girl 
Friend,. Barbara,' now at Dresden, 

Aribert Waescher given the. role of 
Argan in; Moliere's 'Le Malade lin- 
aginaire,' directed by Jiirgen Fehling 
at the State theatre. 

Lothar Muthel as Mi Ister Strueii- 
see. in the world premiers of Moel- 
ler's ,'Der; Stiirz; des MI isters' at the 
Alten theatre, Leipzig, 

Willi Eichberger set by Gilbert 
Miller for the part . of Albert von 
Kpb.urg-(3otha in the Victoria pic, 
premiering in London in- June. 

Dr, Karl Holl, composer from 
Frankfort-on-the-Main, knighted .by 
the King of Italy for his contribution 
tb the celebration of Bellini's 100th 
anniversary.. 



BIRTHS 

Mr. airid Mrs, Syd Dixon, son. 
May 5, in Los Angeles, Father is 
Hollywood sales manager fOr NBC. 

Mr, and Mrs; James Dent, daugh- 
ter. May 3 in Hollywood. Fath.er i^ ■ 
employed at United Artists. 

Mr. and Mrs, Allle Wriibel, 
May .5, In Hollywood. Father 
music writer at Paramount. 

Mr; and Mrs. Harry Kerr, son, in 
New York, May 4,, Father is radii) 
p. a, for J. Walter Thompson. 



l^ednesday. May 12, 1937 



FORUM 



VARIETY 6S 



Liter ati 



(Continued from page 58) 

could find no trace 61 steel con- 
tainer.' Guild exeeutrve committee; 
^awever, did some sleuthing on its 
own and, without any subsequent re- 
pdpt, merely announced that there 
would be no second vote. As a re- 
sult, the dismissed quartet were 
handed bonus checks, which the 
Guild had been holding in escrow, 
and possibility ot any trouble on 
Paul Block morning daily faded. 

Beffvlatinr BooIl iPrlees 

A model contract /to enforce, the 
terms of the Feld-Crawford Act in 
liew York State and prevent price- 
cutting in tiie book field, has been 
prepared and was sen^i to publish(ers 
la^t week. Its acceptance has been 
recprnmehded by the National Asso 
ciation of Booksellers. 

Contract was drawn up by a pub- 
lishers' committee, headed by Don 
aid Brace, which worked out the 
details witii Morris Ernist, counsel. 

Van Loan's Tome Beady 

H. H. Van Lpan hals comipleted his 
tome, 'One in Every Fanuly,' after 
working on the 150,000- word yarn 
for more than a year. Zane Gray 
bias wi^i^Hen ah. introduction and Jim 
Tiiliy cbntrit>ut6d ah epildg. 

yan ^an gOes east within a few 
weeks to arrange for publication. 

CHATTEB 

Robert jbnes, assistant to Conde 
Nast, will marry Joan Shaw this 
w^k (is). 

Morris Watson's libel suit, againsj; 
iEditor and Publisher was settled 
out of court tot $250. 

I&dcyon House, subsid of Blue 
Ribbon Books offering a first prize 
of $100 and other awsirds in a poetry 
contest 

Naonii Lane Babson has been 
awarded the Prix Feminina Ameri- 
csfin for her novel The Yankee 
Bodleys.* 

Elliot Paul in N. . Y.. from Wash 
ington to help on editing his book 
on Spain, which Random House is 
riishing through. 

Cinema Arts, hew niag, publica- 
tion of which -has beea postponed 
is now on. the presses and scheduled 
for Juhe 1 debut. 

Ed Olmstead, Hollywood scenario 
writer has sold a novel to Knopf 
titled 'Nightly She Sings,' a New 
York niterlif e romance. 

Macmillan has put put !a 24-page 
pamphlet regarding Margaret Mitch- 
ell to send to those requesting dope 
6n the; book aund author. 

'After Dark,' new monthly, debuts 
here aroUnd mid -June; Joseph 
Moore, ex-adman, at helm, will play 
hea.vily on iteries and sporting 
crowd. 

Wally Alderton has resigned as 
Ruth Waterbury's assistant on Photo 
play and Movie Mirror to join 
Jimmie Fidler. Jack Smalley, former 
Fawcett fan mag editor, replaces 
Alderton. 

Ken Frogley is automobile editor 
of Los Angeles Illustrated News, 
having transferred from radio spot 
He is skeded to edit E. Manchester 
Roddy's new weekly sheet. Which 
will make its bow about November, 

Roger Pippett, book editor of the 
London Daily Herald, will issue a 
monthly heWs letter for American 
booksellers from the Doubleday 
Doran office in London. Will cover 
current English book news, with 
special emphasis on Doubleday books 

RusseU M. . Arundel has made a 
collection of what he calls 'doodles 
to be titled 'Everybody's PixiUated, 
and issued as a book next month 
Will contain Joolish designs niade by 
people while they're thinking. Au 
thor does a syndicated column called 
'Today's Doodle.' 

Humphrey Dbulens,. drama ancl 
film editor of the Bridgeport Post 
and Vabiety's Westport mugg, has 
talceh a. five weeks' leave of absence 
to four with Ringling-B. & B. circus 
to. jot material for history of show 
in collaboration with Fred Bradna, 
rirtgmasteri 

Esther Crane, wife of Burton 
Crane, former Variety Tokyo mugg, 
returns to the U. S. May 15, after 
11 years in Japan oh editorial staff 
of the Japan Advertiser. English 
language daily. Plans on publish 
ing several books based on her ex 
periences in the Orient 

Sheila Geraghty, daughter of Tom 
Geragh^, writing for the Robert 
Kane.2<^h-Fox film unit in Lon 
, has sold her first article to Cos 
»TiQpolitan the confessions of a studio 
Kecretary. under title, 'It's Nutty, But 
Nice.' She's secretary to George 
Atchinbaud, film director. 



Tot th<» Small Station 

Victoria,. B. C., May 2. 
Editor, Variety: 

Very pleased to. see that you have 
re-commenced the Forum; I happen 
lo be reader , of around the 10-year 
mark, and believe that the Average 
man's opinion is. found in your 
Forum. Happening to wish a couple 
of times... for something I think 
you can do if you wish to, will leave 
it up to the mob to scraip over. 

Why hot carry some kind of serv- 
ice Weekly relative to the success or 
downfall of small station programs. 
I know that your reports are val- 
uable, but to6 many of them are 
network and large station presen- 
tations. Naturally, there are more 
smallies than big ones, so... hence 
the poke. Why not carry a report 
sent in by ihe local man, giving let- 
ter responses, and information con- 
cerning same. For example, I have 
a couple I am using, which are hot 
copyrighted or patented in any 
sense, but which could be used by 
some' small station in heed of a 
builder. This will not' hurt me,,be- 
caiise I have my audience, and. it 
inay do him some good. I al^ would 
appreciate finding an idea or two 
that I could develop into something 
useful. This last will probably bring 
me a mailful of agency stuff, but 
it's worth it Why not think the 
idea over? 

Here's another. As you know, the 
average small station is manned by 
an amateur staff, headed by some- 
one who once worked in a 100-watt 
station for 10 days' Why not offer 
a: group of suggestions; weekly to 
small istation managers, for the; pur- 
pose of assisting them in sales, pres- 
entations, and merchandising? Well, 
that's enough white space to take 
up from. you. 

Duke. McLeod. 
VICTORIA B'DCASTING ASSN. 




THEY THINK 



Another Vsade Enthusiast 

New York, May 
Editor, Variety: 

That sUrely was a most interest- 
ing letter by Harry Lee oh vaude- 
ville, and surely sbmething to think 
about There are thousands of 
people .like myself (a layman) 
who are waiting to put our hands 
in pur pockets to see a good variety 
show and it is about time someone 
did something about it. Vaudeville 
is surely hot in the class of . Mark 
Twain's remark about the Weather 
and, following the idiea whieh Mr. 
Lee wrote about and extending it 
so that every act or showman on 
the radio had to spend at lieast one 
week in the year ph thie stagie, a 
system could be worked out between 
the musicians union, the A. F. A., 
and the heads of the different cir- 
cuits, and believe me the public 
would go for it 100%. 

AviuMCihlwmXei 



and there is then a 40-minute In- 
terval imtil 2:30, which is the Cur- 
zon's normal commencing time. As 
soon as "The Flag Lieutenant' is fin- 
ishedi it is taken off the time-table, 
so that no one wpxUd know the the- 
atre was Ppen before ,2 p. m. The 
showing times pf 'Fepie le Mokp' are 
clearly given in all advertlisemehts, 
so it is scarcely likely that anyone 
would arrive there in the morning. 

Attending a performance last week 
out of amusement I arrived there at 
12:30, and was the only person in 
the theatre, having: an entire screen- 
ing of 'The Flag Lieutenant' to my- 
self. Qn making an. inquiry to the 
attendant as .to why. it -was only 
screened in . the morning, the reply 
received was, We don't expect any- 
one to cohie in at that time.' 



Americans at Coronation 

New York, May T. 
fiditor. Variety: 

If you care to maintain your repu- 
tation for accurate reporting, I 
really think you ought to restore 
your London correspondent to a 
sense of .proportion. I have not no- 
ticed that this is a habit with him, 
but the despatch from Londpn. under 
date of May 4 in this week's issue 
reporting 150,000 Americans ex- 
pected at the Coronation is too fan- 
tastic for words.: That is nearly 
double the number visiting London, 
taking i cabin, tourist and third 
class passengers, in the whole year; 
20,000 is an optimistic estimate; with 
10,000 to 15,000 being probably near- 
er the mark. 

Conversely, the . number given pf 
visitors from the Provinces is very 
much undWstated; these being more 
likely to be nearer 600,000 than 
150,000. 

American^ Representative,. Grosvenor. 
House, London. 



Epflanid's Quota Gag 

, April 25. 

Editor, Variety: 

The latest West End house to 
adopt the policy of screening Brit- 
ish pictiires early in the day for 
quota purposed is the exclusive 
Curzoii Cinema, Mayfair, which is 
devoted almost entirely to the show- 
ing of arty foreign language pic^ 
tures. 

The present attraction is the 
French 'Pepe le. Mpko,' which does 
not come on until 3:30 in the aft- 
eirnoGh. Elvery morning, however, 
prior to the normal show, they are 
screening 'The Flag Lieutenant' (a 
four-year-old British iand Do- 
minions picture) twice running, at 
11:08 and 12:36. This finishes at 1:50, 



M. Ashton, 



Greenville, S. C., May 
Editor, Variety: 
Name last year's lO' best pi , 
Ten of camy'ii choke of the stix; 
List the 10 hest scribblers of radio 
: skits. 

Name last yiear's 10 important show 
obits. 

List the iO best shortis. 

Name Peckhani's 10 best, male es- 
corts. 'V 

Let'is have the 10 best nite". club 
acts, 

Name 10 units that . the 
crax. 

Name burlesque's 10 best bumpers. 
List Lew Lehr's 10 best newsreel 

stumpers. 
Name 10 show elements that fill 

the tills— 
Name the best s.a. frills/ 

Jim Crouch. 



One for Satchmo' 

Elizabetlil N. J., May 7. . 
Editor, Variety: 

Your review of Louis . Armstrong's 
first. Fleischmann program Was, to 
say the least irritating to me . and I 
am sure, many more. But yoUr re 
viewer had a right to his opinion 
and I suffered in silence, reializing he 
was trying to judge primarily their 
audience reaction rather than Arnl 
strong's talents per se. But the 
Follow Up Comment simply must be 
criticized. Ahd even all statements 
therein , might be tolerated were it 
hot for his concluding remarks 
'Armstrong's throaty, almost, un- 
intelligible announcements do not 
help either; and he should refrain 
from singing.' 

I personally think Armstrong's 
style of delivery ' (of the announce- 
ments) is the most refreshing thing 
on the air. However, I am even will- 
ing to admit the possibility pf ypur 
reviewer being right here. But what 
hurts is that .dogmatic conclusion, 
'And he should refrain from singing.' 
Just as dogmatically I say Louis 
Armstrong's singing is tops. 

He is admittedly the originator of 
many of the sweet and hot trickis 
most vocalists use today. And for 
this alone he shpuld be treated better 
by your reviewer. But we need not 
resort to subterfuge. He can Sing! 
Or, to iput it more precisely/ he can 
put. a song,across, as few can. And 
this is not merely my opi ion. 

Your critic doubtless failed to 
consider the fact that Armstrong's 
voice naturally (and enjoyably) 
hoarse, must be taking a beating 
from those five or six daily Para 
mount, theatre shoWs these ' itial 
weeks., 

I am not a letters-tp-thereditor 
writer, nor have I any pecuniary 
interest in Armstrong^ In fact, >un 
fortunately, I have not a pecuniary 
interest in any things But I felt such 
criticism of ah artist like Armstrong 
deserved comment and never Was so 
unwarranted. 

Iruinfif J. Kaufman. 

PiS. bet the reviewer in 

question is the fellow Who called 
that radio, baritone a tenor or some-; 
thing a few weeks ago. 




the impression that the average 
place isi like 'Having a Wonderful 
Time' you can readily understand 
that it won't help. 

So my boss suggested I write you 
and teU you something about sum- 
mer resort business and what the 
better places have to offer and also 
liow much better resorts have dpiie 
for the show business in the way of 
entertainment actors, ^ muisici , 
pictures, etc; So getting back to my 
first paragraph, I was going tp telt 
you all about the big meh in. the 
show business who graduated from 
the summer resort business. You 
certainly hit the buU's-eye in your 
article except that you naturally left 
but . plenty of alumni, particularly 
the Totem Lodge Alumni. 

Some of the names whip started 
with me at Totem were: Gertrude 
Niesen, Mischa Auer, Thelma Leeds 
(Mrs. P.a r k y a k a r k as). Cookie 
Bowers, Harry Stockwell and Oshin^ 
and Lessey. 

for myself, althpugh I am not 
eligible to join the Borscht Circuit, 
being still a member of .the summer 
resort profession, I believe a little 
explanation -ia . about due^ Being one 
of the old<tiftie'rs still at it many, of 
the oiiii' 'i;4hg alWaJ^s ask' me Kdw I 
still hajp'pe'ii ip be ^t it. and liiy oiily 
ansWer ' is . that , it, .pays me ; -io stick 
ta it .Qives me ia.chance to continue 
my spng^writing And other activities 
in the Wfinter. 

Henry Tobios. 



TRAILER, HO 

(Continued from page 56) 



Plea for SpdtUfflii Ads 

New York, May 6i 

Editor, Variety: 

While riBdip,; as an industry, likes 
to be classified In equal terms with 
any phase of amuisiemeht enterprises, 
the sponsors and networks still have 
a great deal to learn from the stage, 
screen, and outdoor fields of the- 
atrical endeavor. Single item which 
appears to me to be laihentably de- 
ficient is 'exploitation,* which shpuld 
call attention and attract definite in- 
terest to important radio shows. 

Radio broadcasters and sponsors 
shpuld start %tt follow the lead of 
other entertainment leaders in . this 
respect by turning part of. their ad- 
vertising budgets on 'exploitation* 
expenditures. .~ 

A few of the wiser sponsors have 
adopted the procedure of screen and 
stage by advertising extensively 
throughout the country, centering 
the attention of listeners upon their 
programs,' and not trusting io luck 
thiat.the tuner-inners might casually 
hit Upon theii: airings in the course 
of an evening before the loud 
speakers. 

Richard Him ben 



Wants Averacc-Upper 

New York, May 5. 
Editor, Variety: 

Chain . statiphs often conflict with 
each other by presenting essentially 
the same presentations at the same 
time. Although individual stations 
and netwprks themselves attempt to 
vary the subject matter offered, 
there is no general agreement by 
all concerned. Certain hours of the 
radio day consistently find a flood of 
one type of presentation without a 
touch of the other; and vice versa. 
Why shouldn't radip have a regula- 
tions and control board established 
by itself for its own benefit? 

Sedley Brovin. . 



(Armstrong's rrianagers requesied 
the second radio co7mnfent, agreeirCg 
with Variety the first show was too 
blatant and noisy^) 



Tobias on .Borscht 
Averill Park, May 8. 

Editor, Variety;. 

My boss felt id Mrs. Gross- 
ihger and other owners th&t 'Having 
a Wonderful Time,^ although most 
entertaining, only showed the worst 
side of the resortis bf that kind. 
Naturally the owners., of. llie Pner 
xesorts felt that the play wasn't any 
too good for them and if people 'get 



Radio's Claques 

New York, Miay 2. 

Editor, Variety: 

Opera claque is so iinportant to 
operatic stars, wonder why the 
professional claque artists haven't 
tried to invade r^dio. Perhaps its 
becaiuse radio, audiences respond, so 
readily tp signs held up by . producr 
tion men, which simply say, 'Ap- 
plause.' The alidiehcc is only too 
happy to oblige. 

Perhaps the professional claquiers 
will ' ize , iarid forbid amateur 
claques studios; Who knows 
what will happen. this merry 
whirl of radio? 

Emil Coieinan. 



on the modern back-to-riiature-via- 
trailer movement tossed in. Not a 
lot, except possibly a tune or two,, 
to recommend it to professional .at- 
tention but for the campus trade,, it's 
up to coverage and compareis favor- 
ably with productions of couple of 
the Cap and Gowh's leading conr 
temporaries, Penn's Mask and Wi 
and Princeton's Triangle. 

Book by G. Norman Reis, Pitt 
graduate of 1916 and author of sev- 
eral past Cap and Gown shows, has 
a good idea but dialog funs too much 
to puns, and play on Words becomes 
monotonous. Plot centers about old 
medico-owner of . a campus . drug 
Store who buys a. trailer out west, 
has the students drop in on him 
when they go pUt . f or a football 
game and then goes back east to diSr 
cover his apothecary shop has gone 
iinodern. usual boy-girl f oni^hcie is . 
carried out along. convehtlPnsil lines. 

The'fe's some pretty good. satire on, 
a host of siAjects running through 
Trailer, Ho/ however. Show kids 
college football greats, likewise gets 
in some good . digs about those 
lachrymose old jprairie ballads and 
ribs radio commercials as well. 

About 16 tunes in score, best of 
which iaire 'Old Fashioned Girl,' 
backed by a production number sug- 
gesting 'Little Old Lady' routine in 
•Show Is On,' 'Sold on You,' 'Our 
ShadPws' and 'Just a Drug Store 
Cowboy.' Latter is first-fate take- 
off on. the Buckaroo-Old Cowhand- 
Lone Prairie school, with some, good 
lyrics and perhaps commefcial pps> 
slbUities. 

Comiedy is nicely handled by Al- 
bert Barr and Floyd Nicklas, latter 
doing a George Givot, with William 
Murray okay, too, as an absent- 
minded calculuB prof. Fred Kelly 
registers solidly fn couple of dance 
specialties, but he can't be rated 
exactly an undergraduate amateur. 
Former Cap*and-Gowner, . he's now 
operating hoofing school With his 
brother, Gene KeUy, who has done 
a nice job with his staging of en- 
sembles. .. . 

Costuming is colorful and sets 
have a. beyond-the-campus touch. 

Cohen. 



Alumnus Ignored 

Hollywood, May. .4. 

Editor, 

How corhe after me doing eight 
years on the 'Borscht Circuit' your 
story did not include me as one of 
the fugitives from 46th street? Now 
on Eddie Cantor's writing staff. 

£ddie. Davis. 



i)og Beneiath the Skiii 

oston, May 'j'. 

Comedy-fantany with inuRlc In throo nctn 
(IS Nuenen) by W. H. Audeh nna Christopher 
Isherwood prctwntad by Harvard Dramutio 
Glub itt Copley Th«Rlrc, Boston; May 7. '37. 
Staffed toy Francla 11. Hort, It. ', choreog- 
raphy, Martha BIroIuw ISlloti olnRlnK 
ohoruB directed by Esther Mltlor; spcaklnic 
choruH. directed by Henry UrrowB; miiNic, 
Ijenter .Stelhbeaii; settlntfs, Howard R. 
Patch, Jr. 

A night With this ambitioiis Har- 
vard group is always interesting, 
even if boring, 'Dog' is an English 
three-and-a-half hour piece, varied 
and vague, with 103 speaking parts. 

Coihmefcially It is about as valu- 
able as the opera glass concession in 
a Broadway burley house this week; 
but that is one good, reason for the 
Harvard boys sponsoring its premiere 
here. Characters range from a Vicar 
to a 'Bubble Girl.' with 'Lunatic with 
Flag,' 'Lunatic Without Flag,' 'Chimp 
Eagle,' 'Right Foot,' 'Destructive Des- 
mond,' among the many program 
parte. 

An oft-appearing chorus of nine . 
girls intone keynotes at the opening' 
of moist scenes, ahd the whole story 
is told in the manner pf a dream or 
fable^ Occasionally things crystalize 
in the form of spasms of Gilbert and 
Sullivan touches; straight revue se- 
quences, and conventional comedy. 

To wrap upi the plot in a small 
package: our' youthful hero promises 
a pretty girl of his village jo .seek 
out her brother (Francis) in far off 
lands. H«r hand is the prize. Hero 
takes along 'Francis,' an eccentric 
but humanly intelligent dog; As sus- 
pected by the audience in the opeh- 
ihg. scene, 'Francis' is Francis. 

Searching trek, takes -dog and hero 
into a decadent kingdom, an insane 
asylum, aboard a train And steamer, 
into a night club, .and finally into a 
vamp'.s boudoir. At this point: Alan 
Norman's dbg proves to-be his best 
friend.; Francis reveals his identity, 
lets Norman stejpi into his skin, ahd 
they both scram the hotel; which is 
gunning, for Norman for a hefty bill 
run up under the! .. infiuence of a 
loVe-fest 

Best scene is the asylum, where the 
Lunatic . Leader (Claudius J. Byrne,,' 
Jr.), .dressed in funning plants and 
toi> hat, and- standing in a frame, 
gives a rabble-rousing speech with 
head-tossings and voice ihannerisms 
that are unmistakably , mimicking^ of 
FDR Some phrases from recent 
radio flreside tiilks are tossed in for 
good measure and the result is a 
howl. 

Big surprise, on the talent end, i 
Frederic Rogoirki, a soft-voiCed bari- 
tone, whose- semi-operatic singing 
from an operating table is the hit of 
the show. Radio scouts take note. 

L. John Profit, Richard Seymer, 
John Barnard, Agnes Love, Robert 
Solo, William Jxxdd, Robert Kline, 
Jonas Muller 'and Guy Clements are 
among standouts in a hard-working 
i ca.sl. ■ Fox. 



64 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 12, 1937 



■'-} , ^ 



5^ 



4 V 



What a power-line "trouble- 
shooter" is up against 

FOR 20 years, Al Taflft has been 
repairing as many as 200 short 
circuits per day. Around him 
11,000 volts lurk. It's a tense job 
that will test digestion if any- 
thing will! Here's Al's comment! 
"Working among high-voltage 
cables isn't calculated to help di- 
gestion. But mine doesn'tgiveme 
trouble. I smoke Camels with my 
meals and after. Camels set me 
right!" Smoking Camels speeds 
up the flow of digestive fluids— 
alkaline digestive fluids— that 
mean so much to your sense of 
well-being. Camels are so mild, 
they are better for steady smok- 
ing. And Camels are gentle to 
your throat— always. I 



ELEANOR TENNANT, teoois 
Instructor, helped develop 
some of today's highest-rank- 
ing -women tennis stars. 
Eleanor says: "I often think 
that coaching takes more out 
of one than playing does. 
That's why I often light up a 
Camel between games. I get a 
'lift' in energy with a CameL" 



PRIZES HEALTHY NERVES. 

Fred Jacoby, Jr., Nat'l Out- 
board Motorboat Champion 
2 years in a row, tells one rea- 
son why Camel is his ciga- 
rette. "I've driven over a thou- 
sand miles in races, every foot 
of the way a strain on nerves," 
he says. "I'v« smoked Camels 
regularly. They never get on 
my nerves." 



WOa 



4^ 



A 



MEL OTT, a big gun of the 

New York Giants, National 
League Champions, has been 
playing in big leagues since 
he was 16. His specialty— 
home-runs ! Mel says:"I'm care- 
ful to smoke a cigarette that 
doesn't interfere with my 
physical condition. That's 
^ Camels in any man's language." 



JACK OAKIE'S COLLEGE 



Jack Oakie runs the "college"! Catchy music 
by Benny Goodman and Georgie Stoll! Holly- 
wood comedians! Judy Garland sings! So join 
Jack Oakie's College. Tuesdays — 8:30 pm 
E. S. T. (9:30 pm E. D. S. T.), ,7:30 pm C. S. T., 
6:30 pm M.S.T., 5:30 pm P.S.T., WABC-CBS. 



COSTLIER TOBACCOS 

Camels are made from finer, 

MORE EXPEKSIVE TOBACCOS 

■ . . Turkish and Domestic ... 
than any other popular brand 



RADIO 



SCREEN 



S T A G E 






Publiahed V^eekly at 154 WtiBt 46th Btre»t, New York, N. T„ by Variety, Inc; Annual ■ubacrlptlon, Single copies, IS cehta. 
Bntered aa second-claBS matter December 22, 1905, at the Poat Office at New York, N.. T., under the act of March a, 1879. 

COFYRIGHT^ 1037. BY VARIETY, IMC. AIX RIGHTS RIOSERVJBb 


• ■ ' ■ . -» 


toU m No. 10 


NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1937 


64 PAGES 










es 




to 




U.S. Copyright Law 



3trenu6ud protests hav« been 
niitde id. the Maissaehusetts eKecutive 
add pdlitis authorities by. the popu- 
lar; music indtistry against an act, 
recently passed by tliat state's legis-^ 
lature, which will serve to en- 
courage young boys 'and girls to 
violate the Federal statute on copy- 
right piracy* .This ' Massachusetts 
measure directs city and tdWn of- 
ficials toi grant permits to boys un- 
der 16 years and girls under' 18 
ye^fx^ for the sale of songsheets. 

Action of- Massflichusett's legisla- 
ture caused cbnsternatipii among 
music publishers, who have in re- 
cent years spent thousands of dol- 
lars in their-altempt to - suppress the 
distribution and peddling of con- 
traband lyric ' folios. Inquiry de- 
veloped the information • that local 
disttibs of isuch materials had sold 
Salem, Mass., motheris on the idea 
that the peddling of songsheets 
would offer their children a proflt- 
able occupation during the vacation 
period and that these women acting 
as a committee had induced Edward 
P. Coffey, a member of the Assem- 
bly from Salem, to introduce the 
measure. Coffey has since admitted 
that he was unaware of the fact that 
the songsheets which would be made 
available, for selling purposes to the 
state's youngsters are unlawful 
compilations. 

Representations against permitting 
the measure to go into effect have 
been handled by Harry Fox, gen; 
mgr. of the Music Publishers 
Protive Ass'n, and Arthur Hoff- 
(Continiied on page 60) 



DEMPSEY MAY QUIT 
DEMPSEY'S IN N. Y. 



Jack Dempsey is reported angling 
t(J Split away from the .restaurant 
bearing his name at Eighth Avenue 
and 50th Street, N. Y. lace drew 
country-.wide attention during its 
rst year arid was regarded a natu- 
,;ra|, ,drawihg the sporting bunch, na- 
tives and out-of-towriers. .Business 
recently has dived,' ith the former 
heavyweight champ little in evi- 
.dehce. 

Understppd di iculties with Jacob 
Athron, principal investor in' the 
cafe, came as the result of Demp-' 
sey's absences during the winter, ex- 
Champ being interiested i the Jaclc 
Dempsey Vanderbilt Hotel at Miami 
Beach. Also frequently left New 
York to referee, fights. 



First Legit in Decade 

Mason City, Iowa, May 18. 

Mason City viewed a legit show 
for. first time in a decade on May 11, 
^yhen road show -'Tobaccb Road' 
played a one niter at Cecil. Manager 
Tom Arthur booked it with eye tor 
ward future policy o£ vaude and 
legit shows. 

House, two-thicds rull, 'To- 
bacco Road' i itspui-i* 



State of the Union 



Salt Lake City, May Ift, 
Music on Salt Lake City 
merry-go-rounds 'is inferior 
and demoralizing the music 
appreciation of young Ameri- 
cans,' is charge flung by Utah 
Federation of Music clubs. 

Would bah 'Wahoo,' 'Music 
Goes 'Round and 'Round,' and 
'Crazy Over Horses,' and sub- 
stitute 'Finlandia,' 'Grand Can- 
yon Suite,'. Schubert's Unfin- 
ished Symphony, or isome of 
Liszt's . rhapsodies. 





DAME ACTS 
FOREVER 



Stage show currently at the State, 
New Yorki comprised entirely of 
Paul Whiteman's. band and; special- 
ties, is the first layout in the. history 
of Loew's roadway theatre com- 
pletely devoid of dames. And all 
because Whiteman, himself, is ad- 
mittedly off femme stage assistants. 

Maestro, probably alluding to his 
contractual differences with Ramona, 
says that femnie specialists have, 
given him too rhuch trouble and that 
from now on he's not going to be 
bothered :having them pn a stage 
with him. He first got the consent 
of Loew's booker, Sidney Pieirhont, 
before shifting' tP an all-male band 
and stage unit. 

Though it's the .first non-femme 
show at the State,' it's not t^e first 
on Broadway, Fred Waring's Band, 
in, several showings pn the Main 
Stem, presented, a. 1(30%: masculine 
fron^ 

FTP Records N. Y, Plays 
For Hinterland Units 



Federal "Theatre Frpject is record- 
ing aUitis current produfctions play- 
i in and around New York and, 
supplementing the waxings with a 
sprinkling of stills, then shipping the 
stuff out .to all the WPA Units in 
other towns, around, the country for 
perusal. 

Thought lying behind this latest 
WPA irinoyation ",• that directors 
and members of other projects can 
figure more accurately whether they 
think their units can prove adapta- 
ble to presenting the shPws running 
in N. Y. 




|S[MlA)st$20iOinN»^ 
t Com, kt lOOG in Sight Regardless 



Actors, Managers, Theatre 
Groups Rally to Defeat 
One-Man Censor Power- 
Audiences Sign Petitions 
Requesting Gov: Lehman's 
Veto 



K. OF C. DISSENTS 



By JACK PULASKI 

Never in the annals of the theatric 
has the public come to its support 
as now, when show business pro- 
tests one mah censorship which the 
Dunhigan bill would create. Never 
before have all factions within the 
Broadway scene been so firmly 
united for any purpose. 

The legitimate theatre is making 
the fight alone ' and with anriazing 



Public Hearing 



It has been sug^^ested that 
Gov. Lehman set a date foir a 
public hcaringr at Albany, on the 
Dunniffan bill, which will give 
people of the theatre, includingr 
orffanized lab<^r, an opportunity 
to explain their objections to 
the measure and persuade him 
. to veto the bill. 

Law passed the le{rislative 
houses without a chance for the 
trade and public to express 
themselves. 



results. Showmen sprang to action 
after the measure passed, giving the 
license cPmnriissioner the sole power 
to close theatres, by ing the 

(C 



Only Str.-Vaude Spot 
In Ui S. Shows Prifit, 
But Just a Sat. Date 



Easton, Pa., May 18. , 
theatre in Allen tp\yn, only 
house the entire country that 
presents; a program of npthihg Btit 
vaudeville, closed profitable sea- 
son Saturday HS). 

For. seven months diirihg the year 
the thieatre' presented straight vaude 
on Saturdays, sans pi Attendance 
was, good and the sarne policy will 
be foliowed next fall. 



Cantors Form Union 

. Philadelphia, May 18. 
Lewis Hihes, A. F. of L: organ- 
izer here, announced Saturday the 
organization of thie American Fedcr- 
atipri of Jewish Cantors and Min- 
isters. He said, there are 28 rpem- 
bers. 

Have appll F. of L. 

charter. 



A Weekend Indoors 



Buenos Aires, May 4. 

Metropolitan Theatre has 
teen offering Ave pictures in 
its daily programs, much to the 
despair of other Jhouses. 

Met has a seating capacity of 
2,000, making hpu^es like the 
Electric, thtif Plaza, OX the As- 
toria totally helpless against 
the generosity of i.tii seven- 
hour shovy M the price of $1 

Two houses, the rindesa 
and the Select Corrienles, hiave 
threatened to put on seven 
' feature bills if the Met refuses 
to curtail Its 'Unreasonable pol- 
icy.' 




$1000,000 
FOR LONDON 
SHOW BIZ 



Londori, May 10. 

Coronation week bids fair to be a 
bonanza for West End entertainment 
purveyors, despite the prolonged 
bus strike, with ah estimated gross 
of $l;00b,000 seert trickling into the 
tills. Spending orgy is not expected 
to drop off much during the suc- 
ceeding few week.s, with plenty of 
>receipts indicated all around. 

Intake is broken down in tip $400,- 
000. for 15 top hotel and caboriet 
spots in the West End, $50,000 lor 
.30 minor bottle parties and jpints, 
$250,000 for 29 legit theatres, $150,- 
000 split between a dozen nini hoiise-s 
and .$50,000 for 14 nev/.srccl 

stands. 

Qver the weekrend^ and bank holir 
day bi became a little . spasiiiodic, 
with afternoon shows off, 
shows; however, weie capacity in 
the cheaper secti 

Suburban positi is- just the re- 
Verse of the city, with. several shows 
(Continued o;n page 02 ) 



U Has Zep Crash Yarn; 
Got It Before Disaster 



oilywo.od, May 18. 
niyersal con.si story 
titled 'Hotel Doctor,' crlrann 
Lesli whiih' descri iac's. 
attack on a Zeppelin from ■ the roof 
of a New York skys.craper with the 
airship falling in flames. 

Bel'ore submitting the strtry Leslie 
checked with naval authorities,, who 
agreed such a climax was possible 
aiid credible. 

Hindenburg disasLer occurred the 
day after he offered the story. 



That pick Merrill two-way ocean 
hop, his Second, last week was 
strictly a cash— and cash only— 
proppsitipn, It turned out a lot less 
lucrative than Merrill and his back- 
ers had figured, because the news- 
reel companies failed to kick in with 
any coin--but even so, Merrill was 
figured to have earned approximate- 
ly $50,000 in the first week-end after 
the flight to England ^nd his .qiiiek 
return should net him at least an- 
other $50,000. 

Merrlirs trljp this time was 
financed by two Wall Streeters, Ben 
Smith and Jack Berger, This. is the 
same duo which took a chance oh 
angeling. 'Richard it' with Maui-icef. 
Evans, and is cleaning up ' nicely 
there. What their spilt is with Mer- 
rill is a deep secret. 

Merrill lost hin[iself $20,000 on th« 
trip when his deal with the news- 
reel .companies flopped. He wanto 
that much :moncy for bringing, thet 
a print of the Coronation doings. 
Thejr stalled for a while and finally 
agreed, tentatively, to the sum, split- 
ting it up between the five majors. 
Just at that stage of the proceedings 
the Zep Hindenburg crashed and 
Merrill wanted more, boosting the 
ante to $30,000. Ihce the reel.s were 
dubious of the outlay in the first 
place, this was their out and the 
whole ing was called off by 
hiutual agreement. 

What the reel companies worried 
about, a.side from the fact that tliey 
didn't want to go overboard on ex- 
penditure, wa.<j that, if they made 
(CPntinued on page 03), 



NO COFFEE, NO CUFFO, 
BASIS OF VIENNA SUIT 



* May 18. 
Most uni uc case on cuffo ticlcet 
prpbiem has ju.st been argued befor 
civil cpurt.'i here. Decisjon was re- 
served. 

lexander Grauer had arr- 
various, cabaret ahd' dance soirt?e.s in 
the local theatres. He. .sent 
passes to scores of people. Wficti 
they came to attend the show, it wa.i 
claimed they were obliged to order 
a Clip, of coffee at the price of (Jrt 
cent}?, In fact", it was charged they 
had to pay this sum before eirlerin;; 
the 'theatre as 'guarantee' thiit .they 
would really order one. 

"Three men, \yho. .felt selvea 
duped, sued for damages, ing to 
the cost of the coffee the priL-e of 
their carfare to the theatr 



Sun-Will-Shine Wager 

Denver, May 18. 

Frank Bishop, KFEL irector. has 
had a standing offer for tiie 
timie that he would pay $2 for every 
sunless day in Denver to ariyone who 
would pay hihi a nickel for. evei/ 
day the sun docs shine. 

Rocky McDcrmolt, rec ritly adrii 
to the KFEL .slafr, Vfroin ChiciiiO, 
turned out to be Ihi* .sucker. 



VARIETt 



PICTURES 



Wedii,es(la7, Ma^ 19, 1937 



PEACE LOOKS NEAR IN FMPC STRIKE 
ON COAST, BUT PICKEHG CONTINUES 



Lessing Willirig to Call OfF Walkout If Studios Will 
Giiarantee Considei'ation of Demands— -Costuin- 
ers Sign 4-Year Pact with d Majors 



Bollywood, May 18.: 
Extra , police, and guards were 
ordered at all major studios to<day 
(Taesday), followlnr the yiolence 
iyhlch flared yesterday when msL- 
.chinlsts and culinary workers left 
the raiiks of. the Federated Motion 
Picture Crafts strikers and rcturnied 
to,; work. 

Car earrylnr four Colombia studio 
workers' was overturned by. 25 mns- 
clemen jn HolIywo6d,.bai nenei, was 
fserloudli' Injured^ Defection of the 
machlnliits -- and culinary workers 
leaves seven crafts actually striking, 
the plumbers; havlnc: previously fone 
back. 



ibove. of Peace was fluttering over 
Hollywood looking for a place to 
light over the weekend as new de- 
velopments poijitedW a ctuick settle- 
ment of all points iat issue between 
the striking Federated Motion Pic- 
ture Crafts and th0 producers: 

Despite .the continuation p£ vigor- 
ous picketing around theatres', clir 
inaxed by. the first mass picketing ot 
a Hollywood premiere, general feel- 
ing; strengthened . that an armistice 
was near. This was heightened, by 
the ..decisiQn of .the machinists, 
plumbers, draftsmen and culinary 
workers, to return to their jobs yes- 
terday (Monday) and further em- 
phasized by the action of the paint- 
iers <in circulating a petition demand- 
ing a vote o£ their meinbers on a 
proposal to end the walkout. 

Last Friday night's (14) premiere 
of Metro'Sr 'Captains Courageous' at 
the Carthay Circle .brought out a 
regiinent of some 300 snakellners in- 
cluding at least one who had gone 
to the mothballs for the soup 9nd 
fish, hoping with the social uniform 
to deceive . -the gendarmes and get up 
close to hecklie ithe st^s, Ruse did 
iiot work out so .welL 

Uniformed i>Olice, studio coppers, 
and others repelled picketeers with 
scant ceremony, shoving them back 
a block from the entrance to the 
Carthay. More than 200 coppers 
formed a ring around the theatre for 
the protection of incoming bigwigs, 
who included Mayors Fiorello H- La- 
Guardia, of New York, and Angelo 
Rosisi, of San Frandsco. 

Stars took a booing from the boys 
and girls on the picket linie. At- 
tempts by strikers to flash candid 
camera shots of istars were thwarted 
by the cops. I>ickets complained 
bitterly that they were deprived of 
their legal rights^ 

L^sslns Willing 
Charles Lessing, executive secre- 
tary of FMPC, submitted a letter to 
Pat Casey, labor contact for the pro- 
ducers, offering to call oft the strike 
provided the producers give a 'rea- 
$onable guarantee' in writing that 
demands of the crafts for a union 
shop will be given consideration 
after the men return, to their jobs. 
Producers were, understood to be 
muiiing this propositioh over, the 
weekend. 

Simultaneously,'. Lessing presented 
the demands oi 11 FMPC crafts for 
a union shop, higher pay and im- 
proved working conditions. Casey 
pointed out that he has. never re 
fused to negotiate on any oi the de- 
mands of the m^n, but had insisted 
merely that they return tO work be- 
fore negotiations commence. Leaders 
on both sides admitted privately and 
off the. record that all these steps 
.toward peace eventually would bear 
fruit 

Belittling the repoirt of the peti 
tion being circulated among the 

inters,. Rudy Kohl, , painters' busi 
ness representative, isaid. Saturday 
(IS) that only three members out oi! 
a total of 857 have deserted the 
strikers' ranks* ' FMPC's executive 
committee voted to continue the 
strike pending receipt of a reply 
from Casey to Lessing's letter. 

Studio heads have okayed a wage 
ilt -foir seamstresses ranging from 
8% to 12%, placing, them oh a par 
y/ith :COstumers and. other wardrobe* 
workers. 

•FMP'C officially appointed Charles 
Kimberlin, ex-newspaperman aind 
formerly with the Plumbers' Trade 
Journal, as . chief of the strikers' 
publicity end and contact man with 
the press. 

Costumers Sign 

Costumers signed a four-year 
Agreement with nine major produc- 



Spies at Work 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Thre^ striking studio paintw 
ers, detiailed to ascertain what 
conditions were behind the stu- 
dio gates, applied for jobs and 
Obtained them. 

They did riot loOk kosher tO 
the vigilant eye of the studio 
plolice chief, an investigator ot 
ripe experience. Gendarme had 
the trio assigned to work on .a 
sound stage, and ordered the 
sound 'channels turned oh. 
Brush wieiders, while at their 
task, conversed freely on what 
they were gOing to pull Off. 

Af ter a couple of hours, when 
the boss copper had learned all 
he -wanted to know -arsquad of 
• of fleers yanked the intruders off. 
and booted them, through the 
gates. 



ers providing for a wagtf increase all 
along the line. New scale gives flrst, 
men .$54 for- 60 hours, second •men 
$^8 for 60 hoiurs, time and a half 
for overtime and' Sundays, double 
time for "holidays; women $32.50 for 
six days of eight hours each, time 
and a half for overtime up to 12 
hours, r double for over 12 hours; 
stock clerks, $22.50 for 40 hours. 
Location pay for first men, $60 
straight; seconds, $54; Women, $47.50. 
First arid second men formerly were 
paid $40.50, with wage for other 
workers ranging down to $17.. 

signed Indlvldnaliy 

Each studio signed the new- con-r 
tract individually.. Agreement was 
reached foUOwinjg conferences be- 
tween Pat Casey and Bert Qfford, 
Ibtusiness representative of Asso- 
ciated Motion Picturie COstumers 
Local 18067. Studios in the pact are 
Metro, Warners, Roach, Paramount, 
Universal, RKO-Radio, 20th-Fox, Co- 
lumbia and United Artists. Local 
has 217 members. 

Following the action -Of the cos- 
tumers, the Carpenters local 946 
voted to stick by the basic studio 
agreement to which it is a party and 
to ignore picket lines. ' Cliff Mace, 
business representative, said less 
than 15 of around 500 that attended 
the. meeting voted contrary; 

William B. Cullen, Federated Mo- 
tion Picture' Crafts prexy, fleW to 
Lafayette, ind., carrying a report on 
the . studio strike situation to place 
before the international executive 
board of the Brotherhood of Paint- 
ers,. Decorators arid Paperhangers of 
America. Report charges Interna- 
tional Alliance of Theatrical tage 
Employees with encroaching on the 
jurisdiction of other .crafts and also 
With replacing striking craftsmen. 
Cullen said he would : also gO to Chi- 
cago, to lodge the same chargeis be- 
fore the executive board of the 
American Federation of Labor. Cul- 
len was chairman of the negotiatirig 
comiiriittee if or the painters at pro- 
ducer-labor conferences New 
York. 

attacks by ' strikers 
on. trucks brOught .Dave 

Beck, head bf the; ' International 
■Teamsters Union, dow.n from Seattle, 
After conferring with Pat Ciasey, 
Beck sent word to the producers 
that thie attacks would be stopped 
without ■ police inteirfierence. Threat- 
ened disorders were quickly quelled 
after Beck's visit. However, one 
muscle car .observed following a 
trUck^ wSis fired upon, several 30-3Q 
bullets stri ■ its ridiator. ' 



Casey issued a denial of the 
FMPC charjge that lATSE and the 
producers h^d conspired to break 
the strike. 

•I desire to emphatically,' 
Casey stated, ■ the producers 
have not conspired with any per- 
son or group with respect to ariy 
part, or- phase of the FMPC strike. 
The producers are now willing and 
have from the very first been w,iil- 
ing to negotiate with any craft, or- 
ganization, union, or anyone recog- 
nized as a proper negotiating agency 
by the authority conferred under 
the Wagner Labor Relations Act.' 

Strikers' committee ' asserted that 
the producers had 'consistently 



sidestepped the issue and broadcast 
false propagsindd to influence piitilic 
opinion.' Statement further specific- 
ally denied Casey's charges and as- 
serted thiat the producers ijghore the 
demands Ot men earninsl as little as. 
$3.60 a day while ifranting ia . closed 
shop to actors .'drawing as high as 
$lb,O0() a week. Charleis Lessing, 
according to the statement^ with» 
drew frorh .the discussion after be- 
ing referired to as a. dictator by 
Casey. 

Following Lessing's withdrawal, 
the strike eoriimittee's^tatement was 
prepared by (iharles Elrod, business 
manager of the United .Scenic 
Artists; Vern Murdoch, secretary of 
the Makeup Artists, Ed Gilbert Of 
the set desi eind Rudy Kohl 

of the painters. 

Demands . 

On May 13 the -Society of Motion 
Picture Art Direttors andTthe So'- 
ciety oit Motion. Picture Film Editors 
presented demahds tp the producers 
through Casey that they be 'recog- 
nized the authoritatiye repre-. 
seritative of its groups; -in (collective 
bargaining. 

SMpFE designated James 
Wilkinson, Lewis and I'hilip 

C7ahn as i negotiatirig comrriittee, 
while the art directors are riepre- 
sented by . ^Cedric ^ CJibbons, Max 
Parker, Van Nest Pol;glasc, Richard 
Day, Stephen Goossoii. arid Felix. 
Cunningham^ Conferences with 
these groups have been , put off until, 
the TMPC strike is settled. Both 
bodies are understood to have re-, 
jected invitations to affiliate with 
the A. F.' of L. and the Conunittee 
for Industrial Organization. 

Other developments in the. labor 
situation through last week' were: . 

Major Pictures, through Emanuel 
Cohen, approved the Guild, shop 
agreement with the. Screen Actors 
Guild, Cohen saying he will sign 
any agreement accepted by the 
major studios. 

.New members -applications 
for reinstatement came. into. SAG 
headquarters at the rate of 400 to 
500 daily. 

Thirty-seven White Rats of the 
lATSE adopted! a resolution calling 
upon the A. F. of L. to order lATSE 
to. close out all permits. Class B 
cards arid other subterfuges issued 
to workers since the inception of 
the FMPd strike April 30; also re- 
quested the A. F. of L. to throw its 
strength behind striking crafts, in 
the battle for the' closed shop. 

Soriie excitement . was stirred 
ialong the . county strip and other 
agents' nests by a report that, a 
purge of the agents will: follow sign- 
ing of the agreement, betweeri pro- 
ducers and SAG. Agents showed 
considerable curiosity as to the posr 
sible outcome of such a mOve ^nd 
there was some talk of forming a 
protective organization. SAG lead- 
ers denied knowledge of the .plari. 
It is known, however, that many 
players f^vor elimination of 
.chiselers and fly-by-nighters among 
the ranks of the 10%'ers. 



CARL LAEMMLE SAILS 
JUHE 2 ON '37 VACASH 



Hollywood, May 18. 
Carl. Laemmle departs ori his .ari- 
nual European holiday May 28 and 
has booked sailing from iPlcw York 
June 2. Jack- Ross will, accompany 
hirii, 

Pair will be. joined, in Carlsbad by 
Siegfried Laeriimle, Carl's brother, 
and the trio will jourriiey through 
Switzerland, England and France; 




Loew Pix to Cbl 

Hollywood. May 18. 

David Loew has signed with Co- 
lumbia, to. deliver two Joe E. Brown 
pictures for next season's release. 
Brieaks off from RKGf after one more 
Brown picture following 'Riding oh 
.Air.'" . 

Will continue to produce off the 
lot. with his own bankroll.': 



Agnew'« Travelog 

Hollywood, May 18. 

Neil Agnew, Paramount vice-prez. 
in charge of sales, halted briefly herie 
after completing a round tri^ to 
Honolulu via the China Clipper. 

After another brief stop in New 
York he returns here for Para- 
mount's sales convention June 10 
to 12. 



Cotnplefe digest of all points in Gitilid shof contract beti 
.producers and Screen Actors: Guild follows:. 

WHAT COIITBACT PtfYEB GETS 

1— All layroffs contii^us for one. week except for retiikes. 
JtT^Termination for Illness only if ill three weeks in a year.. 
S^Right to his screen name. 

i^-Six holidays a yeat now granted freelance players and the $un- 
.day before and the S'unday' after each such holiday; 

WHAT STOCK FLAYER GETS 

1— Minimum salary $50 a week. 

2 — Return transportation tot pliayers under $75 ^ week brought to 
California from outside the state. 

3 — ^Act of God clause limited, to four weeks, with right of producer 
to eight additional weeks, at one-half jsalary. 

4— ^No free period or tests after contract starts or work star 

5— ^Teriniriation for illness only if ill three wieeks 
67-^Right to screen name. 

7— Six holidays a year now granjled freelance players and the Sun- 
day before and. the Sunday after each such holiday. 

WHAT IIlEiXA^ 

1— Everything he now has under the existing contract. 
2^-^ontinued abolition of the deal, 

3— Right to ha've> written contract delivered to him. 

4 — Guild cOnciliatiori . arid arbitration. 

5— if contract terminated before starti , gets his guarantee. 

6— 7-If addition to the 12-hour rest period,, a 54-hour week, with 1/48 
of his weekly pay .foir e^ch hour worked Over.. 

7— T^Access. of the Guild to 4he Call Bureaiu. 

WHAT DAY PLAYEE GETS 

1— i-Everytliing he has'riow. 

2— ^Mininium pay Of $25 a day. 

3— Guild conciliation and arbitration. 

4— rTrayel time both ways. 

5^--One-half daily pay for costunne- fittings ;and tests. 
(B^If engaged and not used, one day's pay; 

7 — ^Rules to be worked out on weatiier-perriiitting calls by com- 
mittee and if cannot agree, isettled by arbitration. 

WHAT. STiJNT MEN GET 

1— ^$3i5 a day minimum, 

2 — ^Additional miles to:.be worked out in committee arid if canriot 
agree, rules flxed by arbitration. 

3— Guild conciliation- and arbitration, 

WHAT EXTRA GETS 

1 — NRA rules and 16A 'rules; with i6A extended to include men. 

2— $3.20 check abolished. 

3 — ^Mi imum pay $5.50. , 

4 — If eriiployed at a weekly rate, mi imuna flve tiriies daily rate ap- 
plies to all extras;'^ 

5— io% raise for everyone gettirig $^15 a day and dOwn. 

6— ^Travel, tiriie both ways. 

7— Stand-ins. classifled as. extras and get minimum of $6.50 .8 day 
or $33 a week. 

8— Weather-perrnitting calls. Rules to be worked out by commit- 
tee, and il cannot agree, settled by arbitration. 

9— <5uild . condiliation and arbitration. 

10— -Rules ipply within 300 miles of studi 
and Miexico. 

11 — Comperisation to be net. Producer pays any agency fee. 

12— Guild access to Central Casting Corp.. 

ENFORCING AdSNCT AND MISGEIXANIIQUS 

Dnririjg: First Five Tears of Contract: 

100% Guild shop for. extras, stunt men, day players, freelance play- 
ers and sto^k players. 

90% Guild shop for stars and featured players, both as to who 
appears before camera and who signed, with, right in . producer who. 
produces 40 or more pictures a year to have three non-Guild starsv 
or featured players in two pictures a year only, and producer who 
piroduces less than 40 pictures a year to have three nonrGuild stars or 
featured players in orie picture a year only. 

During Second Five Tears 100% Guild Shop for Everybody: 

Full opportunity of Guild to checlc, including access to sets. 

Guild agrees to keep menibershi and not impose unreason- 

able dues and initiation fees. 

Guild agrees riot to, strike diiring agreements. 

No wiaiver by any Guild member of any ri 
without consent of Guild. 

Contract for 10 Tear^ From May 15, 

pnce a year committees meet to discuss . riiodiflcations as 
classes Of actors. If committees cannot agree— larbitratipri on rai 
mum salaries for extra; day players, stunt men and stock playiers and 
on hburs of labor for iacto^rs receiving $1500 a week or less. 

Committees go to work at once to clarify NRA rules for extras,- 
weatheriperriiitting calls and rules for stvirit riiert. If canriot agree, 
settled by arbitration. 

Coriimittees :g0 to work at once on; rules fOr any classes not cov- 
ered. If canriot agree, settled by arbitration, ' 

Future coritracts with actbrs must give actors mi iriiurii teirhis pro- 
vided in contract, but actor may get better terms. 

Existing contiracts given 60 days to be brought under the contir'act 
at election of the actor. 

Guild shop goes into effect at once for aU future contracts ipending 
ratification by boards of directors of various producers. Working 
conditions in effect June i, 1937. Ratification must be made by boards 
of directors by June 10. 1937. 

Guild has full right to disciplirie its riiembers, 
not let. niemhers but :of exi.sting contractis. 

Guild will give, permits as to pictures now i 
to prevent interference with production. 

Agreement binding on successor compani subsi iary and 

controlled companies. 

Agreemerit covers motion picture production in United States. 
Rules to bie worked out for production outside United States by comr 
mittees. If unable to agree, settled by arbitration. New York pro- 
duction exempt till Guild opens New York office, which will be 

ithin a month- After that included. 

Contract to be a. separate contract between Guild and each pro- 
ducer. Every producer to be afforded opportunity to sign. Guild 
may give more favorable terms to others, if it desires. 

Newsreels and travelogues, news 'and sports commentators , exempt 
till rules worked out by committee, and if canriot agree, settled by 
arbitration. 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



MUSICIANS JOIN 





Active participation of the. music 
* ion, Idiial 802, i the Gbmrnercial 
Artists and -Desi Union. ;strik9 
agjilrist the . Max ischer studios, 
N; Y-r .y^stetday rebutted , in- the 
calling out of Dave, Fleischer, 
brother of the cartoon producer and 
musical director of the studio. Gon- 
f erence between music union •; of- 
ficials aiid liOuis Nizer, Fleischer at- 
torney, was scheduled for late yes- 
terday 16 seek some, solution. 

It was pointed out that, .as a .mem- 
ber Of 802, the younger Fleischer 
would be liable to fine ind suspen- 
sion by, his union if: he refuses to 
join the walkout. Suspension would 
automatically bar him from the rie- 
c?rding rooms, where the sound arid 
synchronization of the Popeye and 
Betty Boop comedies are made, when 
the stri is settled. 

' Music union . voted Monday ( 17 > 
;night to participate .actively in the 
strike; 

t With this CADU claiming produc- 
tion at the Fleischer studios ' a 
virtual standstill; the executive com- 
mittee of the Motion ictuire Ma- 
ine Operators, Local 306, has voted 
to join the stri Proposal CQm^s 
up. for vote before the" membership 
jtonight' (Wednesday). In case the 
MPMO joins, &s expected, a pos- 
si iUty is tha,t projecti ists in all 
theatres^wbuid refuse to show, any 

•. Popeye or ^tty Bbop'fllins."' Active 
participation, ot the MPMO may also 

" bring about' "picketing of all thea- 
tres showing the Fleischer product 
Meanwhile, picketing of the 
studios continues, with mass picket- 
ing twice daily and skeleton line the 
rest of the time. . Strike hfeadquar 
ters have been set up at the Cartoon^ 
ists Guild, N. Y., and the striking 
employees, who claim to number 
iriore than 100 of the 135 Fleischer 
Workers, meet there daily. Thirteen 
of the. 14 pickets arrested in the 
scuffle with police at the beiginhing 
of the strike, have been released 
Case, of one striker chargied with 
assault comes up June 1. Gharles 
Shetler, complainant in that case 
is said to be slated for disciplinary 
action by the International Pho- 
tographers of the Motion Picture In 
dustry, of which he is a member. He 
will be charged with attempting to 
cross . a picket line. 

Union complaint with the Nat 
tional Labor Relations Board is now 
awaitinig consideration. 



Yokel Pickets 



Hollywood, 'M^y 1.8. 
Foilowing. elections Sundaiy night ^ 
((16) the Screen iJirectors. Guild was 
planning submission of a basic work- 
ing agreement to producers \inder 
the new Wagner act. 

King Vidor was . re-elected; .presi- 
dent, Lewis Milestone and . Fraiiik 
Tuttie, yice-presidents;: Richiard Walr 
lace, secreitary, and John Ford, 
^treasurer. ' Boa'rd inenibers afe Herr" 
;bert. Biberriian^ . jbhn Cromwell, 
Howard Hawks, WMley- Ruggl'es, 
Rouben Mamoulian; William Well- 
man, Edward Sutherland, Bruce 
Hiimberstone, Gregory La Cava and 
Phil Rosen. 



GOETZ ABROAD JUNE 10 
ON GRAaE FIELDS' PIC 



Holiywood, May 18. 

Arrangements: for the Gracie 
Fields pic to be made abroad for 
20.th-Fox: will be concluded by 
William Gbetz, and executive 

production 'assistant tb Dai:ryl F, 
Zanuck, in England next months 

Gpetz pulls out June W on a six 
wieek tour abroad.. He will confer 
with Robert Kane, 20th-Fox pro 
ducer, in England, and also Will ar 
range. for. the transfer of Annabella 
French player recently signed by 
the studio, to Hollywood., 

Sam G. Engel v/ill go to England 
to produce the iPields film, ith 
Monty Banks directi 



Shooed Off WB 
Sked; Foran to Musicals 

.Hollywood, May 18 
Warners has decided to eliminate 
Westerns entirely frbrin i^s 1937-'38 
rogram and cOnflne. its production 
activlti to 60 features. 

pick Forainr topSrpbtted in the si 
Westerns on tbe company's curren 
program, and who also . apj>eaved ' 
other Warner pictures, probably "w 
be held as a* featured player but 
Used mostly for filmusicals. 

nks^ Jr., Quits 
His London Prod. Co, 



LOhdori, May 18, 
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., has re 
signed from Criterion Films. 

Actor was one of the founders ot 
the company and joint managing di 
vector with Marcel Hellman, 



Los Angeles, May 18, 
They came to picket but 
Stayed to gawk. That's what 
happened to labor's snakeline 
at the .mass demonstration 
around Carthay Circle theatre 
last Eriday (14) as Metro pre- 
mieired 'Captains Courageous.' 
Word went out that the ermine 
and. top hat mob would get 
shoved around, but 250 coppers 
kept the spot as orderly, as a 
Rbtavy blowout' 

Instead pai-ading and 

shouting; imprecations at the 
playeris, the picketeei-s joiiied 
the rubber necks in open-' 
mouthed awe> ■ Metro took 5,000 
tourists off their feet and put 
them in bleachers. • 




, 13 PRODUCERS SHsN 10-YR. PEACE 








Terms of Contract in Effect Pending Ratification by 
Production Companies-— -Thomsoii Clariftes Actr> 
Position in EMPC Strike 




olly.wood. May 18. 

In .an. effort to make the' producer 
Guild shop afreement 100% effective 
immediately,, the Screen . Actors 
Guilfd is neffotiatihf ' contracts with 
British. Equity, Actors Equity iand 
other organizations- permitting: the 
SAG .to retain control over players 
should they leavie lilin business. 

Foreign tie^ , coupled with the 
clause in the producer agreement 
that.^il^ Iilew contracts must be 100% 
Giiild shop, places the: SAG in posi- 
tion to forc.e every player Into the 
fold Inimedlately, or be forced from 
the' industry at the expiration of 
presient contracts. 

Whlie the agreement does not call 
for 100% iSuild shop until .1942, a 
player refusing join how would 
be automatically' barred when aisking 
to have a new contract approved, 



What Next? 



Jack Warner to Coast; 
Blanke, WaUis to Europe 



Jack L. Warner left for the Coast 
yesterday (Tues.) to inaugurate a 
heavy late spring and slimmer pro- 
duction program for. the 1937-'38 
season. Before hie left, Hal Wallis' 
and Henry Blanke, latter a lot as- 
sociate producer, reached New York 
bound for Europe and a vacation. 

Wallis and Blanke are sailing ^to- 
day (Wed) to tour through England, 
France aind itzerland by car. 
Later oh they are planning to go 
to Salzburgjto meet Max Reinhardt, 
who after staging, this year's Festival 
there, will return to the Warner 
lot, 

• - Reinhardt is, to prodiice , Doestol- 
vesky's , 'Gamblers' on that lot, with 
cast including E. G, Robinsoh, Bette 
Davis; Eri:61 Flyrin, Basil Rathbone 
and others.. 



Gable to Star in Wj s 
London Lead-Off Pic 



London, May 18. 

Clark Gable hais been set to come 
,over here: for Metro make 
^Soldiers Three' locally. 

Rudyard Kipling story was re- 
cently the /property of Gaumont- 
British, which disposed off it to MG. 
Me^ins that MG will carry through 
on its prom is^ to use real stairs in 
local production, rather than making 
merely quicki ;for quota con- 
sum 



Fox Hearings Off 



Atlantic City, May, 18. 

Hearings into the vpluhtary bjink- 
ruptcy of William Fox \yere post- 
poned, indefinitely today because of 
the sudden death of Robert E. 
Steedle, Federal reiferee in bank-, 
ruptcy. . . 

It was thought by . counsel for 
creditors that a temporary agency 
would be set up, following Steedle's 
funeral last Saturday, to continue 
the but siich ari arrangement 

was foun impossible. 

Hollywood, May 18. 

William Fojc is here for . a week's 
visit on combined pleasure aind busi- 
ness trip.. He is discussing local prop- 
erty interests with his broth^-in- 
law, Joe Leo. 

End oE the week he either returns 
to N. Y. or goes to Santa Barbara* 



A decade of . peace : between fllni 
actors and employers is assured by a 
neW agreement signed by directors 
of. the Screen Actors Guild.: and 13 
prodUciers. Terms ,of the IQ^year 
ipaict, effective as of May 15, were 
read .Sunday .(16) night before ai mass 
meeting attended by 1,500 SAG mem-, 
bers.in Hollywood Legion Stadium. 
" ' A ' srnall elernent of dissenters^ 
headed by Lionei Stahder^ m^e no 
headway ajgaihst almost unanimous 
sentiment of the actors in support of 
the accord reached by the directo- 
rate. Meeting also heard Kenneth 
Thomson, SAG executive secretary, 
defend the organization's non-support 
of t^^ Federated Motion Picture 
Crafts strike against the. studios. 

90% Guild Shbp 

New SAG-producer agreement 
provides 90% Guild shop for stars 
and featured players for the first live 
years and 100% thereafter. For "the 
entire life of the contract 100% Guild 
shop is provided foir fi-eelance and 
stock players, extras, stunt, men and 
day players. 

Argument arose over the proviso 
that the SAG should agreei not ^ 
strike during the 10 years of . the 
pact; resident Robert Montgomery 
explained that, in the event of abro- 
gation of provisions of the contract 
by the producers, the Guild member- 
ship would have the right to call a 
walkouts JProducers signing were 
Paramount, Metro, 20th-F6x, CoUim- 
bia, Sam Gold wyn. Selznick-Interna- 
tlon, B. P. SchUlberg, Major,^ Hal 
Roach, Walter Wanger, RKO, "Uni- 
versal and Warners. Republic and 
Sol Lesser will also sign as soon as 
contracts are presented them. 

Guild shop is effective imipcdiate- 
ly pending: ratification of the agree- 
ment by boards Of directors of . the 
various producing corporations. Ac- 
tors holding contracts are given 60 
days, to have them rewritten to con 
forni to th6 hew setup. Working 
conditions specified, in the. pact be 
come effective .tutie 1. and directo- 
rsites have until June 10 to ratify. 

,SAG to Open IJp' 

To prievent interference with pro- 
duction, SAG working permits will 
be harided, members now engageid. 
P'rodiiction in New York and el-se 
where in the U n ite.dj States is exempt 
from! provisions iinlil SAG. offices 
.aVe opened in New York; wWch will 
be within a month. Rliles Rover ing 
production outside the United State.s 
will be .w^orkc.d put by corhmiltces. 
The Guild is. also considering estab 
lishing headquarters, in each sludib. 

The: ractice.of hiring persons out 
.side -the industry for extra work ill 
be- discontinued. rey . ir, 

Junior SAG businfsss repro.scn.tative 
ahnoimced his groiip, \yould attempt 
to iimit extra work to bona fide ex 
tra people only, elinriihating outsid 
ers. The original SAG demand for 
abolition .of the Central Casting and 
Call .Bureau was jVot granlied. 

.kienneth Thomson explained that 
the actors could not expect: gain 
everything they , asked. Exec sai 
amid cheer, that Actoi's Equity Ijat 
tied l.i yeais. and went through two 
strikes to gain an 80% Guild .shoo 
Members of the Longshoreman's 
Union heckled stars who pnteved. the 
stadium for the moelihg. but there 
was no violence. Cars loaded with 
longshoremen conducted Lionel 
.Sltander. chief spokesman for the 
opposition-actor element, to his 



Houston, May 18, 
ings gotipretty Well rriixed 
up here this week, when Will 
HorWitz, operator Of three in- 
theatres- where stationary 
engi wii Iked out; hired 

ickets to pitket the ickets 
icketing his shows, . 
..Horwitz's pickets hiiarched. 
aldngsi - the stri ing engi- 
neers' pickets. Union pickets ■ 
carried the .customary 'unfair' 

Horwitz's . pickets 
fied larger placards ing 
'Who's Unfair?' and setting out' 
that he Wais payipg $12. a, week: 
higher than local union scale; 
Engineers expiain.they walked 
despitie the higher-than- 
iop scale because' they 
wanted.unlon. recognitioh. 



strike clause fromi the contract with; 
the producers, pointing put that the 
Wagner Act gives , labor .' a poltent. 
wjsapoh and the. SAC!} should be care- 
ful in sacrificing it. An .extrij i)iayei* 
declared Centrai Casting; classified 
extras as coolies and .accused the Bu- 
reaU;^ ith permitting only pets, to 
work regularly..' Bela . Lugosl wept, 
at mention of coolies. 

J. Edward Bromb'erg demanded to 
know why, if the Guild wa.s. good 
ienoug:h for. 90% of the players, i!k 
was riot good enough for all. 



home aftier the meeting. 

Regarding the SAG : policy -toward 
the striking, craftsnnen^ Thomson said 
that on April 29, before thie. craft 
strike was called, he advised Charles 
Lessing,; tentative- FMPC executive, 
that the actors could no^t call ' a jiym- 
pathy strike without 75% rnember- 
ship approval. He further pointed 
out that: the FMipC itself was not 
organized until two , days after the 
strike was . launched by studio *paint-. 
ers. 

Thomson's statement sai 
.'Beciause. the SAG did not want, in 
aiiy way to prejudice the cause of 
men now on strike, it studiously re- 
frained from answering many mis- 
leading statements made in the. press 
by those in charge . of the strike. 
We how feel it necessary, however, 
to clarify our positibri and give a 
statement of what aicttialiy happened. 

ild reprieisentatives attended the 
prelimihary - meetings at which by- 
laws of the FMPC were drawn. These 
tiepresentatives clearly stated at each 
meeting, that the question of affilia- 
tion with the proposed FMPC would 
have to. be ratified first by the board 
and then by a ,60% vote of the Guild 
senior membership, and that no 
strike could be called without a writ- 
ten vote of 75% of the senior mem- 
bership, 

'On several occasions in meetings, 
Lessing declared that in -the event of 
strike all existing contracts, 
whether of individuals or organiza- 
tions, would be respected. On A||>ril 
29, the day. before the , strike was 
called, the following letter was sent 
by messenger to Lessing: 

'Because various news stories 
which have appeared stating the 
Guild is already affiliated with the 
FMPC might conceivably mislead 
members of all our organizations, I 
am writing to clarify the positiirms 
of Aubiey Blair and myself, "The 
by-law.s, of the Guild provide any 
affiliation with the. FMPCJ must be 
approved by. 60% of . the: senior vot- 
ing members. As you know, the 
board of directors has hot yet re- 
ferred the question of iiffiliation with 
the F'MPC to the Guild membership. 
While Blair arid 1 are thoroughly in 
accord vifith the ajm.s and; purposes o£ 
the FMPCi we have not the author- 
ity, to bind our pigariization,' 

'The following day a meetirig of 
representatives of various crafts was 
called ,lo/report piogicss ' individ- 
ual negotiation.s.. iGiiiJ repicsonlnr 
fives; had been invite to attend. 
Three hours before the mccling, Iho 
painters com rriittoe called a strike. 
When; Guild repi-escntalivos. iies^ 
tipned the proccdui" ilhi five 
miniites aftfer the strike wa.s called, 
Lessi 'I wanted tolje dramatic 

and br] ' . thing: to $ head in a 
hurry,' . . 

'At the meeting.. iiPssihg: declared, 
' is i.s the painters strike.- We arc 
responsible,* ^ 

'The strike obviously could not 
have been one called by the Fedei a 
tion, as the actual; formation of the 
Federation did not .take, place until 
Sunday, May 2, two days .after the 
.strike had been called. While we are 
exceedingly ..sympathetic with the 
men involved, we cannot allow our 
organiz<^tion to be bound by unau- 
thorized persons,' 

John Carradln , at the nieeling. 
nrgcii the elimination of Uie non- 



PAINTERS PICKET N. Y. 
HOUSES, BUT NO EFFECT 



During the past , week painters 
have- picketed Broadway picture 
houses in behalf of the. Hollywood 
strike, only on. tvyo . riighls but, sio 
far,a,S' trianagers are coneerned, they 
mighVrt.v well have been at their jobs: 
more iligently. Managerial fraler- , 
hity is so us4d to .hiaviriig.picketlrig.of 
onie kind or another that, not only- 
do thiey ignore -the ma i'chers, pr.o^ 
vided there is no violence, but have 
lesirned that'this 'kiiid of. activity on 
the streets doesn't seerii tO: hurt :th9 
b.o.'s^ 

Painters rst. appeared Tuesday* 
night (11 ),: as many as 10 men igoih.i{ 
on the picket line. They remained 
orily 'ah hour, but were mostly; lOst 
in the theatre, crowds. Following 
night - (12) . they . were absent, - but 
Thursday (13) they showed vip fbc 
another hour, this time with no mora 
than , three men to a house. Police, 
acting on a ruling laid do^n two 
years ago iagainst,. mass picketing, 
warned the ■painters agalhst mora 
than three marchers on .a line. After 
that night they disappeared, nona. 
showing up Over the week-end; 



M, P. Artists Org. 



Hollywood, May 18. 
Society of Motion Picture Artists 
and Illustrators was organized Mon- 
day (17) for the purpose of 
negotiating a sepat-ate Contract with 
producers or affiliate with another 
organization; 

R. F. James was named president, 
Lester Thomas, vice-prez., Ted 
Sebern, secretary and Si^^miind 
Nesselrath, treasurer. 




Trad* Mark HcRlntered 
FOtJNDED B? SIMip flTt.VTOnMAN 
ruhllNlietl W<i«kly hy'VAHIKTV. Ine, 

Shi SUvermnn, Prewldcnt 
1C4 Woat 4Clli Now York City 

SUliacuiivjMON 
Annual...., ,99 i'orelgn, . . , . .|7 
tilni;la CoplcB .18 CeniB 

Vol. 126. 1/^^^* No. 10 

INDEX ~~ 





02.. 




m 




.-»)) 


Fll 


27 
(J 


'ilfri 


. .22-23 


For dm 




Ho us' 


.■>2 


Insidc-^L6git 




Insidc-^Miiiii 




«— Pictiirr'.s 


23 


Thternationcil 


.18- id 


Loifilii, i •,', , . .; . 


i. 55-58 


Lrterali. 


59, 


Mu.sic i-. . , , ; , . , , ....... , . . 


. . 47-49 


News. from the Dailie.s. . 




Nite Clubs. , . 


.'. 50 


Obituary 


(12 


Outdoors 


61 


Pictures 


2-33 


Radi . ; 


. ..34-40 



Radi o— Pac 1 Rc . N o i c s . , 

Radio Reviews 

Radio Shovyirianship.- 

Uiiils 

Vaudeville ,.. , 

Wometj 



.40 
. 44 
38 
50 
.50-51 
« 



VARlEtY 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



Metro Of ers Studio Show for Fall; 
But No Shearer or Garbo; 
Louis K. Sidney of WHN to Coast 




jHollyWood, May 18. 

Metro has thrown off. its long 
standing verbot^n on radio and will 
take to the . air early, in the fall With 
a house program to he peddled to 
sponsors for $25,000 weekly. Bank- 
roller, will havfe exclusive use of all 
MGM talent with ihe exception of 
Greta Garbo and : Norma .Shearer. 
Service includes musici . writers, 
et al. ■ Show win be handled by 
Loiiis. K; Sidney, director of, 

tation WHN, N. Y., whp moveS td 
the Coast i three weeks to handle 
organization. He has been, given the 
okay by Louis Mayer and Nick 
Schenck. 

MGM studi will keep a close 
watch ori all material and the han- 
dling of. players so. that boxofficei 
.value will not be jeopardized. Show 
will not be Sold for Saturday of 
Siinday night broadcast with dispp-r 
sitibni, left io the discretion Sid- 
niey so there will be' no conflict with, 
theatre attendance. This decision -is 
seen, as a move to sop the • exhibs 
and stifle any possible protests 
.against, the. radio liiove. 

Metro players with a radio clause 
in their contracts will be permitted 
to continue until their present pacts 
expire but there:lter they will be 
confined to exclusive use of the 
studib show. This will kill off guest 
shots. on other programs. 

Sidney is planning to bring: a pro- 
ducer from the East to take over 
the show; which will carry the main 
title of 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on 
the Air.* 



Jiist in Case 



Recently framed pact with 
Edde Giahtor by 20th-rox con- 
tains an 'if and when' clause 
pertaining to .television. This 
portion of contract, stipulates 
'that the picture compiiny can 
terrninate the contract and can- 
cel obligations if the comediaii 
iever goes into television work. 

Regarded simply as a safie- 
gUard against a ^o*'called com- 
petitive branch' of amusement 
biz. 



HPTOA STAUS 
ONRAiHO-nX 
MANDATE 



At a meeting yesterday afternoon 
(Tuesday) attended by the radio 
committee' of the Motion icture 
llheatrie Owners of America and rep- 
resentatives of . most of the major 
producer-distributors, discussion of 
the question of radio. Competitioil 
and participation .in broadcasting \>y 
1ms resulted in the conclusion no 
immediate drastic step§ are rieces- 
sary. This was interpreted to mean 
that the MPTOA radio committee is 
not demanding a cessation of radio 
broadcasting by film companies or 
players, in keeping with the .resolu- 
tions passed by its convention in 
Miami last March, but, for the time 
being, is merely considering how 
such broadcasting can be improved 
for the mutual benefi^t of the trade. 

iSeveh of the producer-distributor 
companies wiere represented at the 
session. Warner. Bros., Grand Na- 
tionctl and Gaumoht-British ignored 
the party, seeding no .one, Syhile two 
corhpanfes (20th;-Fox" and Columbia ) 
were represented fay publicity rnen, 
Twentieth-Fox sent E. W. Wingart, 
while Columbia aissigned Hal Hodes. 
Paramount was represented by ; Rus- 
sell. Holm&n and Heriry Salsjaury; 
RKO by Ned E, Depinet, Jr.; Uni:- 
versal by Wiliard McKay; Metro, by 
Al Lichtman and Louis K. Sidney; 
and United Artists by Harry p. 
Buckley*^ . 

Meeting dwelt - upon tjonsideratiph 
of plans under which steps- could, be 
taken toward seeing that 'education': 
in the presentation of film rnaterial 
of playiBjrs on the. ir could be ^pro- 
ided, so that screen persbrialities, 
who are not radio- personalities 
would be ;kept off the ether. Tenor 
of the mieeting was .declared to be in 
favor of an alliance of sbfeeh and 
radio, rather than a separation. 

Walter^ Vincent declared last eve- 
ning (Tuesday) that cipnferences 
would continue, ith his committee 
gathering together ^s many facts as 
it dould before reaching any positive 
decisions. When all the facts are in, 
Vincent stated, they would be laid 
before the radio broadcasting com- 
panies, sponsors, stars aiid others 
concerned. 



NiUoHeadsPC 
Invasion of Pix 
Talent Agenting 



NBC Artists Service will next 
month go directly into thel biz of 
aigenting film talent to Hollywood, 
Fred Niblo, who recently joined the 
NBC booking staff to supe pic deals, 
will head the drive from the east, 
with two scouts due to hit the road 
next month scouring for film faces.. 
NBC Chicago office will shoot out a 
pair of prowlers to trek for talent 
through the midwest, and from Hol- 
lywood and Sail Francisco, offices 
scouts will take care of the south 
aiid far west. 

Hunt will be for talent figured 
likely for filitis^ hot radio. In N. Y. 
those beseeching auditions, espiecial- 
ly for script-serial ieling, are al- 
ready being scrutinized more close-' 
ly than formerly, with pic-ispotting 
the objective of the Artists Service. 

For several years how NBC has 
been peddling air talent to Holly- 
wood and believes now it has ce- 
mented, the proper contacts to vie 
with oth^r established agencies in 
peddling other than radio-types. 

Gettm^ Experience 

In order to give its h.o. publicity, 
advertising and exploitation men a 
better idea of what happens outside 
of New York, Warner Bros, is plan- 
ning to send them into the field now 
and then to visit various keys and 
put on campaigns for new pictures. 

Men may spend one week out of 
every month on the roiid, home of- 
fice believing this will widen their 
perspective. 



U'S YARN SHAKEUR 

Evans; Neuberger .O ut-^Charlifc 
Bealian pbablinr 



Story department at Universal Is 
undergoing a shakeup. Harry Evans, 
talent head, is out. Elsa Neuberger, 
assistant to Charles Beahan, story 
head, has also left, Ann Bertari, 
secretary to Evans; has been shifted 
to another department. 

Beahan will resume liandling of 
talent, the job he held several years 
ago, continuing as active story head 
also. 'When reprganiziatioh of the de- 
partnietit is completed an assistant 
will be brought in to: handle talent, 
james Colligan is assistant to Beahan 
on stories. 



U PLANS 59 PK 




Hollywood, May . 

Announcement made today by J. 
R. Grainger, distribution chief, that 
Universal. Will release 50 features in 
1937-38, bestrs out the prediction 
made last fall by K Cochrane, 
president, that the company would 
hike thie number of feature films 
from the 42: released last season. 
Designating the coming season's, pro- 
gram as the most, pretentious the 
company ever . attempted, Cochrane 
piointed out that the new pictures 
will .follow the technique of action, 
avoiding sophisticated plays. 

Lihe-up shows that Deanna PUr- 
bi , new Star brought put in 1037 by 
Universal, will' be the stellar player 
in three -vehicles, starting with 'lOO 
Men and a Girl.' Two Buddy De- 
Sylva musicals are designated, with 
'A Young Man's Fancy,' featuring 
Alice -Faye, Ken Murray and Three 
Diamond Brothers, first in line. 

Company also will introduce Dani- 
elle Darrieux, new Frencli import, 
in The Rage of Paris,* as the initial 
picture on her long-term pact. 

Quota of westerns; for 1937-38 will 
be hiked to 10, with Tex Baker set 
for his outdoor opus debut. Buck 
Jones remains, as tHe starring stand- 
by. Four . serials, ith ' all ' but one 
based on newspaper strips, also are 
part :of the line-up. 



W. A. Bach in K. T. 

'W. A. Bach, managing director 
for Western Electric Co;, Ltd., is in 
New York from- London to confer 
with Electrical Research Products, 
Inc., executives. After confabs in 
N. Y., he will 'visit in Canada and 
the Coast. 

Bach , will not return to London 
until about June 5. 



Wilson Giabs Tigskin' 

Hollywood, May 18. 

Darryl Zanuck has named Harold 
Wilson associate producer oh 'Pig- 
skin Parade of 1937.' George Mar- 
shall will direct 

Script is now being worked out 
by Karl Tunberg and Don Ettlinger. 



Washington Tacticians Now Talking A 
Film-Radio Congressional Prohe 




Washi , May '18;., 
Dbuble-barrielled iilm 
and io being 
plotted in Cpngressional cii-cles last 
week as interest in idea of grilling 
broadcasters and icture prpducers 
gained steadily. 

With, resolutions authorizing \n-> 
vestigation pf both businesses pendr 
ing before the House Rules Com- 
mittee, ringleadei-s of, the two in- 
quiry drives started, negotiations to 
pool strength and set up a single 
committee which would turn the 
spptlight on anti-trust practices; por 
litical favoritism, and monopoly in 
each field. Idea has been put be- 
fore Chairman John J. O'Conner pf 
the Rules crowd but otherwise few 
overt moves have, been made to 
wrai> the two resolutions up in a 
single bundle. 

Talk of a combination probe, 
which has not gone very far yet, is 
regarded in some anti-film and anti- 
radio circles as a sly move to scut- 
tle one oi* both of the potential in- 
quiries. Pointed out that a seven- 
man committee would find plenty 



to do trying to smpke out abuses in 
either industry. Surest way to make 
certain the grilling turned out a 
fizzle would be to order single fac- 
tion to ventilate conditions . in bpth 
businesses; 

Radio resolutipn offered by Rep. 
William P. Connery, Jr., of Massa- 
chusetts, has been dozi fpr weeks 
but may come to life this week. 
Rules, body has paid no attentiPn 
to it since hearings wound up early 
in February, althp.ugh both Repub- 
lican and Democratic leaders have 
ah eye on the ppliticial situation in 
the Hpus<i and are readying to bring 
the measure : upon thie flpor as; soon 
as conditions are favorable. 

ilm measure, sponsored by Rep. 
Sam Hobbs, of Alabama, has made 
less headway. Although back- 
patted by the Hous^ Judiciary , com- 
mittee, it has not been dissussed yet 
in the Rules comirnittee. O'Conhor 
has not been asked yet for a hear- 
ing, noT has his outfit been offi- 
claliy notified of the Judiciary mem- 
bers' endorsement. Until requested^ 
unlikely the Rules jpeople will do 
anything about it. 



AlEed Expected to Be Militant on 
v i fiadio-Pix Matter, as Opposed to 
MPTOA; Divorcement fssue, Too 



They Just Loyie It 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Figuring that the b.o; could . 
stand a . barrage of 'love' titles 
— again— the boys iare gbing 
overboard on th.e amatory item.. 

RKO-Radi has Barbara 
Stanwyck liencjlled: in for 'A 
Love Like That,' and follows "it 
with the same' star in 'They 
Didn't Want Love.' Par will, 
put Bing Crosby and Franciska 
Gaal in 'And Then Came Love' 
and B. P. Schulberig is Working 
on 'Let's Talk of Love.' Grand . 
National has Bruce Cabot in 
'Love Takes Flight.' 



Radio Sets 20 
Pix for Lenses 
By bid of June 

■ Hollywood; May 18. 

JiKO-Radio has set 20 features to 
go. in work between now and June 
30. Leading off with 'Music ,for 
Madame,* Jesse L. Lasky production 
starring! Nino Martini, list includes: 

.'A Damsel in Distress,' 'Radio City 
Revels,' 'Don't Forget to Remember,' 
'Three on a Latchkey,' 'A House in 
the Country,' 'Flight from Glory,' 
'Female of the Species,' 'Forty 
Naughty Girls,' "The Glory Com- 
mand,' 'The Seeing Eye,' 'Tom and 
Jerry,' 'Fight for Your Lady,' 
'Junior G-Men,' 'The Sky's "thie 
Limit,' 'World of Women,' 'The Mud- 
dled Deal,' 'Highway to Romance,' 
'Satiu-day's Heroes,' ahd 'A LoveJ 
Like That.' 



Rep*s Annual 'Parade' 

Hollywood, May. 18. 

Republic has already started 
production . Plans for a' 'Hit Parade 
pf 1938,' ith the idea of making ah 
annual musical of that title. 

Phil Regan is being considered for 
the top spot, 



SAILINGS 

May 20 (New York to London), 
(George Curzon (Berengaria). 

iMay 19 (New York to London), 
Hal B. Wallis, Leon Leonidoff, Erik 
Charrell, Ludwig Charrell, Mr. and 
Mrs. Martiii Beck, Sbl.Hurok, Mark 
Sandrich, Henry Blanke, Mr. ahd 
Mrs. Pierre Hurel, Mrs. Charles Far-r 
rell, Mr. Paul Lukas, Mr. and Mrs. 
Ralph Blum (Normandie). 

May 15. (New York to London), 
Lauritz Melchoiif, Kirsten Flagstad, 
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Goossens, Dr. 
and Mrs. Herbert T. kalmUs,'Wera 
Engels (Europa). 

May 15 (New York to Genoa), Mr. 
and Mrs. Mischa Elman (Conte di 
Savoia). 

May 14 (New York to London), 
Catherine Littlefield, Dorothy Little- 
field, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Samuels, 
Mr. And Mrs. James Thurter,* Mr. 
ahd Mrs. Julius Biernheim, Aldo Er- 
mini (lie de France). 

May 11 (Vancouver to New Zea- 
land), Dorothy Oliver XMariposa). 

N. y. to L. A. 

John p. eiark. 
Harlan D. Dixon. 
Bide tJudley. 
Hazel. Flynn. 
Oscar Homolka. 
Sidney R, Kent. 
Charles .W. Kpernef. 
Alexander Leftwich. 
Eric Linden. 
Charles E; McCarthy. 
Ward Morehouse. 
William Morris, Jr. 
Edward G. inson. 
Eleanor Roth. 
George ; Schiefer. 
Helen Vinsbn. 
Jick L. Warner. 



Cplumbus, May 18. 

In adidition to ■divorcement legis- 
latioHi which it favors, the prpblem 
of labor, which looms seriously for 
all theatre operators^ and music tax 
.block, booking, various sales policies* 
etc., which the organization has stub- 
bornly foug;ht for years, the Allied 
iStaites Ass'n of Motion Picture Ex- 
hibitors^ in convention at Milwaukee 
next week (26-28), is expected 
take action against: radjio broadcast- 
ing by film people. 

That any action the members of 
Allied may decide upon will be 
definitely aggressive is anticipated 
in :exhibitpir circles since its^ mem- 
bership, unlike the Moti icture 
Theatre Owners of America, in- 
clude^ siinon-pure independents who 
are not to. be swayed in any way 
by prpducier-disti^ibutpr chain in- 
fluiences. Moreover, the majority of 
the Allied exhibitors are ih the 
smaller towns, where radio com- 
petition is detdared to be more se- 
verely felt. 

Should the MPTOA go soft on the 
radio issue, failing to carry out the. 
dictates of its Miami convention, tRe 
political value of any dtastic steps 
by Allied, so far as out-and-out in- 
dependents are concerned, would be 
unquestioned. 5ince the independ- 
ents in the MPTOA are looking for 
results on the radio matter, they 
might prove ideal membership game 
for Allied if the MPTOA doesn't 
force through, 

Program 

Program announced by convention 
chairman P. J. Wood of Columbus 
has unionization of the industry 
scheduled for a general discussion 
on the opening day. Also on the 
first day's program are ah address 
on 'How to Bring Back the Forgotten 
Audiences' by Richard T. Turner of 
the Dictograph Products Co.; 'The 
Stbiy of the Carbon Arc,' by E. R. 
Oeib, of the National: Carbon 
and an address by Pete Harrison. 

Independents will take up the fu- 
ture of divorcement legislation the 
second day, with an a:ddress on the 
subject by W. A. Steffes. Gradwell 
L. SeiEirs, v. p. of Warners, will pre-, 
sent 'The Producers' Side of Selling,' 
and 'The Effect: of Television Upon 
Theatres' will be conjectured by T. F. 
Joyce of. RCA. Abi-am F. Meyers, 
ehairman of . Allied's board of direc- 
tors, will talk pn 'Still the Battle 
Rages.' 

'Theatre Air Conditioning* and 
'What the Distributor Can Do to Help 
Sell the Picture' are pn tap for the 
Friday (28) session. 

Annual banquet will be held Thurs- 
day evening. Gov. Phillip L. LaFol- 
lette and Mayor Daniel W. Hoian of 
Milwaukee will speak and included 
in the entertainment is a 'surprise 
radio salute by one of Hollywood's 
best known motion picture stars.' 

Board meeting of Allied States 
will be held in Milwaukee^ May 26, 
first day of the convention to con- 
sider product of companies for the 
comiing (1937-38) season and policies 
from the exhibitor point of view. 
Directors expected to attend are: 
Abram F. Myers, ehairman; Nathan 
Yamins, J. B. Fishmah, H. A. Blum, 
Lee W. Newberry, C. H. Clive, Fred 
J. Herrington,.P. J, Wood, Fred De- 
Lbdder, R. R. Biair, Aaron Saper- 
stein, E; Maertz, E. L. Peaslee, 
Frank Wetzstei , Johnnie Griffin, H. 
A. Cole, Henry Lazarus .and N. Hi 
Waters.. 

Each director has pledged to bring 
alPhg with him a limited: number of 
independent exhibitors. . ; Attendance 
by delegations promised include: 
Wisconsin, 100; Illinois, 50; Minne- 
sota, 25; Indian, 20 and Michigan, 20. 



ARRIVALS 

Mary His, Grover Whaleh, Ernest 
Hemingway, Walter J. Hutchinson, L. 
F. Whelan, Col. Jason Joy, Jack Con^ 
nolly, Senator Murphy, Slate Bros., 
Moore and Revel, Oscar Homolka, 
Fay Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph 
Hayman. 



L. A. to N/Y. 

Neil F. Agnew, 
Henry Blahkie. 
Ralph Blum. 
Madeleine Carroll. 
Howard Dietz. 
Carey Cirant. 
George Hlrliman. 
Eleanor Hunt. 
Arthur A. Lee. 
Carmel Myers, 
Paul Nathan. 
Erin O'Brien-Moore. 
George Raft. 
Paul Revere. 
Jack Saper. 
Hal B. Wallis. 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 






DUAL 




Speedy 
Plan 





ofRoxyReorg 
rFox Looks In 




Federal Judge Francis J. Caffey 
Will he&r arguments on Friday (21) 
on the findings of spedial master 
Addison S. Pratt regarding the Rpxy 
theatre's reorganization. In view of 
the fact that the special ihaster re- 
ports the pending plan to be 'fair 
and equitable/ a Speedy confirma- 
tion may be expected of the plan 
under which 20th-Fbx gains control 
of the prbpertyi, 

Fact that 20th-Fox has volunta:rily 
offet-ed to purchase a limited amount 
of the holdings of common sharie- 
hoiders of the Roxy theatre ait $1 
per. share is noted in Pratt's report, 
but he also' calls attention to the 
fact that, while th^ special master 
hiipself recommends that the general 
eqyity creditors receive 100% of 
their claims, 20th-Fox volyntarily 
agrees to accept, only 50% of the 
amount it is rightfully due from the 
equity receivership days, 

is ' follow-up opinion on his 
report, filled with the court, 
special master iPratt gives .his fair 
estimate of the value of the Roxy 
theatre building and equipment as 
$4,701,911.66, while this total value of 
the assets of the Roxy theatre aire 
piit by him at $7,311,329.23, with 
total liabilities at around $7,900,000, 
thus finding the corporation insol- 
vent. 

26th-Fpx purchases the common 
stock at $1 per share froni all Class 
'A' shareholders who own 150 shares 
or less, and who acquired it by pur- 
chase and sale prior to May 18, 1932, 
date of the appointment of the 
Equity receiver. 

This, means probably an-: additional 
outlay, voluntarily, by .20th-Fox of 
around $100,000. 

Special master points put in hts 
opinion that, in view of the insplr 
vent condition of the debtor com- 
pany (Roxy), the shiareholders pf the 
theatre aire fprtunate to be recover- 
ing anything. He shows that even on 
the most f avbrablie basis of computa- 
tion there would. be no equity re- 
maining for stockholders in the 
property. 

Pending plan and negotiations 
With 20th-Fox were carried through 
by Col. JFoseph Hartfield and Attor- 
ney Carlos Israels, of the dovvntowh 
firm of White & Case, as counsel fpr 
the first mortgage bondholders. 



PRESNELL TO REIN U'S 
lAOGH,* 1 OF 12 TOPS 



Hollywood,' May 18. 
Charles R. Rogers has assigned 
the iwoducer spot on Universal's 
'Tonight We liaugh' to Robert Pres- 
nell and has upped the budget on 
the picture to make it ^ne of the 
12 toppers on U's program for the 
coming seasohi 

tory, formerly titled 'New Or- 
leans,^' will be worked up for early 
production, damera crew went to 
New Orleans last February for 
background shots. 



U's New Thrill Short 



Universal's annual short feature 
thrill picture has been tagged:- 'Ten 
Seconds to Live,^ and is being pro- 
duced ; again by Charles. Forci, U 
sreel editor. Subject is made up 
.death and destruction, scenes, 
many , of which were highlights in 
newsreel hair-raisers in the past 12 
Ijnofiths. Company made 'Camera 
.Thrills' two years, ago and last sea- 
son issued 'You Can't Get Away 
With It.' 

Title was grabbed from a sudden 
electrocution scene, which was edi- 
ted o Lit of regular newsreel release. 
It W.as secured while cameramen 
\yere getting skidding scenes on a 
slippery street, with electrical wire 
ai'opping down as result of smash- 
and causing the Tioto-'"s death. 



Who'll Get What? 



There is considerable gen- 
eral interest in the probable 
amount pt fees which lawyers, 
protective committee groups 
and' a broker or two may ti:y to . 
get via the courts in the Roxy 
theatrels reorganization. 

Just •when this fee matter 
will be put before the court 
isn't known, but it'll probably 
be soon. 

Here are some of the attor- 
neys who have figured -in: the 
situation: 

Col. Joseph Hartfield and 
Carlos Israels, of White & 
Case, attorneys for the first 
. mortgage bohdhplders protec- 
tive committee. 

Prpskauer, Rose & Paskus, 
attorneys for the trustee, How- 
ard Cullman. 

Marshall, Bratteni & . Selig- 
son; Beekman, Bogue, Leake, 
Stephens and Black; Kramer 8c- 
Kleinfeld; Wise, Shepard^ 
Houghton & Hoffman; Milbank, 
Tweed, Hope & Webb; Robert 
G. Reed., .of the Securities Ex- 
change Commission; U. S. At- 
torney, Lamar Hardy; Arthur 
Friend. 



Disney 5-Reeler 
Twinned on N. Y. 
RivoE First-Run 



United Artists Is getting feature 
rentals on Walt Disney's 'Academy 
Awiard Revue,' running 45 minutes, 
which Will be played singly in a 
majority of cases, but at the Rivoli, 
1^. Y., goes on the, same show with 
'Dreaming Lips' (UA)^ virtually 
making it a double bill 'for the first 
time, in thie, house's existence. En- 
gagement, here may give some line 
on the possibilities of dual i>ills 
composed of a regular, full-length 
feature and a second film which is 
neither a feature nor a short, but a 
compromise between the two. . 

In the campaign for the Rivoli, the 
Disney cartoon picture, consisting of 
five Academy-winning one-reelers, 
is being given, a lot of extra space. 
Also, the ads for the Rivoli are giv- 
ing the tinnie when the Bergner pic- 
ture goes on, as well as the time 
when the Disney 45-minuter shows. 

BACON EAST FOR WB 
'SUBMARINE' LOCATIONS 

Holly wood, May 18. 

Lloyd Bacon and ALAlborn have 
left for ,New York and. New Haven 
to arrange for the shooting of pre-^ 
li inary scenes foir 'Siibmarine 262,' 
which Bacph is to direct for War- 
ners. Aiborn is business manager 
of the unit. 

Further advance filmings. wiU be 
made at Hayana and Panama. 



Print of Will Rogers 
Short Into Okla. Archives 

Holiywood, May 18. 

Special print of 'Lest We Forget,' 
short subject devoted to the Will 
Rogers Memorial, has been delivered 
to Gov. E. W. Marland of Oklahoma. 

Film will be deposited in the ar- 
chives of the state. 

Salkow's *St6ry' 



Hollywood,. May 18. 

Universal starts 'That's My Story' 
May .24 with Sidney Salko.W assigned 
to direct and Robert resnell at the 
production heln-u 

Pic formerly was titled 'Scoop.' 




Would Be Made by Produc- 
ers of Films— Exhibft 
and Distribs Reported in 
Favor 



FILM SHbRT STORIES 



Pictures of about three reels in 
length, averaging from 25 to 35 
minutes running tinie, ai-e being 
seriously considered by producers as 
a possible solution to the double 
feature problem. Support of theatre 
operators and exhibitors is antici- 
pated in such a. move. Leading; men 
in the exhibition field,^ . including, the 
chiain heads of distributor-controlled 
theatres, will probably be -more defi- 
nitely sounded before steps are 
taken to set up production plans for 
abbreviated features. 

Present thought is that piictufes of 
approximately three reels in length 
could be; made from short stories of 
a carefully selected and suitable 
character, ats .well as from originals 
following the short story formula 
turned out by studio, writers. In 
other Words, the three-reeler would 
be to full-length features what the 
magazine short story is to the novel. 

Producer sources, however, are of 
the opinion, thiat, should films of 
three reels or a little longer be 
made, a reasonable amount of money 
would have to be spent on them and 
the same production values placed 
behind them as are giVen features. 

Many full-lengths are now turned 
but as; B's wJiich .are not. worthy of 
being features and might rnore 
readily be acceptable- if trimmedi 
down to 3d or, 35 minutes, it is 
pointed out. Plus that, numerous B 
pictures today are based on short 
stories which are expanded to suit 
the footage required, while other 
good short stories are shunned be- 
cause of feai- that padding will be 
needed. Three-reeler might open up 
an .avenue of profitable escape for 
such stories, as .well as for originals 
that are not meaty enpugh to com- 
mand feature consideration.- 

Weak Shor 

. Short subjects of one and two reels, 
are not selling at all, with, exception 
of cartopns and a few other issues, 
largely because studios do not care 
to invest heavily in them in view of 
the tightened market caused by an 
overabundance of ' duals. Three- 
reeler might not only provide pres- 
ent shorts production with a fine put 
from the present situation but at the 
same time give accounts an out from 
duals. 

This type of picture, it is felt, 
would enable theatres to offer better- 
balanced . bills and better turnover, 
with sufficient roomi left for news- 
rieels and cartoons, travelogs or other 
short five to lO-minute fillers.. 

Should major -studios attempt the 
. three-reeler plan, the ■ present flock 
of 'B* producers on the lots would 
probably turn them out, using talent 
from studio player rolls which might 
mean something at the box office as 
against the majority of two-reel 
shorts, for which there, isn't much 
room these days. 

Hal Roach , at one tincie considered 
three -reelers, but never did anything 
about it, while at J'araniQUnt, which 
did well With a SO-minuie Zane Grey 
fishing special, n any of the theatre 
operato-s urged that more product, of 
this length be -turned out; At that 
time the Par studio wasn't iti the 
condition 'it is now an ny new 
idea which rriight represent a gamble 
wasn't so welcoijie. 



Exh lbs Like *Crime* 

ollywood," May 18. 

Exhibitor reaction , M(i[ro'.s 
'Crime Doesn't Pay' series has .been 
SO' favorable' that the studio's new 
program will contain several .addi- 
tional two-reelers ■ 6f that type, ac- 
cording to- Jack Chcrlpk, m charge 
of short subjects. 

Production preparations are being 
made now. 



RKO Should Be Out of the Ether 
By August; Co.'s Reorg. Plan Heard 






MacR<^e*s Record 



Hollywood, .May 18; 

'West Bbund Limited,' 
brought in May 15 by Pro- 
ducer Henry ' MacRae at Uni- 
versal, was his 650th produc- 
tion for the organization. 

Veteran has been yvith U 26 
years in varipus capacities. 



20th, with 62 Fix, 
WiD Lead Major 
Distrihs (or '37-'38 



Never near .the tpp In the number, 
of pictures, scheduled yearly when 
the company was known as Fox, this 
coming season (1937-38), 20th Fox 
will take the lead, yrlth the biggest 
program of features. Present plans 
give a . lineup of 62 .and pbssibly 64 
pictures, exact number to be set by 
the time the convention opens in 
Los Angeles, 'May 31. 
. With Paramount trimming its 
schedule, to be, annpunced in mid- 
June, and. Warners staying at 60 
yearly, 20th-Fox takes the lead for 
the first time. Program will . consist 
of 50 or 52 regular features. from*:the 
2pth plant, plus two Eddie Cantor 
productions, ^ix Sol Lessers, and four 
British-mades. Company has washed 
up its 1936-37 pictures and is already 
at work oh. ne\v product for release 
during the cpming season. 

Preparatory to the sales, meet, S. 
R. Kent, Johii D. Clark and Charles 
E. McCarthy left New York Monday 
(17) for Hollywood, where, the con- 
vention opens two weeks later and 
continues through June 3. Regular 
delegation leaves the East May 26 
on a special train, with . others picked 
up eiirpute West. 



WARNERS DESIGNATING 
18 TOP BRACKET FIX 



Departure in sales policy which Is 
expected to be welcomed by exhib- 
itors is being adopted for the coin- 
ing season (1937-'38) by Warner 
Bros. Company is bracketih}? 18 
pictures in a high percentage group, 
but, instead of informing the ac- 
count later on, what these pictures 
will . be, they afe designated now. 
Thus; when the salesmen go but to 
take contracts on the coming year's, 
product, exhibitprs will know which 
18' pictures are to be piaycd at the 
higher figures.' 

ictures in the medium and low 
percentage groups are not identified, 
but, with the 18 set in the top group, 
hone of those at the idwer percen-, 
tages Will be moved up if they turn 
out to be better than anticipated. 
Exhibitors in the past have fre- 
quently complained bitterly when 
low percentage picture.?, after being 
so designated, have been moved to 
higher terms. 

In addition to designating the No. 
1 percentage group of pictures. 
Warner Bros. ha.s adopted a polity 
of flat rentals in a rninimum of in- 
stances. Everywhere that percen- 
tage deals, are practicable they will 
be demanded. 



Judging by the, present progress 
of events, RKO should be emerghig 
from its 77B situation arouhd 
August, 

Company- sponsors submitted 
several amendments and cpmpleted 
their presentation of: prppf as to the 
fairness and! feasibility of the com- 
pany's pending plan last Wednes-. 
day (1?), Attprney. Hamilton C. 
Rlckaby, of Simpson, Thacher it 
Bartlettr presented the case for the 
sponsors. 

By the amendments, upon repr- 
ganization, the company will be au-' 
thorized to issue an Increase of 
$2>000,000 in preferred stock. New 
commpni stock which the cpmpany 
will be authorized to issue upon re- 
organization is reduced by 40,000 
shares. 

Little if any opposition remai 
the plan, now that these , changes 
have been made. 

Chanres 

hanges in the plan mean addi- 
tional benefit to the general credi-. 
tors. Ill the aggregate the position 
of these creditors has been improved 
under the plan by several hundred 
thousand dollars. 

Principally representing- general 
creditors is Carlos Israels, -the 
downtown firm of Whltp & Case, at- 
torneys. 

Among other amendments siib*. 
mitted is one. under which the 
Rockefeller interests may withdraw 
the R. C. Center Theatre from the 
operating agreement "with RKC), 
should that theatre be a loser, with- 
out affecting RKO's annual $26,000 
cprisiiltant fee. 

Opponents of the plan begin their 
side of the. case on May 24, before ' 
special master Alger. 

Under the amended plan, instead 
pf receiving three-quarters pf one 
share, of new prefereu stock and one 
and one-half shares of new common 
for each $100 amount of claimf hold- 
ers of unsecured claims will receive 
a full share pf hew preferred.- stock, 
and one share of' new common; 

Capitalization. 

As amended, capitalization of the 
ne-iv company follows: 

(a) $18,000,000 in 6^% sinking 
fund convertible, debentures, of 
which aimourit $12,718,500 shall be 
outstanding upon consummation of 
the plan. 

(b) $13,000,000 in 6% cumulative 
convertible preferred stock, pa^ 
value $100 per share, of which $8,- 
000,000 shall be outstanding upon 
cori.summatioh of the plan. 

(c) 4,000,000 shares of common 
(Continued on page 31) 



FRANKLIN, PAR TALKED 
FOR F&M ST. L. DEAL 



Gershwins Start 

Holly wood, May 18. 

George and Ira Ger.shwin have 
started their contract assignment for 
Sam.ucl Goldwn. 

Brothers are cleffing 'The Gold- 
wyn Follies.' 



j May 18. 

Paramount and Harold B. Franklin 
are imeritioned- as possible buyers of 
the. theatre pr6pei:ties held in St. 
Loui.^ by Fanchon & Marco. Indi- 
cations are that F. & M, interests 
approached Par on the possibility 
and that talks, also were held bcr 
twecn F. & M. and Frankli .Jn New 
.York. Whether , tiie discussi re- 
vPlved around a .100% buy or only a 
part puixhaso is nbt known. 

From these indications it seems 
F. & M. would like to wring loose, 
from St. Louis, where it virtually 
dorninalcs the theatre- 
si t.iiation. 

Paramount, presumedly, w'oUld -be 
expected to act through Balaban & 
Katz.. Perhaps^ that's how the talk 
started; that B. & K., in association 
with the J. J. Rubens' local interests 
wove con.sidering a forced entry ihl6 
the controlled St. Louis territory. 
However, that talk looks to have been 
premature. 

Investment by F. & M. and as- 
sociates in St. Louis is estimated at 
around $800,000. 



VARIETT 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



Leadiiii a Dop Ufe in Hollywood 
Is a Pleasure; Fn 




By FRANK SCULLY 

Hollywoodi May 18. 

Sociolojgisis snooping around here 
rriakihg government suryieys on 
everything Iroiii show biz to sheep- 
herding haVe decided that if they 
can only get the comrades in the 
upper brackets to treat men like 
dogs, at least as dogs are treated in 
Hollywood, the millennium is in. 
Xeading a dog's life^hfere, checker^ 
discovered, is really something. 

From the litter to the grave, Hol- 
lywood' hounds lead the life of Riley. 
Theire arer. maternity wings for them 
in swank cat-ahd-dog hospitals; their 
funerals, graves, and gravestones are 
on a par with previews of pictureis. 

There are si cat and dog hospitals 
here possessing enough money to 
advertise. There are also dozens of 
dog kennels and 30 makers of dog 
foods 'designed for dogs in ttiis cli- 
.liiate.* Hound hospitals have from 
three to five! doctors, besides nurses, 
assistants and orderlies/ Yoti can 
take ..your pooph in for anything 
from an appendectomy to a delous- 
jhg. There's: eVen a special 'dog's 
beauty garlor.' Lowest rap Is one 
buck. 

Dbgeries cater to every caprice, 
including scratching posts. There's 
a gent here who makes, a living still- 
ing canine raincoats.. Real, inink 
collars, dbg beds, and even a dog 
and cat dude ranch in Bear Valley 
arie w.lc. to the social setters; 
Free Clinics 

for layoffs ther6 are free daily 
clinics, and If you can't take your 
pooch to one of them, : a canine doc 
will be glad to answer your ques- 
tions and prescribe for the hovmd's 
symptomis by mail. Free board and 
room; in . fact, at Joan Crawford's 
place beceime so well known among 
the -canine world that the star had 
to have an extra kennel built to take 
care Qf visiting mutts. 

Cases .are known of extras not 
knowing where their next meal was 
coming from but who found it nec-? 
essary^ to take their dogs to a canine 
clinic for regular ultra violet treat 
ments. 

With 2,000 dogs going, out through 
the town's lethal chambers every 
month, a girl .heading a California 
anti-vivisection society sponsored 
law birth-controlling dogs down to 
two pups from every litter, due to 
be sterilized on reaching, maturity. 
Idea was h.anded the razz by dog 
owners, who dressed their long-eared 
piboches with signs reading, 'Down 
with Birth Control.' 

Cdrf eW: Law 
When the City Council considcfrecl 
a curfew law for cats, dogs, roosters 
atid other noise-makers, the defea; 
of the bill got an eight-column 
streamer. Only one councilmati 
voted for closing of the coyote calls 
at 10 p.m. Rest posed for photo- 
graphs shaking paws with the St. 
Bernards' they befriended. 

But the tops came when a hew 
company recently formed to run an. 
liB-day reducing diet, for dogs. Spe 
dial diets are prepared for each do^'s 
needs,; and delivered .fresh daily. 
•Even gluttonous caninesi' runs ah 
ad, 'who have acquired somewhat 
rotund figures may regain their 
puppyish shapes on HpllyboWd's 18 
day diet> 



THOSE DELUXE PREVIEWS 



HAROLD LLOYD PICKS 
PROFESSOR YARN NET 



KoUywood, May 18. 
Harold Lloyd's next picture will 
be -Professor, Beware,' to be made 
from ian original by Frances and 
Marian Cockrell. Paramount 'twill 
release. 

domed! chariicterizatibn will 
be that of a professor of archaelbgy 
in a cb-ed college. Screen play has 
been completed by Jack Gunning- 
ham and pic goies, into, productibn 
bward thie end of June on the Major 
.ot.. ■ 

New sound stage has been biiilt 
for the Lloyd unit 



Goild Honors Jeanette 
MacDonald, H. B. Warner 



Hollywood, May 18. 
Screen Actors- Guild award for the 
)est picture, performance- in March 
went to Jeanette MacDonald for her 
role in Metro's 'Maytlme.' 

Best work by a supporting player 
was adjudged 'to be that of H. B. 
Warner in Colunibia's 'Lost Horizon.' 



SHfELDS 'SCHOOLING' 



Gold wyn. Guiding Cai'eer pf Former 
Davii; Cap: Tennis Star 



Hollywood, May 18. 
Frank Shields, former Davis cup 
tennis star, on Ibanout from Samuel 
Goldwyn, gets the. lead in 'The 
Hposier boy' at: Monogram. 

As part of Shields' schooling for 
stardom under Goldwyn's eye, he 
takes ..dramatic coaching six days a 
week and understudies all the prin- 
cipal male rbles in all Goldwyn pix. 
First ciamera appeariance was in 
'Come and Get It^ 



f resto, Chango 



Hollywood, May 18. 
Gypsy Rose Lee will hot appear 
in films under that tag, , according to 
announcement by 20th-Fox. 

To avoid any possible beefs the 
studio has de&ided that tiie ex-peeler 
will make her film debut under her 
real name of Louise Hovick. Re 
cently all publicity with the Lee 
and peel, angles has beeii basketed. 



Richard Dix Buys Play 

Hollywood, May 18. 

Richard Dix has bought rights to 
'Here 1 Belong,' unproduced play by 
Walter Watts, N. Y. attorney, and 
plans to stage it in Hollywood with 
himself in the top spot 

pix has just washed up his Co 
lumbia contract. 



How They Hurt the B,0. 

Shown by 'Courageous' 



Pix 



Holly wood/ . May 18. 

An example of how a premiere 
box office can be hurt through 
•deluxe pireviews of pictures in Hpi" 
ly wood came to light May 14 at the 
pre^m of 'Captains Courageous' 
(G> at the Carthay Circle. As a 
rule, openings in this house, with a 
$5 tap, run between $4,500 and 
$5,000, while the takfe for this pre- 
miere was around the $3,000 mai'k. 

Cause of this large $hrinkage| Svas 
due to the fact that studio had one 
of those deluxe, previews, with 
lithts, etc, and reserved seats, inr 
iting all of the Hollywood persbri- 
alities of importance, as' guests, as 
well as their own stars.' Those .who 
went tb the preview are the onies 
who generally give the glamor to a 
first night and, having already seen 
the. ic once, they did hot go for the 
spuD arid fish and limoUsine. 

Likely, that as a result of this ex-, 
perience Metro ariti other studios in 
the" future will preview these spper 
specials under wraps and thereby 
iassure themselves of a glamorous 
turnout for deluxe premieres. 



PIX KEEP UL HELLMAN 

Hbllywood, May 18. 
Lillian Heltman Is planning to 
make her permanient home In Holly 
wood. 

Scribbler, aftier completing the 
script of 'Dead Eiid' for Samuel 
Goldwyn, remained over :to work on 
the shooting script of 'Marc- Polo,' 
for which RobeH E. SherwOvi pro- 
vided the screenplay. 



•Saved'T 



Hollywood, May .18. 

Universai's sales -cOnv^ntioni 
at the Ambassador is strictly 
stag, hot a femme in the jpow- 
wow. Grand National, huddling 
thie same time and the same 
place, saved the situation lor 
the distiaif side by having Ann 
Rosenthal along from New York. 

Miss Rosenthal Is GN's legal 
light 



HETRO ADDING 
5 HOUSES TO 
INT. CHAIN 



Within a year Loew. Theatres; will 
have spent oVer $1,500,000 on niew 
.theatre construction' in five impor- 
taiit and widely scattered' cities of 
the world as part of a. building cam- 
paign on its international chaih, 
WiUiam Melniker, in charge of in- 
ternational theatre operation; esti-^ 
mates an outlay of $300,000 for each 
of the new tibeW holdings. 

Under construction already and 
hoped to be opiened by the end bf 
July Is a hew 2,00P-seater in ..Dur- 
ban, South Africa^ , Work Oii anr 
other In Bombay, Inidia, starts some 
time this week.- Latter will ac-. 
commodiate 1,500. In San Paulo, 
Brazil, property has already been 
purchased for 1,700-seat house. 
Grbund breaking is expected within 
the month. Brisbane, Australi , will 
see the .. premiere of. a 1,500-seater 
early in November. House is also 
already in the works.. 

Loew also contemplates another 
house in Amsterdam, Holland. How- 
ever, this plan is still vague, ind no 
dates or figures, are available as yet. 

New quintet will be added tb the 
growing international theatre chain 
which last yeair added touir in South 
America albne. Theatres were .built 
In Rib de Janeiro, Bi'azil;: Monte- 
video, Uruguay; Lima, Peru, and 
Santiago, Chile. 

. S. -Ai territory was -iormeirly man 
aged by Melniker, who Was appoint 
ed : international boss a couple of 
months ago and moved to N. Y. from 
down under. 



MARX BROS. MG DEAL 
ENDS; MAY SHIFT PK 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Marx Brothers are reported taUc' 
Ihg hew picture de^ls with RKOr 
Radio, Farambunt and Cblumbia, in 
additibn tb cbnsidering a three-pic 
ture arrangement with Metre. 

Bi^bthers washed tip their cen- 
tractual obligations to Metro with 'A 
Day at the Races,' recently com- 
pleted. 



Ermolieff Back Home 



Hollywood, May 18. 
. Joseph N. Ermoliefl has left Holly 
wood for Europe, having completed 
his chore as technical advisor on 
RKO-Radip's 'The Soldier and the 
Lady,' niade from the Jules Verne 
hovel, 'Michiael Strogoff.' 

He produced the film abrbad first 
and sold remake rights to the studio. 



lie Prnnrose P. A. Path 



Out-of-Towners Covering H'wood Are Grajb 
bihg Press-Book Stuff 



Hbllywood^ May 18. 

. Hollywood press correspondents 
are getting so lazy that, in many 
cases, they. Tisf use even tb visit the 
studi to garner their output 
throwing the burden of performing 
their chores .upon studi .' the 
latter claim. 

Result Is that a large proportion 
of material disseminated to ihi 
world about Holly\ypod is Of the 
creampuff variety written to studio 
pattern. Conditibn is true not only 
of newspaper represehtatives here, 
but even of some columnists for the 
Lbs Angeles piapers. Some fan mags 
also, desirous of slicing their over.-. 



Going Places 

By Cecelia Autr 



Inventory •t. liliBfl Giibgcr Boffcri . 
In each new Astaire-Rogers footrace, jiist when it begins to look Ukt 
Miss Rogers has at last caught Up with him from their last picture, Astah-* 
ispurts rforward and leaves the distance between them as great .as It's ai. 
ways been. Both of them progress, but oh different planies: all the whiit 
Miss Rogers is improving her technique, Astaire Is blaising trails. Now 
that the Astoire-Rogers cpmbb seems to be ihevitable, it's gratifyi 
note, ih 'Shall We Dance,' hoW far Miss Rogers .has advanced si 
she presented herself for compsirisbn. 

Miss Rogers could discipline her yen for hot-cha grooming and she 
nieed not as her Very opening gesture, piush her dancing ^)artner into a 
fountoin; she could at least do something endearing first, She need not 
utterly waUow. in discontent she need not do so much contemptuous 
glaring. She might be a little pleascid with somiething occasibnaUy^ she 
ihight like somebody a little, she might even be a. bit sporting now and 
then. She need not rise to the heights of her dramatic ability when it's 
a burhiup .'line she's readihg-r-^the: conviction she attains then could: be 
used, for a kind word once ' while. 

She might go so far ais to look at Astaire as if it were just , barely pos. 
Sible that atong with the rest .of the wbrld, she too might see something 
pleasant in him; she heed not be so completoly^ pessimistic. The whole 
audience knows the upshot anyway; approves of it it wbuldn't hurt for 
hei: to cbnflrm with a little preliminary tenderness, their trust that it Will 
be a fine match. iShe doesn't have to horde it till the veiry last minute.: 
She doesn't have to be perpetually in a pet ' It wo.iild be nice if shb covdd 
bring. herself to . smile at him just bnce. 

For, in 'Shall We Dance' there, are occasional flashes hinting that, maybe 
Miss Rbgers does have sonie latent qualifications deserving of Astairie. 
Quiet way she listens: to, :and is touched by, bis. singing of 'They Can't 
Take That Away From Me,' the renunciatibii of her former goldbn-fu(a 
coiffure, the way she looks in sports clothes, her discovery at last that 
simple dancing costumes permit interest to center on her dancing, her lik<* 
able little dog, the chic of her Chinese maid, the superb; slim, line of her 
torso that instantly distinguishes her, though she's masked, from the rest 
of the girls identically dressed and; masked in the 'Shall We~ Dance' num* 
her; the fact that even Harriet Hoctpr, when she is Astaire's dancing part- 
ner, is unable, too, to draw attention away from him to herself, theirefore 
Miss Rogers, may be excused tor the same inability; her smashing of her 
own tradition tor wallpiaper-flt drissses aind her establishing brave new 
ones that dai^e to adhere only here and there— all these manifestations 
indicate; that Miss Rogers Is searching to the very depths of her being, 
Ibpkihg for things that, polished up a bit can make her a better girl. She 
has started out on the same refining process that marked the . development 
of Joan. Crawfbrd. Like Miss Crawford in this stage, she has caught 
glimpses ,of far horizons, arnd she .wants tb be a person. Not just a picture 
star— a person; and it's very commendable of her. 



rim Striving By Comedian 

Edward Everett Hortpn, on the bthe^r hand, hasn't the islightest doubt 
thai he is at persbh,.a very important person; ' So important, indeed, tiiat 
he can't do anything, say anything, when there's anyone else around, biit 
that he must prbve his importance by dping it, saying it, with. sucU 
sweeping gusto as to completely blot that other person out Hbwever, 
the sheer intensity and monotony of his method ,dief eats his hopes.. As 
he glances, then looks, then peers, then stares, meanwhile .hammering his 
lines across midst wriggiings, contortions and/waving wrists,, also at. the 
same time peppering the: whple proceedings' with long, middle-sized and 
short sighs of 'oh,' his total gpings-bn reiach such a pitch bf grim striving 
that the audience is' f breed, . in order to save its responsive strength, to 
devote Itself lb that very other persbn in the. scene whbse presence Horton 
is working- so desperately to . erase. Nor is this the only result; irritated by 
what it's gone through at his hands, the audience does not laugh sym- 
pathietically— as an audience is supppsed to db at a comedian — ^when Hor- 
ton gets himself into difficulties; it laughs maliciously. In fact, it's-SVeN 
joyed quite as if Horton were npt a comedian at all but instead, a villain* 



Gave Him a Gnn, Her a Marcel 

Great war in 'They Gave Him ■ a Guii' is decently frantic; the soldiers' 
tmifbrms look likfe they've been ilvorn a long time, and in action; the war 
.zone sets are in. the proper state of disrepair, and the general feeling Is 
one of necessarily hasty adaptation to new environment with all the 
makeshifts that imjplies. 

And yet it's not as tPugh as it thinks it is, for it does not disturb a single 
hair pf Gladys George's finger waye. Miss George is a nurse and works 
at it Night and day she meets emergencies, medical and amorous; handles 
both kinds with resource and dispatch; saves lives, wins hearts, loses hers. 
Surely she's got enough to db without minding her coiffure too, but It 
happens that Miss George is a remarkable woman. They say the angularity 
of her face needs 'softening,' and war pr no war, softened it shall be. 
Each little blonde tendril that's supposed to curl along her cheeks, across 
her brow, curls. Mid shock and shell, it curls* Miss George's ability to 
efllect such precisi in such difficult times is an example to women who 
cbmplain they can't gbt their hair done right in France,, even i 
time. 

Nor dp the marvels Miss George is capable of end with her coiffurei 
When the war's over and she has married the wrong mahj she changes 
completely from a woman of action to a little homebody, and settles dov/n 
tp;sew a fine seam. Now she who. was once so alert becomes so fascinated 
with embroidery that though she spends all her tinrie at hbme; her house 
doesn't look like anybody lives theie, aind besides, though her husband is 
the trigger man for a gang of bank robbers, she hasn't the slightest notion 
what it is he dbes thiat keeps her in tea, gowris and gin for cocktails for 
an old friend. However; she finds out becsiuse th^ right man tells her, 
and she doesn't like it either. 



head, are withholding assignments 
from; freelance scriveners v.and or 
derij>g istuff dished up by the pub- 
licity blupbers. 

Situiation has ical aspect 

because " the past studios haye 
received many squawks from the 
newspapers because of the cut-and- 
dried quality of material emanating 
from the' pufferies. It was because 
of this that a lot of papers stationed 
their owh people here, and nowadays 
much of the wire service chatter, 
gossip ahd news represent the toil 
oi studio press, agents, in spite of 
the coin the newspapers are dishing 
out ^ 



Romantic Slush Eliminated 

It: Iboks like the luck of the small boys has changed. Therte are how 
two pictures On Broadway full of action, with nobody doing anything for 
the sake of a beautiful woman. Small boys can go safely tb 'The Prince 
and the Pauper' and 'Captains Courageous," see small boys like themselves 
isuccessfuUy engage in executing man-sized things for their own kind of 
motives, with ho love stuff around to have to squirm through and so sjpoil 
all the fun. 

They can listen to .sonorous speechbs in ^The Prince and the PaupeT.' 
Confident they're only there so they can catch their breaths between last- 
minute rescues. They can watch villainy that's black black, nobility that s 
.White white — the way they like it . They cart see one man, because hes 
good, run through a dbzen blackguards with his trusty blade, leap on to 
smite a dozen, more, .Twin heroes are okay, for they're good scrappers, 
and the whole lohg exciting story is swell, except that the king twin gops 
sissy at the very end, and doesn't order the villain beheaded, which is 
something the small boys were waiting patiently to see.. 
At 'Captains Courageous' the parental sniffles will bother them a litUe. 

Freddie Bartholomew, whps 
He. tells lies 



but they'll overlook it fbr at last , 

always supposed to be a small boy, behaves like one 



and 



and he cheats, he doesn't dress like mother's little man all the time, 
he wants to be a sailor. He's not such a bad' fisherman, either. After 
his reforrhation in 'Captains Courageous,' small boys are apt to accept 
him as one of them. , This is a good thing, for Freddie Bartholomevv "1- 
ways seems to be in the pictures their mothers make small boys go to see. 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 7 








Universal, Grand National Meets 
In Full Swing; Col Rep Preppmg 



HQlljrwood, May 18. 

With arrival of 150 Uniyersalltes 
Sunday ihdrning (16), town was 
housing two conventions, including 
the Grand Natiohal group. At the 
same time official announcement of 
Columbia's for June 21 and Repub- 
lic's for May 31 was made by those 
two companies. Columbia decision 
was: made after a meeting between 
Jack Cohn, Abe Montague and Abe 
Schneider: GN has al^o decided on 
a western regional sales conference 
in addition to the convention, to be 
held in. San Francisco - around June 
15. GN will also hold three other 
regionals in other areas. 

Headed by J. Cheeyer Cpwdin, 
chajirman of the U board, a delega- 
:tion including Charles R. Rogers, 
• studio production head; J. Pi , Nor- 
niahly, Jaimes R. Grainger, ichard 
Millar and Van Paul met the spiecial 
Sanita Fe train to welcome the con- 
•ventioneers.. No : biz sessions were 
held on day of arrival, boys being 
left to their own devices until Mon- 
day, when sales pow-wo>ys werie 
formally launched. ■ 

Opener was an outline of the com- 
pany's planned sked for 1937-38. R. 
H, Cochrane, Cowdih alnd Rogers; ad- 
dressed the meeting, with the latter 
ladeling out the product discourses. 
Resumed "Tuesday (18), gab con- 
tinued with Rogers giving a final 
..talk orl new productions. Afternoon 
•was devoted :to introduction . to stars 
and, brief talks, by producers, direc- 
tors and studio execs. At night all 
repaired- to Uplifter's. Ranch for a 
■ barbecue ias the guests of Hope 
Hampton. Not present. Miss Hamp- 
ton spoke frorn N. Y. via phione. 
Final Biz Session 
inal biz session' is skedded for 

is morning (Wednesday). Grainger 
Will outline sales policy on new 
product, other execs also in for 
chinning. In the afternoon dele- 
gates will 0.0. studios, and at night 
attend a dinner-dance at the Tfoca 
dero. 

. Last day, Thursday, will be de 
voted to a special meeting of 
Grainger, home office execs, district 
and branch rfianagers. ,, Expects" to 
. ind up at noon, with conven 
tioneers pulling out. that night. 

For its first national sales con 
clave, GN brought on 10 home office 
execs from N. Y., 40 district man- 
agers: and the local area salesmen 
Also attending aire, about 20 studio 
representatives. 

Home office execs here for the 
meet are: Ann Rosenthal, counsel; 
W; J.. Neary, coniptroUer; Stanley 
Hatch, distribution exec; Alfred 
Crown, traveling rep for Latin 
America; Edward. Ugast, assistant 
foreign manager; Harry J. Allen, su 
pervisdr of Canadian distribution, 
Also On hand are Edward L. Alper- 
son, prez; Edward. Peskay,- v-p;; 
Jah]ies Winn, western sales chi ; Sol 
Edwards, eastern sales chief, and Ed 
Finney, advertising director. 

Weicomed by Peskay 
: Various delegations arrived early 
Sunday morning (16), being wel- 
comed by. Peskay, and reception 
comriiittee. :Outline of the conven- 
tion was made by Peskay at Sunday 
(Continued on page 31) 



HacMurray Gets New 
7-Yr. Contract at Par 



Picture Business 



Holljrwopd, May 18. 
Following completion of his 
.assignment as a prosecutor in 
Paramount's 'iSouls at Sea,' 
Porter Hall drew the city edi- 
tor's part in the same studio's 
♦Wild Money.' Meanwhile he 
ha,d tb play a role in 'This Way, 
Please,' aind schedule, called for , 
him to get through his 'Wild 
Money' part, normally a week's 
job, in .a day of shooting. Hall 
worked one day, memorizing 
14 pages of dialog with only a 
short : rehearsal before each 
scene. 

He was then told that "This 
Way, Please/ had been post- 
poned for a week or more.. 



Carole Lombard s 
Six Pix Par Deal; 
$150,000 Per Film 




List Includes Producers, Ac- 
tors, Writers and Techni- 
cians— ^ Many Flit from 
Parents' Lots to Absorb 
Fuhdanientals at Other 
Studios 



Swing to Color Deinitely On, 
UA Expects to Have 12 of Im 
Wall St. In on New Tint Process 



MORE OPPORTUNITIES 



. HollyiVood, May. 18. 

Contract for Carole Lombard to 
appear in' six Pararhoimt pii within 
three years at $150,000 each was 
signed on behalf of the actriess last 
week by Myron Selznick and for 
the studio by Adolph Zukor. 

Player's first under the new deal 
will be made late next fall, after 
she completes ^Nothing Is Sacred' 
with Fredric March for Selznick- 
Interhational. Around the end of 
November, when she finishes her 
Paramount chore, Miss Lombaird 
will £[0 to Warners in a co-starrer 
with Fernand Gravet ior Mervyn 
LeRoy. 



Hope Hampton Given U 
Termer; 'Riviera' First 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Universal has signed Hope Hamp- 
ton (Mrs. Jules Brulatour) to an 
acting termer and has assigned her 
to 'Riviera,' B. G, De. Sylva produc- 
tion based on Earl Derr Biggers' 
novel, 'Love Insurance.' 

Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields 
are cleffing the music. Starting date 
is set for. some time in August and 
film may be done in color. 

Thompsoiir Swarthout, 

Chapman to Cpast 

Harlan Thompson. for thie 

(Coast May 17 after, completing some 
location work for Paramount in New 

York. ' ; , , 

Went via Chicago, where he picked 
iip Frank thapman . and Gladys 
Swarthout (Mrs. Chapm:an),, who 
went west with him:.. Miss Swarth 
out appeared on the Ford hour from 
Detroit Sunday night (16). 



Holly wood, . May 18. 
Pirarhount has tagged red Mac- 
Murray to a hew seven-year ticket 
to run in thi'ee optional periods of 
two years each and a singleryear 
period. 

Actor's next, following his current 
chore in 'Exclusive,' will be 'True 
Confession,' co-starring im With 
Carole Lombard. 



BREGHEE'S TBIFIE 

Hollywood, May 18. 
_ Egon Brecher has been spotted in 
three pictures for 20th-Fox. 

Pix are *Thin Ice,' 'Hei and 
Lancer Spy.' 



Compromise 



Loretta Young, who had been 
vacationing for about two weeks in 
New York and in Bermuda, wired 
26th-Fox studio on the Coast last 
Wednesdiay (12) for an extension of 

vacash time. 

She was granted two days' leeway, 
leaving for Hollywood on Saturday 
(15) instead of Thursday, as ori 
hally scheduled. 

Dupont With Cohen 

Hollywood, May 18, 
Emanuel Cohen has signdd E. A. 
Dupont to direct 'Flood Crest' for 
Major. 

Director recently left Paramount, 
where his last job was 'Night of 
Mystery.' 



By DENIS MOERISON 

Hollywood, May 18. 
Picture busi , like, other indus- 
tries, fortified itself with 
juniors. "Thbugh. the industry is new, 
it h£(s already Qiade . such vast striides' 
that the elder statesnieh believe the 
way they have paved should be trav- 
eledgby tKeir offspri 

This is undoubtedly due to the fact 
that the biz. has piroved; lucrative and 
also that the opportunities to win 
success for those with ability and 
background are iat more numerous 
than in many other industries and 
professions. 

It isn't simply a matter of nepo- 
tism. Most of the successful lads, at 
one time or ahother/ got away from 
the wing of poppa and served their 
apprenticeship in organizations out- 
side their pwii families. Many 
youngsters now breaking in are 
away from parental apron-strings, 
getting first-hand knowledge of fun- 
damental technique. . .Others have 
used this early training and have 
made large strides toward recogni- 
tion on .their own. 

Among the youngsters are Carl 
Laenrimle,. Jr., Pandrd S. Berman, Ed- 
mund Grainger, David O. and Myron 
Selznick, and, the Bennett daughters, 
Constance anid Joan. 

Laemmle, son of Carl,, occupies a 
producer's berth at Metro. Berman, 
producer at RkO.rRadio, is a son of 
the late Harry tiertnan, old-timer 
in the selling, end of . pictures. 
Eddie Grainger's dad, James . . 
Grainger,' was for many years sales 
chief of the old Fox corporation and 
now in a similar post with Univer- 
sal. Eddie Is a. producer at Uni- 
versal, 

Selznioks Do Okay 

Selznick boys, sons of the late 
Lewis J. Selznick, have been notably 
successful. Myron left thei produc- 
ing end to form one of the pioneer 
talent agencies in film biz. He is 
now proprietor of Myron Selznick, 
Inc. Dave Selznick received a varied 
and thorough training from his fa:- 
ther .first, and later as priDduction 
assistant to B. p. Schulberg ,at Par- 
aniount.. Leaving Paramount he took 
the production helni at RSdio before 
he was .30, and then formed hi^ own 
company, Selzhick-International Pic- 
tures, Inc., with John Hay Whitney. 

Richard Bennett, veteran stage and 
screen actor, fathered three daugh- 
ters, and pnly'oiie,. Barbara,. who is 
Mts, Morton Downey, elected to re- 
mai in the domestic background 
after- appearing in , a. few pix. Con- 
stance appeared in some early Hol- 
lywood successes and returneid to 
films sleveral years ago, ince then 
she has starred in many productions. 
Joan has made a neck-and-neck pice 
With Connie as an iactress. 

Names of other sons and daughters 
of famous men on the Hollywood 
scene are to be counted literally in 
scores. 

More on Horizon 

Thus Tyrone Power, son of the 
stage and screen veteran of the same 
naine, who' died in harness not so 
long ago, leaped from obscurity to 
the heights in 20th-Fox's 'Lloyds of 
London.' Lon Chaney, Jr., has his 
feet firmly on the ladder of success, 
Noah Beery, Jr., likewise. So with 
Russell Gleason, son of James and 
Lucile Webster Gleason, both troupr 
ersj Bryant Washburn, Jr., Tred 
(Continued on page 29) 



Posterity 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Pennsylvania Academy of 
Fine Arts has iacquired for its 
permanent doliection a portrait 
of Greta Garbo in oils done by 
iWarren Newcomb. . 

Artist is head of Metro's 
process camera department. 




tOOO Fctt of It, 
Arrives m U. S. 



Despite belated efforts to get mo- 
tion picture films aboard Diclc Mer- 
rill's plane by at least one company, 
all five American newsreels com- 
panies were together on getting 
screen versions of the Coronation in 
the hands' of distributors. 

News weekly companies got their 
prints off the Nprmandle when it 
docked yesterday (Tues.) and many 
docked yesterday (Tues.) and most 
houses before 6 p.m. All received 
advance informatibh outlining just 
what footage was being shipped, en- 
abling theni to prepare script In ad- 
vance. Coiisequently, they , were 
ready to record with sound all com- 
mentation and print as soon as their 
films were received in N. Y. 

Five reel companies received a 
tot$l of 25,000 to 30,000 feet, not In- 
cluding the coverage made by Fox 
Movietone in Technicolor for a spe- 
cial short. In addition, Dufaycolor 
shipped in 3,500 feet. This made a 
total of nearly 40,000 feet of film 
that came in the Tuesday shipment 
consigned to American producers. 

Each compiany had 100 to 200 extra 
ncwsrecl prints ordered, . Because 
many of them were holding their 
early week release for the Corona- 
tion material, this meant that dis- 
tributors getting Only the mid-week 
release ph contract, had to order 
special, which accounted for the 
extra prints. 

Newsreels were shipped by air ex- 
press out of N. Y. late yesterday 
(Tues.), being scheduled to arrive 
on the Coast early this morning. At 
least one big airway transport com- 
pany assigned a special passenger 
plane to Service in order to handle 
the enormous film cargo.. Newsreel 
prints used up thie space normally 
occupied, by passengers. 



HARRY LAUDER OGUNG 
COAST AIR, PIC DEALS 



Hollywood, May 18, 
Harry Lauder docked yesterday 
(Mon. ) from Australia. William Mor- 
ris, Jr., flew out from New York to 
meet the comedian. 

Agent has severar radio and pic- 
ture deals to place before the actor. 



FrimI Tunes Lasky Pic 

Hollywood, May 18. 
Jesse L. Lasky has engaged Ru- 
dolph Friml to compose the tunes 
in 'Music for Madame,' which' Lasky 
will produce for RKOrRadiO release, 
ino Martini stars. 



Interests close to Atlas Corp. and 
the Lehman Bros, own a substan- 
tial equity in a privately owned nat- 
ural color process, called Cosmo. 
Thus, hot- only the trade, but Wall 
Street, is showing greater interest in 
color. 

Unlike certain, other color proc- 
esses, Cosmo, it is clialmed, can. be 
photographed on oirdinary black and 
white stock andi with ordinary cam- 
eras fitted with special lenses can be 
projected on ordinary projection 
machines, not requiring filters. Ex- 
cept for the special lens on the 
camera, no other special equipment 
for photographing or projection is 
said to be required. This goes for 
35 mni. or 16 mm. stock. 

Color cost in films runs as high as 
50% above the ordinary b, and yf, 
negative cost. But it is said that 
Cosmo reduces this cost to only a 
fractional amount greater than ordi- 
nary b. and w. in quality color, or 
around only 10% abPYe. the ordinary 
b. and w, cost, 

Cosmo disposes of a filter require- 
ment on projection by being printed 
on co'lor. stock, after being cameraed 
on ordinary b, and w, stock. Costs 
are lowered additionally because no 
time delays are incurred Irt the 
printing. 

Apparently the Cosmo process is 
ready for marketing, or about to be. 
Downtown interests now associated 
With Cosmo, it is learned, have been 
engaged In its devclopnient for 
around a year, ailthough details have 
not been made public. ' 

David Blankenhorh is president of 
the company. He is understood to 
be on the Coast, John Gilmore Is 
the name of the Inventor of the 
processi 

UA Program 

Dozen or more color pictures, or 
about one-third of the i937-'38 United 
Artists program, will be made by 
this company's producers, with plans 
by Sam Goldwyn foj, the filming in 
tints of at least four and possibly 
flye features this year, Goldwyn 
reached his decision after 
'Star . Is Born.' 

For some weeks, Goldwyn has 
been trying to decide whether his 
'Goldwyn Follies' should be done' in 
black-and-white or in hues. Estimate 
given him was that If it were in 
color the extra cost would be ap- 
proximately $600,000. He capitulated 
in Technicolor iand also will do 'The 
Real Glory' and 'You Can Be Beau- 
tiful' that way, but those on his 
program which will remain in black- 
and-white, it is understood, will in- 
clude 'Adventures of Marco Polo/ 
'Stella Dallaij' and 'Dead End; 

Lineup among UA producers now 
looks to four or five Technicolors 
from Goldwyn; two, 'Vogues' and 
'Arabian Nights' from Walter Wan- 
ger, with possibly a third; Seiznick- 
Intcrnational, four, and lexandcr 
Korda, one or two, 'Nothing, Sacred' 
will be pne 6f the ; high-cost color 
talkers from Selznick, 

While UA, ith prospects that one- 
third of its '37-'38 program will be 
in color, ill take^ a strong lead 
away from blaok-and-whitos, it 
riot expected to go any furthct than 
this, in view of the time required 
to produce in Technicolor and the 
difflculties in getting prints out. It 
is computed within UA that the cost 
of printing in color over .black-and- 
white will (average around $200,000 
pfer picture. 



John Connors for WB 

Chicago, May 18, 
Set by Jp .Ilubenstein for Warners, 
John Connors, radio juve, leaves for 
the Coast June 15,. Contract is for 
six months, with options for five 
years. 

William Morris pffice agenti 



Hollywood, May IBi 
Number of majors are reported t(> 
have fortifled themselves for . 
pected swirjg toward allvcolbr pro** 
ductlons by assuring themselves of 
as much Technicolor a^d other color 
process equipment as may be needed. 

Metro is said to be scheduling sev* 
eral chromatic films and carrying oa 
price negotiations with Technicolor. 
Box-office repercussion on the us* 
of color in 20th-Fox's 'Ramona* Is 
said to have persuaded Darryl F* 
Zanuck to lean heavily toward color 
in future productions. 



8 



VARIETY 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



6. 0.S Wilt in L k Heat; Danc^ 

,1 

H. 0. Stumbles^ $15,1 





ams 



Lbs Angeles, May 18. 

Town is pretty Ayeli shot.so far as 
first-run biz is concerned and has 
only a couple of spots where trade is 
[Holding to around nor-ihal. Metro's 
'Captains Courageous' niade its two- 
a-day road show debut (14) at the 
Carthay Circl6, opening to disappoints 
ihg biz although advance might in- 
dicate fair initial week. 

'Prince , and Pauper' at the : day-, 
date Warner houses is doing okay, 
but other straight film houses aire 
oft. Paramount has the Olsen and 
Johnsoii stag9 unit as top draw^ but 
comics are running way behind 
previous grosses. General verdict is 
that the first of the dogrclays are 
here and that it'll be tough until 
public gets accustomed to the' sum- 
mery weather. 

Estimates for This Week. 

Carthay Circle (Fox) (1,518; 55-83- 
1.10-1.65)— 'C a p ta i n s Courageous' 
(MG). Got away to poor $1^900 on. 
$5 premiere, with lack of interest at- 
tributed to a preview premiere 
staged recently at the Chiniese/ which 
drew all the top names and 
took the edge off the two-a-day 
.debut. 

Clilnese (Graumah) (2,028; 30-40- 
55-75)-i-*Hit Parade" (Rep) arid 
'Charlie Chaii' (20th), dual. Any- 
thing but a hit at slimi $8,000. Last 
■week, 'Night Must Fall' (MG) and 
•Way Out West* (MG), $10,400, about 
us expected, just fair. 

Downtown (WB) (1,800; 130-40-55^ 
65)-^'Prince and Pauper' (FN). 
Hefty trade on this <>ne arid $16,500 
.highly profitable.. Last wiek, 
'Mountain Justice' (FN) arid 'Melody 
ioT Two' (WB), poor $4,300. 

Foar Star (Fox) (900; 55-83-1.10- 
1.65)— 'Lost Horizon' (Col) (10th 
week).. Customers are getting fewer. 
Ninth week finished with $4,000, 
mild. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 30-40-55- 
i65)— 'Prince and Pauper' (FN). Best 
biz in some weeks at around: evien 
$10,000. Last week, 'Mountain 
Justice' (FN) and 'Melody for Two' 
(WB); plenty poor at $4,300. 

Orpheum (Bdwy) (2,280; 25-30-35 
40)— 'Mama Steps Out' (MG) and 
•23% Hours Leave' (GN), dual and 
vaude. Elaine. Barrie (BarrymOre) 
gets credit for most of draw 'as 
screen fare just ordinary; ^t $8,000, 
however, house not making any 
money. Last week, second run pix. 

Pantages (Pan) (2,700; 30-40-55)— 
•Shall We Dance' (RKO) (2nd week). 
Only holdover dropping consider 
ably on second stanza for so-so 
$7,500. Holds third week. First week 
brought , nifty $12,000. 

Paramount - (Pattiiiar) (3,595; 30 
40-55)— 'Thunder in City' (Col) and 
stage show. Olsen and Johnson, unit 
the draw, aided by couple of; pre- 
views, and candid camera night, 
>vhich is starting to grow,' but will 
wind up with only $16,000 slim. Last 
week, 'Internes (Par), decidedly 
weak $12,000. 

RKO (2,950; 30-40-55)—' Shall We 
Dance' (RKO) (2nd week). Second 
stanza for this one about on par with 
its daydater (Paritages). for okay 
$7,500. Initial week satisfactory 
$11,300. Goes a third. 

State (Loew-Fox) (2,024; 30-40r55- 
75)— 'Hit Parade* (Rep) and 'Clharlie 
Chan' (20th), dual, Coiisiderably 
below average at $10,300. Last week, 
•Night Must Fall* (MG) and 'Way 
Out West' (MG), okay $12,600. 

United Artists (Fox-UA) (2,100; 
30-40-55)— 'Night Must Fall* (MG) 
and 'Way Oiit West' (MG), dual. 
Movebver from State a brodie and 
best in sight, weakish $3,000. Last 
week,. *Wake Up' (20th,)- and 'Song 
of City* (MG), fair $4,500. 

Wilshire (Fox) (2,296; 30-40-55-65) 
—'Night Must FalI' ; (MG) and 'Way 
Out West' (MG) dual. Wilshii-e riibb 
not going for this brace; only $6,000 
Last week, 'Wake Up' (20th) and 
•Song of City' (MG), fair $7,300 



(WB), even oh. Coronation scenes 
couldn't do better thari $6,000, fair.: ; 

Loew'9 (M. T. Go.) <3,200; 50)— 
•Hit Parade' (Rep) arid 'Navy Blues' 
(Rep), plus 'Radio City Frolics' 
unit. Should be $10,000, good. Last 
weiek, , 'Inteimes' (Par) and 'Scot- 
land Yard' (Col), with vaiide, $10,000. 

Princess (CT) (2,300; 50) 'Fifty 
Roads' (20th) iand ^Charlie Chan' 
(20tji)* Okay, $6,000. Last week, 
•Elephant Boy* (UA) and rrhis'll 
Make You Whistle' (Brit), disap- 
pointing $4,500. 

Cinema de Paris (France-Filrii) 
<600; 50) 'Marius et Fanny' . (2nd 
wk.). Surprising reception to old 
faivorite last week justified h.b„ 
heading for $2,000 after a very good 
$2,500 last week. 

St Denis (France-Film) (2,300; 
34)_'josette' and 'Mysterieuse 
Lady.' Should gross $5,000, very 
good. Last week, 'Le Fils dii 
Sheikh' and 'Les Jumeaux de Brigh- 
tori,' gobd at $4,000. 




OK 20GmBulf 
Dance Big 




Buffalo, May 18. 
Figures are hitting the peaks agairi 
at the Buffalo and the . Lakes here 
this week, but the other houses are 
hitting on low gear. 

Estimates for This Week 
Buffalo (Shea) (3,600; 30-40-55)— 
•Call It a Day' (Par) arid Horace 
Heidt's band. Rainy weather hurt- 
ing somewhat, but fine prograni 
should get over $20,000, good. Last 
week, 'CafiB MetropOle' (20th), stood 
up in good shape for neat $15,000. 

Century (Shea) (3,400; 25-35)— 
Time Out for Romance' (20th) and 
•Husband Lies' (Par). Around $6,500, 
so-so. Last week, 'Outcasts of Poker 
Flat' (RKO) and •Midnight Court' 
(WB), average $6,800. 

Great Lakes (Shea) (3,400; 30-50) 
—'Shall We Dance' (RKO). Looks 
set for excellent biz at over $12,000, 
Last week, 'Prince and Pauper' 
(WB), very nice $10,600, 

Hipp XShea) (2,400; 25-40 )^'No- 
body*s Baby' (MG) and 'Fire Over 
England' (UA). Indications point to 
only $5,500, poor. Last week, 
•Family Affair' (MG) and 'Husband's 
Secretary' (WB), fell off to fair 
$6,000. 

Lafayette (Ind.) (3,400; 25-35)^ 
•Our Moments' (U) and 'Girl Over- 
board' (U). May be up to $7,000, 
fair. Last week, 'Women of Glam- 
our' (Col) and 'Firid Witness' (Col), 
weak $6J00. 



'STAR' H.O. AT $8,000, 
MONTREAL STANDOUT 



Montreal, May 18.' 

Soggy weather and near^freezing 
temperatures helpirig the b.o.'s. 
'Star is Born,' h.b, at the Palace, is 
; again, packing them in. 

Estimates for This Week 

His Majesty's (CT) (1,600; 50)— 
•Lost Horizon' (Col). oriald Cole- 
riian is ialways okay here; $6,500 will 
be good. Last week's h.o., 'Gbbd' 
Earth' (MG), -folded latter /part, of 
week to . poor $3,500. 
• Palace (CT) .(2,700; 50)— 'Star Is 
Born' (UA) (2d week). Fans still 
enthusiastic for this one, with $8,000 
in Sight,, excellent. Last week, 
$10,000, was best in months, 

Capitol (CT) (2,700; 50)— 'Call It 
a Day' (WB) and- 'Fair Warning' 
(WB). Just getting by . at $5,000. 
Last week, -Prince and Pauper' 



Lewis Orchy Pins 'Cafe/ 
Indpls., Sock at $13,800 



Indianapolis, May 18. 
In a week when the time trials for. 
the 500-mile race are drawing 20,000 
to 30,000 persons out to the motor 
speedway daily, and with such other 
obstacles as . a roller-skating derby, 
night baseball and plenty of com- 
pdtition in the downtown film sector, 
Ted Lewis arid orch plus -Cafe 
Metropole' are poimding out. a 
smashing gross at.the vaudfilm Lyric 
on the way to a new house record. 
Trailing behind at a comfortable 
distance is Jan Garber's band: plus 
•Man Who Found Himself at the 
larger Indiana^ with it gross that is 
all right \yithout being startling. 
Estimates for This Week 

Apollo (Fourth Ave) (1,100; 25-40) 
^'Prince and Pauper' (WB), Faring 
mildly at $3,800. Last week, 'Wake 
Up' (20th), third, held up okay at 
$3,600. 

Circle (Monarch) (2,800: 25-40)— 
'Turn Off Moon' (Par) and ICirig of 
Gamblers' (Par)i Fonnep plugged 
heavily arid is headed for fairish 
$4,800. Last week, 'Shall We Darice' 
(RKO), very good $8,000, but way 
off from previous Astiaire-Rbgers 
pictures. 

Indiana (Devine) (3,100; 25-40)-^ 
'iVian Found Himself (RKO) and 
. Jari Garber band on stage: . Latter 
very popular dance favorite here, 
but riot up . to. reviving this long- 
shuttered house .sufficieritly to. go 
over, fair $10,000. Last week, 'Ac- 
cused' (GB) and Count Berni Vici 
unit, first shoW at theatre, finished 
With poor $7,000. 

Xoew's (Loew's) (2,600;^^ 25-40)— 
'Star Is Born? (UA) duUed with 
'Song of City' (MG). Foriner pic- 
tuire given heavy ad camipaign and 
is pbirited toward $8,500, very good: 
Last week, dual of 'Night Must Fall' 
(MC3) and 'Nobody's Baby' (MG), 
tepid $5,100. 

Lyric (Olson) (2,000; 25-30-40)— 
'Cafe Metropole' (20th) and Ted 
Lewis band on stage. Latter given- 
all the billing arid most of the credit 
for sOcko pace that suggest); new 
house record or close fo it at $13,800. 
Last week, 'Melody for Two' (WB) 
and Major Bowes International imit, 
$7,100, poOr. 




B. 0. Pix Bombard Mpis, 
Tauper' Gettmg Poor ^ 'Cafe 7G 



Bette Dayis No Draw 
In Denver, N.G. $3,500;^ 
McQuarrie PJL Fair 



Denver, May 18. 
'Star Is Born' is packing . Aladdin 
and going to iBroadway for third 
week. 'Marked Woman' was pulled at 
the Denver after five days of poor 
biz. 

Haven MacQuarrie, In personal, 
not pulling at Denham. 'Forbidden 
Adventure' 1$ jrunning up surprising 
figure at Rialto.- 'Wake tip and Live' 
was^ taken out after five days at 
Broadway because house was leased 
for two days to Denver Press Club 
to produce 'Front Page' - with local 
>cast. : 

Estimates for Tbis Week 
Aladdin (Fox) (1,500; 25^0)— 'Star 
Is Bom' (UA), following a week at 



Beach Competish, H.O. s, Dent PhOly 
B.O. s; Power-Young Nice $16,000 



Philadelphia, May 18. 
A batch of holdovers arid weekend 
weakness due to beginning of exodus 
to shore resorts has biz well under 
average in the downtown pic houses 
this week. 

The h.o.'s are. 'A Star Is Born,' still 
doing right well at the Aldine; 
'Prince and the Pauper,' which is 
doing only mildly, at the Boyd, and 
'Shall We Dance,' iat the Stanley, 
which isn't lip to some of the other 
Astaire-Rogers pix in b.o. 

Of the newcomers, 'Cafe Metro- 
pole,' at the Fox, stands a chance of 
soriie smart trade on strength of fine 
.riotices and favorable word-of^mouth. 
Dropping Of stage shows will, of 
course, react. Guy Loriibardo on 
the stage will drag, plenty . in at the 
Eairle, but orice again absence, of 
vaude on Sunday will cut. Film is 
'Way Out West.' 

Last of the roadshow pix: closed 
Sunday (16), AVhen 'Captains Cour- 
ageous' completed four weeks (and 
a day) at the Lpcust. 

Estimates for This Week 

Aldine (1,300; 40-55-65)— 'Star 'Is 
Born' (UA ) (3d week). Still hitting 
nicely and figures about $11,000 cur- 
rently. Last week's $15,000 was 
plenty hot. 

Arcadia (600; 25-*40-50 )— 'Internes' 
(Par) (2nd run). Fair $2,100 seen, 
La.st. week, 'Maytime' (MG) (2d 
week) (2nd run), high class $2,500. 

Boyd (2.400; 40-55)— 'Prince and 
Pauper' (WB). Not doing what was 
expected after all the ballyhoo of 
Coronation Eve Opening and many 
tie-ups. Opened Tuesday evening 
(12) and completed week with only 



fair $16,000. Held oVer, however, 
for at least a part of second weeR. 

Earle (2,000; 25-40-55)- 'Way Out 
West' (MG) and vaude. Guy Lbm- 
bardo's band on stage. Band should 
pull gross to $16,000, fair. Last 
week, 'Nobody's Baby' (MG) and 
vaude. Sally Rand big, magnet at 
stai-t, but, end of run showed only 
lukewarm bii; .$17,500 was above 
average, but not notable. 

Fox (3,000; 40-55-65)— 'Caife Met- 
ropole' (20th). First week without 
stage show, although house band is 
retained. ;Loud huzzahs for filnl and 
it should build nice $16,000, mebbe 
more. Last week, -Mountain Justice' 
(WB) and stage show, sickly $12,500. 

Karlton (1,000; 25-30-40) — '23% 
Hours Leiave' (GN). Crix said 
thumbs down; biz . negli ible. Lucky 
to last out Week; if so, poor $lj800. 
Last, week, 'Hit Parade' (Rep) (2nd 
run), dreary $2,300. , 

Keith's (2,000; 30^40-50) — 'Wake 
Up and Live' (20th) (2d week) (2d 
run). Very hot here and figur-es for 
$3,000 after last week's fine $3,700. 

Locust (1,300; 55-86-l.14-l.7i)— 
'Captains Godrageoiis' (MG). Closed 
Sunday (16) after four weeks and 
one day. Last ieight days neat 
$8,300. 

Stanley (3,700; 40-55)— 'Shall We 
Dance' (RKO). Not equal of biz of 
Soriie Astairc-Rogers pix, but rated 
holdover. Fair $12,000 indicated this 
week after onener's good $17,300. 

Stanton (1,700; - 30-40-50)— <King 
of Gamblers' (Par). Type film for 
house,, with average $5,500 seen 
Last week 'Midnight Taxi' (20th) 
okay at $5,300. 



the Denver* Ringing tip sock $5,000 
here. Last week, 'Wake Up' (20th) 
got nice $3,900, following a week at 
the Denver, and Was moved to 
Broadway for third week, 

Broadway (Fox) (1,500; 25-4()) t- 
Wake Up' (20th), following a week 
each at the Denver arid Aladdin. 
Pulled aftier five days, but okay at 
$2,500. Last week, .'Hit Parade' (Rep), 
fair $2,500, follOwiria; big week at 
uptown Aladdin. 

Denham (Cockrill) (1,300; 25-35:^ 
40)-:'Husband'3 Secretary' (WB) and 
Haven MacQuarrie on stage. Combo 
drawing only fair $5,500. Lasrt week, 
'King of Gamblers' (Par),' poor 
$3,500. 

Denver (Fox) (2,500; 25-35-50) — 
'Marked Woman' (WB) arid stage 
band. Out aftier- five days to very 
poor $3,500. Last week, 'Star Is 
Born' (UA), excellent $9,500. 

Orpheom (RKO) (2.600; 25-35-40) 
—'Shall We Dance' (RKO) (2d 
week). Nice enough b.o. at $5,000. 
Last week, 'Shall We Darice' (RKO), 
big $9,000, 

Paramount (F6x) (2.000; 25-40) — 
•Charlie Chari' (20th) and 'Midnight 
Taxi' (20th). Good enough $3,500. 
Last week, 'GAU It A Day' (WB).arid 
•Man's jEIere Againf (FN), $3,500,. 

Bialto (Fox) (900; 20-25) — 'For- 
bidden Adventure' (Ind ). Not bad at 
$4,000. Last week Rialtb was. a third- 
ruh house,- and next week it will 
be a thirdrruh again. 

B. B. Bug Bites 
Pitt, B. 0. s Sick; 
Vance; $15,0M 



Pittsiburgh, May 18., 
For the first time In a decade, 
Pittsburgh has the baseball pennant 
fever again and it's being reflected 
importantly In the downtown show 
sector. Three games over week-^nd 
with St Louis Cards drew 65,000— 
under ordinary; circumstances,' a 
series of this kind wbuldn't , have 
attracted half that many^and thea- 
tres hav« beeri feeling it corisid- 
erably. 

Biz generally Is down bVer recent 
weeks, with Stanley pacing .field 
again. Benny MerofiE arid Phil Regan 
bolstering weak 'Woinan I Love' into 
potent contender. Although 'Shall 
We Dance' Is a cinch to give the 
Penn a profit, take is slightly dis- 
appointing and way below figures 
for previous Astaire-Rogers pix. 
Elsewhere, however, thirigs are pret- 
ty depressing. 

^-'•''vJiBtiniates for This Week 

Alvin (Harris) (2,000; 25-35-40)— 
'Wake Up' (20th). Holding up only 
moderately well in second week and 
possibility of sticking a third was 
reriioved. Looks like $6,000, or a bit 
less, for current stanza, against close 
to $12,000 on original sessiouj House 
gets 'Silent Barriers' (GB) Thursday 
(20) and then goes back to duals for 
a : few weeks. 

Fulton (Shea-Hyde) .(1,750; 25-40) 
—'Fire Over England' (London). Not 
a nanie that means anything to this 
site and lukewarm riotices preclude 
chances of any help from press. First 
tiriie all year here, that a single 
picttire (house has been alternating 
with twi bills) has ever drojpped 
below four grand. Prospects are tot 
about $3,500; "pretty sluggish. Last 
week, 'Join the Marines' (Rep) and 
'A Man Betrayed' (Rep) iri the dog- 
house at $2,900. 

Pehn (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 25-35- 
50) — 'Shall We Dance' (RKO): 
General o^jinion here . is that this 
One's cbrisiderably below Astaire- 
Rogers standard and that's being 
reflected in the take: Looks like a 
tough pull. to. get . $15,000 against a 
usual 20 girand average for the team. 
Also first time since RKO teariied 
therii that one of their pictures hasn't 
clipped off holdover time. Last week 
'Prince and Pa:uper' (FN), $13,800 
not bad. 

Stanley (WB) (3,600; 25-40-60) — 
'Woriian I Love' (RKO) and Benny 
Meroff's band and Phil Regan. 
Cricks all thurribed down the flicker 
-and the flesh is credited with put- 
tirig over combo to a profit. Should 
have ho trouble waltzing off with 
nice $18,500. Last week, 'Mbuntairi 
Justice' (FN) and Guy Lombardo'r 
band, wow $23,000. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 25-40)— 'Out 
casts Of Poker Flat' (RKO) and 
'Don't Tell the Wife* (RKO). One of 
the poorest twin features house has 
had all year and gross will bear 
that out. Maybe. $4,000, poor. Last 
week, 'Star Is Born' (UA) pounded 
registers for socko $8,700 on heels 
of crack $20,000 previous week at 
Penn. 



Muineapohs, May 18.. 

Lots of splurgmg on newspaper 
advertising lor the roadshowing of 
'Lost Horizon,' as well as for 'Cafe 
Metropole,' 'Shall We Dance' arid 
^Prince and Pauper.' But nothlnir 
seeriis capable of awakening the fans 
from lethargy that has been puttine 
the kibosh on box-office for the bet^ 
tef part of the past taorith. 

ToWn has bieen a White elephant in 
recent yiears lor roadshow pictures 
eVeri; 'The Great Ziegfeld' (MCi) arid 
•Romeo and Juliet' (MG) havina 
wOimd up to extremely disappoint" 
ing figures. . Accordirigly, the gointf 
is pretty tough for 'Lost Horizon' in 
the out-of-the-way and infrequieritly 
lighted Lyceum. Although ^Darice* 
played to the isrinallest gross Of any 
of the Astaite-Rogers pictures at the 
Minnesota, takings were sufficient to 
warrant; its transfer to the Century 
for a second downtown week. 

Estimate for This Week 

Aster (I^ublix-Singer) (900;- 15-26) 
-^•Gay Desperado' (UA) and TVhen's 
Your Birthday (RKO), split with 
'Night Key' <U) and 'Happened Out 
West' (20th). Should reach satisfac- 
tory $1,200. . Last week 'Parole 
Racket* (0)1) and 'Man Found Him- 
self' (RKO), dual, split with 'Once a 
Doctor* (FN) and 'Fair Warning' 
(20th), dual, $1,400, okay. * 

Century (Publix-Singier) (l.eOOt 
25-35-55)— 'Shall We Dance' (RKO). 
Moved over from Minriiesota for ex- 
tension, of loop first fun. Heading 
for fair $5,000. Last week 'Wake Up* 
(20th) (2d week), $4,000, mild. 

Lyceum (N. W. Barik) (2,200; 55- 
83^$1.10-$1.65 )— 'Lost Horizon' (Col ); 
Raves by critics and customers and 
a tremendous exploitation and ad- 
vertising job by Jack Thoma, But 
cards are stacked- agairist heavy tak- 
ings in town that wouldri't support 
roadshoWirigs of 'Great Ziegfeld' and 
'Romeo and Juliet* in a much better 
spot and under more favorable gen- 
eral business and other conditions. 
Pbofly, located and unpopular thea- 
tre a .' handicap. 

Qrphenm- (Publix-Singer) (2,890: 
25i35-40)— 'Cafe Metropole' (20th)i 
Nicely sold and the Power- Young- 
Merijou cast array box-office poten- 
cy. Pretty good $7,000 indicated. 
Last week, "Marked Woman' (FN), 
$5,500, fair. 

Minnesota (Publii-Singer) (4,200: 
25-35^55)-^'Prince and Pauper' (FN). 
Heavily exploited and luring lots of 
matinee trade, .with kids and women 
much in evidence. But . 55c tariff 
after 5 p.m. and picture's limited ap- 
peal holding down night takings; En 
fOute to $6,500, poor. Last week 
'Shall We Dance' (RKO), $11,000, 
fair. 

State (Publix-Singer) (2,300; 25-40) 
—•Way Out West' (MG) and 'Hus- 
band Lies* (Par), dual. Laurel-. 
Hardy picture bringing 'em in; good 
$4,000. Last week 'Great Guy* (GN) 
and 'Let's Get Married' (Col), dual, 
$3,500, good. 

Time (Berger) (290; 15-25)— 'Deal- 
ers in Death' (Indie) and. 'Last jour- 
ney* (Indie). First dual features at 
this housie. Off to fast start and may 
reach good $1,200. Last week, 'En- 
lighten Thy Daughter' (Elliott), $800 
in eight, days, poor. 

Uptown (Publix) (1,200: 25-35)— 
'Waikiki Wedding* (Par). First nabe 
showing. Looks like good $3,000. 
Last week 'Love Is News' (20th), $3,- 
500. good. 

World (Steffes) (350; 25-35-40-50) 
— 'Smalanningar* (iSwedish). Scan- 
dinavian populatiori responding and 
good $2,500 indicated. Last week 
'Elephant Boy* (UA) $1,200, slim. 

DANCE* HAS RHYTHM 
IN PORT., BIG $8,000 

Portland, Ore,, May 18. 

'Lost Horizon* roadshow , at the 
Mayfair is getting a riice play. 'Shall 
We Dance' is a big winner- at the 
Orphe.Um. Coronatiori sequences: in 
'Prince and PiaUper' forced it into a 
second week at the Broadway. 
Estimates for This Week 

Broadway tParker) (2,000; 30-40) , 
—'Prince and Pauper' (FN)- and 
'Way Oiit West* (MG) (2d week). Do- 
irig well.at $5,000. First ;week cashed 
in on coronation element for good 
$7,300. 

Mayfair (Parker-Evergreen) (1.400; 
55-$1.65)— 'Lost Horizon^ (Col). Two- 
a-day showing is answering to big 
build-up campaign for nice results: 
Last week (30-40), . 'Love Is Young 
(U) and 'Trouble in Morocco' (Col),- 
weak $1,700. . 

Orpheum (Hamrick - Evergireeh) 
(2,000; 30-40)— 'Shall We Dance 
(ftKO) and. 'Midnite Taxi' , (20th). 
Another great Winner for this house 
at $8,000. Last week, 'Fifty Roads 
(20th) and 'Charlie Chan^ (20th), 
above par at $6,200. . 

Paramount (Hamrick-Evergreen j 
(3.000; 30-40)— 'Internes' (Par) and 
'Thunder in City' (Col).. Nothing, to 
get excited about, fair $5,500, . Last, 
week, 'King and Chorus Girl' .(^B) 
and 'Man Who Found' imseu 
(RKO), held 11 days, getting big 
$11,000. ,„ 

United Artists (Parker) (1,000; 30- 
40)— 'Garden of Allah' (UA). Ge\- 
, ting okay $6,000. Last week, 'Mpim- 
tain Justice' (FN), weak $4,000. 



^ednesdttff May 19, 19*7 



PICTURE GROSSES 



VARIETY 



Chi B.0.$ Tokggan with Weak P^^ 
'Old Soak* Poor $10M IMoon Red 
$23,000; Dance; 3d Wk.,17G, Holds 



Chicago, May 18. 

Weakest li -up of picttttes in 
many sessions is . letting the down- 
town theatres slide sadly currently, 
with the majority of the, houses, tak- 
ing dips that will land them in,, 
6r dangerously hear, the red portion 
of the ledger. Only here and there 
are there any shining b,o.' , For the 
rest, it's -woeful wailing. 

Among the disappointments at the 
front gate is 'Old Soak,* which hasn't 
been able to get started at the Roose- 
velt. Opened Wednesday (12) and 
will go out Saturday (22) after a 
flabhy 10-day stand. Another weakie 
is 'Turn Off the Moon,' at the Chi-< 
cago. At the Palace, 'Shall We Dance' 
hit the toboggan in the middle of its 
second iVeek and isn't smashy in its 
third session; but stays a fourth - 
gardless. 

One clicft-is 'A Star Is Born,' go- 
ing into hold-over, se^ipns with fine 
box-office results. Excellent publicity 
and exploitation helping, with a 
novelty iad turned out by Eddie 
Levin, of the Balaban & I^atz press 
flepartment, rating special comment 
around town; 

Estimates for This iVeek 
Apollo (B&K) (1.200; 35-55-65) -- 
'Cafe Metropole' (20th). In here fol- 
lowing week at Chicago and okay 
w ith $7,000; Last .week, 'King of Gamr 
blers\ (Par); sorsb $5,800. 

Cbicago (B&K) (4.000; 35-55-75)- 
Turri, Off Moon* (Par) and stage 
show. Sybil Jason headlining: Sickly 
gross iiri prospiecti with little matinee 
strength and not miich better eve- 
ning play: In red at $23,000, anemic 
Last week, 'Metropole' (20th), neat 
$32,000. 

Erlan^er (1.400; 55-83-$l.i0-$1.65) 
—'Captains Courageouis' (M(J) (2nd 
week ). Roadshowet got away to good 
though mixed, comment.; : Finished 

ith okay $13,000 first week. 

Garrick (B&K) (900; 35-55-65-75) 
— 'Wake iTp' (20th). In here after 
almost four weeks at .the Rdose.- 
velt. Indicates considerable draw yet 
with $6,500. Last week, 'May time' 
(MG> finished seventh v/eek in loop 
to oke $6,200. 

Oriental (B&K) (3,^00; 35-45-55^: 
65) — 'i3th Chair'- (MG) aihd VaUdeV 
House has gone Into a box-office 
pout for the past few ' weeks and 
doesn't seem able to pull itself out. 
Currently remains in the duinps at 
$15,000, poor. Last Week; 'Mountain 
Justice' (WB), only $14,000. mild. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500? 35-55-75) — 
•Shall We Dance' (RKO) and vaude 
(3d week). Slumped badly in midr 
.,dle of second week after big initial 
session: Holding well, however; for 
third week, around $17,000 and goes 
fourth week. Pace generally better 
this week than last (2d). 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 35-55-65r 
75)— 'Old Soak' (MG). (Opened Wed. 
(12) and couldn't get; going. It's go- 
ing to be a short stay after taking 
less than poor $10,000 in first week. 
Will be replaced by 'Woman Chases 
Man' (UA). Last we6k, 'Wake Up' 
(20th) after something less than 
four weeks, got good $8,800 in final 
seven days. 

State-Lake; (Jones) -(2,700; 20-25- 
35-45^55) — 'Night Key' (U) and 
vaude. Steadiest grosser in loop re- 
. mains oh even keel and again 
reaches safe harbor with $13,000. Last 
Week, 'Racketeers ' Exile' (Col), 
neat $13,800.* 

tnited Artists (B&K-lWG) (1,700; 
■ 35-55-65.75 ) ^ 'Star Is Born' (UA ) 
(2nd week). Real ; coihr-maker froin 
every, angle. Will ring the gong once 
more to $16,000 for its hold-over 
Got swell $21,800 in initial 



'Racketeers in Exile- (Col), got neat 
$9,400 in second week, 

Majestio (Fay) (2,200; 25-35-50)— 
•Call It Day' (WB) and 'Let Them 
Liyie' (U). Most expected is $6,800, 
so-so. Last weiek, 'iPrince and Pauper' 
(WB), dandy $9,400. 

RKO Albee (2.300; 25-35-50) — 
'Shall "We Dance* (RKO) (2nd week) ^ 
Off to" good stieirti but takings hot 
sensational; around $7,000, dke;. Last 
week, .. Astaire-Rogers combo, " got 
swell $10,500. 

Strand (Indie) (2,200; 29-35-50)-- 
'Thundet in City' (Col) and 'Navy 
Blues' (Rep ), House figures on $7,000, 
oke, Last week, theatre was dark; 





1 





Kansas City, May 18. 

They're buying all over town this 
week, but not in big enough quanti- 
ties to give most of the houses better 
than , fair biz: Kansas-Missouri 
Dental Convention is aiding the 
grosses somewhat. . 

Two pics are running ineck and 
heck; 'Prince and Pauper' at Main- 
street, and 'Star Is Born' at Midland; 
Former has. slight edge. 'Shall We 
Dance,' after nicie . week at Main- 
stVeet, moved to. Newman, whe;re it's 
only fair. 

Estimates for This Week 

Mainstreet (RKO) (3.200; 25-40)— 
'Prince and Pauper' (WB). Lobby 
act, Md^iil, mind-reader, adding 
punch to the b.o. Week looks like 
nice $12,000. Last week, 'Shall We 
Dance- (RKO), didn't come up' to 
expectations, but nice at $12,000. 

Midland (Loew) (4,000; 25-40)— 
•Star Is Born' (UA) and 'Nobody's 
Baby' (MG), $11,500, fair. Last week, 
'Night Must Fall' (MG) and Trbmise 
to Pay^ (Col), good $14,000. 

Newman (Par) (1.900; 25-40)— 
'Shall We Dance' (RKO) (2d run). 
Fair $5,000. Last Week, 'Mountain 
Justice' (WB) and 'Murder Goes 
College' (Par), poor $3,000. 

Tower (Fox) (2,200; 25-40)— 'Hit 
Parade' (Rep) and vaude. Mild 
$9,000, Last week, 'Midnight Taxi' 
(20th) and Bowes All-Girl imit on 
stage, poor $7,500. 

Uptown (Fox) (2,020; 25^40) — 
'Fifty RoadsV(20th) (2d run). So-so 
$4,000. Last week, -Chan at Olym- 
pics' (20th) and 'David Harum- 
(20th) (reissue), pulled after five 
days, poor $2,000, 



'THUNDER' OVER B'KLYN 



Robinson's Brit, Pic, Plus is P.A., 
Good $17,000 



Plenty Opposish in Prov,; 
'Romeo' Dual Oke lOG 



^ Providence, May 18; 

Considering the weather, the -pix 
and opposish, thea:tres downtown are 
domg fairly good. All week stands 
.a.long the main stem Iwill have the 
annual Shriners' circus as a hurdle 
as well as Tom Mix's outfit, which 
•nakes a one-day visit, and the bahg- 

ils at Narragansett Park. 
_ Romeo . and Juliet,' dualled at 
Jjoews at pop prices, Ibokg like the 
towns leader with $10,000. One hold- 
over, .'Shall We Dance' at Albee, and 
ine go I is good there, too. 

stitnatcs for This Week 

-^I^ay's (2,000; 25-35-50 )-^'California 
^tfalght Ahead' (G-N) and . vaude. 

. $6,800 at most; Last week, 
^^i^eat .Hospital Mystery' (20th), oke 

Loew's State (3,200; 25-35-50)— 
«omeo and Juliet' (MCj) and '13th 
J-haii' (MG). Long, show precludes 
Dig week; $10,000 okay, however, 
A^ast week. 'Star Is BOrn* (UA) and 



Brooklyn, May 18, 

'Thunder in the City,' the Edward 
G, Robinson pictuire at Fabian's Fox, 
is heading, for 'good results at the 
b.o. Personal appearance on Friday 
night by Robinson produced a 
janimed house. Loew's Metropolitan, 
with .'Night Must Fall' and ,*A Fam 
ily Affair,'- is also in the chips. 

Ringling circuis Closed, Saturday 
night (15) and gave; ddwntown de: 
luxers and nabes a tough tussle. Out- 
door attraction, first vweek .under can- 
vas, reported socko bi,, .,~ 
Estimates for. This Week 

Albee (2,500; 25-35-55) -^. *Cafe 
Metropole* • (20th) ;ahd. 'That .' May. 
Live" (20th), dual. Should get pleas- 
ant , $15,500. Last • week, 'Woman I 
Love* (RKO) and 'Outcasts of Poker 
Flat' CRKO), $16,000, fine. 'Star. Is 
Born' ; and 'Way Out West' arrive 
tomorrow (Wed.). 

Fox (4;000; 25r35-55) — "thunder; 
in City' (GB) and, ' the Army, 
Now' (GB). Robinson clicking here: 
Made personal appearance which- 
helped; about $17;00Q, dandy. 'Prom- 
ise to Pay' (Col) and "Navy Blues' 
(Rep), $16,000, good. . / 

• Met (2,400; 25-35-55)^'Njght: Must 
Fair (MG ) and .'Family Afl'air' (MG). 
Dualers will draw .$16,000., gpod. Last 
week. 'Old Soak' (MG) and 'Love 
Is Young' (U), $14,000. so-.w. 

Paramount (4,000; 25r35-55) — 'In- 
ternes' (Par) and 'Call It Day' (WB) 
opens today (Wed.), Last week, 
'Swing High' (Par) and 'Racketeers 
in Exile' (Con (2nd week), $17,000, 
fine: First week was $20,000, 

Strand (2,000; 25-35-55) -- 'Bill 
Cracks Down' (Rep) and 'Venus 
Makes Trouble' (Col). Poorigh $5,000 
in view. Last week: 'Romance and 
Riches' (GN>and 'Borderland' (Par), 
$7,500, good. 



1st Runs on Broadway 

(Subject to Change) 

Week or May 21 

Astor-^*Captains CourageoUij' 
(MG) (2d wk). 

Capitol— They Gave Him a 
Gun' (MG) (2(1 wk). 

Central— 'Charlie Chan at the 
Olympics' (20th) (22). 

Criterion-T-'Make Way for 
ftiori-ow' (Par) (3d wk). 

Globe — 'Lost Horizon' (Col) 
(12th wk). 

Music Hall— 'Shall We Dance* 
(RKO) (2dwk). 
, Paramount — 'Turn 
Moon' (Par) (19), 

Rialtor-'Nobody's Baby* (MGy 
(19), 

Rivoli— 'Dreiami 
(19). 

Roxy — 'As. Good as Married* 
(U), 

istrand— 'Prince and 
per'. (WB) (3d wk). 

Week of May 28 

Astor— 'Ciaptains . Courageous! 
(MG) (3d -wk). 

Capitol— 'Pick a Star' (MG) 
(27). 

Central— 'Girl from Scotland 
Yard' (Par) (2^), 

Globe — 'Lost Horizon'. (Cbl) 
(13th wk). 

Music Hall— 'This Is My Af- 
fair' (20th) (27), 

Paramount — 'Turn 
Moon' (Par) (5d wk). 

iaito— 'What Price 
gieance' (Indie) (26),, 

Eivoll— 'Dreaming Lips' (UA) 
(2d wk). 

Eoxy— 'Wings Over Honolulu' 
(U). 

Strand— 'Ki (WB) 
(26). 



Spring Puts B'way B. 0. s on Skids; 
'Dance/ ItOG, Holds, 'Courageous' 
15G, 5 Days, '£m Misses Fire, 




NO CINCY BLUES; 






Cincinnati, May 18. 

iz 6y and large for ace ciniemas is 

aiibve average for this time of year, 

^Wake Up and Live,' ishubert's first 
pop pic, is pacing the burg currently 
at $16,000^ 'Cafe Metropole' is next 
be$t with $14,500 for the Albee. 

EstimatesI for This Week 
Albee (RKOi) (3,300: 35-42)— 'Cafe 
Metropole' (20th). Okay $14,.500, 
Last week, 'Internes' (Par), $10,000, 
mild. 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 35-42)— 
'Call It Day' (WB). Good $5,000. 
Last vreek, 'Marked Woman* (WB) 
(2d run), $4,500, fair. 

Family (RKO) (1.000; 15-25)— 
'Avenging Angels' (RKO ) and 'Wom- 
an Alone' (GB). split. Fair $2,100. 
Last week, 'We're in Army' (GB) 
and 'Man Found Himself* (RKO), 
split, $2,500, dandy. 

Grand (RKO) (1.200; 25-40)— 'No 
Man of Own' (Par) (revival). Tame, 



Spring is the air and there's 
(rouble getting people, into theatres. 
Only the Music Hall, with hew 
Astaire-Rpgers picture, and the As-, 
tor. with the $2. twice-daily 'Captains 
(pouirageous,' are having much suc- 
cess: of it. With the ofi-sea.son release 
keeping it to 'a lower level than 
would have been insured : had RKO 
been able, to get the picture into the. 
cans earlier, 'Shall We Dance' inay 
not get lip to $100,000, but at that fig- 
ure or close i it will be very good. 

The musical goes a second week, 
but chances for a third, which would 
take it; into June, are not .bright: 
Prior iAstaire-Rogers pictures that 
have gone three weeks, but none of 
them in off-season, were 'Follbw the 
Fleet,' 'Top Hat' and 'Swing Time.' 
None have, ever gone four, nor is it 
likely any of their's, or others,, ever 
will. Too much patronage is gone 
throxigh on any three big weeks at 
the Music Hall to make a fourth prac- 
tical. Ctherwise, that might have 
been attempted with 'Star Is Born,' 
after its third week; last, garnered a 
strbnig $82,000, Rental to Uk on the 
three weeks hit $80,000 alone: : 
• ..'Captains Courageous' .opened on 
ah invitation premiere "Tuesday night 

(11) , followed by additional press 
and invitation tickets Wednesday 

(12) : Picture, is hot capacity on its 
first five days at $15,000, but at this 
figure is doing very well. The no- 
tices Wbre all excellent, but this pic- 
ture, the same as otheris. is expected 
to -^ufFfir from the seasonal dip. 

Outside of 'Courageous- ahd 'Shall 
We Dance,' new pictures as well as 
holdovers are generially weak. The 
best is a probable $25,000 this week 
(2d) for 'Prince and Pauper,' and 
$30,000 for Loew's State (2d run), 
latter largely on strength of Paul 
Whiteihart; He's getting $8,500 on 
the week for his band, 

'They Gave Him a Gun' looks only, 
about $20,000 at the Capitol, hot 
good, While. 'Talk of the Devil' is 
bringing the Roxy nothing at. all, 
The Ciaumbnt-British import wiU be 
very. ^bur. at. $22,000, lowest Roxy 
has dipped in so long they hate to 
look at the- books. Operators now 



$2,500, Last Week, (MG) 
(2d run), $2,800, fair, 

Keith's (Libson) (1.5d0; 25-40)— 
'Mountain Justice' (WB), Slow $4,^ 
OOO. Last week, 'Hit Parade' (Rep), 
$6,000, swell; 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 35-42)— 'Park 
Avenue Lodger' (RKO). Meek $3,000. 
Last week, 'Husband Lies' ■ (Par), 
yanked after fifth day, $2,000, poor. 

Palace (RKO) (2,600; 35-42)— 'Shall 
We Dance' (RKO) (2d week). Fair 
$7,500, Pulled whiz bang $17,000 on 
first seven days fbr theatre's best 
take in weeks, . 

Shubcrt (RKO) (2,200; 35-42)-^ 
'W^ke Up and Live' (20th), Opened 
Wednesday (12), Initial pic for this 
house at pop prices and off to bang- 
up start for $16,000, Followed 'Lost 
Horizon' (Col) on road show scale, 
55-83-$LlO-$1.50, Which did feeble 
$8,000 in 12 days. 



No B.O., No Nothin' in Detroit 

300,000 Uhipn Men Apparently SympatKize 
with Hollywood Strikers; Biz Brutal 



, May 18. 
- Threatehed icketihg. of major 
houses by^ ited Auto, Workers- 
union, slated to start last Thursday 
(13),: iled to materialize but looks 
like union's 300,000. members are da- 
ing a little boycotting. Anyway, 
town's playing funeral dirge oh b.o.'s. 

Product far from surefire, too, so 
what little coin there's, around is 
:divided pretty evenly between 'Turn 
Off. the Moon,' plus 'St. Morilz Ice 
Fbllies' unit, at the Michigan,: and 
'.When Love Is Young,' abetted by 
Cah Calloway prch, iat the Fox. 

This Week 
A'damk^ (Balabari) (1,700; 25-40)— 
'Cafe Metropole' C20th) .:(2d:. week) 
plus 'Jeeves' (20th), dual. Forrtier 
opus moved here after . seKSion at 
Fok; combo should get. $5,000, so-. . . 
Last week, 'Off to Races' (20tii) and 
'Wake Up' (20th) (2d week), $5,200, 
average, ' . , • 

(Dass (Indie) : (1,400;' $1.65 top) - 
'Good Earth' (MG) (4th week). Hold- 
ing up okay. Last week, third, good 
$11,5001 Figures to stay fifth session 
before riiaklng -way for roadshowing 
of 'Lost Horizon' (Col). 

Downtown (Krim). (2,800; 25-40)— 
'231/2 Hours Leiave' (GN) and 'Girl 



Loves Boy- (GN), dual,. Fair $.3,500. 
Last week, 'Murder. Jri Red Barn' 
(MG) and 'Juggernaut' (GN), $4;000, 

Fox (Indie) (5,000; 30-40-65)— 
'Love Is "Young' (U) and Cab Callo 
.way band on . stage. Not startling at 
.$20i00d. but oke . in view, of things. 
La.st: week, 'Cafe Metropole' (20th) 
with Sybil Jason, Everett Marshiall 
topping vaude, good $21,000. 

Madison (United Detroit) (2,000; 
30-40-65 )-i-'Shan • We Dance' (RKO) 
(2d: wk),' Moved here from Michigan, 
AstairerRogers flicker win hit about 
$6,0P0; pretty fair for this spot. Last 
.woek, 'Call It, ' (WB), $4,000, 
poor: 

• Michigan (United Detroit) (4.0Q0; 
30-40-65)— 'Turn Off Mobn' (Par) 
and 'St: Moritz Ice Follies', on stage, 
Oke $20,000 in :dull- town/ Last week, 
'Shaii.We Dance' ; (RKO) plus stage 
show. $20,0.00. oke but dii'appointing 

State (Uriited Detroit) (3,000; 25- 
40 )— 'Outcasts of Poker Flat' (RKO ) 
plus 'Midnight Court' (WB),. dual 
Poor $(5,80(). Last stanza, 'Great 
0?Malley' (WB) iand. fChina :Pas.sage' 
(RKO), poor $6,500. 

United Artists (United Detroit) 
(2.000; 30-40-65)— They Gave Him 
Gun' (MG), .N..s.g, $7,500, Last week 
•Prince and Pauper' (FN), $8,000, just 
fair. 



sorry they didn't try 'Wake Up and 
Live' fbr: a fourth week, even if 
2pth-Fox wanted , to- rnJike 'em pay 
thr.ough the nose for the holdover, 
.. 'Mountain Justice! finished its week 
at the Riajto last night , (Tu,es.) at 
$7,000, just fair, arid this morning 
(Wed.) is being replaced by 'Not 
body's. Baby -'y The Central, which, 
became a first-run,, single-feature 
house after ^he Globe went twb-a^ 
day, is doing all right ith '23 V4 
HoCirS LeaVe.' Picture may get avr- 
erage $9,000. 

Mild holdovers are 'Internes,' $23,- 
000, at the Paramount (2d week); 
'Make Way for Tomorrow,' at the 
Criterion, around $9,000 for the curr 
rent (2d) stanza, and 'Cafe Metros 
pole,'" under $13,000,. at the Riv.oU in 
third and final week. In spite of its 
low gross, 'Tomori-ow' is: being 
pushed into a third week at the Cri- 
terion, Par changes today (Wed,), 
biringing in 'Turn Off the Moon' and 
the Ina Ray Huttoh band, while'Riv- 
bli opens. 'Dreaming Lips' and . the 
Walt Disricy Academy Award Re- 
vue (45-mihule cartoon) at same 
tihie. . 

Estimates for This Week 
Astor (1,012; 55'^^1.10-$l,65-$2.20)— 
Captains Courageou.s' (MG) (1st 
week). First, five days. $15,000, very 
good, but not capacity,; Time of year 
probably keeping it from the stand- 
ees 'Good Earth' got last winter on 
stafting its 13y/ weeks' run, A fine, 
press was accorded 'Courageous.' 

Capitol (4,620; 25-35-55-85-$1.25)— 
They Gave. Him a Gun' (MG). A 
disappointer; only around $2O,O0O, 
mild, but is being forced ; a second 
week. Last week. !Cail It a Day* 
(MG), got only $11,000, brutal. 

Central (1,000; 25-35-40-55-05-75)— 
23V4 Hours Leave' (GN), Doing 
fairly well, $9,000, which is the 
average here. Last, week, 'That I 
May Live' (20th), $8,000, fair. 

Criterion (1,662; 25-40-55)— 'Make 
Way for Tomorrow' (Par) (2d 
vreek). Slipped, under $10,000 last 
week (1st), poor, but cornparatively 
better this week (2d ) at likely $9,000, 
though these grosses are far . from 
good and do not. justify hblding. the 
picture a third week, which is .beiiig 
done. 

Globe (1,274; 55-$1.10-$1.65r$2.20> 
—•Lost Horizon' (Col) (12th-flnal 
week). Sluffing off sharply, under 
$8,000 last week (11th) and out next 
Wednesday (26)* Run was obviously 
forced. Future of ' house uncertain, 
with Harry Brandt either returning 
it to a grind policy or Par taking it . 
tor roadshows. 

Palace (1,'700; 25-45-55)— 'Marked 
Woman' (WB) <2d- run) and 'You 
Can't Buy Luck' (RKO) (1st run), 
dual'ed. Business may ' reach $7,500, 
or over, fair. Last week; 'Woman I 
Love' (RKO) (2d run) and 'That 
Man's Here Again^ (WB) (1st run),, 
doubled, oh eight days, $9,800, • good; 

Paramount (4,664; 25-35-55-85-99) 
— ^'Internes' (Par) and the Xavier 
Cugat-Dixieland Jazz bands com- 
bined (2d week). Weakest show for 
this house in long time, but still 
okay on the profits. Hit $32,500 last 
week (l.st).and on second ending last 
night (Tuesday) was $23,000, 'T"r 
Off the Moon* (Par), and the Ina 
Ray Hulton orchestra move in toddy 
(Wednesday). 

Radio City Music IIhII (5.080; 40- 
60-85-99-$!. 65)— 'Shall We Dar.cc* 
(RKO) and stage show, Grossing 
chances reduced by arriving here 
.so latCi but may get to $100,000, veuy 
good, and holds over. Last week, 
third; for 'Star Is Bovn' (UA), $82,- 
000, excellent.. The three weeks' total' 
was $284,000. 

Rialto (750;- 5^40-55 ).--4.'Moijniain.. 
Justice' (WB). At $7,000 on. wcolc, 
ending liast niJiht (Tuesday) just ncl- 
ting by. In aheart ror nine day.s Jlte' 
fiaurcl-Hardy cbmcUy. ,'Way Out 
West.' snapped up -nice $11;000., ..'No- 
body's Baby' (MG) bows this 
irig (Tuesday). 

; RivoH (2,092;, 25-55-75-85-99)- 
'Cafe Metropole' , (20th) (3d weel:). 
weakening considerably, in final (?,c\) 
week: rider $13,000. Second was 
a'l'ouii .$20,000: .'Dreaming ..=ns' 
.(UA) and the .Walt -Disiujy .car'- ' 
compilation . rijnhrn;|. 4.'")- 'miiv.i; 
bpehs todav /Wednesday). 

RbxV (•5.83'6:'-^26-45-55-75')r^Talk 0 
the Deyir (GB) and sta'ie show. No 
dice, only .a.i-ound $22,000, worst ijv 
ibrm time. L/Ml .week, third f-ir:. 
'Woke . Up' ..: (20th), $35,500. very 
good; 'As' Good., a-s', ,Mait' ^U) 
opens Friday- (21 ), . 

Strand (2.707; 25r55-75)— 'Prince 
arid Paupci''- (W.B) (2d week). Off 
•with the, rest .of - the town, hut slill 
good at $25,000 this. week; (2d). irst 
seven days chtirnpd handsohi 
$38,000. Goes a. third woelc. 

State (3.450; 35-35-715 ) -'Personal 
Property' (MG): (2d run) and Paul 
Whiteman's orchestra. Whitcman, 
getting $8,500 oh week,, drawing cx- 
ccllont $30,000. best in some w"''':.'. 
Last . week, 'Walk lie i Woridin:"' (T'. ••) 
(2d run) and N. T. G. Revue, $21,000, 
okay. 



16 



VARIETY 



PICTURE GROSSES 



WeAiesday, May 19, 1937 



Of 95^79 Cinemas in the World 
Only 55j63 Are Wired for Sound, 
But U. S., Canada, II 




Of . tlte total of 95,379 film theatres 
throughout the world, 55,563 are 
>rired for soured. Of the balance Of 
139,816, 37,669 are located in lEurbpe, 
with 32,705 in Russia. The United 
States has 16,258 houses, all of which 
have sound. Canada's 1,033 are like- 
wise all yviTed. Figures are issued 
by the Department of Commerce; 
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic 
Commerce. 

According to the Bureau figures, 
cither nations which have ail the- 
atres wired for sbuiid are England, 
With 4,950 houses; Sweden, with 1,- 
641; Deiunark, with 352; Roumania, 
with 350; Norway, with 240, and the 
Irish Free State, with 190. Italy has 
only 2,800 soundrequipped houses oiit 
of a total of 4,800, while Spain has a 
mere li600 wired theatres out of 3,500 
"Uieatres, In the rest of Europe the 
percentage is well on the side of 
sotind, only .1,024 out of a total of 
15,853 being . In other parts of 
fhe world the majority of houses is 
also preponderantly wired. 

Complete figures, from the survey 
are as follows; 



stage show, 'Greenwich Village 
Gambols;' All right at $2,100. Last 
week, 'Ecstasy,' split with 'Nobody's 
Baby' (MG) plus 'Mjjn Who Could 
Work Miracles' CUA)^ fair $1,700. 

Stuart (LTC) (1,900; 10-25-40)— 
May time' (MG). Should, come in 
with $5,500, . very big. Last week, 
Mrs. Cheyney' (MG), good $3,500. 

Varsity (Westland) (1,100; 10-15- 
20-25-55 ) — 'Silent Barriers' (GB ). 
Not I so good at $1,000. Last week* 
Thunder in City' (CJpl), Jair $1,200. 

Balto Picks Up; 
'Star' Shiny 17G, 



.Europe 

United States.... 

' liatin' America. « . 
Far Bast.'......'. 

Canada . . . i:. : . . . 
^rica and Near Kast 



Wired 
cinemas^ 

2»,207 
16,25S 

4,oes 

4,3R7 

i,03:t 

610 



Total 
cineiq 



■00.876 
16,258 
fi,292 
fi,244 
1,0.13 
676 

Breakdown of the above figures 
reveals the following: 

JFlusSla ..............,*.• 2,2fid 

Genriany 6,271 

England 4,9.')0 

Italy 2,800 

Franco 3,000 

Spain .................. 1.G0O 



Czechoslqyakia .......... 1^343 

.Sweden l,C4t 

BelRltini 740 

Austria ».^.,..,. ^ 602 

iPoland fS!>7 

HunKary 885 

: Senmark 3<'i2 

Roumania 3SO 

Switzerland ............ 32S 

Yugoslavia.' 263 

.Netherlands 207 

ISTonVay 240 

Finland 210 

.Portugal ....i. ......... 180 

Irish Free State. , 100 

Greece ........ i.... ....' 140 

Turkey 03 

lintvla OB' 

Bulgaria :80 

Lithuania 44 

Estonia 5S 

Albania' ....•...'......■. 14- 

ArgeiitlniEt. ............. 1,000 

Brazil ..........i. 1,170 

Mexico , 402 

Cuba 300 

Colombia ..,,>.;....... ISO 

Peru '. .......... 180 

ChllQ ..«.'.........,*... ISiO 

ITniguay. 124 

Venezuela Ill 

.Puerto Rico 100 

Panama 47 

Costa pica............. 36 

Ecuador 34 

Guatcmola . . . . ......... 2.5 

Salvador ......^ 27 

Honduras ............. 20 

'Ntcarngua ..,.' 26 

British Guiana,. 23 

Dominican Republic...... 23 

Bolivia 1ft 

Trinidad ., 1ft 

..French West Indies.... Vt 

Jatnalca l.t 

Bermuda v; .;. 8 

Haiti ' « 

Pfiraguav «■ 

Butch West Indies 6 

Bahamas R 

Barbodos 3 

British Honduras. 1 

South Africa........... 250 

Algeria ISO 

Egypt ................. 102 

Iran ....i... v^^... 25 

Palestine .....j. ........ 20- 

Tunisia . ; . .24 

Syria • 24 

West. Africa...., 7 

EbbI Africa............ 11 

Iraq 6 

Madagascar . 2 

Japan . . ... .. .y ...... . . . 1,237 

Australia 1,420 

India COO 

New 410 

China 183 

Philippine . Wanrt.s., .... 148 

Nethcrland India- .. .. .i 172 

S'lam 22 

British 'AlBlaya. 

'French. Indb China. . . .^..i ■ 
Chosen 
Ceylon 

Fiji Islands nnd .Socjcty 
Islands .'. i '. 



84,800 
6,273 
4,060 
4.800 
4,100 
3,600 
1,833 
1,041 
,800 
766 
603 
410 
362 
360 
8.34 
318 
30r 
240 
220 
210 
100 
163 
121 
08 
04 
64 
68 
14 
1,425 
1..370 

83; 
3no 

210 
210 
180 
128 
111 
lOO 
47 
87 
34 
81 
20 
20 
26 
23 
23 
10 
10 
15 
16 
8 
8 
6 
6 
6 
3 
1 

800 
130 
102 
.TO 
20 
27 
24 
12 
11 
7 
4 

1,010 
1,420 
070 
410 
80O 
211 
108 
121 
122 
100 
46 
18 

,11 




Baltimore, May 18. 
Bit of a spurt in local biz this 
week. Nice lineup of product help- 
: ng some, and influx of visitors in 
own for weekend running of Preak- 
ness another boon. 

Loew's Century leading the pack 
with 'Star Is Bom* (UA) with a very 
merry $17,000, while the Stanley is 
laking good advantage of its ample 
capacity to turn a rosy $11,000 for 
Trince and Pauper' (WB). Town's 
only holdover, 'Cafe Metropole' 
(20th), maintaining good pace at 
New. 

Estimates for This Week 
Centary (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 15- 
25-35-40-55)— 'Star Is Born' (UA). 
Setting pace for town with hey-hey 
$17,000. Last week, 'Old Soak' (MG), 
along with final weiek of flesh in 
person of Horace Heidt band, $15,800 
fair. 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,300; 
15-25-35-40-55-66)— 'Thimder in City' 
(Col) plus vaude featuring Tito 
Guizar. Mild $12,000. Last week, 
second Session of 'Shall We Dance' 
(RKO) and Happy Pelton and band, 
$11,900, fair. 

Keith's (Schan1>erger) (2,500; 15 
25-30-35-40-55)— 'Love Is YoUrig* (U) 
opened supper' show Monday (17). 
Last week, only five days of 'Fire 
Over England' (UA), poor $4,100. 

New (Mechanic) (1,400; 15-i25-30 
40-55)— 'Cafe Metropole' (20th) (2d 
week). Holding up excellent pace 
to $5,900, which is profit lor this 
house. Last week okay $7,100. 

Stanley (WB> (3,450; 15-25-35-40 
55)— 'Prince and Pauper' (WB). 
Finding large capacity a decided 
. asset to accommodate steady patron- 
age and clickihg with rosy $11,000. 
Last week, 'Internes' (Par),, n.g. 
$5,600. 

Dixon to GN 

Harlan Dixon, who has completed 
the staging of the new fioor show 
for Ben Marden's Riviera in Jersey, 
opening May 27, has been signed 
as dance director by Grand National. 

Left for Hollywood yesterday 
(Tues.) to take up his duties on 
musicals at that studio. 



L'VILLE BIZ OK DESPITE 
RACING; OT' $8,500 

Louisville, May 18. 
Trade is topping average all along 
the line, abetted, by it spell of cool 
weather. Nags still chasing each 
other around Churchill Downs and 
due to wind up spring meet Satur- 
day (22). Dog races across, river in 
jeffersonville, , Ind., not potent op- 
posish, due to cool evenings. 

At Loew's State, 'Star Is Born' 
drawing $8,500 or better, with Rialto 
pulling up second with $6,500, and 
maybe more, with dualers Cafe 
Metropole' arid 'Midnight Taxi.' 
Estimates for This Week 
BroWii (Fourth Ave. - Loew's) 
(1,500; 15-25-40) — 'Shall We Dance* 
(RKO); Moved over from Rialto and 
looks to take good $3,000. Last week, 
'Old Soak' (MG) and 'Glamour' 
(Col), dual, shifted from Loew's 
State for added week, fair $2,600, 

Kentucky (Switow) (900; 15-25)— 
'Swing High' (Par) and 'When's 
Your Birthday* (RKO), dual. Above 
average at $2,500. Last week, 'On 
Avenue' (20th) and 'Maid of Salein' 
(Par), dual, okay $2,400. 

Loew's State (3,000; 15-25-40) — 
Star Is Bom' (UA) artd 'Family Af- 
fair' (MG), dual. Technicolor pic had 
benefit of national ads and 24-sheets 
weeks in advance; pointing to fine 
$8,500 or more. Last week, 'Romeo 
and Juliet' (MG) and 'Let's Get Mar- 
ried' (Col), dual, at regular tariff, 
returned big $8,400. . ^ 

Mary Anderson (Libson) (1,000; 
15-25-40) — 'Prince and Pauper' 
(WB). Holdover stanza has indica- 
tions of taking nice $3,500, after fine 
first week gross of $4,500. 

Ohio (Settos) (900; 15) — •Princess 
Comes Across' (Par) and 'Big Broad- 
cast of 1936' (Par), dual, split with 
'Poor Little Rich , Girl' (20th) and 
'Star of Midnight' (RKO), dual Fair 
$1,400. Last week, 'For the Asking 
(Par) arid 'Ceiling Zero' (WB), dual, 
split with 'Bullets or Ballots' (WB) 
and 'Brides Are Like That' (FN) 
dual, around average $1>600. 

Rialto (Fourth Ave.) (3,000; 15 
25-40) — 'Cafe Metropole' (20th) and 
'Midnight Taxi' (20th), dual. Tyrone 
Power-Loretta Young combo puUing 
younger set. Should do okay $6,500. 
Last week, 'Shall We Dance' (RKO), 
in eight days, pulled grand $10,500 
and mover over to Brown. 

Strand (Fourth Ave;) (1,500: 15 
25-40) T- 'No Man of Own' (Piar) 
and 'Night Key' (U), dual. Boris 
Karloll pic rated nods from cricks, 
while revival of Gable-Lombard 
opus of 1932 pulling good portion 
of biz. May do $4,800. or better, fine. 
Last week, 'King of Gamblers'. (Par. i 
arid 'Man Who Foiirid Himself 
(RKO), dual, grabbed he-fty $5,000. 



Astaire-Rogers No Panic in Frisco, 
But $22,(100 6 




Nice People 



. Hollywood, May 18. 
Hollywood writer set a hefty 
price Orii a story and handed the 
opus to an ageriit saying; that if 
the peddler got the asking price 
. he could keep 25 % ...a Pp^.SSntep, 
demanded got double, 

yrhereupon the. scribbler hedged 
on the pay-off threatiening re^ 
course to the screen play* 
WrightSi, 

Writer consulted ^ lawyer 
who enlarged $50 for telling him 
the agent could collect. Peace 
was then declared, with, the 
writer ipaying off in full. . « 



2 Hub Spots, hit 




'Maytiriie/ S'/zG, 'Cafe/ 

$3,000, Top Lincoln 

Lincoln, May 18. 

Two pictures are nicely oiit front 
for top honors here this week, 'Mayi 
time' and 'Cafe Metropole.' 
Estimates for This Week 

Liberty (LTC) (1,200; 10-15) — 
^I»ublic Enemy's Wife' (WB) plus 'It 
Happened Out West' (Fox), splitwith 
'Chan at Olympics' (Fox) plus 'Look- 
ing for Trouble' (UA). Average at 
$800. Last week, 'Espionage' (MG) 
plus 'Mighty' (U), split with 'Laugh- 
ing at Trouble' (20th) plus 'Old 
Cordl' (Rep). $90p, fair. 

Lincoln (LTC) (1,600; 10-20-25)— 
•Cafe Metropole' (20th), Should do 
very good $3,000. Last week, '01<' 
Soak' (MG); oke at $2,800. 

Orpheom (LTC) (l,350r '10-15-20 
25)^'That 1 May Live' (20th) and 



FAY BAINTER COASTING 
FOR MG TRIESTE' JOB 



Fay Bainter, now vacationing in 
New York, will return to the Coast 
aroimd the end of the month for a 
featured role in Metro's 'The iGirl 
From Trieste.* 

Dorothy Arzner directs. 



Dunn Talks Air Deal 

Hollywood, May 18. 

James Dunn has left for New York 
on a combo business arid pleasure 
trip. 

Actor will talk new picture and 
radio deals in the east and will stop 
in Indianapolis on his return to take 
in the automobile race; — 





,000, Tauper, 20 G, 
th Aided by Wasib. Stage Shows 



Washington, May 18. 

Things are looking up this week 
and if there are no socks, the moriey 
at least is rolling. in somewhat in 
proportion to expectatiohs. Three 
repeats are keeping total take down, 
with opening of river boats and out- 
door parkis also hurting. 

Capitol has slight lead with ICafe; 
Metropole,' though 'Prince and 
Pauper' and Hal Kemp ork, in: for 
only six days at Earle, may push to 
top honors. 'Shall We Dance' again 
is disappointment in holdover, week. 
.Estimates for This Week 

Capitol (Loew) (3,424; 25-35-60)— 
'Cafe Metropole' <20th) and vaude. 
Combo program drawing toward 
good $22,000.' Last week, . 'Woman 
Chasies Man* (UA) and vaude, 
couldn't better light $18,000. 

Columbia (Loew) (1,583; 25-40)— 
'Personal Property* (MG) (2d run)* 
Repeat after big week at Capitol 
should see oke $4,500. Last week, 
'Waikiki Wedding' (Par) (2d run), 
big $5,000. 

Earle (WB) (2.244; 25-35-40-60-70) 
—'Prince and Pauper*' (WB) and 
Vaiid^. Bally on coronation sequence 
plus Hal Kemp band behind foot- 



lights should see big $20,000. Last 
week, 'Wings of Morning' (20th) and 
Shep Fields orch. slipped to weak 
$15,000. 

Keith's (RKO) (1,830; 25-35-60 )— 
'Shall We Dance' (RKO) (2d week). 
Holding up wUh about $10,500, but 
still well under all other Astaire-' 
Rogers pix. Last week sariie ic 
slipped under estimate to disappoi - 
ing though ordinarily big. $15,000. 

Met (WB) (1,853; 25-40)— 'Silent 
Barriers' (GB). Looks like fair $4,- 
000. Last week, 'Mari's Here Agai ' 
(WB) slid to a season's new low. at 
$3,000, poor. 

Palace (Loew) (2,363; 25-35-60)^ 
'Star Is B6rh'. (UA) (2dweek). Head- 
ing foi* oke $9,000. Last week same 
pic took big $17,000. 

Rialto (Indie) (1,100; 25-30-40-55) 
—'Be Mine Tonight' (U) and 'It's a 
Gift' (Par) (rbviYals), Okay $2,600. 
Last week, 'Now and Forever' (Par) 
and 'Every Night at Eight' (Par) 
(revivals), fair $2,400. 

nclasco (indie) (1,100; 25-35-55)— 
'Gods at Play' (Cummings). French 
farce should see good $3,500. Last 
week 'Gin.c; Glub' (Cummings), took 
good $3,900. 



Boston, May 18. 

'Stai" Is Born,' dualled with 'Family 
Affair,' is big stuff at day and date 
Orph and State. -Shall We Dance* 
jbblds over at Memorial for second 
stainza at.good pace. 

George Kraska brings in. American 
premiere of 'Anni Lauriie,* all- 
Scottish pic starring Will Fyffe, at 
the Fine Arts Wednesday (19). 
'Captains Courageous' opened road- 
show stand at Colonial at $1.65 top 
Monday (17), 'Liost Horizon' finished 
five-week roadshow at Shubert 
Saturday (15). 

Estimates for This Week 
Boston (RKO) (3,000; 25-40-55)— 
'Wings Over Honolulu' (U) and ?Meri 
Not Gods' (UA), dual. Pale combo 
marking up so-so $7,500. Last Week, 
'Good as Married' (U) and 'Two Wise 
Maids' (Rep), dual, poor $6,000. 

Fenway (M&P) (1,400; 25-35-40-50) 
•-'Call It Day' (WB) and 'Once a 
Doctor' (WB), dual. Tepid at $5,000. 
Last week, 'Wake Up' (20th) (2nd 
run) arid 'Time Out for Romance' 
(20th) (1st run), dual, okay $7,000. 

Keith Memorial (RKO) (2,900; 25- 
40-55)— 'Shall We Dance' (RKO) 
(2nd wk). Tapping out hot $19,000 
after big $34,000 in first nine days.' 
Will either remain here one more 
week, or irrioVe across to the Boston 
for continued run. 

Metropolitan (M&P) (4,300; 35-55- 
75)— 'Turn. Off Moon* (Par) and 
stage show. Not. getting anywhere, 
only $15,000, poor. Last week, 
'Prince and Pauper' (WB),. just fair 
$20,000. 

Orpheom (Loew) (2,900; 25-35-40- 
50)-i-'Star Is Born' (UA) and 'Family 
Affair' (MG), duaL Biggest in weeks, 
$18,000 or better. Last week, good 
$15,000 for 'Night Must Fall' (MG) 
and 'Old Soak' (MG), dual. 

Paramount (M&P) (1,800; 25-35- 
55)— 'Call It Day' (WB) and 'Once a 
Doctor' (WB), dual. Sagging in the 
miiddle, poor $7,000 Will be tops. Last 
week, 'Wake Up' (20th) (2nd run) 
and 'Time Out Romance' (20th), (1st 
run), very good $10,000. 

Scollay (M&P) (2,700; 25-35-40-50) 
—'Wake Up' (20th) (3rd run), and 
'Men in Exile' (WB) (1st run), dual. 
Vei^r strong; en route to $8i500. Last 
week, 'Iriternes' (Par) (2rid run). arid 
'Scotland Yard' (Par) (1st run), dual, 
dandy, $8,000. 

Shubert (Col), (1,590: 55-85-$l;10 
$1.65)— Lost Horizon' (Col). Finished 
five-week roadshow; over week-end 
with pale $5,000; Skidded badly to- 
ward end. 

State (Loew) (3.3()0; 25-i35-4'6-50)— 
'Star Is Born' (UA) and 'Family 
Affair' (MG),.dual. Sailing into very 
big $16,000. Last week, good $13,500 
for 'Old Soak' (MG) and 'Night Must 
Fall' (MG), dual. 



San Franciscd. May .18; 
Although biz for 'Shall We , Dance* 
at the Golden Gate is off for a: Fred 
Astaire-Ginger Rogers pic, the Gate 
will lead the- rest of the town by a 
wide margi . Hotel strike is evi- 
dently hurting, but word-6f-mouth 
comments have been good and pic 
give signs of building; 
i•;-B>a»^'.^^^T-^AJ;>■r^st:■.;.lJ^)rizon* has. been 
way off since hoter strike and road- 
show goes out after current (12th) 
week. 

Estlinates for This Week 

Fox (P-WC) (5,000; ; 35-55)— 'Cafe 
Metropole' (20th) and 'Mountain 
Justice' (2d week). Bi has been 
brutal downtown ever sirice the 
first-runs upped admish 15c. at night. 
The nabes are still charging 30c. and 
35ci This combo doesn't look geared 
for much oVer $10,000 currently. 
Last week, first, below expectations 
at $16,500. 

Geary (Lurie) (1,200; 50-75-$1.00- 
$1.50)— 'Lost Horizon' (C:ol) (12th 
week). Biz has been sad since, the 
hotel strike, and. this is pic's . final 
week. Last week, 11th, $4,500, pooi-. 

Golden Gate (RKO)' (2,850; 40-55) 
—'Shall We Dance' and vaude. Con- 
sidering the jgeneral slowing-up in 
biz, $22,000 wiU be good. Biz did 
not start off :at the customary 
.Astairie-Rogers clip, but trade seems 
to be building. Last week, 'You 
Can't Buy Luck* (RKO) and Olsen 
and Johnson, $20,000, fair: 

Orphenm (F&M) (2,440; 40-55)— 
Good as Married' (U) and '2Vk 
Eloiurs Leave' (GN). Look pretty ' 
sad at $5,00(). Last Week, 'Oh, 
: Doctor* (U) arid 'Let Them Live' 
(U) hit new low: at $4,500, poor. 

Paramonnt (F-WC) (2,740; 35-55) 
—•Night Must FaU' (MG) and 'No- 
ddy's Baby' (MG). Looks no more 
than $12,000. Fair. Last week. 
Wake Up and Live* (20th) an 
Song of City' (MG) (3d week), 
47,500, which wasn't enough to war- 
rant the mbveover front the Fox, 

St. Franeis (F-WC) (1,400; 35-55) 
—'Manhattan Melbdrariia' (MG) and 
Girl Loves Boy^ (GN). Shortage of 
ace pictures responsible for revival 
of Gable'-Powell-Loy: starrer of sev- 
eral years ago. Looks like another 
wobbly Week at $5,000. Last week 
went iiito the red with 'Call It Day' 
(WB) and 'Midnight Taxi' (20th), 
doing less than $4,000. 

United Artists (Cohen) (1.200; 35-. 
55)— 'Star Is Born' (UA) (3d week). 
Picture has. kept up a fast gait ever 
since it : opened. Public nuts about 
technicolor, star and story. Looks 
headed for swell $8,500. Last week, 
second, big $10,000. 

Warfleld (F-WC) (2.680; 35-55)— 
•Prince and Pauper* (WB) and 'Fair 
Warning' (20th) (2d week). Lack 
of ace box-office fodder a reason for 
liolding this combo after a fair initial 
stanza. Will be lucky to chalk up 
$7,500. poor. Last week, first, so-so 
$13,000. 



Plenty Seattle H O 's, but 
Utile M; 'Star,' 2(1, 9G 



Seattle, May 18; 
. tar Is Born' and 'Shall We Dance' 
are in holdover weeks, while 'Prince 
and Pauper' showed enough at Fifth 
AvenUe to move over, to Music Box 
for; second week; Blue .Mouse is 
dropping 'Murder Goes to Town' anc 
going fourth week for 'Wake Up anc 
Live' solo. 

Estimates for This Week 
, Blue Mouse (Hamrick-Evergreen) 
(900; 32-37-42)— 'Wake Up and Live 
(20th) .(4th week). Sihgleton after- 
three weeks of dual, indicate fair 
$2,800. Last Weiek, third for same 



film, and "Murder Goes to Town* 
(Par), dual, good $3,600. 

Collsenm (Hamrick - Evergreen) 
(1,900; 21-32)— 'Mrs. Cheyney' (MG) 
and 'Under Cover of Night' (MG), 
dual. Anticipated fair $3;200. Last 
week, 'Avenue' (20th) and 'Beloved 
Enemy* (UA), dual, nice $3,600, 

Colonial (Sterling) (850; 11-16-21) 
—'Left Handed Law' (U) and 'Para- 
dise Express* (Rep), dual. Expected 
okay $2,500. Last week, 'Little 
Dogie* (Rep) and 'Too Many Wives 
(RKO), dual, $2,300, nice. 

Fifth Avenue (Hariirick-Evergreen) 
(2,400; 32-37-42)— 'Cafe Metropole 
(20th) and 'Midnight Taxi' (20th), 
dual. Good $7^500 in sight. Last, 
week, 'Prince and Pauper' (FN) and 
'Song of City' (MG), dual, $6,400, 
fair. 

Liberty (J-vH) (1,900; 21-32-42)-^ 
'Star Is Bom' (UA) <2d week). 
March-Gaynbr pic pulling great $9.- 
000. Last week, same film, $11,300, 
excellent. 

Music * Box (Hamrick-Evergreen ) 
(900; .32-37-42)— 'Prince, and Pauper 
(WB) and 'Song of City' (MG), dual. 
Releiase from Fifth Avenue anticipate 
good $3,000. Last week. 'Night Fall 
(MG) and^Way Out West' iMG), 
held eight days to $2,300, poor. 

Orpheum (Hamrick-Evergreen) < 
700: 32-37-42)— 'Shall We Dance 
(RKO) (2d :wedc)."H. b. Aslaire- 
Rogers pic riot doing as well as ex- 
pected; $4,300, slow. Last week, same 
fllrii, $8,400, big. 

Palomar (SterUrig) (1*450: 16-2<- 
37)— 'Hit Parade' (Rep) and vaude. 
Top billing for pix, with long list 
of ; riadio names, drawing great $6,- 
000. Last week, 'Soldier and Lady 
(RKO). arid Vaude; $3(100, poor. 

Paramount (Hamrick-Evergreen > 
(3(106; 32-37-42)— 'Turri Off Moon 
(Par) and lipVe from Stranger 
(UA), dual; Iffiaded for only $3,500, 
poor. Last week, '23i^ Hours Leave 
(GN). arid 'Chan at Olympics' (2()lli), 
dual, $4,800, moderate. . 
. Roosevelt (Sterling). (850; 21-32 
'You're -in Love' (Col), and 'Great 
O'Malley' -(WB), dual. Look.<; line 
only fair $2,500. Last week. * i 
Light' (WB), and 'Sea Devi (lJi. 
$2,600, fair. 



Wednesday* May 19, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



11 



Honie-Reelers Casliiiig in Heavly 
On Coronation, Hindenburg Footage 



Non-thieatrical motion picture film 
business was given a big lift ia the 
last 10 days as a result of the Hi 
den^iirg disaster and the Corona- 
tion. Dealers in 16mm. and 8mm. 
films, sible to obtain newsreel stock, 
reported record sales on the Zepp 
burning scenes and exceptional ad- 
vance orders for Coronation^ eji-^ 
sode's. 

In both events, they were, arid ire 
being released so isoon after actual 
occurrence that owners o4 home pro- 
jectibh equiipmeht are receiving the 
films, only a short time after cinema 
houses. Dealers in 16 inni. aind 8 
jnm, pictures Only have to reducis 
down j^e standard fiilm to the sniall- 
eir stock. 

^el on the Hindenburg went to 
dealers about 24 hours after the 
jiewsreel release. Unofficial estimates 

/ are thiat Pathegrams, alone, took in 
between $40,000 to $50,000 in sales 

\on this wreck up until yesterday 
(Tues.), with only cash deals con- 
idered. 

Heavy demand for . thiese 1ms is 
attributed to the fact that this prob- 
ably is the first time such an out- 
standing news event has bfeeh made 
available to the public s6 soon after 
the, occurrence. Non.- theatrical 
compiBtition aspect was not con- 
Bidered seriOUs because most 
newsreels had already cashed in on 
the tin^eliness angle. 

Not only wiU Coroniation films 
be available in 16 mm, and 8 mni. 
within the next week or so, but 
Pathegrams is ieaturing low prices. 
Talking film ^stock, with foo;tage 
comparable to what the newsreels 
will have, will sell at around $12, 
while the silent of about the same 
length will be sold at $7.20. About 
the same footage in 8 mrti. silent 
itock will go at $5.50. 

Castle Films will offer narrow^ 

euge footage of the Coronation at 
per 100 feet. 



Lang Gets Raft-Sdney 
Starrer; Krasna 's Orig. 

HoUywopd,. May 18. 

Paramount has. pacted Fritz Lang 
to direct Norman Krasha's original, 
Tou and Me,' - co-stiarrihg George 
Raft and Sylvia Sidney. Assignment 
irons out a muddled situation involve 
ing. a .number of changes in plans. 

Pic was first on B< P. SchUlberg's 
- production schedule, .with Krasna 
aupposed to direct and Carole Lom- 
bard opposite Raft. Schulberg^s Par- 
.amount deal terminated and the 
story reverted to Paramount. Then 
Krasna went over to Metro and 
things. got good and involved. 



Brooks Quits Cantor 

For David Loew Pic 

Hollywood, May 18. 
Matt rooks has been pacted to do 
an untitled script for David Loew 
.Prods. 

Writer recently the Eddie 

Canto>r. air show aftei-' a three-year, 
stretch. 



Mae West's Next 

HoUywoodT, May 18; 

Eddie Sutherland has bctii signa- 
tured tp direct the next Mae West 

Im for Major Picts. 

Not been definitely set yat whether 
the film vyrili be dohe as a musical 
™ the; gay 90's under the title 
frivolous Sal.' Handle belongs to 
Warner Bros., which used it re- 
cently. 



M(?tro 'Hospital' Toppers 

Hollywood, May IS. 
rranchot Tone, Maureen O'SulIi- 
yan .and Virginia Bruce have been 
assigned top .Spots, in Metro's 'Gen- 
eral .Hospital,' which win go into 
production at once. George B. Seitz; 



jvill made from Eric von 
atroheim's original. 



Stuir Smith Hits Pix 

.Leroy (Stuff) Smith's swing orch, 
^inOiar on New York's 52nd street 
«iery front, has been signatured by 

Stree^t*' '^^"^ 
Rami is expected on the Coast 
y^^l^ through a deal set by Her- 
'nan Bernie in N. Y. 



DEANNA^S SEQUEL 

U Plans Another 'Three Smart Girls* 
Plo for Durbin Followup 

Hollywood, May 18. 
; Cashing In on the popularly of 
'Three Smart Girls,' Universal plans 

Smart Girls Go to .Tpwn.' 

Production will be Miss Durbin's 
next after '100 Men and a Girl.* 



COL STARTS 1st 





Hollywood, iftiay 18. 
Columbia launched production May 
12 on the first of 15 episodes of 
'Jungle • Menace,' a ■ serial ; starring 
Frank Buck. George Melford dir 
rects. 

Cast includes Reginald Dienhy, 
Esther Ralston, Sacha Siemel, Char- 
lotte Henry, William BakeWell, Rieh-r 
ard Tucker, Duncan Renaldo, Snub 
Pollard, Williie Fling, Clarence Muse, 
Fred Kohler, Jr., Leroy Mason, Mat- 
thew Betz, Sherwood Bailey, Willy 
Costello, Gertrude Sutton,. George 
Rosener, John St. Polis, Rciger Wil- 
liams, Earl • Douglas, Richard God- 
<iard, Henry Dale, Harry Harvey, 
Dirk Thane, George Mprell, John 
Davidson, Delmar. Costello, Jim 
Corey,! Denver Dixon and 'Lightning' 
(dog). 

It's a serial, designed by the stu- 
dio to get adult trade, as well as 
kids. If successful, may mean a new 
trend in the chop-'eni-ups. 



Bloiiiy Miss Myers Siul; 
She MuUs Britisli Bids 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Ral^h Blum and his wife, C^armel 
Myers, have left for New York to 
sail tomorrow (Wed.) for Europe. 
They will be abroad two months. 

Former, actress has had two British 
Offers to return to pictures; and will 
discuss these deals while in England. 



RiEHASH OF INCE FILMS 



Phoenix Prods. .Will Use Library in 
12-Plciure Setup 



Hollywood, May 18, 
phoenix Prods, has acquired 130,- 
000 feet of film from the Hollywood 
Film Library formerly owned by the 
Thomas tnce estate, and plans: to use 
the clips in filming a series of 12 
pictures. 

Production conferences were held 
last week by Law:rence C, Lee, presi- 
dent, and Charles E. Coe, vice- 
president of Phoenix, on Coe's ar- 
rival from Montana. 



Flynh, Blondell Topping 
WB's ^Perfect Specimen* 

Hollywood, May 18. 

Errol Flynn and. Joan Blondell 
have been assigned to top spots in 
Warners' 'The Perfect Specimen.' 

Also in the cast are Beverly Rob- 
ertsi Hugh Herbert and Marie Wil- 
son. 



Conn on *37 Melody' 

Hollywood, May 18. 

Harry W. Conn is writing dialog 
for sequences in Metro's 'Broadway 
Melody -of 1937.^ 

Forrherly toiled Jack 
Benny. 



U NABS WPA ACTOR 

Holiywopd, May 18. 

Lyons Wickland lias been, signed 
for Universal's 'West Coast Limited.' 

Player is currently' appearing, in 
' iind Ailey,' Federal Theatre Projr- 
,ect, 'at the Hollywood Playhouse; 



Homolka's Par Single- 
Oscar Homolka's contract with 
Paramount calls for one picture, 
with opti It wiU be 'Ebb Tide,' 
to be produced early, is summer 
In color'. 

German actor, who has been 
working in British pictures, arrived 
from the other Side early last week 
and left Thursday (13) for the Coast. 



Fair U Fair 



Milwaukee. May 18 
leaner Whitney, who made a 
personal appearance in Chicago 
last week. Was shanghaied to 
Milw;aukee for a four-hour ex- 
ploitation stunt in conjunction 
with a department store's Hol- 
lywood merchandising stiint.. 
Visiting celeb idea was heavily 
publicized. Department store 
had worked out a schedule of 
events that kept Miss Whitney 
in. a constant dither fpr four 
.hours. 

time without evehvcharging off 
ibroad fare,i Miss Whitney- 
spied a hat in the store that she 
likedV It \yas tagged $18,75,. 
which is what they, asked her to 
pay for it. Hpyirever, when her 
p. a. squawked, the store's pro- 
motion manager kindly consent- 
ed to cut the price to |9.45— : 
with proviso that Miss 

Whitney sign a personal in- 
dorsement in lieu of the bal- 
ance. 




KeU Up hy Tax, 




Legal, tax and :other ;problems are 
holding UP the final closing of the 
deal imdeir which the A. H, Blank 
partnership would be^ placed on a 
permanent basis with Paramount 
and additional theatres controlled 
by the . Blank inteirests brought into 
the Par fold. Blank came into New 
York- last week to confer with Y. 
Frank Freeman and others on de- 
tai in cohneption With consumma- 
tion of the , deal, but expected that 
it may receive signatures within 
two weeks and go before the P?ir 
board for {approval. 

Paramount partnership with 
Blank, including the buy-back privir 
lege by. Par such as existed with 
Karl Hpblitzelle and associate in 
the Texas territory, covers around 
50 theatres in the Blank "Tri-States 
circuit in Iowa, 111 i is and Ne- 
braska. 

Since this' partnership was made 
With Blank, threei years ago. Blank 
and associates on their own have 
built up another circuit known as 
the Central States. This embraces 
around 25 theatres in the midwest 
and includes some houses in smaller 
towns, formerly operated by F'ar, 
which were dropped during bank- 
ruptcy. 

Under the p.rop'psed new deal bie- 
tween Blank & par, this. Central 
States chain is to be merged , into 
Tri'-States under a partnership 
which would give Biahk 50% con- 
trol and Par the other half. 



New Drive on to Unionize AD 
Theatre Help in U. S.; Exchange 
Workers and House Personnel 



Simon, Haley, Pixilated 
Sisters in 20th's love' 



Hollywood, May 18. 

'Danger-^Loye at Wdr starring 
Simone: imon. with Jack' Haley op- 
posite, roils at .20th -Fox May. 24, 
with Ludwig Preminger directing. 

Included in the cast are Margaret 
Seddpn and Margaret McVifade, the 
pi' iiated spinster sisters of 'Mr. 
Deeds Goes ito Town,' playing siniilar 
characterizations. 



Anna Sten Sings 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Anna Sten will Warble two num- 
bers, in 'Love Me Agai ;' her second 
film for Grand National. Victor 
Schertzinger provides both the orig- 
inal sto^y and the music for the film 
and John Francis Larkin is work- 
ing on . the . screen play. Dr, Eugene 
Frenke is producing; 

Pic is slated to follow Miss ■ Sten's 
'Gorgeous' on GN's program. 



Sandrich's Prowl 



. Mark Sahdrich sails today (Wed.) 
for Europe, ^yhere he may pick up 
Some new ideas as well as talent for 
the next musical he wilt direct on 
the RKO lot: 

He has no set itinerary, planning 
to go where i s- and talent re- 
ported to. him seems worth investi- 
gating. 



A^ter numerous conferences be- 
tween officers of the International 
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- 
ployees and other unions which, it 
.hw- be^isV'.'^.Mi^e^ w'lUviafSW •Jui'^iidiC--: 
tton over various branches of .the- 
atre personnel, lines are being laid 
for complete organization of hpuseis 
of all descriptions, from tpp tP' botr 
tom, with a view to early negotia- 
tions for recognition and contracts. 
These branches include everyphe in 
theatres except st?j^ehands, musi- 
cians and opera tprs. 

While the I. A. T. S; E. ivpted . in 
Chicago recently oii the program to 
uniPnize theatres froih cellar , to ceil- 
ing, and will supervise the drive, 
actual organizing work will be split 
between this International and two' 
other unions. Theise are the Man- 
agers & Press Agents' Unipn, which 
holds a charted from the American 
Federation of Labor, and Local d2J 
of the Building Service Employees' 
International Union, also , affiliated 
with the A. F. Pf L. Conferences 
have determined that the Managers 
& Press Agents, headed by Teddy 
i^Iitchell, with the backing and ais- 
sistahce of the L A., will undiertake 
the organizing' of managers, treas- 
urers, V assistant managers, press 
agents, advertising men, etc., in the 
theatres; 

Local 32J of the Building Service 
Employees; also with the "I. A. - 
operating, will organize the porters, 
janitors, Cleaners, elevator men, etc. 
Since these unions each have char^ 
ters, the lATSE is respecting their 
rights to jurisdiction. IA itself will 
organize the branch of theiattre work- 
ers which takes in ushers, doormen, 
ticket takers, ticket sellers; ;etc. 
There being no union' for jurisdic- 
tion over these people, , the IA pro- 
poses- to organize a local for their 
membership. 

Three Locals 

Thus,, three dijfterent locals, all 
new to theatres. Will 1 come in', for 
bargai ing and contracts. There be- 
ing three at present in theatres-T", 
stagehands, ; musicians, and operators' 
—managers will be dealing with a 
total of six in the future, while a. 
seventh ior : producer-distributor- 
chain people in 32 of the big keys 
will be the exchanges. 

•Two lATSE, vice presidents, ill 
Brennan and Dick Walsh, each of 
whom are in. charge of other unions, 
are directing the new drive, while 
Joseph D. . Basson, president of the; 
New York operators, is supervising 
the exchanges. Brennan is concen- 
trating on the drives in which the 
Managers 8c Press Agents, as weil 
as the Building Service Employee 
unions, will figure. While Walsh will 
supervise the organization of ushers, 
doormen, ticket-takers, etc., into a 
new Union. Walsh is the lA v.p. in 
charge of the Film Technicians who 
recently negotiated contracts with 
the New York laboratorie.s, Brennan 
is president of Theatrical Protective 
Union, Local No. 1 (Ni Y'. stage 
hands). .. 

Local 32J of the Building Service 
Employees' International, of which 
Charles Levy is secretary, is sep- 
arate and distinct from Local 32B,' 
which pulied a sensational but suc- 
cessful strike two years ago to or;- 
ganize elevator operators and serr 
vice personnel in apartment and of- 
fice bUHdingsi International . itself, 
headed by Jerry Ho.ran,. whp recent- ' 
ly died; now has as its president 
George Scalisl. 

Joseph D. Basson,. who is supervis- 
ing the. wPrk. of organising film, ex- 
changes, in New York arid, niay also 
handle, prganizing of front-bf-the-^ 
house theatre employees when that 
drive gets under way, is hearing the 
point where a chairter to govern the 
men working in film branches will 
be applied foi", land membership dues 
set.. ... , 

Already . Basson has bbtaihed the 
support of the majority, of the ex- 
change workers, who have signed 
up with the organizing committee 
and. pledged membership in the 
union when it is ready to fuhctJon.' 
this branch of activity in the In- 
ternational Alliance of Theatrical; 
Stage Employees will include ship-- 
pers, handlers, inspectors, rewinders, 
etc., in the exchanges, ' but cannot 
take in the .stertbgraphers, clerks and 
accountants because of conflict in 
jiirisdictiph with the Bookkeepers, 
Stenographers & Accountants Union, 
Local 12646, which has been in ex- 
istence many years. 

Name for the exchange union in 



New York has not as yet been de- 
cided, nor is there aiiy in ication as 
to who Will be the officers. BasT 
son himself is not expected to be in 
^t&ict /picture, after the wpirk -of or- 
ganizing is completed, since he is 
president of Local 306, Mpving Pic- 
ture Machine Operators oif New 
Yprk. 

Applicatiori for charter frPm the 
I. Ai may be drawn up and submitted 
before the end of the week. 



St. Louis Set 

St. Louis, May 18, 
Working agreements having been 
signed with Fanchoh & Marco's first- 
run hpliises, Loew's, Municipal Au- 
ditorium, Municipal Theatre and St. 
Louis Amusement do., owner of 22 
nabes, John P. Nick, International 
v.p. of IATSE is negotiating with 
indie operators to come into the fold 
of the newly organized Theatrical 
Employes Local Union No. 2. Ah 
agreement has been reached^ he 
stated, on everything but a . wage 
scale, and this is expected to be 
settled shortly. 

, Nick said that Film Exchange Em- 
ployes Local No. 16169, iormed 1 
1918, and Theatrical Amusement Em- 
ployes Local No. 19905, had 
rendered their direct AFL charters 
and their members have joined Filnri 
Exchange Employes Local No. 1, 
Theatrical timployes Local No. 
which are affiliated with IATSE. 



Flint 100% Unionized 

Flint, Mich;, May 18. 

For the first time since , the local 
Motion. Picture Machine Operators. 
Union has .been . in existence it has 
becomeMOO% uhibhized ainphg the 
theatres, with an agreement con- 
cluded last, week Which made every 
theatre in town fully unionized. And 
as such every theatre in toWn has 
been recogniised as fair to labor; 

jCbnfab was held last week be- 
tween local theatre managers ahd 
Walter Hahn, delegate to the Flint 
'Federation of-Laboi: frbm-the inotibn* 
picture operators local union. 



Albany 100% Organized 

Albany, May 18, 

More than 100 employes of the IQ 
motion , picture film exchanges in. 
Albany have applied for a charter 
from the Theatrical and Stage Em- 
ployes imion, A. L, of L. organizers 
announce. Albany Motion Picture 
Operators Union assisted i form- 
ing the union. 

Employes, already signed represent 
90% of those engaged in motion pic-, 
ture distribution in Albany, it ' 
claimed, 

Philly Wage Scale 

Philadelphi . May 18, 
Meeting of managers of Philly ex- 
changes was called in the Fox Build- 
ing yesterday (Monday) by Lou 
KrPuse, assistant to the prcz- of 
IATSE to officially Inform them tha* 
their employes have been unionized 
and a negotiating committee will hit 
them shortly t6t approval of new 
wage scales. 

Execs-^representihg eight major 
and five indie units- here — appeared 
very friendly, All stressed willingr 
ness to agree to . any scale within 
reason.. They will confab with. -the 
hegotiati itlee some time this 

week. 

Krouse .sald that cohtejnp 
creases in wages were- froni^ 
30%;. Exchange officials, Jnfpr 
of , declared they di * 
the. anibunt exorbitant; 

Permanent officers of the .Film Ex-', 
change Employes Union, Local 7B, 
Were elected - at a meeting ' attended 
by 190 merribers in the Broadway 
hotel, President is William. Gjibriel, 
Metro booker; James Keating, 
United Artists shipper, is vicc-prez; 
Mollie Cohcn<, Metro, inspectress, sec-,, 
retary; and Charles Smith,. Prefen-ed 
shipper, sergeaht-at-arms. 



Chi Busy 

Chicago, May 18, . 

General unionization of the local 
exchange workers continues apace, 
with the employees in the poster, 
inspection and shipping departments 
practically all having been taken 
into the International Alliance of 
Theatrical Stage Employes. . 

UnionziatiOn has been going on 
quietly, but effectively, wi.th the 
nqads of the excliahges hearing 
practically nothinj;' about the oi'gimi- 
zalion of the einiiloycs. 



12 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



You get em from Paramoun 




Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



VARIETY 



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ivhen you need 'em most 




14 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



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Some hair raisini «onfl$ from 
a Real Hill-Billy Band . . - 




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Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



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16 



VARIETY 



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Wednesday, May J9, 1937 



VARIETY 



when you need 'em most 







m ARTHUR . EDWARD /IRNOLD 





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18 



•VARreXT'S' 1.0ND0N OVFICK, 
• St, MartlD's riac«, TrafMlictir Squurc 



INTERNATIONAL NEWS 



. Tel«vb«n«T«mpla Itarimi-8««X 



Parts Theatres Prepare Elaborate 
ProihctHHis for the Expo Visitors 



. Paris, ]\Iay 9; 

Paris' legit world is in a whirl 
of schemings and preparations to 
inake the expo season a success to 
end all successesr 

Exceptional performances, to be 
presented during the .Coming ■sum- 
mer. tirid fall, are announced every 
..-daXJ plans for more productiohs are 
discussed; 'aricr eN^^^^ of the 

promiised shows f«til . to materialize, 
there Should bp enough left to give 
expo visitors plenty to talk about. 

Many of these visitors will come 
to Paris from abroad for the first 
and last time of their lives this sum- 
mer. Bealizing . this,. Mbnsielur 
Rouche, Administrator General of 
the Opera, decided to give foreign- 
er's, a iaste 6f official French stage 
art. He. has announced' his inten- 
tion to 'jevive sdnie of the one-time 
favorites at the Opera-Gomiqiie dur- 
ing , the ..summer months. Other State 
theatres,, the Cbmedie Francaise, the 
Odeon and the Opera, will forego. 
■ their arihual darkehi or greatly, 
shorten it.' 

The complete . summer program 
of these theatres is not yet known, 
but plenty of rsmors' are 'flying 
around. .Main bill for th6 Odeon 
Avill Viidoubtedly be: a hew French: 
version of Shakespeare's 'Midsum- 
mer Night's Dream' by a young 
Swiss professor, Louis , Piachaud, 
whoise French version of 'Corioleinus' 
has already been extremely well 
rieceived at the Comedie Francaise, 
This 'Sbhg^ d'une Nuit d'Ete' has 
beien very effectively staged at the 
Odieon by Paul Abram> in addi- 
tion to the fiill score of Mendels- 
sohn's music which is played by 
the Odeon orchestra, directed by 
Andre Cassou, the cast, for the 
most ipart, plays very well. 

Shakespeare 

&icidentally, Shdkespeare is get- 
ting to be quite! a b.o. draw in this 
town. French versions of 'Corio- 
lanus,' 'Richard 11,' 'Julius Caesar,' 
•The Merchant of Venice,' 'Troilus 
and Cressida,' have been presented 
Syith great success during the past 

sions win be given again this Sum- 
mer, in addition to translation of 
•iRomeo and Juliet' and 'Othello' in 
preparation) 
At the Comedie-Francaise Bourdet 
|( Continued on ' page .48) 



AUSTRALIA'S fix 

ilms Meeting: With Favor in 
Antipodes 



Sydney, April 27. 
Cooler weather sends biz; up a lit- 
tle, although right now many man- 
agements seek new attractions. 'Rose 
Marie' (Metro) swings into a strong 
second week and staying. 'Lloyds' 
(Fox) folds after four weeks, and 
•The Plainsman' (Par) stops on 
fifth. Universal's 'Show Boat' is 
putting .up closing notices as one 
year's run approaches. Also Uni- 
versal has a smash hit here in 'My 
Man Godfrey' which sweeps into 
fourth week easily. Cinesound's 
*It Isn't .Done' clicks along in siscond 
niohth and is staying. Majority of 
solid hits here in recent weeks have 
been comedies; 'Beloved Enemy' 
(UA) had; a strong /ferrirne preiiiiere 
and should enjoy a decent run. 
•'Wi " (RKO) quits after four 
weeks; ilst British have 'Sally of 
the Regiment' (G-B) and 'Soft 
Lights-Sweet Music' (G-B). Weekly- 
change is fairly solid this week with 
•Black Legion' (WB). New ones 
cominig in are, 'Girl in a Million' 
(Fox), 'Gome and Get It' (UA) and 
'Maid of Salem' (Par). 



Melbourne, April 27: 
iz is' still very' good here with 
•Lloyds' (Fox), 'It Isn't Done' (C), 
'Hearts in. jReunioh' (Fox), 'Rbmeo 
and. Juli ' (Metro), .'Itangle River 
(Col), 'The Plainsman' (Par), and 
•Rembrandt' (UA). 



2 Wenter iPlays Click 

Vienna, May 7, 
Josef Wenter's two. plays, 'Princess' 
end! 'Countess of Tulringia,' both with 
historical biackground, are drawing 
full houses. 

'Princess' ■ is running in the 
Deutsche Volkstheatrc, with Maria 
Fein, Victor van Buren and Josef 
Rehbergei' starring, while 'Countess' 
was produced by Friedrich Rosen- 
thal in the Burgtheatre-wlth M, Wos- 
tei^* H. Steinboeck and F, Balser in 
th6 Reading parts. 



Doyle Swkcbes Ldndon 
theatre Tags by Request 



Sydney,. April 
Stuart F; Doyle has beeil advised 
that the :. British government ■ was op- 
'PCSMl Jo .:hi§..L9ij(^pn vetlture . being 
titled State theatre. OMcrals clafRltcr 
that siich -a title might leacl public to 
believe that the. government was , inr 
terested in the . theatre. 

New title chosen is Regent cinema; 
Other theatre will be changed from 
Cosmopolitan to Rex Cinema. Regent 
:will be used for ace American pix, 
and the Rex for British and Austra- 
lian pix in keepih^g with the policy 
first laid down. 



AUSnUAN CENSORS M 
DA'S 'ONLY UVE ONCE' 

ienna,.May 7. 

>You Only Live dnc^' (UA), Fritz 
Lang pibture, id not pass Austrijan 
censorship board. 

Despiite promises bbard 
refused to issue permit. Reason given, 
'too realistic' 





BRITISH PIX 





Lblidoh, May 9; 
int conversations Within the mo-, 
tion picture business are shaping .to 
a surprise conclusion, with agree- 
ment virtually set on all major prob- 
lems affecting producers, distributors 
and exhibitors. Practicadly all. now 
left to do is to draft a report for the 
Board of Trade, Indicating lines on 
which a permanent trade committee 
Would operate. 

Cinema- Exhibs asispclatipn . and 
Kinema Renters society are stated 
to; have agreed oh ihost points at 
issue, with quota the principal ob- 
jective, of the talks. C. E. A. will 
now definitely recommend to the 
Board of Trade that' exhibs' quota be 
stabilized at 10%, While distribs be 
expected to handle 15%— giving the- 
aVfes a~marjgm of f.iejectio'n. 

Exhibs will also recommend a 
minimum cost for quota productions, 
urging $75,000 as the basis. 

Final meeting took, place today 
between C. E. A. and producer^,; and 
it is understood latter have accepted 
the. dibtum of the Other groups that 
reciprocity in the U; S- market can 
have no place in the set-up, which 
will consist of a three-way trade 
body with aii independent arbitrator 
to decide domestic disputes. 



Miller Sets Reich Actor 
For *Regina' In London 

Berlin, May 9. 

Gilbert Miller signed the young 
German film and stage actor Willi 
Eichberger for the part of Albert 
of Cob.urg-Gotha in 'Victoria Regina.' 
It opens in London in June. 

This is the same part which an- 
other German, Anton Wallbrook, is 
now imperisonating for the filmiza- 
tion of same play in London. 



WC OWN 




Rome, May 7. 

Construction of. Italy's Hollywood, 
the Ciiiema City of Quadraro, . was 
started April 2iB by Mussolini. Its 
comipletion will mark the filling of .a 
large gap in the equipment of the 
Italian film industry, left by the 
burning ot the biggest and. best stu- 
dio, the CINES. 

Carlo Roncorbni, president' of the 
CINES, who organized the buildmg 
of the Cinema City, hopes: that the 
new ios \yill make ' Rome hot 
only a center of the Italian film 

industry, but a center of European 
production as well. Grounds of. the 
hew Cinema City coyer roughly 
2,000,000 square feet, of which about 
one-fifth is occupied by buildings, 
roads and formal gardens, leaving 
the rest for. the construction of ex- 
terior sets and taking of mass scenes. 



NAZI-JAP FILM 

PACT SIGNED 



Berlin, May 9. 

The rUmor of a. Jap-Teutonic pact 
has becohie a reality with the sign- 
ing of the Cbco-TbbisrNippon (To- 
kyo) and Tobis-Cinema-Film, Inc. 
(Berlin) contract. is is proof of 
the ' growing business relations be- 
tween the two countries in general 
and opens new .lpossi ilities in Japan 
for Gdrmaii pix. This exportation 
of German Tobis films to Japan is 
just another . step forward for Ger-: 
many in her concentrated campaign 
for a World market. 

Japanese pix, formerly < made for 
domestic trade only, are now to be 
put on the ihternatibnal market. Two 
are already^ scheduled for Berlin 
next season, with the possibility of 
this number, being augmented. These 
hew film relations will ^Iso be a 
great help to Germany in her for- 
eign exchange problem. 



Paris Musicians' 40-Houf Ruling 




Paris, May' ,. 
Mo.st all of the 'gay' that ever ex- 
isted in this town has been: knocked 
for a circular loop for one night ai 
week, 

Moijday, hereafter, ill be bluer 
than a blue law ifor who want 

to let loose of- their coi where the 
lights are bright. There Just ain't 
gonna' be no ■bright lights for the 
siniple reason that every night club, 
cabaret and after dark haunt will 
be closed with the. exception of a 
few. 

A 40-hour week, for the musicians 
is the' cause of all of this, and its 
being brought into effect has caused 
squawks from more places than one. 
And that does always come from the 
guy who wants to celebrate on that 
particular night 

Curiously enough, aind contrary to 
what one 'Would think, 'cinema< own- 
ers are among those who are beefing 
most. Ordinary argument would 
have it that, if people can't go to 
,night clubs then they will go to the 



•cineina. But not so say the oper- 
ators of film houseis. 

They say that because people 'can't 
go out and step around after the 
show is over they would rather stay 
home entirely. And they are serious 
about it and more than one ihana-^ 
ger has quoted figures before ahd 
after the .Monday closing of the 
niteries .to prove that this stand- 
point hplds a lot of ^yater. 

For the moment it . is causing the 
opefat6?'s of the bright spots much 
worry. In the case of rhany acts 
and in the majority of bands pay- 
ment is made by the week. Present 
Contracts say nothing about a Mon- 
day closing so the artists and mur 
sicians are getting the same pay, but 
only helping the cash till to ring for 
six days o< the seven/ 

That will all be changed, of course, 
but the operators are . still kicking 
because of the loss of one night's 
receipts. E:)cposition or no . exposi- 
tion, it does not look as iif there is 
going to be any change. 



Saclia Guitry Completes New Film 





New Org. Plans Mer 
Mexican Pic Standards 



Mexico City, . May 18. 

What corresponds to a' better film 
board has been established for the 
Mexican pic ; industry . with ; insti tu 
tion. of the Associacion .Mexicana de 
Pro'ductores Cinematografica. 

Objects , of the organization, which 
has national jurisdiction, are to de- 
velop the industry in all its branch- 
eis; elevate ethical, cultural land tech 
nical standards; brihg about better 
Irelations among its members, arbi- 
trate disputes, protect industry's in- 
terests, stimulate productioh and 
seek wider distribution of Mexican 
pix at ..home and abr-oad. 




[amst 
Pix Restrictions 



Sydney, April 27», 
Despite the fact that he controls 
a British distributing agency, British 
Empire .Films, Stuart F. Doyle is 
strongly opposed to. a proposal con- 
templated by Briti^Sh intereists here 
to request the government to intro- 
duce a 25 percent rejection clause 
against American pix in favor of 
British. Doyle told the British asso- 
ciation of his feelings Oh this miat- 
ter and the. association: finally in- 
formed the government that Dbyle 
was not in sympathy with the pro- 
posal and had refused to ive his 
support 

Also learned that Doyle favors an 
open market for pix, >yhether they 
be British, 'Am&Ficah-cr Australian,- 
leaving it to the public to buy at 
the' b.o. the type of entertainment 
required. Rejection rights would be 
of great value to 'Doyle, but if the 
public wants American pix he feels 
that it should get them without any 
restrictions. 

Dbyle is. also strpfigly opjposed to 
the local quota act His own com- 
pany, - Cinesoiind, has gotten along 
okay. Without its benefit and will 
continue to do so, Doyle . .states. 
Doyle desires to keep .hi theatres 
international and play the pix most 
sought after by the public. Says that 
the b.o. supplies the only answer. 



Paris, May. 9. 
What is probably, the greatest film 
undertaking by- 'any individual in 
France si films Were first made 
here has j.ust been completed by 
Sacha Guitry and : will receive its 
first public showing during the com- 
ing week. 

Called -Les Perles de la Cburonne' 
Guitry 's filni.,6oeS backl. to the time 
of Pojpe element VII with the story 
written aroimd the seven pearls 
Clement gaive to Catherine de Me- 
dici, when Francois I asked for her 
hand foi: the Dauphi Henri 
d'brleans; 

pa May 11 the film will first 
be seen in Paris, Rome and London. 
Story has been brought up to things 
as current as the Coronation itself, 
as the latter scenes of the pic takei 
place aboard the Normandie. 

In covering these centuries of hisr 
tory Guitry has called iipon a large 
corps. Three hundred actors have 
taken part in the film while 1,500 
extras have been used. 

Heading the cast is Guitry hirnself, 
;^ho pliays, among other things, the 
parts ot F'rancois l and Napoleon li; 
Lyn Harding will appear as Henry 
VIII, Ermeto Ziaccohi as Clement VII, 
Aimie iSimon Girard as Henry IV; 
Jean-IiOuis Barrault as Bonaparte. 
Jacqueline Delubac will take the 
part of Siary Stuart, Yvette Pienne 
that. Of Queen Elizabeth; Simone Re- 
nant of La Dubaj^i^. Other personr 
ages who will be showh in the film 
will include Catherine de Medici, 
Laiurent' de Medici, Marie Tudor, 
Anne BoUeyn, the Qiieen of Abys- 
sinia, Paul HI, Henry II, Francois II, 
Charles IX, Josephine and Mme. 
Tallien. . 

Cast also includes Lisette . Lavin, 
Gerihaine' Aussey, Jacqueline Daiz, 
Nizan, Pierre Juvenet Enrico Glori, 
Marthe Mussine, Simone Renant 
Raimu, and Pauline Carton. 

First showing here will be a char- 
ity affair for wounded War veterans. 
Seats at the Marignan, where it will 
be shown, go from $2.50 to $7;56 top, 
wiift fiie icelf eiflohy being :t>i'esid«d 
over by President Lebrun, flanked 
by Ministers Daladier and Riviera 
and it is expectied Marshal Petain, 
Generals Gouraud, Weygand, Game- 
lin and Missel will also . attend. 

Pic is scheduled to start regular 
runs in Brussels, London, Paris ahd 
Rome on May 13, the day after the 
Coronation. Guitry is releasing it 
on that day as homage of the French 
cinema industry to the King of 
England. 



Moscow Art Theatre 
To Do 4 Plays in Paris 



Moscow, May 7. 
Moscow's pride, the famous Art 
Theatre, is making one of its rare 
trips beyond the border this sum- 
mer to present four plays in Paris 
during; August When the Exposi- 
tion is in full swing. 

First on the list is 'Anna Kate- 
nina,' which got epic notices after- 
its premiere this month. 'Days of 
the Turbi ,' Bulgakov's tale of a 
White, officer's family in kiev dur- 
ing the C?ivil War, a favorite here, 
is also igping. 'Boris Gudunov' iand 
'Ardent Heart' fill out the roster.. 
Att theatre Was invited by the 
Champs Elysses theatre in Paris to 
make the tri . 



Reuss Leaving Vienna 
For London Pic Spot 

Vienna, May 7. 
Leo Reuss-Brandhofer leaves 
shortly for London pic assignment 
He intends to proceed to Hollywood 
afterwards, 

Reuss is appeiaririg. in the Jewish 
Cultural theatre in Arnbld Zweig's 
drama, •Semael,' He came here after 
being expelled from Germany be- 
cause of racial reasons. 



Pix in Palestine 



Jerusalem, April 29. 

Current American pix here in- 
clude 'General Died at Dawn' (Par), 
'So Red the Rose* and 'Desire* 
(Par), at the EdisOn; 'Wife vs. Sec- 
retary' (MG), 'Strike Me Pink' at 
the Zion Hall; 'Rendezvous' (MG) 
and 'Audioscopiks' at the Eden Hall. 

Pix in "Tel Aviv include 'As You 
Like ir (Radio? and 'Tarzan Es- 
capes' (MG) at the Cinema OphJr; 
'Zircus Saran^ (German speaking), 
and 'We Die Lerche Sihgt' at the 
Cinema Migdalor; 'Ciircus' (Moscow 
ArtTheatre), and 'Doubrovsky' at. 
the Cinema Eden; 'Walking Dead' 
(WB) and 'The Last Gypsy' at the 
Ciiiema iWograbi; '^W. Musketeers' 
and -Comradeship' at the Rimon. 

Haifa: 'Tagebuch der Geliebten* 
and 'LOve Me Forever' (Col) ' the 
Armon; 'The Bohemian Girl' 
'Confetti* at the Orah; 'Way Down 
East' 'Return of Chandu' and 'Last 
of the Mohicans* (VA) at thie En- 
Dor; 'China Seas' (MG) at the Aviv 
Ciniema. 



Glldemeyer to Cuba 

F. H. Gildemeyer, formerly of 
Electtical Research Products, Inc., 
field technical group at Detroit, left 
for Puerto Rico last week. 

He will be branch manager in 
this region for Western Electric. 



And Cairo 

C:«iiiro, April 29, 
Current pix in Alexandriia in- 
clude 'Escapade' (MG) at the Royal 
Cinema; 'You're All I Need,' Vi- 
enna Concert Hall; 'Ah Wilderness'. 
(MG), Rialto Cinerna; 'Three iSmiart 
Girls' (U) at the Mohammed ly; 
'Theodora Goes Wild' (Col) at the 
Rio; 'White Lies,' Strand; 'Love on 
the Run' (MG), Rialto. 

In Cairo: 'The Last Solution' 
(Arabic talker). Royal; 'One in a 
Million' (26th), Metropole; 'The 
Devil Is a Sissy* (MG), Diana Pal- 
ace; 'The Story of Louis Pasteur' 
(WB), Triomphe; 'Three Live 
Ghosts* (MG), Cosmo; 'Show Boat,' 
(U), Roxy. 



t St. Martin's PI^m, l^nffalmir iql 




INTERNATIONAI. NEWS 



- - -- — - — . ^ : : 

U. S. IN FRANCt 



Brit. Lab Men Used 
to Force Fdm Cos. 




as Ax 






Lohdon, May 9. 

Threatened stri of laboratory 
workers, yrhich would hav* com- 
pletely Jammed the Coronation 
newsreels, was stalled at tha llth 
io and lab. companies 
agreed to meet representatives of 
the employees' , Association of 
.Technici 

is in a ferment of" labor 
unrest and film cutters and printers, 
MyhO have been agitating some 
months for more stable working 
conditions iand rateis of pay, saW 
Coronation plans as their opportu- 
nity to forici a barter. Overtures to 
the" femployers have hitherto met: a 
blank refusal to negotiate. 

Following abortive attempts to se- 
cure recognition from the bosses, 
A. C. T. held section meetings, first 
of studio and laboratory workers, 
who agreed to withdi-aw their vlabor 
as the utlimate weapon, followed by 
a .meeting of hewsreel men^ who 
guaranteed uncompromising support 
for their fellow workers. These 
were followed by further fruitless 
appeals for a conference. 

Off icers of A. • C. T., planned a 
meeting for a strike vote on the eve 
Of the Coronation. Film printing 
companies, however, got wind of the 
move and rushed ini with an offer 
to negotiate^though . fixing the date 
as. May 20 and effectively stalling 
any action by labor interests until 
after the Coronation. . 



London Exhibs Outline 
New Rve-Poinl Plan 
To Fight Over-Sealing 

, May 

Exhibitors have got their shirt- 
ileeves rolled up on a hew policy 
to combat oyerser^ting, variiusly re- 
crded a? a major menace threaten^ 
ing existing theatres. Overbuilding 
Committee of Cinema Exhibs Ass'n 
has just issued a pamphlet of guid- 
ance to members in which it defines 
• five-point plan for all to follow. 
These are the points: 

Appeal to licensing authorities to 
withhold granting, of licenses where 
they think fit; appeal to all authori- 
ties to hear C. E. A. deputations; 
continuing attempts to find a solu- 
tion by control by all sections of 
the industry; approach to Govern- 
ment for legislation; avalanche of 
publicity among Press, Parliament, 
municipal corporations, investors, 
sources of finance, etc. 

Arguments suggested, for submis- 
sion to authorities are: 

Where there; * sufficient seating, 
a new theaitre neither increases 
patronage nor film sUpply. Figures 
of the London area show 10% in- 
crease seating accommodation 
brought only 1% increase in patron- 
age. 

. It there are too. many theatres; 
every film, good, bad pi: irtdiffereht, 
secures exhibition in that area. Inr ; 
ferior pictures gain wider exhibi-. 

, which is neither in the inter- 
ests of public, exhibs or producers 
seriously endeavoring to improve 
the , merits of production. Over- 
seating encourages production , of 
pictures unw.prthy of exhibition, and 
(iase is against public inter- 
ither as patrons or investors. 



^Elephant Boy' Moppet 
To Make 2d for Korda 

'London, May 9, 
Korda is to do a Second picture 
jvith the moppet Sabu, native star of 
Elephant Boy,' and it's to be in 
Technicolor. Picture will be called 
'The Drum,' ith an Indian setting, 
from an original by A.E.W. Mason, 
author of 'Four Feathers,' which 
London Films is now remaking. . 

Zoltan Korda,. who co-directed 
Elephant Boy' with Robert J. . Fla- 
herty, vriu direct .'Drum,' and Oliver 
Garrett is credited for the script. 



ARGENTINA TO MAKE 
FILMS IN GERMANY 



May 9. 

Imperla Argenti has just 
rived here from Cuba. 

A new company, Hispano- ilm, 
is now being . formed which is to 
produce pix both in German and 
Spanish. First of these, with Arr 
gentlna in the title role, is 'Carmen,' 
which, however, has- nothing to do 
with Bizet's opera, but is a widely 
read Spanish novel, for which en- 
tirely new music Is to he written. 



GERMANirS FIX 
IMPORTS OFF 
^ AROUND 20% 



Berlin, May 9. 
The Influx of foreign pictures into 
the Reich this year has beeri reduced 
from approximately four-fifths of all 
the films shown to about three-fifths, 
compared to '35-'36. The largest per- 
centage of this decrease affects 
American pictures, ince Germany 
has tied herself up with such coun- 
trie?! as Poland"^ aH<ii: Italy for a regu-' 
lar film exchange. 

Up to April 1, 90 German .films 
had been shown. Thie German film 
season beginning July 1, this means 
an average of about twelve per 
month. Last summer's unusually 
quick succession of premieres was 
made necessary by the then existing 
shortage of capital, which could not. 
afford to lie idle for any length of 
time after being invested. Aside from 
that, the Olympic Games brought 
about a great number , of. openings, 
due to the large influx of ti-ansiients. 
But this gave most of the pictures 
an unusually brief space in first- 
run houses and necessitated their 
being relegated to subsequent riins 
while they still had a good tug at 
the b.o. 

In one year ('35-'36) the capital 
invested in full length pictures rose 
from $36,000,000 to $52,0Q0iO00, while 
the number of viewers increased 
only about onersjxth, from 308 to 
359 millions. 



Riviera Casino Shuts 
Down, But Temporarily 



May 

Riviera's luxury casino, Palais de 
la Mediterranee, built by Frank j. 
Gould, clpsied this weeik but Vill re- 
open in June in time -to catch a 
slice. of the. biz the 28th jnternatiohal 
Rotary Club- Convention is expected 
to bring here. 

Management of the casi is in 
the hands of the S. B. . M., Mprite 
Carlo gambiiiig syndicate. 



'Chan' N.G. for Reich 

Berlijn, May 9. 

'Charli Chan at the Opera' (20th) 
has been nixed in Germany; 

No reason was advai^ced for the 
ban. 



MISS DIAZ'S SPANISHER 

oily wood. May 
Ro.sita Diaz arrives from F-iirope 
the end of this week for a role in 
'fel Camino de Hollywood,' Can- 
tabria Films prod. 

Jaime del Anio and. .Tosef Berne, 
co-produceis, have skedded cameras 
to roll the first week in June. 





Group of American Pic 
Execs Discusses Interna- 
tional Film Situation with 
Parliament Committee in 
Paris 



PROSPECTS EiRIGHTEN 



May 9. 

•Arnerican fllmi .Paris 
where given an. agreeable .surprise 
and reaspn to hope that thieir po- 
siti in the future stands a good 
chance of . irly considered 

when a delegation led by Harold L. 
Smith, Paris representative, of the 
Hays Organization; was received by 
the Cinema - Comrhission of the 
French Parliament. 

This .influential body which Is pre- 
sided ovier by Depiity Jean Michel^ 
Renaitour and counts some 200 Dep^ 
utiles and .40 Senators arnong its 
members is conducting an investiga- 
tion prior to drafting a hew law to 
regulate the future of the French 
cinema industry. 

It is endeavoring to hear: the views 
of all persons and organizations 
directly connected with the film i - 
dustry in France and it'was for this 
i-eason that the delegation was called 
in to give its -views. With Smith 
were M. Byre of Metro, M. Klars- 
feld of Paramount and M. Rouvier 
of United Artists. They were asked 
to. present . •the.-- American- -.poirit-^ of- 
view of the industry to the commis- 
sion. 

First noteworthy aspect of this 
intervi is that the members of the 
American industry were the only 
ones so far. received. Every delega- 
tion which has thus far been before 
the commission has repre3ented 
French interests. 

ituatlon Reviewed 

Those of .the Americans who sat 
in on the meeting have stressed that 
the commission listened to their 
views intelligently and in the- most 
friendly manner as Smith gave a 
review of the exact situation of 
American companies trying to do 
bu.siness in France. 

This is considered to be particu- 
larly important especially in vie\V 
of the many rumiors which cannot 
always be verified that cerlai in- 
terests in this country were 'Oiit to 
kill the Franco-American trade 
treaty' because this clique considered 
it too favorable, to American' films. 

In this respect the American 
spokesman pointed out that the 
treaty.gave no new advantages what- 
soever to. American Aims which they 
did not have before the treaty ber 
came effective while, .on th^ .other 
hand, it did grant new concessions 
to a 'great number of French prod- 
ucts now being exported to th U.^. 
in the form of reduced duti 
ci^eased quotas. 

All the treaty id do, the Comi 
mission was told, was to consolidate 
the condition that has always existed 
and still called for the contingent, 
the forced dubbjng of films in France 
and still li ited the number of the-" 
atres in. ich original versi of 
American. 1ms may taie 

Another fact which, was stressed 
was that American representatives 
CoUld not understand why there 
should be any antagonism ^whatso- 
ever between French and Americah 
film interests, especially since. latest 
statistics show arhple' proof of the 
tremendous improvement and .success 
which has recently been experienced 
by French films, in Fi'ance. 

Lare:e Investments 

As a filial arguing point the c6m- 
mission was reminded of the va.st in- 
vestments the American film indus- 
try has made in this country. Fig- 
ures were presented to iihow that 
several millions of francs of Ameri- 
can money had been spent in Fi anfre 
for studios, films and dubbing plants 
(Continued on page 63) 



to Be En Route 
To U. S. Seeking More Coin From 
Schenck for Odeon-Donada Tieups 



ODERO'S NEW OPERETTA 
GIVEN CANNES DEBUT 



Cannes, May 
Florent Odero's heW operetta, 
'Trefle a Quatre' ('Four Leaf Clov- 
er') was aired this week for the first 
time at the Cannes Municipal the- 
atre, . including several new songs 
which clicked with the mixed French 
and English audience. 

Operetta has plenty of romantic 
intrigue and snappy dialogue by A. 
d'Arlihcourt. Nina Botty, Bucarest 
Royal Opera star. Is in the lead role, 
Odero's songs are 'Lea Ferrimes et 
les Fleurs' ('Women and Flowers'), 
•Je Suis Vraiment Americane' ('I'm 
a Real American'),. 'J*etais Amoureux 
de Muguette' CI Was in Love With 
Muguette'), 'J'ai Vingt.Ans' CI Am 
20 Years'), and 'Narcptiqiie,' a slow 
tango movement. Qdero is dicker- 
ing for a Paris Exposition date for 
'Trefle a Quatre.' 



JAP GOn NOW 




QUOTA 



Tokyo, April 30. ; 
ix distribs report that the 
Goveriiment is holding conferences 
with them Individiially gathering 
data looking toward .slapping a 
quota for foreign films. This Is 
in lihe with the Home. Office an- 
nouncement, made recently, to ef- 
fect an overhauling of the pix in- 
dustry here. 

Jap distribs and exhibs are show- 
ing little sympathy for the govern- 
ment move, feeling that Jap pix 
haven't reached, the stage where 
they can carry the load alone. Also 
fofeign product, especially Ameri- 
can,, is so strongly intrenched with 
fans, parircularly in the key cities, 
that curtailment is bound to cause 
plenty of headaches. 

American reps don't to be 

much worried over the situation, 
feeling that present Japanese pres- 
sure will be sufficient to stymie any 
serious rpove to cut down foreign 
product. One of the American dis- 
tribs staled that he doubted if a 
quota ever will be invoked against 
foreign film.s, feeling that the same 
thing could be accomplished by the 
government making it a patriotic 
proposition for the exhibs to book 
Jap pix in. proper proportion to for- 
eign subjects. , If the gpvernmciit 
chooses to handle; it in that mahher; 
the exhi ill undoubtedly fall in 
li ■ ■■ 



John Hicks in Berlin, 
But Mum on Germany 



Berlin. May 
Wi icks, Jr., Paramount 
y.p., in charge. Of forei distribu- 
tion, reached Berlin on his annual 
Eiji'o'pean tour qt Par's numerous 
bra.nch offices. He accom- 
panied by Fred W-. I^ange and Frank 
Farley, both from the Paris office. 

icks is reticent regarding aU tnat- 
tere pertai ing to Germany^ 



London,. May 18. 

Reported that Oscar Deutsbh 
sailed On the q.t. for New York to 
confer ith Joseph Schenck bjh the 
forthcoming public share issue of- 
his Odeon and D.Onada circuits, 
which have now joined forces. 
Schenck, when head of United Art- 
ists t^yb years ago, tried to amal- 
gamate the pair of circuits, but deal 
collapsed. It Is generally under- 
stood that Schenck and UA have in- 
vestments In both outftts to the ex- 
tent of $500,000— hence Deutsch'a 
huddle with . Schenck; who m&y in- ' 
vest further before the public issue. 

No inforinatioh is forthcoming 
fromi DeUtsdh*s office here, other 
than he is on vacash and that. an im- 
portant statement will be Issued to- 
niorrow (Wed.). 

The pact giving Deutsch control 
of Charles J. Donada's indie cir- . 
cuit is ah important deal. Deutsch's 
Odeon Theatres, tied in as they are 
with UA, plus the County Cinemas 
of Donada, bulks up into the third 
largiest . chain in the British Isles. 
There Is a total of 250 theatres which 
will Increase as the steady Odeon 
building campaign proceeds. Objec- 
tive, of the pact maneuver is to pro- 
mote the combo for a joint publi 
flotation in The City. , 

Deutsch has already nnhounced 
Intention of going to the public as 
soon as sentiment is felt to be right, 
while Donada, whose original at- 
tempted issue was deliberately log- 
jarrimed by opposing Interests, has 
long been, eager tb consolidate the 
Cotmty^' Cinemas 'With' oul^Tde ^i^^^ 
port; Both are young outfits, oper- 
ating houses built Within past threa 
years in key situations; "Total cap- 
ital value of the merger hovers 
around $75,000,000. 

Significance of the merger is the 
clearing of all U. S. dLstrlbutlon for 
UA, strengthening its already strong 
stand. Only G-B and Associated 
British (Maxwell) circuits control 
more playdates, both buying Yankee 
product in the open market. Only 
other. American distrib with any 
substantial guaranteed outlet is Para- 
mount, which aside from its own 
small London and provincial cir- 
cuits, has a management deal with. 
Union Cinemas, chain slowly 
creeping toward its goal of 200 
houses — ^many of 'em now directly 
oppo.sing the Odeon-Donada houses. 

It is understood Deutsch will place 
on market $20,000,000 of preference 
shares; additionally there will be $5,- 
000,000 of ordinary shares taken up 
by insiders. 



FORST GETS MEDAL 

Vienna, May *7. 
ilm.star Willy Forst received the 
gol medal of honor from the Aus- 
trian government, 

President William Miklas person- 
ally did the honprii. 



Europ, Exhib Assn. Gets 
Together in Reich Sans 
England, France, Italy 



orlin. May 9, 
.European Exhibitors As.s'n (Fedr 
eration Internationale de.s Asso- 
ciations des Ginenr)ii.s) has ju.sl had 
its bi-an.nuuL session her the 
-presidency .of the Gefrnan 'ritz 
Bertram. France, Great Btitain. and 
Italy were missipg, but otherwise all. 
th .small fry of Eiu:ope were rcprer 
sented, including Spai. , . 

Main question^ up for discu.ssi 
were the as.sociatioii's •akirig. part 
in the InloinaUonal jlni Congres 
in Paris this .sumnricrl .cli inati 
of llie dual bill and the assopi 
lion's general attitude towards the 
narrow gau^e film, which has already 
Ijecbine a matter of great importartce 
hi .several European countri No 
conclusive decision resulted from the 
meeting, however. 



New London Weakie 



London, May 18, 
'And the Music Stopped' opened 
at the New Theatre (13), 

Play is an occasionally thrilling 
whodunit. However, it is Unlikely 
because it does not convince. 



20 



VARIETY 



Wednesdajy May 19, 1937 




90 








0 



..5^^ Access 



^^^^^ ■"■ oGt'^sf 



■'4 

. -of 




★ 




Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



VARIETY 



21 




New York joins nation-wide parade of holdovers with 
second week at Radio City Mvsic Hall . . , Held over in 
first fifty key-city first-run openings throughout the 
country ... including spots like Boston, Cincinnati, San 
Francisco, Washington, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Balti- 
more, New Orleans, Omaha, Minneapolis, Oenver, etc., 

etc Third week Chicago, with more hig box-office 

news on the way!... FRED AND GINGER THE CURRENT 
BIG BOX-OFFICE #^ SHOW ALL OVER THE MAP! 






COWARD EVERETT 
HORTON * ERIC BLORE 
lEROME COWAN 
KETTI GALLIAN 
WM. BRISBANE 



* 



and 



HARRIET HOCTOR 

DIRECTED BY MARK SANDRICH- PANDRO S. BERMAN PRODUCTION 




22 



VARIETY 



FILM REVIEWS 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



Captains Courageous 

(WITH SONGS) 

Meli-o-Gpldwyh-Mayer release of Louie 
D. I^ghtdn production, Featuren Freddie 
Bai'thblmew, 3pencer Tracy, Uonel Barry- 
jntire. Melvyh Oouglos. Directed l)y VlCr 
tor FleiWlni?. From book of same imrrte by 
iRuOyard Klpllnip; adaptation, John I-ec. 



They Gave Him a Gun 

Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer release of Harry 
Riipf ■ proUuctlori. Stora Spencer Tracy, 
Fronchot Tone, Gladys George. Directed 
by W. Si Van Dyke, From novel of same 
namb by Av. J. Oowen; adaptation, Cyril 
Huine, Itlchard Malbaum, Maurice Rapf; 
Camera. Harold Hosson,. At Capitol, N. Y,, 
week May 13, '37, Runnlni; time, fta.nilnfi. 



Mahln, Marc Connelly and Dale Van. UYpa. Spencer Tracy 
Eveiy; miislc, Franz OWaxman; lyrics, Gus n^se 0uiTir..,.., Gladys Ceotte 
Kahln;. fllni editor, Elmo ycirOn; .photogra- jj,„jny, . — .^ .^ 

phy, Harold Kosson. At Astor,. N. Y.,. for I ^cgeaht 
twice dally run, beKlnnlng May 11, 'J'T. .suxe,... 

irilng time, 116 mind. ' l;avo....»i.,....ii..i...<...vCllff Edwiivds 



Harvey....... 

Manuel. 
Dlgko, . . ; ..... 

Mr. Chey iie'. . , 
tlncio' Saltcra. 
Dain; , . 

'Long Jack'.. 

Cuchmati 
- Prl.est. 
-Dr. >'i V.r, 

Tyler....... 

••Doc".. ...... 

Charles. ...... 



i Franchot Tone 

. , . .Edfifar Dearlng 
..... . ♦ . . . , . i . . .Mary Louj Treen 



..^Charle? Trowbridge 



. ; Freddie ' Btirthotonie w l -J uil 

.......... Spencer Tracy — — -r' 

......Lioriei . Barrymore : About the Only angle that might 

this one. over the bumps is that 

;'.V.;V.?»ey*'Snu 

..... . . . . John carradirie iTient. But, like most Of the picture s 

........ ... . Oscar O' Shea eihotibnal text, even that preachment 

vv..r>>*^^.Wj .'i^^ feeble attempt .fo suggest a psychpr 
:::::::;'slnr McDani'^^^^ between the Wona war 

...... . .Biiiie Burrud and. ganjgsterism in America, 'They 

■ • ••' ■ Gave Him a Gun' resolves itself into 

, . . I.- u -11 U i: a fairly exciting^ melodrama with 

Another picture^which wiU not ^^gg .^entimentil overtones. Re- 
have to p^begging for patronage. A a^gfess of what box-of^ce weight 
high cost mm, into seven figures, but cast names may carry, it will be 
the overhead will ctMne back, ■ vap- Ljoing well if reaching average figure, 
tains Courageous' looks • equally as With aU its tugging sentiment the 
strong for foreign as doiriestjc con- flim rarely gets under the skin. The 
sumption. It will also rank as one Oambn-£>ythias theme loses its force 
of the best pictures of the sea ever hong before the prbductioh has run 
made and as a roadshow- it is. on its half the : course. Tracy, Tone and, 
war ahead of two other sea . spec- Gladys George troupe with skill and 
tacles being planned for two-a-day power, but what mitigates against 
engagements, Paramount's 'Souls at their producing a real sock i^ a lack 
Sea' and 20th-I'6x's 'Slave Ship/ of sympathy foi: their behavior and 
Louis D. Lighton is the producer jpredicament. Narrative strikes a 
of 'Courageous* imder the: super- bitter note and sense of frustration 
vision of Sam Katz. Victor Fleming from the start, while the characters 
directed. Taking this .Rudyard Kip- shuttle between war scenes and g?ng 
ling story, written when he visited shootings to a prisoii break and a 
America some years back; the pro- manhunt. Scenes ^ot self-sacrifice 
ducers have made the central c^ai- and jemprse fiU m between the^ 
iactet of the spoiled child younger blasting^episodes. Its^actioti, if you 
than he was in the book, and for will, but it s a^o a lot of griet too. 
the purposes of the screen have i - - .Story poMs the pbght of a timid, 
dulgtd in other slight^ tmimportant vwlenpe-h^^^^^ SSSriVin-i ' 

alterations. Spencer Tracy • is a feho, whde^^r to<^^^^ 

SS^^ ^^nSs^s'^Sf^^^^ 

♦KfVr?«,, ?^on^?y.^™^ll '^f^h; instead of returning to 

the briny. Lionel Barrymote is the - ^ pursuits, he m^es a fetish 
happy-go-lucky but stem ; captein of dugout dirtum, -YSu're as good 

a fishmg schooner while B^rtholo- ^ ^^e other fellow so long as; you've 
mew, of xourse, IS the boy. got a giin,' and he goes in for rack- 

One of the imique features of the IteeringT^ Largely responsible for 
picture is that while it hais sttohg Tone's will to overcbnie his- coward- 
appeal , for. women through the ice Is his squiad buddy (Tracy), 
parental element, th6 cast is with- whose previous job Was that of a 
out women except for a few feet barker in a sideshow. Tracy's iaf- 
close to the end. The tug at the fection for his pal gets its first big 
heartstrings is powerful and the. test when the former denies his love 
picture is 'one of the nearest to a for a Red Cross nurse (Miss G«orge) 
tear-jerker for mein that has come so that Tone and the woman may 
along in some time;- marry. ^ 

The Kipling yarn, biiilt around a Lives of the three again Interlock 
wealthy, motherless birat who acci- on this side when, Tracy, npw the 
dently lands with a coa-flshing fleet, owner of a small Circus, meets Tone 
and imdergoes regeneration, during J tew moments after a^ gang killing, 
an ertforced three months' piscatorial Yana here assumes a vigorous stride 
quest, has been given splendid pro. as ^acy jpms Tone's wife m an 
duction, performance, photography to swerve the gangster from 

and drkn^tic composition. Its ap- Sl^iJ^Hhi' nSte ?«^««SiS'^S„n 
'-pearance::^tf^aiithenticity •lendy-both4-^i%<'^'^ *he Q9S9M A &9m^.:.^P> 

w5H?Sji?^r?fnW«S^ Tone effects ^a break, 

by the people are mteresting, Some batches up with the circus and, oii 
very excellent sequences deal with K * w * jT^J 

lowering of ^the dories, the^ig cateh J^Vjthfn*'^^^^ 
With tons of fish in the camera eye, wj,en cops surround him. 
an angry sea and the .tragic fracture Tone accounts for some pulse 
or the mainmast when Tracy is pounding moments,^hile Tracy reg 
« , , X, isters as the sentimentalj slow-witted 

Young Bartholomew plays the mugg. With Miss George it's a con- 
spoiled kid, only son of wealthy sisteritly sombre assignment, but she 
father, who falls off a liner bound lands solidly; Two outstanding bits 
for Europe . and is picked up by come from Edgiar Dearing,. an A J:.F. 
Tracy, . the fisherman to whom the sergeant who later turns up as a city 
recalcitrant boy finally becoities detective, and Horace MacMahon as 
deeply attached. Bartholomew's the prison mate who gbads Tone into 
transition from a brat to a lovable [ escaping. Odec, 
child is done with ' convincing 



Miiuatare Reviews 



'Captains GbUraccous' <M-G ). 
A big money picture of the sea. 
Freddie Bartholomew, Spencer 
Tracy, Lionel Bairrymore and 
Melvyn Douglas head the cast. 

'They Gave Him a Gun* 
(M-G). Meller overboard on 
grief with Fanchot Tone, Spen- 
cer Tracy arid Gladys George. 
Does not sum up as having b.o, 
punch. . 

'Taik of tlie Devil' (GrrB). Un- 
convincing meller with Jlicardo 
Cortez and Sally Eilers. Headed; 
for. duals. 

'M^uniUin '^^^ (WBj.T 
Hillbilly melodrama . with Jpscr 
phihe Hutchinson and George;: 
Brent. Too much plot, but 
okay for duals., 

'Bill Cracks Down' (Rep). 
W^ak ' backgrbuhded 
steel mill. 

•Yoiii Can't Buy Lack' (RKC) ). 
Thin plot and absence of names 
. relegate this, melodiraniatic mii 
• ture to secbndary duals. 

'Venas Makes Trotnble' (Col). 
Success story which captures 
minor, interest. For the doublers. . 



matic stuff, actor cashes in^on - 
eral Comedy bits in the early scenes. 
Is subsequently buried under the 
script and direction. Sally Eilers, 
as the girl of the story, is just an^ 
other, girl in films. Basil Sydney's 
villain has tha teeth-gritting tense- 
ness of typical English heavies. 

Direction is effective at the start, 
when Ayrton's playing lends its 
eloquence. Aftor that it becomes a 
plodding series of cliches. Phdtogr 
raphy is unimaginative and fre- 
quently inexpressive, Hobe. 

MOUNTAIN JUSTICE 

Warno-. Broji. ..: production and . releaser 
Stats Josephlnei Hutchinson iind Georgo 
Brent. Directed by Michael Curtlz. Orlgl.! 
nal, T^brman RelUy Ralne, Liicl Ward;, 
-art direction, Max Parker; camera; Ernest 
Holler; dialog direction, . Sherry Shourdaj 
musical dlreotlon, Jieo F. Forbsteln. At 
Rialto, N. Y., week May 12, '37. .Running 
time," 82 mlna. 

...Josephine Hutchinson 
. . .'. . ... . . .George Brent 



Ruth Har'clns. ... 

PfLUl Cameron . . . , 
Doc Barnard., , 
Evelyn Wayne:.- .-. 
Jelt Harklns, . . . . 

Phoebe' Lamb.-. ; .. 
Horace Bamber;!> 
Clem BIggars . . . . 

Tod Miller....... 

M^g Harklns. . : . 
Bethie Haiklns.,. 
Judge Cr&wley... . 

Mr. Tumbull.^.. . 
Mrs. Turnbull. ... 

Asaph . Anderson. 



the 4pm.ihions and a more general 
good- ill.' He is, .however', dignified 
aiid impressive. He is also a far 
better actor , than Shaw, who,, is dis- 
tinctly hammy most of tlie way. 

Outstanding surprise is Drink- 
water's performance. He . has a 
irich voice; with the accent of a cul- 
tuired Engliishmah, clear and iiitel-. 
ligibXe to non-British ears. He is 
completely easy, playing . without a 
trace of self-cbnsciousness, and giv- 
ing life to all his scenes. Few 
screen actors Can give as even a per- 
formance. 

Material assembled, makes full 
coverage, but few of the news clips 
have other than historical value. 
There are some superb shots of the 
Durbar at Dehli; oddly in Contrast to 
other- contributioiis: from ' the news- 
reels, many of which suffer from 
haying been turned at 16 instead of 
the present-day 24, 'giving an awk- 
ward, effect: War shots fall short, 
but other scenes are of distinct in 
ferest.::' Commentary is well handled, 
but it all . adds up as something too 
exclusively British for outside ap 
peel. CHic. 



TALK OF THE DEVIL 

(BRITISH MADEji 

-. GaumontrBriti^h release of British & 
Dominions production. Stars Rlcardo Cortez, 
Satfy EllCTB.' Features BHBtf*"Sydhey. Di- 
rected- by Carol Reed. .. Story, Carol Reed, 
Anthony Klmmlns; scenario, Antboiiy Klm- 
mins; iaddltlonal.- dialog, . George Barraud; 
photography, Francis Carver; art direction; 
Wilfred Arnold; assistant director; James 
Kiilght; recording; A. Fisher; edlttirs, 
Helen Lewis, Merrill White, John' Mbrrlia; 
musical dfirectioii, Perclval McKay; addi- 
tional numbers, Jack. Southern; production 
manager. John Harlow. At Roxy, N. T., 
week May 14^.. '37. Running time, 76 mins. 
Ray Allen . .Rlcardo Cortez 

Ann . , .;. ..Sally' ESeilers 

Stephen Flndlay . .Basil Sydney 

John Fihdiay .Raridle Ayrton 

Alderin'on . .Fred Culley 

Lord Dyntchurc ......... . . Chtirles Carson 

inspector Gordon McLieod 

Philip Denls' Cowls 

Clerk ..Langley. Howard 

Angus- ....Quehton McPherson 



strokes. He is at times a little 
mature in his interpretation, -but 
while audiences may sense this fbr 
a time, it ultimately wears bff. His 
performance is matehed by Tracy, 



others. . Commentary Jack Morrison. Lan 
haiii. Tlchener, V. Sagovsky, editors; 
direrled by .Tohn S. Stumar. -At Belmont 
N. y., May 11, '37. Running tlnie 130 mlhs. 



THE KING'S PEOPLE 

(BRITISH MADE) 

MIndlln release ot John ' Drtnkwater 
production. Written by John Drlnkwater 
- . . . .. 1 nnd G. Bernard ShaW. Interpolations by 

who also, doesn't seem right domg viscountess Astor, sir Austen Cham- 
an accent and singing songs, but .he,] berlaln, G. _Bernord Shaw, Mary Clare^ and 

too, later gets under the skiri as a " ' ' 

character. Barrympre is himself, as 
usual. ; As, the father of the boy, 
Melvyn Douglas gives' a: smooth, 
unctuous performance. One of the 
fishermen is deftly • portrayed by 
John Garraidine. 

Majority of the footage is at sea 
with the Ashing boats, young Bar- 
tholomew and the tough, but kindly 
crew ..of the schooner. ' From the 
time that the boy falls off the liner; 
until the reunion with his father in 
the last reel, thei-e are no. flashbacks 
to the parent. The reunion, itself 
isn't particularly touching or poig- 
nant. It's the grief of the boy pvei- 
the loss of his Portuguese friends. 
The lad doesn't care about seeing Tiis 
father again. In fact, he wants to 
iemairi with the Gloucester fishing 
people; Sympathy fbr the father is 
secondai'y. 

For the fine photographic job 
credit goes to Harold Rosson and his 
crew. Some "excellent pi^ocess work 
figures, but most of the shots ate 
gehui . Recording of battering 
waves is louder that necessary on 
occflsiona"' 

Special Songs have been written 
by Sranz Waxman. and Gus Kahn 
for Tracy and the boat crew. -Ooh, 
What a Terrible Man,' fits in superb- 
ly. Old-time sea chants, dbne by 
Tracy, include 'Blow a Man DoWn' 
and 'What Shall We Do with a 
Drunken Sailor?' Tracy's baritone 
'isn't half bad, either. l|iot. 



I Guy Klbbee 
. . . ... Wona Bavrle 

,' . i , '. . Robert Barriit 
.Margaret Hamilton 
. . .'. Robert. McWade. 

Fuzzy Knight 

.... Edward - Pawley ' 

. . .Elisabeth . Risdon 
. .Mhrcia Mae. Jqnes 
, . .'. .Granville Bates 
. ; . . Russell Simpson ; 
........Sibyl. Harris 

. .. . .Guy WUkerson 



Riittenberg Lensing 'lady' 
Hollywood, May 18. 
Metro has handed Joseph Rutten- 
berg the camera assignment on 'Once 
There Was a Lady.' 
LUise Rainer stars< 



Styled -Sovei-eigns of Britain' bri 
the other, side, this semi-official film 
is h^re more aptly titled 'The King's 
■People.', It was prepared by the late 
John: Drinkwater as a contribution 
to the Cbronatibn and is a compila- 
tion of nev/srieel dips frorm Vic 
toria's death to the accession of 
George VI, with Edward VIII dis- 
tinctly softTpedaled, ' though not 
ignored. . Of questionable value i n 
this Country,' but prbbably assured a ■ 
better reception in Canada. Not fbr. 
general bills, . ,and probably no 
grosser in the arties.: 

Picture runs just short of an hour, 
and is composed in part of news- 
reel clips, dating back to the funeral 
of Queen Victoria, much of the ma- 
terial beinig from official archives. 
It is punCtuiated by: staged episodes; 
visits of notables to discuss the film 
and interludes with a. liewispaper 
woman, latter^ ser^w-ing to permit 
Drinkwater to explain to her^ arid 
throjigh her to the audience, what it 
is. all about. 

•This", saves the picture from , the. 
monotony of a succession of news 
clips 

Among the visitors to the drama- 
tist are Lady Astor, Sir Austen 
Chamberlain and George Bernard 
Shaw. Latter wrote his own Scfene 
and supplies the one false note. It 
is a Very good advertisement, for 
Shaw. 

Lady Astor is very much in earn^ 
est as. she. speaks of the Suffrage 
movement, but she wrigglej) . in her 
chair distressingly. . Late premier is 
oddly suggestive ot Claude Alli'ster 
as he envisions the greater Britain 
that shall come with autonomy for 



English-made melodrama, which 
Will have tough going at the b.o. 
Minus marquee strength, has no 
marketable theme to be plugged and 
woii't get word-of -mouth. Probably 
slated for dtials after- first run. 

Starting as though it were a char- 
acter drama, 'Talk of the Devil' 
for the first couple of reels looks 
like a sleeper. Moves slowly^ but 
with conviction and a nice sense of 
values. Interest builds steadily, 
chiefly throug:h the character . of. an 
old ship-building official, persuasive- 
ly played by: Raridle Ayrton. With 
the fadeout of -that character, how-- 
isverj the film quiclyiy subsides, into 
routine meiodrama arid ultimately 
winds up as a 'hbke thriller. 

Story concerns the ship-builder; 
his supposed, brother, his. adopted 
daughter arid the . girl's former 
American .sweetheart, who visits 
England to discover her arid rekiri-. 
die the romance. After running his 
firm wisely and industriously for 
miany years, th^ old man is swindled 
by his pseudo-brother and inyblved 
in a scaridal of which he is inrib 
cent. He assumes the. blame to pro-^ 
tect; the-, fir hi, 

American, unwittingly contributes 
to the betrayal by using his knack 
of,- imicry -to obtain some uriau- 
thbrized. iriforriiati , Old man: com- 
mits suicide and the girl is suspected 
of rnudering him; Swindler tries to 
silence the American by rriurdering 
him, -but the latter dodges arid uses 
his mimicry again to trap the vil- 
lairi and save tlje girl. Yarn grows 
hokier near the close. 

As the ship-builder,. Bandle Ayirton 
is the mainspring of the impressive 
early scenes. Performance adds - re- 
ality to the genuine charaotei: of 
the old man. Ari unknown to aver- 
age film audiences, Ayrton is a vet 
trouper 'frorir legiti Has poise, knows 
the value of. uriderstateirient, has 
tiriiing and. a sense of emphasis, but 
lacks the persbrial lustre that makes 
a star. ' 

Surprise of the pre' '-in is 
Rlcardo Cortez as the American 
hero. Usuallv cast for heavy dra- 



Hill-biUy .melodramatic Of a lurid 
but linconvincing sort. ^Story, which 
seemis to contain every hill country 
cliche known to man, covers plenty 
of territory, from the Edith Max- 
well father-killing case to child mar- 
riages in the deep south. None of. it, 
however, is especially arresting, fo' 
it is a scnpt that plunges off in all 
directions at once. 

Nonhari Reilly Raine and Lucl 
Waird have been unsparinig in pro- 
viding plot! detail, and the Tesult is 
an involved program picture which 
seldom clicks. One doesn't .believe 
half the woes that befall the helpful 
heroine who igives her all in an ef- 
fort to establish a clinic in them thar 
hills. 

Jeff Harklns, girl's pa; is an ornery 
cuss who socks, his dalighters: at the 
slightest prbvbcatibh. He is espe- 
cially resentful towards Ruth's desire 
to be a local Florence Nightingale 
and her attraction to the city feller, 
who sends him to jail in a little gun- 
play fracas. But Jeff slaps Ruth 
otice' too often and the indignant 
daughter kiUs .her father, in: order 
that little Sister Bethie Shall not 
have to become a. child bride. . 

In the miirdeE t^ial which follows, 
Ruth Harkins receives a 25-year sen- 
tence (see the .Maxwell case rec- 
ords). When the outraged townsfolk 
try to lynch the girl, it is. the gal 
laintJ3ilorgeJBi«nt_ad!ip.Js^ 
rescue once 'again. Off they fiy by 
plane to another state, where their 
marriage is. followed by a governor 
refusing extradition. 

Josephine HutchinSoh. -is. earnest 
and effective as the much-harassed 
Ruth Harkins. Greorgc Brent is his 
usual iself . as the lawyer from up 
north, and Robert Barrat is grimly 
villainous as the evil father. Coni- 
edy relief, of a sort, is provided by 
Giiy Kibbee. as the mountain medico 
aiid; Margaret Hamilton as his com- 
pany-keeping mate. Elisabeth. Risr 
-don Is affecting as Ma Harkins and 
Marciai Mae; Jones is excellent 'as 
Bethie. Others in smaller roles are 
Edward Pawley, Fuzzy Knight, Mona 
Barrie arid Granville Bates. Michael 
Ctirtiz* direction is workmanlikie arid 
some niice camera effects are in- 
cluded. Rbwl, 



FAREWELL AGAIN 

(BRITISH MADE) 

London, May 6, 

United Artists i^lease ot London Film- 
Erich Fommer proditctlon. Stars Flor 
Robsoh, Leslie Banks. Directed bv Tim 
Whclan. QrlKlnal, WoKnnK Wilhelm- 
screen play, Clemenc* Dane, PatHgk xir- 
wart; , camera,. Jaimea Wong. Howe, Kara 
.Schneeberger. At Plaxa, London, May * 
'37, nunnlr.s tim*.. 84 mlnB., ■ *' 

Colonel BlaH',..,,,V*, .Leslie BankB 
Mrs- Blair. ... i ; .... , . . ;Klora Robson 

Captain Re?d. . . ., . . . . .Sebastian Shaw 

Ann liarrisoh. ..... . . ; . . . .Patricia Hllllard 

Dh Pearson,., .J. h. Roberta 
Major Swayle. . , ^i,; i .Eliot Makehain 
Mrs. Swayle. . . . . .... 4 ... . . ... , Martlta Hunt 

Lady Joan, * . . . .... . . ... . , .Leonora Corbett 

Roddy Hammond. Anthony Bushell 

Carter. .... . . . . . . . . .;. . , , i . , .Robert Newton 

F ifw " •* ■ ' • ••■•>• • • • • ■ •>• '■• • . Rene Ray 

smith ... ... . . . . . . ........ Robert C6<*ran 

.Sergeajit Brough... ; .Edward Le»v 

•>--V'.-Wlie''t5Weiff''' 
..y....W«lly Patch 
. .Margaret Monatt 
Gertrude Musgrove 
Billy .Shin* 



Mrs. Brcugh^.- 
.Sergeaht- Major: 
Mrs. Billings.... 

Lily.' Toft. 
Corporal Eldrlch. 
BUlger..... 

Mrs, .Bulger..... 

WlthersVi... 
Moore. . . . '. . . ■ ■ 

Mrs. Moore.... j. 

Judd.. .......... . 

McAllister. ...... 



A If Goddard 
.....Edie Martin 

.Edmund Wlllard 
.........Phil Bay 

....Janet Burnell 

......Jerry Verno 

John Laurie 



Decidedly good entertainment for 
the intelligent, and. equally accept- 
able for the general public, 
the best jpictures ever made i 
country. 

Some time ago a tiroopship arrived 
i England after years <af foreign 
service, and with only a few horn's' 
leave, the soldiers Were immediately 
ordered abrbad again. This is the 
entire .plot, and the pictuire is made 
up ' of multitudinous panoraniic 
shots, entirely episodic, well direct- 
ed, brilliantly photographed, and 
with a cast of first-rate principals, 
supported by dozens of minor char- 
acters, all, played by legitimate and 
firm artists of note in England. For 
example, Donald Calthrop, one of the 
best known character actors here, 
has only one line to speak in an 
equally brief scene, iand is not even 
prbgramriied. Praise for the fine 
work of the principals, without equal 
commendation . for the bit parts, 
would be unfair criticism. 
. Panorarinic: shots, which 
series bf vignettes ingenously woven 
into an entertaining pattern, show 
the effect of new departure orders 
upon everybody on board.. Sol- 
diers' entire lives are seriousiy up- 
set, arid when it reisiilts in a freiS'-for- 
all fight below decks, the . Colonel 
goes down and tells the riien they 
are no more put out than he. It 
develops his wife must leave the ship 
to: undergo an operation which may, 
or may not, prove fatal, but which, 
in any evenC will not prolong hfer 
life beyond a brief spell. 

Each man has his own domestic. 
■pfBblsww, trfigTB* or hiUHbrbus, ais the 
case might be, and theminiite details 
with which this is worked out iare 
all very touchingly human. There 
are ho' villains and no outstanding 
herpes, biit as these domestic prob- 
lems are visualized, audiences are 
certain to find many of them strike 
closa to home. 

It ought to please the Arrierican 
public, despite the 100% British at- 
mosphere. Jolo. 

BILL CRACKS DOWN 

Republic release of - William Berhe pro- 
duction. Features Grant Withers, Beatrice 
Roberts. Ranny Weeks, Judith Allen, Wil-. 
11am . Newell. . Directed by Wllllani KiKb. 
•Story, Owen Francis, Morgan' Cox; adapta-r 
tlon, Dorrcll McGowan, .Stuart McGownn; 
film editor, Edward Mann; camera, Wil- 
liam' Nobles. At strand. B'klyii; dual bill, 
week . May 13, '37. Running time. Cl mlns. 



Man Spficht Uber 
Jacqueline 

('Talking About Jacqueline') 

(GERMAN MADE) 

Berlin, Ajpril 24. 
.'PobiS'Cihema-Film release of Deka-Fllm 
production. Directed bV Wernei* Hocb- 
baum. Book' by Katrln Holland, Hoch- 
baum and F. D. Andam; reduction chief, 
Helnis Joachim Ewart; . music, ' Anton 
Profes;^ camera, George BrUckbauer^ . At 
Alhambra and -^duentzlenjpala'Ht,; Berlin, 
April WJ, '{17. Running time, 81 ni Ins. 
Jacqueline .Topelius .. . . . . . . .W.eia Engels 

Michael Thomas. J Albrecht Sbhoenhnls 

June Tobellus ...'.■....■..,. .'.i Snblne Peters 

Leslie Wjiddlngton, . . , . . ahs Zertch-Bnllet 
Lionel dark . . . . ... i Fi'l iv. . Gen.s'ehow 



Tons* Walker 

Su.san , . 

BlU'Reardon ..... 
ISlalne WItworth.. 
Porky .. 
William ■ Reardon . . 

Steve .' 

Mrs; WItworth ... 

Hilda;.. 

Jarvi ... .• 



>«••••« 



• • • » • • I 



Grant Withers 
Beatrice Roberts 
. ..Rariny Weeks 
....Judith Allen 
William Kewell 
.. .Pierre Watkin 
. Roger Williams 
.. Georgia Calne 
. . . . Greta Meyer 
...Edgar Norton 



(In Gerrnati) 
■ Here: is a pic that servie5... to do 
little mbrie than mishandle, once more 
the talented Miss Peters, and to put 
the firial touch to the rapidly growing 
cbnyictiori that placing Schoerihals 
kmong Germany's leading men is an 
awful bprier.. . .^ 

.This\ jacqiielirie yarn is . so much 
drivel. Falling in love with Michael, 
a diplomat, she throws herself: at 
hiriri, and' he, bitter cynic and 
wbriiian-hater though he. is, likes; it 
arid marries her. But her young life 
being alfeady, proiusely decorated 
with affairs,' the Paris press makes 
rather a lot of- the rharr'iaRe, using 
iri it's ^insinuations the i i.tials J. T. 
Confronted by Michael, Jacqueline 
;pawns it all off oh her sister; June. 
But, she- doesn't kid him long and 
seeing that the jig is up, goes to her 
sister's apartment to end it all by 
jumping over the fo.Urth floor rail- 
ing, where she wait's dutifully till 
Michael appears to save her. 

Wfera , Erigels is' as good as circum- 
stances allow her to be. At least, 
she wears her duds well. 

'Jacqueline' lacks every jngredient 
that counts — even at the rural 
wicket. 



ill Cracks Down,' which Jollows 
an aneient fprrriula,. is a very weak 
programmer and as the No. two 
feature on diials ^ lendi 
"feeble support.. 

Steel, mill arid an Algerian plot 
of the most coirimonplace variety, 
togethei: with a poor cast arid trite 
dialog, keiep the picture from ever 
beirig more than bearable. Grant 
Withiers and Beatrice Roberts top 
thei undistiriguished coriipany, other 
playefs being Ranny 'WeekSj Judith 
Allen and William Newell. Nearest 
to real ability is shown by Miss 
Allen, Whose footage runs behind 
that given Miss Roberts. 

Story is anything but cbnvihcjngi 
in addition to being caireless and 
shoddy. Deals with the will of a 
stupid steel rrian who leaves, nis 
riiill in the hands of a dark-cpHared 
superintendent, whb can't even dic- 
tate a letter, with the .understanding 
that. he is to inherit it after one year 
unless the playboy son works under , 
him for that period at any kind . . 
work allotted. This provides the basis, 
for enmity between this playboy ana 
the man his; father left in charge 
of the plant. In the end, after they ye 
stolen each other's girl, they ki.ss 
and make up, getting ' their QW.n 

Comedy ' is of little value, what 
little there is of it. William Neweii 
tries to get some laughs, but ii^^- 
rio material. He has a raccoon coiii, 
however, which he wears .wmie 
others in the cast go hatless aim 
vestless. Char. 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



FILM REVIEWS 



VARIETY 



23 



you CANT BUY LUCK 

ItICO-Ra(ilo production- and release. Fea- 
tures Onslow. Stevens, -Helen, Mack. Di- 
rected by Lew lenders ;, screenplay, Martin 
ooney, Arthur T, Horman; original. Mar- 
tin Mooney; camera,. J. R6y Hunt; At 
p?lace. N. Y.. weefc May 1», '87, double, 
Runiiiii? time, 01 mlns, 



Baldwin 
Betty i'-.T 
Paul > 1 V • • • 
Jean 

Frank Brent 
Bond 
M&GiatK 
Spike 

Mrs, White , 

B«i 

Alice 

Mr. Fi>lte .4 
Clerk ......< 

KTvera 
Cliqck 
Puggy 
.'Butch 



. . . Onflow Stevens 
.... . Helen Mkck 

...Vinton'. Haworth 
Marine Jennings 
...;Paui Guiifoyle 
rank M. Thomas 
...... B'lchard Lane 

. . , . Murray Alper. 
.', . Hedda Hopper 
. Dudley Clemenis 
Margaret Fleldihg 
i,-; George Irvine- 
. Barbara Pepper 
Edgar Norton 
, . : .Eddie Grlbbon 
John Kelly 
; Edward Gargdn 



Lightweight ientry that stresses the 
garp Wing angle contiains a fluffy; love 
yarn, a murder that is clear to every.- 
body but the olAeidls and is topped 
off with routine slieuthing, a court- 
room scene, and surprise climax. It's 
a bewildering pot-pourri but nlay get 
by on double programmers. Exhib- 
itor is not helped mvich in the matter 
of marquee names, however. 

Film is kaleidoscopical art plot de- 
velopment. It certainly keeps the 
auditors guessing 6s to what will 
turii vpf next. Yam slowly plants the 
idea that a fanied race-librse owner 
gathers in his coin by buying luck 
insurance. He figures if he has. 
enough people wishing him well, his 
bony always will win. His pet theory 
includes buying . gifts for a beautiful 
irl, because he believes shie brings 
im victory at thie track. 

Petite Ititle miss, assistant in an 
orphanage, changes his iriind about 
this superstition, and wins his heart; 
But not beiore an incongruous 
orphan party is Staged, Then, like ^ 
thunderclap, his former flame, is 
murdered. Apparently this was done 
to bring in the courtroom scene and 
what little suspense there is in the 
film. Race-track devotee is convicted 
though innocent. He escapes to catf h 
the real culprit, aided by former 
pals and his wife^-tb-be.. 
• This rather weird concoction is 
not improved by the . (direction, di- 
alogue and scripting, nor .. by out- 
standing performances. Only in some 
race track clips, and the suspenseful 
sleuthing at the tag end, does it 
gather much momentum. Production 
values .are almost totally lacki or 
ares ■carelessly flung together; 

Onslow Stevens does a fair job. as 
the race king who thinks . he must 
have luck to win, but is taxed by 
the incredulity of the . role. Helen 
Mack looks fetching and comes 
through in her rorhantic scenes. Hed- 
da Hopper lends dignity to the pro- 
ceedings^ in the matro n part. Maxine 
^ Jmiiiiiigs insikes'^^^^ 
Vinton Haworth is an indecisive vil 
lain. Lens job is typical of the whole 
picture— mediocre. Some ; of the 
close-ups are particularly bad. 

Wear. 



EPISODE 



(WITIt SONGS) 
(AUSTRIAN MADE) 

Metropolis release of Gregor Rablnow'cz 
production. Stars Paula Wesseley. Story, 
and direction. Walter Reiach, Musici tVilll 
SchmtOt-Qentoer; camera. Harry StradUhg. 
At u5th St. Pia.vhouse, N. Y., May 15, '37. 

'Running- tlmie./iW mins. 
Vft)?i'ie Giiertner ...Paula Wesseley 

Klnz ........Karl Ludwig.Diehl 

Torresani Otto Tressler 

Prau Torresani;. rika von Wagner 

Kugen Torre.sanl..... ."Wolf. Dieter Tressler 

: Tonl Torresani'. .....Haus Jurgel Tressler 

Mizzl Frlcdl Czepa 



(In Cerriian, with English titles) 
This film doesn't succeed in wholly 
■avoiding the waltzy character of 
Viennese pictures,: a fact which 
proves advantageous. Walter Reisch, 
megger and author of this film, is 
the writer who fashioned 'Two 
Hearts in , Waltz Time,' and 'Masque- 
rade in Vienna,' Here he takes a 
shallow story and makes it humor- 
ous and romantic by his deft han- 
dling of contributoryancidental situ- 
ations. 

In the main, Rieisch has takien his 
plot in matter-of-fact fashion and 
this should satisfy the arty cog- 
noscfenti but hot the generial public, 
although the English - titles .are quite 
iiterately put and even the German 
dialog, is simple and fluid.. 

Reischi's backgrounds are Vienna's 
post-war period and the jazz hystieria 
which ruled this era. Valerie's irioth- 

_^ iQses. her savings through the 

ilure of a bank, and the girl re- 
solves to take care of things. So 
she meets a white-haired art dealer, 
who, believe it or not, has only altrUr 
istic iritientiohs when making, a 
proposition. Valerie has the bird 
ngured; wrong but yields to him 
because of l^er desperate financial 
plight. 

A handsome ex-6fficier is tutor to 
the aged art dealer's two growing 
st>ns. Although Apparently grown up. 
Reisch elects to regard them as still 
m the precocious : adolescent state, 
■L.ads keep muddling things up for 
everybody until the situation gets 
so bad that only a good result must 
be had. 

That's Reisch's keynote and, while 
ne_ trelts for his happy ending, he 
takes a moment here arid there to 
aash a bit of sex i .without being 
crude about it. 

But Reisch is tactful as well as 
understanding and for Frau Torre- 
sam, the art dealer's Wife, he has 



selected Erika von Wagner, a state- 
ly, iriothetly type, who knows and 
suffers. In the erid, it is the Wrife 
who proves to be the key of the 
situation, and of course, helps to 
straighten out everything. 

This is where Reisch falls back 
oh, the old Vinnese formula, waltz 
finale, and it w'orks pretty good. ' 

Paul Wiesseley' as Valerie gives a 
straightforward, performance; Miss 
Wesseley. lises: no. personality tricks, 
relying, successfiilly on her ability 
to perform expressively the char- 
acter she plays, Karl Ludwig Diehl 
is also an ingratiating performer. 
He fits the sentimentally heroic role 
which he has here. No lesis hiay be 
said for the rest of the cast. 

Photographically, Reisch has lirriit- . 
ed himself to almost bare .'barik-„,/ 

Shan. 



GLAMOROUS NIGHT 

(BRmSH MADE) 
(WITH MUSIC) 

r^. London, May 2. 

Associated Brltiafh Picture Corporation 
(B.I.P.) production and release. Stars Mary. 
Ellis, -Otto Kriiger; featured Victor Jory, 
Barry Mockay. Directed by Hriaii Desmond 
Hurst. Addplted from. Ivor NoVello's play, 
by Dudley .Leslie, Hugh Brooke, William 
Freshman; .music and lyrics, Ivor Novello, 
.Christoi>her Hassall; camera, Fritz- Afno 
Wagner. - At Regal, - London. Running 
tlmiSi 03 mins. 



Melitza Hajos ...... 

King Stefan 
Anthony Allan 
Baron LyadefC ' , . . . . 

Lorentl ;.. ., : 

The Maestro 
Phoebe 

Otto (Equerry) ....... 

Diplomat. .'. ; . . 
Angus Mackllntoch . . 



,...^.Mary Ellis 
i. . Ol to Kruger 
. ^. Barry Mackay 
..-. -Victor - Jory 
1 . . 'rre[oi"Jone8 
. Anthony Holies 
,i Maire O'Nein 
..ClrarUs. Corson 
; •■ Felix Aylmer 
. ..Finluy Currle 



Ah elaborate- production, judged 
by average B. I. P. standards, and 
With the prestige of the prosperous 
Drury Lane theatre, run; indications 
point to generally popular appeal 
in this country, especially, in the 
provinces. Its future in America, 
.however, is hegliigibie,- 

One of the biggest of Ivor Novel- 
lo's musical and melodramatic stage 
successes, and with the added time- 
liness of the recent royal abdication. 
When : originally written it bore a 
resemblance' tp -the story of , King 
Carol of Rumania and l^irie. Lu- 
pesctr, but present-day audiences 
will conjure up the later romance. 

Main general criticism is that the 
picture falls short of a. super, and 
is, too elaborate for,, a : prpgramihef, 
Diriector ■ appears to have done all 
that Was possible with the- facilities 
at his command, but these were not 
jsufficient. Crowds were sparing, as- 
were all the big scenes, and photog-- 
raphy is flat and unimpressive; 
QUick-mioving continental . tempera- 
ment is hot created; instead there 
appears to be British stolidity. 
, | : No ' :siTiali-^ortion^ of-.thj^^^ 
the absence .of any fiery tempera- 
ment on the part of Mary Ellis, in 
the rbl6 of a gypsy girl with whom 
the king is infatuated to the .extent 
that he is willing to give up his 
throne. . She gives no illusion of be- 
ing a Romany, even when attired in 
native costume. 

Otto Kruger, as the king, is ex- 
cellent, showing the requisite touch 
of sentimental weakness of character 
to make the audience sympathetic. 
Barry Mackay, as the, young Eng- 
lishman Who saves the life of the 
gypisy ^irl; turns in , a manly per- 
formance of the role ori inated by 
Ivor Novello, Victor Jory is a com- 
petent villainous dictator, and Finlay 
Currie has the only comedy' role, 
that-of an imperturbable beer-drink- 
ing Scotsman. Jplo. 



Romance and Riclies 

(BRITISH MADE) 

Grand National release of Garrett Klcment 
production. Stars Cary Gnifit. I'Vaturea 
Mary Brian. Directed by Alfred /olsier. 
StorV, E. Phillips Oppoihelm; adaptation, 
John Ij. BalderstOn; camera, Olto Heller; 
assistant director. Pat Walker; production 
manager, Frf^nk Wills; film editor, Mfrrlll 
White; art direction, Dovid nawnsley; dia- 
log director. .ChiirK-."! Lincoln; nviisii^ rom- 
posltlon, Werner UnOi a«i. At Btrnnd, 
Brobltlyrii week May Tt, " 7, on dual. Run- 
ning tl TiOmina 



Ernest 

Frances 

Rlr James Aldro.vxl. 
Lb.rd, Honiton. . . . . . 

Dorringtp.n . . ..... i .-. 

Masters. ; ■<.; . .-. . . . '. . 

Cr.iwley. ; . .. . 

Clarpi . . . . . 

The Buyer'.-. ,. . . . .'. 

.fUuaeppe. ......... . 

Afontnpiie. .,. . . 
Mr.?: Heath........ 

Mrs-.Mott.-. . 
Srnles.'. ..... ... . ... . . 

.riili' Bronflbii... . . .'. . 

Clowes. ... ...... 



:\ry Ornnt 
. ..urtry . Brian 
. . . Pel cr '(Ja.vv'l hof ne. 
. ,. ..Xleriry Kendall 
.i. ....Tjenn M. Lion 

i '. .', . . John TuriibUli: 
. .... . Artliur llftrdy 

....... ...Iris jNshiey 

; .-. . '. . :.'.Giirry 'Marsh 
Anilrea M.Tlnndrlnos- 
...AlftetT .■Wellfsley 
. .. .M;irI6 Wright 

,. . ; .nuenn Bent 
. . .Ch.TrIe.«i Farrell 
. ITflll.-ri'ovdon 
iilnlon- ^Ihcriior.ipn' 



British production released through 
Grand Naitiohal . is rubber stamp 
stuff; with neither vitality nor lustre. 
It could be a rehash of any one of 
several hundred previous pics. Vir- 
tually a series of laboriously tra;ced 
stock situations; But in each case 
only the form is caught, while, the 
aitmOsphere or feeling escape. . 

So, when the rich yoimg idler is 
shamed by his physician into gettinic 
a job arid trying to make, something 
worth while of himself, th^ setup 
looks phony. When the incognito 
youth meets the poor but earnest 
secretary, even the customer asleep 
in the back row knows the answer 
and doiBsn't believe a word of it. 

Attempt is made to inject, life into 
the yarn by draggi in fantastic 
plot complications. , , . 

Cary Grant, Mary Brian and others 
in the cast play as though they real- 
ized too well the thickness of the fog 
around theih. Alfred Zeisler's direc- 
tion befits the surroundings. Hobe. 



Venus Makes Troupe 

Columbia release of Wallace -McDonald 
production. Features James Dunn, rairl- 
cift .^lUis, Geno Morgan, TlmrjJton Hull, 
Astnid Allwyn, Directed by Gordon Whiles. 
Story and adaptation, Michael L, Siinnions; 
film editor, James .Sweeney; cimera, Lii- 
clcn Hiibburd, At Strand, B'klyn, dual, 
week May 13, '37. RUnnine ttiile, M mins 



Buzz Martin 
Kay Horner;-. . , . . 
'Happy Hinkle . . 
Harlati , Darrow . . . 
Ruth Miirier 
Lrin Stanton..;,.,'. 
Iris Randall..... 

Kenneth Rowland 
•To?! Wlllnrd...... . 

Howard Clark. 
District Attorney, 



. James Dunn 
....... P.T,trlola Kills 

...Gene Morgan 
.... Thurslbn Hall 

. ... Beatnlce Curils 

. .'. .. . Dbnoid Kirk 

, . A'strld -^AUwyn 

.Thomas Chatterlon 
...Spencer Cluirfer.s 
. .Howard ■.HicUvvian 
<. .,'..Charlei9 hane 



Tiresome, rieyer-changi James 
Dunn, for whom stori seldom 
this. -..time,, is a _ho.i;-. 
aW:.^ •ai-fisr who goes: from; a ques- 
tionable exploitation rep i a small 
town to a big merchandising posi- 
tiori in New York, hiaking the tran- 
sition over-night. It's another dubi- 
ous success story for Duhn, which 
ill , be . dubious box-office. Duals 
are its, market; but, as the. secondary 
feature. . 

. Michael Simmons' story follows 
the lines of. least resistance,, with 
the . main plot , and central character 
obviously patterned for Dunri. It'd 
be good seeing Dunn in something 
else for a changie. His record for 
putting things over is perhaps an 
all-time high: 

; Afteir the action has left What's 
called. Pa wHngi Pa., vrhere Dunn 
puts oh a stunt, for a. new theatre 
and d local bank, it move^ into New 
York and there, with ho apparent 
competition, he becomes the mer- 
chandising promotipinal wizard of 
the cerituryi It's more silly than 
amusing. Love interest is developed 
in an ordinary, but Wholesome; man- 
ner. 

Dunn has Patricia iEUis Opposite 
him, with Gene Morgan supporting 
as a comedy. . character. Morgan is 
pretty good as a coriiic and, with 
better material, will show soriiething, 
.Others who. are okay are' Thurston 
Hall as a banker; Donald Kirk ais a 
land sharper, and. Astrid Allwyn 
as his. ally. Char. 



VICE RACKET 

Al .Dezel production and state riglits r«- 
lease. Features Martha Cliaplii, Wheeler 
Oalcman, Bryant Washburn, Joy Sheridan. 
At Liberty) V Lincoln, Running tlnie, 70 

v.. . ... i . .Martha Ch'apin 

v. . .'. .Wheeler Ouknian' 
Bryant .'^Vashbiirn' 
. .Jay Sheridan 

......... Vera Sted maiv 

. . Fd Keana 

.........Robert Frazer 

, .' .Ooston Glass 

, . . . . . iFlorence Dudley 
..... . . ; Eddie tdUghton 



minutes. 
Mrs. Miller..;: 
Lucky Wilder.. 
Taylor. . ....... 

Phillips.;...:... 

Molly 

Attorney. ...... 

Dr. iller.::.. 
Oltlcer. ........ 

Jean .'. ... 

Nick.......;... 



"".Moniey • is' the goal ortKrsisexr pieffe; 
and it'll get it for those houses whose 
rep can. stand the rap. 

Story claims Origination from the 
trial testimony of Charlie Luciano's 
vice ring members, ialthOugh it's the 
old claptrap about good girlis going 
bad. Direction sound, and performs 
ance is almost delirious enough to be 
comedy, and no doubt a 50-50 churik 
of the audience wi" /treat it so. 

Camera chased all Over the- place 
to be sensational, with shots when 
they're clfid only in stepins, chorines 
in. the floor shows, stripi shots With 
the -stripper out of the camera range 
and throwing shoes, stockings^ iin- 
mentiohables, etc., into scene. 

Martha. Chapin . is ■ the .No. 1 
woman. Starts as the good wife of a 
good doctor, and ends as the bad 
wife come home with, a seared. sOul. 
Her drama is atrocious, and her 
emotional display amusingly hammy. 
Wheeler Qakman is the top riian in 
the vice syndicate, although a penny- 
ante operator compared to the man 
he's supposed to emulate. He's asr 
sisted by Bryant Washburn and Vera 
Stedriian. Robert Frazer is the gent 
with a heart like, all outdoors, who 
takes the erring ife back to his 
bosom. Eddie ' Laughton; erstwhile 
striaight for the Three Stodges,' is a 
dive . keeper. Everybody is good .at 
lifering. ; . , 

. Picture may have trouble in 
spotsj: gettirig around the censors or 
local purification aiithoriti Man- 
agers will have a toiigh time sellihg 
the idea that its sole purpose is to 
point, a riiOral. Bdfn. 



MEYEE BICYCLING 

Holly wood, May 18: 
B. p. SchUlberg has signed Torben 
Meyer role in 'Let's Talk of 

Love.' 

Meyer will cohiplete his ciirrent 
assigrihient in jJOth-t'Ox's 'Thin Ice' 
before takirig on the Schulberg com-; 
mitment, followiiig which he returns 
to 20th-Fox for 'Lancer Spy.' 



Inside Stulf-Pictiires 



Pathe News attempted a novel stunt last week in an effort to grab a 
beat o.ii compeiti tors On the Coronation coverage. Used what it described 
as 'word pictures' and radio-photos in its special on the everit. Photo- 
graphed typical groups listening to the radio and then apparently tuned' 
in on a radio carrying National Broadcasting Co.'s relay from England of 
the British Broadcasting Co. broadcast of the services. 

Etirlier portion oif this was riiiuff led almost to the point of rion-recOgntiOii, 
but the subsequent speech, by King George, delivered in the afternoon, 
was a, faithful reproduction of the original broadcast, This was picked up 
in this country .in transcription form by One. iriofe statigihs fOr re- 
broadcast thit. night.: 

Radio-phbtOgraphs,, which; were, transriiitted fi^orri London by much the 
same process as is employed on v/irephotos; Were Well reproduced i 
the- - fm- : but ^- w.et iSr^ ^tiiifif eTr^sV^iT?'. Tist^y ' :W6ris-r^i&W*'^^ 
tures of photographs. Screen enlargement, oddly enough, did riot acceri- 
tuate the usijal line effect visible in newspaper cuts, 

National Broadcasting was given f.ull criedit for the radio reproduction, 
while RCA was given a plug for the radio^photos. 

With riiimeroiis major coriipanies striving for. better contract deals from 
exhibitors \vhereyer the traffic Will, bear it this season; the checking fa- 
cilities employed by the various distributors are assuming more importance 
than ever. Salesmen going out into the field arc iOrtifled with certi 
and checked figures as to what all import^rit features did in speci 
theatres. It. is their main standby, iri. case of disputes as. to how certai 
stars draw and various subjects go at tliie front Window. 

Checking of theatre tickets arid gross receipts on important jperceritagd 
engagements primarily .enables the distributor to halt any attempt at 
trimriiing figures by chiseling exhibitors, who feel jtistiflcd because they 
are playing on percentage arrangements. However, the fuhdamcRtal 
reason is thiat ' it- prepares a Wealth of accurate diata that - goes out .with 
ihe;.;Sales force when setting new product deals; 

These figures supply the clincher, for salesmen in any question regard- 
irig whiat a feature grossed. Also they furnish Whiat amounts to an answer 
which carihot be refuted by, the theatre mari^ 



Special reports and papers to" be read it the spring cOrivention Of the 
society of Motion Picture . Ehgineers in Hollywood, May 24-28^ indicate 
greater acceleration; during 1936 in research,, and development of .pictures 
and techniques than since the first few years after sound v/As iritroduccd. 
Sessions . on May 24, 25 and 27, when members will confer With Coast 
technical experts, are tabbed this most .Important. Universal, Metro and 
the Acaderiiy of Motion Picture Arte arid Sciences will bie hosts on 
these eveni ; ' . ' 

. Television Will be treated in detail pile night of the convention, when 
Ralph R. Beai; Radio: Corp. of Ariierica research supervisor, WiH relate 
the strides taken by his company in its .test programs during the past 
year. New color'process.developed by Agfa-AnsjJo Corp. Will be described, 
for the. first time at another meetirig. 



Frank J. Harris, over the week end named GOP chairman for Allegheny- 
County, Pennsylvania, is president of the Harris Amusement Co., Operat- 
ing 14 filin hoiises in Westerri Penrisylvania, Ohio and Michigan. .Active 
head, however, is his . nephew, John Hi Harris. Eldeir - Harris is, .and has 
been for years, a political big-Wig in Pittsburgh. He served as state 
atOr for ip years before goirig down.to defeat, last November in the Roosei- 
velt landslide, even at that running ahead of his party. He is a brother 
ojE the. late Senator .John P. Harris, who founded the priginal Harris circuit; 
which ..Warners bought otit in 1929. He began imntedlately to assemble 
a new chain, since his nephew at that, timd was forbidden lay. terms of the; 
Warner sale to erigag'e in private theatrical enterprises again for five yjears. 



""Wiiii' production supervisiori bvei: 'Broadway Melody" of "'36,* 'Captalria' 
Courageous' just opened on a roadshow basis, arid the forthcming 'Broad-^ 
Way Melody of '3.7,' the importancie of Sam Katz, Metro studio executive 
under Louis . Mayer is .greatly increased. When he first joined Metro, 
Katz vi'as placed in charge of 'B' pictures. . 

. He is one of the few theatre executives to become a producer. Wliile 
still with Par as presiderit. of Publix Theatres, he. .took six rnonths' leave 
at the request of Adolph Zukor to assume charge of the Par studio in an 
emergency,, his first experience with picture-riiafci 



.. Paramount News property, plus two adjoining lots, in West 43rd. street, 
N. y.^ is to be offered: for. sale by Par following removal of the ncwsrecl 
to .the Astori , L. I,, studio. Par has already moved its warehpuse frorii 
the 43rd street site to Astoiria. 

because of the inaccessi ility of Astoria, arrangements, may be made 
to keep carinieramen ill New .York so that they can get to assigriments 
quicker, although every other newsreel activity would be concentrated 
across the river. 



'Parole' Lederer, Carroll 

Hollywood; May 18. 
Madelei Carroll ; 'and Francis 
Lederer get top spots in -Lovers on 
Pairole,' which goes into producliori 
at Columbia next week, 
lliott Nugent wiU direct; 



Educatiotiars Atlanta Tot 

Atlanta, Ga., May 18; 

Catherine Dittig, 13, entrained last 
Wieeic for Hollywood. 

Young dancer is Under contract to 
Educational^ 



Night baseball continues to be a summer nightmare for exhi itors i 
smaller citi , Where minor league baseball officials have niade the 
nocturnal contest an iririportant part of their schedules. 

Theatre managers, who have faced tbis' new competition for the .last 
six or seven years now have come to; regard it as a legitimate form of 
competition. All they can hope for is a break on playdates .so that 
strong attractions are ispotted to enable them tO cash in big when the 
home teams are on the road. 



Director John Ford is wOrking princlpials in the cast of Samuel Gold- 
wyn's i'The Htirricane' in a huge, tank on the Uriited Artists lot. Syntheti 
lagoon contains 981,000 ^gallons , of water spread over about two acrci. 
Wind machines are used to whip the surface up into semblance of a furious 
stprm, in which dramatic sequences iare! beirig filmed. Facing the cameraa 
are Mamo Clark, Dorothy Laniour,; Jon Hall and Raymond Masscy. 



/ 'Turn pit the Moon,' budgeted by Paramount as. a 'B' picture, i.s being 
given; riumerpus. 'A' dates; by,, the Par theatres. It is the first picttirc to 
be' prpduced by -Miss Fahchori, who, on its complietiori, was reriewcd fo 
another musical. Miss Fanchpn; Of Fanch6nv& Marco, brought the piclur 
iri at $40,000 under the budget, which was reported be $400,000. Pic- 
ture opens at. the Paramount, . N, Y^ today ( Wed, ). 

Paramount new.sreel has given Tpmriiy Craven a regular job as a result 
of his catching some of the best shots of the HiridenbUrg disaster. Photog 
had. been doing relief and extra-duty Work for Par for some time. He 
was sent to Lakehurst in the belief there was just some routine reelage 
to be gr.purid wh^n the airship nosed intp its hangar,:pther staff Shooters; 
being on. other assignments. 

Top rental to Artists on any picture on a three-weeks' engage^ 

riient' was taken out of the Music Hall, N. Y., 'Star Is Born,' TJA's bit 
being $80,000- Picture Went 21 days at' the house, jirossing $i?84,600. On , 
the three weeks' run of 'Wake Up and Live,' which grossed $152,000, the., 
rental to 20tli -Fox Was $38,000. ictures against each Pther sanie 
three, weeics,-. 



Survey of the Southerri California area by Paramount discloses thsit 
'Wai iki Wedding,' Ring Crosby starrer with, Bob Burns, is harvesting 
heaviest grosses of ariy pic turned out by the company iri the last five 
years.: Par's preViPUS top grosser was 'The Bij rpadcast' and before, that 
'Trail of the Lonesome Pi ' .' 



Film Art tUdios, whieh took over the old Edison plfint in the Bronx, 
N. Y., will not itself produce, as was Understood, but. proposes renting 
stage space for indies. Several, producers are .at present: riegotiatirig.. 



24 VARIETY Wednesday, May 19, 1937 




THE PICTURE THE WORLD WILL BE TALKING ABOUT! 

feK^!^:^^^«■>x^■^^x•^<Xv^.^^y^^C.X^^ /^^.■/.■.•.v^.'.--r.>y^y-- .•• .■i-y.-.-.-.-.-.w.-.-.-.'. •.*.•.■.■.%•.•-■.■...: ......._-_..vv-'---*-v.--'.v.'. .- v- v. • • v ^ <...]..... - i_..v-'-'-'-'-v.-.-...._-.... . 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



VARIETY 




Stanwyci a pait that iorf^ 00m^ 
emottonal iiie; Thes^ leatkfe 



!5» 



— 




ROBERT 



BARBARA 



5 ■■ i 




^^^^ t 



VICTOR 



Off his mightiest 



BRIAN DONLEVY SIDNEY BLACKMER 
JOHN CARRADINE ALAN DINEHART 
DOUGLAS FOWLEY 
FRANK CONROY 



v.v.vX'^.v.'.-. 



i ■ 



ROBERT McWADE 
SIG RUMANN 



Directed by WILLIAM A. SEITER 

Associate Producer Kenneth Macgowan. Original screen play by Allen 
Rivkin and Lamar Trotti. Songs of mood and emotion by Gordon & Revel. 

Dances staged by Jack Haskell 

DARRYL r. ZANUCK in Charge of Production 




THE KEYSTONE 
OF YOUR FUTURE 



TRADE-MARKED BY 20th FOR HOLDOVERS! 



2(5 VARIETY 



PICTURES 



■ I 

Wednesday, May 19, 1937 






XFor inforniaiion of theatre and film exchange bookeh/Y a^i'ety presents a complete chart of feature releases of; all the: American dtstributing companies f 
the current quarterly periods Date of the revieivs as given in Variety and the running time of prints are included,)^ 

CdPrRIGHT/l937;>^ VABIETr, INC. Al<L RIGHTS RESERVED 



or 



WSEK 

OF 
RELEASE 



TITLE 



DISTRIB^ 



0IREGTOR 



WHEN 
TIME HEVIEiVEp 
MINS; BT VARIETY 



4/3/37 



MOTOR MADNESS 
RACKETEERS IN EXILE 
BACKSTAGE 
GiRL LOVES BOY 
HITTIN/ THE TRAIL 
SONG OF THE CITY 
MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF 
LIGHTNING CRANDALL 
MIDNIGHT TAXI 
HISTORY IS MADR AT NIGHT 
WHEN LOVE IS YOUNG 
MEN IN EXILE 



H;L," Decker Col Com-Dr 

Col Col Melodrama 

H. Wilcox GB Drahia 

B. Z6idman GN Rbm-Coiri 

E, Finney . GN Western , 

L. Hubbard MGM Drama 

C. Reid BKO Drama 

A. W. Hackel Rep Western 

M. Feld 20th Melodramai 

W. Wanger UA R6m-Cdm 

R. Presnell U Rom-Cotn 

WB WB Drama 



. Wilson-C^ Qnirley 
Bancroft' Venable 
Naeel-Tra'oy 
E. Lindcn-C. Farket 
Tex,R|ttM._. . 
.. Ditali-'M. Lindsay 
BealrP. Huston- J>FontalBe 
Bobby Steele 
inehart-Donlevy 
Boyer- Arthur 
.V. Bruce-K.. Taylor 
. bi Purciell-J. Travis 



D.^ R. Lederman 
E. C. Kehtoii 
H. Wilcox ; 
D. Mansfield 

;R^Jf. JBradbury^ 

E. Taggert 
li. Landers 
S. Newfleld 

E. Forde 

F. Borzage 
H. Mohr. 

J. Farrow 



61 
66 



/.5. 
4/14. 



4/7 
3/31 
4/21 
5/5 



Coi ; 
Condor 
E. Cohen 
W, Sistrom 
P. Berjnan 
A. E. Levoy 
R. Griffith 
WB 



4/9/37 



; TWO GUN LAW 
THE GOLD RACKET 
GIRL FROM SCOTLAND YARD 
TOO MANY WIVES 
SOLDIER AND LADY. 
JIM HAN VEY, DETECTIVE 
FIFTY ROADS TO TOWN 
MARKED WOMAN ' 



Col 
GN 
Pair 
RKO 
RKO 
Rep 
2Qth 
WB 



Melodraina 
Western: 
Mystery 

. Rom-Com 

Melodrama. 
Mystery 
C6m-Dr . 

Melodrama 



Cliarles Starrett 
C. Nag ei-E. Hunt 

K; Morley-R. Baldwin 
Shirley- j. Morley 

A. Walbrbok-E; Alleh 
KIbbee-T. Brown 
Ameche-Soithern 
Davis- H. ' Bogart 



L. Barsha 
li. Gasnier 
R. Vignola 
B. Holmes 
G. Nichols 

P. Rosen 
N. ^Taurog 

L. Bacon 



4/28. 
4/14-. 
5/12 



4/16/37 



TWO WHO DARED 
MAN IN THE .MIRROR 
ROMEO AND JULIET 
WAY OUT WEST 
HILLS OF OLD WYOMING ^ 
INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY 
OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT 
GUNS IN THE DARK 

NAVY BLUES 
STEP LIVELY/ JEEVES 
LET THEM LIVE 
THAT MAN'S HERE AGAIN 
CALL IT A DAY 



E. f renke GN Drama 

- J. Hagen GN Comedy 

I. Thalberg MGM Rom-Com 

H. Roach MGM Comedy 

^ H. Shernnah Par Western 

B. Glazer Par Drama. 

R: Sisk BKO Western 

. W. Hackel Rep Western 

B: Kelly Rep Comedy 

J. Stone 20th Comedy 

E. Grainger U Drama 

WB WB Comedy 

WB WB Comedy 



Sten- WllcoxoB E. Frenke 

. E. H6rton-G. Tbbln M. ElVey 

Shearer-Howard ■ G. Cukor 

Laurel-Hardy J, Horhe 
. William Boyd N. Watt 

McCrea- Stanwyck A...'SanteII 

P. Foster-J. Muir C. Cabanne 

J. M. Brown S. Newfield 

. Purcell-Wi Hymev R. Staub 

Treacher-felllis E, Forde 

Barrett-J. Howard-N. Gray H>. Young 
M. McGuire-T. Brown L. King 

De HaVilanidrlan Hnhter A. Mayo. 



10/26/36 
5/5 



60 
89 



4/23/37 



.6/7/37 



I PROMISE TO PAY 
SPEED. TO SPARE 
THUNDER IN CiTY 
SILENT BARRIERS . 
KILLERS OF THE SEA 
GOOD OLD SOAK 
NOBODY'S BABY 
KING OF GAMBLERS 
WOMAN i LOVE 
HIT PARADE 
WAKE UP AND LIVE 

ELEPHANT BOY 
TOP OF THE TOWN 

NIGHT KEY 
MOUNTAIN JUSTICE 



M. Conriblly Col Drama 

R. Cohn Coi. Melodrama 

Atlantic Col Com-Dr 

GB GB Drama. 

R. Friedgeh GN Outdoor 

H; Stromberg MGM Drama 

H. Roach MGM Cdmedy 

R; Florey Par Drama 

A. Lewis RKO Rohi-Dr 

N< Levine. Rep Musical. 

K MacGowan 20th Musical 

A, Korda UA Outdoor 

L. Brock U Musical 

R: Prieshell U Mystery- 

WB WB Melodrama 



C. Morrls-H^ IHfack-Carrilld 
C. Qiiigiey-b. Wilson 
Eb G< Robinspn-L; Deste 
R. Arlen-L. Palmer 
Cabt. W; Casswell 
W. Beery- J. Beecher 
P. Kelly-R. Armstronir 
A. Tamiroff-L. Nolan-C. Trevor 
Muni-Hopkins 

F. Langford-P. Regan 
Winchell-Bernle-Faye-Haley 

W. E. Halloway-D. J. WilUams 
D. Nolan-G. Murphy-H. Herbert 
B. Karloff- J. Bogiers 

G. Brent-J. Hutchinson 



D. R. Lederman 
Li Hillyer 
M. Gering 
. M/ Rosher 
R. Friedgeh 
R. Thorpe 
G. Meins 
Robert Floriey 
A. Litvak 
G. Meins 
S. Lanfleld 
R. Flaherty 
" Ri Murphy- 
.!>. Corrigan 
M. Ciirtiz 



3/ 



4/21 

4/28 
4/7. 
3/31 
.4/21 

5/ld: 



4/30/37 CRIMINALS OF THE AIR Col Col Action 

»/vy/«t isssQi SOLOMON'S MINES GB GB Spectacle 

JUGGERNAUT . Hagen GN Melodramd 

NIGHT MUST FALL H. Rapf MGM Cdmedy 

MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW L. McCarey Par Comedy 

YOU CAN'T BUY LUCK M. Cohen BKO Comedy 

— ROOTING TO.OTINVJRHYTHM>.^-«^..-......A, Schaefer Rep Western 

ESCAPITFROM LOVE " " ■ L. LandaU 20th Rom:-Com 

THAT I MAY LIVE S. Wurtzel 20th tfom-Dr 

A STAR is born D. Selznick UA Rom-Dr. 

KNIGHT WITHOUT ARMOR . A. Korda UA Rom-Dr. 

CALIFORNIA STRAIGHT AHEAD T. Carr U Action 

MiSLODY FOR TWO WB WB' Musical 



C. Quigley-M. Keith 
C. Hardwlcke-B. Young 

Boris KarloU 
. Montgomery-It Russell 
Vi Mpore-P.N Hall 
Q. Stevens-H. Mack 
. Gene Autry-Armlda 
Ha. Stnart^.^iithaftii^'^^ 
R. Hudson-Robert Kent 
Gaynor-March 
Dletrlch-Donat 
J. Wayne-L. Latimer 
J^ Melton-P. Ellis 



C. C. Coleman 
R. Stevenson 
H. Edwards . 
J. W. Riiben 
Jj^ McCarey 
li. Landers 

,,I^,,E, Wright^,, 

E. Foi^r ' 

Allan Dwan 
W., Wellman 
J. Feyder 
A. Lubin 
Louis King 



5/5 

5/12 

5/19 



5/12 
4/28 



FRAME UP 
THEY GAVE HIM A GUN 
SHALL WE DANCE? 
GUN SMOKE RANCH 

GUN Lords of stirrup basin 

CAFE METROPOLE 
IT HAPPENED OUT WEST 
WOMAN CHASES MAN 
AS GOOD As MARRIED 
PRINCE AND PAUPER 



R. Cohn Col 

H. Rapf MGM 

P. Berman KKO 

S. Siegel Rep 

A W. Hackel Rep 

N. Johiisoh. 20^ 

: S. Lesser 20th 

S. Goldwyn UA 
E. M. Asher U 

WB WB 



Com-Dr P. Kelly- J. Wells 

Rom-Dr S. Tracy-Tone-G; George 

Musical Astaire-Rogers 

Western W. Livingston 

Western Bobby Steele 

Com-Dr A. Menjou-L. Young 

Western P. Kelly- J. Allen- J. Arthur 

Comedy- Hopkinis-McCrea 

Cbm-Dr J. Boles-D. Nolan 

Rom-Dr. E. Flyhh-Manch Twins 



D. R. Lederman 
W. S. VahDyke 
M.. Sandrich 

J> Kane 
S. Newfleld 
E. H. Griffith 
H. Brethertoh 
John Blystone 
E. Buzzell 
W. Keighley 



70 
76 
115 



5/19 
5/12 



5/6; 
5/12 



5/14/37 



5/21/37 



VENUS MAKES TROUBLE 
NON-STOP NEW YORK 
FOREVER YOURS 
THIRTEENTH CHAIR 
TURN OFF THE MOON 
BEHIND HEADLINES 
AFFAIRS OF CAPPY RICKS 

MICHAEL O'HALLORAN 
GREAT HOSPITAL MYSTERY 
DAVID HARUAi (REISSUE) 
LOVE FROM A STRANGER 
OH, DOCTOR 
CHEROKEE STRIP 
DRAEGERMAN COURAGE 



W. McDonald Col Com-Dr 

GB GB Drama 

Iberto Giacalone GN Musical 

J. J. Cohn MGM Melodrama 

Miss Fanchon Par Comedy 

Cliff Reid BKO Com-Dr 

B. Kelly Rep Com 

H. Schlom Rep Rom-Dr 

S. Wurtzel 20th Mystei^r 

S. Wurtzel 20th Comedy 

M. Schach UA Melodrama 

E. Grainger U Cdmedy 

WB WB Western 

B. Foy WB Rom^Coni 



DEVIL IS DRIVING 
SING, COWBOY, SING 
A DAY at THE RACES 
PICK A STAR 

NIGHT OF MYSTERY 
THERE GOES MY GIRL 
COME ON, COWBOYS 
CHARLIE CHAN AT OLYMPICS 
WINGS OVER HONOLULU 
THE GO GETTER 



Col Cbl Meller 

E. Finney GN 'Western 

L. Weingarten MGM Rdm-Com 

Hal Roach MGM iWusical 

Par Par, Musical 

W. Sistrom RKO Comedy 

Sol Siegel Rep Western 

J. Stone 20th Mystery 

E. M: Asher U Rdm^Dr 

Cosmo WB Rom-Dr 



J. Dunn-P. Ellis 
. Lee-J. Lodjer-D. Tester 
Beniamino Gigli 
M. Evans-H. Daniell 
C. Rngglcs-E. Whitney 
Lee Tracy-D. Gibson 
W. Brennan-M. Brian 
W, Gibson- Jackie Moran 
7. Darwell-S. Riimann 
W. Rogers-L. Dresser 
A. Harding-B. RathbAne 
E. E. Hortpn-Eve Arden 
D. Foran-J. Bryan 
J. Muir-B. MacLane 



: G. Wiles 
R. Stevenson 
Stanley Irving 
G. Sietz 
Lew Seller 
R. Rdsson 

Carl Brown 
J. Tiiilinig 
J. Criize 
R. V. Lee 
Ray McCarey 
Noel Smith 
ZiOuis King 



58 



/19 



4/21 



R. Dix-J. Perry 
Tex Ritter 
Marx Bros. 
. HaleyrP. Kelly-Laurel 
Hardy 
R. Karns-H. Burgess 
G. Raymond- A. Sothern-B. Holmes 
B. Livihgston-R^ Corrigan 
W. Oland-K. de Milie 
R. Milland-W. Barrie 
Gr rent-A. Louise 



. H. Lachman 
. N.. Bradbury 

S. Wood 
E. Sedgwiclt 



Joe Kane 
. B. Humlstone 
H. C. Potter 
B. Berkeley 



80 

92 



5/28/37 



•6/11/37 



LEAGUE OF FRIGHTENED MEN 
GANGWAY 
HOLLYWOOD COWBOY 
I MET HIM IN PARIS 
THIS IS MY AFFAIR 
UNDER THE RED ROBE 
DREAMING LIPS 
THE MAN IN BLUE 
KID GALLAHAD 



E. Chodorov Col Drama 

GB GB Musical 

GiA.Hirlimah BKO Western 

W.: Ruggles Par Rdm-Cbm 

K> MacGowan 20th Musical 

R. T. Kane 26th Drama 

M. Schach UA Rom-Dr 

K. Glasmon u Melodrama 

WB WB Drama 



L Hervey-W. Connolly 
J. Matthewis-B, Mackay 
O'Brien-C. Parker-E. Scott 
Colbert-Melvyn Douglas- 
R. Taylor-B. Stanwyck- 
C, Veidt- ; Massey 
E. Bergner-R. Massey 
R. Wilcox-N, Grey 
. iG. .;Rbbinsoh-B. Davis 



At Green 
Sonnie Hale 

W. Ruggles 
W. A. Seiter 

V. Seastrom 
Paul Czinner 

M, Cariruth 
M. Curtiz 



66 
165 



RECKLESS RANGER 
BANK ALARM 
PARNELL 
HOTEL HAYWIRE 
MISSUS AMERICA 
DOOMED AT SUNDOWN 
ANGEL'S HOLIDAY 
THE CALIFORNIAN 
WHEN THIEF MEETS THIEF 
THE WILDCATTER 
CASB OF STUTTERING BISHOP 



Gol Col . Western' 

Condor GN Melodrama 

J. Stahl MGM Rom-Dr 

Pai Par Comedy 

Al Lewis , RKO Comedy 

A. W. Hackel Rep Western 

J. Stdhe 20th Drama 

Sol Lessfer 26th Western 

Criterion UA Rom-Dr 

Geo. Owen u Drama 

WB WB Mystery 



Bob Alien-B. Weeks 

Conrad Nagel 
. Gable-Myrna Loy 
. Carrilio-L. Overman 
. Broderick-V.. Moore 
. Bci, Steele 
J. Withers-Robert Kent 
icbard Arlen-RIcar.do Cortez 
. Fairbanks, Jr^-V. Hobseh 

S. Colton- J. Rogers 
D. WoodsrAhn Dvorak 



ROARING TIMBER 
EMPEROR'S CANDLESTICKS 
THE GREAT GAMBINI 
TOAST OF NEW YORK 
IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU 
LOVE IN A BUNGALOW 
SLIM 
BLAZING SIXES 



R.Fldthow Col Outdoor 

J. Conisidine MGM RojU-Dr 

B. P. Schulberg Par Melodrama 

E. Small RKO Drama 

. L. Fields R«p Rom-Dr 

E. M. Asher U Rom-Com 

WB WB Drama 

WB WB Western 



Jack Holt-G< Bradley 
PoWell-IUiner , 

A. TamiroftrJ. Trent 
E. ArnPld-C^ Grant 
A. Baxter-A. Leeds 
N. Grey-K. Taylor 

P. O'Brieh-H. Fonda 
D, Foran-H. Valkis 



S.G.Bennett 
Louis Gasnier 
John Stahl , 
G. Archainbaud 
Joseph Sahtley 
Sam Newfleld' 
Jaiiies Tlnling 
How'd Breth'toh 
Raoul Walsh 
Ray McCarey 
W. Clemens 

Phil Rosen 
G. Fitzmaurice' 
C: Viddr 
R. V. Lee 
Phil Rosen 
Ray McCarey 
R. Enright 
Noel Smith 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



27 



EXPLOITATION 



By Epes W. Sargent 



'Dance' Contest 

Aiflong plenty of other stunts used 
by Bill Brown, of the Albee, Provi- 
dence, was a . skate estiihate to tie in 
to the skate stuff in 'Shall We Dance.' 
About 3,000 were placed in a win- 
dow with the usual, rewards for the 
closest estimate. 

In return for two one sheets on the 
Astaire broadcast, the local Packard 
dealers fcaid for time for two 30- 
word broadcasts. Other good stunts 
were special three sheets for three 
hotels, special painted signs for three 
club^ many windoyrs andi. Astalire 
saridwlclies "aM Kbgei^i" s^ 



Ban It Up 

iPesa-Longo trio flacking -Loew's 
tate and Oirpheum, . Bostoh, did 
plenty, oii 'Personal Appearance.' 
Best bet was putting two runners 
out ,to cover the last two miles of a, 
Marathon race. 

Boys had cards ob their backs an- 
nouncing ' '.We. are running to see 
Jean Harlow/ etc. Covered the route 
about seven, Ininutes ahead of the 
pack and drew first attention. 



'Horizon' in Tokyo 

Tokyo: 

Columbia went overboard on ex- 
ploitation of 'Iioist Horizon,' cur- 
rently day and dating Hibiya Eiga 
Geicijo and Toyoko Eiga Gekijo. 

Besides almost a full page in the 
vernaicular dailies, a special section 
in the English language Japan Ad- 
vertiser and citxrwide distrib. of 
five-color hangers, the co. induced a 
popular news pictorial to include 
several scenes from the'' film in their 
regular issue this wciek, ' which : is 
posted, in thousands of . ^ store win- 
dows; 



Filled the Cup 

Charlotte, N, . 
At a itjeeting last Week at Wash- 
ington of Warner Bros, theatre man- 
agers throughout the Washington 
district Don Nichols, manager of the 
Broadway theatre here, was awarded 
a silver cup for the best circuit iex- 
plpitatioh in 1936. Wheii presented 
the cup was Qverflowing with silvier 
dollars-^an additional award liiskde 
by George A. Crouch, assistant War- 
ner Bros, zone n^anager. 



W-E Seek Good Will 

SpartansbUrg, S. C, May 18. 

... Good AKilL and. JioLgags- to -congest 
the box ofFice how and then is the 
long suit of the Wilby-Kincey houses 
here. 

City Manager. Bob Talbert figures 
that good will in the city and en- 
virons is an. annual asset for the 
houses, whereas flash-in- the-pan 
ideas cook only one night -and then 
fade out; 

The Carolina staged its annual co- 
operative Clean-Up Week special 
show a few days ago.. Afternoon edi- 
tions reported a big truckloads of 
old tin cans— brought to the theatre 
by kids as admission— were trucked 
away to the city incinerator while 
hundreds of youngsters enjoyed ani- 
Thated cartoons and comedies for 
taiore than an hour. 

For Mother's Day the Carolina had 
as its guests aged inmates of the 
Georgia Cleveland home— for two 
automobile tours of - the 'city in closed 
cars, a show and refreshments at the 
City's largest restaurant— and flow- 
ers! 

.State had all mothers 60 or over as 
guests for, a show and stood trieat at 
a restaurant for refreshments. 
.State school for deaf and blind 
children is located near the city and 
frequently State has many of these 
pupils as guests at splecial shows. 

-Jhe W-K houses have stopped 
.oank nites and other splurge stunts 
and have gone in straight for the. 
good will angles. 



Reverse Chinese 

Detroit. 

inese banners, carrying linguist 
tic.salvos about 'Good Earth' (MG) 
and . hung frorii lanterns in Cass the- 
atre, lobby, were turned upside down 
following opening night. 

Pfof. O. G. Starret, of West China 
Union college, attending opening 
perfor;mance, informed Manager 
Warry McKee that signs were, hang- 
ing in reverse order. 



All Cricks Won Pri25es 

Washington. . 
.Taking tip from current Old Gold 
picture puzzle contest, .Frank La 
*alce, ©ap WB exploiter, pulled sim- 
I'ar gag, oh local' drama .eds ^hd 
copped plenty space; Roy Sbhatt, 
WB artist, drew set of nine cartoons 
tied in with 'Wings of Morning' and 
'hey were sent, one a day, to five 
scribes. AU were invited to compete 
lor pvizes for best solutions, although 
tney were told in advance they would 
get prizes any way. Pib being bal- 
ued wasn't disclosed and not one 
,£iiessod right until eighth day when 
routine, readers came through and 
gave it away. Readers were signal 
lor each scribe to blast annomicii- 
^ent that he had found solution. 



which didn't hurt pic at all. Prizes 
were quarts of Irish whiskey. 
, Warner office also tried new pol- 
icy in opening Calviert, new habe, 
last week with 'Prince and Pauper' 
full week before it bowed in dQwh- 
town. Past practice has been to open 
with pic night before it premiered at 
major spot. Not having WB pic 
same week, however, it was decided 
to play single performanice of ad- 
vance show as opener. 

Not new, but proving, again that it 
hais it all ovier handbills or especially 
printed tpy-neWspapers. was gag of 
Loew's Palace 'iiast week in 'buying 
1,000 copies of final edition of Daily 
News, fab, and imprinting i:ed ink ad 
for 'A Star Is Born' oh front page. 

Crowns andTwins 

Seattle.' 

For 'Prince and Paupei:' (FN) the 
5th Ave.' made , much of Coronation 
scenes of King Henry V, featured in 
the Mark Twain story. Local British 
Society on May 12 had big corona- 
tion observance, crowning ]a queen 
and also having strieet parade with 
bagpipes, winding up at Fifth ave^ 

Contest of twins in Seattle wias 
conducted in conjunction with Post- 
In telligencer, due to Mauch Twins in 
pix. Prizes given best looking, moist 
alike, most freckled, oldest and 
youngest pair, this being free ducats 
for balance of month at Fifth. P. I. 
rah daily cuts just prior and during 
showing of pix, showing Seattle's 
twins'. About 125 twins entered con-, 
test^ •■• 



Taxis, Too 

Charlotte, N. G. 

The Kincey-owned Carolina, Im- 
perial and State here, cooperating 
with the Charlotte News, entertained 
all mothers over 60 years of age who 
would visit the three .theatres, as a 
.Mother's Day buildup. 

The News carried a coupon that 
could be clipped and signed by any 
mother 60 or older, The Yellow Cab 
company also cooperated by taking 
the mothers to the theatres. The 
coupon served as a taxi pass as well 
as a theatre paiss. 

More than 200 mothers made use 
of the offer. Ten of these were 75 
years or older. The oldest mother 
was 78. The News followed up with 
a good story on the event. 



Theatre Chaiiges 



Omahsi. 

: Jimmy Schlatter from the Omaha, 
Oniaha, to the Capitol, Sioux- City. 
L. E. Davidson sfepis out of Cap . to 
become, city manager in Sioux City: 

Eddie Forrester, Grand Island 
chief, to Schlatter's post at Omaha, 
and Breck Fagin leayes OrpheUm as 
assistant manager to take oVer the 
G. I. position. Don Shane transfers 
from assistant manager at Capital to 
sanie at Orpheum, Omaha, 

Joe Rosenberg moved; in as brahch 
manager ' at Grand \ National ex- 
change replacing Carl Reese. 

Jake Schlank added to U.A. to 
cover Iowa territory out of Omaha. 



Bakersfield, CalifJ, 
Frank Browns returns to Fox-West 
Coast as pilot of the California. Re- 
places Bob Cottom, who moyed ovier 
to the Nile. 



BellefontainCi O. 
lenn Lazar, manager of S(;hine'a 
Holland, promoted to the home office 
of a irrother, Sander.. 

Atlanta, Ga. 
ixie Amusement Co., West Point, 
will operate new $12,000 house under 
C O n s t r u c t i o n in Clarkesville, 
scheduled to open June 1. 

W. H. Karrah, Swainsboro, , ., 
has purchased Strand in Sylvarii , 
from Fred Houser. 



; Louis. 

ransfer of Ralph McGowan from 
managership of. . FanchOn . & Marco's 
St. Louis to Plymouth, also con- 
trolled by FieM, in Worcester, Mass;, 
has resulti^d in shifting of persorihel 
in F&M's house here. John Gleasori, 
asst. mgr. of 5,000 seater Fox has 
been upped to mgr.. of St. Louis and 
has been succeeded by Clyde Brown, 
asst. mgr. at F&M's downtown 
deluxer. Ambassador. .Joe Goldstein, 
sisst: treas. and chief of service staff 
at St. Louis moves dovvntown to' take 
'Brovvn's place; 

Denver. 

.Charles Meyer now. managing 
the Lode, ilvertoWn, Colo., for 
Charles -Diller. Name recently 
chainged from Gem. 

Charles Bumstead, portable opera- 
tor, has added the Princess. Key- 
stone', S. D., and the .Cohimunity hall, 
Oelrichs. S. D., to hiii circuit. 

Bishop, Ft. Laramie, Wyo„ opened 
by :F.- D; Bishop, using . a portable 
outfit. 

G(Brald Whitney ha.<? , resigned as 
district manager of the northern 
district for Fox Intermountain, Suc- 
ceeding him will be Ray Davis, city 
manager for Fox at Cheyenne, 

Whitney has been made manager 
0 the Webber and Hiawatha thea- 
tres for Fox in Denver, 



WCTU Produces 4-ReeI 
Pic Oil Evils of Drink 



'Benevolent * a four-reel 

talker presenting dramatized 
form 'the scientific facts' regartl- 
ing alcohol, is the first' picture 
to be produced by the national 
Women's Christian Temperance 
Union out of the- $120,000 budget set 
aside from the $l,000,00b educational 
fund the organization is seeking to 
raisb, Stated that' about $21;006 has 
been invested in the film, which 
comes ih two fOrms; silent and sound, 
.and in - two "Sizes; ■"' " and"" .a5 mm'.' 
iSevehty-flve prints are being dis- 
tributed through the Motion Picture 
Bureau of the National Council of 
the YMCA, in Chicago and New 
York, and through Screen AdettSr 
Inc., San Francisco. WCTU, head- 
iciuartered in EvanStbn, III., makes no 
charge for iise of "the picture, • ex- 
cept for .nominal- handling expenses. 
Claimed „ that requests for its show- 
ing haye already been, received from 
41 states and the District of Coluih- 
bia, and inquiries have' come from 
England, Finland: and Egypt; 54% of 
the requests are from schools and 
colleges. 

WCTU alsov sponsors a radio pro- 
gram, has (erected in New York ;and 
elsewhere rOaidside , sighs, antt~is dis- 
tributihg a new. type of publicity 
and plates, 



Otnaha Bars 'Ecsiasy' 



dniaha, May 18. 

Censorship controversy flared here 
again this week when , Tom ' Knapp, 
head of the city welifare department, 
put a ban on 'Ecstasy' after viewing, 
a screening of it. European film' was. 
set for showing at Ralph Goldberg's 
Town, downtown second run, hext 
week, but no dice now. Goldberg 
hoped to evade the situation encoun- 
tered by 'Tobacco Road,' legit, last 
week by giving Khapp a peek at .the 
film: before' final booking. 

In his report to the Mayor, Knapp 
claimed some artistic credit and 
moral preachment were due the pic- 
ture, but on the whole he couldn't 
see it. 



Action oit Eureka Productions^ Inc 
agaicist Intimate "XTieatres^ Inc^. and |-i 
!Mefrbp6lis Pictures Cbrp. fqir an inr 
junction to restrain usie of ihe word 
•Ecstasy' in title of 'Ecstasy of 
Young Love' will be heard in. Sur 
preme Court, N. Y. today (Wednes- 
day). 

Plaintiff owns the rights to 
'Ecstasy,' Czech, film featuring Hedy 
Kiesler, which was banned by the 
U. S. biit later admitted. 



DISNEY BLUBBER 



Greg Dixon Quits Itko for niousie- 
Steinbieiiner Successor 



ollywood, May 18.» 

Gregory Dixpn transferred yester- 
day (Mon.) from his job as RKO- 
Radio's trailer chief to publicity 
head for Walt Disney, first plugger 
Mickey Mouse's pop has, had in sevr 
eral years. 

Jim Steinheimer goes over from 
National Screen Sei'Vice to Dixon's 
spot -at Radio, 



'Firefly' Set 

Hoilywood, May 18. 

Ceorge Zucco has been added to 
the cast of Metro's 'The Firefiy,' top- 
lining Jeanette MiacDoriaid, Allah 
Jones and Warren William. Zucco, 
a British actor, wbs recently signed 
to a termer. 

Hunt Stromberg is producing 
• irefly,' with Robert Z. Leonard di- 
recting. In": the cast Corbett 
Morris, . William Crowell, Donald 
Reed, John Merton, Roger Drake^ 
Fred MacKaye, Hooper Atchley, 
Aida Kuzrietzoff and Pahchita. Cas- 
teheda. 



Brian Donlevy Better 

Hollywood, May 18. 
Garrtera work has been resumed 
on .^Qth-Fox's 'BOrn Recjkless;' after 
ah interruption of several days due 
to . an injury ' Donleyy's 
hand, 

Mai ti Clair directs, itli Rochelle 
Hudson, Bartoh MaCLane and Robert 
Kent in the other featured spots. 



Wolfson Reins EKO 'Charlie' 

Hollywood, iviay 18. 

P. J. Wolfso.n's firsi jub as ati RKQ. 
associate producer will b« ' licy Had 
to Save Charlie.* 

Charles Kaufrnah. in wor on 
the script, 



Lefty Thinks Hell Be a IVoducer and 
Buy a Theatre to Guarantee Playdate 



Dick Himber's Idea 



'WaShIngton,;iyIay 18. 
Federal tax ph. photographs 
of film and radio celebrities is 
under consideration ; in Con- 
gress. Idea is to protect talent 
froitr fah pests, Vhose' re 
for pix run into large sums in 
the course of a year. 

Pointing out that a levy of this 
sort^ assessed against: the re- 
cipient, might bring in seyeral 
millions, Richard Himbe,r, or- 
chestra leader, laid the thought 
before Senator Pat Harrison of 
Mississippi, chairmah of the ; 
Senate Finance .Committee. 
Solon prbmised to ' explore the' 
possibility. 



ScUesinger Opeins 4th 
Coast Cartoon Phnt 



Hollywood, May 18. 
Fourth Leon Schlesinger cartoon 
unit is being opened in Beverly 
Hills, with iteymond; G. Katz, for- 
mer assistant to Schlesinger at War- 
ners Sunset boulevatd stud.io, in 
charge. 

New plant will turn out 10 Looney 
Tunes in , black and white for next 
year's program. Remainder of the 
Schlesinger output will be produced 
at the Sunset plant, including six 
Looney Tunes in black and white 
and 20 Merrie Wtelodies in Techni- 
color;.. 



Columbia Loses 6c 

Verdict To Golfer 

Jack Redmond, trick golfer, was 
awarded nominal damages of six 
cents against Columbia Pictures 
Corp., by N. Y. Supreme- Court. 
Justice Ferdinand. Pecora, Friday 
(14), following trial of his suit for 
$50,000 on the claim that Columbia 
used a sequence of him in it^ picture, 
'Gpifhig-^-Rhythht;^-Wttiraut Tiis ""oTic.' 
■Verdict also carried an injunction 
Testriai ing the company from fur- 
ther exhibiting that part of the film. 
Judge . Pecqra rendered his verdict, 
after viewing the disputed sequence, 
which was flashed on a screen set up 
in the courtroom. 

Plaintiff claimed he posed for Fox 
Movietone News in i935< Fox later 
turned over the take to Cblumbi . 
Redniond. complains he did hot give 
his consent to its use, nor was he 
paid for it by Columbi 



Cocalis Spreading Out 



Sam Cocalis of the Springer- 
Cocalis circuit, has obtained ' tw:o- 
thirds interest Iti the Ailerton, Pel- 
hani. Burke, Wakefield, York and 
Laconia theatres as a result of a 
deal whereby he secured Matty 
Kutinsky*s one-third interest in 
them. Cocalis may add them to his 
Springer-Cocalis chain. With domi- 
nating control of the S-C circuit ex- 
pected shortly, Cocalis Is flgui'ed to 
emerge as one of the larger ii)de- 
pendent operators of Greater New 
York. 

John W. Springer interest.^ are re- 
tiring from the business,. Heirs of 
John. W. Springer have carried on 
since his death . a few months . ago. 



Violet Cooper in 'Heidi' 

Hollywood, May 18. 

Violet Kemble Cpopei*, wife of 
Walter Ferris, 20th-Fox writer, goes 
inti^ the cast bf ^^^Heidi,' Shirley 
Temple starrer. 

Ferris collaborated ith Julien 
Josephsbn ph the screenplay. Ray- 
ntpnd Griffith produces. 



Binhie Barnes Goes Home 

Binnie Barne.s, last featured by 
Universal ih 'Three Smart Girls,' 
sails to .England, bn May 26 for a 
vacation of two or three months. 
She probably will appear in one 
featui^e while abroad; Her return is 
tentatively set for late August when 
she is due to start her next. U picture. 



Lake Builds 'Empire* 

Hoilywood, May 18. 
Paramount . has. signed Stuart N. 
Lake to .work, on the screenplay of 
'An Ernpire Is Born.' 

Story is Howard Estabrook'a prig- Tforn)erly was soloist 
inal. Lee's orchestra. 



By Joe Laurie^ Jr. 

Hoily.wopd, Cal , May 18; 
Dear Joe:— 

Well at last t- gbt some good hews 
for yoU, Aggie got a letter the other 
day from Ireland tellihg her. that. 
Her Aunt . led and left, her some 
dough. I'm nbt exactly glad that 
her Aunt stopped breathing, but . I 
think her Aunt showed g;Ood judg- 
ment to- do it at the right time, he- 
cause our wolf pbwdei* Was running 
very low. ven though the actors 
won without striking, it's not so hot 
going: to the studios for a job be- 
cause you gotta meet a lot of thOse 
pickets; They don't .bother you, but 
they give you funny Iboks. 

When things get settled with them 
which I think will be ixx .a week or 
so, " according to the gab atound 
tovyn, then those guys ■will remern- 
.ber faces. Of course it will take a 
little time uhtil the estate is settled. 

I figur-e ,to take the dough and 
make; some independent shorts and 
maybe buy a smali picture house so 
i can have an outlet.for my product.^ 
That's the way the . major studios 
work only on a larger scale. There's 
a. lot. Of dough in pictures and I may 
as ..Nvell get some of it. I'll, start in a 
small . way, it aU depcpds how. much 
money Aggie's Aupt left her, 

GUess everybody has heard about 
pur ' good lUck because I received a 
couple of letters from- the giiys 1 
wrote, a month ago. They say that 
they've been wprklri' on gettin' me 
in arid: things look pretty gOo.d, 
Which is a lot of malarkey to me. . 
As soon as they hear a guy is alright 
and don't need Jthem, they cbme out 
from under a rock. W^ll. money ain't 
gonna, change the and Aggie, it will 
take lis a little while to get used to 
it 'cause it's been so lohg since wa 
handled it. 

I just got a letter from Harland 
Dixon, he has been witii the Warner 
Brothers at Astotia putti on the 
dance numbers and now he is com« 
ing out here for them on a big job; 
■^Remember him' When "It was Doyig" 
and DixOn? Also got a letter front 
Earl Benham, the dancing tailor. He 
and.Bill Gaxtpn are going tp Mexico 
City for a vacation^ they ought 
cpme out here, Hbllywood is a great 
place for a vacation especially when 
you come put here to work. 
, Met Solly Violinsky and he sez he 
signed a 20th Century-Fox contract, 
now if THEY will sign it everything 
will be Okay. Met Gene Fowler, he 
says he is fixlhg his bathing suit for 
Fire Island, he claims he can get 
sunburned there without re-takes. 

Well, Joe,; that's about all the news 
I can point at ybu from this end. 
Aggie sez the first thing she'll do 
when she gets the dough will be to 
count it. Not a l>ad crack for a 
dame that's been laying off as long 
as she has. Best tp the gang, SEZ 
Your pal, 

'lefty. 

P.S; That was a swell trip Dick 
Merrill and Jack Lambie made. I 
suppose how they will make actor 
out of thcih ond spoil the wholo 
thi 



Ramon Novarro Returns 
to Pix in Mono ^Sheik^ 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Ramon Novarro returns to pi 
the top role of Republic's 'She Di 
Want .i Sheik.' 

ilerrnah Schlpm is aSsoci 
ducer. 



Stamp Shorts 



-Pbstage Stamps Movies, Inc., has 
been, fornricd by Capt. Tirn Healy and 
Jack. Kemp for the production of a 
series of short subjects, Jacques 
Koerpel, is associated. 

Scries, entitled 'Adventures i 
Stamp Lands,' will deal with color 
filming of philatelist items nd a 
story of their brigins. First releasa 
will be ready in about a week. 



Kathryn Kaye's Pic Debut 

Hollywood, May 18. 
' kalhryri Ka'ye has been Qssiyijed 
lb a 'featured role ' in I'araniount's 
'Artists and Models.' 
Player, now oh 



28 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 




You'll see what we mean by SHOW SENSE 
when you see the terrific team Warners have 
made of the stars who paid -off so powerfully 
in "Marked Woman'' and "Bullets or Ballots"! 
You've got a sales slant with the sock of a sledge- 
hammer when you advertise Bette ppposite 
Eddie in the third sensational release this month! 




Warner Bros, are a -MAY- zing the industry! 



MAY 8 -THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER' starring ERROL FLYNN a„d The MAUCH TWINS 

and Claude Rains, Henry Stephenson. A First National Picture 

MAY 22 -GEORGE BRENT .„d ANITA LOUISE i„ THE GO GETTER' „iih Charles Winnlnger 

and John Eldredge, Henry O'Neill. A Cosmopolitan Production 

MAY 29-EDW. G. ROBINSON and BETTE DAVIS in KID GALAHAD' with Humphrey Bogart 

and Wayne Morris, Jane Bryan, Harry Carey, William Haade 

AND IT GOES ON FORErVER! 

(Including 1937-38!) 



I 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



29 



Jr. Come Into Their Own 



(Continued from page 7> 



Kohler, Jr., and Francis X. Bush- 
man, Jr. 

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., has estab- 
lished himself in the starring ranks 
both in. Hollywood and abroad, and 
has a finger in British production as 
well. 

Nor has the distaff side been back- 
ward, Paula, Dorothy and Carol 
Stone, daughters of Fred, have all 
followed the footlights. Doris Dud- 
ley, daughter of Bide, has impressed 
her personality oh Hollywood. Di- 
rector Frank Lloyd's daughter Alice 
has serious aspirations as an actress. 
Mary Rogers, daughter of Will, is on 
the speaking stage. Katherine De 
Mille, adopted daughter of the Cecil 
B. DeMilles, is a Hollywood new- 
comer whose film portrayals have 
evidenced power and. fire. Florence 
Rice, daughter of Grantland Rice, is 
one of the more successful younger 
actresses. 

Holmes Family Continues 
Phillips Holmes, son of Taylor 
Holmes, is one of Hollywood's per- 
sonable leading men. 

Number of second generation 
youngsters have broken away from 
the footsteps of their dads to seek 
success in other fields. Several are 
successful writers. Dwight Taylor, 
son of Laurette, stands in the top 
bracket of film writers. Anthony 
Veiller, son of the playwright, 
is another. George Marion, Jr., first 
earned fame as a title writer in 
silent days and is holding the pace 
as a dialoger. Gottfried Reinhardt, 
son of Max, is a writer at Metro. 
Philip and Finley Peter Dunne II, 
sons of the late Finley Peter Dunne, 
are screen writers. Owen Davis, 
Jr., son of the play wright, . is an ac- 
tor in pictures, while Donald writes 
plays. Ring Lardner, Jr., son of the 
late humorist, is a member of David 
O. Selznick's writing staff, .along 
with Buddy Schulberg, son of B. P. 
Sonya, Buddy's sister, already has 
turned out her first novel. Jesse L. 
Lasky, Jr., began corralling literary 
kudos almost before he was out of 
school. Will Rogers, Jr., is a news- 
paper publisher in Beverly Hills. 
George Lait and Jack Lait, Jr., are 
both writers, the former at Warners 

.__arxd.Jh.e._laJ;teE-atJ50±h=Eoy,,- 

Many another youthful sprig has 
turned his attention to the execu- 
tive and technical departments. Eu- 
gene Zukor, son of Adolph, is his 
father's executive assistant at Para- 
mount. Maury Cohen's boy, Herbert, 
functions in a similar capacity for 
his father, a producer at RKO-Ra- 
dio. Fred Meyer's boy, Stanley, is 
picking up the rudiments at Uni- 
versal. John E. Otterson's son, 
Jack, is on his own as a sound ex- 
pert. L.. K, Sidney, son of George, 
is manager of Metro's testing de- 
partment, Felix Feist, Jr.;, son of 
the late Felix Feist, is a Metro di- 
rector. J. G. Bachman's son. Jack, 
Jr., is a budding writer. Harvey 
Gates, veteran scenarist, has one 
boy, Victor, who is nursing his- 
trionic ambitions at the Monogram 
publicity desk. He has already had 
a couple of whirls at stage produc- 
ing. Jay Gates is in Walt Disney's 
executive personnel department. 

Hoffmans and Cohns 

Margie Cantor occupies an impor- 
tant post in the Eddie Cantor organ- 
ization as executive confidential 
secretary to her pop. M. H. Hoff- 
man, Jr., has established himself in 
the production field. Joe Brandt, 
veteran member of the old C-B-C 
partnership that developed into 
Columbia, has a junior there. Rich- 
ard Landau, son of Arthur, is mak- 
ing fast strides, as is also Eddie 
Saunders, Jr., son of Metro's west- 



ern district manager, who is em- 
ployed at the Metro studio. Maurice 
Rapf, son of Harry, Metro producer, 
is a Metro writer. 

Ben Bernie's boy, Jason, is at the 
20th-Fox Westwood studio. On the 
same lot, as production assistant to 
Raymond Griffith, is Jack Jung- 
meyer, Jr., son of a Variety mugg. 

Not to be forgotten among the ju- 
venile players looked upon as com- 
ers is Bonita Granville, daughter of 
the late Bernard (Bunny) Granville. 
Also Patricia Walthall,...daughter of 
the late Henry B„ and William Hop- 
per, son of DeWolf and Elsie. Both 
are stock players at Warners. 
Mapy, Many Others 

John W. Rogers, son of Charles 
Rogers, Universal production head, 
is learning the biz from the ground 
up as an assistant director at 20th- 
Fox. Vaughn Paul, son of Val Paul, 
U's studio manager, occupies a sim 
ilar position at U. Two young mem 
bers of the Universal writing staff 
are Maurice and Gerald Geraghty, 
sons of Tom Geraghty, veteran 
scenarist now in London. Carmelita 
Geraghty, their sister, won recogni- 
tion as an actress. 

Dolores Costello Bairymore and 
Helen Costello, daughters of Mau- 
rice Costello, are actresses. 

Julius Tannen, veteran actor, has 
two sons, William and John, who 
are trying their histrionic wings as 
members of the Universal stock 
company. Ray Hoadley, U publicity 
man, is a son of the late C. B. (Pop) 
Hoadley, one-time U scenario editor 
Alan Crosland, Jr., son of the late 
director, is in Warners' publicity de 
partment. 

Douglas Smith, son of Pete Smith, 
Metro short subject producer, is a 
technician at RKO-Radio. William 
Sistrom, Jr., whose father is the vet- 
eran producer, is assistant to 'Pan- 
dro S. Berman at RKO-Radio. Wal 
lace Reid, Jr., is in Scott R. Dun 
lap's organization at Monogram. Lee 
Kohlmar, son of Fred Kohlmar, is a 
member of Samuel Goldwyn's eif. 
ecutive staff. ., 

Jean Hersholt, Jr., is the Holly 
wood correspondent for a number of 
Dsmish newspapers. Jack Mulcahy, 
son of Joe Mulcahy, San Francisco 
Hearst editor,' is at 20th-Fox. Ed 
ward Arnold, Jr., is acting for Mon 
•ogramri u ' ad dition -to -going'tir^CRSbir 



CONDUCTOR 
VIOLINIST 

2nd Ycnr — Slicu's 
UiifTalo 




"The dynamic maestro drew 
in.<ji3tent applause" — Buffalo 
Times. 



PICTURE THEATRE 

T)f>wn-to\vn Clpvpliind DOO aodia. 
l''i)urli»(»n-liour grind. Kverything free 
1111(1 clenr. JSJo service chnrffe on 
.snund. Very low rent. Live wire 
can nwike a fortune. 

'$12,000.00; Time on part 

Itnx. No. 1, Variety, New Ifork 



ToDiUn Will Do 6 More 
For Conn; 21-Day Skeds 

Hollywood, May 18. 
In addition to another pair of mu 
sicals that Pinky Tomlin will make 
for Maurice Conn under his old con 
tract, he has been optioned for four 
more. 

Deal provides heavier budgets for 
the pictures with 21-day shooting 
schedules. 



Incorporations 



NEW YORK 

Albany. 

Sitndy Amusement Co., Ino., Kin*;. : 
.iniusenient parks, theatres, etc.; rai>U:il 
slock, 100 aliarej, $100 pnr value. In- 
eorporalora: ■E.<(thor Monkn, 310 AVo.st 
ROIh slrcot, Kew York City;' Ruth Filio, 
251'5 Church street, Uroolil.vji; N.athnn li. 
I-evltz, 1270 Kast 11th street, Hrooklyn, 
Visual Kduoatlon,' Inc., Manhattan; 
motion picture business; rapltal stock, 
100 shares, no par value. Incorporators: 
Rose M. Canade, Taul Ilellly, Juliette 
AJello, all 6£ BO Broadway, New Tork 
City, 

Itrcuer I'roductlons, Inc., Manhattan; 
theatrical business; capltHl .stuck, 200 
shares, no par value. Incorporators: 
Lconore Schrelber, Sally Jacob's, Ok! I 
BuschjiynJler, nU ot 236 West 44tU 
street. New Tork City. 

W. Word Beam, Inc., Manhattan ; the- 
atrical productions, amusement and en- 
tertalnlne of all kinds; capital stock, 
100. shares, no par value. Incorporators; 
B. Ward Beam, 1564 Broadway,' New 
York City; Richard M. Wright, J49 
Broadway. New York City; Helen Ben- 
nett, 465 Park avenue, New York City, 

MuhIcmI SliortH, Inc., ' Manhattan; mo- 
tion picture business: capital stock, 200 
shares, no par value. Incorporators: 
Irvln R. Gwlrtz, 71 Ocean parkway, 
Brooklyn: Paula NIenaber, 43 Clinton 
avenue, Westwood, N. J,; Helen Sherry, 
151 West 40th street, New York City. 

B«r-X.oa Knterprlses, Inc., New York; 
theatrical proprietors and producers; 
capital stock, 100 shares, no . par value. 
Incorporators: Solomon Klelnnutn, T.iOuls 
I. Shapiro, Bernard Shapiro, all of 140 
"West 42nd street, New York City.' 

Colonial Opera Abmh., Inc., Now TorW; 
theatre proprietors and producers; 
capital stock, 10,000 shares, |1 par value. 
Incorporators: Richard CamllluccI, '50 
West 67th .street. New York City; 
Richard I. Glannone, 384 Kast 184th 
street. New York City; Louis Molino, 
60 West 70th street, New York City. 

Nu-Art Vllms, Inc., New York; motion 
picture fllms, etc.; capital stock, 200 
shares, no par value. Incorporators; 
Catherine Dardls, Sidney Goldstein, .lohn 
A. Wllhelm, all of 50 Court street, 
Brooklyn. 

The Htgro Speaks, Inc., ManhaMan; 
motion picture business; capital stoclc, 
1,000 shares, $10 par value. Incorpora- 
tors: Corel B. Campbell, 2G1 West 139th 
street, New York City; Romeo ' Tj. 
Doudherty, 108-34 Union Hall street. 
.Tamalea, N. Y.; Elsie E. Dorsey, 2a0 
West 150th street, New YFrk City. 

Itronx Cinema, Inc., Bronx; moiion 
picture business; capital slock, 10.0 
shares, no par value. Incorporators: 
Mildred Feltman, 1460 Maoomhs road, 
Bronx; Nathan .T. Hellerbach, and 
Lawrence S. TImen, both of 35 "West 
44th street. New York City. 

Valres, Inc.; theark-al and amusement 
enterprises; capital stock, 200 shares, no 
par value. Incorporators; Ruth Welii- 
bere. 2249 Morris avenue. Bronx: Kve 
Schlosberpr. 5B1 Klhpshlghway, Brook- 
lyn; Ethel Kesselman, 1817 Sterling 
place, Brooklyn. 



Cramming in Art 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Deanna Durbin, Nan Grey, 
Martha O'Driscoll and Jeanne 
Dante, Universal juveniles, 
are taking sketching lessons at 
the studio to make up needed 
school credits. 

George, Wally, junior cos- 
tume designer at U, is their 
prof. 



EDUCATIONAL READIES 
NEW ISSUE OF STOCK 



Washington, May 18. 

New block of 150,000 cumulative 
convertible preferred stock will be 
marketed by Educational Picts at 
$10 a copy, Securities & Exchange 
Commission was informed Satur- 
day (15). 

Amending its plea for a permit to 
raise new capital to pay off indebt- 
edness to the telephone company and 
other creditprs. Educational told the 
commish it expects to put the bulk 

of its new securities on the market 
at twice the face value. Papers re- 
vealed 116,999 shares of $1 par com- 
mon will be reserved under warrants 
to be issued at $10 value to present 
preferred and common holders, 
while 89,730 common will be with- 
held for swap on 17,946 shares of 8% 
preferred, 74,000 will be kept back 
for sale to Earle W. Hammons, presi- 
dent, under warrants at prices gang- 
ing from $10.50 to $20, and another 
64,000 will be retained for the un- 
derwriters, which get warrants for 
this amount at the same prices. Bal- 
ance of the new paper, 5,000 shares 
of common, has been earmarked for 
issuance in lieu of cash for stock of 
Skibo productions. 



Par, 20th, Call In 
Preferred Stocks 
But Push Common 



CALIFORNIA 

Sacramento. 
Purnniount Communlratlons, Inc., Ij, A. 

County; capital stock, 2,500 shares, none 
subscribed. Directors: Harry L. Punn,. 
Pasadena; Clinton La Tourette, Beverly 
Hills; Stanley C. Anderson, South Pasa- 
dena. , .J . 

' SoulKern tin'ftlfornlo Becordlnpr Studlox, 
County of L. A.; capital slock, $25,000; 
subscribed, $30, Directors: Bol>eit B. 
Oliver, Gaston de Regnier, Duvid D. 
Sallee. 

Victoria T'ilmH, Inc., L. A. County; 
capitHl Block, i!,500 shares, non sub- 
scribed. J. (;ovey, Maurice M, Grudd, 
M. J<. GoodnouBh. 

Hollywood Little Theatre School for 
Actors; capital, 2,000 shares; 1,600 pre- 
ferred, 600 conimon, par value, $10; per- 
mitted to Issue all. Directors: Ciiarles 
J<\ Wren. Marie Andreesen, Charics V. 
Wren, Charles B. Delonsr, Villa (J. AVisler. 
Krtllh A. PeionfiT, Thomas L. Hiffbee and 
Dorolliy Powers. 



Changes in the official stock list 
last week saw two picture compa- 
nies headed for simplification of 
their stock structure through the 
medium of drawing in more pre- 
ferred shares and issuance of addi- 
tional common. Both Paramount and 
20th-Fox are in this category, and in 
both instances, additional replace- 
ments of preferred by common 
means a saving in regular dividend 
payments. 

First preferred of Paramount was 
reported as 148,739 shares outstand- 
ing, with the common listings soar- 
ing to 2,376,154 shares. Preference 
issue total compares with 248,000, 
original number when the stock 
was first issued, or nearly 100,000 
shares that have been exchanged for 
the common, 

This trend is in keeping with 
Par's avowed policy of getting first 
preferred holders to switch to the 
common, since it represents a neat 
annual saving in interest. Preferred 
now pays $6 per year. 

The 20th-Fox preferred shares 
slipped to 974,280 as against an orig- 
inal total of 1,357,000 shares out- 
standing. Latest stock exchange re- 
port shows 1,707,474 common shares. 
There also was evidence of switch- 
ing from the preferred to the com- 
mon in Radio Corp. stocks, as the 
number of outstanding shares 
reached a total of 13,852,371, an in- 
crease ot nearly 100. 

Despite heavy sell-off in the mar- 
kets generally last week, which car- 
ried many issues to new lows for 
1937, the film stocks held their 
ground well. Their ability to with- 
stand many selling waves was 
viewed as a favorable omen, espe- 
cially in view of newspaper ac- 
counts of strike activities.. in. Holly..-- 
wood. Wali Street was inclined to 
regard the current strilce of palnt- 
ei'^ at the studios as no grave threat 
to the interruption of production. 

tVMHWIIIIM nMIHIHMIIIIIIIIIIItfmiMmiMlniMllltMIHinmilWIHIIIIHIIIiniHHIIMWlHIIrtltHHimillHMHirMMIIMMMItllHIIHIIlillltimlltlttinilMtlHI^ 
^•ifMHirHiHMtintiniiNiiMiliMiliiiiiiniiiMiiiitiiiiininiininiiiiiiiiMiiiiiriiiMliliuiiiilniiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiinuiiHiiiiHniiiiiiiiihiiiililiMMiiiiiiiiinM i 
£ g ■ 

Netu York Theatres 

: ' iniiiiiMiMMi(iiiiiniMii>MiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiniiiiiiiiHiiiiMiiiiiiMMniiiuitiiMiiiiiniHinitiriiiiiiHiiiMiMiniiMiiiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiinitiiiin 
iiMiiiiitiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiMiuiiiiiiiMMiiiiiiiiiMtiMiiiiMiMiitiiiiniiiiiiitiOiniiiittiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiniiiiiiiMniiiiHiiiMiiiiriii^ 



TITLE CHANGES 

Hollywood, May 18. 
Warners .changed 'A Gentleman 
After Midnight' to 'It's Love I'm 
After.' 

Grand National's 'The Shadow' be- 
comes 'Mr. Shadow.' 

Condor's 'Marked Money' noy/ is 
'Bstiarmarni:' 

RKO-Radio has changed 'Easy 
Money' to 'Off Again, On Again,' and 
'Missus America' to 'Meet the Missus.' 



Overman, Karns Spotted 
In 2d of 'Murder* Series 

Hollywood, May 18. 

Second of Paramount's whodunit 
series featuring Lynne Overman and 
Roscoe Karns wjU be 'Murder Goes 
to Jail,' skeded to roll June 15. 

First of the series was 'Murder 
Goes to College' 



Bettinson Rejoins Mono 

Hollywood, May 18. 

Ralph Bettinson has rejoined 
Monogram as story advisor 'and also 
win supervj.se foreign publicity and 
work on British sales angles. 

He was in the old Mono set-up. 



CONTRACTS 

Hollywood, May 18. 

Metro has pacted Louis Durst, 
actor, for seven years with options. 

Fred MacMurray has signed a 
seven-yfear Paramount contract, with 
three optional periods of two years 
each and a single one-year period. 

Paramount lifted Marsha Hunt's 
option. 

Boyd Crawford, currently in the 
cast of 'Yes, My Darling Daughter' 
on Broadway, signed to a termer 
at Metro. 

Tyrone Power's second option was 
picked up by 20th-Fox. 

Universal picked up the option on 
Charles Henderson, vocal arranger. 

Maurice Conn optioned Pinky 
Tomlin for four more musicals. 

Principal Picts signed Smith Bal- 
lew for a series of eight outdoor pix. 

Warners ticketed Sandra Ramoy, 
radio .songstress, to a stock contract. 

Louis Hayward's acting option has 
been lifted by Universal. 

James Edward Grant has a new 
Metro writing termer. ^ ^ 

George Bruce has been added to 
B. P. Schulberg's writing staff. 



MISSOURI 

St. T-ouls. 

nellRloun I'llms. Inc.; $10,000 aulhor- 
ized capital to enxape in business of ex- 
hihitinK motion pijc, pinys and lliealrlcal 
production.s, etc. lncori)oroti)rs: .liiines 
Mason, .liunes Dnrst, Clau.se B. Mc^Blwee 
and Geoi'Ke Moeach. 

Mo-Miix Motion IMchircs Corp.; to 
create, produce, nianufact ui'e, rout and 
deal in pictures, dianiutic and OieHtrl<'al 
production, clc; starls bl'/. wltli |2l,000 
(•jiDilJil. Incorporators: Daniel B. ilren- 
nwn, ,1. Wallace Brcnnan and Tiionias A. 
CoocHiinon. 

Mountain Kldpe AmuHement. Co., 
filencoe. Mo, ; lias been ■ Incorporated to 
buv. sell, rent and len.so anniHciiient 
Iiailf.H. iiicoi-poralors; Mrx. .lune JO. 
TiDll.oclier, JOniU lloehne and J'Jliiier 
Kh.<;<-1i. . . , 

KKyplian TlicntroH, Inc.; to opernle 
movinK picture sliows .and vaudcvliio en- 
tei ta iniii'^nt In cilii'.i anil towns In Soiilli- 
erir lllinol.M. C. (.!. MuKKff. .Steve I'-arrar 
ami ,1. 'J'. Ca.Mkin.M, J iari'iMljUi K. 111. 

Kotid ShowH, Inc. and SiiiMirhiin The- 
n(r»i Co., l)()tli of .Kansa.M City, Mi>.; au- 
thorized to operate theatres anil ainuse- 
rnent entej-prises. 

Technicolor Bullish 




Traders on the N, Y. curb ex- 
change gave Technicolor stock a play 
in the last two days, pushing it up 
several points on greatly increased 
volume. Two factors aided the min- 
iature bull move, one being the an- 
nouncement of footage contracted 
this year, made at the stockholders' 
meeting, while the other was Samuel 
Goldwyn's announced intention of 
making a lot of future features in 
Tech. 

Actual earnings for the jTirst quar- 
ter this year, however, only slightly 
reflected this extreme optiml.sm. total 
for first three months being $165,000, 
as against $132,000 in 1936. Stock- 
holders of Technicolor, Inc., re- 
elected four directors and named 
H. K. McCann to fill the vacancy 
cau.scd by the death of W. H. 
CooUdge. 



"Vor Kvery Movle-iroer" — Amerlcnn 

'The PWNCE PAUPER' 

with Errol TLYNN Rnd tiia WAUCH TwIni- 

I$roii(i\vny nadlTlii Htcccl Midnigiit HUov/nm 



OKc to oncDJ 

1 i),in, 0:;!U ii.ai. 



MUSIC HALL 

ASTAIRE and ROGERS 

"SHALL WE 
DANCE" 

Spectacular Stag* Productions 



ELISABETH BERQNER in 

"DREAMING LIPS" 

1th RAYMOND MASSEY 
ROMNEY BRENT 

gNITEO D|1/AI I B'WAY at 

ARTISTS n I W W I 40lh St. 



STATE 



•IKAN lIAUr.OU' 
llOIIKItV I'AlfLOR 

"PERSONAL 
PROPERTY" 



-VXm. WJIItKMAN 



llh Ar. A IMIi M. 



ROXY 



1^' 1 r. 



"As Good as 
Married" 

On tlie .SlBKfi: 
HKI.I) OVKIl 
I.IJCIIXK 
MAKNKIIS 



STORY BUYS 

Hollywood, May 18. 
Robert E. Cohen's novel, 'Sophisti- 
cated Lady,' has been purchased by 
Imperial Prods. 



PARAMOUNTsi'^TA 



JIKI.U OVKIl 



"Turn Off 
the Moon" 



In Person 

INA RAY 
HUTTON 
nnd Ili*r Ore, 

MARY SMALL 



CAPITOL 



SPENCER TRACY 

filiiilyN iinorgr, VrMncUot Tone 

'They Gave Him a Gun' 



fOMlNO 
"I'U'K A STAK' 



fl A MVS III A Mevto-Goldwyji- 
|||%|^ 11^1^3 Mayer's Masterptec* 

COURAGEOUS 




Daliv 3:55, 8:r>3, Kxlra Mid- 
nliclit SiiiMV Hut., », 6. 

■M. Mis, r)l)r, T'u, $1. Kvi. 
ri»,77i',$i,»i..'iO.$2. H»l.Mnt, 
S^t.MlilniKiil Ac Sim. R V.TiL 



It'wtiy lit mil .St. 5Ug.T;c,»l,?i.0» (i'lUl 



THEY WENT TO THE 
M-G-M STUDIOS! 





saw magic ! 

They saw the millions that make it go 

They saw acres and acres of wonders 

They saw cities and palaces rise in splendor 

They saw armies of artisans skilled in screen technique 

They saw the brilliant luminaries of the film world 

They saw talent from the iai^-comers-of the world . . 

They saw the world's greatest group of showmeniri action 

They saw the greatest roster of electric light names ever gathered 
under one roof in all amusement history 

They saw brilliant entertainers who are the Stars of Tomorrow 

They saw Youth and Beauty, the raw materials of Stardom 

They saw the mighty throb of the World's Greatest Studio 

They saw the surging force that keeps it ever the leader 

They saw the spirit that moves this united force to victory 

They saw giant dramas and eye-filling spectacles in the making 

saw treasuries of entertainment on preview screens 

They saw fortunes dedicated to the box-office attractions of tomorrow 

They saw the living, thrilling reason for M-G-M supremacy 

They are the representatives of Metro -Goldwyn- Mayer who come 
direct from the Studios of M-G-M with a mighty message for 
the showmen of America in 1937-38. 




Wednesday. M«y 19, 193T 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



SI 



Mpls Defers Action on Permits 
For Two Cinemas; Too Many Now? 



Minneapolis, May 18. 

In deferring action on indepiendent 
applications for permits tb construct 
new large neighborhood thear- 
tres, the city council license commit- 
tee decided that one the8»tre seat for 
ine persons in Minneapolis— 
th^ present number^is sufficient. 

Publix circuit officials and mem- 
bers 6f Northwest Allied States, in- 
dependent exhibitor organization, 
pointed out to. the committee that 
there now are 62 theatres with 53,- 
000 seating capacity and 7,000 of 
these seats arie in doised theatres. 

Opposihg the permits, present the- 
atre owners declared few other cities 
have as many theiatre .seiits as . Min- 
neapolis and that granting more li- 
censiBS inevitably would bring lower 
Quality. 

While agreeing not to open the 
doors lor construction; of additional 
theatres for the time being; the coin- 
mi tteecohsented. to consider thd ap- 
plications at' a later date, to be fixed 
by the chairman isome timis \af ter the 
city election Juiie 14. 



If It's Not the State 
l^s the City^ but Taxes 
Linger on in 



Nutfain' but the Best 



Lios Angeles, May 18, 
Theatre on Central avenue 
advertised that aii automobile 
was to be given away. 

Car- displayed iii the lobby 
\yas a PacksiTd. limousine dat- 
ing from 1926, 



Chi Exhibs Upset 
By B O. Dropoff; 
Hunt Sure Cure 



iladelphi , May 18. 
City Council is holding under con- 
sideration ai measure introduced by 
Dr. Arthur P. Keegan, which would 
place a tax; of 1 cent on every 25c 
admission any place of amuse- 
ment,, 

Codncilman Keegan claims that 
the state tax of similar proportion 
will expire June 1, and will not be 
renewed, thus paving the way for 
the city, to impose a measure of its 
own. It would yield, he estimates, 
$5i4)0O;O0O -anmtaHyHw-PhiHyr- ^■ 

Measure will probably supersede, 
ias far as council's consideration is 
concernedi the idea advanced two 
weeks ago for a dity tax on every 
foot of film shown by local exhi i- 
tors; 

Councilman Keegan's reference to 
the staite tax not being renewed re- 
fers to the understanding, generally 
prevailing among local exhibs, that 
the proposed incliiSion of film houses 
with chain stores for a hew st^te tax 
will run into a snag in the lower 
house. 'Amendment to this effect 
went through, the Senate, but found 
rough going thereafter, with Gov- 
erner .Earle understood as opposed. 



ieago, May 18. 
i howling mood 
around icago as they lash' about 
trying , to find the reason and cure 
for the worst ce. slump in 

mote than four years. Business at 
present- is nearly 40% below nor- 
mal for. this time of the year and 
fully 50% business of 

the earlier part of the season. ot 
tom has, simply dropped out, and 
both the exhibitors and distributors^ 
for once, agree that it's bad. 

Flock of complainants blame the 
depresh oh double features, but this 
argument gets hit in the head when 
it's pointed out that the double- 
feature spots do better than the sin 
gle feature houses. 

Exhi are looking aroUnd for 
something to strengthen the box 
office. They are primarily looking 
for a replacement of bank riites, 
which figured as; a real moneyr 
maker for local theatres for a while 
Exhibs see no hope in the Old mer 
c.handi§fi_,gifjL-5t.wfft, ..convinced. iha.t. 
the public wants to win cash, hot 
kitchenware. 

Couple of ' coin stunts have been 
tried in an undercover way, but the 
boys are; leery of them, due to the 
fact that they haven't been able to 
fincL a coin give-away idea which is 
free of lottery angles. 



Denver Wants 2% 

Denver, May 18. 

New service tax bill, which places 
a 2% additional tax on all theatre 
admissions, was signed by Governor 
Teller Ammons. Levy applies to all 
theatricals, exempting none,, and is 
effective immediately. 

Tax will be collected via tokens 
valued at one-fifth of a cent, so that 
it cannot .be iponfused .with, or' ab- 
sorbed by, the existing theatre tax. 

. Harry Huffman, city manager for 
20th-Foxi poi out to the Gov- 
ernor that it would cost more, to 
collect and keep track of the tax 
than it would amount to. During 
rush hours this would/ require, extra 
cashiers, and possibly building of 
extra b.o.' Also protesting are 
dottorsi since the bill would place 
tax on their services. 



Goodman West for WB 

Hollywood, May. 18. 
■Wiri Goodman arrives from 
Cleveland next Saturday (22) to re 
place Fi-ank Seltzer on advertising 
and publicity for the Warner Down 
town and Hollywood houses. 
Goodman has been assistant to 
id Dannenberg in the Cleveland 
area. 



Neb. Appeal Nixed 

Lincoln, Neb., May 18. 
Appeal of the Fox Beatrice Thea 
tre Corp. from the decision of the 
district court de.claring bank night 
as illegal in Nebraska was denied 
and the motion dismissed. Com' 
pany has indicated it will file an ap 
peal, with' the Nebraska Supreme 
Coui-t. 



BATTLE OF BOWLS 



Giveaway War in St, 
Merrily On 



Goes 



..St Louis., May 18. 
Furious' battle of 'mixing bowls' is 
being Avaigeci between Fred Wchrenr 
berg's string of five nabes in South 
St Louis .ahd\ those of Harry Green- 
man, who left Fahchon & Marco's 
local organizatiph ; last December to 
become an operator 

X,ast week local dailies cjarried ads 
that 'emerald* mixing bowls, wpuld 
be presented to: femme . patrons at 
Wiehrenberg's houses • and directly 
beneath was another advising that 
'best grade mixing bowls — ^nohe bet- 
ter' were bielng given away at 
Greenman's houses. 

In addition to- giveaways at these 
nabes others in town are ^continuing 
policy of handouts; of cut' glassware,' 
chinaware^ ice box sets, etc., and 
four indie houses present f pur .and 
five-unit programs •weekly. Efforts 
to eliminate, giveaways and extra 
unit shows have been niade repeat- 
edly, but, just when it appears, that 
the situation might be ; clarified, 
some' one kicks over the traces and 
all who previously agreed to drop 
the ' competition. 



Unden's 4 Flash Casey 
Pix for Alexander-GN 



oily wood, May 18i. • 
ric Linden will be featured i a 
seir.ies . of; four Flash Casey pictures 
for Grand National which Max Alex- 
ander will produce. 

Pix will be made from the George 
Harmon Cox magazine tales. First, 
'Here's ;Flash Casey,' is scheduled 
for June production. 



Animated Parrot 



.Hollywood, May l8.. 
First of hew 'Petey .Parrot' car 
toon series for Columbia release has 
been produced by Charles Mintz 
studios. 

Mintz also produces Krazy .kat. 
Scrappy and Color Rhapsody car- 
toons- for Golumbi - - 



N. Y. Zoning Law Amendment Would 
Ban New Upper East Side Theatres 



BiliinK 



An idea of what cultural films 
mean is gleaned from marqiice 
lights , at the .Delancey Theatre 
in lower N. Y. 

Sign blazons the name of 
Bucl^. JPnes, .and Bingo,:., with, 
added attraction of ! 'Romeo and 
Juliet' (MG). 






SI 



Minneapolis, May 18. 
read of dual bills here 
in two Mi - 
neapolis Ipop houses several rnpnths 
ago occurred this week, when the 
Time, independent .;downtown house, 
launched Jwin features. Poilcy. got 
away to a flying start ;over the week^ 
end. 

State and; Aster,: other. Minneapolis 
dual houses,' have been' cutting deep- 
ly into . the Ime. business. rpsses 
have been improving at both of the 
Publix houses^ the Aster, in parti - 
lar, doing much better than it for-, 
merly id with .singles. 

Although Twin City indie exhibs, 
members of Northwest Allied, are: on 
record to refrain from dual billing, 
fear is felt in theatrical circles, that 
they; too, eventually will bust, open 
oh doubles arid that, with stage 
shows few and far between, policy 
will be extended doWritowri. 



RKO's Reorg 



(Continued from, page 5) 



stock; of which 2,123,148 shall be 
outstanding upon consummation of 
the plan. ' 

Originally, and before amended, 
the plan called for an authorized 
issue of $18,000,000 in 5%% sinking 
fund convertible debentures, of 
which $12,^18,500 was to have been 
outstanding upon the plan's consum- 
mation; $11,000,000 authorized issue 
of 6% cumulative convertible pre- 
ferred stoclc, $100 par value, of which 
$6,000,000 would have been outstand- 
ing upon consummation pf the plan; 
4,000,000 common shares authorized, 
of which 2,163,148 shares vvpuld haye 
been . outs.tanding upon consymma-: 
tion of the plan, 

Redemption 

As amended, the plan permits rer 
demption of new debentures in whole 
or in part at any time at the prin- 
cipal amount and accrued interest to 
the date fixed for redemption. 

Also, each share of; preferred Avill 
be convertible at the holder's option 
at any time 'into four shares ..of new 
common. 

Before amendment, the conversion 
rate on the preferred was' to have 
been one share of preferred for Vk 
shares of- hew common. 

Amended plan also provides for 
appropriate provision under the new 
company's by-laws whereby it must 
obtain the necessary consent and ap 
proval of holders, of 51% pf the com 
pahy's preferred istock in prder to 
issue additiohal new debentures . or 
preferred stock. , ■: 

Common stock options are limited 
to executives and . employes. Com 
pany has; the right, within fiye years 
after confirmiation of the. .plan, to 
grant, non-asSignable options for 
common stock not exceeding in the 
aggregate, at any time, 10% of the 
issuable shares tP present creditors 
and stockholders. 

Price per share under such options 
also is fixed under the amended plan 



B & K PROMOTIONS 



Seven Meii Boosted Up from 
Ranks in Chicagro. 



the 



Chicago, May 18. 
Policy declared at a recent meet- 
ing of boosting employees frohi the 
ranks is being upheld by Balaban & 
Katz, which last week prompted 
seven men of tbeatre personnel, in- 
cluding 'Wiiliam Methie from assist* 
ant manager of the Chicago to man- 
ager of the Tower, and .'William Bris- 
coe frbni assistant at the Oriental to 
assistant at the Uptown. 

Two doormen, Walter Brasch of 
the United Artists, and Orval Moats 
of the Roosevelt, were upped to as- 
sistant maniagers, both in their re- 
spective theatres. Ray Thompson 
was switched from assistant man- 
ager of the Uptown to the same pPsi- 
tlon at the Chicago, and James 
Thomson, assistant at the United 
Artists, goes across the street to the 
Oriental, carrying the title with him. 
Stanley Johnson hops fron> the 
JlOoseyelt to the Granada and keeps 
his. assistant manager standi 

Only loss in organization was that 
Of Dick Reich, who goes , to Mllwau 
kee as manager of the Fox Palacb. 



tJ^GN Meet 



(Continued from page 7) 



N. Q. Capitol Razed 

New Orleans. May 18. 

Capitpl, large local, nabe .. house, 
was demolished by a series of ex 
plosions and fire' Wednesday (13). 
Dozen firemen fighting .the .. blaze 
narrowly escaped death or , iserioiis 
injury when a section oC the front 
wall collapsed. Cause of the pxplo- 
sions and fire ere being investigated. 
■ Police estimated the total value Of 
the theatre and its contents at 
$35,000. All were, a eomplete loss. 

Theatre was owned by United 
Theatres, Inc. 



noon luncheon. After feed men were 
taken for a iPcal tour. Sunday ever 
nirig delegates sat. through a couple 
Of screenings, looking at 'The Girl 
Said No,' an Andrew L, Stone pro- 
duction, >,and 'Sing, Cowboy, Sing,' 
which Finney is producing. 

Convention got mpving Monday; 
with Peskay presiding. Biz tallts 
took up afternoon, with another 
screening, Zion Myer's 'Small Town 
Boy,' taking up the evening. Busi- 
ness meetings were, held Tuesday, 
after which a banquet was tossed in 
the studios. Finale comes this morn- 
ing (Wednesday), at which time 
prexy Alperson will address the 
district and branch managers. There 
^yill be another screening in thcr 
afternoon of scenes from films now 
in the wprks.~ 

At meet in the Ambassador hotel, 
Edward Peskay told sellers thai thp 
conipany planned 05 productions for 
the coming season. Program will 
include 25 features, 24 prpfjram 
series and 16: westerns. 

QN Prizes 

Sj)litup of GN $2,500 for sfilcs 
drive went to Hyriiie Levine, New 
Haven; Merritt Davis, Charloltd; 

■ Cleve vAdams, Ibaiiy, . and Jules 
Lapidus, Pittsburgh. At same time 
four' district manager.s Were created 

. to work under thd supervision ol the 
eastern .and western diyisioh bosses. 
Appointments", made were: Pat Pin-, 
nell, Kansas City salesman, to man- 
age Salt Lake branch, ay, 
St; Louis salesman, the 
Mcmfih is office. 

Home office and studip execs of 
Republic will participate in the dis- 
cussions at the convention an- 
nounced for May 30 to Jiino 2, iri 
■Hollywood. Large, group of opulj- 
lic franchise holders and disti'ibs 
will, assemble for the meet, fiist to 
be held on the Coast. 
. There is ho production at llic Co- 
lumbia plant npw, but three films 
will be in the works duriiijj the c; - 
venti 



chief engineer an 

to boundari the' proposed, ai 

ment to the cxisti ing laws, 

which will forever prbhi . any type 

of theatre, cabaret or dance hall on 

Fifth, Park and Madispn aven 

goes before the Board stimate 

and Apportionment 

public hearing June 4. 

are that the Board will also 

the proppsal which will thipri 

matically become cfTective. 

there haye been no .Objections roin 

property holders, : while 

been, a favorable written 

from .a group 

$500,000,000 in real estate i 

fected area; 

The nixed territory takes the •foriti 
of an' awkward, paddle fanning out 
at lower half ; and running through 
the eehter ,of Manhattan Island. To 
be called a restricted retail district, 
it extends from 28d street., at: its 
lower, extremity to 84th street at the 
northern tip. Above the B4th street 
limltatloh the boulevards take care 
of themselves, being strictly residen- 
tial 'locations. 

jStii>ulatiohs brer ifth avenue from 
2Gth to 59th street, including 100 fe^t 
west of the avenue proper; Madison 
avenue frOrn 23d . to 04th street. In-' 
eluding 100 feiet cast and west of 
the avenue; Park avenue from 31st 
to 34th street and from 39th to 59th 
street, .With a 100-foot, restriction 
also in effect into all side streets. 
Two of .town's busiest crosstbwn 
streets are also hit with 57th street 
and 34th' street from Broadway to 
Park avenue Included in the restricts 
ed zone. 

The Fifth Avenue Assn., sponsors 
.of the new legislation, see in the 
adoption of the new rule a sotback 
for Broadwayites who saw a switch 
of the theatrical zone iCi the east 
side. Now that they have bean per- 
manently nixed. Fifth avenue group 
thinks .- it" woiild do foi'; Broadway 
Assn. arid 42d Street Assn. to try 
similar tactics in their own back* 
yard and outlaw the juice Joints, 
auction rooms and health store front 
auditoriums, for improvement pf the 
established amusement center. 



TREND TO NORTH CHI 



Buildins: Activity Now Concc 
in That Direction. 



NliW OMAHA NABE 

Omahar-JVIay 18. 
Ralph b. Goldbergi owner of a 
string of nabes here, has aniiounced 
plans for construction of a new sub- 
urban house in West Leavenworth 
district. Architects figure On a 1,200- 
seater, all on one flpor, to be 
equipped for both films and stage 
shows. 

Construction is planned to :gct un- 
der way in early fall. 



Chicago, May. 18. 

Theatre building, activity in Chi- 
cago .for the next few years will be 
almost wholly concentrated on the 
northslde, according to plans of the- 
atre pperators. After years of action 
on the south and \yest sides of town 
for. the building of new theatres, the 
trend has switched completely to- 
wards the Evanston,. Wilmettc, Wl 
netka strip along Lake Michigan. 

This trend is basad not only on the 
shift of population growth tPwards 
the north, but also upon the fa^t that 
the ratio of theatre seats to popula-, 
tiori is less in the northern sScllon of 
the town, than any where else. 

Balaban & Katz, Jones, Linick ic 
Schaefcr, Harry Balaban, Sam 
Meyers, "ssaness, G. S. C. CiircUlt, 
Las'ker ros. and Individual thcair 
opcrator.s have their eyes olntcci 
.slricUy '/to . the noivthj and haloyer. 
plans there are for ildinf;. ih . hlr 
cago arc for Spots there, pino linlf- 
dozen theatres are already in tho 
making, led by the Harry Balabr 
A, J.. Balaban Esquire, whi ' vv'ill be 
a 'l,200,-scal(iu. Plans arc now ing 
drawn for four .or five more, and 
other exhibitors are scoiiri j;; .he ter- 
ritory for likely proijorly .on Which 
to build. 



Columbi , last of the majors to 
hold its convention this year, as in 
past years. Will produce for the corn* 
ing (i937-'38) season 5B pictures. 

It Will be. Columbia's first conven- 
tion oh the .Coast since 1929, 'ith 
sales force, of 250 attending, 
. Jack Ciohn and Abe -Mqnta4.'uc, 
v.p. and sales manager, respectively, 
are at present oh the Coast settling 
details. 



Bryn Mawr Objects 

Philadelphia. May 18, 
Buiii ss'n of Bryn Mawr» riti'.y 
Philly suburb and. home of Bryn 
MaWr College, adopted a resDlulioh 
last week condemning distribs for. 
hot giving earlier playing dates to 
their home town house. Members 
dlairiied the hou.se is b.clng discrirn- 
inated against and potential cu.stom-' 
ers are ijeing driven into other towns. 

William Mooney, prez of the Bryn 
Mawr Trust Co., took up the cudgels 
to clin.inate 'this undesirable condi- 
tion.' 




E L I S A B E T H 




Wednesday, May 19, 1937 VARIETY 



a SHE LOVES AS ALL WOMEN 

Dl^AM OF LOVlNG-but few darel 

J HER EVERY GESTURE, EVERY 
SMILE, EVERY TEAR WILL STIR 
THOUSANDS OF WOMEN WHO 
KNOW THE INCOMPARABLE 
GENIUS OF BERGNER, THE 
WORLD^S FINEST ACTRESS! 

J AT THE RIVOLI THEATRE, IN 
THE MOST POPULAR, MOST IM- 
PASSIONED ROLE SHE EVER 
PLAYED, SHE HEADS ONE OF 
THE OREATEST ENTERTAIN- 
MENT PROGRAMS NEW YORK 
BVER SAW OR FLOCKED TOl 

. . . . . ■ ■ _ ■ ^.^...^ ; .. .. ....'■•.v.-. .•-.-r-x •>».•.•;•:«. 



34 VARtETTt 



RADIO 



Wednesdaj, May 19, 1937 



Canadian Dailies Bjg Publicity 
Civers to American Programs; 
South Hostile, Chicago Frigid 



Advertising agency p.a.'s, -whose 
mjijpr assignment is that of grabbing 
free space for their radio programs 
reports that . the. TOoM^mtable. treod 
ill their field, during the past broad- 
cast sieasori has been, the increasing 
attentipn which Canadian newspapers 
have been giving shows emanating 
from this side of the border. In some 
-'^Ltises the consistent domination of 
ritdi columns in the' leading Dq-- 
liiinion papers by news and gossip 
iteiiis concerning American mike 
personalities has become the com- 
(ritoh thin^. 

On the: Anierican side the agency 
p.a.'s have found southern pubiish- 
iers still showing little inclination to 
iVe . the space breaks to broadcast- 
ihg^ Thaw in this sector has been 
iio faister in the past lO. months than 
it:;had beeni in: previous years. Be- 
cause of this situation the south re-, 
mains bile section where regional 
radid.fan mags can. continue to flour- 
ish; 

.In the icate field ihe radio 
roto section put out by the Des 
Moines' Register-Tribune and the 
'Screen and -Radio Weekly edited by 
the Detroit Free Press; have made 
considerable progress during the 
past broadcast season in tying up 
newspaper subscribers to the* respec^ 
tive services. In the instance of the 
Free Press' insert the client list has 
jumped 52% within the yeah Central 
Press recently added a section 
fagged 'Artists of the Air Waves' to 
its mat page mat service. 

From the angle ol radio space giv- 
ing the agency p.a.'s have found 
Ghicajgo the coldest atnong the big 
cities. Here's how they ' rank the 
first 10 cities as to iiews, chatter and 
icture breaks in the local news- 
papers: 



1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 



Cleveland. 
Boston. . 
Niew York. 
Los Angeles. 
San Francisco. 
Atlanta. 
Milwaukee. 
Buffalo. 
9^ Des Moines. 
10. Pittsburgh. 



6. 
7. 
8. 



BLAIR DICKER WITH 
MIDWEST DISC COLD 



Belatc|d Congrats 



Hollywood, May 18. 
jsiti " Young & Rubicam 
execs were being taken through 
the Hollywood office setup by 
Tom Harrington, manager. With 
particular pride he showed 
them the. filing systenri. Flipping 
back one index tab after anr 
other he paused at the section, 
labelled 'cbngratulatdry mes- 
sages.' All they saw was com-^ 
plete emptiness. 

Next day Harrington received 
a dozen wires for the congriats: 

iche. Agency lads , had heard 
about it. 



Here and There 





SPOT FOR GENl 




Chicago, May 18. 

General Mills full 60-minute 
inorhing . show on the Columbia web 
becomes an afternoon show on July 
12, when the tinie will be switched 
to 1:30 p.in. central time. 

, By making this shift, the General 
Mills hour will be put on a one- 
time broadcast schedule for coast- 
torcoast coverage, where the present 
morning setup necessitates a re- 
broadcast for the Coast listeners. 

Placed through the local Blackett- 
Sample-Hununert agency. 



Dismiss Remick vs. WNEW 



Negotiations between John Blair 
& Co., and Midwest Recordings, Inc., 
of Minneapolis, for a buy-in on the 
latter organization, have gone cold. 
It had been the station rep's idea to 
use the disc outfit for the creation 
of spot programs which it could of- 
fer direct to the advertising trade. 
Two . camps couldn't . agree on finan- 
cial arrangements after weeks of 
dickering. 

Blair & Co. added three new ones 
to its list last week. Outlets are 
WMBGi Richmond, Va,; KFEL, Den- 
ver, and KOB, Albuquerque. Shift 
of WMBG f rem Furgason & Aston to 
Blair becomes effective when the 
station goes on the NBC ried (WEAF) 
June 29. 

It will be the, first time that lair- 
has had connections in each of the. 
three towns. KOB becomes part of 
NBC's Pacific and red (WEAF) 
linlcs- on an optional basis. 



Infringement suit brought in Fed- 
eral Court by M^ Witmark & Sons, 
Remick Music Corp., and. T. B. 
Harnis Co., against WBO Eiroadcast- 
ing Corp.; Operators of Station 
WNEW, was dismissed last v^reek by 
Judge Clancy without prpjudice and 
leave to the plaintiffs to take fur- 
ther action if desired. 

Music companies objected to de- 
fendants broadcasting several of 
their songs without first obtaining a 
license. They sought $5,000 for each 
alleged violation. 



HaVirs Leaves WCIFL 

Chicago, May 18. 
Effective as of .yesterday (17), 
R; Calvert Haws has resigned as 
prograriii director of WCFL, Came 
about on the heels of a two-week 
vacation period and .understood that. 
Haws. is going on to a new connec- 
tion after a couple riiore weeks' 
res.t. 

.'To date no replacement has been 
made at the Federati of Labor 
station. 



WFBR's Pimlico Beat 

Baltimore, May 15. 

WFBR has signed exclusive broad- 
casting rights to the running of the 
Preakness and Futurity raies at 
Pimlico for a period of. five years. 

Considerable competition for event 
by local stations and the two na- 
tional chains, but cbn tract awarded 
WFBR in recognition 6t close co- 
operation ' i revitalizing historic 
course since .-Alfred G. Vanderbilt, 
who recently bought in, took IioH. 

WFBR -s local outlet for NBC red 
ntitwork. 



Levers Fdd Jokon 

But m 



KRMD, Shreveport, and KPLC, 
Lake Charles, La;, have appointed 
J. J, Devine and Associates, Inc., as 
exclusive national reps. 



Lincoln Simons and . Gale Block!, 

of John Blair's New York and Chi- 
cago offices, respectively, are mak- 
ing a tour of the stations on the 
company's list; 



Larry Nixon, . WMCA, N. Y., p. a;, 
got himself . interviewed on his own 
station liast Tuesday (11) on ari arti- 
cle; 'Vagabond Vacationing,' carried 
in the June Cosmopolitan. 



Gene 6'Haire, freelancer, was 
picked to succeed Jim Healey on 
K e n t u c k y Club's thrice-weekly 
sports program on WGY? Schenec- 
tady. Healey quit because his other 
account. Sun Oil,, complained. 
b'Haire is also on WQKO, Albany* 
for Peter Schuyler cigars. 



American premiere of . Geoffrey 
Bridbn's verse-drama 'March of 
Forty-Five' will, be aired by Colum- 
bia's Workshop the, web 
May ZQ. 



Iowa- Broadcasting System claims 
to have scooped its state oh the Hin- 
denbiarg tragedy when hews editor 
Benedict Harmari had the flaish on 
the air at 5:32— just nine minuteis 
after the iaccidferit 



Harold Fair, progranri director for 
WHO, handled running account of 
•Fordon-Browh Natibnai Air Show at 
the Des Moines airport .May 15; 
a;nd 16. 



Auffiist Maeltelberghe, Belgian 
organist; joins staff at WW J, Detroit. 



Clair eyer promotion and mer- 
chandising manager of §tation 
KXBY, Kansas City, leaving for job 
with WHBF, Rock Island. 



C. Robert Thompson, general rnan- 
:ager, WCOL, Columbus, visiting in 
New York. 



Sibyl Jason guest , oh the Sealtest 
show over NBC next Sunday night 
(23). 



William , legit producer, 

will emote adaptation from *A F'ree 
Soul' oh Kate Smith's show Thurs- 
day (27) of next week. Deal set by 
!5am Weisbord, of the Morris office. 



'Personal Column of the Air* 

(Procter & Gamble for Crisco), on 
NBC blue and red webs, expands 
irbm nine" to ten broadcasts weekly 
commencing June -4. 



Harry Hiller has been added to 
staff of NBC studio controlmen. 



Dick Roll, mikeman, has switched 
from WALR, to WHIO, 

Dayton, Ohio. 



Ralph Nelson, chief announcer at 
KDB, Santa Barbara, Calif., quit last 
week to freelance in Chicago. 



Nancy Kelly has been added to 
'Myrt and Marge! serial over GBS. 
Also troupes on 'March of Time.' 




Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Crawford will 
guest on the Ben Berhie (Am, Can) 
May 25 over NBC-blue. Duo will 



Lux for Summer, 
ime 





Dan Seymour eturns East 
Dan Seymour, foil and announcer 
on the Gillettie show, returns to NftAv 
York with the Milton iBerle troupe 
this Friday (21) and will likely be 
retiirhed by Riithrauff & Ryiin to 
the Spry and. Rinso daytime shows 
oh CBS, 

Network established precedent in 
Seymour's case in that it sent him 
along with the program to Holly- 
wood. 



Lever Bros, is pulli the Lux 
'Theatre and the Al -^Martha 
Raye rpgram 'from Columbia the 
fil-st week of July. Each will be 
off nine weeks. Account's two day- 
time serials on thie safne network, 
'Bi ister' (Rinso) and 'Aiint Jen- 
nie's Real Life Stories' (Spry) stay 
as is. 

Agencies involved, J. Walter 
Thompson and Ruthrauff .& Ryan, 
scout' the report that the' temporary 
holdups is for economy . reasons. 
Lever Bros, recently had a judgment 
handed dOwn against it in the Illi-. 
nois. Supi"eme Court which hield the 
Boston soap combine guilty of in- 
fringing on a method of producing 
soap beads, which Procter & Gamble 
and.. Colgate-Palmolive-Peet claimed 
they jointly controlled. 

Savings on the nine weeks will 



figure around $300,000 time and 
talent, 

Al Jolsoh and the others on the 
Rinso show (CBS) last week were 
given new 26-Week contracts, effec- 
tive with Sept. . Program folds 
July 6 for the summer, thers rie- 
newed were Victor Young and 
Martha Raye. 



Peter B. Kyne s E500 Royalty Demand 
Just Before Vwood Hotel' Broadcasts 



A. M. vs. Booze 



A hotorius booze-walloping 
arinouncer had heen doing 
okay because his cojmeback 
proe[ram was in the morning. 
Showed up sober at the early 
hour. 

Then the sponsor moved 
show to night spot. "That wais 
too much of a strain on the 
guy's good intentions. 



STDART DOYLE 
BUYS 16 RADIO 




Hollywood, May 18. 

There'll be a lull in Tiny Ruffner's 
profesisional life during July and 
August. With Community Sing back 
on the old stamping grounds and 
the Joe Penher and Al Jolson 
shows ducking the kilocycle sweat 
for nine and eight weeks, respec- 
tively, the Ruthrauff St Ryan Coast 
chief will build for the fall. 

Gillette program hauled east to- 
day (Tues.) when Walter Wanger 
decided not to use Milton Berle in 
'52nd Street^ 



Siydney, Api-il 27. 

Stuart . t»oyle, Australi the 
atre mart, has been bitteh severely 
by the radio bug. Within the past 
ifew weeks he has bought, on behalf 
of Commonwealth Broadcasters in- 
terests in ho less than 16 Cominer 
cials spread in the key centres, of 
Australi And Doyle is still goinj? 
on buyinig to create the greatest 
chain of broadcasters in the South- 
em Hemisphere. 

Now known as the 'C.B.N.' (Com 
monwealth Broadcasting Network), 
this chain already has coverage in 
Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Mel- 
bourne, Adelaide, Perth, Tasmania 
Music Publisher Frank Albert, is in 
with Doyle on the buy and is at 
present in America seeking radio 
ideas and so forth for use over the 
hew chain. 

Doyle is chairman, with Frank 
Uarden in as g.m. 



present novelty number on in 
Hammond organs,, Herman Ber ie 
set. 



Phil Baker has cleffed his first 
song in three years, 'My Heaven on 
Earth." 



Mary Martin, vocalist With. Buddy 
Rogers' orch. on 'Twin Stars' (Na- 
tional Biscuit") program on CBS, is 
being lens-lamped by Columbia Picts. 



Aldo RiccI phantom strings and 
Drane Sisters set for. Fred Allen 
show May 19. 



Norman S. McGee newcomer to 
sales staff of station WQXR, N. Y. 



Sands Point Yacht Club, Of. which 
many broadcasting folk aire mem- 
bers, opened for season Saturday. 
Mike Porter, radio ed on N. Y. Jour- 
nal, is this year's Commodore, 



WLW, Cincy, now airing religious 
programs for 18 different sects. Sta- 
tion's rate for such is card, less 15%, 
with all dealings direct. 



Jimmy Flynn added to WMCA, 
N. Y., production staff, boss of which, 
Charlie Capps, is how Vacashing. 

Air Features, .Inc., production unit 
eniployed by Biackett-Skmple-Hum- 
mert N. Y.: office, now under same 
roof with agency. ince its incep-, 
tion has occupied separate, quarters. 



John Howe, of WGY's sales staff, 
is arranging for irinual blowout of 
studio crew Luther's; Saratoga 
Lake, May 28, 



Bill iSloc^m, ,, scion of the N. Y: 
American's sports scribe^ newly at- 
tached to CBS;s publicity pen to 
carve out copy On the extensive 
sports coverage network will carry 
this .summer. 



Dinty Doyle, N .Y. American radio 
ed, to Coast June 6 for four- week 
stay. 

ITommy Ott joins staff of WmD, 
Chicago, as organist. Comes from 
WHBF, Rock Island, 



Hal Culver, formerly of KWK, St. 
Louis, has been added to announcing 
staff of WLS, Chicago. 

Jimmy Dudley, WIND, announcer, 
now doubling WJJD, other Ralph 
Atlass Chicago indi , for sports and 
ncwscasting. 



Hollywood, May 18, 
Eleventh, hour demand by Peter 
B. Kyhe for a $2,500 royalty on the 
airihg of orie of his literary works 
on Hollywood Hotel last wieek gave 
Producer ill Bacher a series of 
prolonged jUters until the clearance 
was straightened Out, Author's 
crackdown, came day .before the 
broadcast and took on such serious 
proportions that Bacher was ready 
to chuck the piece and fashion 
script of his oWn for. the picture 
players ehgaged for enactment 

Kyne's peeve " said to haye 
grown out of two disappointments; 
one because the name of his tome 
was changed to 'The Go Getter,' and 
the other that he has been dicker^ 
ihg for a radio deal that wOiild; en- 
compass all his works arid etherihg 
of 'this one woiild just about chill 
such a venture. Understood that 
Warners paid off the tap rather than 
miss out on the picture's exploita- 
tion. 



BYER, BOWMAN AGENCY 
SUED ON COPYRIGHT 



Columbus, May 18. 

One dollar for each copy of 200,- 
000 music folios containing ah un- 
authorized song is asked, in a suit 
filed in U. S. District Court here by 
the- Melrose Bros: Music Co., Inc., 
and the Indiana Union. 

Defendants ih the $200,000 action 
are Ohio Oil Co. and Byer & Bowr 
man, a Columbus advertising agency, 
who are charged With using the 
song, 'Ihdiana, Our Indiana,' in a 
folio distributed for ^advertising 
purposes without the consent of the 
copyright owhers, , 

'Indiana, Our Indiana' is an Offici 
song of the U. of Ihdiana and was 
copyrighted in 1913. Since 1930 it 
has been published by Melrose. 

NBC Coast Lease Holds 
Up Hollywood Studio 

Hollywood, May 18. 

NBC will struggle along with its 
present facilities next fall unless it 
is successful in disposing of ia three 
and a half year lease, remaining on 
its present quarters. That was the 
statemeht of Don Gilmah on his re- 
turn from New York. He added that 
ho definite site had been selected but 
that the new plant would be pitched 
in Hollywood— if and when. 

Gilman admitted that the heavy 
infiux of shows from the east in the 
fall would, force the net to line up 
some remote spots, something they 
have long shied from. 



Doris Hare Goes Home 



Doris Hare, English comedienne 
who was under contract to NBC 
Artists Service as air performer, 
sailed back' to London Friday ^^^^ 
to go into rehearsal in. a new play 
by George Frank, which C, B. Coch^ 
ran will produce i West End late 
in June. 

She came to U. S. last autumn . in 
the cast of 'Night . Must Fall..' NBC 
caught her in the show and signed 
her. Efforts tO peddle her commer- 
cially cliilled. 



Echo from the Vallee 

Chattanooga, Tenn-, May 18^ 
W. R. (Doc) Johnston, riadiO an- 
nouncer husband of Evelyn (3resham, 
filed suit for divorce last week. She 
was ith Rudy Vallee ih recent. 
Boston photographer fracas. 

Technicfilly Johnston charged de- 
sertion and said they hadh-t shared 
breakfast two years. Called 
Evelyn a career girl. 



Weed Invades Detroit 

Weed &; Co., station reps, will opetv 
ia Detroit ofKce May L 

M. j. Thomas, now with the Chi- 
cago sales staff, will take charge of 
the new branch. 



Legii Actor's Radio Script 

, Scripts by Don Beddoe, legit actoVi 
will be used on. 'Aunt Jenny's True 
Life Stories' series May 31, June 1 
and 2 over WABC. 

Actor is also appearing on ^John's 
Other Wife' series daily over WEAF. 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



35 



C.LO. 




Actors Equity 'On the Verge Again 

Spurred Into Show of Activity by Rumored 
C.I;0« Aggression 



Actors Equity, Association is again 
talking about organizing the .talent 
in rsidio. This time the ispUr to ac- 
tion is the. prospective entry into the 
field C.I,0. affiliated union.. 

Latter has been f uhctionihg quietly 
around the; industry, with the belief 
expressed by those privy to its .ac- 
tivities that the latest suggestion of 
action, by Equity will not succeed in 
forcing the. C.I.O. setup; out into the 
open as yet. 

Equity Officials have from time to 
time during the past severnl years 
ariiibunced that the A.F.L. affiliate 
•wais 'on. the verge' pf a concerted or- 
ganization drive among dramatic 
players and other performers in the 
broadcasting .ihdustryi None of it 
ever got beyond the announcement 
stage. ■ Equity has made no recent 
survey of : the industry toi determine 
. conditions arid scales of • remunera- 
tion prevailing among mike enter- 
tainers^ figuring to depend on data 
Collected by the organization nearly 
four years ago. - 

Frank Gillmore, Equity prez, plans 
to turn to the matter of organizing 
i-adio "talent soon after the American 
Theatre Council closes its sessions at 
the Astor hotel, New Yorlj, next 
Thursday (27). Actual starting date 
of the drive has not been decided. 

.Columbia .Network .officials during 
the past week TEeld a series of long 
S£?ssions with representatives bf the 
American Guild of Rr;"".i Announ- 
cers and Asst; Directors, but are far 
frbin agreement oin a scale of wages 
and working conditions. Some of 
the sessions have lasted until 4 a.m. 
and have developied: some hard give- 
and-take. 



FIRESTONE JAM 




irestone Tire stays where it is, 
on the NBC-Red (WEAF, 8 to 8:30 
p.m. Monday, as a result of an ap- 
peal the account made to . David 
5arnof f , HCA prez. At the latter's 
request Lenox R. Lohr got in touch 
with the head, of the Johnson Floor- 
■\<rax outfit and induced him to waive 
the assignment his firm had re- 
ceived on the Firestone spot. 

NBC sales department had okayed 
Johnson's bid for the period while 
Firestone was trying to decide about 
guaranteeing its Return to the web 
after a brief surrimer vacation; John- 
son retains the Fibbei: McGee and 
Molly combination in the 9 to 9:30 
period the same evening. 



NBC WRITES OFF 15G 



uick Pays $35,060 for faddock- 
Louis Fisticuffs 



NBC will absorb part of the $50,- 
POO that is being, paid foir' the broad- 
cast rights to the James Braddpckr 
Joe Louis, fight in Chicago June 22. 
Biiick, the commercial tag on thie 
airiTig, set .$35,000 as the limit, but 
the network met the counter-bidding 
from CBS with, a tilt, to 50 grand. 
There ill be about 125 stations rin' 
the fight hookup. 

Columbia has in the past assumed 
ilar differences . for Sports rights, 
.. V>t' it off to sustaining program 
costs'. 




In New York 

A. F. Busch, WGR, Buffalo. 

H. Ryan, .WSPD, Toledo. 
Bob Mitchell, WMBG, Richmond. 
Bob Thompson, WGOL, Columbus. 
Sam Cook; "VVFBL, Syracuse, 
Walter Klauer, WKBB, Dubu 



CBS on Board Soon 



Way is gradually bein.g paved 
for the. stock of the Columbija 
network,to go on the big board. 
It is figured that it will have 
that listing by the end of Jiily. 

Application the web's 

latest financial . move has nbt as 
ye;t teen filled with the Secur- 
ities Exchange dommission, Nor 
have the newly engraved .cer- 
tificates been received from 
the pri 



W. C. HELDS IS 



TURN SPONSOR 



Dave Driscoll WOR, Gets Hobo's Rush 
At Flying Field m Stunt Rivalry 




Union Demands for Time at 
Card Rates May Bring 
Up Whole New Series of 
Problems for Networks 
and Local Statibns 



LAWRENCE CASE 






W, G, Fi ' first two weeks on the 
Chase & Sanborn program have 
aroused expectations in the radio 
trade that the next C. A.B; report in 
two weeks will reflect a sharp jump. 
C. A. B. report out Monday (17) did 
riot have time to show any notable 
increase iri the hour's rating over 
'Do You Want to be an Actor?'. 

Fields is an unexpected sensation 
apparently and was not origihially 
set by agency except for a guester. 
He has-but lately recovered from a 
long illness, 

Throw:-away delivery of Fields is 
what is attracting the most atten- 
tion. His reptile gag Sunday -caused 
some eyebrowrraiising anent the 
growing tendency of the big ha;urs 
to pass blueish material. 

Those who heard Fields for the 
first time on his second broadcast 
were , prbmptly poph-poohed. . 'Yoii 
should have heard him. the first 
week' said the good-old-days con- 
tingent. Those who heard him on 
the second broad.cast, however^ still 
seemed to feel that radi had 
brought in another entertainment 
dreadnaught. 



DeVores Revieal Status 

incinriati, May 18. 
Secret marriages of Billie and 
Ruth deVore, of the deVore Sis- 
ters, vocal .threesome on WLW, was 
disclosed last Week. Knots were 
tied .several months ince. Billie 
is wife- of Casls Cox,, trombonist, 
formerly with Barney Rapp's or- 
chestra. Ruth became bride of 
Fred Thomas, C.rosley new.srpom 
writer. 

Marjori is 
single. 



Oakie Ducks Air Heat 

;Hollywood, May 18.: 
show will be minus, the 
aritics. of- Jack Qakie^ for the .13 
week;; following May 22- broadcp.'it. 
Cpmit- takes-' his ular se.asonal 
layoff. 

Framework, of summer .sho.w be- 
ing, ironed put in Winston-Salem; ^ 
N.-' .Cm by William Fstyj J. Saving- | 
'ton Gramptbri and ofTicial^^f R. J.. ! 
Reynolds Tobacco Co. 

Grof e with Bankers 

iFerde. Grbfe. takes over the' bank-.;, 
ers' program on'GBS. June 4, Phila- I 
delphi a . .S y.m p ho ny ' h a d h eld '. th.e sp'o.t ' 
since the series' -.inception.; 

It's a Friday evening hour. 



.'Tohn A. Kennedy, W. 
fiional. 

J. W. Pate, WACO, Waco, Tex. 



Re- 



Scholarship 

Des Moinesr May 18. 

Three ittle Maid.s, talent on 
Who, De? Moine.s, for two years, 
have .been awarded, univei'sity. 
scholarships by the National Honor 
Society and w.ill.:.'all attend North- 
western U. next year. 

Girls are Annabel Lounsberry, 
I^ay Neal and Bette Jane Graham, 
all students at East High School. 



rganized labor; conrie 
knocking on radios ing air, 

time to propagandize. yet the 
industry can scarcely be .said to be 
awai"e of . this new arid eager spon- 
sor; but before /Slimmer is .put the: 
networks as well as ai large majority 
of indie stations, throughout the land 
will probably have to decide 
whether, they are going to be willing 
to hive .Labor organise through their 
medium. ' 

Through thie pa.st veral .montjtis 
Labor has been ogling radio^ sizing 
it .up is a propagalnda possibility; and 
now the pvierture.s are due. On Sun- 
day . (23 )• the G.I.6; isVgoihg to make 
its first bi to line up th6 textile 
Workers of New England. John L. 
Lewis arid Sidney Hillman will speak 
from Lawrence, Mass., over WSPR. 
Springfield; WGRC, Worcester, 'and 
WPRO, Providence; (C;I.O. has deals 
pending v^ith four other stations to 
carry the campaign's opening blast. ) 

For long tirrie Avalori Cigarets has 
sponsored a weekly talk by Chester 
Wright, editor' Of International Labor 
News Service, on WEVD, N. Y.'s 
'lab0r union' station. The.se talks are 
being waxed, and the e. t.'s will be 
spotted on 20 selected broadcasters 
by the sponsor. One station, already 
set, is WGBI, Scrantbri. Transcrip- 
tions will be. placed on stations in 
areas the C.I.O. . ither warits.to. in-; 
vade or ceriaerit its hold. 

Another wax series is 'The March 
of Labor,' dramatizations of labpr 
news. The Telegraphists' Unibn this 
rtionth started spon.soring series on 
WQL, Washington, and already over- 
tures are being made, to a score pf 
stations dotted, around ' the country 
where union wants to consolidate 
its strength. 

Garment Workers bankroll a 
weekly hour operatic program on 
WEVD, which feeds it out to a 'netr 
work' compo.sed of WELL New 
Haven; WRAX, Philly, and WCOP,; 
Bost 

But the big radio blast is expected 
to coriie from the C.I.O.,. now that 
outfit has reputedly become .sold on 
pro.selytizing via radio. C.I.O. pub- 
licity visers wbre from the old 
school, who saw.rio further than the 
newspaper headlines. Now reported 
.sold on ozone organizing. See air 
a."? ideal niearis of getting right to the. 
workers. 

Wiien C.I:0. wa.s fighting General 
Motors, overtures were made tf) De- 
troit .stations fbr airings; ni the 
C.r.O, di riot squawk, but watched 
closely to di.«coVcr what. -breaks the 
manufacturer was .given. Stations 
ducked Issues ..s'ave fpr neiitral newsr 
ca.'^ts of situation day. by day. 

CBS, and NBC have, at present, a 
ban on 'accepting ii.s a spon.sor Labpr 
as an organizer of u. ibni,s In the 
in.starice'. Mutual., an regionals. 
each individual .station adopts its 
own cours Labor indicates it .will 
want to kriow why it can't put .on 
'iri.<!titu.tionar programs, suclv ' the 
Ford Su Evening or the 

■Gerierai Motpr.s Concert. 

Majority of the .ftatipn.s' 
arpxmd the countr not accept 

uni -.sponsored propaganda- or or- 
ganizing programs. 'There: are rather 
a few small broadcasters., however, 
which wiir accept spots nouncinc,' 
a; labor meeting. Labor is now col- 
IcCtinjEf data on how evei'y station in 
the, country feel.': t() 

For years any convention 
of a sizable unio been page- 

one news in the pa but nct- 
work.s have never fiiven such labor 
conventions a tumble, intliiding the 
alway.s large-looming. A. F, of L. 
pow-wbw.«. La.*;! week, however, 
when the Garment Workers' con- 



Eager Athletes 



Rardi bunch Young 
Rubicam try to give the office 
a cpuntry club atmosphere Sat- 
urday mornings by coming in 
togged out in. sports coats, duck 
pants arid sneakers. 

They explain that theyjll be 
off to play tennis when- the 
whistle blows at 1. o'clock. 





CONTINUE AT 
WHN 



After filing charges with the a- 
tional Labor Relations Board against 
Station WHN, N. Y., the American 
Radi Telegraphists got together 
with Louis K. Sidney, director, May 
16, tb discuss changes in working 
conditions of the technical personnel 
Another meeting is skedded for May 
21, at which time wage question and 
closed shop will be further dis- 
cussed/- 

ARTA wants a sliding scale whidh 
will equal almost that of the' major 
networks for its members. It ahsb 
seeks' a closed shop; which idea 
covers 'job. security' and 'perma- 
nence.' 

Claim filed with the NLRB states 
that the station refused collective 
bargaining, intimidated the men arid 
sought to establish a company uriion, 
contrary to the regulsitiohs imposed 
by the recently passed Wagner Act. 



Jane Froman on Jell-0; 
No Biscuit Successor 



Young & .Rubicam has Jane ro- 
man and Don Ros.s set for the Jell-O 
spot, .starting July 4, and Johnny 
Green's orchestra due to carry the 
burden of the revised Packard show, 
effective June 8. Another petnding 
program change involves the Ches- 
terfield half hour with Hal Kemp, 
with Newell-Emmett the .agency. 

McCanrirErickson reports that Na- 
tional Bi.scuit has no plans for its 
Sunday night stanza on CBS with 
Victor Moore and Helen Broderjck 
after June 20, when the present 26- 
Vveek contiact expires. Marx Bros, 
were rumored. 



Vox Pop Mike 

Denver, May 18. 
T. A. McClelland^ chief engineer 
KLZ, has devised arid biillt for use 
a breast-plate . mi . The breast- 
plate is made of leather, ith the 
niilce protruding at the proper angle 
to be. always in front of the an- 
nouncer's mouth. An 8-ball mike is 
lised. 

Apparatus is used oh the inquir- 
i reporter rpgrarrisi 



'Party Line' Goes Oh 

icago, May 18. 

• Renewal for 5'2 weeks on Sandi:a 
Micha,bl's . 'Monticello. Parly Li 
iivc-a-week - tran.scripti .serial/ ha.s. 
been signed by .CrarTiei-KraRselt, 
Milwaukee agency, for. Caldwell's 
Syru of Pep.si. , efleclive Sept. 27, 
an '.s ow i.s to continue thrpughbut 
.summer ;0n OQ stations. Makes . show 
and .spon.sor tie-up for the third suc- 
ccs.sive 'year. 

Cokimbia 
Chicago .studio.s, '. 



Dave Driscoll, of WOR, New York, 
got badly manhandled, at the flying 
field last Friday, after Dick Merrill 
and Jack Lambie brought in , their 
planie from England. Dri.scoll had a 
portable pack strapped to hi.s back 
and came forward to descri the 
scene and gather up Lambie for 
few words. Merrill was known to 
be NBC's exclusively, but WOR 
thought' Lambie was fair g« 

Understood Driscoll received some 
brutal kicking nrpMrid. He had evi- 
dently been pointed out. as an u 
authorized person and given a scuf- 
fing by 'persons unknown.' 

■WOR was supposed to he ' ing 
an investigatibh' of the personal 
bruising given Di^iscbll. Itv was seen 
as part of the hazards of special 
eventing. 

WOR stayed up all night follow) 
the Merrill-Lambie plane in across 
the Atlantic. Johnny Johnstone had 
.secured an unusual concession from. 
,WQR advertisers perriiitting author- 
ized break-ins without time rebates. 
Riding the event hard, WOR, 
through its New England affili , 
had an exclusive from Quiricy, 
Mass., couple- of hours before the 
N. Y, ing field episode occurred. 



WCAU-IKICIAN 





ENDED 



Philadelphia, May 18. 
End of the long feud between 
^yCAU and Musicians' Union here 
hove definiiely into sight this week. 
Station will have a unionized! house 
band of ieces before next Sep- 
tember, 

Projected peace Js the result of 
compromises on both side-s. Under- 
stood studio prchestras will be al- 
lowed to work on both sustai ' 
and commercial progr 

Tpmei and Levy haven't yet . met 
on the- neW proposals. All confab- 
bing so far has been indirect and un- 
official. 



Haenschen Vice RubinofF 

Absence of Dave Rubinoff in Hol- 
lywood on picture-making leave of 
absence has prompted ChcvrbJet to 
temporarily substitute Gus Haen- 
schen. Latter will cut fir.st discs this 
Friday (21) under supervision df 
Ken Burton, of the Walter Crai ' 
office. 

JSCS are u.sed to plug Chevrolet 
dealers' Used car.s. Network prbgram 
with Rubinoff will originate in Hol- 
lywood until June 6. Walter Craig 
is out there producing for Campbell- 
Evvald. 



Myerson Coasts for RCA 

.. .... May 18. 

arry :Myersoh ha.s cpriie on fro 
the ho'me- ice to take charge 
radio transcriptions and Victor re- 
cordings ^t Hollywood Plant of 
Radio Corporation of America, 

Takes over from rt Ru.sh,. who. 
has been made Hollywood manager 
of Columbia Concert Burea 



Juve Mag JEd Airs 

Irvirig Crump, editor of Boy't. 
mag, has been lined up by Columbia 
to etherT /arhati'/e R. L. Steven.<cpn' 
'Troasurc Island.' 
CBS will air over 39. 
riods. at thrcc-a-week pace, ,slart« 
I ing ti not yet set. Program will,- 
; of cour.se, be primed for kids. Net 
i.*; shopping for a sponsor. 



vened for their annual in Atlantic 
City, NBC was asked to. carry a pe- 
riod. Web obliged by picking up a 
pair. wa.s the flr.<<t time that a 
st;jtion or network other than WEVD 
ever rari a wire into a labor-union 
convention floor. 



WIND Signs Football 

Chicago, May 18. 

Statib WIND, Gary, Ind., has 
agairi .secured the broadcasting i ights 
to local games of thd Chicago Car- 
dinal.s ro fooVoall games. 

It's exclusive. 



36 VARIETY 



RADIO 



KXBrS BIG PARTY 

;Aeroplanes Carry In Quests for 
Kansas City Shindiff 



Kansas City, May 18. 
KXBY, Kansas City, celebrated the 
linveiling of its new studios Saturday 
<15) ,by making it open house for the 
townsmen, brozkdcasting a special 
series of programs and hosting a 
group of agency people pUined/ in 
from New York and Chicago. Among 
the drarhatizations was one prepared 
by the Russell Comer Advertising 
Agency. ?t dealt with the wartime 
adventures of Sid Noel, WXBY's 
rez. 

Among the plahed-in guiests were 
Charles Ayers, RuthrauS & Ryian; 
Ray Catpentier, Gompton Agency; 
Frank Conrad, McCann-Erickson; 
Eart Bachman arid Peter Wasser, 
'Furgasdn & Aston; Gene Fromherz, 
J. Walter Thompson; Frank Avery, 
Neisser-Meyerhoff; S. J. Andrews, 
Hanff-Metzger; E. G. Opie, Rogers & 
Smith, and SO. Aston, Furgasbn & 
Aston. 



F.CC.'S WASHINGTON DOCKET 



MUTUAL OUT TO 
STRENGIHEN 



P.M. 




Starting next month and continu- 
ing thi'ough summer, Mutual will 
have the strohgest dovetailing line- 
up of shows, it. ever carried riding 
regularly on Sunday nights. Web has 
bunched up some of its strongest to 
compete against CBS and NBC. 
Thought .!^ that by welding a stick- 
by audience through the warm 
months, Mutual can offer some choice 
time to sponsors for winter. 

Summer Sunday night lineup starts 
with im and Irene, plus Bimny 
Berrigan's orch at 6.30 for Admir- 
acion. At 7^ Stan Lomax with spbrts 
comment. Tenants of the Aragon 
ballroom, Chicaigo, will swing on at 
•7.15, followed by Benay Venuta. 
Horace Heidt crew, from Hotel Bilt- 
jnore, N. Y.,. will groove, in the halfp 
hour, commencing .. at 8.30, succeeded 
by Paul Whiteman for an hour from 
Fort Worth Expo. Kay Kyser, spon- 
sored by Willys Overland, bridges 
the 10-10.30 period, with Duke Elling- 
toh's crew winding up at 11. 



Litigation in Australia 
Involves 2IJW, Sydney 

, Sydney, April 27. 
Commonwealth Broadcasters (Sta- 

ipn 2UW) .h^s two lawsuits at the 
present time. Joan Harvey js seek- 
ing damages covering alleged use of 
a session titled 'The Voice of . Experi- 
ence/ which she claims as her Own 
property. 

Victoria Park Racing Club is ap- 
ipieaUng to the High Court to set 
aside a verdict in favor of '2 UW 
concerning race-track funning de 
scriptions, and' to restrain the- sta- 

ion from airing such descriptions to 
the air fans. Both cases stand part- 
heard. 



Frisco Radio Show 



DECISIONS 



San Francisco, May 18. 
Radio show will b^ held in Civic 
Auditorium Tuesdaiy, May 25, as 
prelude the seyen-d^y fiesta 
which begins May 27 in celebration 
of thd opening of the Golden Gaite 
Bridge* Produced under : the ^ super 
vision of Bill Pabst, KFRC exec, 
and lilpyd Yoder, NBC press chief; 
the progi-am will opien with broad 
casts of 'Good Morning Tohite,' the 
Albers. Bros. Coast Red. web com 
merciai, and Johnny O'Brien's quar- 
ter-hour harmonica session.. 

jBalancie of the show, -which will 
Include a spelling bee with artists 
from rival networks pitted against 
each , other and a : 50-piece ork, will 
be broadcast by all bay region trans- 
mitters. 



WA AF, Chi, Appoints Rep 

Chicago, May 18. 
Craig & Hollingberry have been 
appointed national sales rep for 
WAAF, the Drovers Journal statiori 
here. 

Appointment was made last week 
by Bill Hutchinson, gim. lor WAAF, 
which maintains studios in the Pal- 
mer House arid operates as an indie 
outlet. 



Tim and Irene (Ryan) moving into 
Rowayt6n,"Conn., for summer.. 



Washi May 18; 

Arisbna: KGAR, apjplication for frequency 

ehange from 1370 to 1340 kc, night power increase 
from 100 to 250 watts, dismissed at applicant's request. 

Calif brnla: KEHE, Hearst io. Inc., Los Angeles, 
granted authority for auxiliary transmitter to operate 
with 1 kw for emergency purposes only; KGO (NBC); 
San Francisco, granted petition to reinstate .application 
to increase power from 7% to 50 kw, for hearing May 
24; CJhauncey W. HammOnd, Oakland, application for 
new station to be operated on 1280 He with 1 kw, dis- 
missed at request of applicant. 

Idaho: KFTI, Twin Falls, granted night power boost 
from 500 watts to 1 kw. 

Illinois: Metropolitan Radio Service, Inc., Chicago, 
application for new station to bte operated on 1570 kc^ 
with 1 kw denied as in cases of default. 

Iowa: Western Union College, Le Mars iipplication 
for new station to be operated on 1210 kc with 100 
Watts nights, 250 watts days, denied as i cases of 
default. 

Michigan: WW J, Detroit, granted consent to transfer 
control of corporation from the trustees nanied to, the 
beneficiaries under the .trust. 

North Dakota: KRMC, Jainestown, granted authority 
to change frequency from 1310 to 1370 kc and increase 
tiihe of operation, from .simultaneous day with KVOX, 
Moorhead, Minn., and sharing with KVOX nights, to 
unlimited. 

Ohio: Ohio Broadcastirig Company, East Liverpool, 
application for new station tO: be operated on 1270 kc 
with 250 watts days only dismissed at applicant's re- ' 
quest; O.hio Broadcasting Company, Salem, application 
for new daytinne station to be operated on 780 kc with 
250 watts dismissed at applicant's request;: Ohio Broad-- 
casting Co., 'Marion, application for new day time., sta- 
tion to be operated oh 1200 kc with 100 watts dis- 
missed ait request of applicant. 

Oklahoma: Dismissal without projiidice was recom- 
mended by Examiner Seward for the application of 
KGFF Broadcasting Co., Inc., for a frequency switch 
from 1420 to 1430 kc and a boost in night power from 
100 to 250 watts. 

Applicant's request for a lionrpre judicial dismissal, 
based oh the fact that no other parties entered objec- 
tion, was upheld by the examiner. Attorneys for the 
applicant were Philip G. Loiicks and Arthur W. Schar- 
feld. 

Oregon: KOOS, Marshfleld, granted power jump 
from 250 watts days'only to 100. watts nights, 250 watti . 
days, and install vertical radiator. 

Pennsylvania: WFBG, Altoona, granted reduction of 
day power from 250 to 100 wattts. 

Texas: J. Laurence Martin, Amairillo, application for 
new station, to be operated on 1120 kc with 250 watt^ 
specified hours, denied as in cases of. default. 

EXAMINERS' REPORTS 

California: Pacific Acceptance Corp. of San Diego 
was tagged for art okay by Examiner P. W. Seward. 
Simmering since August, 1935. Seward's report, con* 
sisting mostly of references to the legal booting around 
suffered by the applicant, recommended a green light 
for the outfit, which is seeking a daytime station^ to 
be operated on 1200 kc With 100 watts^ 

Rival applicant — Smith, Keller and Cole — squawked 
about the stock o^ynership of the stockholders in Pacific 
Acceptance Corporation. Reed E. Callister, owning 
40% of Pacific, also controls 36.5% qf the stock in 
KIEV, Glendale, and 64% of .KMTR, Los Angeles, in- 
tervenors pointed out, while K; L. Banning^ 20% own- 
er' of Paciflfc stock, holds 36% of KMTR. 

Preponderance of chain programs.offered San Diego 
listeners by KGB and KFSD, two existing transmit- 
ters, was cited by Seward as a good reason for the 
establishment of a purely local station. Small adver- 
tisers also would be benefited by the cheaper rates 
proposed, examiner said. 

Attorneys appearing for Paci 
Spear man. and Alan B. David. 

Michigan: No soap ict was handed down for 
Leonard A. yersluls; Raiiids, on the establish- 

ment, of ai 500 watt daytime statidrt to be operated on 
830 kc. Construction of the transmitter would result 
in objectionable interfierence to station WKAR, East 
Lansing, withih its 500 hjicrpvolt per meter contour, 
Examiner Ralph L. Walker ruled. 

Versluis, a photographeir and one-third owner of 
WJIM, Lansing, was. represented by Frank D. Scott. 

New Jersey: Day juice-jump for New Jersey Broad- 
casting Corporation, licenseei WHOM, Jersey City, 
was discouraged by Examiner. . . Hvde, who pointed 
Out that additional daytime facilities were not needed 
in the area proposed to be served and that the change 
would adversely affect WSAR, Fall Rivier, Mass. 

Station, using same 1450 kc frequency as WSAR, 
wanted daytime boost from 250 \vatts to 1 kw. Horace 
L. Liohnes appeared for WHOM. 

North Carolina: New station for Asheville, to be 
operated on 1370 kc with lOO watts, was dusted off 
and recommended for granting for the second time in 
six months. ' 

Case..w^s reopened after afTidaVits had been filed 
with the commish, following the release of a favorable 
examiner's report, but Examiner George H. Hill gave 
the applicant, a second okay when it was discovered 
that, the affidavits apparently were 'based on malice 
ahd ill will' stirred up by a political row. Applicant, 
Harold H. Thorns, editor of the Asheville Daily News, 
had stepped on. political toes, HiU concluded, and pro- 
tests were filed in an effort to discredit him. 

Thoms Was represented at. the hearing of 
Bl^ckstoclc. 

Ohio: Squabble between a Pennsylvania newspaper 
and Allen T. Simmons of Mansfield, O, over the use of 



the 780 kc frequency, was temporarily settled . when 
Examiner- Melvin H. Dalberg recommended jgr'anting 
of the Ohio application. 

While both applicants are legally, technically and 
financially quaified . to operate a station, Dalberg de- 
cided that Simmons would serve a community where 
therewasagreaterneedforservi.ee. . ■ 

Accordingly/' examinier recommended a commish 
okay on Simmons' application, for a 1 kw daytime sta- 
tion on the 780 kc frequency. Simmons was reprer 
sented by Paul Segal and George Smith. 

Oklalidma: Dsiytime smallie f or Okmulgee IVas given 
the nod by Exaniiner P. W. Seward. Okmulgee Broadr 
casti ' Corp.j asking .frequency of 1210 .kc, comprises 
a five-way partnership, with three of the partners 
owning, large slugs of interest' in other transmitters. 
E, M. Sepaugh, r; M. , pean and T. B . Langford, all of 
Shreveport, La., hold a third interest each in KPLC, 
Lake Charles, La., with Langford and Dean owning 
48% each of KRMD, iShreveport. Sepaugh also holds 
25% of the stock in KVOL, Lafayette, La., and a 16% 
interest in KRRV, while Laingford possesses another 
16% of KRRV stock. Examiners' recommendation was 
based on fact that two other applications for a station 
at Okmulgee, recently pending, had been dismissed. 
Case for Okmulgee broadcast conipany was handled 
by Paul p. P; Spearman. 

Another Oklahoma station, K ADA, Ada, received a 
favorable .word from Seward on an extension of hoUrs 
from daytimes to unlimited. Need for additional night 
time . siervice exists' iii the area, Seward said, and. no 
other stations wbuld. be adversely aiXected.. Spearman 
at'tOrneyed the case, 

Pennsylvania: Nix for an. application for a new 250- 
V/att station, to operate daytimes only, was recom- 
mended by Examiner Dalberg. Sharon Herald Broad- 
casting Company, asking permission to establish a 
new station at Sharon, should be ditched in favor of 
a similar application filed by a Mansfield, Ohio, outfit, 
Dalberg decreed. 

Mansfield applicant showed a greater need for 
broadcast facilities in his district than the Sharon 
newspaper group, Dalberg said. Both stations asked 
for a frequency of 780 kc. CeoTge O. Sutton,. James 
Proflitt and A. L. Hawkcn appeared for Pa. group. 

Puerto Rito: Clear sailing for Juan Piza, on his ap- 
plication for a 1500 kc station with 100 watts nights, 
250 watts days, was hinted by. Examiner Seward, who 
told the commish that a need for additional service 
appeared to exist . \n. the area proposed to .be served. 

Applicant^ who oivns WNEL, San Juan, and holds 
license for two portable shbrt-v/ave radio stations to 
be used in ccnnecticn. with WNEL. proposes to estab- 
lish his new transmitter at San Juan. Piza was rep- 
resented by Elmer W. Pratt. 

Washington: -w^^tter for Cehtralia was recom- 
mended by Examihei.* Jchn P. Bramhall, who found 
that a definite need for local service existed in the 
Centralia-Chehalis area and that no interference would 
occur to other stations^ Simultaneous night-tin\e ' oper- 
ation of the proposed station and KRE, Berkeley, 
Calif., would limit both ti'd'ism.i.tters to their 1 milli- 
volt per meter contour, however. 

Application Was made in the name of the Central 
broadcasting Corp. Ben S. Fisher appeared in behalf 
of the applicaht. 



SET FOR HEARING 



California: Richard Field Lewis, Oakland, new sta- 
tion to operate days only on 1160 kc with 1 kw. 

Colorado: KFEL, Eugene P. O'Fallon, Inc.* Denver, 
install vertical radiato'r, increase power and time of 
operation from 500 watts, sharing with KVOD, Denver, 
to 1 kw unlimited. 

Hawaii: Honolulu Broadcasting Co., Ltd., Honolulu, 
new station to be operated on 1010 kc with 250 watts. 

Illinois: Galesburg Broadcasting Co., Galesburg, new 
station to be operated on 1500 kc' with 250 watts, days 
only; Jules Ji Rubens, Aurora, new daytime station to 
be operated on 1040 kc with 250 watts; WROK, Lloyd 
G. Thomas, Rockford, authority to transfer control 
of corporation to Rockford Consolidated Newspapers, 
Inc. 

Kansas: John P. Harris, Hutchinson, new station to 
be operated on 1200 kc with ICQ watts nights, 250 watt^ 
days. 

Loiiislana: WBNO, Coliseum Place Baptist Church, 
New Orleans, change frequency from 1200 to 1420 kc, 
boost power and increase time of operation from 100 
watts, sharing with WJBW, New Orleans, to 100. watts 
nights, 250 watts days, unlimited. 

MIchlcan: Genesee Radio Corp;, new. statiori. to be 
operated on 1200 kc with 100 watts liights, 250 watts 
days, specified hours. 

New York: Piatt & Piatt, Inc., iPoughkeepsie, new 
station to be operated on 1310 kc with 100 watts 
days. 

North Carolina: Radio Station WFN.C; Fayetteville; 
new daytime station to be operated cn 1210 kc with 250 
watts. 

Ohio: WBNS,. Columbus, boost power frorri 500 Watts 
nights, 1 kw days, to 1 kw nights, 5 kw days; Great 
Lakes roadcasting Corp., Cleveland, new station to 
be operated on 1270 kc ith 1 kw nights, 5 kw day^, 
using directional antenna all times ;4dlVKBN, Youngs- 
town, install directional antenna system for day and 

ight operation when WOSU, Columbus, is operating, 
increase time of operation from specified to unlimited. 

Oklahoma: Harry Schwartz, Tulsa, new station to 
be operated on 1310 kc with 250 watts, days only. 

Pennsylvania: WKOK, Sunbury, change time of op- 
eration from specified to unlimited; WBRE, Louis G. 
Baltimore, Wilkes-Barre, increase day power from 100 
to 250 watts. 

Texas: Dr. Willi States Jacobs Broadcasting Co., 
Houston, new station to be operated On 1220 kc with 
1 kw, using directional antenna nights. 

West Vlrrlnlar WSAZ, Huntington) day power boost 
from 1 to 5 kw. 

Wisconsin: Walker & Chapin, Oshkosh, new station 
to be operated on 1010 . kc with 250 wat 



IF WAR COMES-- 

Gen. Harbord Tells What Role 
Badio Will Be Assigned 

Gen. j. G. Harbord, RCA chair- 
man, told Army Oninance Assn last 
veek i-ole radio is already'' cast to 
play when and if the next war 
breaks out. Some 46,850 licensed 
radio amateurs would be mobilized 
among other things. 

Harbord declared; 

*In case Of war all broadcast' re- 
ceiving sets, in America, win become 
targets for enemy transmitters 
whereas Our broadcasting station^ 
will be carrying: our own story to 
the .rest ot the world; The series of 
broadcasts from Spain, available to 
American short-wave listeners, is an 
indication of what may be expected. 
Our geogiraphical isolation would be 
a help, for our home receivers are 
distant from potential eneniies. For- 
tunately, the improbability of , 
fiectiVe air raids makes unnecessary 
the underground studios the British 
Broadcasting Company is planning 
for London.' 



CBS Drops Idea 
To ^Borrow' Two 




Washington, May 18. 
Abandonment of plans to -borrow' 
two shortrwave channels, reserved 
for Uise of the U. S. government was 
decided upon last week by Colum- 
bia Broadcasting System, following 
complaints that private interests ar^ 
seeking to gobble up berths allotted 
for federal use in the Western Hemi- 
sphere. 

With hear! slated soon on bill 
to set up a gOvernrnent-owned trans- 
mitter, web backr tracked following 
indications the request for permis- 
sion to operate on 9550 and 6120 kc 
was likely to be nixed. Proposition 
has drawn fire in Congress, as weU 
as within government circles, , 

Confirmation of the report came 
from CBS headquarters, but web 
spokesmen insisted the reason was 
that an alternative arrangement for 
short-wave facilities has been made. 
Working out of another plan^ rather 
than the opposition to borrowing the 
government ribbons, was declared to 
be the principal reason for dropping 
the request for the reserved fre- 
quencies. 

Under the other solution, Colum- 
bia will obtain part-time on 9590 
kc, now shared by short-wave trans- 
mitters of WCAU,. Philadelphia, and 
WLW, Cincinnati. In ^e^arn, 
W3XAU, Philly, will be allowed to 
operate on the 21,520 kc stripe now 
held by- Columbia's W2XE. 

The web . retains . its permit to 
function on 6120, one of. the govern- 
ment fi:equencies, but is operati 
under severe restrictions. 



Commercials Exploit Local 
White Heat on Golf Meet 

Pittsburgh* May 18, 
With , an eye to local golf, interest 
as result of coming PGA tournament 
here at , Pittsburgh Field' Club next 
week, Joseph "Hor'ne's, one of burg's 
leading department stores, has sig- 
natured Chester Smith, sports editpr 
of Scripps-Howard 'Press,' and Sam 
Parks,. Jr., former open champion, 
for.seri ine quarter-hbur;spots 

qVerWJAS;. 

Pair go on daily this' week from. 
6:45 to 7 m. and will do final 
trio from, actual scene of tourney. 
Openers will be a iscussion of 
Various contestants with resumes, of 
day-by-day play scheduled for wind- 
up. 

First commerci for Smith .ai- 
though he did a sustairier on KDKA 
few years ago as 'The Cracker-Box; 
Spbrts Sage.' 



Air Scripters' 25C Suit 

Los Angeles, May 18. 

Don. Lee Broadcasting System last 
week was made defendant in a 
$25,000 damage suit filed by Wilford 
Smith and Travis Moore, writers, 
who charge that their script for 
the serial,. 'Cassandra,' was used 
without their permission. Writers 
also asked that station be restrained 
from further use of the material. 

Script show), bankrolled by an 
Olive outfit, swings over to KNX 
next week for a ride along the 
Coa^t 



Wedtfesday, May 19, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



87 



UNIFORM M USIC 

WPA Radio Projects All Over U S. 
Keyed from N.Y. Headquarters 




DUE 



Federal Theatre Project has com- 
menced establishing radio projects 
in the kiey towns around the coun^ 
try, with the general headquarters 
and clearance to the N.Y. outfit. 

During the pjast couple b£ months 
various stage projects of the WPA 
have been inching into radio in their 
localities, getting time from stations 
in their vicinities .and supplying sta- 
tions with free program talent. 

Dirift into radio froiti theatre has 
been especially mushrooming on the 
Coast. ' KVA, Berkeley, Calif.; 
KFWB, Hollywood; KXA, Seattle; 
KFAC, KFVb and KRKD In Los An- 
geles; WBRY, Walterbury, Conn.; 
WHBC, Canton, O., and WQAM, 
Miami, have, been airing regular 
"WPA dramatizations. On WQAM a 
mystery serial is sponsored by Man-^ 
hattan Beier, first "WPA xadi 
gram to. get a bankroll. 

Other key towns will also have 
their WPA units split up into stage 
and radio departments where deals 
can be made to get stations to give 
gratis airing tirrie. 

.Evan Roberts, head of the 210 per- 
sons on the radio project in. N. Y., 

ill boss the works. N. Y. will siip; 
ply many of the scripts ialso from 
deisks .of the Federal writers. 



Haley East on Wax 



Hbllywopd, May 18. 

Waxed audition of Jack Haley 
and Ted Fio Rito's band for Log 
Cabin Syrup is now in New York 
for agency inspection. 

Herschel Williams of Benton & 
Bowles handled the audition here. 



No Rbyalty on~ Royalty 



Los Angeles, May 18. 
Coast recording studios niade 
a quick change in their plans 
to take . king George's speech off 
the air and put it on Wax'for 
commercial sale, similar to their 
discs of Duke of Windsor's fare- 
well, which sold in the thou- 
sands. 

Most: of the plants were pre- 
paring to turn out the platters 
when word was received from 
British. Broadcasting Corp. that 
legal action would be taken 
against any outfit that waxed 
the cbronatiori speech for public 
sale. Only explanation was that 
BBC wanted to keep the regal 
affair free from the int. of 
commercialism. 

Coast b<>ys all lai 



Joe Penner Return Set 



Joe Penner is set for his return 
on CBS for Cocdmalt this fall. He 
exits June 26 for 13, weeks. Jimmy 
Greer's band will be replaced for 
the summer, while Gene Austin 
stays. 

Ruthrauff &, Ryan, agency on the 
account, is working on other changes 
proposed for the program. 



Julian iBentley, WLS news editor, 
authored 'Fifth "Estate Vocabulary' in 
Columbi . U's 'American Speech 
Quarterly* dealing with behind-the- 
mike terms. 




Trek to Hollywood With 
Lower Union Scale Seen 
as Influencing National 
Organization Chicago» 
the High<est, May Becpme 
the iSase Rate foir Netr 
work Commercials 



OTHER ISSUES 



TDriye for the establishmerit of a 
national scalie for musical broadcasts 
is expected to become a prime issue 
at the annual convention of the 
American Federation of Musicians 
in Louisville next nriprilh. Drift: of a 
large number of commercial pro- 
gram origins to the. west coast has 
intensified the agitation for a na- 
tional price and indications are that 
i any such arrangement is adopted 
it will, be the national scale in ef- 
fect in Chicago, the highest in the 
country. 

Other matters that are due to get 
major attention from the convention 
involve movements and measures to 
regulate phonograph and radio, pro- 
gram recordings and to divide avail- 
able engagements more evenly 
among union mernbers so that the 
unemployment and relief situations 
can in some measure be solved. 
Local 802, New York, attempted 



Humor Service Can't Be Found at 
Given Address; Offers 'Jokes of 
20 Leading Shows for $10 Weekly 



several months ago to put a limit on 
the number of jobs any one mem- 
ber gould undertake in a week, but 
the resolution embodying thi ob- 
jective was defeated in an open vote. 

impresSidh among union officials 
is that there will be little objection 
at this convention to the. set - up. 
of a single scale for national broad- 
casts. Solo price has prevailed for 
years in the case of transcriptions 
where it's $30 a session regardless 
of the town in which the stencilling 
is done. Both the New York and the 
Chicago locals are strongly of the 
opinion that the westward trend of 
commercial programs have to a con- 
siderable degree been influenced by 
the lower scale prevailing for Los 
Angeles musicians. 



icago,-May 18. 

James C. Petriilo, president of the 
Chicago Federation of America, V^ill 
attend the gieneral meieting of all In- 
ternational presidents . called by 
William H. Green, head of the 
American Federation of Labor. 
Meeting will be held In Cincinnati 
on May 24. 

Petriilo is attending this special 
meeting at direct and personal in- 
vitation of Joseph N. Weber, presi- 
dent, of the American Federation of 
Musicians. 

Understood incinnati meeting 
will discuss thfe Committee for in- 
dustrial Organization situation. 



Outfit billing itself 'HumOr Serv- 
ice,' listing its address as 1144 
65th street, Brooklyn, Y., has been 
bombarding radio comics gag- 
writers with mimeographed letters 
pfferi 'the jokes of the 20 leading 
radio comedy programs each week* 
for $10. Outfit further stated it was 
inaugurating service 'to insure com-* 
edians and writers of, knowing ex- 
actly who used what joke how, when 
and where,' 

Investigation by Variety- last 
week revealed that no such outfit 
using the billed name existed, at the 
addreiss given, fiettier Business Bu- 
reaus had no file of the group either. 
A telegram sent to address could not 
be delivered. 

Other nifti in the letters sent 
out included: 'It is permissible for 
us to sell only the jokes. Kindly 
do not ask for copyrighted routines.* 
And /that the $10 for each weekly 
issue of lifted, gags was 'payable to 
postman upon receipt.' 



WFlL's Split Vacations 

Philadelphia, May 18. 

Don Withycomb, WFIL general 
manager, taking tip from . retient 
'March of Tirhe*. release, told em- 
ployees they could divide vacations^ 
week in sutnmer and week In winter, 
if they wanted. 

Three-quarters of staff took th« 
option. 



Best by Test 




50,000 WATTS i I XJ lMMj PHILADELPHIA 



ROBERT A. Commercial Manager 

^With Sincere Apologies ip Calumet Baking Company 



38 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, Ma7 -19t 1937 



Louisiana Chain-Store Decision Is 
Weighed for ASCAP Influence; 
Anti-ASCAP Law Set in Nebraska 



Legal bpinibn in the music. Indus- 
try is divided on the sighiflcance of 
the U< S; Supreme Court's validation 
Monday ( 17 ) of . the: Louisiana chain 
tax law. While one faction 
among the lawyers holds that, the 
.principle enunciatied by the court in 
this case might be applicable to the; 
iSgTslative attitude taken toward the 
Am^erican Society of Composer^, Au- 
and, Publishers by several 
iahother argues there. be 
ho relationship since the individual 
states may not interfere with a fed- 
eral grant, such as. the rights com- 
ing within the purview of the copy- 
right law. 

In the Louisiana decision the Ko. l 
tribunal held that the individual 
state must, for the protection of its 
citizens, have the right to tegulate 
outside brganizatidns which come 
Into the stiate to do busihesis, but 
which combines have ramifications 
outside the state, Legalites who see 
is .finding an ominous outlook 
fbr ASCAP, as far as state legislative 
actions are concerned, add that the 
one redeeming fetature for ASCAp 
about most of these measures al- 
ready passed is that their language 
has. left the iacts widely open to at- 
tack on constitutional grounds. These 
state statutes have singled out a par- 
ticular industry, implyi illiegal dis- 
crimination. 

Counsel associated with ASCAP 
point, out that it isn't necessary for 
the organization to maintain branch 
offices in various states, and that it- 
could peitorm all its business from 
Jtieadquarters in New York, thus 
eliminating, altogether the branch 
angle. They also declare thai even- 
tually broadcasters, who are the 
leading instigators of the legislative 
measures, will have to pay the bill. 
■While ASCAP has suspended opera- 



tions in such states as Montana and 
Nebraska, an account is being kept 
of all uses made of ASCAP inaterial. 
Damage suits in all such instances 
' will be brought in the event that the 
U. S, Gircuit Court ttf Appeals In 
Montana invalidates the local anti- 
ASCAP statute. ASCAP reports that 
.quite a number of the Montana li- 
censees have' continued to pay their 
fees sipce the la:w went into effect. 

Latest state move against ASCAP 
was the introduction of a bill in the 
Florida legislature last week, making 
it a criminal offense for tWb or more 
copyright owners to pool their rights 
for licensing purposes. ASCAP 
liawyers rate this measure as the 
easiest setup that has faced them to 
date. 



Lincoln, May 18. 

Measure directed against the oper- 
ation, of the American Society of 
Coinposers, Authors and Publishers 
in Nebraska became a law yesterday 
(17), having been signatured by Gov- 
ernor R. L. Cochrane. Act carries ah 
emergency clause which pirpvides a 
fine of $5,000 for ai single violation. 

Bill wais authored by - Senator 
Frank Brady, of Atkinson, Nebraska, 
rancher. Governor was asked to veto 
the measure by its opponents, be- 
catise it was uncoristitutionaL Hie 
answered that determination of its 
constitutionality was up the 
courts. 

In hcjarings before the bill was 
passed, ASCAP was described as a 
vicious trust, but the act's constitu- 
tionality was questioned when the 
xmicameral .legislature's, legal corn- 
mittee made a two-to-one decision 
against ii It was passed over their" 
objection. 

State Attorney General Hunter 
says that he is at a loss for means 
to halt the law's going into effect; but 
that he will start someithing as soon 
as: possible. 



PLAIN DEALER-MUTUAL SET 



WHK-WjAT, Cleveland Acquired By 
MBS as of Sept. 23 



Clevieland Plain Dealer group of 
stations last week agreed to become 
operating members of the Mutual 
Network with the return to standard 
tiine, Sept. 23. Qutletts involved are 
WHK and WJAY, Cleveland, and 
WHKC, Columbus. 

WHK switches from CBS to the 
NBC blue (WJZ) basic at about the 
same time. During the negotiations 
with WHK, NBC tried to prevail 
upon it to agree to a clause giving 
the latter network exclusivity but 
the Cleveland station held out against 
tie^ on this s^core. ' 



Now Ride in Autos but 
Sect StiU Anti-Radio 



ianapolis. May 
Annual convention of Dunkards.is 
ribw In progress oh the, farm of 
Adam Blocher near Loganispprt 
(Ind.). This organization is religious 
sect that is similar to Amish sect, 
but not quite so strict. Today the 
Diihkards are to debate on' whether 
or not radios will be allowed , in 
homes of mieinbers. Taboo up to 
now, the main objection is the musi- 
cal poirtipn of broadcasting, since bne^ 
of' the 'don'ts* of the group has to' 
dp. with musical instruments. 

Other taboos on the group cover 
the: dri ihg of any liquid of any 
kind from bottles. Women and chil- 
dren attendi quartered in 
homes nearby, men take to the 
barns, and sleep oh straw ticks, and 
grain sacks filled with straw. 

Sect did havie taboo, on autos, as 
still do the Amish group, but Dunk- 
ards, or German Baptists, lifted auto 
don't few years ago. 



Archie Leag^ae on WHBQ 

Memphis, May 18. 

Archie League, old-time vaude- 
ville actor, has been added to WHBQ 
staff. Presents daily half hour shpv/, 
'The Family Mati ,' sponsored by 
Hunt Brothers Furniture Co. 

Does dialect characterizations on 
programs. 



RADIO SHOWHANSHiP 

Attention-Geiiersy Tie^Ups, Ideas 



Memo to NBG 



ianapolis. May 18. 

Rodent arias are more prob- 
able from an icy and drafty 
studi Joe Collier of Times, 
here, got the facts from Dr. 
Maud Slye. 

What makes si mice 
sing is 'Bronchitis/ Slye 
continued: 'About the time they 
were having the singing mouse 
broadcast in Chicago, I .discov- 
ered that there was an epidemic 
of singing mice in my owri labo- 
ratory. They- had bronchitis. So 
I gathered them up and placed 
them radiator where 

they were very warm and they 
recovered.' 



CBS' Juv* Newsreel Stunt 

New Yor 
Columbia got Paramount li^wsreel 
to shoot the broadcast setting of the 
'world premiere' of miniature drama- 
tized fairy tales last Saturday morn- 
ing (15). Group of dialogs wais writ- 
ten by a seven-year-old girl, Jean 
Barhydt, of West Hartford, Conn., 
and titled 'The Little Black Pot.' Tot 
was present at the airihg. 

Narrator and players ranged be- 
tween sevein and 12. years. ' Nila Mac 
did the production. 



Dog Races Chilled by Rags, 
OK'd by WHBQ, Memphis 

Memphis, May 18. 

Memphis newspapers have refused 
to take;' copy from the dog race track 
just across the river in Arkansas, 
but Manager Bob Alburty, of 
WHBQ, has signed the track man- 
agement to an extiensive announce- 
ment contract. 

Raceris publish own paper, cir- 
culated through news and igar 
stands and by house-to-house dis- 
tribution,, giving liberal plugs' to 
WHBQ. 



Nancy Martin for Gulf 

ittsburgh. May 18. 

Nancy Martin, staff singer with 
WCAE for last two years, has landed 
her first' solo commercial with Gulf 
Oil Co;, It's to be a summer, series 
for 13 weeks, twice -wrepkly,, hitting 
Tuesday and Thursday from 12:45 
to one, beginning June 1. 

She'll be backed by a sax ensem- 
ble. It's part of Gulf's sppt program 
for summer sales and was placed by 
Young and .Hubicam. 



WTIC's Neat Job 

Hartford, Conn: 
WTIC, Hartford, has distributed to 
the advertising trade a promotional 
folder which should capture much 
attention for its neatness, color job, 
compactness of informatibn and gen- 
eral method of telling the station's 
market story. Study effectively 
documents what it terms a 'billion- 
dollar market,' breaking dowri the 
retails sales in detail and including 
a recent - local checkup on station 
popularity.. 

WOAI's 

WOAI, San Antonio, is running a 
series of eight programs /designed to 
help boost local . advertising agenci 
Station itself put on the introductory 
show, originating from the ball- 
room of the St Anthony hotel and 
using 'vaude and night club artists i 
addition to WOAI staff entertainers.. 

Pitluk Advertising Agency pro- 
duced the second program, tagged 
an 'Advertising Agency's Audition,' 
with the program hiaterial so framed 
as to show the versatility of radi 
as an advertising medium and the 
adaptability of artists to. various 
types of selling and advertising 
campaigns. The invitation for the 
production of the third program 
went to 'the Marion Johnson agency. 



time to Listen to KSO' 

Des Moines, 

By pre-arrangement . (was an- 
nounced day before on air). Stati 
KSO telephoned some 100 listeners 
from beds t6 hear the British coro- 
nation broadcaist. 

Unusual personal service, to radi 
iaudience. 





BUSWESS 



IS GOING TO 




THIS SUMMER! 



COLORADO" is the word! 

To tool Colorado comes $100,000,000 durin;; June, July and 
August Itrought by a million visitors from Middle and Southwestern 
Colorado, favorite playground of important people in these 
scetions, will be humming whii activity this summer. Keep them sold 
Oil your products on KLZ. . .the station that sells Colorado the year 
Vound. 




DENVER 



Affiliated in Management witfi WKY 

and the Oklahoma Pubiishin,!^ Co. 



Represented by E. Kcttz Special Adv. Agency 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



VARIETY 



89 




WATCB TME 







ANTENNAS 



GO BY I 





Become your own radio itatistician. Count 
the new *'outside" automohile mtennut. 



ext time you're Stymied in traffic, look before you leap. And count tlie new cars whK **outside" radio antennas. Here are 
the families who like radio so much they take it with them when they ride. There are now 5,000,000 such automobile-radio 
families in the United States : o/ie for every /?t;e passenger cars. The percentage of car radios is, of course^ much higher among 



new car owners 



: the richest advertising market in the world. And just one of radio's many "bonus" markets. 



RADIO IN 1937, just published by Coluinl)ia, sKoavs how radios on the road have tripled filnc^i July, 1934. 
it also gives the who, when, where and how oi home listening habits. Everybody knows that "everybody*^ 
listens. RADIO IN 1937 gives exact figures by income-levels, city-aizc, tinie-zoiacs, days of week, age apd sex. 



THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM 




40 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



Pacific Coast Radio Notes 



Loyal King slated as manager of: 
KRKD (Los Angeles) if cpmmish 
pkays tt-ansfer to J. F. BurKe. 



Beid Kilpatrick joined announcing 
stkfE at KEHE (Los Angeles). He 
hails from WTAM, Cleyelahd. 



Jack Carter left KNX oUy- 
wood)' after 10 years, as announcer. 



Willis Freitag named chief ehgir 
neer at KRKD (Los Angeles), I'e- 
placirig Howar(^ De Long, who 
moved over to KFWB. 



Sieptnan, .a program director 
tot British Broadcasting Corp., 
studying educational programs in 
Lbs Angeles. 



Jerry Cooper obscirves his 
year oh this air May 21. 



third 



Perry Charles, formerly or WHNv 
New York, handling the Hollywood 
fights for KNX. He's also on the 
writeirs' payroll at Metro, 



Harrison Holllway; Syd Dixon and 
Walter Bunker, Jn, producing the, 
Bohemian Club show in Frisco. 



Igbr Gorin signed for 13 weeks on 
Texaco isummer show. 



Hal Bock, NBC press chief in Hol- 



lywood, lead-off man for 

is'ts. 



Johnny Davis, singar with red 
Waring, was handed a tejrm. con- 
ti-act at Warners. 



Harvey Harding took dv^st 'Sunrise 
Salute' from Jack Kay at KNX 
(Hollywood). 



Edwiard Buckalew doing sales prb- 
mbtion for KNX: (Hollywood). , 



:Ray Buffum, publicist, with Robert 
Tapiinger Hollywood office, collabed 
with his wife on 'Redemption/ and 
then sold it for an Al Jolson dra- 
matic airi 



Jack Meakini conductor, aiid Ward 
Byron, producer. NBC's 'Bughouse 
Rhythm' collaborators, plan to fly 
east from San Francisco early in 
June on a month's leave of absence; 



Tryouts for would-be mikemen; 
labeled 'Do You Want to Be An An- 
nouncer?' and originated by KYA, 
San Fraiicisco, some weeks ago, are 
now being aired Sunday afternopn 
over the- California Radio System. . 



Meredith WUlson, with Jeane Co- 
wan and George Nlcksoni singers, 
auditioned (15) for an eastern ac- 



Nazi Gag Slips By 



Vienna, May 9. 

Though there ordinarily ex- 
ists strict censorship of Aus- 
tria's radio programs, this seem- 
ingly does not hold when disks 
are used — and . these are used 
very often. Weiss Ferdl, Ba- 
varian comedian, sang a song 
lately wherein there wiere the 
following cracks; 'In hell Nazis 
must distribute bolshevi 
pamphlets' and 'Jews wear .the 
swastika.' 

Radio corporation received 
more thaii 1,000 letters' protest- 
ing against jibes. 



count via Willson's \yeekly Saturday 
broadcast, shifted for the occasion 
from, the Blue web at 4:30 to the 
Red at 6:30 pi.m., PiST. 



Irving Kennedy ceases tenpring on 
the Woman's Magazine of the Air, 
shows from NBC's San Francisco 
studios May 26, biit remains, on the 
staff for other programs; 



Hugh Barrett Dobbs has a new 

airer labeled 'To the Ladies' on 
KJBS, San Francisco. 



Bill jPuUcr resigned as annpuncer- 
producer at KJBS, San Francisco, in 
favor of free-lance writing and com- 
mercial produbtion. He's sticking as 
emcee of his 'Downstairs' program. 



ist at KYA, 




Every summer^ in Eastern and Central 
New York and Western New England, 
vacationists by the thousands spend mil- 
lions; of dollars. This is ^^bonus'' money 
for advertisers over WGY, the only eflFec- 
tiye single sales entree to this rich area* 

A Basic Red Network iStation 
programmed and represented by NBO 



San Francisco, found himself with a 
face full of glass splinters recently 
when a. freak wind loosened the 
windshield of his roadster and 
caused it to, collapse, striking him as 
he was driving near Noyato, Cal. 



Agatha Turley, San Firancisco raidio 
soprano, now on the KYA re- 
covered from an attack bf , ptomaine 
poisoning. 



chelling \yith Phil 'Harris, whose ork 
is currently at the .Ambassador in 
Los Angeles. ,Ca|n's jibes iri the 
word battle are prfnted; Harri " 
his during his NBG- sessions. 

Marvin Young, NBC jproducer in 
H:olly\yood, supplies studio gang 
with fresh eggs every day froni his 
janch. What, none laid iii the stu* 
di 



Hostess Marguerite Otto at KYA, 
San Francisco, has resigned to work 
for Uncle Sam at the local Presr . 



Clarence Myers of KYA, San 

Franbisco, supplies the answers to 
fans' questibns about California 
Radio System stations, programs and 
personalities in a new weekly pi:o- 
gram, 'The Mail Bag.' ob Stanley 
reads the queries. 



Tom Guinh is mi the Bay 
Meadows horce; race broadcasts over 
KYA, Francisco, while Joe Her- 
nandez is in the Pacific Northwest on 
biz. 



Samuel , rancisco 

playwright who authors 'Winning 
the West,' 'Tales pf Califprnia' and 
other shows at NBC, is dickering 
with one of the Hollywood film stu- 
dios, ith sale of a new script as 
the object pf a ir of cinemaland 
visits recently. 



Chief auditor Frank Dellett pf the 

NBC's Western Divisipn back at 
wpirk in San Franciscp after cpnfab- 
ihg with other web auditors in;New. 
York. 



Carl Schuknecht, a threer 

months' leave pf absence from KOA, 
Denver, is working as ah NBC field 
engineer in San Francisco. 



Liberty majf newscast oh, WABC 
N. Y;, only four nights, weekly at 
11-11.05 p.m. has been renewed for 
52 weeks. Program is on Mondays 
Tuesdays, . Wbdnesdays and Fridays! 
bucks Thursdays, because woul' 
have to follow 'March of Time.' 



Dorothy Lamour tagged to two- 
year exclusive contract by j. Walter 
Thompson and gpes pn Chase & Saii- 
born show. 



Ken .Englund arid ,the hiissus have 
taken a hpme Canyon 
above Hbllywpbd. 



Jack Dolph is. stpcki 
ac^es' near Hollywood 
beef. 



Donald W. Thornburgh^ 

Witt and Hertry Jackson wiU repre- 
sent the Coast division of Columbi 
at the N.A.B. in Chicago. 



Walter Cassel stays on the Chewy 
program as long as it stays in Holly- 
wood. He was originally set for four 
weeks. 



Dorothy Louise Smith, radio, writer 
for KOir, Seattle; and Lerby Grari- 
dey, Holly wood continuity writer on 
CBS staff, announce engagerrient. 



Dick De Angelis emcee'ing 
Wednesday afternoon spelling bees 
over KJBS, San Francisco, with 
high school teams competing.: 



Vernon . Morgan and Howard Mai- 
son, billed as the 'Npvelty Bbys,' 
doing a three-a- week evening series 
on KCrGG, San Francisco. Formerly 
in radio iri the middle west. 



Cheers, NBC harihpriizers 
i San Francisco, fill a special as- 
signment on 'One Man's Pamily' 
broadcasts May 23 and 26. 



Gene Tabor is now on the an- 
nouncing staff in the .Oakland stu- 
dios of KYA, San Francisco. For- 
merly with KGW, Portland; KFJI, 
Klamath Falls, Ore., KNX, Holly- 
wood, KMTR, Los Angeles. 



Louise Landis, of the NBC- presS: 
staff in San Francisco, planed to 
Chicago last week pn behalf of the 
Golden Gate Bridge Fiesta. 



Van Fleming, NBC producer In 
San Francisco, is aboard a tranip 
schooner trying to regain his health 
following a nervous breakdown. 



Ray Murray, technician of KOLj 
Seattle, leaves for the summer ' as 
radio operator on Alaskan steamer. 



kern, Bakersfield, has become op- 
tional Blue arid red in the McClatchy 
end of NBC's Pacific service. Sta- 
tion had formerly been confined to 
clearances from the blue (WJZ) 
trail. 



Herb Caeny-radio editor of the San 
Francisco Chronicle, is Bernie-Wih- 



WGN's 5-Day Week 

Chicago, May 18. 

Chicago Tribune station, WGN, 
has put its employees on a five-day, 
40-hbur week starting immediately. 
This, replaces the 41:-hour, six-day 
week which had previously been the 
practice. This type of employee- 
scheduling is admittedly pretty tough 
in a business which is a seven- 
day business, and which calls fbr at 
least 19 hours of Uninterrupted op- 
eration every day.. 

Announcers will work only 40 
hours a week under the new plan, 
but may work moire than five days a 
week because several Of the spiel- 
ers are under contract for commer- 
cial programs, such as baseball, hews 
and other shows, which call for con- 
tinuous appearance. 

WGN was and still is the only 
major radio station in. Chicago out- 
side of. the Chicago Federation of 
Labor outlet, WCFL, to recognize 
the electrical division of the Amer- 
ican Federation of Labor. 




Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



41 



Monkey Wrench Athletes 

Washington, May 18. 

Use of dummy corporations set up solely to complicate hard-fought 
cases before the Federal Communications Commission are currently 
being probefli by government committee looking into reported irregu- 
larities in granting of broadcast aipplicatiohs. F. .C. C. sleuths are 
oh the trail of a corporation said to have been set upi by certain radi 
attorneys for the direct purpose of snarling requests of domjoetitors 
of the law firm'is clients. . Paper company is said to have been staffed 
entirely by stenograt)hers, who claimed t6 have ample funds to meet 
expenses involved if their applications had been granted. 

Trouble Makers Only 

Duiriihy companies are said to have lost all of their cases but still 
served their purpose by forestalling grants to other factions, Ap- 
parently the principal Objective was to complicate wave-length 
power fights with competing applications, which might force com- 
mish examiners to enter adverse recommehdatidns on pleas of legiti- 
mate license-hbldei*s aiid permit-seekers. Hints that the' dummy cor- 
poration expfected to peddle Whatever franchises were granted by the 
commish are uhdergoing scrutiny, although no substantiation of these 
suspicions is apparent at this stage. 

Rival groups which werejnjured as a resuut of entry of the dum- 
mies aire likely to be; asked to m^ke statements. Cbmmish group said 
to be contacting ' people in- Wyoming arid Maine particuliarly in 
search, for dope with which to test the sincerity , of the suspected 
trouble-makers. Lewiston and Portland, Me., reported to be the 
locale vvhere the alleged phonies claimed to have plans to do business. 

Committee was in recess last week, while Commissioners Thad H. 
Brown and Paul Walker were iabsent, but expects to resume hearings 
behind closed doors this week.' 



KSFD Decision Echoes Across Bs^; 
(yis Take-Over of KROW, Oaidand 



Oakland, Cal., May 18. 

Insistence of station KROW that 
a contract be signed forthwith has 
chilled deal with Transamerican. 
Attorneys lor both sides had orally 
closed negotiations and agreed on 
terms but when the Federal Com- 
munications ' Comrnission fro\yned 
upon Colimibia's lease arrangements 
ivith KSFO, San. Francisco, Trans- 
^mericaii did not wish to consumate 
deal until assured that the . deal did 
not run counter to F-C.C. policy. 
KROW Would not wait. 

H. P. Drey of KROW at first flatly 
denied any negotiations to dispose of 
•the station but subsequently through 
his attorney, . J. W. O'Neill, admitted 
that preliminary negotiations started 
by Oscar Samuels of San Francisco, 



attorney foir Transamerican; had 
reached on 'unofliciar agreement. 
■ KROW ■ an unaffiliated 1,000- 
\yiatt station on a desirable Wave- 
length and .was deemed a logical 
hook-up with KFWB, Hollywood. 
Drey and O.'Neill informed Vasiety 
representative that .any future ne- 
gotiations must start from scratch. 
They are vexed at alleged failure of 
Transamerican to answer telegrams. 



Foster New YorkrBound 

.New Orleans, May 18. 

A. S. Foster, promotion manager of 
WWL, and his wife and children, left 
Saturday (15) on his anniial pilgrim- 
age to Ohicago and New York. 

iPleasiire-busi 



ISon^atWniCA 



With the addition of four new 
salesmen, WMCA, N. Y., has now .13 
program peddler?; an all-time high.' 
Newcomers: Stephen R. HpiYe. 
Parker Steward, Andrew MacLeod, 
and Bin Clark. 

Salesmen ait WMCA are on. straight 
commish. 







iSt. , John, N. .B., May is: 
Cottar's Saturday Night, broadcast 
for a half hour each Saturday night 
froni CJGB, Sydney, N. S.^ for the 
Canadian Broadcasting: Corporation 
network the past seven, years, .has, 
been withdrawn, from the Canadian 
national network; jin the final 
broadcast, from the Aiken home, in 
the CJCB studio, let it be known 
they aren't going to cry over spilt 
milk. 

Gancellation of this program, 
claimed to hold- a record . for; contin- 
uous broadcasting, in Canada, fol- 
lows protests lodged by individuals 
and .politicians of Cape Breton 
island, of ich Sydney is the lar- 
gest, community. Claimed they; were 
held up to ridicule in the Cottar's 
Saturday Night programs, and that 
also the . whole Scottish population 
of the island halve' been insulted by 
the weekly broadcast. Program has 
al>vays been wholly Scottish. . 

Whether^ not to cancel the 
Aiken family' and their friends 
from CBC had Government radio 
upset for sweral months. 



Holly Hotel Check-Ins 

'Hollywood, May 
Fdward Arnold has the guest 

spot oh Holly Wbbd Hotel May ' 28. 

Hie Aviil do a sequence -from "The 

Toast of Ner' York.' 
Edward G. Robinson and Bette 

Davis are on the following week 

in 'Kid Galahad.' Set for June 11 

is Irene' Dunne in -High, Wide and 

Handsome.' 



Columbia Demands KSFO Hearing 
On Qromids F.C.C. Exammer Erred 



Washington. May 18. 

Attack on hfavprable e>cai iner's 
report relating to proposed lea-sie of 
KSFO, San Francisco, by Columbia 
Bioadcasting System last week fore- 
shadowed long period of . wrangling 
over right, of the Federal Communi- 
cations Gominission to cen.sor terms 
of agreements between networks and 
individual, staitions. 

Asking for bppor-tunity to argue 
the important legal questions, attorr 
neys for CBiS and Associated Broad- 
casters, Inc., KSFO license-holder, 
took numierous exceptions to the rec- 
ommendations of Examiner Ralph H. 
Hyde, who , found thie lease would 
not be in the public interest. Trarisr 
mitter owner and .web are readying 
for court proceedings, since no 
precedent has been set and Cpmt 
mish authority to. pass oh' station 
rentals has. never received Judiciial 
test. '; 

Duke M; Patrick,, counsel for both 
parties, raised several objections to 
Hyde's report. His 16 points boiled 
down to .five major argurrieiits, all 
based on examiner's failure to make 
different findi Lawyer contend- 
ed. F.C.C. erred in following 
ways: 

Not reporting San -Francisco is en- 
titled to better, service and ,GBS to 
better West Coast facilities; over- 
looking fact thiat Columbia control 
of KSFO would bring important dp- 
erating economies; disregarding evi- 
dence which indicates the rental, 
$25,000 per annum; is reasonable;, not 
pointing out that public interest 
would be served by hotter competi- 
tion for NBC; and minimizing fact 
that present owners hot only devel- 
oped the station technically, but 
worked their way out of financial 
jungles. 

NBC's Advantage 

Declaring Commish is committed 
to policy of encouraging closer ri- 
valry between major chains, CBS 
attorney emphasized that' NBC al- 
ready has a good to6-hold in Frisco^ 
while Columbia is forced to rely on 
affiliates for Golden Qate servicci 
.Hyde should have reported that es- 



tablishment of usine.ss offices and 
originating stu ios on the Pacific 
Coast is heciessary for effective Co- 
liimbi operations, Patriclc averred, 
and ought to have, mentioned that 
NBC maintains complete staff and. 
studio set-up in Frisco. On this 
point the web attorney observed that 
most national firms have important 
San Francisco branches; that time 
difference mqkes It Imperative to 
have originating points at other 
places than Los Angeles, and that 
better facilities for bookings produc- 
tion and., distribution are necessary 
for bbth bUsi and aUdience 
reasons. 

Columbia's lease proposish was. 
dictated by need to iake steps which 
cannot be accomplishedi through nn 
affiliate arrangement, demurrer said. 
Pointed out tfiat CBS-Don Lfie con- 
tract ivas terminated for this reason, 
Coluhibia entry into Frisco on its 
own feet would bring substantial 
savings, iarid is, important from 
standpoirit of efficient business arid 
network operations, Patrick added. 

On the question of. cash, which 
drew. Hyde's sharpest ci'iticisrh, CBS 
said thie examiner failed tb weigh 
fact that Commish engineers de- 
clared; values on the property were 
hot excessive. Patrick pointed out, 
that f;c.C. colinsel had entered stip- 
uliatibn about transmitter worth"; ar- 
guing that there Was no substantial 
variance from the usual valuies and 
computation methods; 



Banks Use WFIL 



Philadelphia, May W. 

Following lead of national group 
of banks sponsoring Philly ork pro- 
gram Friday nights, three Vlocal 
financial houses have signatured for 
airing on WFIL. 

South Phlliy National using spOts 
plugging savings accounts; North- 
western National ethering virtues. of 
new check plan, and Mitten Bank 
presentinig daily five-minute drama- 
tization on small loans. 



without 





would be deprived of 
excellent radio reception 



W L W ■ ■ ■ p^^^^^^^ 

500,000 watts. 




Without WLW, your 







of the listeners who 
depend regularly upon 






42 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



Agencies-Sponsors 



Ferry^-Hanly agency set Skelgas 
Co. for five a week quarter hours of 
Happy Long, songs, on KXBY, Kah- 
$as. City. 

Gardinet Candy Co., Oakland, Cal. 
V (candy bars), 'Night Editor*' with 
Hal Rurdick and Jack Moyles, be- 
ginning June 6, for 13' weeks, Sun- 
days at 9:15 p.m. PST. Via KPO, 
KHQ, KOMO, KGW, KFI; Through 
Tomaschke-Elliott, Inc. 



Webster Isehlohr, Inc. (Tom 
Moore cigars), through N. W. Ayer, 
using a daily quarter hour of racing 
chatter over KXBY, Kansas City. 



Sussmah Wormser & Co. (food 
products) is adding KGIR, Butte, 
and KGHL, Billings, Mont., to the 
Coast NBC-Red web, releasing the 
Si&W Junior News prog r aims 
Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:45 
p.m., PST. Shows iare produced by 
Cairyl Coleman' of Botsfprd, Con- 
stantine & Gardner agency. 

est Foods, Inc. (mayonnaise) has 
signed for 39 spot annouhcements on 
KGOi San Francisco, between May 
18 and Aug. 24. Benton & Bowles 
handles. 



Kraft-Phenix, through J. Walter 
Thompson, has contracted, for daily 



announcements (except Sunday) oh 
KGO, San Francisco, May 10 
thirough Aug. 8. 

Standard Oil Co. of Cailif., through 
McCann-Ericksori, signed with KPO, 
San Francisco, for Hvfe time signals 
nightly for one year, starting June 4. 



Gallenkamp Stores .. (shoes) 
shifts its 'True DetectiviB Mysteries' 
program from the NBC-rBlue outlets 
in California to the state's Red sta- 
tions and" froin Fridays at 8:30 p.m., 
PST, to Sundays at 6 p.m., effective 
May 23. Broadcasts will be aired by 
KPO, San Francisco; KFI, Los An- 
geles (which replace the Blue sta- 
tions KGO and KECA), KFBK, Sac- 
ramento; KMJ, Freisho; KWG, 
Stockton, and KERN, Fresno. Xat- 
ter four have been reUasi the 
show since its statt several months 
ago^ Contract ires March 13, 
1938. 



Bern (cough syrup); starts on WOR 
Septi 26 with fall campaign of thrice 
daily weather announcements. 



rocter A Gamble adds 11 west-, 
ern NBC outlets to its 'Vic and 
Sade' program Friday hights begin^ 
ning May 21. Stations are KPO, San 
Francisco; KHQ, Spokane; KOMO, 
Seattle; KGW, Portland; KFI, Los 



Half Price 



Vienna, May 9. 

Mother!s Day special program 
agreed 'to play requeist num- • 
bers for persons sending in $1 
to special Mother's Aid fund. 

One ecphomical Austrian sent 
in a request but enclosed only 
50 cents, saying the request 
was in the namie of his mother- 
in-law, not his real one. 

Austrian radio monopoly 
obliged. 



Angeles; KDYL, Salt Lake City; 
KOA, Denver, all on the basic Red 
web, and the foiJr McClatchy sta- 
tions in Californi ; KFBK, Sacra- 
mento; KMJ, Fresno; KWG, Stock- 
ton; KERN, Bakersfield. 

Empire Gold Bnylnff Service bray- 
ing 28 blurbs weekly for next five 
weeks over WMCA, N. Y. 

Allis-Chaliners Ml;. . of Mil- 
waukee are starting a series of pro- 
grams on WHO, Des Moines, starting 
May 18 and to be heard on Tuesdays 
and Thursdays at 12:15 . p. m. Bert 
S. Cittens agency of Milwaukee han- 
dles the account. 



E. Z. . Laboratories^ Des Moines* 
have a new series of musical clock 
programs on WHO froiri iB:15 to 8:30 
a, m. every weiek. day starting Maiy 
17. Davidson Furniture store also 
of Des' Moines is starting a mu-. 
sical clock series on WHO . Mondays 



.through Saturdays from 7:30 to 7:45 
a. m. on May 24. 

Hawkins Grosieth of Khox-tleeves, 
has been in Des Moines making Gen- 
eral Mills arrangements for num-« 
bers of but-of-towri days fpr the Des 
Moines baseball club. 

Hudson Day Line, New 

York, sponsors Manhattan Hearst 
newspaper film critics on the air 
three times weekly for 15-minute 
broadcasts in which thumbnail re- 
views and advice on current picturies 
will be given. Contract is for 13 
weeks; 

Regina Crewe, film critic of New 
York. American; .went on Monday 
night (17) as a starter and will be 
followed tonight (Wed.) by Rose 
Pelswick, of Evening Journal, and. 
Bob Garland, also of American. 

Program, known as Movie Pilot, 
is from 7:30 to 7:45 p. m. over WEAF 
ibcally. Nat Brusiloff's orchestra 
furnishes music for the 15-nriinuter. 
King Features set deal. 

I. T. Cohen has been named radio 
director of I. A. Goldman .& Co., 
Baltimore agency. 

Force Toasted Wheatoakes (Heck- 
er H-O) is testing on WBNX, New 
York, using three announcements 
vireekly in a German' program. 

Hanff-Metisffer has bhanged its 
name to Buchanoh & Co. Thomas 
Buchanon hais been priesident of the 
iagehcy for the past several, years. 

Edjre^orth "robaccd may .piit its 
recorded series back on KNX, -Los 
Angeles, and KSFO, San Francisco. 
Account is now With Blackett- 
Sample-Hummertk with the agency 
■quizzing thie stations for availability. 



John Archer (Carter has been 
added to the radio department Of. 
Pedlar & Ryan as director of com-- 
mercials: His previous connection 
was Benton & Bowles, holding a 
similar title. Before that he was 
with J. Walter Thompson. 



Old Shay; Ale (Victor Brewing 
Co.) has renewed 'Night. at Inn,' half- 
hour .Wednesday nite feature on 
WCAE, Pittsburgh, for 13 weeks 
morci New set-up calls for en- 
larged ork; Nancy Martin and Jarnes 
Hayden, soloists; Those Three Girls, 
harmony trio,* and Tavern Players. 
Program .is 20 mins. of . music and 
10 devoted tO dramatic sketch con- 
cerned with, history of some historic 
inn.. Account placed by W,, Earl 
Bpthwell, Pittsburgh. 

Raven Mfg. Co., Council Bluffs, 
Iowa, is taking six quarter-hours 
per! week on KSO's Des Moines farm 
folks musical clock. Handled direct. 



KRNT, Des Moines, ran three com- 
mercial broadcasts remote from 
Pella, Jowa, during the Pella Tulip 
Time Festival, with Dale Morgan, 
Gene Shumate, Bill Spargrove and 
Ranny Daly handling. Sponsors 
were the Pella Rolscreen Co., Sar- 
gent Feed Co. and Central College. 

Reliance yitg. . set set-ies of 
early morning broadcasts , over WHO, 
Des 'Moines, during summer. Pro- 
grams are transcribed and handled 
by Mitchell-Faust agency. 

Montgomery Ward placing a flock 
of new disc programs direct around 
the midwest. Tagged 'Farmer Jim,' 
it's a three-a-week schedule for 26 
weeks starting On June 14 on most 
stations. 



'Ace wTlliiams' transcription series 
developed by Dan Ryan, W. E. Long 
agency radio head, added to 2KY, 
Sidney, Australi , by Michaelsoh 
Sternber , exporters. 

Free Tread Shoes e.t.'s (for spon- 
sorship by local dealers), now out. 
Leightqn ii Nelson ' spotted over 
WGY, Schenectady, oiice weekly un- 
til the end of June, for Philip Gould 
Store. 



Bpzell & Jacobs, Chicago, plating 
spot campaign, for American Mops. . 

WBBM, Chicago, two- Saturr 
day night 'Nutty Club' renewed by 
Goldberg's clothing. 

Snyder Packing Co. signed for 
three 15-minute periods weekly on 
WBBM, Chicago, using 'Men Of Zeal' 
.octet. Steward, Hanford. & Froh- 
man agency.. 



H. Wi Kastor & Sons, Chicago, set 
Lynne Colie and Winston and Sulton 
for Lavena show, WBBM, for 13 
weeks. 



Laura Atkinson ensemble on 
WCOL, Colurhbus, for the 'Packard 
Prelude,' a 15-minute program jiist 



preceding the Tuesday. Fred Astaire 
show under sponsorship of Cplum-^ 
bus Packard Co. 

Boii(rman Fireside Theatre, WON 

Chicago, oifl for summer June 2. ' * 
suming regular spot Sept. 29i 



Don Francisco, vice prez of Lord 
St Thomas on the Coast; back froin 
his globe girdle. 

Tom Revere ybund tripping be- 
tween the twO: coasts On Benton & 
Bowles radio shOws. 



Jack Runyon making the actors do 
interviews on those Lucky Strike 
Hit Parade inserts frpni Hollywood, 

Jack Hasty trying to figure out 
how to take the MOore-Brbderick > 
broadcast to Boston for the National 
Biscuit convention Jiinc: 27. 



ick Cullum, Minneapolis Journal 
sports ed, now airing, inside sports 
dope nightly on KSTP, for Hamm 
Brewing CO. 



Critchfleld-Gravesi agency has 
dropped the first : monicker ' and is 
now (jraves and Associates. 

Angeline Clement, since 1931 
WCCp's continuity department, re- 
signing Saturday (22) to become 
head of David Agency's, St. Paul, 
radio dept. 



Ohio Electric Service, sponsors of 
Bob Seal's ; Inquiring Reporter 
broadcasts on WCOL, Columbus, i» 
offering a freie trip to the Great 
Lakes Exposition in, Cleveland for 
the best letter by a listener telling 
why he likes the Stewart- Warneir 
refrigerator. 



enlah .Park track, rove City, is 
beihg broadcast daily over WCOL, 
Columbus for duration of .25-day 
spring meeting under sponsorship of 
Miller Oil Co.; and B.eulah Park 
Jockey Club. Harvey Sproule and 
Russ Canter are, the announcers. 

Miller Oil Co. also has daily 
resume- of racing program^ broadcast; 
from the track at 5:45 p;m. by. Russ 
Canter. 



Quaker' Oats Co., of Chicago, has 
named the Mitchell-Faust Advertis- 
ing Co., to handle the food packer's 
macaroni products division. 

Old Gold cigarets is scouting 
around for a show that will put the 
product back on a network in the 
fall.; It's been off the air for th 
past three seasons. 

Procter & Gamble has e. t flve-a- 

week iserial, 'Kitty Keane' starting 
Monday (24) on KFYH, Bismarck, 
N. D., for a 52-week ride. 



THE NEW CRY 

OF THE 



OLD WEST 




GENE OTALLON, Manager 

Bep. by JOHN BLAIR A CO. 



THERE MUST 
BE A REASON 

Why such advertiserg as Ax- 
tph-FisKer Tobacdo; Skel- 
gas; Wfebster-Eisenlohr; So- 
cony -Vacuum and others 
are now using 

KXBY 

in Kai^as City, Mo. 





A Basic Red 
Network Station 
programmed and 
represented by 
NBC 



In PHILADELPHIA, the 
largest single-family home market iii 
the nation • • • radio plays a hig part'in 
the lives of the people. And KYW is the 
peoples' favorite station. It offers adver- 
tisers a key tori,157,000 radio fami- 
lies— a ready-made market for goods. 



Wednesday. May 19, 1937 



VARIETY 



4S 





expresses its appreciation U- 

: Ralph Hitz and his associates upon the start 
of Its second of exclusive booking of 
orchestras and entertainment m all hotels of the 

HOTEL 






HOTEL NEW YORKER 
in New York 

HOTEL ADOLPHUS 
in Dallas 

NETHERLAND PLAZA 
in Cincinnati 

CONGRESS HOTEL 
in Chicago 



HOTEL LEXINGTON 
in New York 

HOTEL NICOLLET 
in Minneapolis 

BOOK-CADILLAC 
in Detroit 

HOTEL VAN CLEVE 
in Dayton 




inmng 
the 



MR. SEYMOUR WEISS and his associates upon 
the second Y^^r of a similar association with 

ROOSEVELT HOTEL in NEW ORLEANS 

Uotkwetl'ty lUefc, 1m. U Mt 
offUiaied in om^ weuf. wUU ohJ^ 

REPRESENTED BY ROCKWELt-O'KEEFE INC: (ArHsts) Connie Boswell , . . Oscar Bradley . . ^ Charlie Carlisle . . . Bernice Clair 

. Dee Collins . , . Aurelia Colomo . . . Frances Comsfock . . . Bing Crosby . . . Cliff Edwards . . . Rulh Efting . . , Frances Fayt 
, . . Terry Green . . , Art Jorrett . . * Gordon Jenkins . . . Annefte Honshaw . . . Andy lona . . . Sharri Kaye . . . locust Sisters , . . Mills 

Brothers . . , Milly Monti . . . Mrs. Helen Wills Moody Joe Penner . . . Peppino & Camilje . , . Phil Regan . , . Harry Richman . , , 

Robert Shanley . , • Josephine Tommini , . , Victor Young. (Orchestras) Louis Armstrong . , . Gus Arnheim . . . Leon Belasco ... Casa loma 
, , , Tommy Christi . . . Del Courtney . , » Bob Crosby . , Jimmy Davidson . . Emery Deutsch . . . Al Donahue . . . Jimmy Dorsey , . , 
Seger Ellis . . . lennie Hoyton . . . Woody Herman . . , Bill Hogan Claude Hopki . . Harry Horlick ., . . les Hite , . , Vic Irwi 
♦ . . Andy Kirk , , . Archie loveland . . . Enric Madriguera . . . Benny Meroff Glenn Miller . . Ruby Newman . . . Roy Noble > . 
Ben Pollack . . . Corl Rovell . . . Dusty Roades , , . Art Shaw . . tee Shelley . , . Bobby Sherwood . . , Ran Wilde. 












ARTISTS' REPRESENTATIVES 



R.K.O. BUILDING • ROCKEFELLER CENTER, N.Y. 



AND HOLLYWOOD 



44 



VARIETY 



RADIO REVIEWS 



Wednesday, May 19, I937 



Follow-Up Comment 



Amster Spiro, city editor b£ the 
New. York Evening Journal, .clicked 
off a six-minute talk about his job, 
the factors that make a story news- 
worthy, etc., as guest of Bill Wright 
on the latter's mid-afternoon show 
ov^r CBS. Spirb did not express 
any startlingly original views on 
newspapers and newspaper work, 
hilt to the listieriing public interested 
in but not familiar with the 'press 
field the spiel , probably sounded like 
'inside stuff.' Read from a well- 

ghrased manuscript and did all right 
y himself on delivery; Wright, in- 
terviiewing him, brought out Spiro's 
hobbies and his comihercially-mar- 
keted game of 'Ne^ws Flashes.' 

Antonio Mbdarelll. conductor of 
the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, 
.r*~gave talk oh music and thie part 
radio has played in the growth of 
American interest therein, as guest 
of the Heinz 'Magazine of the Air' 
over CBS. Modarelli said that the 
musical Jeremiahs always had a tale 
of woe: for a time, they iiisisted 
that the graphophone was doing ir- 
reparable damage to their art and 



that more recently they were la- 
menting on the, manner in which 
radio was 'killing' it. 

Despite their cries, Modarelli said 
that: music had a stronger foothold 
in the United States than ever be- 
fore; that more concerts were be- 
ing given arid more people were at- 
tending them; that symphony or- 
chestras ' had sprung up in smaller 
cities, and -that firist-rate orchestrias 
and bahds in high schools, were on 
the increase. He attributed much of 
this spread to radio, . which had 
tauight liisteriers to enjoy and to de- 
mand the finest in music and musi- 
cal artists. 




Interest in Detroit 



59% of the City's 






(iMSiiMMIiiBiiS^SilB 

-tSjwn^ird: Coviragc Matket 



'Ace Williams/ transcribed series 
of building-up finishes to episodes, 
and few minor changes in catet, 
comes to the front as- a top kid show. 
Production smoother and selling an- 
gles more vital. 

General iMills' 60-minute early, a.m. 
Columbia shot seems to be falling 
apart, and immediaite,. drastic - re- 
vision is needed for three: of the 
shows—Modern Cinderella,' 'Hymns 
of AH Churches' and John S. Wat- 
kins' hews commentary. 'Modern 
Cinderella' attempts to pbrtrary 
glamorous backstage and mike life 
is becoming a parade of tavern sing- 
ers, between whose numbers is a 
thin, uncohvincingly produced plot. 
Cutting of orchestra helped to make 
it such, but poor script and careless 
performance and' production do 
more. 

John S. Watkins (ne John S. 
Youn^), new coinmentary, has taken 
on enough wrong upward inflections 
to, make it non-listenable, if the ever- 
(Continued on page 53) 



BETTE DAVIS 

With Fred MacMarray, John Beal, 
May Robson, Margaret Hamilton 
and Hal K. Dawsoin 

'Another Language' 

Dramatization 

60 Mins. 

LUX 

Monday, 9 p.m., DST 
WABC-CBS, New York 

(J. Walter Thompson) 

Rose Franken's flesh and flicker 
hit turned out to be fine fodder for 
the .Lux Theatre of ..the Air, bene- 
fiting especially from the large name, 
cast and staging it had to buoy up 
the qualities piece inherently has for 
radio. 

Miss Dai vis, in the lead and pivot 
role, did a swell job. Essaying the 
part of a sensitive, intelligent woman 
was a marked contrast to the types 
of parts she has been playing in pix 
lately. And probably reflects her 
having sonie 'choice' for radios 

MacMurray was standard; John 
Deal, doing the same assignment as 
the slightly neurotic and frustrated 
young man he did for Metro on 
screen, scored on whole If uneven at 
times. Miss Robson and others, in 
subordinate assijgnmentis, gave strong 
second-trench support. 

Mrs, Sarah Delano Roosevelt was 
picked up frbm N. Y. by the De- 
Mille-m.c.'d show, and the Prez's 
mater greeted the country with Well- 
phrased gracious talk. Bert. 



PATTY JEAN 
Health Chats 
15 MIns.— Local 
iSnstainini: 
Dally, 9:45 a.m. 
WMBC, Detroit 

Patty jean, formerly with WTAM, 
Cleveland, imparts double-barreled 
shot on WMBC daily. Morning stint 
is tagged 'Health. Club' and consists 
of scientific reducing exercises, while 
p.m. prog is devoted to food. Both 
meritorious. 

Sends listeners free health chart, 
showing exercises, and offers daily 
menus during afternoon prog. Also 
holds question-ahd-answer forum. 
Has nice voice. Pete 




PBEAKNESS ANNUAL 
With Clem McCarthy, Bob Tul» and 

iBand, Rex Reynolds 
AMERICAN OIL CO. 
Four hours, Sat., 2 to 6 p. m. 
WBAL, Baltimore 

(Jqseph.Katz) 

Splicing in Tunning of races ait 
PimlicO with variety program from 
studio for a fbur-hoiir period locally. 
Highlight of the day, the running of 
the historic Preakness, iyas then fed 
to the Blue Network of the NBC, 
through WBAL, which did a work- 
manlike job of broadcasting, locally 
arid for web. 

Clem McCarthy; veteran of the 
race 'casting stint, handled the run- 
ning of the various races in usu^I 
okay manner, and Johri Wilboum 
repbrted on color and highlights of 
day which attracted 44,000 people to 
the f amouis course. 
. Studio interludes nicely paced , by 
Rex Reynolds* with Bob' lula's band 
fititng into the doirigs nicely. Com- 
niercials capably handled through- 
out entire period land pliigs timed, 
and written deftly. 

Chain took over from 5.15 to 5.45, 
with plenty of time to get in an ex- 
cellent and urihurried coverage due 
to rninimurii trouble getting horses 
started. 

Two other chain feeds handled 
night preceding race arid night: of 
Preakness Ball following race also 
okay. Pre-Preakness doings by 
McCarthy brought Alfred G. Van- 
derbilt and sevieral jockeys to mike. 
Fri. 9.15 to 9.45 and ball report (Sat.) 
picked up Tommy Dorsey and Ozzie 
Nelson niusic along with celebrities 
11 to 11.30. Burm, 



DEL CASINO 
Songs, music, talk 
15 Mins. 
NOXEMA 

Monday and Friday, 7:30 p.m., EDST 
WABC, New York 

(Ruthrauff & Ryan) 
Against a somewhat similar ses- 
sion: of film reviews and gossip over 
WEAF, at the same time, this shot 
offers Del Casino's warbli,rig, Milton 
Hirth's Hariimorid . organ-pumping 
and a stanza of Hollywood chatter. 
Aired locally on Monday nights and 
through WCAU. Philly, and WCAO, 
Baltimore, on Friday nights. Fair 
enough show, all in all. 

Casino, .soft-voiced wairbler of the. 
romantic pop style, serves up a pair 
of songs for. each program. Okay, 
without setting the ether on fire. 
Currently on the Paramount stage, 
N. Y. ... 

Hirth's tootirig of jazzology comes 
about as near real, temperature as is 
pbssible on an organ, but that isn't 
too near, An organ is still the in- 
strument for selections requiring less 
flexibility. ' 

Hollywood chatter session is han- 
dled in unusual style. Each, item is 
'captioned' in advance by the an- 
nouncer. It breaks up the spiel. Ma- 
terial supplied by E. M. Hbrbwitz. 
Inside facts arid fancies about the 
film biggies. Mostly about hobbies 
and fads and such trivia, which the 
fans gobble ravenously. Attempt was 
made on show caught (17) to inr 
ject lively matierial. Statement was 
made contradicting publicized ages 
of Shirley Temple and Bobby Breen. 
Forriier is nine and latter is 11, it 
was claimed. 

Commercials about as long as 
would be expected. Hobc. 



KA'tHBYN Cravens 

Comment 
15 Mins. 
rONTIAC 

Mon., Wed.. Fri., Z p.m. DST 
WABC-CBS. New York 

(McManus, John and Adams) 
Miss Cravens is a very able com- 
mentator who comments to the ladies, 
and correspondingly interprets the 
news. Came into N, Y. from St. 
Louis. Amplified now over net- 
work. Caught on Coronation Day, 
she dished it up on that already 
overworked and . overwrought sub- 
ject. However, several of her slants 
were shiriily new, and she was slick 
enough* considering her listeners, to 
let drop a few tears over the Duke 
of Windsor. 

Slugged across a very appropriate 
commercial by riientioning Neil Van- 
derbilt, Jr., had gone over to the 
British Blowout with a fancy triailer 
attached to a Pbritiac, in which he'd 
tour the Continent during the sum- 
mer. She described the outfit in 
some detail, all of which was inter- 
esting. From her account .Vandy 
has indeed said Farewell to Fifth 
Avenue. Bert. 

halsey halT ^ 

10 Minutes— Local 
BROWN-WILLIAMSON 
Daily, 9:30 p.m. 
KSTP, Minneapolis— St. 

(B.B.D. & O.) 
Hall is sports ed of the Minne- 
apolis Journal. Since he doubles as 
referee, umpire, head linesman and 
timekeeper in various fields of sport, 
he's been on the inside of many of 
the oddities Whereof he speaks. . 

Roar of a sporting crowd opens 
stanza. It would be just as apropos 
to sign off the same way. Plug is 
for Sir Walter Raleigh smoking to- 
bacco and Avalon ciggies, the two 
products getting the works on alter- 
nate nights. Commercial angle is 
not overplayed and the whole stint 
is a certainty to please the sports 
^hound, who likes to feel he's been 
taken into the dugout or clubhouse 
and shown what makes the big 
sports events tick. Rash. 



BRITISH CORONATION 
Wednesday, May 12, 1937 
All Stotlons, New York 

Englarid got Its king crowned a:t 
long las^. In the doing it staged the 
longest radio commercial on record. 
From S a.m„ EDST, tintil exhaustibn 
set in, around mid-afternoorij^, the 
boys and girls never stopping jsell- 
ing the British Empire. Every trick 
of build-up arid ballyhoo and a few 
twists from 'The March of Time! 
were utilized. ' ' 

There were times when the British 
announcers became tongue-tied with 
awe. There were moments when the 
sheer dullness of the Anglican rites 
must have driven thousands of 
Americans at least temporarily frbrii 
theii: radios. But again there were 
highlights, of dramatic sock. It never 
stopped ftbrii 4:45 a.m. to 11:46 a.m. 
and then it was just a luncheon 
pause. There was more stuff in the 
(New York) afternoon. Including a 
'Coronatibn party staged by London 
music hall entertaineirs and remirid- 
ing Americans ianew just how dead 
vaudeville is in the United States 
by cbntrast with its seeming vitality 
in radio-smothering Great Britain. 

Measuring the radio marathon hour 
for hour, it was a snooze-between 
every - move chess match. Fault 
chiefly lay with the six B. B. C 
blurbers, Howard Marshall, Tom 
Woodroffe, Harbld Abrahams, Mike 
Standing, John Snagge and George 
Blake. For quaintriess and naivete 
Marshall even outdid his epochal 
performance on the recent Baer- 
Farr fight. 

Boys worked with, or without 
scripts — it really wasn't apparent 
which way. But they all agreed on 
one point arid kept reiterating that 
the display had 'em 'speechless,' was 
'indescribable' arid, generally had 'em 
so rocked back on the heels /they 
couldn't 'adequately' tell the listen- 
ers what, was happeqirig.. Perhaps 
after hours of that talk, the listeners 
began to wonder why radio attempt- 
ed it at all if description was 'im- 
possible.' 

Sirice the procession started from 
Buckingham Palace, proceeded to 
Westminster. Abbey for the dubbing, 
and then returned, there was not 
much use 'in telling what the march 
looked like twice, but the B. B. C. 
boys did — not missing a king's 
horse or a king's man. Their only 
trouble. Was in identifying most of 
the regiments, 'flags, bands, coaches 
and personages. These, too, were 'in- 
describable' and iapparently the boys 
in the broadcast booth had no means 
of even identifying their nationali- 
ties. But it really didn't matter. 
They knew their king. 

After six hoiirs of breathless 
broadcast braying the monarch had 
finally arrived home and appeared 
on the Buckingham, balcony for a 
bow. That cued off the show — for 
a while.. 

At 2:20 in the afternoon the show 
really hit its stride, and sirice it 
was conducted with showmanship 
and in radio's sphere and vernacular, 
proved a smacko thrilU . A roll-call 
of the empire was run off. All the 
territories and possessions, domin- 
ions and protectorates of the empire 
had a whack for a fast-run 40 mins. 
Then Prime Minister Stanley Bald- 
win did his stuff next to closing. 
His Majesty closed in front of the 
olio. Bert. 



Gene OTallon, head of KFEL, 
Denver, has been picked as radio 
comimittee chairriian of the B.P.O. 
Elks' convention which opens in 
Denver, July 11. 



Jack Lacey added to spieling corps 
at WNBC, New Britain, Conn, 



LOU HOLTZ 
Comedy 
11 Mins. . 

MAXWELL HOUSE 
Thurs., 9 p.m. DST 
WEAF-NBC-red, New York 

(Benton & Boiules), 
Holtz, augmenting the Maxwell 
Showboat,' was precisely what the 
physician would have prescribed 
Hour ^program, giving only, small 
slice to blackface team of Molasses 
'n' January and concentrating oh 
topheavy tohsilling, got right into 
the comedy groove with Holtz 
spreadirig his 11 riiins. but through 
three marches lip to the riiike. His 
first pair of patterings were b.k • Ke 
slew 'erii with, his wind up, trotting 
Out bne of those inimitable 'Mahara- 
jah' moriologs. 

Another special guest act Was Vast 
Family of five hillbiliy-howlinK 
young 'uns; they were b.k. Bert 



ARNOLD GRIMM'S DAUGHTER 

With Jene Byron^ Ed Prentiss, Don 
Merrlfleld, Guild Adams, Jean Mc- 
Donald, James Andeline, Gertrude 
Bondhill, Orin Brandon 

Sierials 

15 Mins; 

GENERAL MILLS 
Daily; 10:30 a.m., CDST 
WGN, Chicago 

(Blackett-Sample-Hurnmert) 
This program might be a radio 
version of 'Mountain Justice' without 
the dialect. And without action 
Ari way, it's based on the idea bf a 
family who no-likes the kid's mar- 
riage and blurt but threats to try 
iarid break it up. Fronri the perform- 
ance, all the characters are either 
extremely slow of mind, or else a bit 
deriiented. 

Ingeriue's voice is tired for a heart- 
throbby bride, arid the burly father 
talks by. blurting out chunks of sen- 
tences whiph he seeniingly has riiem- 
orized. 

Production, too, has fallen into the 
spirit bf the, characters, for announc- 
er cpriies in to change scenes without 
any pause whatsoever, and actors cut 
his last word. Natural dialogue just 
isn't, and only action is of the jaws. 




Atli 




anta 



USF. 




WDST 



5000 vvaU5 day 
100 0 vvatts nite 

Repti. 890 kc. 

£. KAT7 SPfCIAL ^iOVtRTISINC AGENCY 



fit MllhmoteJUi 

WFBR 



NariONRL REPRESENTQTIV€S 

EDWnRD RETRY & CO. 



WKY REALLY DRIVES EM 




OKLAHOMA CITY 

A'lihaicd 'A'llh Tnc I)<i)ly Olclahoman, 
i I'..' Tun.' - cirui The KtirTnc r-Slockman 



I K. 



A |v. Aycncy 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



RADIO REVIEWS 



VARIETY 



45 



Rlior VALLEE IN LONDON 
witb Fernand Gravei, Eric Coates, 
Will Fyffe, J. B. Priestley, Flor- 
ence Desmond, Weston Brothers 

BOYAL GELATINJE 
Tharsday, 8 p.m., EDST 
WEAF-NBC, Nfsw York 

(J. .Walter Thompson) 
Second (13) of Rudy VaUee's two 
broadcasts from London, for Royal 
Gelatine ran into even worse at- 
mospheric conditions than previous 
weeki Heavy downpour, iaccompan- 
ied by lightning, continued through- 
out the show. Frequently blotted 
out entire proceedings and at other 
times made whiat remained unintelli- 
gible. Grew worse as show pro- 
ceeded. 

What little slipped through that 
barrage, however, . carried a strong 
showinanship punch. Program neatly 
arranged and produced; Two char- 
acteriistics of the previous London 
shot were evidenced. One was the 
indigo tint to some of the material, 
the other Was zeal of the British 
announcer to inject zip into the com- 
mercial blurb. 

This Wieek's ofE-cdlor material (in 
place of the Cohgreve piece, done by 
Charles Laughton and Elsa Lan- 
Chester oh proceeding show) was one 
of those iso-called 'sophisticated' 
songs, 'The Princieiss and the Frog,* 
sung by the Weston Brothers. Lyrics 
opened in fairy story! vein, gradu- 
ally hinted at shady interpretation, 
then tag-lined a funny variation of 
ah old sm6king-room gag, Unlike 
last week's edition, however, this 
one was open to a harmless inter- 
pretation, though few adults would 
miss . the real meaning. Weston 
Brothers were announced as coming 
to ttie Rainbow Room, N. Y., in a 
couple of months. 

Florence Desmond, who guested on 
Vallee show in New York some time 
agb, impersonated film stars. Her 
I^ulah Bankhead and . Greta Garbo 
were . fiendishly clever (she mimied 
the Swede actress singing parody on 
.'A Fine Romance' in 'Camille' char- 
acterization). Others might, be isock 
for England, but. subjects aren't suf- 
ficiently familiar to the American 
public. 

Fernand Gravet, who recently 
film-debuted in 'King, and Chorus 
Girl' (WB), sang pair of numbers in 
semi-recitative style somewhat simi- 
lar to Maurice .Chevalier's. Actor 
loses . appeal- via radio, but came 
through much stronger In an inter- 
view with Vallee. Has. a hokeless 
wdy of talking about himself that's 
impressive. 

Two other items on the program 
were an; eerie dramatic sketch, ppw- 



HEDDA HOPPER 
Film Chatter 
15 miiis.— Local 
MAR-O-OIL 
Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. 
KFI, Los Angeles 

(J&mes Morton) 
Neat offering of its type and should 
fall pleasantly on femme ears. Miss 
Hopper, who enjoys some popularity 
as a Hollywood, stylist, doles out the 
^tiiff yhatthe ladies cling to. Quarter- 
hour pie'ribd. is cut up into Tiiagazihe 
sectionis and, only those things that 
rate a tumble with milady gets a 
rather, frothy going-over. 

Gal has a nice delivery and should 
get the femmes swinging. It's quite 
an improvement over the hair oil 
outfit's last, piece arid , much more 
meaty in its content. Migs Hoppier 
has done considerable picture work 
and that throws an aura of authen- 
ticity around her glib gabbing. 

Various department^ are indexed 
by pages as to theii: highlights, but 
one thing sticks out boldly-^it has to 
do with fertime. fripperies. Way 
Marlene Dietrich wears her hat; how 
Jean Harlow parts her hair or how 
the pic pretties are decking out this 
summer gets the heavy play, 
and wisely so. That's what the gals 
who oil up their scalps want to hear. 
As- an added starter she had James 
Hilton, author ('Lost Horizbn'), on 
for a bit of verbal sparring. Then 
into a song-and-dance aboiit a talent 
search, the details of which are to 
come later. Double piano team 
boWs her in arid out with 'Sophisti- 
cated Lady,' quite appropriate, if 
flattering. 

Sponsor squeezes in a fast plug for 
a nail trim just ahead of signoff. 
Even with this double billing it's 
considerable of a letdown from the 
former commercial deluge. Appe- 
tizing femme fare 'that should kick 
up a gang of faithfuls .and should 
improve its rating with' the switch 
to a night spot in. another two weeks. 

Helm. 



TIC TQC REVUE 

Barry McKinley, Jean O'Nell, Huerhie 

Barrett, NBC Tiine Twisters 
Songs, Band 
30 Mins. 

GRIFFIN ALL-WHITE 
Mon., 7 Pi m. EDST 
WEAF, New York 

(Birminghai ^ Castleman & Pierce). 

Griffin rated last season as a major 
user of spot broadcasting. This year 
has put all its eggs in one basket, a 
half-hour weekly stanza over NBC. 
Considering the talent budget and 
the . elerinent it wants to appeal , to, 
the account has been done well by. 
Women listeners should like the pro- 
gram. 

Srriartly produced and sprightly 
pacec], the .show moves along a high 
level of melodic enteirtairiment; 
Voices are uniformly good and the 
orchestra, batoned by Hughie Bar- 
rett, blows soft and hot,, in turn, -with 
the .output summing up as easily, 
salable music. What sounds as par- 
ticularly geared to get 'em is Bar- 
rett's string section. 

With the program pitched in a ro- 
mantic, mdod, there's plenty of pleas- 
ant ■ harmony from the vocal setup, 
which consists of Barry McKinley, 
NBC baritone standby; Jean O'Neil, 
a promising youngster with a knack 
for torching up a number; the Tune 
Twisters, femme trio, and a mixed 
choirus. McKinley arid Miss O'Neil 
came in for a single duet on the ini- 
tial show (17) and what coyld have 
beeri more- apt in this interlude for 
a program selling . shoe whiting than 
'Would You Like to Take a Walk?' 

Ad copy is kept down to the mini^ 
mum. It makes frequent play on the 
phrase 'step out smartly' in both, the 
continuity and the plug arid stresses 
the claim that the whiting is, good 
for all fabrics and leathers,. Odec. 



erfuUy .written by Oliver Baldwin, 
son of the English prime minister; 
and Vallee's interview ith. J. B. 
Priestley on . the reasons why Eng- 
land goes haywire over the (Corona- 
tion. Novelist is a lucid, engaging 
speaker. 

Will Fyffe, Scotch character come- 
dian, repeated his appearance of 
previous :week- this, time playing -a- 
Highland railway guard. Eric Coates 
batoned the erchestra in a specially- 
Written 'Coronation Overture' which 
turned out to be so much musical 
trash. ; Vallee handled the entire 
show with his customary gracious 
ease. Hobe. 



DAVID LOWE 
Commentator. 
15 Mins., Local 
Sustaining 
M-W-F, 3:45 p.m., 
WINS, New York 

Lowe,, an affable-voiced .chap, 
chatters on filrii, stage and peSonali- 
ties chit-chat, A newcomer, he 
ripples a bit of water, but washes 
up no waves. 

iSest. stuff is his dealing with hu- 
inan-interest angles, and he should 
concentrate more heavily, on it. His 
other items first saw the light of day 
in the newspaipers, and his rehash 
neither further illumines nor twists 
out new interpretations. He could, 
too, strive to be a bit more up-to- 
date. Bert. 



REGINA CREWE 

With; Nat Brusiloir Orchestra 

Film Chatter, Mu^lc 

15 Mins. — Local 

HUDSON DAY LINE 

JVI-W-F, 7:30 p.m., EDST. 

WEAF, New York 

(Wendell P. GoUon) 

Lodal quarter, hour its iiir. at sarne 
time another new program using 
fllni dope is broadcast by WABC, 
This WEAF series' altei'nijtes three 
Hearst film chatter-reviewers Mon- 
day, Wednesday and. Friday, with 
Regina Crewe the lead-off and Nat 
Brusiloft's music the back-up for all 
.three. 

Miss Crewe talks well and handles 
herself okay. She beats the tom-tom 
for picturedorri generally and it is 
eviderit., that orily praise 'and 
bouquets wiU be handed Out. Lack 
of critical lowdpwn may. or may not 
be a drawback in building listening 
audience. 

Froni the standpoNt of film .. com- 
panies (to whom it would, appear the 
program will look for cooperation) 
the;giving away of the fuU plot de- 
tails is bad. ; Miss Crewe left little 
for the imagination or. the .Music 
Hiall. in -revealing the full narrative 
mechanics and situations of 'Shall 
We Dance?' . This is precisely the 
point over which there has been so 
much 'Wrangling oh the Campbell 
soup 'Hollywood Hotel' program. 

Brusiloff music is peppy. All in 
ail its a ice light quarter hour"tor 
summer and a sunrimer advertiser — 
excursion-promoting Hudson Day 
Li Lond. 



BOB WILSON 
Sports Chatter .. 
5 Mins. 

BOND CLOTHES 
Weekdays, 6:30 p.iu. 
WICC, Bridgeport 

Sports ed of Bridgeport Herald 
and former sec to late Walter Canip, 
Bob Wilson commands a wide fbl- 
lowirig through southern Connecti- 
cut. Natural obstacle 6f flve-nnin- 
iite limit is solved by concentrating 
on single topic each shot. : Wilson 
shuffles his fare, jumping from box- 
ing to baseball- to general policies 
of sports. Stress on Connecticut situ- 
ations and personalities, adds attrac- 
tion. 

Since initial programs sportster 
has quickened his pace anl. accusr 
tomed hirriself to mike technique. 
Sartorial commercial comment, by 
staff spielers, not overwprded. 

Because Wilson's home is in New 
Haven, broadcast splits week be- 
tween. WICiC studio there and 
Bridgeport headquarters. Elerti. 



DICK MERRILL 
With Jack Lambie 
WOODBURY 
WJZ-NBC, New York 

{Lennen Si' Mi'tcHell) 

NBC got a goodly part of the $2;509 
it guaranteed the backers bf Dick 
Merrill and Jack Lambie, co-pilots of 
the latest two-way transatlantic 
flight,. for exclusive air rights to their 
story .when the pair went on the 
Wbfidbury show Sunday . night (i6 ) 
as guests,- Event was somewhat d if- - 
ferent from, the usual interview of 
feat celebs in that it was Worked up 
to a gobd laugh punch. Bob Hope 
did the quizzing. 

After Merrill and Lambie ha 
skirriiried over a few facts' about the 
flight, . Honey Chile, Hbpc*s regular 
fbil, ' got into the jprpceedings, ' re- 
marking that .she and the fliers were 
related in: that all three came from 
the south. When Hope .tried to edge 
back into the crossfire, the girl 
driawled, 'Stay out, you Yankee.' 

Odec. 



'HAIL TO THE CHIEF' 
With Walter Huston 
30 Mins. 

SANTA FE RAILROAD 
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. 
KNX, Hollywood 

Special program to hail . test f un 
of Santa Fe's new streamline Super' 
Chief went too far overboard on 
commercial plug and nari'ation to 
drop it into an entertainmant listing. 
Waltei: Huston wasted on a brief, 
bit. Music was saved for the wind- 
up with enough time left for a. fat 
commercial. 

Show followed the usual pattern 
6t such affairs, and little originality 
or Imagination was evident. When 
the rattler rolled into Chicago it 
cued the orchestra into the Wifidy 
City's familiar song. As the stream- 
liner crossed the plains it brought 
an orchestrated chorus of 'Roll On 
Prairie Moon.' Bill Hatch's 21*picce 
crew took a virhack at 'On the Trail' 
and gave - the tamale tunes a: few 
chops. 

Narration by Thomas Freebaifn 
Smith and Karltqn KaDell, two of 
the village's best, was up to isnuff 
and interesting in its historical con- 
tent, but not entirely new to west- 
erners. ■ History of the line from the 
driving of the first spike. dbWn to 
the .ballyhoo limited was: traced; 
Hustbh was used for the part of a 
pioneer who carried, the. torch 
through Kansas. 

Paul Taylor chorus of 20 vblces 
was used for the atmospheric backup; 
with Hatch's crew. Bill Robson pro- 
duced. Helm* 




TRANSAMERI6AN announces two outstanding 
radio programs for the coming season: 



THE UNCROWNED KING' 'THIS BOY JOE 



Starring the celebrated actor of stage 
and screen tlONEL ATWILL, and based on 
the glamorous life and adventures of 
LAWRENCE IN ARABIA 



Starring LEON JANNEY, adapted from the 
original manuscript by BOOTH TARKINGTON. 
A story of genuine human interest, as only 
Tarkington can write it 




NEW YORK 

521 Fifth Avenue 
Murray Hill 6-2370 



BROADCASTING m 

JOHN L. CLARK, President 
Complete Brdadcasting FaciUties Wired and Trumrribed 

CHICAGO 

333 North Michigan Avenue 
STAte 0366 





HOLLYWOOD 

5833 Fern wood Avenue 
Hollywood 5315 



VARIETT 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 




St Paul Students on Spo 
KSTP Sees School Board as Unfair 



Paul, May 18. 
Paul's Dept. o£ Education is 
itself i a bucket of boiling 
water result of stations here 

fighting iimong selves arid with Dept. 
over what sort of programs they can 
use high school studes. Dept. okays 
stations using kids CufTo.. 

kSTP has' risen up wrathfuUy after- 
Paul S, Amidon, supe of schools, re- 
fused to i)ermit station to use school- 
ers on a sponsored spelling bee. 
Amidon has o." k.'d studes participat- 




ing on a variety show oyer WMIN 
and a twice-weekly Gomihercial pro- 
gram on WTCN., 

KSTP got riled, because it consi - 
ered its nixed idea more in keeping 
with sort of period studes should be 
permitted' to appear on, rather than 
types of, shows curi-ent iand k.'d 
on the two rival stations. 

But since Amidbn reserves the 
right to pass on all proposed radio 
participation scholars under his jur- 
isdiction engage in, KSTP is hand- 
cuffed. 

Across the rivei" in Minneapolis, 
Ci R. Reed, supe of schools in that 
towhi announced in a letter to 
WTCN, when queried on possi ility 
of gettihg pupils under his ferule on 
St. Paul stations, that his Board of 
Education is unalterably opposed to 
having scholars used in air in man- 
ner it is practised in St; Paul. 



In Midst of a Riot 

Sa'cramento, May 18, 
KROY ran wire to nearby Stock- 
ton and gave listeners a swat-by- 
swat description of a strike riot, 
Pickup was made from Avindow of 
hoiise acros$ street fronV fight scene. 

No casualtiets among crew of 
KROY with excieption, of lierve 
trouble and knee br irom 
knocking. 



Increase of Taxes Seen 
If City-Owned WPG Has 
Rival for Radio Business 



Atlantic City, May 18. 
Mayor G, D. White annijunced to- 
day the city's official opposition in 
behalf of Municipal Station WPG to 
the. application for a radio station 
here, of the. Press-Union ne\yspapers. 
Similar, opposition to the Press- 
Union request has also been filed by 
four stations iri addition to WPG. 
They are: WEST, WKBO, WCAU 
and WSNJ, Bridgeton,'N. j. Bridgef 
ton station has not yet been built. 

Press-Union applied foi^ a local 
station 100 watts at night and 250 
watts during the day. Tlie city's 
opposition . is l!>ased on the economic 
claim that another station would cut 
into WPG's revenue for advertising 
and thus make the station more 
costly for the taxpayers to maintain. 
The hearing is scheduled for June 
10, in Washington. 



TRVM1>KT KING OF SWING 

LOUIS 
ARMSTRONG 



<J. Wulter XliompHOn) 

P.M. D.S.T. Kvery I'rlduy, W.J/ 
Itliie Network 
★ 

Just Concluded 3 
Successful Weeks at 
Paramount, New York 



MOT. JOK ftT.ASER 
KOCKWKLlt-O'KKKFA 



WNEW tines Ud 11 



Some 11 Hew sponsors and more 
thari that number, of new programs 
and. business were reported by the 
sales , department at WNEW, N. Y., 
since May 12. Madison. Personal 
Loan, inc., was. the largest air space 
buyer with 15 minutes on the 'Make 
Believe Ballroom* three mornings 
per week, 'Dugout Baseball' inter 
views spotted two days per week be 
fore the start of Newark (Int'l 
League) ball games, and its 'Lend a 
Hand' broadcasts on 30-minute 
schedule fiye nights weekly. 

Besides this one. sponsor, Light- 
ning Electric Co., Hoffman Beverage 
Go., Borok Furniture Co., Meisel 
Tire Co., Jackson Floor Coverings, 
B. C. Remedy, Lakeview Electrical 
Appliance, Fabiano Seeds, Anierican 
Airlines and Eagle Tires were listed 
as new accounts. New biz is running 
about double what it was a year ago, 



Hove to Clear Full Time 
For Bulova; KSL, WJJD, 
WPG Must Be Concilialed 



Washington, May 18, 
Renewed attempts to bring about 
a frequency shuffle which will open 
the way for Arde Bulova to obtain 
a full-time transmitter in New York 
are in pfogress^ 

itiated shortly after the Federal 
Communications Commission ap- 
proved Buloya's purchase of WLWL, 
New York, from the Paulist Fathers, 
campaign is under way \yhich may 
lead to deletion of WOV, New York, 
and channel shifts for WLWL and 
WPG, Atlantic City. Going is under- 
stood to be hard at present, although 
Harold A. LaFounit, former Radio 
Commissioner and heavy stockholder 
in Bulova enterprises, is engaged in 
intensive missionary work. 

Would involve WPG's replacing 
WOV on 1130 kc, with WLWL tak- 
ing WPG's time on 11.00, giving' 
Bulova exclusive occupancy of .the 
bierth in the East. Objections have 
been raised by KSL, Salt Lake City. 
Utah transmitter currently fears its 
lopes of eventually going to 500 kw 
might be injured if a 5 kw outlet 
like the Atlantic City station shares 
its frequency. So far WPG ha.> not' 
appeared enthusiastic .about sliding 
tjack to 1 kw in order to, eliminate 
';his danger to KSL. 

Another obstacle is the. lukeAvarm- 
ness' of Ralph Atlass, who fears his 
WJJD, Chicago; would suffer if an 
Eastern seaboard station climbed on 
1130. Unconvinped that he would 
not be hurt, Atlass is described as 
apprehensive .about effect of WPG's 
operation on 1130 on WJJD's exten- 
sive daytime coverage in Indiana, 
Pennsylvania, and Ohio. 

Installation of directional antenna 
for WPG may be the. solution. 
Understood Bulova has propositioned 
on this maneuver, but Atlantic City 
fathers do not cotton to the idea of 
a. costly installation for the bene.1t 
of KSL and WJJD. Possibility re- 
mains LaFouht can work, out some 
way to help WPG meet the cost and 
thus please everybody. 



Van Auken, Ind'polis* 3d 
Station, Stresses Civics 

Indianapolis, May 18; 

Glenn Van Auken, local attorney, 
is pleased but very Noncommittal 
on his final O. K, by F. C. C. for the 
third radio station in Indianapolis. 
Says he doesn't know where it will 
be located, and ho bids have been 
received ye:t. He expects to start 
construction in about a month, after 
F. C. C; gets a chance to authorize 
site and equipment. 

Van Auken will go in big for play 
from civic promotion programs, tie- 
i ith school system, and sports, 
religi and agricultural interests. 
For civic tie-in, .Van Aukien pro- 
poses a 'Community Riadio. Council,! 
with appointed reps from Chamber 
of Commerce, Better Business 
Bureau, L'pns' Club, Rotary Chtb, 
and other service units. 

For school tie-in. Van Auken pro- 
poses to air two half-hour periods 
daily for teachers and studes in 
class-rooms. These programs will, be 
planned by Board of Education. 



Early Summer Nuptials 



Robert Robertson, of NBC's Cost 
Accounting Dept., and Elizabeth 
Washington, of the Artists Service, 
will be married May 27 in Florida 

George Sachs, sustaining act book- 
er, will hitch with Elinore Caschi^ 
one on June 13. 

Jack Baxter, copy \yriter,: wiU "wed 
Patrice McCOrmick, of the J. Walter 
Thompson agency, on June 5. 



WTMJ Adds Mikemen 

Milwaukee, May 
Two announcers have been added 
to staff of WTMJ, Milwaukee Jour- 
iial station here, Clau Kirchner, 
and Dwight Williams. 

Kirchner cOmes from WRR, Dallas, 
and WROK, Rockford; Williams from 
WJJD, Chicago, and WKBZj Muske^ 
gori. 



jwf om/us 

By JAN'e west 

NOW RADIO'S MOST POPULAR 
FAMILY BRINGS YOU MORE 
AUGHTER T^ARS ^ EART-TiiROBS 

Prf;spn»(.-d by Ivory Soap ■ 99" : pure 



LISTEN "^^'^^ DAILY 

• ■ N6C Blu* Ntlwork, Men. to Fri. 11 a.m. DST 
|M NBC Red Network, Mon. to Fri. 3:45 p.m. DST 
■■^ • • QOAST TO COAST 

Dir., COMPTON ADVKKI'ISINU A<i»NCT - 
MGT^ ED WOLF^RKO BLDC. NEW YORK CITY 



Chicago, May 18 
Pete Jaeger, chief of the . local 
Transamerican office, Alice Veit. of 
the RuthraufT & Ryan agency and 
Peggy Wall, ether performer and 
headliner on the Caldwell's 'Monti 
cello Party Line' show are all sched 
uled for marriage. 

Jaeger marries Loretta White on 
June 12; Miss Veit becomes Mrs 
Henry Irwin on May 28 and Miss 
Wall marri Dr. Richard Perritt 
August. 



in 



Mutual's Expo Pick-Ups 



Mutual network is going in for 
regularly skedded novelt- broadcasts 
this sUmmer,. picking up airings from 
Cleveland, j^ort Worth iand Dallas 
Expos.. From, the Great Lakes laiyout 
web will carry programs originating 
in the Showboiat, Admiralty Club, 
Aquacade, Alpine Village, Radioland 
and Florida Exhibits. From the pair 
of prairie expbs, dance orchs will be 
carried. 

CBS and NBC are having flock ot 
their commercial shows originate on 
rotating basis from Cleveland, but 
haven't, laid plans for Texas shows. 
Mutual, having but' one commercial 
lined up tot Cleveland one-shot origr 
ination, will concentrate on the 
speci 



8,500 Picket Phiico 



Philadelphia, May 18. 
Biggest picket line ever seen in 
Philly was formed this week by 8,500 
employees of Phiico Radio and Tele- 
vision Company arpund the firm's 
acres of. plants. Negotiations ' be- 
tween the company and Locals 101 
and i02 of the United Electi-ical and 
Radio Workers were deadlocked. 
Further gabbing today. 



WMCA DRAMATIZES WHN 
AMATEUR SHOW EVENT 

Latest isode in the fang-and- 
claw rivalry of WMCA and WHN ■ 
New York, occurred last week when 
WMCA's 'Five Star Final' drama- 
tized in of coincidents that hap- 
pened night before oh WHN amateur 
hour. 

Tyio program, staged by Jay 
Flippen^ from stage' of Loew's Zieg." 
feld theiatre and newly bankrolled 
by Oxydol, declared Vincent Sheyli 
a bartender,, winner of $50 first prize* 
It so happened SheVli ' ife was 
listening in to program up in. the 
Bironx, and it also so happened that 
she was seeking him for desertion. 
Upon learrii of his prize money", 
she hopped a cab and ai-rived out- 
side the Ziegfeld with a cop, who 
slapped a non-support warrant on 
the till-then happy \yi as. he 
enierged from his triumph. 

WHN iaimateurs winners do not 
collect the $50 until they show up 
two nights after and do a cuff o sus- 
tai ing show, 'Air-Finds,' for station. 
Sheylin managed to get his bail up 
and was released from the hoosegow 
in timcL to appear for the payoff 
performance. 



EASY 
ACE S 



B R O A DC AS T I N Q 
Y E A R F O R 
BLAbKETT - SAMPLE 
H U M M E R T, INC. 

A N A C I N 



Vic Ratrier's Trip 

Vic Ratner, sales promotion head 
of CBS, off to Elkhart, 111., with his 
wifcj Letitia Ide, the dancer. 

She will rest awhile With her fani- 
ily. Father-to-be will return to his 
charts and graphs. 



WFII Expands; Swaps 

Philadelphi . May 18. 

WFIL expanded newspaper time- 
space swap deals to. four this week 
by addition of Radio Press, new 
weekly fan mag. Editor Nor- 
man Jay (Ginsberg) gets 5 minutes, 
5 days a week, for news behind the 
news spiel. 

Station gets page ad, which it 
uses for merchandizi sponsors 
products. 



Judith Waller Arranges . 

Columbus, May 18. 

Judith Waller, of NBC; \yas in 
tovvn Friday (14) to supervise airing 
of three network progranris from 
National School OrchestriEi Contest. 
Broaidcas ori inated from Ohio 
State Fairgrounds Coliseum and 
vvere sent via WCOL. 

Friday and Saturday programs 
went to Blue and Sunday morning 
broadcast to Red rietwork. 



Cotton Queen^s Ghost 

^Memphis, May 18. 

Radio fans who. listened in on the 
WMC-^NBC networic broadcast from 
the Cottoh Carnival ball at the 
Auditorium Friday' night thoufiht 
they heai'd Queen Frances Chap- 
man—but they didn't. t the last 
minute, Queen Frances lost her 
voice, not fioin mike fright, but 
from too much Cotton Carnival 
speech-nriakirig". 

Mary Joe Tate, college stu , 
ghost-voiced for hei'. 



Shelley Interprets Femmes 

Des Moines, May 18. 

Starting on May 31, Jack Shelley, 
assistant news editbt- of WHO, Des 
Moines, will broadcast a fi^ve-minute 
'Womaii in the News' program five 
days a week fdr the One Minute 
Washer Co. of Newton, Iowa. 

Fairall & Co., Moines, 
handles the account. 



WWSW, Pittsburgh, bias sol run- 
ning comment on PGA golf tourna- 
ment at Pittsburgh Field Club next 
week to Danforth Co. (Westihghouse 
refrigerators). Fred Robinson, pro., 
will be the commentator, assisted by 
Claude Ha^ring and Joe Tucker of 
WWSW, 



Carleton Young: on Coffee Show 

Carleton Young will take over the 
announcing on Jim McWilliams' 
'Question Box' program for G. 
Washington Coffee. Joe Bell is go- 
ing away. 



I ii III 11 in It HI II t 



JAC QU E ?5 

f RAV 



BRAOGIOTTI 



Friday— 7: 1 5 P. M. 
WJZ 



Fred Allen 
Portland Hoffa 

In "Town Hall Tonight" 

SAL HEPATICA IPANA 
WEAF— Wedneidnya »-!• P.M. E9« 
Ir.i WALTEB BATCHEI^OB 




and Hi 
Orchestra 

RE-ENGAGKb 

2ND YEAR 

CURRENXr.Y 

HOTEL ST. REGIS 

NEW YORK 



M.C-A. 



Feenamlht faded off Mutual 
definitely for summer with Sunday 
(16) broadcast. Piroposal of Esty 
agency to continue for five more 
weeks trying out different types of 
programs for next season's sponsor- 
ing chilled late last week. 



phil 
baker 



GREAT 
AMERICAN 
E P I T O K _ 

U L F R EFI N I N G ^ 

C OMt'AN y 

SUNDAYS 
1:30-8 r.M.. DST 
VfAHO ^ 
CBS 



Wednesday, M»y 19, Wt 



MUSIC 



VARIETY 



47 




HGHT PUBLISHERS 





-Music 



More than 15,500 niusici 'trained and rehabilitated* since 

the Federal Government s irig work relief for various types 

of artists and white.-coll?ir class^^^ 

Review last week ■t>y VTor^ Progre Administration, disclosed that; 
between October, 1935 and Aprils 1937, this number had passed through 
the Federal Music troject. On April 1, employment figure was 13,300. 
Work accomplished includes over , 50,000 public programs and perform- 
ances before 64,000,000 persons. Encouraging domestic writers and com- 
posers, Federal musicians put ph more than 4,800 native works. 

Latest' check: showed that in March, WPA musicians were engaged on 
736 project units, including 48 symphony orchestras, 110 concert teams, 
iBO baiids, 91 dance ctews, 24 thea:tre orchestras, 31 choral groups, 4 opera 
companies, 28 chamber music ensembles, and 260 activities for teaching 
music appreciation. ther operations were provi ing jobs for soloists, 
copyists, librarians, arrangers, and tuners. 

Shapiro-Bernstein & Go. has obtained the renewal rights to the copy- 
right on 'Alma, Wo Wonst Du?' (Alma, Where Dp You Live?), from the 
heirs of Adolph Phillips, the writer of .the score and German lyrics, and 
the late George Vi Hobart, who wrote the American version. Contracts,, 
which become effective next April, include the production rights of the 
inusical. comedy. 

Phillips* heirs recently effected, a settlement of an allieged yiolatipn of 
performing rights in .which NBC, the Remick Music Go. and Rudy Vallee 
.wejre named . as defendants. 'Amount paid for the single perfprmance 
was $2,500. Through the Shapiro-Bernstein deal . the tunes in the musical 
become part of the catalog of the American Society of Composers, Authors 
and Publishers. 



Irving Caesar in One-Man Crusade; 
Wants Govemment to Quiz Song Bjz 



Irving Caesar, music publisher and 
president of the Songwriters Protec- 
tive Association, has undertaken 
through the collection of sohgsheet 
sal^ atid peirformance data to show 
that there is a wide breach betvireen 
the. actual 'popuiairity of . a number 
and the frequency with which it is 
he^ pit the ain Caesar proposes to 
use'^''these compilations to sup^)ort 
charges that he intends to bring ber 
fore, the Federal Trade Commission. 
Alsp' 'fh6 Federal Communications 
Commission;. ^ . ^ 

Caesar is- of the opinion that film 
producers that control music pub- 
lishing firms are interested solely in 
one thing and that is the exploitation 
of their musical fare. With high- 
powered organizations at their conl- 
mand. these producers are able to get 
their tunes played on the air at fre- 
quent intervals and at small cost. 
This piling on of performances con- 
stitutes, Caesar believes, an unfair 
condition for both the competitive 
indie publisher and the listener. The 
latter is forced to listen to not what 
he favors but what the high-crew Of 
songpluggers has been able to induce 
mike performers and band leaders to 
inblude * in their programs. Indie 
publisher may have something that 
the public likes but his small organr 
ization is at. a disadvahtage in get- 
ting it on the air anywhere as fre- 
quently as a picture song. 

Wouldn't Answer 

As Caesar sees It, this condition 
calls for an. investigation by the FTC. 
He contends that the film cpmpariies 
should be stopped from niusically 
dominating the air by what he terms 
unfair practices and that the FCC 
should be equally tonberried, in prob- 
ing and rectifying this situation. In; 
his quest, for figures- >c6mpar irig ac- 
cumulated radio perforihances and 
sheet sales Caesar some weeks ago 
> addressed a . questiohhaire on . the 
latter to music publishers. He asked 
them to list the total sales of their 
.major and lesser hits over the past 
few years. 

, Rpbbins Music Corp. and its affil- 
iates have turned him down flatly, 
while several other pubs wrote back 
asking why he didn't get the figures 
jrpm his associates in the SPA since 
they were all supplied with roy- 
alty accountings. 

Herb Gately Sues 

_ Hert> Gately, songster, filed suit in 
|J; V- Federal Court yesterday 
^Tuesday) against Mort Dixon and 
Jesse Greer, also song writers, and 
«ving Berlin, Inc., charging lifting 
the.song, ' id You Mean It?' 
Aslts injunction and profit . Gately 
"aims Dixon and Greer turned over 
J<* Berlin for publication song, not 
'rearing same title, but words 
ana jyrics which he says he 
"Uihored. 



TUMULTY'S ANNUAL 15G's 



Washington: Lawyer Already Func- 
tionlnr for ASCAP 



Joseph . Tumulty has already 
started for the American Society of 
Composers, Authors & Publishers 
as political contact on national and 
state niatters at a retainer of $15,000 
a year. He will wprk .directly/with 
E. C. Mills, who was relieved of the 
general management of. the Society 
to concentrate on legislative difficul- 
ties aiid legal encounteirs stemming 
from such actions. 

Tumulty, a lawyer, was secretary 
to President WoodroW W.ilsori. 



ASCAP FIELD MEN IN 
N.Y. FOR UW CHAHER 



istrict reps, for the American So- 
ciety pf Composers, Authors and 
Publishers gathered in- the home pf- 
fice Mondiay (17) for a three-day 
session, Occasipn gave them theix* 
first opportunity to meet the Socie- 
ty's .new gen. mgr. , , John G. Paine. 

Among the problems discussed was 
the epidemic of anti^ASCAP meas- 
ures which has marked recent ses- 
sions of state legislatures. Also, the 
latest developments on copyright 
legislation in Washington. 

Harry Paul Nol Prossed 
On Boston Lobby Episode 

Boston,! May 18. 
District Attorney William A. Fb- 
ley nol prossed the'charge of assault 
lodged against Harry Paul; New 
England rep for Irving Berli , Inc., 
Which resulted froiini a fracas, in the 
lobby of the Shubert theatre last 
month. 

Paul, , ^ accpnipanied Rudy 
Vallee to a performance of 'Babes 
iii Arms,' sprang into action when 
Ben Fitzgerald,, Boston Record 
cameramani flashed a shot pf the 
crooner in comparty with. -Evelyn 
Gresham, New Yoirk showgirl. In 
muriicipai court Paul was found 
guilty of as.sault .and battery and 
was fined^$50. He appealed. Vallee 
was also found guilty, but his ca^e 
,Was placed on file. 

In out-of-court, settlement, ul 
paid Fitzgerald $50 to comiiensate 
for alleged damage to a camera. 

That Spring Fever 

Baseball gami2 between teams 
representing Mayer Music Corp. and 
Music Defllers Service in Central 
Park Sat. (15) wound Up with MDS 
on the short end of a 14-10 score. 

Which sounds like the boys were 
kicking the ball around, a la Vatiiett. 




Songmen Want to Retain 
C e r t a i n Performance 
Rights Usually Ceded to 
' Publisher Latter Say 
Will Not Do Business on 
Siich Terms 



LEGALITIES 



By BEN BODEC 

vMusic publishers . foresee an i - 
tense legal battle between theni- 
selvies :and rneiribers of the Song- 
writers Protective. Association, as a 
result ;of the latter's entry into, the 
field of ■ mechanical rights licensing. 
Leading pop publishers declared 
yesterday (Tuesday) that they will 
riot accept the Works of any writers 
for publication unless , they (the 
publishers ) are permitted to continue 
to have full cphtrol over the disposal 
of i1ci& miechanical. rights. Under ah 
edict . isisued by the council of the 
SPA niption picture producers and 
traiiscription manufacturers will 
have to deal direct with the SPA 
for synchronization or recording 
rights to the compositions which 
SPA members have, placed with pub- 
lishers on or after June 1, 1?37. 

Agitation for in SPA controlled 
mechanical licensing .bureau has 
been going on in the organization for 
yiears: The SPA council several years 
age inserted a clause in the asso- 
ciation's constitution through which 
each niembei: agreed to assign all 
but the small rights in trust to the 
organlzatibri, with the method of 
distribution for the royalties obtained, 
from such to be left to the discrcr 
tion of the council. It is on this 
Article IX that the council acted last 
Monday (15). A notice of this move 
was sent not only to musiP publish- 
ers, but to picture producers and 
transcription makers. Phonograph 
record companies were not incl.udied 
in the circularization. 

In the circular to the SPA mem- 
bership, . also . issued Monday, assur- 
ance was given that that there 
wouldn't be any complications aris- 
ing frpm the council's action that 
' ill in any way embarrass either the 
transcription companies or the mov-. 
ing pictui-e companies in the opera- 
tion pf their businesis. 'You may 
rely on us,' added this, paragraph, 
'that there; is no thought of our in- 
creasing raties either to either one or 
the other, and your songs Vi\\\ be 
available to them as in the past— the 
only exception, being that instead of 
clearing them through the publisher 
they will be cleared through the 
SPA.' 

'We are sure,^ continued the letter, 
.'that you must Tealize -that the time 
is here ^yhen we must establish the 
precedent that rights should nP 
longer, be controlled by . anyone but 
the -creator, and in this, case you as 
the creator have very wisely entrust- 
ed the administration of sai rights 
to your own association. Besides the 
preseiit existing avenues of income, 
such as transcription and synchroni- 
zation, remember that the world is 
getting ready for television, remem- 
bei: that there are some 250,000 slot 
machinejs playing records from 
which no income is derived at the 
present time, and which, if we do 
not assert ourselves as writers now, 
Will probably be di.ssipated in ope 
form or another, as have been many 
of pur rights.' 

Ass.ie:nied Right 

Publishers pointed out that Article 
IX states that the rights held by the 
American- Society of Composers, Au-' 
thors and Publishcis are exempt 
from the righl.<; intended by the 
clause. The ."BPA lias already pre- 
sumed to trespass on the rigiils of 
the society by-Jtiakhi;! reference to 
slot machines. "The pcrlormanee by 
ineans of slot machines is stvietly a 
small right .and a right which the 
members of the SPA have a.s.«;i;{ncd 
to ASCAP. Under the copyrJ^iht law, 
however,, coin operated reproduclion 



Pluggers' Bribery of Dance Bands 





on 




as 




Groups Hit Manhattan Spots 



Most Played on Air 



Combin<td plttflis- on WEAF, 
WJZ arid WABC are computied 
for the week from . Sunday 
through Saturday {May 9-15). 

Carelessly 

* September in the Rain 

* Where Are You? 

* There's a Lull in My Life 
It Looks Like Rain 

t Too Marvielous tor Words 
■* Never in a Million Ye.ars 
Boo Hod 

Wake Up and Live 

* They All Lani;hed 

* Sweet LeilanI 
Love Bug Will 

* How Could You? 

* Blue Hawaii 

* Let's Call Whole Thing OfT 
.* That Foolish Feeling 

* They Can't Take That Away 
t Little Old Lady 

* Was It Rain? 

* I'm Bubbling: 
Dream Ranch 

When Two Love Each Other 

* Tarn Off the Moon 

To a Sweet, Pretty. Thing 

* Sxv'i High Swing Low 

* indicates filviusical song. 
t Production- Numbier. 



devices are exempt from licensing as 
long as no admission is charged. 
These pubs also hold that when the 
SPA got together with the Music 
Publishers Protective Association on 
a uniform standard contract bet\yeen 
publisher and writer the SPA agreed 
that it would cancel this very Article 
IX of its by-laws, 

.It is alsP argued by .the. publishers 
that once a humbeF is copyrighted 
by them and published, the Writers 
involved cede ' their comrnon law 
rights in so far as the actual ar- 
rangements of the works are con- 
cerned. Each right granted by a pub- 
lisher implied the right for the user 
to change the original scoring: Pf 
the copyrighted number, arid so the 
publishers want to know how the 
writers expect to collect from the 
film producers and transcriptions if 
they don't own the .copyrights to 
thesp published works.. 

Several leading publishers .scored 
the SPA council for stirring: up this 
situation at a time when writer and 
publisher blight to husband all their 
fighting and financial resources to 
meet the attacks to which the music 
industry is being subjected by anti- 
ASCAP legislation and litigation. 
These pubs assert that if there wa.s 
any time that the industry was: in 
need of solidarity it is now. They 
admit that the mQve. of the SPA 
had been largely instigated by the 
practice pf a major publisher to use 
his offer of free or low cost synchro- 
nization rights to . tie up one picture 
studio after aridther, but theiy con- 
tend, that the situaipn coUld have 
ijeen handled by . br inging legal pres- 
sure to bear pn that one publi.shci-. 

It is estimated by -the piibliisher.s 
that over 75% of the Important 
writers in the SPA are under con- 
tract cither to, picture studios or to 
indie publishers,, with such, agree- 
ments taking precedence over any 
riights that these writers might have 
assigned to- their association, 



In response to the urging of sev- 
eral publishers," John G, Paine last 
week asked the Federal Tradei Com- 
mission by letter to fix. this Friday 
(21 ) as the date on Which he Arid a 
committee from the Music Publish- 
ers' Protective Ass'n could, voice 
a plea that the issuance of a 
cpde of fair trade practices be 
speeded up. These pubs complained 
to. Pain^ that something drastic had 
to be done right away to nrieet the 
recurrence pn a large! scale of plug 
bribery either by cash payment Pi: 
through the jpubllsher ■ underwritlhg 
of special arrarigement«. 

It the FTC jsrants Paihe'$ request 
he will be accompanied to Wash* 
ington by Harry Fpx, MPPA gen. 
niigir., Joseph V. McKee, Sam Fox 
and E. B. Marks. McKee is the 
MPPA's general counsel. .Paine de- 
clared last week that the pubs who 
appealed to him were disturbed by 
the reckless situation which has de- 
veloped in the field of pop music, 
exploitation. 

Rampant bribery now existing, 
these- pubs pointed put, has been, 
stimulated by the entry recently into 
New York spots of a bunch of out-* 
of-town orchestras. Sonie of thfe 
newcomers hove, they stated, been 
easily approachable oh tht 'arrilnge- 
ment Underwriting angle 'because 
they aren't iii' a position to spare 
the . means for niaking their owh 
prchestrations. " 

Roinanolnff 'Em 

Instead , of taking three or four 
weeks to romance these leaders, the 
prpfessioiial managers have elected 
to get immediate action by the un*. 
derwriting route. There are a. num- 
ber of the major publishers who 
have preferred to hold of! frpm this 
practice, preferrihg to build friend* 
ships by frequent contacts and show- 
ing up with lots of guests at room 
openings. 

Past winter had found the payoflt 
system pretty much under control 
in New Vork because, the town was 
filled with top name comblnatlpns 
that made a practice of picking their 
tunes for arrangement purposes long 
in advance to take care of recording 
requirements. Whatever paying off 
that prevailed Was the hinterland 
sort, with publishers' reps getting 
to traveling bands of lesser import 
which fpund a network wire await- 
ing them at the various stands. 



Lane, Freed Ditty Up 
Couple for Crosby Film 



Hollywood^ May 18. 

'Smarty,' ditty by - Burton Lane 
arid . Ralph Freed, will be warbled by 
Bing Crosby in Paramount's 'Dpubip 
or Nothing.' ■". 

Another tune' by the duo, 'Listen 
My Children, and Vou Shall Hear,' 
will be a Martha Raye number. 



Harry Fox Quizes Members 
On Autographier$ Renewal 

arry Fox,, gien. mgr. of the. Music 
Publishers Prptcclive: Association, 
last week a.skcd the rriember.ship in 
a circular letter whether^ they were 
individuuily interested in renewing 
their contracts with the autograpii- 
er.-; union. These agreements expired 
May 13. 

Union is ready to. give the .mu.cic 
indu.slry a, binder for another year 
and- with no thiinge in the terms 
-which have : prevailed for the past 
year. 



Deny McCdrd Allegation 

Twentieth-Fox Film Corp., and 
the Rbbbins Music Publishing Corp,, 
filed geherai deni Saturday (15) 
in N. Y. Federal istrifCt- Court to 
the $50,000 plagiarism action brought 
by Charles McCord, songwriter. 
Harry Revel and. Mack Gprdcn also 
are named defendants, 

McCprd alleges the: Gordon-Revel 
jyric of song 'Goodnight My Love' 
used in the picture; 'Stpwawayj' 
lifted from his piece, 'I'll Always 
Remember Rpnkonkomai' 



Benny Goldberg's Party 

Bo.<;ton, May 18. 

Benny Goldberg, iPcal rep ior 
Robbins Music fpr about 40 year.% 
was iven a sendoff today by lead- 
crs, publisher repa. and performers 
in honor of hi.s new a.ssignmcnt by 
Robbirls in Chicago. / * 

After Ji partj' at the IJitlc buijd- 
I Goldberg Wiis presc^ited two 
pieces of luggage by the g;i 



48 



VARIETY 



MUSIC AND DANCE TOUKg 



Wedaesdajf May 19, I937 



On the Upbeat 



Joe Hayjiies, taken over by CRA, 
has been tjual-ibooked by ROC and 
CRA for set of one niters. Sltarts 
May 27 at Lake\\ropd. Park, Mahanpy 
City, Pa.; Cornell 28 opposite 

ijnny Goodman; J, . Dodd's Dor- 
ney Park, AUentown, Pa., 29, and 
liewly opened Rocky Glen Park, 
Scran ton, 30 and 31. 



Bob McCleiater and his Criterions 
booked for sunnmer run at Br'ug- 
ler's Columbia; Hotel, Columbia, N. 3. 
Just flnished successful tour through 
the southwest.. . 



tes , HHe into McElroy's 

Spanish Ballroom, . Portland, re., 
for one night. June Richmond, torch 
ingei-j is. now with the Hite band. 



rankle Master's orchestra at Tro- 
iiiar ballroom, Des Moines, May 13. 
Other bookings for week included 
Ayars LaMarr and Don Strickland. 



. iPrank Dailey Meadow- 
brook C. C.j Cedar Grove, N, J., 



Presents 



New Sm 



THE LITTLE 
OLD FASHIONED 
MUSIC BOX 

VIENNA DREAMS 

THE 

MERRY GO ROUND 
BROKE DOWN 

I'M HATIN' THIS 
WAITIN' AROUND 

THE MOON IS IN 
TEARS TONIGHT 

From WB Prod..\ " Id Galnliai!" 
From 

"RKADY. VVnXINO AND ABLE" 

TOO MARVELOUS 
FOR WORDS 



HARMS, I RCA BIdg., N. Y. 
MACK GOLUMAN. Prof. Mffr. 



Xhe >'«w C«Ui»ii flub Hit 

WHERE 
IS THE SUN? 
OLD PLANTATION 

The Ooiiiedy SniKsiitIo <>r 1037 

Today I Am a Man 

NEVER TELL 
I L OVE Y OU 

I<ovellei«t . of Love Sohks 

Serenade In the Night 

{fflUBIJ^ 



agai 
tour. 



July 15 for CRA and a road 
.Brown possible sub. 



JDoh Bestbr booki at the Con- 
gress hotel, Chicago, was handled by 
the New York bflfice of Rockwell 
O'Keefe. 



Paul Whiteinan opens at the Fron- 
tier Fiesta, Ft. Worth., Tex,, June 26 
after theatre djates..- Does Palace 
theatres, ,Chi., June 5. 



Glen Miller band last Saturday 
(15) opened; two- at the 

Raynpr ballroom; -O'K 
handling. 



Earl Hlnes' band preemed 'Les' 
You Liove Me,* new tune by Marty 
Ardeh and Charles Crafts, in L. A. 



ehny Goodmaii winds up New 
England toui: tonight (Wednesday) 
in Hartfoird. 



Little Jack' Little will open the 
season for the Lakeside Amusement 
park, Denyet, ,Colo., on May 22. 



, Tony Ferriaro now .at the Cinder- 
ella nite club, Deriyer, Cold., with a 
hpor showi 



Jimmy Bittick's prk is filling, an 
engagement at the Cafe de Paree, 
Los Angeles. 



Clear Lake, Iowa (Surf baUrobm), 
has Bob Crosby ifor May 25, and 
Henry Busse for June. 2. 



lenn Miller bowed into the Ray- 
niore ballroom, Boston, last Satur- 
day (15). 



Lee Shelley took up his stand at 
the Van Cleve hotel, Dayton. Booked 
by Rockwell-O'Keefe. 



Paul J Lamoiireaux orchestra tun- 
ing up at Jack and Jill's Tayern, 
iPbrtland, 



Rotpn Point park^ $outh Ndrwalk, 
Conn., raises curtain Sunday (23) 
with Tommy Dorsey orchestra. 



Don Ferdi (Angelo Ferdinando) 
bshid winding up May 29 at Hotel 
Stratfield, ridgeport. 



Earl Peck's combo, Lillian Kaye 
vocalizing, GQCoaniit rdve, 

Bridgeport. 



Joe Venuti. opens at the great 
Lakes Exposition, Glfeyeland, June 
21. 



Zinn Arthur starts engagement at 
Pinebrook, C. C, Nichols, Conn., 
May 27. Mutual wire in spot. 

Les Brown's band made its radio 
debut, from Playland,- Rye Beach, 
N. Y., May 15, yia an NBC wire. ' 



Howard Woods set at, Hollywood 
hotel, West End^ N. J.," by Abner 
Greshler. Has a Mutual line. 



Jolly Coburii.gets ah NBC wire 
when band opens at Claremont Inn., 
N. Y., for CRA on May 26. 



Clyde Lucas booked for Earle 
theatre, Washington, June ll. Week 
of recor ing follows in N. Y. 



Phil Spitalny's crew go to. Dorney 
Park, Ailentpwn, Pa., for a date on 
June 10. 



Maurice. Sherman introes summer 
season for Rivieta, hitery at Lake 
Geneva, Wis., May 28. CRA set. 



johhiiy Miillaney plays for annual 
Warnei: Bros, eriiployees shindig in 
Chicago, May 



ita Rio set for two singles e»- 
route. west; Stoppffs are at Palm 



FLASH !-^Her«>> tiie Xohir-Awuited Score by .lOK YOtlNCi : hihI FKKI) 
Alfl.KRT ,«iiN MAKI>KN'S "JtiVlKltA FOr.l.KKS ot IviiV 

THE IMAGE OF YOU 
I'M HAPPY DARLING DANCING WITH YOU 
A WHIPPOORWILL IN A WILLOW TREE 

LEO FEIST, Inc. • 1629 BROADWAY • NEW YORK 



Island Club, Longview, Tex., Jun« 
11, and Eldolrado Springs, Tex., Junt 
17, 



Louis Fanio* at Avalon, La Crosse, 
Wis., June 2, and at Surf ballrdom, 
Clear Lake, Iowa, June 16. 

Paul Tremalne at Howard Hobb's 
Lakewood Ballrooih, Mahanoy Cltjr, 
Pa , May 31. RAG set. 



Skeeter Piiitner playing prom for 
Pawling (N. Y.) School on Jun« ll. 
Recorded for American May 18., 

Vinbent Lopei plays . for . Stamford 
College prom, Stamford, Calif., May 
21. 



Bob Sperllnir ehters Syracuse 
hotel, Syracuse, N. Y.,- May 21 fpr 
MCA. 



Mitchell Schuster ppens at the 
Statler hotel, Buffalo, N. Y., May 
31. Mort Dennis follows on Jume 2. 



(Dab CailPway does Melody Mill, 
Dubuque, ., June 26, and Appleton, 
Wis., following ni 



ick Gasparre booked for- Mark 
Hopkins hotel, San Francisco,' June 
2 by MCA. 

Kinr, oh earlier 
summer spot bookings, goes into the 
Westchester- iltmpre C., June 3, 
— — —■ V 
Einefson Gill set for Tybee Beach, 
Savannah, Ga., opening June 26 for 
two Aveeks. 



Dick Stabile tenants repaired 
Cpney Island Park, Cincinnati, 
June 26. 



Expiration Dates Differ 
For Air, Hotel, Stage 



Philadelphia, May 18. 

In attempt to stagger;. contract ex- 
piration dates in hotels, theatres -and 
radio stations, Musicians' local here 
will begin negotiations shortly with 
the ethijr outlets. A; A. Tomei, prez; 
jsaid, , . 

Radio termers, all peter in Septem- 
ber. Contracts resulting from new 
confabs would run until March, 1939. 
Until recent contract with theatres, 
these also expired in September, as 
dp the h6tel. parchments. Under 
hew plan, officers of the Union are 
relieved by haying . radio contracts 
run put in March,, hotel in Septem- 
ber and theatre in. December. 



Out of Court Settlement 



N. Y. Federal Judge John W. 
Clancy oh Saturday (15) dismissed 
by consent the infringement action 
brought by the Society of Jewish 
Composers, Herman Wohl and David 
Myerowitz, two of its members, 
against the Palestine- American Film 
Co., Inc., and RCA-Victor. Amount 
of compensation paid the plaintiffs 
in the settlement arranged out of 
cout not revealed. 

Plaintiffs claim the film company 
used the Wohl-Meyerowitz song, 'A 
Heim, A Heim,' in picture, 'Dream 
of My People' and that RGA made 
records of it without their consent. 
Suit was for injunction, accounting 
and damages. 



Russ Lyons Tour 

Detroit, May 18. 

Russ Lyons band, current for past 
several., months at North wopd Inn 
here, depjarts May 26, opening at 
Euclid Beach, (jleveiand, following 
day for ,tw6-y/eek stand. Follows 
this with week of college dance dates 
aind then two weeks iit Idora Park, 
Youngstown; O. 

Early in July , expects to go into 
Bill Green's Gasi , Pittsburgh. 
Successor at/Nprj;hw6od Inn as yet 
urideci 



Gypsy Orch. 

Philadelphi May 18. 

Teva Gorodetsky Gypsy ' Orch go- 
ing permanently into Russian Kret- 
chme, new foreign nitery in Philly, 
with sevehr{)iece ensemble. 

Batoneer member of WDAs house 
band. 



Alex yde, Who was recently 
elected tp mcmbershif) in the Atneri- 
can Society of Composers, Authors 
and Publishers, has placed a nPvelty 
sohg. 'The Girl I Met on the Merry- 
Go-Round' with Jlills Music Go. 
and another, 'Jelly-Fish' with Joe 
Davis Musi 



Lait Week s 15 Best Sellers 



;t Little Old Lady ; . « . . . « . « • < 
Love Bug Will Get Yoii , , . . . 

^September in the Rai 

Carelessly • ^ •'«••:•• 

. Boo H^OO ..;••...«...'• a. «.i(t«.'««« 

♦Will ypu Remember? • 
•Blue, Hawaii . • . • . . . • . . . . . # 
♦Never in Million Yeara 

♦Sweet Xeilani • • . « • , • . . • 

♦Where Are You? . . . ... 

♦There*i3 a Lull in My Life. , . . . 
♦Too Marvelous for Words .v. 
♦Moonlight atid Shadows \ * . . . ; 
♦They CahH Take That Away. 
, It Looks Like Rain; • « • . , • • ^.^ . 
♦ Indicatea fLlmuntcaV song. 



• « • • • 

• « t • • 

• • • • • 

«' • • 

• « • • • 

• « • • • 

• • • • 

t • * « • 

• *' '*' • ' • 

• *.-*. * * 
• '«''•' • '* 



• • i 



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» • • • 

t t[ f f 

> « « • 

■ v-.e'e 
I • • • 

> • • • 

» • • f 

t • • 

• • ••• 

< • • 



• *••••••« « Ghappell 

• •>••.•■•• Sahtly-Joy 

• • ..... . • Reniick 

• . • '• . • a Berlin 

•• .Shapiro 

•'• « • • Schirmer 

< «-* •«•.<< .Famous 

• •> • . .'Rpbbins 
>.'«•..•..' .Select 
.«•:.«!.•••'«. '.' Feis.t 

• • . .... • t ... Robbins 
>;.. i .... . Popular 
. •'. , Hai*ms': 

. . • « • • • • Ch.appell'^.f r 

• . '. . Morris 
production song, fhi 



Pans Theatres 



(Cphtihued from page 16) 



goes on being as revolutiphary as he 
possibiy. can. His recent announce- 
ment that a revUe. would be created 
at: the Comedie, to'be presented some 
time in May, is hard to believe. 
Five of Paris' fprieniost authors, 
Jules Romain, Jean Giraudoux,. Mar- 
cel Achard, Armand Sa.iacrbu and 
Steve Passeur, are reported working 
Pn the reviiel Decora tor.s are re;-' 
ported at work on the sets. What 
the revue will be secret, but 

if one is to judge from what Purdet 
ha$ done since he was appointed at 
the Cpmedie, it will undoubtedly 
be a succ(E!ss. 

Until- the Trocadero opens in July, 
with a revue which will , be retro- 
spective of all Paris> r^V'ties, the 
Theatre des Champs Elya^ies . will be 
considered the official Stage of the 
Expo.: The program planned fpr the 
season is an international cocktail if 
there ever was one. National 
troupes or great artists of the differ- 
ent nations represented at the Expo 
are scheduled for perforniances typi- 
cal of the theatrical iart of their re- 
spective coiihtri 

Philly Ballet 

Among them will be the Phila- 
delphia Ballets for the U, S. A., the 
StanislawskL theatre for the USSR, 
and the leading operatic troupes pf 
Europe. 

Before, the opening of the Expo, 
it iig reported that the Theatre des 
Champs Elysees will present .a new 
woirk entitled 'Liberte.' The play is 
to be the work of sixteen dramatists 
and nine composers, and to be an 
evocatipn of 18 events which have 
proveri decisive . in French history. 

Individual theatres ar deep in 
preparations. Foremost is the. 'The- 
atres du Cartel' grpup— ^the Atelier 
with Charles DuUin, the, Athenee 

ith Lpitis Jouyet, the Montparnasse 
with Gaston Baty, the Vieux-Golom- 
bier with Rene Rocher, and the 
Mathuri, ith the Pitoeffs— are re- 
ceiving governmental subsidies to 
put over as striking a series of stage 
perfprinances as Paris has ever seen. 
Each director has agreed to set up 
Ave works, which shall be played 
alternately throughout the summer 
months. A number bf original pro- 
ductions will thus be presented and 
some of the hits of later years dusted 
off. 

In the music field, syrhphony 
orchestras of different nations, 
operatic troupes, famed leaders war- 
rant a musical season to match the 
rest. Among famed leaders sched- 
uled to cpme to Paris are Toscahihi 
and Bruno Walter. The letter will 
direct the Vienna orchestr'a. 'T.bs- 
canini will stage Debussy's 'Pelleas 
et, Melisande*. he aiiwiays ished 
to see it done, and to be presented 
either in September or Octbb^i:. 



Harold Stern engaged for Pern« 
brook Park, Lucerne, Pa., June 5. 



Eddy Duchin preems at the Pal« 
mer House, Chicago, JTune .1. 



WARREN AND PUBIN 
TOP Tin: xisT viitn 

SEPTEMBER 
IN THE RAIN 



MELODY FOR TWO 



SUMMER NI 



A TBBRIFIO HITt 

HOW COULD YOU? 

CCtMINGt 

WARREN and DUBIN'» 

GAIS.W SCORE i-ROM / 

THE "SINGiNG MARINE'' 



REMICK MUSIC CORP. 

ItM Sixth At*.. BCA Bid*.. M. t. 
CBABUB WABBBM. tnt. Hcv. 



Annoanclair 
^Kr«« Big Soin* Hlto^^^ 
fMiin "8INO AND BR UMW*. 
Tlie. New 20tli Cehtury-Cvt 
.BIuBlcal 

'Sing and Be Happy' 

'What A 
Beautiful Beginning* 
'Travelin' tight' 

Ready Soorit 



\jr MOVIETONE 
MUSIC CORPORATION 

Sam fox PuB^i'.'-iMO tC •■ .'f '> ■ ■ 
1150 SIXTH AVENUE 

N tw YO kK, 



Sandy Melba plays for Sands Point 
Bath eiub. opening on May 28. 



Scott Fisher now under CRA man- 
agement. 




SEASON WITH A 
TERRIFIC DOUBLE 

TWO MELODIC 
CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO TIN PAN ALLEY 



EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATIONS, Inc. 



NEW HITS — 



icture 



"NEW FACES OF 1937" 



OUR PENTHOUSE ON THIRO AVENUE 
LOVE IS NEVER OUT OF SEASON 
IT GOES TO YOUR FEET 
THE WIDOW IN LACE 

LEO FEIST, Inc. • 1629 BROADWAY NEW YORK 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



DANCE TOURS 



VARIETY 



49 



Women Protest Alky Sales 
Night in Community House 
Leased by Orcliestra Heads 

Indldnapolis, May 18., 
Looks like Louie Lowe, and Russ 
Slubbs, local orchestra piartners, 
have istiired themselves up a hornet's 
nest here. Boys, who have for past 
lew winter seasons had the band 
at Indianapolis Athletic Club, signed 
lease on Municipial Gardens, com- 
munity house on White River here. 
Agreed to pay $1,000 rent on the 
sijmmei: location, f torn May 13 to 



VISIT OR WRITE 



TEN OTLOCE TOWN 
(Prom 'Sea Legs') 

tOU'SE PRECIOUS 
TO ME 

A-HU NTIN& I WILL GO 
IT 'S HIGH TIM E 

WHAT A HEAVENLY 
NIGHT 

TWO BOOKING CH AIRS | 

STARDUST ON THE 
MOON 

IF WE HAVE A 
RAINY SUNDAY 

Orchestrations 50c each 



Just Purchased ! 

The EiiKllNh Smnfili 
Bliumba Hit 

^CUBAN 
PETE* 

Watch TIiIh Namber Sweep 
The Country I 

Btlll the Nation's Waltz 
. Favorite 

'SEVENTH HEAVEN' 
NOaYWQQD SONG S'^ 

RCA BUIUMNC-RADH) CITY-NEW YOSK.N.Y. 
. WtlLKOaNHEUEn, C>n.M<r. 



^F<Z>X(/ 



FLASHES 



And Now Hie New 
'Novelty Song; Sensation 
TliHt Is Stopiilng All Shows! 

'THE ORGAN, 
THE MONKEY 
AND ME' 

ON 



SAM FOX 
PUBLISHING COMPANY 

IJSO SUTM AVEHUt 
BC/v OuiLOiNO ,R*0lOCITt 
HtW YORK 




QMERICQN DQLHEIMCO. 



»3| FLOURNOV ST.,CHICnCO. lU. 



qudlHqmuiic A tille printing & enqraving 

I 



RT RCflSOHRBlC PRICC.S 
tjiiMAiii lunnisHto uiJiHoui omroTion 



Sept. 26, with right io peddle drinks. 
Lease covers only titerlbd between 
6 p.m. and legal closing tim« (1 a.m.) 
except Sundays. 

Rest of time the building . would 
be used by clubs, parties, and other 
groups. iFemmes who roost in the 
community house during ■ sunlight 
are up in arms over liquor coming 
Into building, as part of orchestra 
bbyis' lease. Meeting of the. Munici- 
pal Gardens Woman's Department 
Glub was held in L. S. Ayre's down- 
town store yesterday (17), wh^re 
reps of all civic groups organized to 
prevent the sale of alley in the club 
house. 



MUSICIANS IDLE 

SERVICEMEN STRIKE 



is, May 18. 
wide strike Saturday ,(15) of 
bartenders, cooks, waiters, wait- 
resses and miscellaneous help in ho- 
tels resulted in A. G. Schbpp, secy. 
Local No. 2, American Federation of 
Musicians forbidding 171 tooters, 
scheduled work in niteries of 
several of town's biggest hotels; from 
going to work until strike , is. settled.. 

Strike was called when St. Louis 
Hotel Assn. . refused to closed shop 
demands of union. Wage and work 
scale . was satlsfactiory^ 

Jefferson, Statler, downtown hor 
tiels, use dance bands and Coronado, 
Chase and Park Plaza in the. west 
end also add to night biz with oirks 
and variety acts. 

At ChaSe Hotel, Detrpit Ti , in 
town for series with Browns, are 
forced along with guests of hostelry 
to. seek their fodidbr outside of regu- 
lar dining, room after one cook made 
a valiant but ineffectual effort to 
serve ball tossers. 



Mark Fisher's Orch Going 
Into Chl's Cocoanut Grove 

Chicago, May 18. 

Newly reopi.ened road spot, the 
Cocoanut CJrove, will get going May 
28, with Mark Fisher's orchestra on 
the stiand. , 

Fishier comes in from the south- 
side. Bali Bali, where he will be 
replaced by a new orchestra comb!-' 
nation batoned by Billy White,- ether 
and nitery si 



McKays Fonn Orchestra 



Columbus, May 18. 
McKay, whose, band closes 
the 'inter season at the State 
Restaurant Saturday, will join his 
brother, Marion, to put a McKay: 
Bros, orchestra into the Dayton Bilt- 
mbre Kittyhawk Room under the 
MCA banner. 
Opens in Dayton June. 



PREAKNESS BALL CLfCKS 



Baltimore Hoof Affair Dravvs 4,000 
at $2.50 per Capita 



Baltimore, May 
. Preakness Ball,, held here follow- 
ing running of famous turf classic at 
Pimlico, drew 4,000 to the Fifth Reg- 
iment Armory at .$2.50 per. Given 
an added impetus this year by the 
active interest of Alfred (i. Yander- 
bilt, who recently bought into his- 
toric race course, dancd .Climaxed 
week of ballyhoo and promotion. 

Two bands, Tommy Dorsey and 
Ozzie Nelson, featured along with a 
flooi: show that included jack Pearl, 
Tito Guizar, Doris Nolan, Joe and 
Betty Lee and Dbrri Carson kiept 
doings going until 4 a. m.. 

Plans call for even more elaborate 
set-up next year. 



Fitzgerald's Utah Howdy 

Salt. Lake City, May 18, 
Salt Lake dance addicts staged a 
tumultuous home-coming last week, 
honoring Eddie Fitzgerald, who v/ith 
his biand, played a one-night engage- 
ment at the Rainbow ballroom. 

Bandleader was initiated on the 
stage in this town when six years 
old, doing a solo led by 

his father. 



Rilsselly iilogan Booked 

Chicago, May 
CRA niidwest office set a couple 
of summer location spots for Jack 
Russell and Tweet Hogan .bands in 
^neai'.by .territory.. 

' Former opens at the Golfmore 
hotel. Grand Beach, Mich,, May 20 
for a: fortnight; Hogan goes into 
the Central ballroom. Arnold's Park, 
la., June 26 for a solid month. 

y Dorsey and Les Ite bands 
have been booked into the Pan- 
Pacific Auditoriurri, L. A., each for a 
.four stanzai stretch, opening May 21 
on a cbnti uous dance plan. 



FILM SHORT AS 
DANCE DATE 




Asbury t»ark, Maiy 18. 

Ti -up with Pararhount theatre 
pulled 2,300 into Reade's Ca.sino on 
Sunday (16) to hear Iria Ray.Huttqn. 

Walter Reade, who, oWns the Par- 
amount and operates the bqardwalk 
ballroom, shot ' ' , Hutton, 
Swing,' into his. movie house, for 
three: days prior to personal appeaiv 
ance of blonde band leader and. all- 
girl combo. . Thanks to the short, Ina 
drew only 200 less than Benny Gobd- 
rtian did at same spot. Admission 
was 85 cents. 

Charley Boulanger played to 1,000 
at 65 cents on Saturday (15). Art 
Tri i scheduled for Casino on Satur- 
day (22), while-,Tommy Dorsey will 
do a rieturn engagement Sunday (30). 



GORDO N and REVEL Click Ag aih! 

in 20th Century-Fox's "WAKE UP AND LIVE" 
Featuring Walter Winchell, Ben Bernie and Alice Faye 

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS IT'S SWELL OF YOU 
THERE'S A LUU IN MY LIFE WAKE OP AND LIVE 
VM BUBBLING OVER 

Robbins Mu$ic Corporation • 799 7th Ave., New York 



Promoter's Plaster Ties 
$781 on Scranton Date 

Scrantoin, Pa., May 18. 

Counsel for Ru.ss Morgan, orches- 
tra leader, and Consolidated Radio 
Artists, Inc., last week lost but in 
their effort to quash the writ of for- 
eign attachment under which a local 
dance promoter, had . deputy sheriffs, 
seize one-half of the receipts during 
a recent appearance here by Morgan 
and his band. 

Irving Hubshman, who had 
booked Mbrgan to play at a dance, 
had sued for $3,000 damages, al- 
leging that the band leader can- 
celled his appearance two days be- 
fore the scheduled date. When Mor- 
gan, came here later for another 
organization, Hubshman secured the 
writ, of attachment, and the sheriffs 
took $781 from the box office. 

Another suit by Hubshman 
against Morgan is pending in Fed- 
eral court here, awaiting a decision 
by Judge Albert L, wiitsdn as to 
whether or hot court, had jurisdic- 
tion. Morgan is a native bf Scran- 
ton. 



Lou Breese Shuttles from 
Manhattan to Chica&fo 

i-eeise, on a uttle between 
N. .'s and Chicago s. French Ca- 
sinos, ha.s been .set on a new rec- 
ord contract ef 45 weeks' openin{i a! 
the N. Y. location Sept. .1 for CRA. 

..Band .Ls current show' crew at -the 
Casino Parisi ' Chi. 



Chicago Groups Shift 

icago, May 18. 

lock of .shifting band dates around 
town bei set through M. C. A. 
Bernie ummins inio Edgewater 
Beach Hotel on .Tune 12, replacing 
Anson Weeks orchestra. 

riff Wi.Iliam.s into Aragon June 6 
follbwihg Bob .sfay band, which 
was spotted into... the danccrie for 
a ohe■:^yeek slahd Rockweli 
Q'Kecfe. Red Nichbis oor into the 
soulh.si Trianon for a week on 
May -29 upon . cornpleti n bfsla at 
the downtown College. Inn. 



Rushing the Spring bought Spotty Biz 
Depending on tips, Downs of Weather 



Pre-seasbnal opening of sbnrie of 
the eastern one nighter spots has 
had a different effect than What the. 
early warm weathier augured. Ma- 
jority have siiffered from the ensu- 
ing cold and rainy spell ith happy 
outlook tui- ing to gloom. 

Ther have been exceptions all 
around on particularly , good wieather 
but, on the Whole, the three and 
four week sneak on regular pribems 
has been a di illusibn'.r Some baiVds 
have done very well but in plenty of 
other instances even names have 
failed to draw them out with several 
of the top notchers layi n 
hefty guarantees. 

in spots where name.s would hiave 
helped the subbing of 'turkeys' has 
been partly the cause.. Activity of 
namers in location jobs more distant 
single ballroorri: stands and college 
dates has upped the earnings of the 
lesser bands, but the total revenue 
at the booking offices has been les- 
.sened beciause big dough gettei-s 
were busy elsewhere fbr less than 
what the one nighters Would have: 
garnered on that good old guarantee 
basi 

. Twb of the major booking offices 
are bewailing the east's paucity of 
brcheslral name talent. With pro- 
mioters caUi , .writing and fre- 
quently begging for names to im- 
prove ori their bad guesses, the 
bookers have been forced to peddle 
thie tougher sale.s, which, cohser 
quently was felt " b. and 

hpnie tills. 

Things look to ijrighten within a 
fortnight with inauguration pf the 
'regulair' season which was prema- 
turely rushed. 



Goodman Hot in Harlem 



Benny 

Chick Webb's house played 
to a capacity 4,500 at the Savoy balt- 
robm i N. Y.'. rlern May 12 at 
$1.10 per 
away biic. 

After doing 'another . ' Y. 
niter {ft Rbseland la.st night ( 
day ) band goes into theatre route for 
MCA, opening at Metropolitan, Bos- 
ton, May 20. arle theatre, Wash- 
ington and tanley theatre,, itts- 
burgh, follow. 



Unknowns Into LaSalle 

Chicngo, May .18. 

New orchestra, unknown to Chi- 
cagoaris, comes into Ihe LjiSiilJe at 
■the end of this month.. 

It'.s the Harle Smith orchestra, 
which ha? bieen playing the Ohio 
time. Replacing the ' King's . Jcslcr.s 
in the Blue Fiumtsiin room for ' the 
hot season. 



Crosby Ikito Ritz-Carlton 

Rockwell -b'Keefe has set Bob 
Cro.sby and his band into the Ritz 
Carlton hotel, Boston, for a four- 
week .stand. Opening date is July 6. 

Other engagements set the past 
week by Rockwell-O'Keefe are 
Bob Crofiby, Ea.stwpod Gai-dens, 
Detroit, the middle of Augu.st; Casa 
Lonia, the same spot, the end of 
August; pel Gourntey, Book Ca- 
dillac, Detroit, Ma.v 25; and .Glehrt 
Millisr, Raymor ballroom, Boston, 
May 16. 



Busse Into Theatres 

Henry Busse exits the Chez Paree, 
Chicago, for his first theatre tour, in 
two years under the MCA banner. 
Ted Lewis replaces at the nitery oh 
June 2. 

Opener on house trek is Fox the- 
atre, Detroit, June 4. Another unset 
theatre date follows, as does, Earle 
theatre, Wa.shington, on Jxme 18. 



Kay yser, one niting for MCA, 
hits St. Joseph, Mo., May 19; Des 
Moines, la: 20; Lincoln, Neb. 21; 
Sioux City, ., 22; Omaha, Neb., 
23; Sioux Falls, S. D„ 24; Storm 
Lake, la.. 25, and Waterloo. la.. 2(). 




"ThU U 





From lf»l ' Itoiii'.li'M' 




Mi-Koko Isle 



19 BAOAbWAY • NtW YORK. 



-WW wWww^^^^^W 



Prcsenis 



Sttrrlni UICK FO.flAN 
.GREATEST WEStIeRN BALLAD 
YEARS 

MY 
LITTLE 
BUCKAROO 



. WITMARK & SONS 
imt Nlitli Av«,, HVA lllilK.. V. 



TOPS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS 

Another "Foolish things" 



THE YOU AND ME THAT USED TO BE 



The No. 1 Song 



CARELESSLY 



New 



New 



WOULDN'T IT BREAK YOUR HEART 



Coming 



Coming; 



A STAR IS BORN 



LITTLE GENIUS 



GONE WITH THE WIND 



IRVING BERLIN, Inc. 

799 SEVENTH AVE., NEW VGRK HARRY LINK, Gen. prof. Manager. 



50 



VARIETY 



VAUDE— MITE CLUBS 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



• 13 YEARS AGO • 

{From Varbtt ond Clipper) 



Bessie Clayton's act and Buth 
Roye shared the honors at the N. Y. 
Palaee. Cressy and Dayne were 
third. W, C. Fields had his new golf 
skit, but not played up in billing. 
Slcit was from the 'Folliies.' 



Ted Lewis moved from the Palace 
to the Riverside ,.and got a better 
break oil time, closing the first half. 

ven in thiat position he -held 'em 
ipr a. speech.;. 



Gallagher and Shean were play- 
ing two houses (Hamilton and 81st 
Street) and rehearsing for the new 
Follies. Gallagher lost his voice and 
Burns and Wallace did the act for 
itKem, G. & S. merely showing them- 
selves. 



For the first time, on record a 
Negro musical : ran . a full year in 
N. Y. Show was 'Shuff lie Along,' at 
the 63rd St. music , hall. Previous 
recoi'd was Williams and Walker for 
10 weeks at the Park, 



Marcus Loew opiened his Warfield 
theatre, Frisco^ with about half Hol- 
lywood coming up to help get the 
doors open, Premiere was a midnite 
sho\y. ^ 



...Holding benefits in the Manhattan 
opeta. house and ihe Hippodrome, 



"Nmo Appearing 

CLEO BROWN 
ROY ELDRIDOE 

Ahd Band 

AT THE 

"Nome Of Swing" 

In Chicago 

FAMOUS 
THREE OEUOES 

222 North State St. 




Home le Where the Act Is 



Ptanty of elosat «pu« ellmlnatM picking. New In- 
depenilgRet fr*m tranapcrtatrea lahadMle* — nt rulai 
apalnat aboklai In your htm« m »!ia«la — nt lay- 
•ver] batwcen tralna— a- travalllni ad for your act.. 
Every home comfort and canvenlanae. Accommodatei 
t to, S people. Write today for oMiploto detalla. 
Ilrancli' SliowroontB 
1850 IlronOwny, lit Olat St., N. V. City 

AUTO CRUISER 

.t'OMrA>'V OF AMERICA, I>'C. 
. .4410 Vork H(l., Ualtlmore, M«l. 



the National Vaudeville Artists' 
pulled down" about ,$100,ClOO for the' 
pair. Busses were used to carry peo- 
ple from thfe bverfloying iEfipp to 
the less Aviell attended M.O.H. 



Biert Cole, announcer oh the 
•Hagenbeclc-Wallace , show, had two 
advertising stunts on the. trick. One 
plugged banks and the Other aiitos. 
Reputed to be hetting him $20,000 a 
season. 



Small carnival carried Japanese 
dancing girls and charged ISc. . a 
dance. Ahead of th.e taxi dances. 



George M. Cdhaii went to Boston 
to pliay in his 'The Tavern.* His first 
Beantown appearance in 10 years, 
and a knockout. 



B'way shows folding rapidly, 10 
going out the current period. Only 
two headed in. 



Actors' Fund, holding its 40th an- 
nual, meeting, reported disbursement 
of $1,537,984 in charity in that pe- 
riod. 



'Seventh Heaven' given, its N. Y. 
premiere. Over in spite of just an 
average cast.- 



Most producers were cutting costs 
on next season's productioai. No in- 
centiye to go on a heavy nut with 
business poor. 



Music m^n. gunning for General 
Phonograph Corp; Latter was issu- 
ing discs -ahead ;of pubs release dates. 



Goodmao's Ptsbg. Date 
Finally Set After tS Mos. 

ittsburgh. May* 18. 

Contract Stanley, WB deluxer, 
has had with Benny Goodman's band 
for last 18 months will, finally be 
fuifllied week of June when 
swingsteir stops off for week on his 
way west to make 'Hollywood Hotel' 
for Warners. Document was signed 
in January, 1936, with a 'when avail- 
able' proviso and since that time 
management has been striving to get 
a clearance but without any success. 

Last time Goodman played istan- 
ley^ — that was two years ago^he got 
$2,800 for the date. He'll come back 
at more than three times that, $8,500 
to be exact; 



Gene Ford to Stage Local 
Show at Loew'S: Richmond 

Washington, May 18. 
Gene Ford, manager of Loew's 
Capitol here, heads for Richmond, 
Va., June 1 to. stage first all-local 
revue at. Loew's Richmond under 
tie-up with Richmond News-Leader. 

Ford has put on local shows annually 
in Washington and iSaltimore for 
past four years. Richmond stuht is 
skedd^d to open June 25 and run 
full week. House plays valide only 
occasionally. 



The THEATRE of the STARS 




Musicians 

Philly Niteries, Hotels 

Phlladelphi , May 18. 
rive ;of Philly Musicians' Local 
to unionize bands in . niteries and 
hotels got underway Saturday (15), 
When si pickets began pacing 26th 
Centtiry Tavern. Union demands 
ousting of Barney Zeeman orch, 
Which was. union until, fined in De- 
cember for playing under sdale. 
Zeeman refused tb pay and now 
owes about $500. 

Picketing of ■ :the College Inn will 
start tonight (Tuesday), Tomei said. 
He is asking $30 a week per man 
there. Hotels where picketing will 
begin in a few days are Stephen 
Girard, Broadwood, Lorraine and 
Rittenhouse. Tomel will hold a con- 
fab with. Hotelmen's Association this 
week. 



Sam Kramer Sets New 
Aussie Vaude Lineup 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Sam Kramer, Los Angeles booker 
for the Tivoli circuit, Australia, is 
siending a new vaude show to Mel- 
bourne, sailing Ma-y 26. Included are 
Hickey Bros, and Alice, Ted and Al 
Waldman, LaFiayette and La Verne 
and Herbert Loe. 

Robert Parrish, Negro baritone, 
who in Melbourne touring the 
Tivoli circuit, has been set to go 
into the new Larry Adler show 
opening in London, in September: 
Parrish was discovered several 
iinonths ago in an amateur contest 
at the Orpheum Theatre: 



Ralph Wonders Becomeis 
R-O'K Department Head 

Ralph Wonders has been pliaced in 
charge of cafe and vaude bookings 
and ^he pictiirei department, of Rock- 
weil-O'Keefe, Inc., in addition to 
handling radio. Harry Leedy, who 
supervised the picture end of the 
R-O'K organization, will vspend, most 
of his time oh the. Coast. 

Danny Collins will serve as 
Wonders* assistant on the vaude 
agenting. 



Marlowe Staples Dies 

From Trapeze Fall 

Hollywood, May"l8. 

Marlowe Staples died frohi inju- 
ries received in a fall froni a trapeze 
at the Los Angeles theatre May 1. 

She never reigained consciousness: 



Saranac Lake 



By Happy Benway 

Bridges Theatre Corp., Ausable 
Forks, building i new theatre re- 
placing the one recently destroyed 
by fire. 

' Tom (Four Dianionds) Diamond, 
and daughter, Joan, ogling wife and 
mother at the TrudeaU San. 

Joan Mitchell (Hollywood Res,, 
N. Yi) week-ending and eyeing her 
sister, Patricia, at Trudeau. 

At the annual meeting of the 
Good Samaritan i^ltib the following 
officers, were rerelected: Mrs, Wil- 
liam (Mother) Morris, president; 
Rev. Fiather Blais, first v.p., and 
chaplain, and Happy Benway, ex- 
ecutive secretary. At this iheeting, 
Rudy Plank; who is connected with 
the : Will Rogers hospital, was ad- 
mitted, as a life member for his un- 
tiring work for the. showf oiks. 

Eddie Ross (Fotar GJarton: Boys), 
who took Iptsa stages of that 'rib' 
pp, will be Broadwaying soon; 
Write to those you know In Saranac 
and elsewhere who are sick. 



Unit Review 



Manhattan Sereiiade 

(CAPITOL) 

Atlanta, May 16. 

Arthur La Fleur's spectacular 
human top exhibition is one . of the 
best acts ever to hit Cap's stage, aind 
audience reaction at opeher was 
tremendous. Li Fleur is a polished 
performer and goes through his 
routine oh the rings and his iron 
jaw spinning trick with a muscular 
grace that , is amazing. 

Following his ring work, La Fleur's 
assistant, Mary Reap^ a contortionist, 
goes through a .routine of bends. 
Girl is possiessed of ' a 'contortion 
back.' La Fleur then doeis his iron 
jaw stunt,: practically among the 
flies. He does a fast spin, starting, 
himself off with a push froni the 
guy wires and then slows down to 
the point where his body is barely 
turning. Then^ without any mechan- 
ical, aid, he picks up speed. 

Dwan Sisters (Gertrude and 
Bunny) open show with a tap rou- 
tine, followed by Helena . Hayes, 
singer, who warbled 'Sleepy "Time 
Down South' and 'Is It True What 
They Say About Dixie?' 

Singer is followed by Sid Berner, 
mimic, who uses mikie to give, credit- 
able imitations of Boake Carter, Lou 
Holtz, Leo Carrillo and Bob Bum^. 

Clarence Kiiig, aided by his wife; 
Helena Hayes, ..and daughter,. 11- 
year-bld Marie, are on next *in ai 
balancing act. High spot of act 
comes when King, on his back, sup- 
ports two Dwah' Sisteirs and Mrs. 
King on bar across his feet and 
hoists Marie in his hands at same 
time. ' 

Foilbwinig a tap dance by Bunny 
Dwan; Red Taylor, washboard syn- 
copater. and his three hillbilly aides, 
J. W. Pitts, ban joist; Otis Yepmans, 
guitarist, and Lowe Stokes, world's 
champion one-armed fiddler, occupy 
stage for 11 minutes with mountain 
tunes and sorne pert hoofing by 
Taylon 

Billy Morasco and Carle Hay ten, 
comedy team, are on next. Femme 
comes on in one and Morasco is out 
in audience, and after brief cross- 
fire, he clambers onto stage and audi- 
ence discovers he has skates ' on. 
After more chatter, .Morasco goes 
into a tap routine on his £>kates< 

Funsters are followed by La Fleur 
and Mary and finale, during which 
performers come on, act at a time, 
and take a bow. Show takes 44 
minutes and tempo picks up after 
the slow start due to three singles 
at opener. 

Unit is owned by Ross Russell and 
has 18 in company, five of them 
being bandsmen, to augment house's 
seven footers. 

Pic is 'Midnight Court* (WB). and 
biz not as good as usual; Lucct 



'Nother Strike Threatens 
At PUiy's ArcadiaM 

iPhiladelphia, May 18. 

.Art Paduia, entrepreneur of Ar- 
cadia-Internatidhal nitery; here, 
thought his troubles were oVer when 
hie reached an agreement with strik- 
ing waiters, co6k^ and bartenders, 
and they went back to work May lO; 

But Paduia claims he discovered 
one of riiigleadiers of strike in locker 
room smoking when he should have 
been Waiting on tables, and fired him 
two d^iys after he went back to work. 
Uhipn threatens rnore trouble unless 
he is put back oh. job. Matter will 
go to arbitration as soon as perma- 
nent arbiter is chosen. Sides will 
meet today (Tuesday ) to name Judge 
Gerald F. Flood to the post, if he is 
willing to accept. 

Portland Getting 'Nother 
House for Fan Dancers 

Portland, Ore.; May 18. 
ivoli theatre is being redecorated 
for the purpose of giving the butg . 

a. new, vaude spot. Only; spot in towa 
now playing vaude is the two-bit 
Capitpl, which has been doing a 
bonanza biz. 

There's, a definite angle to. the 

b. o. success of. vaude in these parts. 
Headliner has tq.be soirie sort of a 
fan or bubble dancer, with ot with- 
out trimmings. 



MILTON 
DOUGLAS 

CIROiS CLUB 

LONDOrf 

BiEtOADCASTING 
AND RAUIO XIL' 

MH^UABI MORRIS ACKNTT 
JBiiropean RApreoentntlve 
HENRY SHEREK 



Nitery Placements 



Chill Wills and Avalon. Boys are 
at Hollywood Knickerbocker Lounge, 
Hollywood. . : 

Frank Folfo and John Hickok are 
opening the Seven Seas in San Fran- 
cisco. Formerly operated the Cher- 
okee House, Hollywood. 

Del Courtney band, Freda Sulli- 
van, Paul Gordon, DeMar and 
P'Andre; Netherlands Plaza, Cincin- 
nati. 

Ray and Grace MacDonald, danc- 
ers. Savoy T-Plaza hotel, N. Y. 

Lita Moya, dancer. Club Gaucho, 
N. Y. ■ 

Henry Dick, dancer, A. , 
corniic, St. Regis hotel, N. Y, 

Herb Weil, singer, to Hal Hope's 
band, Montclair hotel;. N. Y. 

Jim Moorehead; pianist-si , 
Hickory House, N. Y. 

Don Hooten, novelty, Syracuse ho- 
tel, Syracuse. 



Nitery Review 

TOWN CLUB 

(CHICAGO) 

Chicago, May 12. 
Hottest all-colored show of. the 
year is the reason for capacity all- 
night sessions at this spot, located in 
Cicero, just outside Chicago city 
limits. Club is a highly ornate affair, 
done in modern rhotif, with seating 
for 380, not counting those at the 
large circular bar just, inside the 
door. 

Bar, expansively decoirated, is im- 
portant; jnade so by a couple of per- 
sonality bartenders and a singing, 
team under the name of Al and 
George. Latter do the type of songs 
that induce a stop for a drink. 
.'Main show has Billy Mitchell, old- 
time colored m.c. and comic, as head-, 
liner. Boy with the perpetual cold, 
sings, dances, and is back later to do 
double numbers with Ethel Wilson, 
a hot singer, who also has her own 
spot on the program. 

There is no distinctive line to 
divide singers from dancers; every- 
body does both. But hot. Ruby 
Mason triples by playing an accor- 
dion, and Three Stepp Bros, special- 
ize, in fast acrobatic routines that set 
them up as one , of the top trios in 
their bracket. 

Show is badked up by Ruben 
Brown, m.c, and a six-girl line led 
by Mary Bruce, each of the girls 
doing solo specialties on their own. 
Whole thing is framed as a reviie, 
rather than just a parade of acts, 
and Billy Rankin, whose early trai - 
ing came from Ike Bloom, is to be 
commended for his excellent produc- 
tion, as well as the way the club is' 
run. 

Minimum here is $1, not too stiff 
considering it is a celebrity spot, 
and getting a terrific play from per- 
formers working .in town. Sam 
Henderson's is the okay orchestra. 

Loop. 



MAE 



VIC HYDE 



One Man Swing Band^ 



OPENING MAY 19 

PARAMOUNT, NEWYORK 



into 18th Weekp 
irador, New York 

Mgt. RUDY VAIiLEE CORP., N. T. C. 



AI.WAYS ^VORKINO 

*WHITEY' ROBERTS 

'Sow Booked 
PORTL.tND, M.4INK 
and AVOURN, HAINR 



AGENTS 



Everyday, .C.orivaileaceat 
Greetlne' Cards . , 
In Boxed Assbrtments 
Very Liberal C.ointnissiohs . 
Write for pnrHculnrs 
DOROTHEA ANTEL 
430 West 72nd St. New York. N. I. 



Show People All the World Over^WUI 
Be Interested to Knotv Thot 

THEIR 

_ TAILOR 

("Forni€!rry"at'89,^VBrdour Streety 
U Now Located at More CommodlouB 
Pre'mieieft at 
75/77, Shaftesbury Avenue 
PICCADILLY. tOSDON. ENG. 



Be Interested to Knotv 

SIDNEY FISHER 



THE SHOW PEOPLE'S 
EATEPY IN LONDON 

LINDY'S 

LEICESTER SQUARE 



HERBERT 



HALLID A Y a»d CLARK 

DANCBRS DKLKiilXFl LLY DirFERENT 
THRU DERBY MEET, BROWN HOTEL, LOUISVILLE, KY. 
Mgt. H.VRRY KILIIY - RADIO CITY, ^KW YORK 



VeJoesdayi May 19, 1937 



VAUDE-NItE CLUBS 



VAKIETY 







Marcus Show CEck in N. Z. Hypoes 
Sir Ben Into Vande Revival Plans 



New Zealand, April 27, 

Advent of the A. B. Marcus troupe 
in Auckland had the crowds lined 
up for hours waitiiig to buy seats at 
$1.50. House was. completely sold 
out for premiere arid capacity biz 
has been the rule all along. Show 
goes on a' domihion tour coivering 
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, 
Dunedin and the smaller centers. 

Sam Snider . and George Dean 
came over for the premiere, and A. 
Ben Puller travelled from Suva with 
the trbupe. Sriider-Dean are in 

ith the Fullers .on ..the tour here 
and in Australia. 



Sydney, April 27. 

Impressed by the A. B. Marcus 
show success in New Zealand, Sir 
Ben Fuller declared that he's com- 
ing back into th& Yiude-rievue field. 
Sir Ben said he proposes leaving 
for America in June or July to seek 
suitable, attractions for the 'coritem* 
plated circuit.: 

Explained that the cifcuit would 
not' be as large as the one. he oper- 
ated in the old; days of vaude, but 
would gradually grow into somer 
thing worth-while. About the. time 
Sir Ben leaves for America, his the- 
atre here, Cfystal Palace, should be 
completed. A pic policy opens the 
house, but other . attractions could 
play the spot if required. 



RKO Signing Acts 

. /RKO Is optimistic about its vaudie 
time next season and has already 
signatured two ?icts for fall openings 
at guarantees of four weeks each. 
.Circuit, however, doesn't . mention 
the theatres in the contr^acts. 

Acts sighed are Buster Shaver and 
Olive and George Brasnow, and 
Cass, Mack and Topsy; both agehted 
by Max Tishman. ' 





'37 Philly Nitery Season 
Best in Years Despite 
late Slump; More Spots 



iladelphi , May 18. 

itery business here in season now 
drawing its shutters was best in 
years, both in niimber of spots work- 
ing and size of take. Healthy nuwi- 
ber of hew swizzle and jig points 
hunig out shingles, withi usual per-' 
centage of floperoos, but large quian- 
tity that managed to survive is prob- 
ably surprising even the man- 
agers themselves. 

Despite a sudden letdown in gross 
during past, month, several spots 
which ordinarily pull the curtains to 
duck the heat have decided to give 
the summer months a whirl this 
year. They are hoping for an ihflux 
during .Philly's celebration of the 
150th anniversary of the signing of 
the Constitution. Among those set 
on continuing during the dog days 
are 1214 Spruce and the Walton 
Roof. 

Tv,'p places situated to profit by the 
heat ?^rid which already have felt an 
upswing are the Anchorage and 
Evergreen. Casino, both with di ing 
terraces and opett-air dance floors. 

Reason suggested by some observ- 
ers for sudden flop in takie dating 
piast month is the satiation of ha- 
bitues with padded cheeks and clus- 
ters of giri 'entertainers' who not too 
subtly suggest they be bought drinks, 

oth of these practices have been 
developed to zenith by many ops 
here during, past season. 



BILLY ROSE ENGAGES 
ACTS FOR TWO EXPOS 



The Pait Rooneys, Si", and Jr., plus 
Janet Reade (Mrs. Rooney, Jr.). have 
been set by Billy Rose for the Pi,- 
pneer Palace at the Ft. Worth Fron- 
tier bays Celebrati in Texas, 
opening the end .'of June. Civrtis & 
Allen agented. 

C. & A. office also set. ay Huling 
and Seal and ^yaIter Dare Watt 
with Rose for the Cleveland Expo's 
Aquacade, opening May 29. 



Daniels' New House 

iSeattle, May 18. 
lartihg May 28, Joe Daniels' 
booking office will expand .to " - 
elude an additional vaude week at 
the Rivoli; Portland, 

Mr.s. Joe (Pearl) Daniels is break- 
ing into the booking biz as assist- 
ant to her hubby> 



SHMIED 



After securing passports and cdm- 
pleting all arrangenfients to sail, for 
ai Paris ehgagernent under contract 
with Edmunci Sayag, it is dou'btf ul 
whether Harry Rosenthal and his 
orchestra will make the trip. Pianist- 
conductor expressed disappointment 
over breakdown of financial stipula- 
tions on the French end. 

Rosenthal was booked through 
IrVin ;Marks for a minimum of six 
weeks at the De Luxe, Paris: When 
the cbhtracts were sighed by the 
musician and retufned to Sayag< 
Rosenthal advised the French man- 
ager that he wanted two weeks 
salary for himself and the band, also 
return transportation, being paid -in 
advance. Ariiount involved appiroxi- 
mated $6,500. Sayag refused, thereby 
embarrassing Rosenthal, who had 
terminated an engagenrient at the 
Merry-Go-Round,'' N.' Y;' 'night "^pTjiT,; 
and had . engaged musicians for the 
foreign date. 

Cotton Club Reviiej with a com- 
pany of more than 50, has been re- 
hearsing also in anticipation of ap- 
pearing in Paris during the expor 
sition and also booked by Sayag. 
Reported the date, is aliso 'dependent 
on advance funds from Paris. 



Benay the Bum Seeks 
20G Via Script Plan 

Philadelphia, May 18, 
Benny the Bum, who has been in 
financial difficulties almost since the 
day he moved, to his huge new place 
December 25, is wig-wagging an 
SOS to friends for a quick $20,000 
in cash to shoot the wolf. 

Scheme has been worked out to 
raise the money by is.suance of cer- 
tificates in $100 and $200 its, 
Customer b.iiys a certificate and 
then takes Out his dough in eat.? and 
drinks. has been reported that 
holders :6f the paper get a discount 
on their checks, but the Bum denies 
it. He said $8,700 worth of certificates 
that: have atready been sold have 
all been bought by friends and all 
go at par. 

Part of the money under 
Benny's new deal is. going in the 
interest of a bigger and better show 
to attraiCt: class clientele during the 
su 




Paramount Now No. 1 Stage 
Show Cirpuit with 6 
Weeks— RKO at Its Low- 
est Level with 2— Acts and 
Agents Turning to Rooms 



ins 








Set to Tour 
Theatres by Sponsor 



MEBBE BURLY SPOTS 



Major circuit vau booked 
but of Wew Yor. it ,a new low 

this summer, total of only 13 

weeks, ivided between paramount, 
Loew's, Warner 

Latter, ith only two Weeks, hits a 
new bottom for what was once the 
•No. 1 vaudeville circuit. 

RKO's two weeks will be the Pal- 
ace theatres in Chicago and Cleve- 
land; Loew's also has two: weeks 
open for the dog days, the State, 
N. Y , and Capitol, Washington; WB's 
time this summer will consist of the 
Earle theatres in Philadelphia and 
Washington, plus the Stanley, PittS" 
bUrgh; Paramount is now the No. 1 
stage show circuit* with, isix.' weeks, 
including the Palace and Oriental, 
Chicago; Michigan, Detroit; Metro- 
politan, Boston; Shea's, Toronto, and 
Loew'Si Montreal; booked by Harry 
Kalcheim and Charles J. Freeman 
out of New York. Besides, there's 
the Paramount on Broadway, but 
this is almost strictly a nanfie band 
house rather than vaude. 

Besides the four majors, two more 
ace spots are booked in New York 
These are the Roxy, with Fanchon & 
Marco buying the acts, and the Radio 
City Muisic Hall, for Which Lepni- 
doff, producer, sets the. talent, 
■"*Gfbat curtailment, of major cir- 
cuit vaude time this summer puts it 
directly up to this acts and agents to 
find a hew source of income in the 
njteriiBs. A number, of acts, in fact, 
have already begun . re-routi ing 
themselves with this flobrshow work 
in view. 

Only bright a.spect to the situation 
is the possibility that several of the 
former burlesqu houses in New 
York, shut down a couple of weeks 
ago by License Commissioner Paul 
Moss, will turn to vaude. As yet, 
however, none of them have re- 
ceived licenses to show variety en- 
tertainment. 



Bbiius 



tandaid corned) , booked 
a New York club date, was 
advised at the last minute that ■ 
he would have to double as 
m.c. (Thairmaii the enter- 
meht committee promised him 
an extra something fpr the 
added work. 

At the payoff. 50c was tagged 
onto the comic's .salary. 





PLAN TO END 




*Ice Follies* Adds Ace Det. 
Figure Skater to Cast 

Detroit. May 18, 
. Moritz Ice Follies' unit, headed 
by Kit lei and currently at the 
Michigan theatre here, has added 
Gerievieve Trojan, Detroit's ace. fig- 
ure skater, to. roiiler. Miss Trojan is 
the second, local skater, to turn pro 
in recent weeks. Ted Harper now 
working " ' new 

flicker. 

; Miss who for past five 

I years starred annual 

KiWartis ivals her. arid re- 

cently was. in supporting cast for 
Wis}? Henie's p.a. here, iwill . join 'St. 
Moritz' in coupta days after, gfelling 
used to artificial ice and show rou- 
tines. 



WB Experimenting With 
Names in Philly Nabes 
As Gauge for Summer 



Ma 

Although Fox Theatre has wa.shcd 
u n stage shows for the summer, 
Thursday (13), Warners is conduct- 
ing an experiment that ight mean 
further vau show activity 

du'ri It is moving 

nai 

Sally Rand, who.se unit completed 
a week at' the Earle last THursday, 
moved put to the Allegheny theatre 
in Kensington Ynprthea.st sectipri.) 
following day for a two-day. show- 
ing. Allegheny has been running 
vaude three tihnes a week, .but dis- 
tinctly not of big-time calibre, al- 
though 15 years ago. this house wa.s 
.a front ank Iwo-a-dayer 'Pg 
Keith vaudeville'. 

In the meanti the Fox i.s con- 
ti irig. with only orchestra arid 
organ features. Fay's is stiir unde- 
cided a.s to closing date. arle 
pects to make the grade all summer. 



, May 18, 
check cut- throat 
competition iprtoting 
to mi imum, owners in 

Pittsburgh are organizing. irst 
meeting was called by Gerry 
O'Neill, manager of William Penn 
hotel, and 11 of town's leading sppts 
sent resentatives who •signified 
Willingness to string along. 

Efforts will be made to establish 
imiforrn mi iriium ehecks or cover 
charges aU over city, with an eye. to 
elirninating two and four-bit com- 
petitive spots. 

Cafe men have iscbvered 
that it's not been' easy to do away 
with prohibition habit of customers 
carrying their own liquor and idea 
is to fix s corkage price that will 
make that, practice unprofitable. At 
present, some have corkage charges 
and others don't, but in most cases 
it's only 50 cents, someiinries less. 
Organization intends to. shoot . that 
tap Sky high in effort to break up 
hip-totihg altogether. 
. Sm Jler niteries are refusing ip go 
in with organization, clairriihg their 
trade in no way; conflicts or com- 
pares with that pf class spots. 



NITERY STRIPPER PEELS 
OFF $100 FINE IN DET. 

Detrbit, May 18; 

Fine of $100; or 90 days in jail, was 
dealt out Friday (14) lo rincess 
Chang Lee. stripper, arr stelci two 
weeks ago in the opening shot of a 
police cleanu or on, loi:al niteri 
She paid the ne and .was ,then or- 
dered to leave town immediately; 
Manager said she is booked for two- 
week .'5tand in Ci innati. 

Second indccohcy charge, lodged 
against dancer .following a second 
arrcs't the next night, as dro 

Fetchit to Finish Philly 
Date, Crash Interrupted 

Philadelphia, May 18. 
tepin* Fetchit, who was .hurt in 
auto' srriash ..several .week.« ago, will 
make fir.st appearance following re- 
iea.s from Harlem ho.spitail,. New 
Yor , at the Earle here .starting Fri- 
day (21). Fetchit. playing the 
.Earle, when injured. 

Had appeared for two days 
now will finish out the week. 



Loew's will start slippi its New 
York audiences a commerciinl stage 
show starting next Week, under fne 
gui.se of a radio broadcast. Will loiir 
Jay C. Flippen's . amateur hour on 
station WHN, which is under Oxydol 
spOh$oriship, " different Met ro- 
politan theatre every Tuesday night, 
the broadcasts taking place from the 
stages ail in view of the payees. 

Amateur hour in the. past has been 
broadcast .strictly from liOew's Zieg- 
feld on Seventh avenue, but Loew's 
is now figuring it as a b, : o. builder- 
upper in those houses equipped with 
.stages but without vaude. for 
time. 

First house, other than the ieg- 
feld, the shpw. will play will be the 
Paradise, Bronx, next Tue.'Jday CZ.*)). 
Following week, broadcaist will be 
held from the stage of the Vaiencla, 
Jamaica. . 

Some years ago Loew's attempted 
commerciallyrspohsored stage shows,, 
not broadcast but partially paid for 
by radio advertisers. Payees; how- 
ever, soon showed they wpuldn't 
stand for living advertisements and 
the commercial shows were dropped. 

In the instance of the Flippen 
show, only the theatres benefit 
financially. Neither Flippen, the 
ams, nor the sponsor of the broadcast 
get any share of the grosses iii the 
Loew. hou.ses. 



N. 0. Archbishop Hits 
Niteries' Lax Morals; 
Station Bans Stripper 



New Orleans, May 18. 

Strijapers, nudity and drinkirig in 
New Orleans niteries were scored 
last week by Archbishop Rtimmel in 
an address before several thousand 
Catholic Sodality groups; when he 
charged that the city adhiinistration 
was neglecting to correct moral cbn-r 
ditiohs here. 

'We are short-sighted indeed,' 
Archbi.shop declared, 'if we 
cleaning up. our city streets and 
boulevards and at the same lime 
neglect to maintain decency in our 
moral life.* 

The new club LaPlace, hot spot 
near here, was jerked off the air 
by WWL, operated by Loyola imi-? 
vcrsity, because a stripper was fea- 
tured in the new floor .show Thurs- 
day (13). WWL Icstno time in mak- 
ing, it known that it would c;irry no 
broadcast frorh a club that featured 
,strip tea.sers, and the club camt right 
back with the announcement that it 
would feature no dance that did not 
meet with the approval of all con- 
cerned. 

So Patsy Filmorc opened and 
clo.sed in one ight. She was re- 
placed by Shirley Ciay, aero hdoltr. 



PHILLY'S SEMI-ANNUAL 
VICE CLEAN-UP BEGINS 



Long Tack Sam Okay 

After Op in Australia 

Liez. Au.slralia, May IB. 

Lpng Tack Sam, Indi.an head of 
.«lanclard American vaude acl, un- 
derwent an opcrntion. heie la.«t wcc.k. 

Condition is okay, 



Delmar's Borscht Spot 

Harry Delrhar is set Ip prothice the 
shows at Grossingcrs in the Cats- 
kills. .Ken. Nichols will write them.' 
Deal was rlo.sed last week. P'onchdn 
& Marco had the spot last .year, 

Dclmar now picking chorinct, a/id 
other 



ay 18. 

Operators of all niteries u:i1h 
shows have been ordered to a 
in his office Friday (21) by 
S, Davis Wilspn as the openi 
of Philly's semi-annual 
clean-up. 

Proprietors' and rrianagors 
told by ilizzoner just what they can 
have and what they can't have 
the ay of entertainnicnt, lie 
nounced in advance that female i 
pcr.sohaiors arc nixed, and definitely. 
Child entertainers; ither .i)ight or 
arc also, put 
iiyor also has ordered the city's 
police captains to check serving of 
drinks to minors in tap rooms and 

ilo .<;pots. Inspection of dance 
was also demanded. 



Jane Froman to Chi 

.Jane' Fro an is sot for the. wee 
ul .luiie 18 at the Palace, Chicaj-'o. 
William Morris office agented. 



52 



VARIETY 



VARIETY ROUSE REVIEWS 



Wednesday* May 19, 1937 



MUSIC HALL, N. Y. 

Mr. Rockefeller's big house has one 
of. its best shows on the platform this 
week. With 'Shall We Dance' (RKO ) 
on the screen, house program plot- 
ters probably^ figured oil a holdover 
or two, so gave the show a bit, more 
attention, nieahing a' sweet job all 
around and a lineup which will get 
. custom jeturn. 

; 'Merry May' is the titled with Leon 
Leohidolf getting production credit, 
Bruno Maine in for the set bows and 
costumes^ by Marco Montedoro^ Wllla 
Van and Alfred Sterii. Just as well 
thait they all get their, bows in early; 
they deserve :'em. 

First item is 'Circus Is in Town',' 
^meaning Cilly Feihdt .ahd. her excel- 
letit white horse, followed by Nicho- 
las Daks and the Corp»is de Ballet. 
-That gets the show off fast but, more 

■■■■ than that, ballet girlis have their bit 
0f fun this week. Handed unusual 
costumes, Florence Rogge, the major 
domo of the Hall's ballet, has her re- 
venge on the Rockettes this week. 

^ It must bother her to have people 
constantly tailking about how g^>d 
the linei is. So this week the ballet 
does its work, in almost, a Rockette 
manner, mcluding^ some precision 
work and some line, formations. It's 
good, too. It would seem to prove 
that precision may not be the holiest 
of the holy in a stage woi>k because 
the' ladies, of the ballet do a' bit of it 
and then veer off to their toe forma- 
tions. Intended ais a jibe or hot, it 
is, nevertheless, oiie of the most ef- 
fective routines the ballet has ac- 
complished iiiweek^ and a liilu. 

Second item is 'Aristocrats of the 
Road,' which ttieans the glee club. 
They have a special number this 
time, written by Maurice Baron and 
A. Stillman and .not at all bad. 
Dressed as hobos, they clown around, 
sing a number of solos ih various 
idioms and . are generally fairly 
amusing. For the Glee Club this is 
a great accomplishment since it, or- 
dinarily, is a letdown in the pro- 
gram. Not only is it iacceptable fun 
this week, but the appearance to- 
ward the end of thfe number ojt a 

■ freight tfain which rattles across the 
stage, which the lads hop, and which 
then chdoi-choos off into the distance 
is a distinct scenic asset of the sort 
that only the Hall manages to give. 
^ Ray and Trent follow in an inter- 
lude of acrobatics which is tops. Two 
lads are about, the best hand-to-hand 
workers seen arotmd. 
■ Finale is 'In LondOh.V appropriate 
on coronation Week. It's the Rock- 
ettes, working harder than ever and 
Vindicating themselves beautifully, 
despite the early ballet business. 
These kids are still what they are— 
the hest line in captivity and a flash 
outfit which, is tops, bar none. Gene 
Snyder has given them a march rou- 
tine this time, which is backed up 
costumes and capes and 

a thriller. 

Fore and aft are Richard Leibert 
at the organ, as usual, the newest 
March of Time' and Erno Rapee 
leading the orchestra through George 
Enesco's colorful, if rerhiniscent, 
•Rumanian Rhapsody.' Kauf. 

MET, BOSTON 

Boston, May 13, 
A long series of orchestra bookings 
at this de luxer has earned tot the 
Met stage such trick nicK-names as 
'bailiwick of the bands.' Thjs Week 
its Don- Azpiazii and his Havana 
Orchestra. Next week it'^ Benny 
Goodman. 

Management rightly assumes that 
Azpiazu means little or nothing 
around here as a marquee name, but 
an explanatory trailer run off in 
introduction to his act takes care of 
that angle okay. Although an excel- 
lent organization for club work, this 
Havana band is no top-flighter for. 
stage work in its present setup. 

Musically outfit is aces', and there 
are^ specialty acts that get good at- 
tention, but overall pace of the unit 
was retarded on opening show by 
Azpiazu's long trek from his conduc- 
tor's stand to the mike down-stage 
for each announcement. These are 
slow, deliberate, but clear in enun- 
ciation. Sock of the unit is Galli- 
Rini, accordionist. This lad knows 
his squeeze bOx; arid, to label him a 
vJi*tuosp of that instrument seems 
reasonable. Adept at hoth classical 
and pop play-offs, his most sensa- 
tional display of kieyboard . cutups 
comes in his, interpretation of 
•Rhapsody in Blue.' 

'Peanut Vendor' by a vocalist froni 
band. arid, a zippy rhumba by Carito 
are well received; as is the excellent 
solo dancing of -Adelina Duran, in 
two specialties. 'Desperation,' an 
•Ol' Man River' type of Cuban plaint 
about the miseries of: sugar planta- 
tion workers, is just too sad and 
lengthy for yaude audiences. Azpiazu 
closes with a vobal about the 'Good 
.Old USA' that rings as true as a 
lead quarter. 

Buster West in nextrto-shiit nearly 
saves the show ith his clowning 
and nifty eccentric danee. liberally 
punctuated with pratt falls; and his 
partner, Lucille Page, registers 
handsomely with her torso-twists 
and aero dance specialties. 

Tonimy Trent, in the deuce, gives 
the proceedings a dandy stari-off 
with his puppet show. First part 
brings on Trent; uniseen behind an 
apartnient house set-piece. Uoy 
puppet on rooJt ;neets girl puppet in 
window bielow: and a laughable, 
roughouse, slapstick Punch and 



Judy sequence has in its cast .a 
crocodile and DeviVfor added spice. 
Secpnd bit. is a truckin' number by 
a puppet, guided, by Trent on stage, 
and in full view. Shbwriianly act, 
adaptable , to many t^pes of stage 
shows, and apparently a natural. lor 
niteries. 

Mariori, clever, youthful femme. 
juggler^ has a conventional^ but ex- 
tensive bag of tricks^, but does not 
Sell them with the iine'sse thatniarks 
more ' experienced acts. 

Line of 24 girls has three numbers, 
best of which is the Spanish routine 
blended into the band unit. As~ 
;usual, settings arid lighting; are tops; 
and production up to standard. : 

;.A11 in all, the stage supplies the 
filni customers a pleasant interlude 
between pix; but "Turn Off the 
Moon' (Par), requires more support. 

Fox, 



ROXY, N. Y. 

Little b. . prospect in the current 
bill, Filrn is 'Speak of the Devil' 
(GB), .and. the stage show is just a 
routine . dish front the Roxy'is cook: 
book. Acts include a niiinic, a roller 
skating foursoririe, boy and girl - tap 
duo, a freak comedy trio, a femmie 
hoofer, and the Gae. Foster unit. Not 
a' wallop in the lot. Mickey Mouse,' 
'Moving -Day,' helps, but ::can't save 
things, . ' - 

As the headliner, Steve vans' is 
considerably less than a.panic. Offers 
same impersonations he's been doing 
for years— iand they're ho better and 
no woirse-than .'before. Mussblini bit 
.contains one unpardonable shred of 
vulgarity^ soused Polish laborer 
needs cutting.. 

. Lowe, Hite and Stanley, freak com- 
edy team, gets its : Idiughs via ihcon- 
gruoxis contrast in sizes. Trio include 
a giant, k norihal sized man arid, a 
midget. Roughhouse stuff, always 
working on the difference in their 
heights, winding up; with simple tap 
rbutine. One funny idea, with vari- 
ations. . 

Four Corinets, mixed, roller skaters,, 
keep the action whirling with vari- 
ous of the accepted tricks lor acts of 
the kind. Have a few fairly com- 
plicated variations but need flash 
finale and more showmanship to 
make the stuff look tougher. 

Chester Fredericks and . Gloria 
Lane are a tap pair. Stick to fast 
routine without offering anything 
novel; Fredericks is :6n for solo re- 
peat with several unusual hoofing 
gyrations. Boy is a comer, 

Bobby Thompson, irl hoofer, 
sports 'a stunning costuriie. Errs in 
trying to sing. Gae Foster girls have 
three routines, inevitably on the 
Coronation motif. Hohe. ' 



Wintergarten, Berlin 

Berli , May 3. 

Between Spring and. the circuses 
beirig here and a bill at the Winter- 
garten' saris headlines, sans almost 
everything,' there's hardly . any in- 
ceritive for the folks, to ''spend over 
two hours there in the already over- 
warm auditorium. 
. iSovereign, the Diabolo King, does 
tricks such - as . shipping the diabolo 
on a string over the heads of the 
audience to: the balcony, where it 
enters ai box, explodes, and comes 
back decorated with, streamers. The 
femriie duo, Korff and Beckendorf, 
whose rightful place is a small 
nitery, fill in with a couple of trill- 
ers. The two.Tilibs snap things up 
with a few minutes of nifty bal- 
ancing, including the double hand- 
stand. Second chap balances himself 
on thp back of the neck of the, under 
man. Good stuff is a complete floor 
turn, done while keeping his part- 
ner in a handrstand. Young fellows, 
a neat act and well received. Carlton 
Sisters, plus Indian clubs, do all the 
standard stunts, including a black- 
out^ with the <:lubs illuminated. 
. Adolf Geridrell, . who is the big 
feature on both , halves, of the bill, 
is an m.c. with plenty of class. He 
haS;gags to suit all tastes and knows 
Haw to feed 'em. 

: First-half closer is just so much, 
bunkum. Ballyhooed as the only guy 
in the kripw about the riiagic. Hindu 
rope trick, he dbes: nothing but a 
mighty clumsy job of getting the 
rope stiff and vertical. Then a little 
.kid scrambles up and down arid that 
is the : act,, with the Hiller jgals in 
the background looking Oriental. 

Albert Powell, on the .flying 
trapeze, pleases with his dips and 
contortions. Edith Crocker, with her 
living . teddy-bears is liked by the 
grown-ups as well as, the kids. Papa 
bear on a. bike nd baby propelling 
itself on a ball go pVer big. 

Gpndi'eU, with some more of his 
smart Wordage, garners . pilerity of 
laughs and gets things set for the 
American hoofers, Mae Wynrt and 
Zella Co. Two - women - one - man 
dance tri is followed by a Negro 
nunriber, with eccentiric, radiUmed 
costumes that gets a terrific hand. 
Their typewriter stunt, two men ari(J 
two girls tapping: up . and down the 
keyboard has to be encored, 

Rolf Hansen is next-to-closing 
with an assortment of sleight-of-^ 
hand tricks. Lighted candles arc 
wrapped into paper, but handker- 
chiefs come out While the candles 
are found burning under the . table. 

Hiller girls close with . the milir 
tary march which went' over so. big 
last month. 



EMPIRE, PARIS 

Paris, May 3. 

Variety and entertainers of a bet- 
ter caliber^ bring this offering closetr 
to the flrst-class show promised when 
Jules. Marx repijeried the hoiise a litr 
tie more than a riionth ago. Some of 
the acts fall into the seeri-tob-many 
times, category, • but: that doesrft 
hurt too much. Topping the well 
mixed lineup is Cecile Sorel. 

Openers are the Trois Ricert, two 
men arid womian, comedy dancers. 
Routine is similar to one on last 
show here, .but they pull oik. for: 
this spot. 

Suzette and Casser, girl acrobatic: 
pianist, follofw. Playing while, bent 
over , backwards stairiding on the 
piano wins approval. ." 

Elroy, ritinus his arms, works en- 
tirely with his feet- Such tricks as 
shooting a gun, drawing a picture, 
uncorking a bottle and playing a 
trumpet. . 

Marguerite; Gilbert follows with a 
mixture, of songs and imitations that 
pulls applause steadily. S6ngs are 
of the type liked by the localites 
and she: imitates male voices urn- 
Usually well. Attempt at eominUnity 
sing^ at wind-up falls flat; 

Walter Powell and Elroy were 
both seen recently at the Cirque 
Medranb. ;. Powell's offering this 
tiriie is Short. Only a couplg" of the 
more easy ones and a . backward 
somersault, 

Mauricet is one. of the big names 
in Paris music halls and his abil- 
ity to grab laughs seerris to be gor 
irig ott forever. His pioetry about 
World everits and celebrities always 
goes well. Leji' Aurora, three men. 
One Woman acrobatic bicycle riders, 
wind up the first half. Head baianc- 
irig comprises most of act, with a long 
stand which includes dismounting, 
climbing over a ladder and remount- 
ing bicycle. 

Intermission music is furnished by 
violinist M. Lhoumet, prize Winner 
last year at the National Conserva- 
tory. Serge Glykson wields the 
baton. „ , 

Playlet Which stars Cecile ..Sorel 
has been seen on another music hall 
stage. It is Written around Moliere's 
'Misanthrope' in which Mme. sorel 
made her name as Celimene. 
Mauricet ptlays opposite with a sup- 
porting cast of Georges Sellier, Lil- 
lian Gills, Georges Grey, Carmen 
FieUry and Mony Dex. Grey is a 
newcomer to the Paris stage^ in;, real 
life a Hungarian prince. 

Piece is well-acted throughput. 
Motive for comedy, iri skit is good 
and laughs are constant. Mme. 
Sorel turns in a bit . Of work that 
Well: demonstraites her acting ili- 
'tics 

Lord Ain Cflicks with his singing 
of all four parts of the quartet 
scene from 'Rigoletto.' 

Cappella and Veronique are the 
most graceful pair of dancers seen 
recently in this type of house. Cap- 
pella has looks aplenty: and her sum 
body -moves iri an unlabored flow, 
lya offeirs. some well-liked toe tap- 
ping during the changes. 

Les Liazeed again prove that t*^ey 
are number one for a fast closing 
act Their speed pyramid building 
and air springing has been seen fre- 
quently in Paris arid always scores. 

Hugo, 



CHICAGQ, CHI 

Chicago, May 15. 
Couldn't make it much of a show 
at the Chicago this week: They vp 
got some acts out there trying to do 
their stuff, but when it's all put to^ 
gether it amounts to about ^0 min- 
utes of nothingness. Three of the 
four turns on the bill work in one, 
despite, the fact , that the Chicago is 
known as the big production house 
of the niidwest. Customers come to 
this spot iexpectirig to see. bulk and 
grandeur, and what they get here 
ciirreritly is a single in one, a two- 
act in one and a singing act, also in 
one. 

That singing, act rates comment as 
being -unworthy of this house.'. For- 
merly the nucleiis of Ben .Yoist's Var- 
sity Eight, boys have changed coats, 
added, a quartet and emerge as ..the 
'12 Singing Ensigris.' Still doing 
'Song of the Vagabonds,' repertoire 
out of 'New Moon,' finishing with a 
iriedley, Of college songs, done with 
appropriate gestures, , 

Another act that doesn't rate is 
Mady. and Cord, novelty acrobatic 
couple, evidently European. Tiny 
four-foot gal doing some tumbling 
with six-foot man. It's neat enough 
novelty tumbli but hasn't the 
basic quality to .score, iri a house of 
this standard. Would have beiert a 
surefire act at the OrientaK- 

Sybil Jason, kid from films, holds 
the top spot: on the show, and turns 
in. a nice array of vocal numbers. 
Wisely has been supplied with spe^ 
cial material and riovelty sorigs. 
Youngster works hard aind earn- 
estly on songs, arid puts them over. 
However, poor judgment is used in 
permitting her to do that Garbo and 
Mae West impression. Completely 
unsuitable, and clashes with the rest 
of the tiirn. 

Out of the standard files of vaiide 
acts comes Owen McGiveney, who 
turns in the most solid performance 
and score of the bill with his protean 
act. Remains a good quick-change 
act, and serves as a welcome relief 
from the constant stream of hoofers, 
tumblers and singers that go to make 



up the great bulk of variety, bills 
these days. 

Picture is 'Turn Off : the - Moon' 
(Par). Business wasn't so hot at the 
last show on Fridayi and indications 
are that busiheiss will continue on 
the meagre side all week. Gold, 

TOWER, K. C. 

Kansas Cityj May 15. 
if house wants to get out of the 
family trade classification a few: 
more acts like Harry Sayoy.and 
Gamer, Wblf e and Hakins should 
turn the trick. These lads throw in 
some' pretty blue lines. Regrettable,: 
as both turns are capable, of doing 
okay by themselves saris the in- 
digp. 

: Garner, Wolfe and Hakiris,. billed: 
as Ted Healjr's Three, Stooges, 
among other things, use ih tbto: the 
material they, used in their pic, 'Hit 
Parade' (Rep) Which is currently on 
the Tower screen. Their antics on 
the . screen ' sell .best as boys look 
much cleaner via the camera.. 

Harry Savoy spends: a lot of time 
kidding the' audience, They likie it.' 
Midway in his turn he brings oh 
Louise Tobin, a looker, for cross-fire 
that doesn't take. After her brief 
stay. Savoy gathers moihentum and 
closes with the mob in his-pocket. 

Toy arid Wing, good looking Chi 
nese tap team,, sell their standard 
tap routines nicely. Need a better 
opening as patter material is pretty 
weak: A winded tapper is still a 
better dancer than a comic. 0 

Bobby Short, ten-year-old Negro, 
Ellingtons a piaho and thinpipes the 
vocals. Alert youhgster .with plenty 
Qf showlhanship, his dental flashing 
on completing tricky keyboard pas- 
sages, has plenty of what it takes 
Arrangements are all from the same 
stamp, . however. This is the act 
they talk about on leaving the house 

Harlan . Christie does a nice job of 
bringing on the acts in his twittery 
style. Lester Harding uncorks a 
couple of pops that get fine returns. 
House line fores, centers and afters 
in three routines lacking in produc: 
tion. Girls need something pretty 
badly in place of that slinky-arm 
gesture. There must be a couple of 
other ways in which to get across 
the idea of sophistication. Hoyt. 



STANLEY, PITTS. 

Pittsburgh, May 14- 
Marquee being, shared this Week 

by Benny Meroff and Phil Regan 

Neither particularly a b.o. name, but 

Paul Muni and Miriam Hopkins on 

the; screen in 'The 'Woman I .Love 

(RKO) should take care of that. end, 

and, once insidCi there'll be no com 

plaints from. the customers.- 

Meroff on his own. is show enough, 

and Regan's tossed in as ^an added 

attracti .Irish tenor, who's come 

along .rapidly since he jpade his air 

debut in 1932, works in the middle of 

the band act with a male ac.c6mpa 

hist at piano, and slings a flock of 

ballads across the platter with true 

Erin , fervor. He has an unprofes- 
sional manner, allways. a selling point 
for a performer; and good vocal 
equipriient that he sells with an en- 
gaging self-effacement. Comes 
through with the inevitable 'When 
Irish Eyes Are Sniilirig' for the high 
spot of his turn, and could have 
taken: a couple of added encores, but 
sniartly bowed out at the peak. 
. Meroff has a new rhythm style he 
picked, up for the band in New Or- 
leans a couple of months ago. It's 
called 'Jibe,' and an offshoot: of 
swing that goes in for ' even more 
stinging wood-Wind effects. '. A ijibdi- 
fication of out-and-out jam, it's paced 
by Sal Frahzella, Meroft's hew clari- 
netist, who's the closest approach to 
Benny Goodman in years. Arrange- 
ments have beeri made for entire 
band,, but best results ait present are 
froni a six-piece combo. . 

Otherwise; the Meroff act is pretty 
much as was, a rapid-fire, slug-nutty 
hour, that never lets up for a. ino- 
ment. ■ M.eroff goes through' his 
whole bag. of tricks, play irig practi- 
cally every instrument in the catalog 
^juggling, cartooning, dancing, etc. 
But his own stuff by no. means hogs 
the proceedings, and he parcels out 
the honors among a flock of assist- 
ants. 

Chief, among the Meroff assets is 
still rubber-faced Jackie Marshall, a 
clown whose forte is moronic hilari- 
ty. When he isn't doWn front, he's 
creating an uproair on the starid with 
his antics. Another comid who's 
good for flock of ' laughs is Larry 
Powell, Who sharpens off most of his 
amusing innings With Marshall. 

Two femmes with . Meroff are in 
the family. Florence Giast (Mrs. 
Meroff) does a single song,, with rib- 
bing interpolations by the better half 
for a . sock turn, and Miss. Sonya, 
maestrb'S . sister, a vocalist ' who 
works early jn the act and punches 
across a couple of pops in expert 
fashion. 

For his encore flnale Meroff beats 
the crew into another lather of 'jibe,' 
arid mob's reaction to the while heat 
rhythm indicates that the band defi- 
nitely has something. 

pave Broudy's pi.t outfit delivers a 
brief but effective overture, and Par 
newsreel and cartoon roui>d out bill 
Slight drizzle resulted in slow ooen- 
ing. Downstairs only about three- 
quarters, and balcony prett" ."'Snrse. 

Cohen. 1 



STATE, N. Y. 

irst theatre dat^ Paul Whiteitriaii 
has played in some tim^, and the 
first time for the ace bandsman, in 
the number bne Loew house, iie 
provides excellent jnusical diver- 
sion and a varied program in which 
the specialists score. IsTotable that 
there are no femme entertai 
the butfit, and they aie not missed, 
Halving: come fr6m,a.four Weeks' 
dafe at the Drake hotel, Chicago 
Whiteman is scheduled there for a 
theatre date after playing Washing- 
ton. The band then heads for Fort 
Worth for a second slimmer. Ar- 
rangements call lor Whiteman's ap- 
pearance in the Texas stand a Week 
prior to. the opening, June 20. 

.For the State showing the act was 
routined for one hour, but is cut to 
48 minutes. Playing schedule calls 
for five shows daily, with a sixth 
agreed for Saturday and Sunday 
There are 27 men batoned by 
Whitenian when he opens with 
strains from the inevitable but al- 
ways welcome 'Rhapsody iri Blue' 
Plenty of strings used, there being 
nine fiddles and two cello, plus a'' 
bass.. 

Corking semi-classical medley. 
•Waltzing Through the Ages,' includ- 
ed 'Blue Danube,' 'Merry WidoW ' 
,'Good Old Summertime' (with a 
street band interlude) and 'Three 
o'Clock in the Morning.' 'Danube' 
seertis the favorite, judginjg from the 
audience response. Only orie com- 
edy dash f rom Goidie, the trumpeter. 

The warblers, Bob LaWrerice and 
James Brierly, are given billing 
along with several musicians who 
hayis been with Whiteman for years; 
At least another deserves the saine 
on merit of. performance. He is Al 
Goliadoro, a marvel with the saxo- 
phone,: also playing a hot clarinet. 
Golladoro's fingering of the stops 
with his sax is a revelation. He 
does 'Nola' as fast and as fault- 
lessly at Lopez on the piano. 

Lawrence uses the mike when he 
sings 'AH, Points West,' Written for 
Whiteman hy Rddgers and Hart; 
Bandsman mentions the composers 
twice. Brierly tenors Gene Buck's 
infectious 'A Pretty Girl Is Like a 
Melody.' For the swing number, the 
top. brasses- feature Teagarden, 
Triimbauer and Teagarden. 

•Men are dressed- in white flannels 
with black stiff -bosomed shirts and 
White ties. Whiteman and his men 
fuiiy entertain With the Class that 
has always been his. Screen feature 
is 'Personal Proi>erty' (Metro). 

ibee. 



CAPITOL, WASH. 

Washington, May. 16. 
House takes four straiight acts this 
week and whips 'em into a -sock 
revue through putting Collins and 
Peterson in dual m.c; assignment,, 
working :Sy'bil Bowan in gags with 
them,, and splitting the American 
Rockets into three appearances. 
House prodiicer has managed it With- 
out sacrificing individiiality of any 
act, and effect is infornial without 
being loose. 

Opens with Twelve: Rockets' cow- 
boy tap spectacle,- finishing with nice 
solo in same vein. Collins and Peter- 
son burst from: opposite 'Wings^ make 
Way to ceriter mike on runway be- :, 
fore pit and patter explanation of 
joint emceeshipv Peterson • doing it 
straight arid. Collins, in gal's smock, 
for . no apparent reason, warning 
people that, no matter what his pal 
says, it's a bad show. 

Three Arleys on next in two for 
smash perch act. Trio wastes no 
time going through head-to-head 
laidder climb with girl up, chair bal- 
ancing on pole With man in the air, 
femme doing heiad stand atop pole 
in turn balanced on man's head, arid 
the finish in which the girl is twirled 
from the slender rod in midair. 
. Collins and Peteirson, next,- give 
the folks Sybil Bowan, who . has 
piano on stage but Works: entirely 
alone. Routine, which; includes. Bea 
Lillie songi: Gloria Swanson dance 
arid has-beeri film star, is sairie she. 
did earlier in season, but they still 
like iXi and Mrs. Roosevelt imitation, 
Which she is sriiart enough not to 
try. to toPi has 'em roaring. : 

Collins and . Peterson on again to 
introduce Helerie .Denriizon, star of 
Rockets, who works as separate act- 
under this week's . pilan. Folks with 
an eye" for beauteous toe dancing 
against sylvan backdrop give it nice 
hand, and bubble dance twist makes 
for enough novelty to justify using 
bit alone. . C and P. return, this time 
for their big spot Collins, working 
in knee breeches a la Coronatipn.. 
gives English patter up-to-date, an- 
gle.- and, as always, boys get. m 
plenty of political gags for /capital 
cpnsuiription. a^iss Bowan slips 
out onto runWay during' Collins 
trumpet solo, and eat,s lemon under 
his chin to bust up number making 
way for three-way chatter. Boys 
even work Phil Lampkin, pit maes- 
tro, into aict before they get off with 
house in palni of their hands. 

Rockets back to wind up show with 
smooth' ballroom adagio number, 
working iri ip.airs. trios ana running 
girls in succession:, through cross- 
stage flips. 

Three Arleys will be dropped to- 
riiorrow. (17), wheri house starts pre- 
senting, four winners in iVIetro trav- 
eling studio screen test each Show. 
Pic is 'Cafe Metropole.' (20th). 

Crai0. 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS 



VARIETY 55 



EARLE, PHILLY 

Philadelphia, May H. 

Freezing or sizzling, sunny or 
moist, name-bands pack Philly 
houses, as is demonstrated aigain 
with appearance . of Guy . Lombardo 
and Royal Canadian creW on Earle 
stage. Featuring on screen, 'Way 
Out West' (Metro), with Laurel and 
Hardy, who have a fair Philly fol- 
lowing, house was nicely occupied 
when caught, at 11:30 a. m. opbner 
Friday. High school and college kid 
crowd was out in force, but: there 
was also a healthy sprinkling of 
older heads. ■ " ; , 

With only two extra attractions m 
Lombardo unit, show is a little 
shorter than usual, and- seems, to end 
all too quickly. Could have well 
used orie more number liy the band, 
although whole set-up as it now 
stands is calculated to leave aud 
inoi^e than pleased. 

Unusuial is ovation the gang gets 
on opening , of thie curtains. Partly, 
due to nice appearance of the. band 
and effective setting. Drops are very 
fiill and of greyish-silver silk mate 
ial. Showed bandsmen oft to ad 
vantage in their red jackets. Seating 
of the orch also attractive, with the 
two pianos. bn one side, one back of 
and higher than the other. 

. Following entrance theme, trio 
does 'Little Old Lady.' Carmen, ac- 
companied by muted trumpet, then 
goes into an arrangement of 'This Is 
My Last Affair.' The two ivory- 
thumpers are featured in 'Midnight 
in Mayfair' and also do a strdng 
backing for brother Liiebert chirping 
•When My Dream Boat Comes Home.' 
Carmen gets healthy plug from lead- 
er before trio goes, into 'Boo-Hoo'/ 
which he authored. Strong close is 
provided by trio doing 'Love Bug' 
with interpolations by brass. 

Accompanying the band are Gower 
and Jeanne, ballroom .terpers, and a 
Bobazooka Burns' protege, Rufe 
Davis. Dancing duo are a doiiple of 
kids with okay personalities who 
aippear .tb be, having a. great time 
doing their stuff. 

Real applause grabber, however, is 
Davis. Seldom have Philly auds let 
themselves go in rafter-rattling ap- 
peals for more than they did when 
caught. Five encores . leavb the kids 
down front, and many of their 
elders, whistling and howling. Davis 
puts in hill-billy, appearance with a 
banjo, tut uses the warbling and 
picklhg only as a vehicle for his 
real forte-sound effects. Herb. 



HIPP, BALTIMORE 

Baltimore, May 14. 

Mild show at Hipp this week with 
four acts using, up 44 niinutes.in 
which to sell the customers sonie 
rather puhchless doings.- Featuring 
Tito GUiziar, in the deUce spot. Rest 
of bill has Three ICitaros, Ross and 
.Bennett and the Mattison Rhythms. 
. Kitaros, two men and Jfemme for 
dressing, Jap nsley act; open, with 
okay barrel juggling and. usual bal- 
ancing stuff, finishing with a three 
high platform toss to position. Nice- 
full stage flash' with intermittent 
clowning good for some laughs. Tito 
Guizar oh next, opens with 'a 
Spanish number, followed by 'Si- 
boney' and 'Serenade in the Diark.' 
Uses guitar for legit accompani- 
ment and has a good stage presence; 
Should dress more effectively. Caught 
opening show, was working in ordi- 
nary business suit. Can make better 
bid for femme response With snap- 
pier wardrobe. Sells very nicely and 
responds with 'Good Night My Love' 
for well-earned encore. 

Ideal spot for a coniedy sock here, 
but Ross and Bennett are in the 
trey spot. Youthful talking song-and- 
dancers score fairly well with their 
gags.' Femme member, a giggly 
silly type, helps, to sell. Boy con- 
tributes an okay dance interlude 
and elosing song and dance of duo 
rates legitimate curtains. 

Mattison Rhythms, dance: flash, 
working full stage and made up of 
f6ur girls, the O'Connor Twins, Leo 
O'Neill and a boy singier, . clo.Se. mat- 
ters in good .shape with a f ast mov^ 
ing hoofing session, O'Neill, in two 
separate spots,, comes through,, with 
some okay routines which he sells 
capably. 

Picture is 'Thunder in. the. ity' 
(Col ) plus V 1 o ri n e Quintuplets 
(Pathe) in ah entertaj ing short. 

Burm. 



ploits libay have, she. is hardly suited 
for vaude,. even in this decadent pe 
riod of variety. 

Act laid an egg at today's opener, 
despite .a fairly well-filled house, and 
the headliner failed to draw even 
a single bow. 

Holding oyer at the brpheum for 
a second week, and scoring decisive 
ly is Sherrill Cohen's novelty act, 
'How to Undress in Front of Your 
Husband.' Jt's a new type of strip 
act, : excepting that it is done with 
finesse, lacking .in any suggestive 
ness and spliced with genuine com- 
edy. Pair of femmes and ah an- 
nouncer are used. Qne of the girls, 
a looker, undresses as a refined 
woman might , be expected t(? ' dpi^ 
TJie oth.er 'femme. is a Bedelia type, 
showihg- ,. the contrast. 'by sUpshod 
methods of disrobing. 

Cdmmentatbr provides the comedy 
lines with neither of the girls called 
upon- to offer, dialog. Act. is .$o geared 
that it will fit in on any bill without 
•igiving offense. 

Opening turn is the Arizona Duo, 
pair of youthful ropers, who present 
a conventional rope spinning turn 
and fill the spot nicely. Undress act 
is jotted in deuce spot for holdover 
week, with Ted and Al Waldman, 
blackface comedy harmonica team, 
treying. Pair!s music is spifly, but 
most of their gags run heavily to 
the blue. 

Mris. (Bafrie) Barrymore is in next 
to shut spot,, with Medley and Du- 
prei?, and .an linprogifamimed stooge, 
closing. Pair's .comedy singing and 
talking: gets over* for excellent rer 
suits, while stooge provides a few 
lafts. 

Screen 'Mama , teps Out' 

(Metro) '23% Hours Leave' 

(GN). V Edwa. 



ORPHEUM, L. A. 

Los. Angeles, May 12. 

Elaine (Barrie) Barrymore will 
havc' to. get new material or at. least, 
some: kind of a sketch with comedy 
Imes and situations, if she is to conr 
.tinue in vaude.The Ariel; who made 
newspaper history in- her pursuit of 
Galaban, makes her local vaiide 
debut here at the Orpheum, topping 
the show in billing,, but occupying 
the lowest bracket in point of per- 
formance. 

Ex-Mrs. John Barrymore is . ap- 
pearing in a one-act sketch titled 
^he Talented Talcotts,' with Eddie 
Franz playing the lead role opposite. 
Its a weak yarn built around, the 
personal battles, of a married vaude 
team, with the scene laid in a dress- 
ing room of a small theatre. Franz 
carries the bulk of the tulrn and 
does as good a' job as could be ex- 
pected considering the material he 
has to w6i:k with. Miss Barrie • fails 
to display any unusual histrionic 
ability and aside from what draw 
her name ahd her matrimonial ex- 



Embassy Newsreel, N. Y. 

The Coronation and the hold-over 
clips on the Hindenburg disaster 
:dbmihate the otherwise ;dull news- 
reel panorama this week. 

■ Coronation footage, contributed by 
all the reels, did not .cover, the actual 
ceremony opiening day ' (Friday), 
showing instead portions of the re- 
hearsal of the ceremonies and stock 
shots of the Royal Family. Embassy 
advertised the King's Coronation 
speech, but this . was covered by 
Pathe and Paramount; prily by 
showing folks: listeninig in on the 
radio. RCA was heavily plugged 
i the Pathe footage, but Par 
ignored the company carrying the 
broiadcast. Pathe also inserted still 
photos ■ from childhood lip of the 
new king. While Metro has some in- 
teresting footage on the reunion of 
the Duke of Windsor and Mrs. Wallis 
Simpson, Shows the ex-ruler, de- 
parting hurriedly to see his future 
wife, but latter is included by a still 
photo only. 

. Destruction of Bilbao, Spain's Holy 
(jity, is also covered well by Metro, 
clip showing graphically the appall- 
ing desolation of a once thriving city 
via air raids. Also on the European 
front, Paraimouht reveals Mussolini 
dedicating a neW motion, icture 
studio in Italy. 

President Roosevelt telling a fish 
story in Galveston, Texas. (Metro) 
and the San Francisco hb tel. strike 
(Universal), are about the only 
other portions of the. reels this week 
which can be put into the spot-news 
class. The excellent Fox and Para- 
mount shots of the actual explosion 
of the Hindenburg are augmented 
currently ..by the services for the 
Zep's dead by Universal and cover- 
age by Paramount of the investiga- 
tion proceedings at Lakehurst, 

Femmies are well taken care of by 
extensive street, bridal and beach 
fashion shots by Fox arid U, and 
that just about ends the interesting 
celluloid in this week's melange. 
Rest are stock or routine clips, aug- 
mented by a travelogue covering 
Java. 5cho. 

DENHAM, DENVER 

Denver, May 15.; 

Haven MacQuarrie, his assistant: 
and pianist, three in all, try to put 
on a stage show at the Denham, 
and it does hot mean a thing at 
the. box office. In fact, a double, 
bill, or pictures as Manager Dave 
Cockrill. runs them, single bill with 
a good sprinkling of shorts, would 
have meant more. 

In the first place scripts that have 
been aired on the Chase & Sanborn 
hour are being used. Of course, it 
would have run the cdst. up a few 
dollars (but only a few surely) to 
have a series of new scripts. Maybe 
MacQuarrie thinks his radio program 
did not reach theatregoers, and that 
new scripts Would have been a use- 
less expense. Those who both:heard- 
the airings.and see the show, in Den- 
ver fail to do much boosting, and in 
a town no bigger than Denver that, 
sort of thing travels fast. 

On the show caught there Were 
nine bbys and 15 girls on the 
stage. It's no fault of MacQuarrie's 
the sort pf talent that applies— in 
fact some of it was fair-to-middling. 
But a name or two should be sent 
along. MacQuarrie means nothing to 
•film fans, and if only for goodwill 
alone Warner Bros, should have been 
willing tb have spent, a few grand 
to make the show pull. 

On the screen is 'Her Husband's 
Secretary' (ITM), and business at the 
early bargain matinee Saturday was 
vei-y poor. Rose* 



Grand Central, N. Y. 

(SHORT FEATVIIES THEATRE) 

rand (Central theatre (located on 
upper train level in the Grand Cen- 
tral Terminal) enjoj'ed a swank 
opening attended by social celebs, in- 
dustry representatives: and the press 
on May 11. the theatrci which is the 
largest regularly operated .newsreel 
house located in a. railway station in 
the Avoi'ld, opened, its doors to ; the 
public the following day, running oii 
a 9 a: iti. until midnight schedule. ' 

While the hew spot will not de- 
pend strictly on- newsreels foi- its 
programs, much pf the screen mate- 
rial vfi 11 come from the hews week- 
lies of Which four now have been 
contracted. Of the remaining time 
on the 50 to 60-mihute show sked, 
cartoon comedies, travel novielties or 
outstanding short, featuries will be 
.used; Thus, on the opening \bill, be- 
sides the selected clips .'from the 
jnewsreels, 'The Servant of .the Peo- 
ple' (Metrb deluxe tWo-reel. histor- 
ical-dramatic subject), and a cartoon 
cpmedy rounded but the screen fare. 

Theatre natufaily expects its big 
grosses to come from the quick turn- 
over, brief programs . and long grind 
since the cozy house seats only 242, 
with room for more than 70 standees^ 
Besides catering to the trav^ public, 
with the . management counting on 
grabbing its share' of about 350,000 
persons passing through the terminal 
daily, the Gtand Cjentral , naturally 
will benefit from its close. proximity 
to numerous hotels aihd east side 
office buildings in the neighborhood; 
No other theatre of this type is 
within reasonable walkirtg distance. 

An unusual feature"l)f the theatre 
auditorium . is the daylighting, 
achieved with regular prbjectioh. 
The RCA .equipment includes such 
high-intensity projection that virtu- 
ally normal lighting is used through- 
out the peirformances. This is an-, 
bther practical deyelPpment of the 
drop-in policy. Another . is the ar- 
rangement of seats to permit easy 
passage between rows, A third is the 
pitched fioor which makes the vision 
of. each seat holder excellent. An- 
other practical feature of the appeal 
to traveling" public is the clock. With 
illiiminated dial, located to the right 
of the screen. 

. Auditorium section is framed with 
a background of . pine boards, de- 
signed to carry out the restful at- 
mosphere. This unusual motif is the 
idea of John Sloan, of Sloan & Rob- 
ertson, architects for the house, and 
president pf the theatre operating 
company, . Sloan also is identified 
as a commissioner of the state racing 
board. This quiet mood for. the the- 
atre interior is in direct contrast to 
the French renaissance of the Grand 
Central station. 

Thie lounging room, immediately 
oft the entrance to the theatre 
proper, is decorated in novel fashibn 
by Tony Sarg. With the hew theatre 
already pointed out by permanent 
signs throughout the station, the 
manaigement expects this lounge to 
be a central meeting place for. those 
having appointments to meet friends 
in the railway depot. David Dubin, 
veteran, showman and exchange 
executive, , is theatre manager. Wear. 



SCALA, BERLIN 

Berlin, May 3. 
With Scala closing down anyway 
for June and July, the . management 
is playing cautious with a light- 
weight payroll. 

The Four Gastons do somersaults 
from one. bar to the other without- 
touching' the trampoline. This and 
other tricks make, good No. 1 stuff, 
but not too well sold. Ih the deuce 
is Terra, rapid-fire modeller, who 
easily fulfills brag to sculpt Wagner 
in one minute. ' The . Diecks offer 
standard cycling, punched by a guy 
Who rides . down a laddci: and up 
onto platform, . finishing a 
somersault. 

Fritz Hiddessen, plus easel, m.G.'s 
through first half with comic gab 
and drawings; With each ^appeai- 
ance. his black and whites get. a little, 
more suggestive ahd his chatter 
more insinuating. He's a good artist, 
but handicapped, when caught, by 
a house three-quarters empty. Mimi 
is a contortionist with a pretty smile 
and. loads of pep whom the aud 
liked. Three Oifatis tumble and 
acrbi with tempb and plenty of style. 
Specialty is a three-man stand with 
the middle one balanced horizbritally 
between. Done with exceptional 
ease, the act goes over well, Frank 
Eders, billed as the laughing Her- 
cules, i.s a pleasant strong-arm guy 
who keeps gigantic lead balls and 
bullets in constant motion between 
his chest and back of the neck. Has 
personality, nbhchalance and humor 
and gets a lot of well-deserved palm 
patting. Anita Spada, blonde looker, 
does two chirps at the mlkc. Pipes 
are okay, but ditties not .yaude fod- 
der. Grade Schenck, acrobatic 
dancer, is more, acrobat than dancer. 

Joe Mara's theatre Within a thea- 
tre, mai-lonette stufT, is miich. too 
Weak arid uriorifiinat fare for the 
Scala, Ruth and Herby, mixed terp 
duo, appear, new and. insecure . and 
dp only bne number, which is just 
as well. 

Next to closing is the eagerly 
I awaited -Meisteir-Scxtette,. foriherly 



billed as the Comedian Harmonists. 
They croon and harmonize,: adding 
hefty chunk of refined dbwning; 
Which clicks big. Open with 'fieaii- 
tiful Blue Danube,' doing, in all two 
sentimehtals and tWo comics; Stamp- 
ing and palming bring them back 
for an encore, 

O'Dprtnell and Blair, in clo.slng 
spot, give the folks hbkuin. galore.: 
Teh minutes of everything and 
everybody socking everybody else 
and those, out front, holding their 
sides, are. loath to go home.' .It's 
an American act. vc^iich has been 
booked on the Continent for the last 
four months, and is doing so nicely 
here .it looks : as if the , two- week 
stand at the Scala ill be extended 
tp the end of the month. 



STATE-LAKE, CHI 

. . Chicago, May 14. 

Six crack acts, and two routines by 
house line make up the best bill this 
house has seen in many months. 

Opens with a not too entertaining 
routine by house' line. Dressed well, 
but novelty of squatting tP show 
baby faces painted on tops of hats, 
while knocking out a tap routine 
with shoes on hands doesn't shape 
up. Same line in closing spot looks 
exactly the bi)posite. First time the 
new girls' have been introduced, and 
here they all do . specialties, singly 
and . in teams, _ . 

Standouts are singing number by 
Ona Jbnes, and tap sister-act of 
Evelynne Ward and Ruth Gans. 
Handled by . V.erne Buck, tn. C; and 
orchestra leader since house opened, 
it gets the friendly: spirit across in 
great style. . 

Mbrohi and Coralee, openers, get 
away to a slpw start, in their hand 
balancing-acrobatic turn. Couple of 
clever shoulder and head.spiT'-, ex- 
cellently timed^ pick it r and 
they're bang-up at the flnisi'. Girl 
dbes the talking for both hersolf and 
man partner, in accent, sfnd affects 
awkwardness. 

Only thing about Barry and Whit- 
lege, in -the second' spot, that's 
changed is some of the chatter ma- 
terial, and his "pants; . Switched to 
striped slacks now, instead of striped 
formals. Fresh material is as good 
as the old. They remain a top act. 
Little too smart for this audience. 

In stage presentation. Bliss, Lewis 
and Ash, Will and Gladys Ahem, and 
Muriel Parker all get away with the 
customers wanting more, Muriel 
Parker,, soprano, doing 3:. classical 
(even with Faust's 'Angel Chorus') 
semi-classical, and folk song routine, 
looks to be a cinch tor a holdover. 

Bliss, Lewis and Ash, two men and 
a. girl; tap trio are zi'hgb all the way. 
Toe tap routines done on prop drum, 
and military trio, as finish, are fine. 

Next comes Will and Gladys 
Aherh, solid click. Gags are new, 
rope tricks different than anybody 
else's,, and yippee singing along with 
girl's dancing has 'em right off 
their seats, Mexican and 'Calamity 
Jane' stuff still in, slnd still triple 
bang. 

Picture is 'Night Key' (U), and last 
show opening day saw house hear 
capacity. Loop, 



LOEWS MONTREAL 

Montreal, May 16; , 
Harry Anger, working with some- 
what scanty, material and lacking 
variety, puts over' fast-paced, 
smartly-costumed show here cur- 
rently to a better than average house 
at Friday's -(14) opening night, 

Eddie Sanborn's orch, opening the 
show, grabs applause in stunts in- 
volving lining up bra.sscs in upper 
boxes to spotlighted instrumentation, 
fiddles in lowers; piano and singers 
Pn stage and finally curtain ri.sing to 
orch . swinging hot melodies pn 
stage. 

House shown tbsslhg 

around in feathers at bacJc, act in 
support bf first turn by McKay and 
La Vailee, who clown and do. some 
knpck-about stunts, building up. to 
soft shoe . stepology. and a flock b£ 
fllpS; They get a call and return for 
a drunk scene. • Nicely put acros.? 
with enough pscudo. rough stiiir to 
gain plenty 'Of laughs and closing with 
flips from sitting position .and . flip- 
ping off stage, Duval, magician, in 
the deuce,' has a pleasant manner 
and though he .does nothing hew, 
■flicking scores of . yards of . dry goods 
from: hats, tubes and. han s, Is ap- 
preciated by the crowd. This act 
also' has a backing from girl, line 
coming on In long blue drc.sses to 
put. on. i itatl conjuring act. 

Line in century costumes 

back for Giark and* Eaton, tumblers 
and acrobat.'?. In the trey, wlio have 
routine act, but . who. later In the 
show return for some, stand-out pos- 
ing and strong man stuff that; gets 
them the nearest approach to an en- 
core in the entire show. Final act 
is Charles Granese, Jean Grancsc 
and .Tito di Fiorl, Girl sing.s. at 
miltc aiid i.'; interrupted by the twri. 
men, who rib each other in dialect 
from: a box, coming, on stage for a 
trio; .'Show, closes with, line back a.<; 
doughboys with rifles in a snappy 
drill routine. 

• 'Hit Parade' (Rep) and 'Navy 
Blues' (Rep) oti screen. Lane. 



Follow Up Comment'^ 



(Continued from page 44) 



increasing lack of woman-appeal 
news has not already done sb; 

Doubtful if 'Hymns of : All. 
Churches' belbngs on this program, 
destroying , any. build-up the rest of 
the show' gives. It lacks vitality. 
Other two shows oh the hour 
'Betty and Bob' and Betty Crocker's 
cookery sessipn-^are splendid models 
of their kind, Formed, now as ever, 
sets a standard for housewife . aPr* 
peal, with mystery, ^intrigue and do- 
mesticity. Betty Crocker's:: food talks" 
are hicely done. 



Ronald Colman,4^adeleine Carrbll^ 
Riiymbnd Massey, C, Aubrey Smith, 
David Nivens, Ray Noble and Dpuig- 
las Fairbanks, Jr„ broadcast a v 
tribute to Britain's new King and 
Queen over NBC and BBC from the 
sound stage of Selzhick'S Interna- 
tional sound stage. Culver City,. It 
was not so much what they: said-^ 
the. Iraditibnally formal; even rever- 
ential note wais sounded — -as the fact 
a group bf box office names had been 
rounded up for a broadcast which 
made good mid-afternoon reception 
for American dialers and must have 
constituted popular stuff, fbr early 
evening loudspeakering in England. 
Apparent that the thespians were 
mindful of. the impression they 
would leave ,with the folks, back 
home; ' 

Fairbanks, of course, had less to 
think about on this score. He made" 
it. eniphalie, foUpwing . an introduc- 
tion, as emcee, in which he Was; re- 
ferred .to as an 'American ambassa- 
dor of good wilt to Ehgland,' that he 
felt aS American 'as an Indian chief,* 
He was breezier and a . trifle more 
informal than the Britishers. 



John .McCbrmaick, having 'retired, 
and given lip singing forever and a 
day, duly appeared on the Bing 
Crosby ..Kraft Music Hall hour and 
sang a couple of numbers. Numbers 
weren't impbrtahtrhor for that mat- 
ter the fact that he had come out of 
retiiement at his very first moment 
after announcing it. What counted 
was the fact that the Irishman was 
in . rare goPd humPr and had himself 
a royal good time all through the 
pi-bgram, clowning With. CrOsbjf, Bob 
Burns ' and Lionel Stander in no 
amateur manner. 

It wa.<i good fun throughout,, and, 
if McCoi-mack really means it, about 
quitting the concert stage, but wants 
to shift over to some other branch 
of the biz, , he might .consider being 
an. m.c. He could . get away .With iti 

l^hil Baker has dug himself up a 
new comic named Shimen Ruskin. 
Shirhen comes from Yiddish legit by 
way of WP A to. the curi*cnt cast of 
'Having a Wonderful Time' at the 
Lyceum, N. Y., and .appeared on the 
Baker program for the fourth, time 
Sunday night. He has only a minor 
bit in the play and had just a line Or 
two on the first broadcast, but he's 
had a healthy chunk of dialog .Sun- 
day night and handled it well. 

Nothing unusual in his delivery on 
the air, striking very much the sajne 
key as other Jewish comics, but 
that's a fault of the dialog, which 
was nonb too good. He got his 
points over and helped the prograni 
considerably. 

Incidentally, that 'Three Trees' 
iteimi as recited by. Harry McNaiigh- 
toh and played on the whatchama- 
callit by Baker is a peach of a num- 
ber and a real highlight. 



CBS Workshop offering Sunday 
night consisted of a radio play writ- 
ten by William Stephen Behct. 
Pulitzer prize pioet, called 'Paul 
Revere.' It was ' written especially 
for air presentation, and was not 
good from either an artistic, a poetic 
or a radlo^tandpolht. But it brought 
forth quite distinctly the possibili-. 
ties of the medium,. much riiore so., 
than did the first in this ■. series, j 
special radio-poem by another 
Pulitzer prizer, Archibald MacLeish, 
-The City of Panic' 

There is rooni on the air channels 
foi' fine drama j' oi: poetry, or a" C() 
bi 4 ' form bf: bothi and Irvin 
Rcjs is making innpbrtant experi- 
ments. CBS management tolerance 
Is there, as Well as the technical co- 
operation, AH that is now needed 
is .scripts, and those cartnot come be- 
fore the writers conquer the mcdiii . 
Thus MacLcLsh's effort was too dim 
and Benet's work was played down 
top much.. Type; of audience Which 
would listen in to th i.s .sort of pro- 
gram, in the. flr.st place must, not be 
played down they do have some 
intelligence, 

Benct piece wa.s acted by Parker 
Fcnnelly and Edgar Stehll— and viiry 
good. too. There. Was an uncrcclited 
ferhalo voice which could. have beea 
improved xipon. 

crt Lahir is the victim of some of 
the mo.st description-defying mate- 
rial ever inflicted upon a comedian 
on a night-time program. One 
strained 'and tortured line of: al- 
leged comedy, after another sinks 
Lahr ill a iViar.s.h of .sheer ,sUliness.' 

Advertising agency ^must share the 
odium; It bespeaks a drastic failure, 
to know what can suffice at night, 
lis daytime sloppihes.s made the 
more glaring because it follov/S W- G. 
Fields and the sophisticated Chasa 
I &i Sanborn program. 



54 



VARISTr 



Wednesdaj^ May 19, 1937 





NEXT WEEK (May 24) 
THIS WEEK (May 17) 



Numerals; In eonheetion with billa below indicate 
Bhovvt whether full or split week 



of 



RKO 



CHICAGO 
Palace (14) 

ktoxyetties 
Red Skelton 
Buster Shaver 
Bredwina 
Stanley '2 . 
CItBTELANQ 
Palace (21) 
Cab Calloway Bd 
Xlndy Hoppets 



(U) 

Chester Hale Co 
Anita ' Jacohy 
Paul Klrklanil 
Xi.oulse M'assey Co 
Lew Parker Co 
Arrabelle I^Ich Co 
Harlemanlacs 
KANSAS CITY 
Mainstreet (14) 
Mogul. 



ytxv TOBK ciiy 

SUte (20) 
Robblps Fam 
Raymond Gilbert. 
Anna-^ May Wong ' 
Smith & Dale ^ 
Enoch lilght Oro 



PITTSBtRGk 
Stanley (21) 

iSheii Fields Ore: 
WASHINGTON 

Capitol (21) 
Paul Whlteman. Qr 



AT THE 



ST. REGIS, NEW YORK 

. VIENNESE ROOF 
ROBINS 

irt LEDDY & SMITH 



Paramonnt 



NEW TOBK CITY 

Panunoont (19) 
Xna Ray Huttoq Bd 
CondoB Bros 
Vic Hyde . 
Mary.Sihall 
Iris Ore^n 

BOSTON • 
SletitDpoIltan . (21) 
Benny Goodman Bd 
Larry Blake 
.Peg LaCentra 
Dale Winthrop 
CHICAGO 
Chicago (21) 
Ice FoUieA : . 

Oriental (21) 
fielolse Martin 
DETROIT 
Michigan (21) 
Mady & Cord 



M GalQsworth 
Terry Howard Co 
Jones & Lee Rev 
MONTREAL 
, Lomir'a (21) 
Aunt Jemima. 
Lester Cole Co 
Llttlejohns 
Maud Hilton Co 
Batr & Estes 

SPRINGFIELD 
Parantonnt (21) 
Kings Scandals 
TORONTO 
Shea's (21) 
Gobs & Barrows 
Sylvia Mano'n 06 
McKay & Lavelle 
Duval Co 
Camilla's Birds 



Warner 



LANCASTER 
Cupltol (l»-20) 
Sally Raiid Rev 
PHILADiELPHIA 
Earie (21) 
Allen & Kent 
Stepln Fetchit i 
Calif Collegians 
(14) 

Guy Lombardo Ore 

Nixon (10-21) 
8 O'Hea Sis 
6 Step Sis 

Oxford . (20-22) 
Fenwick & Cook 



PITTSBURGH 
Stanley (21) 

Shep Fields Ore 
(14) . 
Benny Meroil Ore 
Phil Regan 

WASHINGTON 
Earle (21) 
Guy Lombardo Ore 
(14) 

Hal Kemp Ore 

WILKIINGTON 
Queen (24-26) 
Sally Rand Rev 



hdependent 



CHICAGO 
State Lnke (21) 

Tyler, Thorn & P 

3 Randall Sis 

PInkey Lee Go , 

H MacQuarrle . Co 
INDIANAPOLIS 

Lyric (21), 
Ills Bros 

Lewis & Aines 

Ray Vaughn 

Don Alvln Go 

Ward, Pinkie & T 

^ (14). 

Ted Lewis Bd 



Indiana (21) 
P Henderson Bd 
Chuck & Chuckles 

. (14) 
Jan Rarhei^ Bd 
KANSAS CITV, MO 

Tower (21) 
Bartell & Hurst 4 
-Elsie Gilbert 
Hap. Hazard Co 
3 Short Waves 
MEMPHIS 
Orpheum (22) 
MaJ Bowea. Unit 
OKLAHOMA CITY 

Warner (21-24) 
Faith Bacon 



Canterbury M. II. 

1st half (17-iO.) 
4 AlexHnders 
Jimmy iBlllolt 

2d half (2:0-22) 
KIt-Kat Sereniaders 
Devon & Wayne 

Dominion 

CoTiella's Co 

, Trocadero Rest 
Billy Bennett 
• HlJdoerarde 
Bruce Balrnsfather 
Verdy & Leo 
Jou Satarltio 
Maurice. 

Victoria Palace 

(17-24) 
Florence . Deflihonrd 
Will Mdhoriey 
Vic Oliver 
Bernicd ^lono 
Revncll & West 
Wllsonj Keppel & B 
Paul Rem OB Cq 
Talo Boys 
Jod Grillln 
Evlo Hdyes 
10 Vic.PaJacc Gls 
BRIXTON 
Astoriit 

Harry Fryer Bd 
Harry Helnlsley 
Sonla &. Ttinla 



Week of May 17 



CAMDEN TOWN 
Gaiimoht 

Jasper Mnskcieyne 
Dora David. 

CLAPTON 
Rink 

.Lester & Cranslbn 
3 Hi 1 tons 
Roper & Mfllsle 

EAST HAM 

. Granatin 
Dollnoff & R Sis 
Ous Eltoii 
3 Willardi3 
Rich &. Calvin 
Premipr 
LeVnnda. 
Klni^sley & ' For 
Rich & Gftivin 

V EDM ONION 
Empire 
G & J D'Oj'ihondO 
T<'x McLeod 
Leo it T^ucettp 
l<IN'!:>lti:KV rARK 

Astoria ' 
Rvclyn .Dall 
Sam Brown 
Ambrose Swlnff 8 . 
HAMMERS.^ilTlI 
Palace 
Don Rico nd 
ISLINGTON 
Blue Ilnll 
1st half (17-19) 
iClt-Kat Sercn'derd 



Devon & Wayne 

2d. half (20-22) 
4 Alexanders 
Jimmy .Elliott . 
IiEWI»SHAM 
Pal Ace .r 
Erriest i>hRhh6n 
Wyn & Hurwyn 
LEYTONSTONE 
Rialto 
Grimths Bros 
Jan Zalskl 
Eqtlillo Bros 
OLD KENT ROAD 

Astoria 
Teddy Joyce Bd . 
SHEPH'RDS BL'SU 

Pavilion. ■ 
Don Rlcoi Bd 
STRATITORD 
Broadway 
Levandai 

Chris Charlton Co 
STREATHAM 
Afttorin ': 
Harry Fryer Bd 



Mario, de Pletro 

Palace 
Kriiest Shannon. 
Wyh & Hurwyn 
T>OOTIKG 
Granada^ 
L.ee Donn ■ 
Jones- &■ Thomas 
Jose Mofeno - 
TOTTENHAM 
Palace. . 
Lester. &Cranston 
3-Hiltans 
Roper & Maisie 
TOTTENHAM 
COITRT ROAD 
Paramount 
Anton Bd 
Oliver Wakefield 
Nora Williams ' 
WALTHAMSTOW 

. Granada 
Loranna ' « 
Thorp & Stanton 
G & J D'Ormohde 
Tex McLeod 




Wieek of May 17 



ABERDEEN 
Tlvoll 

Dave Willis 
Jimmy McKinlay 
Terry Wilson 
Ormonde Sis • ' 
Vera McLean. 
John Tiller Gls 
Cllft Harley 
Florence 'Hunter 
Jee Boys . 
J & P Desmond 
ALDERSHOT 
RItz 

Billy Gotten Bd . 
ASHtON UNDER 

xmiE 

'.. Empire' 
Klltle Jrs 
Scott Sanders 
Hobart 3 

BARNSLEY 
RItz 
Lasslter. Bros 
Phllco 4" 
Paddy . Drew 
. 4 Darlings 
BEXLEY HEATH 

R«Ral 
Hov^er & Rutherf'd 
Liptbnettes 
Chester's Dogs 
Harrison Vlnney 
CAMBRIDGE 
Clnettia . 
Nina M McKiriney 
Daive Seed Co' 
Veronica Brady 
Edmund Boys 
D Denny 3 
Dorothy Stevens . 
CARDIFF 
Empire 
Irene Mansell 
CHATHAM 
RItz 

Roy Fox Bd 
Royce & King 
Halg & Eacoe 
EASTBOURNE 

Luxor 
El.Cubano Bd 
Stanley & Young 
Marlon Navarre 
O'Shea & Joan 
ECCUES 
Broadway 
Stefanl' Songsters 
Stanford & McN 
Carsons . 
Louis'- Almaer 
EDINBURG 

Royal : 
Gold & .CbrdelI 
.4 Smith Bros 
Gtntaro 

Clarke .& Murriy 
Denver & Emons 
Roy • Dave\^ 

ELTHAM 
Palace 
Yoimkman Bd 
Deinain 

E & S Stanton 
FALMOITH 
RItz 

Ztganos Bd 
Fletda & Rossini 
Lliig'a Singh Co 
Victor MoVetoii. 
Ann' Trevor 
Brasello.s 
Chas Seltzer 
.K & J Wlnnon 
FARNMWOKTH 
KHz 

Totiy. ' Gerrard Co 
GLASGOW 
I'lirninount 

Radio Roundup 
GRAVES KND 
. MnJeHtic 

Mexaho JBrt 

Matidonald 

M&HNesl)lit 
HASTINGS 
Regnt 

Alfredo Oro; 

Henry 0 Adaiii 

Jny . & Cullon 
HI'^KlCKOIt 
'.Kemhle 

Macnrl Soi'cniidcrs 

Beryl Orde .. 

Reco it Mnv 

Bert Wesio'rt 

Ba.«iyi 

Con Kcnna . 
J. & ■ JS.'DeHihohd ■ 
Wheelor & Wllso 
.Ed.na'AHhby 



nUDDERSFlELD 
. RItz 

.Union Cinema. Bd 
Gypsy Nlna- 
.Donald Stuart 
Holls Bros 

IPSWICH 
RItz 

Terry's Jiivea 
Sani Rayne 
Reg Redcliffe 

KINGSTok 
Empire 

Thorburg.Bd 
D & J O'Gorman 
Pepliio's . Circus ' 
Robinson '&. MiEirtlh 
Sparkea Bros ' 
Henen Binney 
May, Jack & Buddy 
Slim Rhyder 
Union 
Douglas Wakefleld 
.6 .Clevettes 
Don & Dorette 
Culpit & Glenrose. 

LIVERPOOL 
Paramount 

Carlyle Cousins 
Houston & Stewart 
Marie Hollis 
Flack & Lucas 
- . Shakespeare 
Robb Wilton : 
Chas Higgins 
S & M Harrison 

3 Raye Sis 

8 Harlem Pagei 
Harry Carlton 
Herry Welchman 
Matt & BiUie 
Yeltonl 3 . 

LEEDS 
Paramount 
Rimacs 
LEVERSHULME 
Kingsway 
Kiltie Jrs 

LUTON 
Alma 
Geo Robey 
Kadex 4. 
Act Superb 
Satsuma & Ona 
MAIDSTONE 
RItz 
Roy Fox Bd 
Hdig & Escoe 
Youce & King 
NEWCASTLE 
. Paramount . 
Al Bowly 
Pola & Stanley 
OXFORD 
RItz 
Douglas Byng 
EIray & Dorothy 
Delfont & Toko 
D'Amzelle.& Boy 
PLYMOUTH 
r Palace 
Jack Payne Bd 
Jimmy James 
Claude WiUUma 
Micliaelson 
Janet Joy 
Gladys Chapelll 
J ■& L Grayson 
SIDCUP 
Royal 
Youiikinan Bd 
Detniiln 

.E & S Stanton 
SLOl GH 
Adclplil 
Ei Roma Bd 
' 4 ' 'Blondes 
Mayer & Kltaon 
Lotandos 

SOUTHEND 
RIVoll 
Tom Hundley 
Kay re. 4 
Kon'do it-. 
Cllft Cook. 
TUNII'IMJE WELLS 
RItz 

4 .Aces 
Lcs Ros.s' 
Bniicaii's Collloa 
Nleol &-. Mni-tln 

WOKING 
Ritz 

Billy Cotton Bd 
YAKMOrTII 
Rental 

Florence OldhTii 
3 LooHC! Screws 
'Act Superb 
'Satsunirt, & On 



Cabaret Bill$ 



NEW YORK CITY 



Barney Gnllitnt'a 

June KlKIiis 
Lunn KInK 
3 Muslcdl Rof;'uc3 
Mori &. Morlam 

erioIotU'H 

Jlnimy Whalen Ore 
Toinniy lIiin-lM. Ore 
Yiila Klournoy 
Nysa. Alna 
Joyce. Fayo 
(Tretiv Lewis 



my Gay nti't 

Rddio' Lennavd 
■Jon Howard 
Rudy Madison 
Sj)lke Harrison 
ICflrei Gilbert 
Henry Larnarr 

Cnfo Ball 

Chic t'armer 
Eddin Tiftnibert 
Roger Steele Ore 
Jack Wallace Ore 



Club . MlrndM 

Margie Hart 
Buddy Wagner re 
Vic Hyde 
Almft' iSray 
Joan Vlckcrs 
Pearl Reynolds. 
Warrett & Bodee 
Red McKenzle Qro 
Rita Renaud 
Phil Saxe 
MlUy Convey. 

.Caiiento 

Beth Raborn 
Helen ShiFiw 
Ruth WaynS 
Carol Sis 
3 Rhythm Boya 
Callenta Cabclleroa 

Chateau 

Loul^^ Raymond 
Allan Foster.. 
Al Apollon Ore 

Club Gaucli 

Vaccarp's OrcU 
Jose, 'plhz 
Trlni Plaza : 
Llta. Moya ' 
Helen Vir II 
Dimltrl 



John Adams 
Al Benson 
Shirley Wat 
Nell Stone 

Club Yumu 

Antonio & Carito 
Sarita Herrara 
Rosita Ortega 
Don Hilhnrto Oro 

> Cotton Club 

Ethel .Waters 
Geo :D Washington 
Nicholas' Bros V 
Duke Ellington Qrc 
Bessie Dudley. . . 
3 Giants of R'yth'm 
Ivie Anderson 
Alan & Anise 
Mardo Brown 
May Dl|gges 
Wen Talbert Choir 
Ed Mallory Orcb 
Bin Bailey 

Jack Dempsey'r. 

B Carpenter Orb • 

, Da Pierrot's 

Joe ' Feaer Ens 
Jane Stanley 
Tom & Charlie 
Louise Brydon 

El Chico 

Chita 

Loh Rancheros f 
Adellna Duran ' 
Carlos Montoya 
Roalta Rloa 
Don Alberto Oro 

El Morocco 
Drnle Hoist Oro 
CI Toreador 

Don Juan Oris 
Maida & Cortez 
.French Casino 

Adalet 
Feral Benga 
Betty Brite 
Betty Bruce 
Florence Clxumbecos 
Hilda Elfonte 
Rolf H61beln 
Johnny Co 
Xavier Lerriercler 
7 Maravillaa 
Rekkofs 
Rhoenrads 
Florence Spencer 
TuIIah & Myl ^ 
Iris .Wayne 
Vega Asp 
Hugo Marian I Ore 
V Travers Oro 
C Cromwell Ore 

Frolics 
Ralph Watklns Ore 
Martin's Rh'mba Or 
Joe .Lewis 
Oshins & Leasy 
Harriet DeGoft 
Patsy Ogden. ° 
Johnny Coy 

Greenwich VUlags 
Caaino 

A. ileen Cook 
Vera Dunn 
Peter Randall 
Ann Stuart 
Duryea's Dolls 
Variety 4 

Clyde Brenhan Ore 
guide's 

Barry Wlnton Ore 
Don Alfredo Oro 
Vernon . Rickard. 
Pierce & Harris 
Sue Morgan 

Harliem Ct>roar 
Ersklne H'wklns Bd 
Lillian Fitzgerald 
Edna Mae Holley 
Eddie Harron 

B, Castle & ,Scott 
Mao Brown. '■, 
Willie Jockson ' 
Tlhy Btmch 
Lovey Lane 
Fairbanks Sis 

Dee L .McKay 
Ebony .Rascals''.. 
Fred'' &. Ginger' 
Edwards Sis. . 
Pauline • Bryant- 
Theliiia Middleton 
illckor.v Itonne 

. Joe Marsala Ore 

Adele Girai'd 
■Jim . Mqorchead 

U'lyw'id Kcafnliiriiiiil 

Mitchell Ayrcj Ore 
..Iciin tjurKe.'niL... ' 
June. Lorraine 
Dtl Casino 
6 Debonair. 
Tariia. & Kir.ibrc 
L., Manning & HItzl 
Kay Taylor 
Bobby. Joyce 
Tod Adnlr ' 
PatMela GihnOra. 
Charmion ' 
Agnes & T N'ip Jr 
Ruth Gay lor 
Hotel. AnibnfiNndor 
Larry KIry Ore 
H W "I'hojups'on-. 
Eugene Lcri 

otel Aalor 

Eddie. ElUiiis Ore 
Oampbell's Uby'ists 
Floria Vcstpff 

Hotel Riltmore 

Carl Hoff Ore 
Florciice & Alvarez 
3 Intcrnullorials . 
Albernlce 

Hotel illsob 

Bobby . Hayes Ore 
Ralph-Torres 
Theodora Brooks 
Oacnr Deye . 
Muriel Byrd 
Bob Berry 



Hotel Esaes Uouas 

Nat randwynne O 
Harris £ Aslibu'rn 
4 Rhythyih Boys 
Maxlne Tappio 
Dick Stone 

; Hotel iirtli Ats 

Roy Strum Oro 
Hotel Gov. CilntOH 

Phil D'Arcy Ore 
Stuart Jules 
kay Marstiekll 

Hotel Loxlngtoa 

Shirley Lloyd 
Jeno Bartal Ore 

■otel Lincuin 

isham Jonea Ore 
Hotel MeAlplB 
Enoch Light Orb 
Mary Da.nis : 
A Gohzaiea .' Ens 
Milrlel Sherman 

Hotel Montclulr 
(CaalnO-ln-tlie-Air) 

Coral I'slAndere 
Hal Hope Ore 
Herb Weil 
Electronic $ 

Hotel Blurray Hill 

.(Foiintf^in Roora> 

Joe CappI Ore 
Nancy Garner . 
Hotel New irbrker 

(Slimmer Terirace) 
Evelyn Chandler 
Baptle & Lamb , 
Hotel Park Central 

Jerry. Bla'iiie'.Oro 
James Costello 
Brov^rn & Avdstey 
Thei Crackorjacks 
Elaine & Barry 

'Hotel Park i4ine 
Junior Raphael Ore 
Hotel Prnnaylvnnia 

^unny Berlga'n Ore 

Hotel Piccadilly 

Trent Patterson 
Torii Gaye 
Arno . & Zola 
Jerry Stewart 
baye Schooler re 

otel Pierre 

Basil Fomeen Ore'. 
Anne Heath' 
Peppino & .'C)iniille 

■otel Plnzu 
Velo'z & Yolanda . 
Gddle Duchtn Ore 
Will; McCune Ore 
Hotel Rooaevelt' 

Chas Dornberger Or 
3 Internationals. 

Hotel Savok -Placa 

Ray & G McDonald 
Cmile Pettt Ore 
Hotel Shelton 
Joseph Zatour Ore 
Hotel St. George 
(Brooklyn) 
Ell bantzlg Ore 
3 Mack Broa 
Rita 
Hotel . St. Slorlts 

Jack Sherr Ore 
Orisha 

Hotel St. Regis 
(VIenneae Roof): 

Jacques Priay; Ore, 
A Rasch Dancers 
Henry Dick' 
A. Robins 

Hotel Taft 
Geo. Hall Ore 
Dolly Dawn 
Johnny McKeeyer ' 

Hotel. Vanderidlt 
Eddie Lane ()rc 
Gobdelle & Farrles 
Dorethy ■Ho'we. 
otel Wnldorl- 
Astorla 

Leo Reisman Ore 
Edgar Bergen ' 
Xavier Cugat Oro 
Eve Sy ing.ton 
Georges & Jalna 

Hotel Wellington 

Bd Mayefholl Oro 

Hotel Weylin 
Alex Fogarty 
Charlie Wright 
Jimmy Kelly'is 

Lionel Rand Ore 
Joe Capello Ore. 
Montmartre Boya 
Carter & Schaub. 
Jlmmie Costello 
3 Raymonds 
Danny Higgina 

Larue . 

Eddie Davts Oro 
HiVado Ore 

Lau'rel-lh-Plnes 
(Lakewood, N. Ji) 

Terry Green 
ilona & Marina . 
Fred BerhenS 'Orc. 

J/e Coq Rouge 

Horaclo. Zito Ore 
Le Mirage 

Harry Horton. Ore 
Cookie Wliirama Or 
"Marybn • Dale 
Slboney 4. 
Roy Rector 
Dllla bnu 
. Alice. AYe 11 man' 
Jim Karnev- 
Wanda Qoil 
Leon A Eddie's 

William Frirmer Ore 
Eddie Davis 
R.oae' 'Blane 
Billy lieeU 
Nelsoh.H.C; 
lien Porrln~ 
Ilaln^s Talr &.S 
Lane vt Carrol . ; 

Merry-Go-Roiirid 

Nadiii Korfc!? . 
Sylvie St Claire 
Harry RosentUal Or 
Boris Koret/.Uy Ens 
'I'ony Sarg Co 

.Mon Paris' 

Gone fn.idlrlc Ore 
Laurence White' 
Marlon .Plorco 
A'etaatilc 3 
diorl'a 

Vincent ISorry Ore 
T.,o(ilHe Icliai'dson 
I.oul.i. Cafloro 

Onyx 

0 Spirits of hhytlim 
Laiia Webstor Ore 

rnrndlse 

Janice Anore 
Richard & Carson 
Hliea & Uayjnoml 
Joe & Botly Lee 
Mary Roland 
limy & B Bei 
3 Cossacks 



Florence ft Alvsrss 
Johnny Ruaaell 
Jay Freeman Qrs 
Place Sleganto 

Bill Fartell 
Mario Baalnl 
Toto Cangloal 
Rex Gavltte 
Larry Mado Oro 

Balabow GrIU 

Bmery DeutBch Ore 
Dee ColUna 
Evalyn Tyner- 
C - & L Bonner 
Glover & La Mae . 

Rainbow Room 
Ruby Newman Oro 
Holland & Hart 
Eleanor Sheridan 
Dr. Sydney Ross 
Eveilyn Tyher 
Alec Templeton 
Eddje LeBar^h Ore 
StorV Club 

Sonny ketidis Oro 
Gus .Martel Ore 

Tavern . On Green 
(Ceiitrril Park) 

Hughie Barrett 0'r« 

L'bungI Club 
Qvle Alston Ore 



3 Gobs 
Oils Brown 
Mas Johnson 
Tondelayo 
Gladys Bentler 
ValbalU 

MaUrlcs Shaw Ore 
Marlta 

Lorraine Barrett 
Bond H(|l 

Versailles 

Lee Wiley 
Freddie Zay . 
S Mot-gan Dancers 
'Meadowbro'ok. Boy 
Ha-waiian Seren'd'ra 

yiUass Bnm 
Larry McMa'hbn 
S FIyliig Whirloa 
WnUe Solar 
M Montgomery 
Barnet & Par 
Iva Kitchen 
Bourbon & Bains 
Jean' 'Kl;rk 
Hank Ramsey 
Johnny Russell 
Ruth Craven 
Tex.LeyiB Cowboiya 

village Brewerr 

Marty Herbert 



LOS ANGELES 



Ball ; 

Bruz Fletcher 
iCharies Laiyrehcs 
lacbt Cibb 

Jimmy Burns , 
Ann Pennington' 
3 Racket-Cheers 
Tiny Wolf > 
Johnny & .'Ge6rgo 
Art Stanley Orc.^ 

BsTorly Wllsliira 

Royal .Hawallana 
■Harry Owens ' Oto 
Blltmure BdnrJ. 

'3 Radio 'Roguea , 
Pierre . & Temple 
Beriiice Ly'nna 
Dick Webater ' 
Joy. , Hodges .. 
3 Rhythm RaScals 
Fred Scott 
Enrico . Rh'ba Oro 
Jimmy Grier Oro 

Cnfe Casanovii 

.Earl Job: Lynch 
Caaanova Ore ' 
Beth Wllsoii 
Rex Weber 

Cafe La 
Park Ave Boys 
VI Bradley 
Stan Clair. Oro 

Clover Clntt. 
Bob Grant Oro 

Cocoannt. Grova 

Ruth Robin 
Calgary Broa 
Santselii Se BiicHley 
Phil Harris Ore. 

Ei Iradnr 

Dorothy Clare 
Ramsdell ' Glrla 
Slim . Martin Ore 

FjSmoiis Doot 

Eddie Beal 
Lnuia Prima Oro : 
Hawfillan Paradlso 

Wanda- 
Diana. Toy 
Sol Brighta Ore 
Little Club 
Tlhy Meredith 
Jane Jonea 
Paul Kendall 



Helen Warner 
Roae Valyda:.' 

Mart! 

joey Lee Oro 

Omar's Obma , 

GagnoW ft Broiigh'n 
Dorothy . Roberts 
Naomi Warner 
. Speck, Watklna 
Loyce Graham 
Georgo Rednian Orq 

Pacifio Sunset Clob 

Peggy Fftge 

Vlckl. Fay . 
King Sisters 
' Janet - Jordan 
Buddy Jja. RUe 
Al Heath pre 
Pnlnmiar 
The Reddlngtona 
Bill Burt : ' 
Stanley Hlckman- 
Mnzzy Marcellino 
3 Debutaht^a 
Hudson Metzger 'Ols 
Ted Flo Rito 

Paris- inn 

Dominie' Columbo 
Ken Henryson 
Gabrlelle & CeUlta 
Yvonne 

Rudy & LaTosca 
Thora Malthalson 
Marguerlta del Rio 
Juan do Martinis 
Pets Contrelll Oro 

Seven Seas 

Ltly Glbaoh 
Lonnle Mclntlre Or 

(Somerset Hbusa 

Betty , Bordon 
Bill Zerker 
famine Saray 

Topsr's 

The Dee Sisters 
Bonnie Lind 
Dorothy Roy 
Ginger Weldoni 
Pat Carroll. 
Maxlne Manners 
Leona Rice ' 
Jane . Morgan 
Irene Beriry 
Agnea Johnaon 
Al Eldredgs Oro 

Trocadero 

Phil phmian Oro 



CHICAGO 



Ball-Hall 

Mark : Fisher- Oro 
Easter '& Hazelton 
Helene Carol 
Helen Park 
Jerrj' &^Turk 

Blackhawk 

Joe Sanders ' 
Ruth & B, Ambroae 
Jane Kay 
Paul .Olsen... 

Cbes Pares 

•Jimmy Durante 
J & E Torrence 
Cross. & Dunn 
Barbara Parks 
Jack WilUamei 
Thome & White 
Maurie Stein 
Heiiry Busse Oreh., 

Club Alabani 

Virginia Jamea 
Buddy & Betty 
Bernard ft Henry 
Mae Sis ' 
Art Williams Ore 

Club. Clicsterfleld 

Patt Morgan Ore 
Devon Sfs 
Hariett /Norrla 
Sid Schaps 
Alice Logan 

. Club niay flower 

3 Variety Bov 
Mildred . Rock 

4 McNally Sis 
Buddy & Selnia 
4 Rhythm GJria 
Lou ' Sales .Ore 

Club llllnnet 

Alvina Morton- 
Dorothy Wall 
I?ee'. Downing 
.Tnne LaVbnno 
BllMe Roberts. 
Jorry Gllddfeh Ore 

Coldsi 

Don. Enrico 
Bob Tinsley 
ilary Suiide' 
Willie Shore 
Louis Miller. 
Gould Sis. 
Bobby Dflhders 
B &.F Gilbert 
Congress Hotel 
(Casino) 
Bob Crosby Orch. 
Chick Endor 
Chas FaVi-eU 
Kay Weber 
Halliday Si- ClaHt 
Ho\vard . Brooks 
The Crusaders, 

Gny OO'a 

Colleen 

Georgia Lucky 
Lew. King / 
Jules Novit Ore 
Marlon Miller 
Joan ITouston 
Jean Bradley 
Jack Elkijis 
Harry 'a N. S. . 
Cabaret 
liuddy Walker 



Phelps 2 . 

3 Short Waves 

Matlon : Morgan 

Hi-Rat 

Dbrt's .Rhodes 
Peggy Moore 
Lewis- Sis 
LeRoy & Weaver 

.tfoteT Bismairck 
(Walaot Room) 

Eddie. Varzos Ore. 
Lucio Garcia- 
Walker 3 
The Duanos 
Dean Murphy 

otel BrevOort 

Dblorea Donar 
Evelyn Driggett 
Margaret Conrad 
Rene Laevin . 
Joe Parlato 
Drake Hotel 
(Silver Forreat) 
Paul Whlteman Co 
Votel Edgewater 
. Beach 

(Marine Room) 

An^oii '^eekg 
Rodrigo'& Franctne 
Margie Ijee 
Frank Sapula 

3 Theodores 
The Nelsons 

II Smith Ballet 
John Hale 
Harriett Smith's Ola 
Hotel Lasalle 

(Bine Conntaln - 
': Room) 
king's Jesters Ore 
Marjorle Whitney 
C & Helen Stone. 
Marionette Rey 

btel- . Morriaon ' 
(Terrace Room) 
. (Casino Parislen) 

The Llndstroms 
Harriett Cair . 
Hudson Wonders 
Bob Rlpa. 
4. Kraddocks 
Arren & Broderlclc ' 
IVIaurie ShCnnn rc 
Lbu Breess Ore 
Hotel Palmer lionse 

(Empire Room) 
Henry King Ore' 
Mario & Florlo 
Russell Swan ;. 
Jonfiuln. Garay 

4 Aristocrats 
Abbott Dancers 

otel Sherman 
(College Inn) 

Gertrude Horfman 
Myrus 

Ariene Owoita 
Jack Wilchci- 
Russell Crowell 
Don Ani.ilo 
Bill Price 
Coleman Allan 
Rod Nicholas Ore 

Hoiterstevena 
(Continental Room) 

Jlmmie Joy Ore 
Roiiald * Roberta 



Rhythm Racketeers 
Lillian Roth 
Tere Rudolph 
Cub HIgglna' 
Helen. Heath 

Parody Club 
Phil Kayo 
Molly Manors' 
Charlyne: Baker 
Sammy H&as 
Millie Travis 
Freddy Janls Or* 

Boyalo FroHea 

Dolly Kay ; . 
Bobby Plneua 
Theodore & D' . 
Ray, Thrifty 4: R 
Jackson & Nedra 
Rosalie Ray 
Jack Hilllard 
Henri . Lisbon 

eoe clubi 

Billy Carr 
Nora' Ford 
'Boots' .'Burns 
Etta Reed 



Ford ft Barnes 

Three Deuces 
Sam Beera 
Cleb Brown 
Roy . BIdridgo Ore 
Zutty. 

Gladys Palmer 
Slim Green 
Via LOKo 

JaokU Hamlin 
Dick Hughes 
Sally Keith ~ 
Wallace ft Latlaha 
Stan Carter 

Yacht Club 

Frances Fayo 
Bvelyn Pal 
Frank Hall 
Robinson 2 . 
Nino Rinsido Oro 

.MB Club 
Ed Furman 
'Bill Lorraine 
Bob Pearry 
Earnest: VIgnatI 
Belva White 



PHILADELPHIA 



Arcadia Int'i 

Mayfair Giris (8) 
Spec & Spot 
Chas Baron-' 
Joan Blair 
Mario Vlllanl. 
Milton K0llcm 
Shavb Sherman. 
Mary. Kay Roan 
Marlbw the Mystic 
Don Renaldo Ore 

Arro'U' Cafe 

Eddie Zicgler 'Ore 
Jack Baker 
Helen . McCaffrey 
Toots Claudlne 
Baby Brewers 
Dottle Wlntera 
Dick Hanlon 
Sam King 
Teddy - Gonzales 

' Beiievae-Stratford 
(Planet Boom) . 

Meyer Dayla Ore 
Bea Friinklln Hdtoi 

(Qeorrlan Room) 
Moe Jaffe Ore 

Behoy tlie Bum'a 

Leo Zollo' 
Tonl- Lane 
Stuart . & Lea 
Ralph Brown' 
pines Dahclng Debs 

Clnb Parrakeet 

Evelyn Barnes 
Marge Fox 
Babs Babette 
Joe King. . 
Fran Caswell. 
Buddy Fisher 
Al Wilson 
Billy Thornton Ore 

Chex Mlchand 

Joe Fbllman Oro.. 
Walt Gallagher 
John Grady 

Colony. Club 

Margie -Drumniond 
Gypsy Rita 
Sunny Ray. .. 
Dorothy Klalsa 
Dolly Delmont 
Frances Maddux 
Lilly Love 

3 Colonials 

Embassy Club 

Cllft Hall-' 
Linda King 
Virginia Renault - 
Dot Collins 
Judith Manning 
Kathryn Burkitt 
Gloria: Mausler 
Susan Austin 
Jill Rees 

Evergreen Casino 

Helalne ft D'n'lds'n 

Tom ..Barry , 
Kathleen May 
Betty Lane 
Caddy La Vern 
Val Dion 

Vincent Norman Or 
Kay Hamilton - 

lYank Palumbo's 

Eddie White 
Lee Hartel 

4 Golden Gate Girls 
Andre & Yolahde 
Dorothy. Barrett ' 
Larry Chambers 
Dorlta*& Ella 



Eddie, DeLiica Ore 

Hotel Adelphia 
(Cats lUarguery) 

Enrico & Novella 
Agnea Tolle 
Titan 3 

8 Texas Rocketa 
Jean Travera 
Rosa MeLeon 
Vincent Rlzzo Ore' 
Harold Knight Ore 
Evan B Fontaine' 



Jack Waldrbn 
Iris Adrian- 
Jeanne La.ndta-' 
Jeri-y kruger- ' 
Bill Honey Orc 

Lambs Tavern 

Joe. Landy Ore 
Little Rathskeller 

Jack GrirCih Ore 
Marty Bohn. 
Marty Kiy - 
Msirrone &. Gafbo 
Pat. Perry 
Dolores Mei-rill . 
Maude O'Malley 
Naiicy Lee ' 

152!l I^^cust 

Bobbles Shelby 
Jan Farrar . 
Hazel Harmon 
Linda -Ray . 
Pepper IGaiat 
Kay LaVery 
Peanuts Stewarts 
Swing. Kings Ore 

New Overbrook 
Villa 

( Lindenivold. . N. J.) 

fliyliis Sterling 
Warner vSis 
Ruth Kaye 
Kaye King 
Barljara Joan' 
Jack TJInier 
Al Kahn Ore 
Clncs & Anlcc 
ISmeralld Sis (3) 
I'Jni l Warmer 

Plcrndllly Room 
(1623 LoCuNt) 

Gladys Bonlley 
Julia McKcnny. 
Tiny Bradshaw 
Phl^ iicbtt 
Lulu Mao 
"..llllah White 
Dorothy Johnson 
John Hamilton Or 



Plerre'si. 

Reynolds ' Massey 
Tanya Garth 
Hblertei & Rtovi 
Sally Ann Davis- 
3 Arnbs 
Pat Shevlln 

Rltk..Carlton 
(Crystal Room) 

Van Levis Ore 
Henry Patrick 

31 Club 

George Oliver 
Johnny ' Mangiii 
Ted Heiidrex 
Billy Beryl 
Treeae & Melba 
Gene Osborne 
Doc Dougherty 
Nicky Galluecl 

: Silver Lake Inn 
.. (Clementon) 

Oil vb White 
Vera . Dunn 
Beth Challia 
Patricia -ft Rene 
Jean Goodner' 
Mystic Plata 
Mickey Violin 3 
Mickey Familaiit 
Streets of Paria 

Jeian O'Neil 
Crossetti Sis 
Buek Calhoun 
Andy Russell 
Ramona' 
Harry Aldrldge 
Diana Johnson 
Jerry Fine Ore 

Vtli SpruGO 

Frances Fayo 
Boomerang Ore 
Hal Hlxbn 
Jimmy. Blake 
Maude Saunders' 
Lillian Bartell 
Pbrtia Portnr 
Elinor ':Shaw 

tOth Contary Tavern 
Barney Zeeman Ore 
Dick McCIaIn 

3 Georges' 
Frances Ea'ston 
.Eleanor Shubert 

4 Baqulrea 

21 Club 

Tommy Monroe 
Sugar Marcella 
8a,l\y LaMarr 
Ann Ruah 
Helen Heath 
Warwick SiS 
Nancy Barry 
Richard Bach 
Peggy Daly 
jTbangl Clob 

Doc Hyder'a Oro 
Gladys 

Lucille Howard 
Stump &. Stumpy 
3 Chocolate Dropa 
Bobby Evans 
La Roy McCoy 
Parriah CafO 

Bobby Brown 
Detroit Red 
Vernon Guy 
Parisian Ore 

Tony Murray's Cafe 

Cliarley Wi-nter Ore 
Mann & Hale 
Jewel Ello. 
Ga-bby Lee 
Bunny Clair 
Joe Doyle 
Chick Miillery 
DutklD's'Rathakeller 
Anna Claire 
Glzella . 
Dolly- Vaughan 
Warren & Durkin, 
Jean Howard 
Vlbla Klaisa Oro 
Frank PpntI 

Stainp'a Cafe 
Vic Earison 
Flo Hulse' 
Maurice ' & -I^on; 
Kiki Diamond 
Jerry & Sonny- 
Nlki Kilvbla 
Jack Hutchinson 

Venice GrUI 

Emily Riiye 
Billy & Kitty Duv 
Joe, Bellly . . 
Marty Barton Ore 

'Walton Root 

Isabelle & Octaves 
8 Walton Debs 
Armand & .Diana, 
Prank McCormaclc 
Ruth Kidd \ 
Vivien Francis. 
Mary Joyce 
Skating .Lbclavells 
Chad; Verna .Oi-c 
Weber^s of Brau 

(Camden) 
Bob ivrerrlll 
Carman D'Anlohlp 
.Toe Raiiiona: 
Use, Hart 
Lbng Sis 
Swiss Bell 
Elnibuhd' 3' 
Gregory Quinrt. Co.. 
Louis Chalkln Ore 
Rathskeller Eldor's 

Yorktnwne Tavern 

Shaw & Moade 
Lou . Foster 
Musicmastoi'' 

'Sunset inn 
Cutie Clark 
Betty Vallone 
Jean Nelion- 
Al CornaiT 
Chas Murtha; 
Dart Duncan Orc- 

Ynoht Club 

Mary Hubbard 
Patricia Kbbln.s 
MaVclii Lee 
Scotty Middleton 
Jenn Van 
Nutallfe & Marie 
Parisian 2 
Viola Ktai 



Wednesday, May 19, 193T 



LEGltlMATiB 



VARIETY 55 








very daily; in the greater city of New if ork editorially protested 
ahd Bittacked the Dutiriigan bill which would create one hian cen^ 
sorshijp of the theatre and which was slipped through the assembly 
and sent to Goverhor Lehman. Aside from the- possibilities that such 
proposed law >v6uld open the paths for a poiitibal appoiintee, editors 
are solidly in back of show business, in prbtesti As Jack Lait i 
the Mirror piit it: , 

'Since New York cradles the American theatre, all its freedom 
would be . subjected to the whirris and prejudices of a single man. 
.That is unwise, unsafe. In America even a .murderer has his day 
before a court, a jury, a judge. Is the theatre any less deserving of 
orderly justice? Gbyernbr Liehman shbuld and will cbrrebt the Leg- 
islature's unthinking blow at the American theatre by vetoing the. 
Duhnigan bill.' 

In addition tb 106% newspaper support, shbw business wias also 
backed up in protesting to the governor by any number of organi- 
zatiohs and individuals, many gratuitiously appealing to the stiate's 
chief executive. 

In Tuesday's (18) Herald Tribune, Walter Lippmahn devoted hi 
enfire column tb opposition to the Dunnigari bill. ' Hie concluded with: 

'Because New' York did not have; the resolution to deal . with bur- 
lesque by law, the whole American theatre is threatened with the 
censorious dictatoriship of one political appointee. That is how the 
" rights oif mail are. inadvertently and in a righteoijs spirit whittled 
awsiy aind ultimately destroyed.' 

iSaine daily headed its editorials with another apipeal 'Fbr a Free 
Stagei' ite second editbriial protesting ;the measUrie. Tuesday's Times' 
also carried a second editorial, ighlights of which were: 'One man 
censorship easily becomes one man tyranny* , , .-after mentioning 
that License Commissioner Moss' integrity is riot in . question— but 
what: assvirance is there that he will nbt be succeeded by a machine 
poif'tlcian?' . . » "There are already ample laws to deal with theatrical 
ii;».jcency, provided theiy are promptly and honestly, enforced.' . 
'Every one who., treasures the freedom of speech and. of the 
^should urge, the gbvernbr to veto the Dunnigari bill.' 



B way Mass Meeting Vehement In 
Objection to Proposed Censorship 



Mass meeting protesting the Dun- 
nigan bill was held at the New Ariir 
sterdani theatrci N. Y., Sunday night 
(16), theatre being packed, with 
standees, in attendance. Addresses 

started .at 9 o'clock and. continued for 
two hours. Marc Connelly, head of 
the Authors League of America, pre- 
sided; reading telegrams of protest 
from such prominent playwrights as: 
Eugene O'Neill and Maxwell Ander- 
son and such stars as Ka.tharirie Cor- 
nell and the Lunts,:all of v^hom were 
out of the city. 

Special message, was sent Gover- 
nor Lehman by the 24 organizations 
represented at the meeting and two 
of the actors guilds-:-Episcopal and 
Jewish; The Catholic Actors Guild 
was conspicuous by its absence. The 
protest to. the governor read: 

'This telegram is being sent tb you 
from the New Ainsterdam theatre, 
where 2,000 people, representing all 
branches of the theatre, have gath- 
ered for the specific purpose of dis- 
playing to ybu their intense concern 
over the Dunnigan One-Mari Censor- 
ship BilL This measure has Coriie 
upon us unawares, and we have been 
given no opportunity to combat it. 
Our only course, therefore, is to ap- 
peal tb you, and we have taken thi^ 
hurried and desperate means of 
bringing our profound disapproval 
of this bill to your attention. As ari 
industry, as a profession, and as iari 
art we beg of you not to subject us 
to the withering dest- :tiveriess of 
censorship. This wire is signed by 
the. twenty-four organizations repre- 
sented here tonight covering the the- 
atre ,i its entirety,' 

What Might 

Arthur Hopikins, for the managers, 
revealed: 'For years Paul Moss (li- 
cense .comniissioner) has been seek- 
ing to attend rehearsals of legiti- 
mate productiohs in an effort to find 
something that i is opinion is Cen- 
sorable. His requests have been 
consistently denied. Should the 
Dunnigan bill become law, to save 
possible financial . loss, it would be 
necessary for producers to ?ubmit 
manuscripts of plays to Mr, Moss be- 
fore So much as a single penny- is 
expended or a single iactor engaged.' 

MaJcWell Anderson's message start- 
ed with 'No man ever lived, or ever 
^vill live, wise enough to- decide for 
the citizens of a democracy what 
they think, what they may drink, or 
what entertainment^ they may su * 
port.' O'Neill's extended telegram, 
sent to the governor included: 'Cen- 
sorship always ends by becoming a 
stupid tyranny used by reactionary 



bigbtry and intolerance to suppress 
all freedom of expression.' The 
Liints regard the legislatiori as a 
mehade to the progress of the Anier- 
ican theatrie and if it becomes law 
will suffer 'or New York will cease 
to be. the capital of .the theatre 
world.' Two British stars ialso voiced 
protest, Maurice Evans, in person, 
and Philip Merivale by telegram. 

istinguished Speakers 

George Middleton,.. former, presi- 
dent of the Author League, was the 
first speaker; id "The Dunnigan bill 
represents the kind of government 
we don't want in Amierica.'. James J. 
Brennari of the stage hands uhibn 
(local number one), followed, saying 
he would riot pull his. punches. He 
stated , the bill would lead to graft 
and force people to. pay .thbusarids 
bf dollars to ensure a play's opening. 

Helen Hayes tossed aside a speech 
prejpared by an author and quoted a 
line frbm 'Victoria Regi ,' 'We are 
not amused,' then went on to relate 
how a producer was forced off 
Broadway after presenting objec- 
tionable plays. Peggy Wood specu- 
lated on what might happen if the 
lidense commissioner was unable to 
see. a preview and sent a stobge in- 
stead. John Ariderspn, for the critics, 
thought the bill a step toward cen- 
soring criticisms and added 'Any 
main wise enough to be a censor- 
should be wise eriotigh .not to want 
to be orie^ Censorship is bad enough 
in theory, it Is fearful in practice.* 
Morris L. rnsi, an attorney, said: 
'The striking .part of this legislation 
cbmes; from the fact that the Dun-, 
riigan bill apparently does not trust 
the American Court system, 

Herman Shumlin and Alex • Yokel 
arranged the mass meeting and .also 
directed the circulation of. the peti- 
tion slips in. the theatres. .Press 
work was done, by ick Maney, 
Helen Deutsch and Phylli^ Perlman, 
Slips distributed under the direction 
of . Antionette Perry aiid: Allen 
Schpebbe, . turned over the many 
bundles of signed slips to the Joint 
Committee made up Of rep'resenta-. 
tives of League, of New York Thea- 
tres, Dramatists' Guild, Equity. Local 
No. One (T. P. U.) Critics' Circle. Au-: 
thors League, ASCAP,. Authoi-s Rep- 
resentatives, Scenic Artists' union,. 
American Federation of Musicians; 
Ni Y. Theatre Press Agents, WPA 
supervisors' council, 1. A. T. S. E,, 
treasurers' Club, Newspaper Guild, 
transfer associati , ivil Liberties 
League. National Council for, Free- 
dom from Censorship, plus the two 
tHeatrical guilds.. "The joint commit- 
tee meets. and operates from the of- 
fices of the Theatre League, 



(Continued frbrii page 1) 



licenses^ although there had been 
disregarded, protesting inessages Sent 
Albany. 

The managers reacted prbmptiy, 
9 committee which worked- with 
real speed, laying but. a campaign 
of appeal for a hearing . by • Gov«r^ 
nbr, Herbert Lehman before he 
makes a decisibri ori signing or veto- 
ing the Dunningari act there was 
no direct response from New York's 
chief executive to a telegraphic' re- 
quest for such hearing, . but unoffi- 
cial word lis said to have been re- 
ceived that the Governor is much 
interested and is studying the legis- 
lation, having returned ; to the capi- 
tal, after a short vacation in Virr 
gini 

Two Catholic groups came out in 
support bf the one-man . censorship 
nleasure; Both are brganizations not 
related to the theatre. 

Knights of Columbus Was spokes- 
man for the. church in favor of the 
measure. Chancellor the. Archdio-. 
cese ot.Nevr York arinbunced that a 
.stat0merit. issued by Joseph Lamb, 
head pf the K. of G. chiapter in N. 
Y., had been approved .by Cardinal 
Hayes, -At the sariie time Catholic 
weeklies assailed the dailies. Center 
Club, an ■ organization bf Catholic 
tiniversity graduates, also Cgme oUt 
ih support of the bill. 

Audience Petitions 

The Joint Clomhiittee of the Le- 
gitimate Theatre Against Censorship 
distributed individual petitioris to 
all Broadway theatres befbre the 
performance starting Tuesday night 
of last week. These slips were passed 
tb audiences with pericils after one 
of the leading players, in each show 
riiade address. The petitions 
were signed by nearly every person 
out firorit, orily exceptions in some 
instarices being public of ficiails. 

Audience response approached 
the. unanimous, number of signed 
petition slips being from 90% to 
98%. Theatres with capacities of 
arid more; than 200,000 sigriatures 
even though most were nbt sold out. 
The sanrte perceritage was repeated 
each night up to Saturday (IS), also 
.matinees. By .Thursday evening 
there had been 63,000 slips signed 
and. more than 130,000. signatures 
were secured by Saturday when the 
aiidierice . reaction test was com- 
pleted. The slips were serit to the 
Governor's office, arriving th^ere 
early this. week. More are on the 
way. 

Theatre League and Equity as 
representative : pf the managers ahd 
the actors, declared there had beeri 
protest? made to' Albany three days 
before the N. Yi State Senate slipped 
the bill through. At least one pro- 
testing message later then went to 
the Assembly and it was read from 
the floor. Beported the legislators 
were pre-occupied, for no attention 
was given the communication. 
Suspect Intrigue 

League convened when the first 
signs of danger were detected— for 
the measure wa.«i never given a pub- 
lic . hearing— at which tinrie. the 
showmen were advised that the mo- 
tion picture lobby in Albany was 
'taking care' of the niatter. There 
is the suspicion among some . man- 
agers that there was some crossing 
by the picture end, in a presumed, 
deal concerning the decency niove- 
ment that is fostered by the church 
element. Just who outside of its 
presenter is in back of the nrieasure. 
appears to be as. under cover as the 
way the bill emerged from commit- 
tee. .. 

The . petition slips headed: 'Help 
LegitiiT;ate .Theatre Kil\ One-Mari 
Censorship' and addressed to the 
Governor read: 't respebtfully urge 
you not to sign the Duhnigan Bill, 
Senate No; 2286, this bill so 
amends . th6 Wales act that one-, 
man .censorship of the legitimate 
theatre is created in - Comniis- 
sioner of Licehses. . this establishes 
dictJitorship in' that it vests: power 
to. accuse, try and convict without 
due process of; law. This bill i.S a 
direct blow , at the legitimate the- 
atre and will tend to destroy an im- 
portant progressive in Ameri- 
can li ' 

Actors Speak Ont 

The speech m&dc at each perform- 
ance in , all the'atrcs' lighted was as 
follow.s: 

'In every ■ New York theair 
night (this afternoon) speakers are 
addressing audiences as I. nm ad^ 
dressinfe you. All the forces of the 
legitimate thcatfe have been riiar- 




Show business , is baicked up agairiist the wall and fighting . its hardest 
battle to defeat ohe-mari censorship of the theatre, which would come 
about if Goyerrior Lehmari okays the. siriistisj: Dunnigari bill. Politicians 
oiled this measure through the New York. Assenibiy. It proposes to give 
one rnan the power to close theatres if in his; opinion there is indecency. 
That wbuld be dictatorship of the; stage. 

License Cpmmissiorter Paul Moss would be the boss shbuld the Gov-, 
erripr disregard the avalanche of protests bver the passage of the meas- 
ure. Moss is a. friend pf show business but can act up, as shown irt hi 
recent, refusal tb issuie new licenses to burlesqiie theatres and .when he 
closed every such hpuse in the greater city. 



Moss is a political appointee. What might, happen if succeeding com- 
missioners had the sariie power is hot hard to giiess. Nor how such suc- 
cessors could be reached; for profit br otherwise. The stage^has been' 
beset by many bpposition groups, Ut pensorshi as designed by Dunni- 
gan, is a knife iri the back. 



If there is any doUbt in Goverhor Lehman's mind as .to the course of 
actipn to pursue, he has only tb glance through the. editbrials iri the press 
of the state's number one city. Every daily is rallying to the support bf the 
theatre. Every editor urges the chief executive to veto the bill. Three 
newspapers have already published two editorials qach with that, pur pose. 

Burlesque is .doubtless a factor in the coriception of the one-man cerisor 
measure. J^urlesquie offended air the decencies. Burlesque all but ruined 
Broadway. Burlesque dropped/property values way dpwri pn 42nd street, 
Notoriety which went with the strip-tease brought about it.^ own eclipse. 
.But that is no reason why the decent stage should alsb suffer. 



, Legitimate theatre is fighting against one-man censorship , and has done 
a cor ing .job. which nbt only is drawing the support pf the press but of 
many civic organizations not related to show business. After the weight of 
protests arrived early this week at the executive mansiOri in Albariy, there 
should be but one reaction — vetb. 



Mr. Governor, actibn, camera. Public opi 
bill. 



American Theatre Council Convention 
Sets Stage for Active 4Day Session 



Amerlcari Theatre Council conven- 
tion which starts Monday (24) at the 
Astor hotel, N. Tt., will open with a 
luncheon and shbrt addresses, irst 
general sessiori iat 2:30 will be the 
martagers* Innirig with Brock Pem- 
bertpn in the chair^ Schedule calls 
for covering much territory during 
this session. On Tuesday, Wednes- 
day arid Thursday there will be gen- 



shalled to fight Immediate censor- 
ship' in the theatre, a censorship 
which suddenly came upon lis one 
day last week, wheri a riieasure 
called the Dunnigan Bill was. rail- 
roaded through both houses of the 
State Legislature without the slight- 
est warning or announcement to the 
public. 

'New York theatres have beeri 
free of cerisorship in any forni dur- 
ing their entire history and that fact 
has helped tb make the New York 
theatre one of the most vital in the 
wbrld today. "The sbrt of perforni-; 
ance that this bill seeks to prevent 
is already adequately covered by 
the penal law. This bill is nbt nec- 
essary. It spells the doom of . free 
thinki and free speech on the 
stage, in New Ybrk it gives the 
man who happens to. be the Com- 
mi.ssioher bf Licehses— -and Who is a 
political alppoiritecr-rthe absolute 
power to censor any play in any the- 
atre in whatever way he .pleases. He 
is given absolute power tb close any 
play for any reason that he seeS fit, 
rib. matter how whimsical hiis notiori 
may be, by reyokirig, the license of 
the theatre i ich that play is 
presented. 

'Since the bill. has. already passed 
both houses of the Legislature oiir 
only, and desperate chance of pre- 
venting this form of dictatorship lies 
iri convincing the Governbr of pur 
State of the dangers of this bill. We 
must persuade him to vetb it. 

'I pp^ak .for all the.fbrces of- the 
theatrer-rthe actors, the dramatists, 
the stagehands, the musicians, the 
prpducers and the dramatic critics 
—iri asking you to sign the slips 
which the ushcn will now pass, out 
to you. We want Governor. Lehman 
to kncAv that the audiences, as v/cll 
a."! the people of the theatre, are 
against this imposition of censorship. 

'if you don't want.bne man to tell 
you what plays you can see, if you 
don't want oho single individual to 
choose your entertainment for you, 
then pica-^e sign these cards.' 



ieral sessions . Iri the mornings, start- 
ing at 10:30,^ and also in the after- 
ribons. The general sessions are 
open tb: all with one exception, thiat 
to be held on Thursday morningi Re- 
lations between the legit theatre and 
the -films will be . discussed then and 
only delegates will be admitted. 

Tuesday's a. xrii meeting, will find 
the draniiatists' group . in the chair 
and, at lunch; the critics will speak 
their niinds. Afternbbn meetirig has 
been set aside for the actors. 
Wednesday, the road will be dis- 
cussed, also ; repertory arid .amateur 
groups will be heard. the after- 
nopri stage .emplpyees will be, in ac- 
tion. Long Thursday schedule, will 
bring in a number of topics and will 
end with a midriight supper plus a 
show. 



BULPRmES 
LEGrrTMLDT 



Washirigton, Mfiy 18. 

Partial lifting bf Federal impost on 
admissions was a^ked iri Cohgrcs.^ 
last week as means of equalizi 
competition between films and legiti- 
mate, stage. Bill waiving the lO^d 
levy iri the case of hpuscs where 
living actors perfbrrri was introduced 
by Representative. William I. Siro- 
vich pf New York, 

Warning that legit is being ' incd' 
by the levy, New Yprlc's playwright- 
surgeon-laW;naker said step.s of thi 
character would be helprul to legi 
prodii ' rs who claim govcinmcnt 
gyp is one of the- Vinbi.pnl rca.son.'j 
for declining patronage. Bill, whicli 
would become e/Tective 30 days after 
::cnactment, would not bertefit films, 
stock or vaudeyillc, circuses or sport-; 
ing events. 



CURZON SAILING 

George Curzoh, Briti.sh legit ^ctor 
recently featured on Broadway, in 
"Hitch Your Wagon,' sails f^>r TJng- 
UTnd thur.sday' .<20). He is taking 
along with him the .script of a pew 
play by Car\ Frcydc, titled 'Tomor- 
ro 's Murder,' . which he hopes' to 
have produced in London this season. 

Ho will play the leading I'ole him- 
.self, if and when. 



s« 



VARIETY 



LEGITIMATE 



Eqiiity Seeking to Organize Radio; 
Peggy Woods Article Rouses Indies 



J. J. SHOBERT BUYS 
VIENNESE MUSICAL 



Wednesdaj, May 19, 1937 



Until early this week there was. a 
lull between lactions in Equity^ two 
of which are opposing the adminisr 
tration's ticket for the. fprthcbming 
^lectibh. Statements were; issued by 
ali three, perhaps the mOst im- 
portaiit coming from Frank Gillmore 
• ; relation to organizing , radip. 

imed that ajpAvard of 50% of 
radio artists are Equltyites, despite 
the percentage of former vaudevxl- 
iians arid cabaret people in the field. 

time Equity was wary of 
io and one of its officers- iiien- 
tioned resigning rather than going 
into unfamiliar grounds. That atti- 
tude has now changed. Idea now :is 
that the Wagnei- bill, . in paving the 
way on this majority collective bar- 
gainihg principle, has made it easier 
to organize the artist. Understood 
that concessions offered radio people 
had virtually dropped out of 
Equity and delinquent in dues 
have been; withdrawn entirely. Plans 
call for establishing a rate of $15 to 
$40 on' commercial programs and 
$l();;to'$20 on sustai ing. broadcasts, 
if on the air after 6 p.m. Both op- 
position groups favored the radio in- 
vasion, witH a. committee supporting 
the iadniinistration okaying the plan, 
too. 

The militant group, whose ticket 
.foi* the council is, called independent, 
bristled over an article in the Equity 
mbnthiy by-iihed by Peggy Wood, 
an administration supported. Indies 
rfegarded , the matter was belittling 
their cause, and Harold Moffet; indie 
chairman, . replied. He called atten- 
tion to the fact that there has been 
no miid slinging by the party's can- 
didates. 

Miss Wood indicated that she, 
knew the identity of an. indie who 
sought Executive Secretary-tr6as- 
iirer Paul Dulzieirs job, 'which 
Brought the indignant retort that the 
ihdies had riot named anyone for any 
office and suggested that Miss Wood 
hamie the. individual. Stated too 
that the 'administration seems bent 
dri confusing the issue' and that, the 

ini of the opposition is. to 'elect a 
(Coritiriued on page; 63) 



Making Book 



Betting ori the length pf the. 
revived 'run- of 'Abie's Irish 
Rose', is developing iritp a sort 
of sideline lobby sport 

Guessers will give even odds 
that the revival Will be lit up 
for six months. . iyen 
3-to-l odds, certain bettbrs 
will gamble on a 12-15 months' 
run, with wagers of as high as 
$500. Stimulus tp this derby- 
day prpcedure, of cpurse, is 
tiiat the original 'Abie' ran: five 
years, despite Its panrting. 
Which, figure the amateur 
bookmakers, put? the probabil- 
ities i their favor as regards 
the revival. 



Vienna, May 7. 

J. Shufbert stopped a few days 
in Vienna,, looked over various hew 
shows arid bought the mufeicai rights 
of Robert Katscher's . latest. 'At Can- 
dle Light.* intends, to take ■ Rosy 
Bafsoriyj Hurigari blonde,, and 
Oskar Denes to U.': 

Left for Budapest to Ipolc at Erii- 
merich Ralman's new operetta,, 'Eni- 
press. Josephi 





OMAHA DATE 



MNot Oii^M Dead, but It s 
Well Paved, 4 Touniig Cos. Prove 








'Abie^s Irish Rose' 
Makes Ceremonioas 
Broadway Return 



Anhe Nichols' 'Abie's Irish Rose,' 
which has been off the Broadway 
boards foi- 10 yearsj was revived at 
the Little, N. . Y.-; last Wednesday 
(12), arid drew a fair press. Some 
of the critics were wary of repeat 
irig the error made when the record 
run comedy origirially ppened late 
in May, 1922, and most of the re 
views were of a doubtfijl nature. 

how was accorded unusual atten- 
tion by radio. After the opening a 
broadcast honor of the event 
went but on a c6ast-tp-coast special 
events program of WABC. Latter 
installed apparatus in the lounge of 
the theatre. .Those horioring 'Abie' 
over the air were former Governor 
.Alfred E. Smith, Jack Pearl, Harry 
H^rshfield, Jud,?e. Kenneth O'Brien, 
Ed Wynn and. Miss Nichols. On Ihel 
followin eviening 'Abie' was givieiv 
a sectiori of 'The March of Time' 
program, also by WABG. Thiere was 
no cost for either airiiig, the station 
regarding the event as unusu 

Foe is riot; .'Abi ■■■ rooks 

Atkinson of the Y; imes . did 
son>e research Wor , naming 39 at 
tractions whiclv were still playirig at 
nd 61 the scap.bn when 'Abie' 
InGludcd ' was !The iBat,' 
was on its way tp a two-year 
run, wliich ' ic' topped by tw6 and 
one-half times. 

During the boom years of the 
legit theatre 'Abie' rriade many rec- 
ords out of, town and upset prece 
dent in &o doing. Miss Nichols' play 
wc-is not: always flourishing arid dUr 
ing the fluctuations Leblarig's cut 
rate asjcricy received allotmerits. 
Tiriie and again the bargain: tickets. 
Were \Vithdra\yn, for the show's >yi- 
tality was such thpt the reduced 
rates hover reacted adversely to 
•Abi .' Miss ichbls stated that Le- 
blang's was the inpst vital factor in 
the play'i long run, 

Broadway is making no prediction 
on the run chances of the revival, 
but 'cKOund the Little 



Equity's .current monthly carries 
the legal inions In gist of three 
attorneys to whoitt the Ihtetpreta- 
tion of the referendum secret 
yotirig. now in the hands of the mem- 
bers was referred. Justice Sheffield 
and John Schulman agreed with Paul 
N. . "rurner, Ikjuity lawyer, that; all 
qiiestions might be required to be de- 
cided by the secret ballot methed. 
Mprris Ernst disagreed in part at^d 
dissatisfied with Turner's adaptatlpn 
pf his views, asked that his ppinipn 
be printed in the asspciation's house 
prgan. Ernst's pblnt is contained in 
his idea that the courts might place 
a different iriterpretatipn on the 
amendment and he suggested how a 
resolution or by-law. could clarify 
the rather obtuse wording of the 
amendment which the ppppSitiPri; in 
Equity seeks tp have adppted. Ernst 
.Wrote: 

'It is my impression that in litiga- 
tion you could sustain the ppsitipn 
that the amendment shpuld npt, be 
cpnStrued literally but shpuld be 
read with that degree pf reaspn 
\yhich accpmpanies all dramatic ef- 
forts and that the secrecy should be 
limited to elections and referenda. 
If the amendment is adopted It 
would be well to .havei a resolutipn 
P|assed by the cpuncil, pr better yet 
a. by-law with respect tp the veting 
of absent members, and in such a 
by-law you could have a whereas 
clause clearing up the ambi ity. 
If such by-law were adopted ith- 
out protest it would Indicate a sen- 
sible inter i-etation of the mend- 
ment.' 



Omaha, May 18. 
Threatened ban on one night legit 
performance of 'Idiot's Delight' at 
Parampunt thieatre, last night (Tues- 
day), riBsulted in. the Theatre Guild 
Cancelling the perfprmance and re- 
funding the mpney pf a . spld out 
house. Orders from Maypr Butler 
were that the play wpuld ript be 
perriiittied tb shpw unless ■ passages 
designated were deleted Pr revisedi 

The sppnspririg' Dranria League: 
negptiated. with Alfred Ltint and 
Lynn Fpntanne via phpne in De's 
Mpiiies on Mpnday regarding, the 
prpppsed revisipns and secured a 
premise that the Lunts wpuld cpn- 
fer with the Maybr. on Tuesday 
afternooii tp write in designated 
changes of alleged risqueMines.. The 
Lunts previously have given little 
cpuntenance tp censbirship; and it 
was decided that thef e shbuld be. np 
exceptipn riiade in this case. 

Repprted by Mrs. Hpwaird Rush- 
tpn. League piresident, the one night 
stand was a sellout -three days age 
with sPrinething like $800 in mail 
orders returned. Scaled at a $3.30 
.tppr prie perfprniance wpuld have 
grossed around $6,000. 

Attitude of Mayor Butler appears 
to be one of maintai ing corisistency 
(Continued on page 63) 



Howard Examines 
Dred Scott Case 
As Possible Play 



St. Louis, May 18. 

Records of histpric Dred Scptt 
case pf Civil War days , were scruti- 
nized last week by Sidney Howard, 
playwright and former winner of 
Pulitzer Prize, who came here from 
Hollywood to obtain minute, details 
of pne pf the mpst impprtarit events 
leading up tp national strife. How- 
ard spent three days in Jefferson 
Meinorial studying Missouri His- 
torical Society's records of. cele- 
brated slave case, said to be most 
complete in the nation. 

Later Howard continued at Civil 
Courts Building going pver files pn 
Case. 



New Playgoers 



Dunnigan theatrical censor- 
ship bill, a ptizo headache to 

rpadSvay managers, proved .a 
break fpr, a host of young 
unemployed legit players. An- 
tpiriette Perry secured the 
ypungsters frpm casting agencies 
and instructed them to hand out 
blanks in legit hpuses urging 
audiences ■ tp sign petitipns tp 
Gpvernpr Lehman hpt tp okay 
the bill. 

Kids arranged net to repeat 
any hpuse, thus seeing all the 
shows on the cuffo. For the 
few sellouts, the visiting 
ernotJers are standees. ther- 
Avise they grabbed seats down 
front Figuring about six tP 
eight actprs per hpuse. apprpici- 
mately 120 tp 150 ypung play- 
ers are pn the cixff nightly. 



nCKET CASE IS 
POSTPONED 
INDEF. 



Case aigalnst Niew York ticket, 
brpkers, scheduled for hearing .last 
week oh the charge of failure to 
stamp tickets sold at a premium and 
interchanged between them, was 
again put oyer. Understood that the 
matter has been postponed in- 
definitely, under the theory, that the 
gpviernment is . primarily interested 
in cpllecting ticket tax mpney al- 
leged to have been withheld, -rather 
than pressing the lion-stamping 
evasion^ 

Whether Federal indictments will 
be sought is not .clearly indicated 
despite the rough treatment com- 
plained pf when warrants were first 
issued and the ticket men placied 
under bpnd, Brpkers figure that it 
is likely that some agencies, at least, 
will, be called on to make settle- 
ments but the ticket men dispute the; 
calculations as approximated by the 
tax irivestigatprs, even alpng the 
lines stipulated by the invplved ad- 
missions tax law. 

Ticket men believe the law .would 
not stand up if tested through the 
courts and are supported in: that 
Contention by couriseL 



llernal Road' Closes with Benefit 
For Meyer W. Weisgal; May Reopen 



•The Road' 
closed at the Manhattan 6. H. Sun- 
day . afternoon (16), plans are virtu- 
ally set for the biblical spectacle to 
resume May 31, at which time' the 
ticket scalie will tfc lowered again 
an operating expense further 

lowered. Tickets will be $2.20 top, 
\yith the l9west; price 55 cents. Show 
orisiinally had a $4,40 tqpi which was 
reduced tb $3.30. 

Meyer W. Weisgal, :Who prprrioted 
more, than $500,000 for 'Eternal 
Road.' was the reci lent of ' Sunday 
nfterhoon's receipts.- It was agreed 
by all concerned, back arid front to 
rhalce it a benefit performance, after 
the players offered to work gratis all 
.last week for Weisgal, who declined 
that sacrifice. 

hbwmari has never been .on the 
payroll, although one of. the spec's 
[.backers has given Weisgal a weekly 
allowance. The benefit niatinee 
pressed $4,003, every dollar going to 
expectancy I the promoter. Union rules, prohibit 



tuns iv'-y next 
year's . stay. 



New Year's to a j .■••tn ?e hands and musicians .working 
without pay, but when the men were 



unday. per- 
contributed to 



tendered checks for 
formance, all were 
Weisgal. 

When arid if the show resumes it 
will be able tp pperate for '$l5i000 
weekly. Actors have agreed to take 
another Salary cut,, while the back- 
stage crew and oi-chestra will be re- 
duced in complement with the; assent 
of the. unions. 'Road' is expected tp 
average. $20,000, and can do half .as 
much more if sellin out at the pro- 
pcsed scaic. 

Qne of the spec's backers put up 
the original money with Equity to 
guarantee salaries, the amount being 
$15,000. The philanthrppist advised 
Equity that, ariy. of that coin not used 
to pay the players was to.be turned 
over to Weisgal. Late last week the 
residue was called on to riiake up 
the payroll, and the beriefit perform- 
ance was decidfed pn to aid thie shbw- 
man. Reported that $60,000 is . still 
owed on operating expense, and 
ways and means to finance 'such bills 
are being eonsidered.. Number of 
court actions haVe be«h started by 
the creditors. 



PASADENA'S FESTIVAL 
WILL DRAMATIZE S. W. 



Hollywood, May 18. 

Feature of the Third' Annual Mi - 
summer Drama Festival at Pasadena 
Comrriunity Playhouse will be pres- 
entation of se'veri dranias portraying 
'story of the great southwest' Plays 
span the march of four centuries. 

List'includes 'Mbntezuma! by Ger- 
hardt Hauptniann; 'Miracle of the 
Swallows'' by Ramori Romero; 'Night 
Ov^r Taos' by Maxwell .Ariderson; 
'Juarez and Maximilian' by Franz 
Werfel; 'Girl .of the Gblderi West' by 
David Belasco; 'Minier's Gold' by 
Agnes Peterson, and 'Rose of the 
Rancho,' by Belasco arid Richard 
Walton Tully. 



e White Planning 
New Musical Comedy 

George White; is shaping bbbk 
ni.usical for early next season. It is 
tentatively called 'Models, Ltd.'" Pro- 
ducer' has riot definitely chariged his 
mind about , laying off revue, after 
tVpuble encountered with the last 
'Scandals.*. 

Gordon arid. Revel have proposed 
writing a new 'Scandals' for White, 
planning a sabbatical, respite from 
Hollywood for that purpose. 

ENGAGEMENTS 

Helen Kingsley, Barbara Town-, 
send, Josephine Du Val/ Kirk Brown. 
Jr., Frank McNellis, Academy pf 
Music, Northampton, Mass; (Per- 
manent CO.). 

Harold Moffet, Sylvia FieldrTbokie 
Hunter, Jr., Jphn Hpysradt, Theatre- 
by-the-Sea,- Matunuck, H. I. 
mahent co.). 



With the current legit season in i 
final few weeks, four road companies 
of three Broadway hits have wound 
up tours that met with uncpmniori 
success. Two pf these are. Geprge 
Abbptt trpupes presenting th 
Spewack cpmedy, 'Bpy Meets Girl,' 
to hinterland audiences. The No. 
company of the play, which opened 
in Chicago in January, 1936, closed 
at the El Capitari, Hollywobd, 
Saturday (15), having played a total 
of 80 weeks since its Loop debut 

The third 'Boy Meets Girl' troupe, 
known as the Boston company, also 
closed . its season Saturday, at the 
Chiestnut St. Opera house, Philadel- 
phia, with a total of 34 weeks tour- 
ing to its credit. Thus the two 'Boy' 
Companies amassed. 114 -weeks 
tour between them. Marty repeat 
dates were filled, and, in some , in- 
stances, towns have been played by 
both compani Cities demanding 
return engagements of the Comedy 
have. included St. Louis,, Cincinnati, 
Baltimore and Washington. 

'First Lady,' with Jane Cowl, 
clpsed its full-seaspn's tpur in Newark 
last ' Saturday (15) ending a trans- 
cpritinental trek . pf 33% weeks arid 
apprpxiinately 45 tPwhs played tp 
exceptipnal trade. The Kaufman- 
Ferber cpmedy toured to the Coast 
and back, taking in several cities i 
the hor'thwest. iand coveri nearly 
every section of the country with the 
exception of the south. . Outstanding 
among the road , grosses was the 
week in Washington, whiCh -netted 
$20,500. 

Fourth among the touririg tom- 
panies tb call it a season, also on 
Saturday, was 'Tobacco Road' with 
Taylor Holmes sts Jeeter Lester. Its 
jouirnej'^ings about the country iii- 
cluded many repeat dates in the mi 
west and bookings in the south, niost 
of which were played at $2.20 top. 
The play's biggest road gross, how- 
ever, was at a $1.65 scale in Pi tts- 
butgh, the week of Feb. i22, when 
$17,600 was the b o. take. 'Tobacco 
Road' tbured a total of 32% weeks, 
while the original company, holds 
forth ait the Forrest, N. Y., currently 
in its ISOth stanza. 



'SHOW IS ON' DECIDES 
NOT TO CLOSE-YET 



The Show Is On,' Winter Garden, 
N. Y., •which advertised Mast weeks' 
for several days, dropped the line 
in the daily insertions and the re- 
vue will continue as long as busi- 
ness warrants. Line was used as a 
test In the expectation of upping 
attendance. Reyue held Its own 
last, week with takings arpund 
$27,000. It can break even* pn a 
gi-pss pf $22,000. Ticket sale has 
been extended intp June. 

Shubert office claims the 
show's top features, Beatrice Lilli 
and Bert Lahr. have leeway in 
Hoilywotjd corifimitments. and can 
remain with the. 'Show' indefiriitely. 
Revue may play thirough June, with 
a pQSsi ility -bf sticking into July. 



William Gaxton Sails 
Again to Tropical Ports 

William Gaxtpn, Shepher.d pf the- 
La'mbs, will sail this Week to Mexico 
and Central American points, aboard 
one of the Standard Oil of New Jer- 
sey boats, operated by Robert L. 
Hague. He will be accompaniied by 
his wife, Madeline Cameron, and 
Bobbi ' ins, wife of Herb Harris. 
It is a repeat trip for all. three. 
Harris will , plane to Mexico later 
and join the party. 

summel' Gaxton returned 
from a similar junket with his chin 
adorned with a goatee arid his dome 
under a sombrero. 



Willie and Gene Howard 
Sign Up With Shuberts 

Willie and Eugiene Howard, through 
the Curtis & Allen agency, last week 
signed a two-year pact with the Shu- 
berts ' starting riext fall. The How- 
ards are currently on the Coast for 
a spot in Metro's 'Broadway Melody.' 

First show for the Howards ori th 
new Shubert contract next season 
will be either 'Yippee' or a new *Fol- 



Wednesdaj, May 19, 1937 






LEGITIMATE GROSSES 



VARIETY 



57 



Take V Grabs Q.K. $14,000 in Loop 



Chicago/May 18. 

Alter a session with only one show, 
•Ybu €an-t Take It With You,* the 
loop gets another house lighted cur- 
rently through the arrival of Kath- 
arine Cornell with her^wo-play repr 
ertory group, at the Grande Awhere 
she is a cinch lor coin. 

'Take It' began a new advertising 
splurge last week with the announcie- 
ment of the Pulitzer Prize award; 
and has received considerable news- 
paper backing, due primarily to^ this 
fact that there was no other show 
in town on which thfe dailies could 
comment. 

WPA locally opened Its 'Loiiely 
Man' fantasy of Abraham Lincoln at 
the Blackstone on Sunday (16), start- 
ing off with an 8 o'clock curtain. Has 
revised version of 'O Say Caii You 
Sing* In rehearsal. 

. Estimates for Last Week > 

Kaiharine Cornell Repertory— 
Grand (1,300; $3.30) (1st week). 
Fortnight lor MisS Cornieirs tyro 
shows, . 'Wingless Victory ■ and 'Can- 
dida.'. Advance salie assures cinch 
click at the b. o. 

'Ton Caa't Take It With Tdu,' Har- 
ris (1,000; $2.75) (15th week). Pu- 
litzer Prize helped boost the take 
once more, holding it up to $14,000, 
fine^ 

WPA 

TiOhely Man,' Blackstone. Opened 
on Sunday (16). 

'Mississippi Bainbow,' Princess. 
All-colored show readying to call it 
quits. 



KATHARINE CORNELL'S 
BIG PHILLY $26,000 



Philadelphi , May 

Philly's legit season of 1936-37 
wound up in- a blaze of glory, even if 
it . hadn't shown, niuch that way at 
various other periods^ . Katharine. 
.Cornell appearing for a single week 
at the Forrest iand giving four per- 
iofmahces each of 'Candida' and 
'Wingless Victory' grossed approxr 
iniately $2i6,000 on the week, which 
was plenty. ' satisfactory from jail 
standpoints. 

Weakest performance (financially) 
was Monday opener which merely 
bore out the fact that it has been al*- 
most impossible to get sellout first 
nights here In Philly all year, no 
matter what the attraction. Under- 
standable with try-outs but hard to 
figure in cases of Cornell, Gieligud 
and D'Oyiy Carte Co. 

Not. a thing is in sight or expected 
for any of Philly's remaining legit 
houses, the Forrest, Eflanger and 
Chestnut. 

Estimate for Last Week 

Katharine Cornell, Forrest (1,800; 
$3.30). One week only with star 
giving 'Candida' first four perform- 
ances and 'Wingless Victory' last 
lour. $26,000 grossed; with Monday 
Opening weakest performance. 



Jane Cowl's Newark 7G 



Newark, May 18. 

Jane Cowl brought her season's 
tour of 'First Lady' to an end at the 
Shubert theatre here on Saturday 
(I5),with the b; o. turning in a fair 
approximate $7;000 for the week. 
The crix did a rave, claiming it was 
best show of season, but local elec- 
tions and probably, the $2.20 top, 
with only, the Monday night .doing 
a two-for- . hurt considerably. 

'Lost Horizon' (COl) pix is in for 
two weeks.. 



Hedgerow Shaw iFestival 

iladelphi , May 18. 
Fourth Annual ShaW Festival of 
the Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Val- 
ley will run fron) July 19 to August 
14 this year. 'Too True to Be Good,' 
one of the later Shaw plays, will be 
the new production, of the' Hedge- 
rovians, who have in their' repertory 
twelvie of the Irish playwrighfi 
works. 

Othei: plays to be given will i 
elude 'Arms and the Man,' 'Candi , 
'You Never Can Tell,' 'The , Devil' 
Disciple,' 'Getting Married,' ,'Mis 
alliance,' 'Androcles and the Lion, 
'The Dark Lady of . the Sonneits, 
'Heartbreak House,' and 'St. Joan.' 

Floating Strawhat 

Preston Tuttle, Jean Rosenthal and 
Winston O'Keefe have taken over 
fornier Periwinkle Showboat, float 
ing summer theatre on Long Islanc 
.sound, N. Yv, and have rechristenec 
it the Showboat Theatre, the 
sam.e purpose. Expect. .star:, 
around June 21, 

Plan is to form a rep company and 
play various spots along Westchester, 
Long Island bays. Old playis along 
lines of 'Drunkard'^ will be used on 
three-day stand basis. 



HOOM SERVICE' OKE 
$8,200 IN BALTIMORE 

Bailtimore, May 18. 
George Aibbott: openings are how 
a Baltimore tradition. Town greeted 
his latest cbmedy 'Room Service' in 
pleasant style ringing up .a satis- 
factory $8,200 for the week. Good 
reception from local crix who hailed 
hew , comedy as sure Broadway hit 
and Abbott record here of capable 
past peirf oriiiances had . customers 
coming steadily frbm opening night, 
3uilding up to a bang-up week-end. 

'Zieglfeld Follies' current at Ford's 
with good advance sale to its credit. 
Will na doubt wind up local, legit 
seasbn 'Which has been best in years. 
Estimate for Last Week 
'Room Service,' Maryland (L570; 
2.20). Abbott's name, good Ibbal 
draw, plus raves from .local crix 
lelped b.o. steadily all week to build 
Up satisfactory $8,200 for'^ this tryouti 

'SEA LEGS' $9,200, 
'RAT' $6,500; HUB 

6ston,.May 18. 
With the legit season sagging to an 
end, after a succession of successful 
shows, 'Brother Rat,' beginning its 
15th week at the Plymouth, is on its 
last legs. . 'Sea Legs,' after a one- 
week tryout at the (Colonial, moves 
on in considerably improved condi- 
tion, biit still a Very dubious jiiece 
of show property. 

Roadshowing of 'Captainis Coura- 
geous* (MG) took over the Colonial 
Monday night (17) for three weeks. 
Estimates for Last Week 
•Sea Legs,' Colonial ($2.75, one 
week)— Optimists say this new mu- 
sical drew women and children. In 
its: present form, even though, .im- 
proved since, opening, ill cause 
little excitement when it . hits 
Broadway; $9,200 for the tryout 
stsnzd. Kiel's" 

'Brother Rat,' Colonial ($2.75; 14th 
week)-^etting a little pale after 
dandy run; $6,500 last week. 



TWO SHOWS OUT 



At least two attractions are off the 
Broadway listj. both having folded 
Saturday (15) and both failed. None 
is scheduled to close this week, 
but several are dependent ort at- 
tendance. 'Orchids Preferred' was 
yanked at the Imperial after seven 



'OttCHIDS PREEERRED' 
. Opened May 11, '37. Roundly 
lambasted by iail the reviewers, 
who went to extreme lengths 
in their punishment. John 
Mason Brown (Post) alternately 
slugged it with, 'boring, ama- 
teurish, pointless, and feeble.' 



performances. Maybe $5,000 in seven 
perforniances of musical that was 
-panned. 

'Without Warning' was taken off 
at, the National after one perform- 



'WITHOUT WARNING' 

Opened May 1, Of the 

flve ppinion^rs caught 
'Warning' Douglas ilbert 
(Telegram) was the single lisn- 
conformist. in the thiimbs down 
attitude. . 'A miystery of merit' 
said Gilbert. Robert Coleman 
(Mirror) found himself 'unable 
to agree with the icnce, 
which gave it a rousing bya- 
tlbn.' 

' Variety - .(Ibee) named it a cut;^ 
rate candidate. 



'FOLUES' $21,000 
AT NATIONAL, WASH. 



Washington, May 18. 
National's legit seaison bowed out 
Saturday (15). with 'Ziegf eld Follies' 
taking approximately $2l,000 for 
week. Warm weather and late date 
considered, figure was oke at $3.50 
top. Capi now legitless Until Road- 
side Theatre, semi-pro barn venture, 
begins fourth season next month. 

National will stay. Open with three 
weeks of 'Lost Horizon' flicker; be- 
fore locking the b.o. 



ance more than two weeks. Mystery 
play ' tried^ cut : rati but . got . little 
coin. 



Current Road Shows 



(Week of May li) 
r other Rat,' Plymouth, 

ton, 
.'Dead End,' 

Cisco. 

'Follies,' Ford's, Baltimor 

Katharine Cornell Repertory, 
Grand Opera House, Chicago. 

'Idiot's Delight' (Lunt and 
Fontanne), Shrihe .Audi, DeS 
Moines, 17; High School Audi, 
Omaha, 18; Audi, Denver, 20-2J: 

'You Can't Take It With Ypu,' 
Harris, Chicago. 





lOG in Washup 
Stanza m L A, 



Los Angeles, May.18. 
'Tovarich' wouhd Up four healthy 
weeks at the Biltmore (15), with 
house shuttering fOr couple of weeks 
until Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne 
move in with 'Idiot's Delight.' Fed- 
erals have three shows going to fair 
returns.; 

Estimate for Last Week 
. 'Tovarichi' Biltmore (D-1,656; $2.75) 
(4th-final week). Trade held fairly 
strong, as expected; and opus closed 
to around $10,000, as predicted. 
(WPA) 

.'Tomorrow's a Holiday/ Mayan- 
Comedy drama . directed: by John 
Langan set to run .until . May 23, 

'Help Yourself,' Mason, Breezy 
farce also skedded to stick until May 
23, 

'Blind. Alley,' :Hollywood. Play- 
house. Gangster drama drawing 
fair trade following..; six weeks* 
doWntown run earlier" in season. 



i'way Legit List Niutowiiig Dow^^^ 
But 20 Shows Remain for June 



NEW PLAYS LISTED 
FOR SKOWHEGAN, ME. 



Skowhegan, Me., May 17- 

Melville Burke, director of the 
Lakewopd Players, for the coming 
season, announced this past week, 
following a . to Hollywood, 

that Katharine Alexander; Erin 
O'Brien-Moore, Jean Dixon, Martha' 
Sleeper, Frankie Thomas, Jr.; Mary, 
philips, , Hardie Albright, Tom 
Keene, Owen Davis, Jr.; Grace Staf- 
ford, Warren Hymer, Albert Hack- 
ett, Robert Kent and Astrid Allwyn, 
will be seen in Lakewood theatre 
productions here this summer. 

From the Broadway stage will 
qonle Arthur Byron, Blanche Yurka, 
Edith Barrett, Nance O'Neil, Mary 
Servoss, Taylor Holmes, James 
Rennie and Sally Rand. 

Mary Rogers will come east for 
her fourth season at Lakewood. 

Season, ill open May 29, with 
the presentation of 'Rollo's Wild 
Oat' by Clare Kummer. The new 
plays will include, during the sea- 
son, William E, Barry's 'Prodigal 
Father,' .starring Arthur Byron. 
Warren Hymer; will' be seen in a 
new comedy about Hollywood, 
written by his father, John B- Hyr 
mer, 

. Eriri rien-Mpore has prom- 
ised, to star in a new farce by Owen 
Davis, called 'Two-Time Mary.' In 
'Reno,' a rtew play by John Hag- 
gart, ill be Jean Dixon, Katharine 
Alexander, Mary Philips, Grace 
Stafford and Tom . Keene. Hardie 
Albright and Martha Sleeper will be 
seen in a new comedy, 'Private Con- 
fession,' by Mr. Albright and Austin 
Parker. 

The r 
uled: . 

June 7— Blanche Yurka 'The 
Wild Duck' by Henrik Ibsen. 

June 14— Edith Barrett in J, B. 
Priestley's 'Eden End.' 

Ju 21— Edith. Barrett in 'Par- 
nell.' 

Jiihe 28-— Frankie .TTiomas, Jr., in 
'Seventeen' by Booth Tarkjngtpn. 

July 5— Nance O'NeiU in 'The 
Lady of La Paz' by Edith Ellis. 

Dates subject to rearrangement: 

July 12— Hard i Ibright and 
Martha Sleeper in rivate : Confes- 
sion.' 

July 19— 'Boy Meets Girl' ith 
Grace Stafford. 

July 26— Katharine Alexander, 
Jean Dixon, Mary Philips, Tom 
Keene in 'Reno* by John Haggart, 

August 2 — Katharine Alexander in 
'First Lady.' 

August 9— Eri O'Brien-Moore in 
'Two-Time Mary' by Owen. Davis. 

August 16— Arthur Byron -in 'The 
Prodigal Father' by W, E. Barry. 

August 23— Warren Hyrticr in a 
new play on Hollywood by J. B, 
Hymer. 



Indications are that roadway will 
enter the June period with 20 attrac- 
tions, but how many houses ill be 
lighted by July 4 is anybody's guess. 
Number of shows will naturally drop 
out of the list as the open season 
progresses, but an unusual nurhber 
of shows. Entering during the lat- 
ter half of May, stiould tend to bolster 
the card. 

Two shows opened last week, three 
will , debut this week and another 
duo are due in starting next Monday, 
revivals bei included. The pair 
which came in last week were the 
revived 'Abie's Irish Rose' and a 
musical called 'Orchids Preferred j' 
which promptly, went over the Im- 
perial boards Saturday after seven 
times. 

'Abie' drew a fair press but re- 
ceived a strong radio send-off. It 
grossed $4,000 in six times and the 
expectation is for a weekly pace over 
$6,000 which would be profitable as 
the house and show . are under the 
same management. . 'Sea Legs,' an- 
other musical, opened Tuesday with 
the touted 'Room Service* the 
Wednesday premiere. Revival of 
'Damaged Goods,' Monday, was hot 
well regarded. 

No , gains were made last week, 
with two rainy nights, but business 
surprisingly held to previous 
.week*s levels — about average for 
May. Summer list possibilities yacil-- 
lated again, upon the announcement 
that 'The Show Is On' ill continue. 



DEUGHT,' $13,000, 
ST. PAUL, IN 2 DAYS 



Minneapollis, May 18. 

For the first time a Theatre Guild 
attraction, 'Idiot's Delight,* will be 
passed by. Minnieapolis for t. Paul, 
limiting its Twin City engage.rrieht 
to two nights and a rnatlnee at the 
St. Pail! Auditorium, which boasts 
double the seating capacity of the 
Minneajjotis Metropolitan, where an- 
other Guild show, 'Jane Eyre,* played 
to capacity several months a^o. 

'Delight' drew complete capacity 
for every performance, turning hun-r: 
dreds away and grossing approxi-^ 
mately $13,000. 



Peggy Wood Joins 

Ann Arbor Company 



Ann Arbor, Mich., May 18. 

Peggy Wood will replace Estelle 
Winwood in Robert Henderson's 
Dramatic Festival production of 'The 
Merchant of Venice' opening Satur- 
day (22). Miss Wood will appear as 
Portia, which she played several 
seasons ago with George Arliss. 
Henderson has signed Gnreth Hughes 
for Shylock and Rex Ingram for the 
Prince of Morocco role. This is first 
time for negro actor in latter part, 

Helen Chandler and Bramwell 
Fletcher opened last night (17) jn 
three Noel Coward one-act plays to 
begin Robert Henderson's 1937 dra- 
matic season here. For the first time 
biitside of London and New York, 
Henderson chose 'Hands Across the 
Sea,' 'Still Life' and 'Ways arid 
Means.' 

Three more 'Tonight at 8:30' plays 
are to be presented during the fourth 
week of the festival, ith Jes.sie 
Royce Landis and Charle.s Romano 
in 'Shadow ,' 'Fumed Oak' and 
'Family Albu 



Fischer to Get $1,000 

.Detroit; May 18. 
Series of parties, thrown for Fanny 
Brice, Willie Howard and other show 
biz friends, will coist Carlos J. Mc- 
Kinney and his wife, former Ethel 
Norris, of musical comedy, $1,000 
damages to a home i-ented them by 
Carl Fischer, dance hall operator. 
Judge Arthur Webster ruled la.st 
Friday. (14), 

ischer had asked $4,500 for dam- 
age to furnish i a series 
of parties. 



Buck Hill Plays 

Stroudsburg,. pa., May 17> 
Buck Hill Player.s, irectcd Ip.y 
Cornelia Stabler (Si.llam with the as- 
sistance of Frankii Webb, and 
Ralph Pendleton, at Buck Hill Falls, 
Pa., announce the opening play as 
Philip Barry's . 'Sporting Dance.' 
Thi.s will be followed by 'Moor 
Born' and 'The Dover Road.' 

Three new players are Pre.sco An- 
derson, John Becker, and William 
Stephenson. 



while 'High Tor' ill e.\it after 
other two weeks. 

In addition' to 'Orchids,' 'Without 
Warning' also dropped out of the go- 
ing, having fared badly at the Na- 
tional; No definite closings this week.; 
'Money Mad,' which was first dis- 
played as 'Bet .Your Life' recently, 
will try again this time at the 49th 
St, Also slated next week is a re-, 
vival of 'The Bat.' WPA lists a revue 
called 'The Machine Age. * 

Estimates for Last Week 
'Babes in Artris,' ubert (6th 
week) (M-l,382-$3.85). Not as 
strong as expected, but getting 
rather good money, especially . at 
week ends; around $18,000 rnark last 
week. 

•Boy Meets Girl,' Ambassador 
(78th week) (C-l,156.$1.65). Moved 
here Monday (17) from Cort; cut 
rates helped considerably of late; 
rated around $7,000. 

'Behind Red Ughls,' 46th St. (19th 
week) (D-l,375-$2.20). Another show 
aided by' cut rating; party helped 
last week also; takings approximated 
$6,500 last week. 

'Brother Rat,' iltmore (23rd 
week) (C-9.gi-$1.65). No material 
change in pace; gi^oss about $8,500 or 
slightly less, but geared to make 
goodly profit, at figure. 

•Dead End,' Bclascp (82nd week) 
(CD-1,000-$1,65).. Still making some 
profit with takings topping $5,000 
since scale was rediiced; summer 
chances not definite. 

•Excursion/ Vanderbilt (7th week) 
(CD-804-$3.30). Not getting ex- 
pected grosses but making some 
money; last week not far from. $8,000; 
house putting in cooling plant. 

'Havini: Wonderful Time,' Lyceum 
(13th week) (CD-l,006-$3.30). Party 
or two helped keep gross up to 
previous week's mark; quoted at 
$12,000 or slightly more. 

•HIgli Tor,' Beck (19th week) (D- 
l,124-$3.3p). Definitely out of .sum- 
mer going announcing two weeks 
more; has slipped; $10,000 or less 
last week. 

'Orchids. Preferred,' Imperial. 
Stopped suddenly Saturday; played 
seven performances; aboiit $5,000; 
musical plenty red. 

'Penny Wise,' . Morosco (Rth 
week) . (C-961-$3.30). TSuSiness 
somewhat improved but continuing 
mostly for picture rights; paced 
around $4,500 last week. 

•Room Service,' Cort (1st week) 
(Crl,059-$3.30). Presented by George 
Abbott; written by John P. Murray 
and Allen Boretz; well-regarded out. 
of town; opens tonight (19). 

•Sea Lefs,' Mansfield (1st week) 
(M-l,097-$3.30), Presented by Albert 
Bannister and J; Edmund Byrne; 
score by Michael- Cleary; book and 
lyrics by. Arthur Swanstrom; opened 
Tuesdjjy. 

•Show Is On,' Winter Garden (22d 
week) (R-l,671-$4.40). Will extend 
into June and may last longer;, just 
matter of how much business; has 
been operating profitably right 
along; over $20,000 last week. . 

••The . Wom^n/ Barrymore (21st 
week) (C-.l,W8-$3.30), Again ap- 
proximated $20,000, which is top 
money for slraight shows; only 
'Show Is On' getting more, 

•Tobacco Road,' Forrest (180th 
week) (D-l,017-$1.65). One of most 
surprising runs on' record, but op- 
erates to modest gro!3ses, which have 
been around $5,000 lately. 

•Tovarich,' Plymouth (32nd week) 
(CD-l,036-$3.30). Rated with the sea- 
son's best grossers; off from former 
pace but still making goodly profit; 
okay last week at $14,000. 
. 'Victoria Reglna,' Broadhurst (re- 
sumed eng.) (64th week) (D-ljllO- 
$3.30). Another week to go and may 
spurt'fpr final performances but still 
in the money ith better than 
$15,000. 

•Without Warnincr,^ 
off Saturday aft^r playi 
and orte nijght. '^ , 

'Yes, My Darlinr Daiifrhter,^ Play- 
house (reth week) (C-878-$3.30), Q/ie 
of season's top laugh shows; rain af- 
fected some performances last week; 
dipped up $15,000 for first time. 

•You Cin't Take It With You,' 
Booth (23d week) (C-704-$3.30). Al- 
ways to capacity, plus standing room; 
Pulitzer prize wi tops $15,000 
every week. 

cyivuls, 

^Abie's Irish Rose,* ittlc 
week) (C-530-$2/'75). Record run 
show got fair press break;. favorable 
indications after premiere. 

'Damaged Goods,' 48th Street, 
vival opened Monday, 

'King: Richard II,' St. James; on.e 
more week to go; still excellent at 
$16,000. 

'Naughty Naught,' American Mu- 
sic Hall; due off soon. 

WPA 

•Dr.. s,' Hi 

weeks. 

'The Sun and 1/ 
week. , 

'Dr. Mamlock,'. 

'Power,' Ilitz, 

'Candidc' and 'llow Long Brethren,* 
Bayes. 



VARIETY 




Plays on Broadway 



ABIE'S IRISH ROSE 

(REVIVAL) 

Comedv )n thee acts by -Anne Nichols. 
Piesontea nnrV statred by . thfj aiithoir.: SeL- 
tingra, Clrker & Bobbins. At I.,lttle, N. 
aiuy 12, TOD ?2.75 f(5.P0 opening), 

ifwiuo Cohen. ...;..;..;....Berhara Gbrcty 

My!>. ienan Cohen..-. . . . . .> . .Bei'llin ■U'alde'n 

Rabbi Jaodb Hamuels, . ....i .John G. Bertln 

Solomon Le^vy Ifred; H. Wliile 

Abraham Levy,. .R^leliiird Hond 

Koaemary Sliiriihy '.. i .Marian ShocUley 

.ratrlck Miirpliy^ . .Billy. Fhy 

FiUlier John Whalen. . . , ; .K. J, DlunltnU 
Maid' ,df Honqr... ; , ... . . .., . .liarbara. Eeeeh 

Matron of Honor. ....... ^ . . i Shaiinpn Deoii 

Bi-Ulesmalds. . V.vPoi'ls .\rdniore, llope 

Chandler,' June Jllle.v, 
Lorraine Teuldm 



•Abie' returns to Brbiadway,, after 
ten years in camphor, and still re-: 
tains, vitality. That it has now become 
in addition . to an entertainment 
something of a museum piece will 
riot hurt its b6x office chances. . Its 
simplicity, its directnesis, its thick 
frosting of,, hokum, are- disarming. 
.Written before the slogan 'economics 
isr destiny' took hold of the theatre 
the . thing is sheer fairy tale com- 
pletely insulated from reality. 

Right now, there is evidence that 
the; public wants desperately to 
laugh. ^Abie' will assist themi; And 
it wouldn't be surprising to find the 
sophisticates landing an. ear,, There 
afe doz:ens of selling angles for. thei 
classic maFathon, its legendary char- 
■acter among . them. On the ^ oad ' it 
should bring back old legit-gbers 
'^ lohg absent and should gather , in 
the hew generation. 'Abie' is: Old 
sbhool. Human hearts are as big as 
xw^termelohis. . The sentimentality 
makejs Dickens seem ihisarithrophic. 
It's been .years since most theatre- 
goers have' seen muggiiig like Ber- 
nard Gorcey's as .Isaac Cohen, exit 
pantomime on bare stage like Alfred 
White's or a thick tad ;like William 
Fay's characterization^ Give this 
bunch an ordinary . audience . and 
they'll shiake the. laugh-nieter. Even 
the. Broadway smarties gave in open- 
ing night. 

'Abi ' has speed. That's one of its: 
tnei"its. No waste motion. Act III 
opens, f or: exariiple, . On a Christmas' 
tree lighted for semi-dark stage \yith 
a Jewish' husband and his Christian 
.wife krieelirig beside a newly-borri 
baby. That's an eyeful of tells-all-at-. 
a-glahce tableau. From then on it's 
give and take, line , for line, like 
a well-trained .prize fighter. 

lit itis simple terms 'Abie' also is 
,a preachment for tolerance. And 
tolerance today, as in 1922, when it 
was .first producied, is a moral note 
that makes the best -elements par- 
tisan: " 

' Old. timers in the cast play with 
iexact knowledge of where the laughs 
are. Two newcomers are the young 
leads, both picture possibilities. .Ma- 
ri . Shockley is a redhead for the 
occasion. Richard Bond a. snappy- 
Ibpkirig number, with, six feet of 
stature and a smile he could turn 
on more frequently — although Abie 
has liniore: anguish than mirth to his 
lot. There are half a dozen gorgeous 
dames for bridesmaids. Land.. 



DAMAGED GOODS 

Drama ln three acts (two sets') by Eue^ne 
Brleux, new.ft'dixptatlon: based on John Pol- 
Iock's..Engll8h translation. Staged by Henry 
■Herbert. Presented by Ichard HIghley, 
at the 48th St. theatre, Y., May IT, 
'37. $2.20 top. 

Georges DuPpnt. taats Cotaworth 

Doctor. . , . . ..; , . .Henry Herbert 

Henrlette. .l-Morencc Barry 

Madame DuPont. Murle Curtis 

Kurse. . > . .'. . .-. Johnne Bari-le. 

Justin Bruce Rogers 

Hospital Niirac ......Ann Sotel 

M. Lbchcs ............ i . .Thomas. F. Trnicey 

Woman . . . ; .Rose Fly nn 

»f an ....... , .-. , , . . ; . . . . . .Stapteton Kent 

Clrl.. ; . . ,. . . . . , . . . , .'.June .Bancroft 



subject, sonie 20 or so years ago, 
.♦Damaged Goods' Is how merely a 
thunderous repetitibri of the obvi- 
ous. The subject is still somewhat 
unpleasant,', but bld-fashibn6d treat- 
ment sirriply -makes it tiresbme. Show 
is negligible as a b. o. possibility for 
Broadway and nil for Hollywood, 

Program note quotes the author as 
follows: 'Thfe bbjedt of this play is a 
study of the disease of syphilis in its 
bearing on marriage. : It contains hp 
scenie to provoke or arouse disgust, 
nor is there in it any, obscene word; 
and it may be witnessed by every- 
one, unless we must believe that 
ifblly and ignoraricie. are necessary 
conditions of female virtufer' That 
about sums up the idea. 

What actibn there is concerns a 
young man who liearns on the eye 
of his wedding , that he has cohr 
tracted syphilis. Against the advice 
of his physician he goes throiigh 
with the marriage. When his child 
is discovered to be infected, the scan- 
dal becomes known. At the end the 
physician pleads fbr tbleraince from 
the others . arid holds out the hope 
of cure and happiness fbr all con- 
cerned. What the world needs to 
combat syphilis, he says, is. education. 

All of which may have been hieces- 
sarily shocking drama once. But, 
with public schools* magazines, neWs- 
papers and even the radio . nib\y 
frankly attacking the question, it's 
now cominon knowledgcr— or should 
be to Brbadway theatre audiences. 

As it now stands, 'Damaged Goods' 
is clumsy and repetitious. . Some pf 
its dialog is iinintentidnally" funny 
and it carries . no. . dramatic pimch. 
The direction is uninspired and sta- 
tic. The acting,, for the most . part, 
is as bad or worse than the play. 
In the leading part of the doctor, 
Henry Herbert stumbles over his 
lines all the \vay through the play. 
Most of the others either chew the 
scenery or remaiii completely ihr 
audible. 

Only Jane Bancroft in a fat bit at 
very close breathes vibrance into the 
play. iyed .the: sole, hand of the 
everii Hpbe. 



Just one of thbsei embarrassing 
mishaps of a waning Broadway sea- 
A courageous attack on a dread: 



ORCHIDS PREFERRED 

Musical play In two acts (11 scenes) prer 
senled ot Imperial, N. Y., May 11, "37. by 
Charles II. Abramsbn ; score by Dave 
Stamper; book and lyrics by Fied Heren» 
dcen; bobU staged 'by Alexander Lef Iwich; 
dances by Robert Sanford. Top; $3. SO. 
Gertrude Devereaux . .Hilda 'Knlgh£ 
Violet Manning .Frances Threes 

Billle .......Doris Vintori 

Elsie ; . . . . .Elale - Kdwarda 

Margie , ... i i Mnrgle Copradl 

Sally .Lillian Carson 

Edithe ... . . , . VJblct 'Carson 

Sunny ............. i' ,......'...... Lucille Rich 

Marlon Brown ............ Vlckl Cummlngs. 

Bubbles Wilson. ...... . . . ; . .Eddie Foy, Jr. 

Bobble. i . i .. James Babbitt 

Doorman William Chalmers 

Penelope -Halchester .Tela Krebs 

Evangeline Landreth 'i . ... . . , . Jiilie Sterling 

Henry -Warrenton , ...Jaclc CUITord 

Mortense. Chatneld . . ; . .Frew Donald 

Mary .Ann Miller' .......... .Audrey Klllott 

Lillian Mahoney..... ....... Benay Venuta 

Chauffeur . .Bill PilUck 

Footman i. ................. ...Jack Ctirry 

Hclene Windsor ; . i . . . ; .Fny Long 

Goldle Phyllis Avery 

Dr. Romm'ers ■'.. Bob Borger 

Dorothy Charters .... ... ....... . Verna .Lonc 

Teddy Barber .Henry Russell 

Henry Monroe Bob Rice. 

Eve Verda Twiford 

Eva. ..Dllys Miles 

Evy ............... i ... i ... . .Helen Martin 

.Tune Joailne 

July ............ I .■.....■..'.... . Jule.^ Walton 

Richard Hope, ; . .Jphri Donaldson 

Elmer Traum ■". . . ^ ; ..T.ick Wlilttildge 

Elizabeth Hope .Helen Lef twlrh 

Richard Hope, Sr. Leslie Austin 



Second of the spring's musicals is 
an also-ran aind if it has a chance, for 
summer, that is very faint.- Some 
parts of the premiere performance 
are sub-professional, if not amateur- 
ish. Scbre is the best feature of the 
show, the book is roaming arid 
enervating, the players with the ex- 




Stepping out of a taxi...(lahcing on Man* V 
hattan's roofs . . . this is the "tipped toe" ( 
sandal you'll see on the prettiest feet. \ 

Perforated whit( suede, yZ'^ \ 

■ • 

|*MILL£1^ Ml nrm avl 4se nmi avl 4f w. 34iii st 



LEGITIMATE 



ception bf threo or four, not up, to 
the mark. . . . i , , 

'Orchids Preferred' might have 
been better had the show been kept 
out of New York and revised as is 
usual with most musicals. Its one 
performance in Philadelphi was of 
little purpose except to annex pub- 
licity, when the Mayor banned it on 
immorality grounds. Tliere were 
probably little changes during the 
Newark date and there was little 
that the authorities c o u 1 d get 
steamed- up oyer, though some of the 
material is in bad taste.. 

Stbry starts in the; apartment of 
two taxi girls, those who get: good 
money for the cab fare home, after 
dining with money guys br whatever 
else their profession calls for. New 
iah out of a bbbk shop and innor 
cent, joins up; and then Bubbles Wil- 
son, young Wall Streeter, drops : in. 
He is giving a. bachelor party and 
they a:il exit to at night club. , 

There Miarion, the hew girl;, gains 
the attention of Dick Hope, son of a 
broker, and after the cafe goingS-on 
all hands go to his apartment. 
Marion dons floSsy pajamas but she 
isn't that kind of a girl and although 
the others have left the pair alone, 
she defends her honor and scratns. 
There is a market tip. that goes 
wrong and alsb something abbut the 
backing of a night club in Rio, a 
scene in a wbmen's solarium: where 
some unattractive feminine forms 
are disclosed and in the finale, a 
triple : wedding. 

Solarium scene was supposed to be 

" (Continued on page 60) 



Wednesday, May 19^ 1937 



r' 



ANNE NICHOLS HOPES 
TO TRY W AGAIN 



Anne Nichbls, whose . 'Abie's Irish 
Rose' is revived it the Little, N. Y„ 
plans another crack at 'Hey Diddle 
Diddle' next Season. Produceri-au- 
thbr tried but the Bartlett Gbrmiick 
comedy earlier this season, but it 
finally folded but of town. Without 
reaching. Bi-oadway. Lucille Ball, 
now with RKQ in Hollywood, has 
been approached to repeat comedy 
part she had in 'Diddle.' 
. lUnderstood none of the other 
originals will be cast. Actress' next 
for RKO will be 'Stage Door,' with 
Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers 
and. Burgess Meredith. 



H'wood Strike Delays 
Central City Contracts 



.,. Deliver, May 18. 
With the Holly wood strike delay- 
ing the signing Of contracts foir the, 
Central City play festival, intensive 
preparatibns hav6 been delayed to 
arouiid June 1, when, ichard S; 
Aldrich, who will direct and cb- 
ordi^ate the various activiti in 
connection with the festival, Will be 
in Denver. Aldrich will confer with 
the backers and guarantors, and 
will visit Central City, view the 
opera house, and plan various de- 
tails. . After : two: weeks here he rie- 
turns to New Ybrk, where rehearsals 
will be carried on. 



'These 4 Yeatrs' in K. C. 

Kansas City, May 18. 

William Morris, Jr., of the William 
Morris agency, Chi.,: was in town last 
week conferring with W. Zblley 
Lemer anent the latter's play,- 'These 
Four Years,' for possible -Broadway 
production. Noel Warwick of the 
Morris Office, N. Y., will be here this 
week to see the Resident Theatre's 
productibn of the play. 

Lemer has iieeri prodiacfer and di- 
rector pf the Resident theatre for 
the past three years. TThis is his first 
attempt at .authorship. 

Detroit's WPA Play 

petrbit, May 18. 
Freedom Ring,' under direc- 
tibn of Austin Goghlih Who recently 
came from N. Y. to join local group, 
opiens Friday (21) at local WPA the'- 
atre. Will run through Sunday. 
May 30. 

Louise Huntingtbn, frbm N. Y. 
Theatre Project, makes her Detroit 
debut as femme lead. 

Nab AlbertQ Bolet 

Alberto Bolet, yiollriist and leader 
of the Three Continentals at Hotel 
Roosevelt loUnge here, rrested 
over week-end :when . immigration 
authorities charged that he had en- 
tered this country illegally. He is ia 
Cuban. 

Formerly on the concert stage arid 
the former husband of member of 
Chicago's wealthy reaper family, 
Bolet was once deported several 
years ago. He fouttded the Conser- 
vatory of Music in Havana arid while 
in Hollywood in 1932. served as tech- 
hical adviser for Lawrence Tibbett's 
pictm-e, 'Cuban Love Song.* 



Inside Stitf-Legit 



There was a cut rate deal fbr 'Orchids Preferred' before it openei-at*th8^*>»«v. 
Imperial, N; Y., last week, but fbllowing the toiasting given the show by 
the press resulted in little demand for tickets and the musical was with-, 
drawn Saturday (15) iafter seven performances, Charles H.: Abramson, 
Who presented 'Orbhids,' advised tlquity after the banks closed. However, 
Equity's bbbkkeepers- were- kept at the ice for severail hours Writing 
checks on coin on deposit therie protecting, the salaries. 

dhecks fox the show.^^ were signed by an attorney representi the backer^ 
said to be a wealthy automobile man. L insisted on the retention of . 
specialty dance attempted by a ifeniinine lead which first-nighters riated 
distinctly amateurish. Show Was first on the hands of A. L, Jones with 
the hacker reported to have posted $25,000 to stai-t : prbductibn. After 
going over the script, Jones told the backer, to keep his jnoney and bbwed 
but. Show figured to, havie ended in thfe red for abo^ 



Chances of 'Dead End* extending into a SM^^ summer at the Belasco, 
N; Y., were upped last week when last season's standout drama was ac- 
corded second notices by three reviewers on the occasion of its 650th per- 
formance. One critic expressed his liking of thie: show and friendliness - 
toward its presenter, Norman Bel Gfeddes, by. calling attention to the fact 
that the ticket scale has been halved. 

Reviewers concerned were John Masbh Brown (Post), Robert Coleman 
(Mirror) and Dbuglas Gilbert (World-'Telegram). ; Latter did nbt orig- 
inally cover 'End/, but gave it the once oyer when taking over the critical 
post. 

Mary McCarthy in. two Issues of 'The Nation' charges that New York 
play reyiewers, iricluding Variety's, can't tell acting; from inanuscript br 
direction. Says critics persistently fail to call the turn on bad acting and 
that' any perfbrmer iii. a long part is practically .guaranteed against a real 
pari siriiply becaiise its a big part. Critic of the ci:itics thinks the I936-'37 
seasbh of revivals -xeyiealed the iaisle-seaters .ignorance. With no play to 
write aboiit they had to write abbut thei ; players. ^ 



Rayniond Massey receivied perhaps the best publicity break of any actor 
on the Coronation broadcasts, due to the fact that his brother, Vincent, 
Massey, represented Cariada as hi^h commissioner. One of the English 
narrators mentioned, on an ihternatibrial hookup, that Vinceiit Massey 
was, a brother of Raymond Massey, 'well known to us in. London as an 
actor.' Ori NBC's British actoi-s' saliitie from Hollywood, heard in Eng- 
larid, mention also was made of this relatibnshi 



Matty Zimmerman, general manager of Leblang's, has been ordered, 
to taite a six months' rest by' his doctor. Fbr the past year he has been 
under treatment for a heart ailment. Last week he repaired to his sum- 
mer camp at Candlewobd Lake, Conn. 

In his. absence Joey Keith, co-manager, of ticket agency, will be in 
charge. 



P. Dodd . Ackerman designed the settings used for the Goronatibri Ball 
held last Wednesday (12) at the swanky Seventh Regiment armory, N. Y. 
Part of thie procefedirigs was! broadbast^ the colonel pf the regiment 
compliriieriting the scenic artist during his. iriterliide at the microphone. 

The setting pictured the interior of Westininster Abbey. 




Chicago, May 18. 

Now that the local Federal Theatre' 
Project is ready with two new world 
prerirlieres, the national, head- 
quarters Of the FTP. has collected 
a wealth of data regarding the 
local Project setup, as evidence of its 
almost .coihpletely prbfessiohal back- 
ground, iri a campaign tb prove that 
the - Federal Theiatre Project is 
worthy of the fullest consideration 
on the part of press and public. 
Campaign is to impress; upon the 
public that the Project's produc- 
tions are the result of genuine pro 
fessional personnel, and not .ama 
teurs as so many seem to. think. 

Survey of; the local FTP person- 
nel discloses that the heads of the 
Project have a considerable back 
ground in the professional legit field, 
headed by George Kondolf,. assistant 
to the national, director and in 
charge of the Illinois, region. Kon- 
dolf operated for six years; with 
George Cukor, picture director, a 
stock company in Rochester, N; Y. 
Previous to this Kbndolf was with 
Gilbert MiUer in various capacities 
ranging from p.a. to, company man 
ager for several shows and manager 
•of ;.the Empire, N. Y. , 

bonagfhey is P.A. 

. : ress departmeht here is: headed 
by Frederick' Donaghey who Wjas the 
deaii of Chicago legit critics, . as re- 
viewer fbr the Chicago Tribune. 
Previously hb was one of the men 
who made Chicago a production cen- 
ter through his activities as jpro- 
ducer-owner of the old LaSalle the- 
atre shows, fie is also a longiestab-. 
lished writer bn the theatre. As- 
sociated with Donaghey is Sam' 
Ward who has been a general press 
agent in advaribe of some of the top 
vaiide companies and legit shows 
dut-ing the past 12 years. 

Assistant to kbndolf is Russell 
Spindler, who Was associated with 
Thomas Wood Stevens in the Globe 
theatre productions; was alsb stage 
manager of the Garden theatre in 
St. Louis and assistarit director of 
the Goodman theatre here. Esther 
Bilstead, Kondolf 's other assistant, 
is the local expert in WPA tech- 
nique. 

Men of Experience 

Two producers working for Kon- 
dolf here are Harry Minturn and 



Jerome Mayer, both of whom have 
long, records in shbw biz. Minturn 
produced some 30 shows in Chicago 
and has operated at various theatres, 
Mayer was; stage manager for ,lhe. 
Theatre Giiild in N. Y* for several 
yeiars, stepping out as ;a -. 
with 'Noah,' 'Russet Mantle.' 
Milton, who has produced 'Lonely 
Man,' first of the two world pre- 
mieres on the FTP list here, staged 
Mary shows in N. Y. He was also a 
director for Warners on the. Coast. 
Assistant to Milton is John Huston, 
son of Walter Huston. 

Head of the playreading. depart- 
meht of the FTP, here, is Susan 
Glaspell, who won the Pulitzer Prize, 
in 1931 with 'Allison's House.' She 
was bne bf the founders of the 
Proyincetqwn Players When that 
group' was under the head of George 
Cram Cook; AssistiAg'Miss Glaspell . 
is Merli Taylor, who was assb-: 
cited with Alexander McKaig in the 
production of 'The Racket,'- 'Broken 
Dishes,' 'Solid South,' .'Men Must 
Fight,' 'Whispering in Dark,' 
and; Who also was ■assistant scenario 
editor in the eastern offices for both 
RKO -and 20th Century-Fox: 

oris Aronson, chief designer for 
the Prbject, has done sets for 'Gold 
Eagle Guy/ 'Paradise Lost,' 'Three 
Men on a Horse,' 'Boy Meets .Girl,' 
'Brother Rat;' Before that he was 
head designer for Radib. City Music 
Hall. Associated with Aronson ai'e 
Cilive Rickabaugh and Otto Benesch. 




CHEZ PA REE, 
CHICAGO 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



UTERATI-COMCERT 



VARIETY 



89 



Literati 



Farley's Hearpt Olf er 

iii between Bob* Allen and Drew 
Pearson, duo who authored Merry- 
Gp-Rpund books and Vcribble daily 
column of Washington g6ssip, and 
Uhited Features Syndicate over 
stippressibn of stdry that Hearst or- 
ganization offered Postmaster Gen- 
eral Farley the job as general manr- 
ager of the San Simeohite's papers 
came to light Friday (14). 

incident wag revealed when 
Pearson-Allen combo circularized 
papers t^i , chatter with letr. 
ter explaining circumstances sur- 
rounding killing , of the yarn, which 
authors said was 100% true and had 
not been challenged as accuracy. 
Writers put the : *lame ph igh 
executive ;Qf Hearist outfit, who was 
not identiftied by name ot title. 

Killed story, mailed Tuesday (11) 
for Friday (14) release said Farley 
had jitzed Hearst's $200,00p-per7year 
offer and PiM.G.' wife oil hearing 
of the j>Topo$ish Said 'Tell Mr; Hearst 
we'rfe not Rbpsevelts.' Story 
putediy was knifed because it was 
not flatteri , rather than because 
of untruths. 

in letters to clients and w;hen de- 
scribing incident tio CoUealigues, Allen 
and Pearson explained after the copy 
had been f prwarded to United Fea- 
tures they were asked by a: Hearst 
high-up , to waste-basket the copy. 
They refused; Syndicate then sug- 
gested it bb forgotten, but authors 
again balked^ Rnally a kill wias seht 
out ;by- United on. its own initi , 
which drew the Pearson-Allen come- 
back declaring action .occurred 

ithoiit pur . authorization and de- 
spite our yigprpus prptiest.' Memo 
iadded that tip had been confirmed 
by Farley and was not diisputed by 
Hearstians. 



Foster Eds W-T Amusements 

Foster, ., , is editor of the 
new aniuseinent section whicjl start- 
ed last Saturday (15) in the N. Y. 
WorId-T!elegram. Paper returned , to 
3c. per copy basis with this issue, 
the experiment with the 5c. fee hav- 
ing been a costly one, according to 
reports in publishii^g circles; 

Amusement sectipn will follpw 
more or leas the general lines of 
that einployed by the N. Y. vening 
Journal without actually copyi it. 



Dan Parker's New Contract 

Dari Parker, N. Y. Mirror's sports 
editor and columnist,, has been given 
a hew contract for a period, of five 
years during which time his salary 
will be scaled upward. Ijfew agree- 
ment.;, replaces /another contract 
which had two yeiars to run which 
was torn up. 

Understood new deal for Parker 
;Was entered into at the. instance of 
Jack Lait, Mirror's editor. 



Atlanta. Eds Win Fellowships 

Ralph McGill, Sports editor of the 
Atlanta Constitution, has been 
awarded a fellowship by the Julius 
Rosenyrald Fund for six months' 
study in i;ur6pe. He has been chosen 
to review and report on the part 
the press has played in Ireland and 
Continental Europe in solving agri- 
cultural problems, and the attitude 
of the press toward such problems. 
He will leave in the fall to make 
hiis studyi 

James S. Pope, assistant managing 
editor, of the Atlanta Journal, was 
awarded a fellpwship for study of 
the influence of the press Oh po- 
litical piarties in England and Eu- 
He will leave May 



eturns to Sa;lt .Lake 
. After an absence of three months, 
during which he was associated with 
the Gardner Cowles organization in 
.D0S Moines, Kenneth S. Conn has 
\returned to Salt Lake City as man- 
editoir of the Salt Lake 
(a.m. sheet).. 
Gpnh, pripr tP his executive post 
with Look .inag, jprinted by the 
Cowles firm, was m.e. ot the . Sa]lk( 
Lake Telegralm, Owned by the Salt 
Lake Tribune Pub. Co.' 



publisher. He is now Pa. State Sec- 
retary of Banking. 

Peter Stirling, Record drama 
critic for last several seaspns, bows 
out of that stint at the end of the 
current season. His place is being 
taken by .Edwin H. Schlpss, music 
critic, whoi will handle both, assighr 
ments. Latter's assistaiit. isn't set. 
Stirling, whpse real name is ; David 
Stern, 3d (spn pf the paper's pWner ), 
is npw writing edltprials, but is| un- 
derstppd to be ahgling for the pur- 
.chasC; of; a daily, possibly In ithei* 
•Trenton or HarrisbUrg.. 



Changes on Phllly Record 

rthur Pierce, chief editorial 
writer - of the Philadelphia Record^ 
has been made executive director in 
charge of editorial Rates next to 
William F. Hawkes, managing editor 
and ahead of Aubrey Clarke, assist- 
ant managing editor. 

With David Sti^rn, publisher, 
arid Harry T. Saylor, editor, con- 
tinui to give more and more at- 
tentiori to the New York Post,' un- 
clerstanding is that Luther Harr. for- 
mer financial editor and advisor of 
the Record, is shortly to return as 



Claims 4th Estate Priority 

Despite the fact that phrase 'the 
Fourth Estate* was coined, by 
Edmund Burke in' a speech in 
Parliament mpre than .100: years ago, 
and the phrase has been Widely used 
to cover newspapers . of any de- 
scription, attorneys for Editor and 
Publishei: haVe written, to a New 
York organization called the Fourth 
Estate Club, protesting against the 
use of the name. 

Mag. contends; that it- has . exclusive 
rights to its use. in connection With 
newspapers and . niagazines by virtue 
of its :having bought a' pUhUcation of 
that rtamie a decade or so ago. Club 
is expected to switch its nanie to the 
Town Criers (ilub as a result of the 
kick.. 



. Ham Fishier's New Cdniriact 
Ham Fisher, creaitor of 'Joe Pa- 
looka,' who Ayas given a pew 10-year 
contract by the McNaught Syndicate, 
has a salary guarantee , reported, to 
be the biggest ever paid a cartboiiist. 

Undisclosed figure is claimed to 
exceed: that given the . Jate Sid 
Smith, who was paid at the rate 
of $1,000,000 for 'The Gumps' .over 
a 10-year period. 



Charm On the Way 

New monthly pocket size ^mag 
titled Charm is due . put next month 
(15). Sydney Spier, roadway p.a,, 
will edit the publication which wiU 
be directed to women readers. Pub- 
lication bffices will be in New York 
at 480 Lexington Ave. 

Mag will sell fpr a quarter. 



Cincy Fosi Guild Cbntraci 

Fii-st labor agreement between a 
Cincinnati paper and . its editorial 
employees was negotiated last week 
by .the Scripps-Howard Post and its 
allied Kentucky Post, with Workers 
represented by Cincinnati News- 
paper Guild. \ ^ 

Contract provides fpr wage niini- 
mums, a flve-diay, 4t0-hPUr week, and 
jpb-severance indemnities. 



Hearst Closed Shop Ecjport 
W. Hearst ahd the American 
Newspaper Guild are reported dick- 
ering pn a contract that would bind 
all Hearst papers to a closed shop 
editorially. Understopd Hearst has 
informed all his publishers that he 
Wants no labor trouble, and contract 
covering the entire Hearst string is 
said to be favored by the Guild as 
well as the publisher. 



N. % Office Guild Meets 

First organiziatioii meeting of the 
Newspaper Office Guild of New York 
was held on Moh. (17). Membership 
will be open to all newspaper em- 
ployees who are not niembers of 
typographical or editorial unions. 

Meeting was^ sponsored by the 
Newspaper CJuild, the American Ad- 
vertising Guild and the Bookkeepers' 
Union. 



RESOURCEFUL PROFESSORS 

No French Horn — Sa Invent a Sub- 
stitute 



Diell Sues dn 'Modern' 
Dell Publishing Co. filed suit in the 
N. Y. Supreme Ciourt Monday (17) to 
restrain the Ultem Publishing Corp> 
from carrying out its plan of naming 
a new magazine 'Modern Movies;' 
clai ing the use of the word 'mod- 
ern' in the title infringes oh several 
of the plaintiff's mags. .... • 

bell. Corp. at present has on the 
stands at least three pulps cbntainirig 
the disputed word in .their titles and 
which DeJl claims is exclusive. New. 
rriag is due' on the stands June 1. 

inemii Majr,;^tock Sale 

Ian to peddle. 176,000 shares of 
new- common stock, "via William J. 
Mfefick and Co., were revealed by 
Cinema Magazine, Inc., of New York 
on Friday (14) iii an application 
filed, ith Federal Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 

Amending, pi'ior papers, mag said 
$1 par. tickets will be offered to 
underwriter at $2 apiece for public 
sale at unfixed price. In addition to 
this hatch, company has optioned 
3.504 tickets to former underwrJler 
i at $2 and 4.378 at $2,50.. Withheld as 
I ^Continued on page 61 ) • 



iladelphi » May 
W. G. . iSwann Is conductor 
of Swarthmbre Symphony Orchi He 
is alsb of Bartbl Research 

Foundation of the Franicl in: Iristitute. 
Picked piece requiring ' French 
hprn, and fpund npne of his 40 musi- 
cians could . play one. Called in his 
assistant researcher, Dr. William E. 
Diahforth. 

Saturday the two scientists an- 
nounced they didn't need a French 
hbrn player because they had in- 
:y ented a synthetic instrument to take 
its place. They call it an osbillion. 
It is an oblong box played like a 
piano. It can simulate a bass clari- 
net or rench horn. .At SwarthmPre 
Qrch concert Thursday the prof will 
lead his desired piece after all, using 
two .oscillipris, one for each instru- 
ment.. 



Man Without Country 

Opera In two acts (five. BceneR) presented 
by Metropolitan Opera Co. at Metropolitan, 
T., . May 12, '37j score,- Walter Dom- 
rosch; scenario, Damrow^h; libietlo, Arthur 
Giilterniian; based on Bdword Everett 
Hale's short story of. sanie. tltlb; conductor,, 
Dam'ronch; chdras . mrtstcr, Fausto. Cleva; 
staRe director, . DesUe! Def rere; ship . Bcen«j 
designed, by D.-ivld Twachtman. . 

Cast: • Arthul-. Carion, Helen Traubel,. 
George Rasely, .Tosoph Royer, John Gurney, 
Nicholas MAs,«iue, Lodovlco, OUvlcro, Wil- 
fred Engelmah, George Cehunovsky, Donald 
Dickson,, Daniel Hftrrls, . T.ouiri • D'Angelb, 
Nbrriinn Cordon, Robert Nicholson, Thelnia 
Votipka,- Mnxlne SteUm.in, LucJplle BrOwo'-' 
liifri Maritv Matya.s, Javnci Pauil, Liidwlg- 
RuVg!)ta.]ler; ' 



This is the 18th American bpera 
produced by the Met. It is not a 
good opera, neither musically nor 
frbih any stage standpoint. With a 
new score and some story trimming 
it, could be a good film — but for that 
picturie companies don't need the 
opera; they can make use of the ori - 
inal Hale story. 

Audience collected for the pre- 
miere of the newest Damrosch work 
(it is his third opera) was highly 
enthusiastic; But it was pbvioUs that 
this was intiended as a tribute to the 
bid boy; he's 75 now ahd . still going 
strong; it is obvious that he knows 
his. music and. his Wagner. In facti 
that last is a bit too obvious when 
one . listens to 'The Man Without a 
Country.' Whole stretches of it re- 
mind too painfully of .'The. Flying 
Dutchman'— painfully,, because" this 
present work only reminds, it- hasn't 
the genius or depth or movement of 
the Wagner, classic. 

Damrosch is perhaps the most in- 
fluentiat musical figure in America 
at the nlomeht; radio, has done that. 
That, plus the title and story value 
of the opera, should get it a few 
miore performances than it nornially 
would get, but it won't be enough. 
As witness, the two previous Dam- 
rosch operas; the names of wliich no. 
one can recall. (For the record: 
they are 'Cyrano de Bergerac' and 
the 'Scarlet Letter'). 

In transmuting the Edward Ever- 
ett Hale yarn to the operatic stage, 
Damrosch has invented a romance 
for Philip Nolan, a girl whom the 
young lieutenant was alle>;edly in 
love with arid for whom (to make 
himself wealthy and worthy enough) 
he commiitted his treasonous act in 
company with Aaron Burr. It doesn't 
(Continued on page 61 ) 



Miss Swarthouf s Pioise 
Tops Carnival Noise 

Memphis, May H^: 
Music lovers agreed that .hri ing 
CJladys Swarthout tp the Auditorium 
on. opening night of the Cotton Car- 
nival Tuesday (11) was somethi of 
a boner. Parade crbwd was . late and 
whistles and other noise from near- 
by Carhiiral midway peneirated the 
Auditor iuni,:but' failed to khake Miss 
Swarthout's pbisci 

Mrs, J; 'F. Hill, president of the 
Beethoven Club, largest . musical 
group, in Memphis, has signed i;i600 
members' for next year and-.will pre- 
sent the St,. Lolii.s Symphony in a 
return engagement. Has Richard 
Crooks, Vienna Boys Chpii-, Rase 
Bamptbn and Memphis' own Eugenia 
Buxtbh. ■ ist. 



Book Danish Soprano 



NBC Artists Service, is bringing 
over next season Engel L'und, Dah^ 
ish soprano, for her Tj'; S. debut. 

She Will be sent on tour.. 



Bustabo Will Return 

Guila .Bu.sitabo.. femme fiddler un- 
der contract to NBC Arti.sts Serv- 
ice, will return .to U, S. next season 
after three-year stretch Europe. 

Will play ' gue.st dates. -with symph 
prchs as well as some solo spottings. 



May Be^Ie Dropped by Art Society 
Week After Orcliestrsi Assn Flare-up 



Sol Hnrok Sails 



Sol Hiirok sails today (Wed.) for 
his annual European scouting jaunt 
in search of talent fbi: importatiph 
nekt year. 

Agent wpn't mid- 
Se|>tember.. 



^60 WEEKLY MINIMUM 
FOR ST. L SYMPHONY 



May .18. 

A mi imum weekly: ef . $60 

has been established for members 



of 



Symphony an agree- 



ment having been reached between 
Symphony Society and AFM^ Local 
No. 2. New minimum represents a 
$10 ra.i^e over miriimiuh that hlis ex- 
isted a number pf . years and raise 
becbrties effective - next season.. Sam 
P. Meyers, pr-es. bf Musicians' Uniph, 
said 13 :members are affected by 
raise, other members numbering 70, 
receiving wagies abbve mi imuni. 

New agreement does change 
length of season nor , number of 
ciphcerts and rehearsals fixed in new 
contract; During past season .of 23 
Weeks, contiract called fbr 115 re- 
hearsals and 75 .concerts. New min- 
imura is highest in local history, al- 
though pripr to 1929 there were sev- 
et'al instances when all niembers re- 
ceived wages: in excess of mi imum 
fixed in contract,. 



NET SHRINKS 



Minneapolis Fund Gets Little From 
Philly . Symph Benefit 



Minneapolis, May 18. 

In ld,000-s.eat Auditorium, ila- 
delphia Symphony orchestra played 
to less than half a house, with 
Eugene Ormandy as conductor, and 
Jose iturbi as sploist. Eivent heavily 
plugged because net profits were tp 
go to fund being raised to insure 
continuation of Ibcal aggregation. 

Takings of only $6,500 left practi- 
cally nothing for the Minneapolis 
fund. 



Detroit Lectures Liheup 
For '37^'38 Includes Wells 

Detroit, May 18. 
H. G. Wells topis list of platform 
artists for Town Hall series at Cass 
theatre .here this fall. Ninth season 
of 20 Friday morning lectures will 
open Oct. 15 with Blanche Yurka, 
actress, giving scenes from great 
plays. 

Others on list are Dr. Victor C, 
Heiser, (Tount Hermann Kayserling, 
William B, Seabrook, Lord Marley, 
John Mason .Brown, Msgr. Fulton 
J. Sheeji, James H, Hetiroh, Dr. 
Louis K. Anspacher, Dr. Frank 
Bphn, Isaac Marcosson, Clifton Fadi- 
mari; Dr. A, L. Schaar, Frederick 
L. Snyder, . Mai Mai Sze, Judge 
Camille Kelly, Sydney R, Montague, 
Prince HubertUs aijd Pi'incess Helga 
Marie Lbewehstein, and Jacques Car- 
ti dancer. 



Pittsburgh, May 18. 
trangleThoId May Bebglie has had 
oh ittsburgh musical activities waji 
eased: someWhat last 'Vireek when 
swanky Art Society ousted her ai 
its manager and named James A. 
Bprtz to the; post. Art Society an* 
nUaljy, presents an impressive series 
at Carnegie Music Hall. 

Only a few days before, seveii 
directprs of Pittsburgh Orchestra As- 
spciation had resigned as priptest 
agai Miss Beegle's dictatpHal 
policies but; her nianagerial duties 
with this grbup will likely cpntiiiue 
since shie has the backing of Mrs. 
William Thaw, the president 

In announcing her. ouster, Dr. 
Thomas A. ArbuthhbtK president of 
the Art Society board* stated that it 
marked a /return to the original 
policy of the organizatibn which Was 
~to have the meinbers:; themselves 
take part in the work. . 

Miss Beegle also 'maintains her 
own concert burcaU in Pittsburgh, 
in which she presents eight topnotch 
attractions annUally at Syria MosquCr 
ah^d like\yise manageris series of six 
children's plays pireserited here each 
year by Clare Tree' Majpr cdmpany 
of New York. 



St. L. 4 Summer Concerts 

■ St, Loiiis, Majr. 18. 

Four concerts will .constitute but- 
door summer .season of St. Louis 
Little -Syrnphphy association, which 
begih.s June 25. Gpncerts will be 
giyeh in quadmngle of Wa.shingtbn 
Univcrsiiy in.stead. pf aririphilheatre 
at jphn Burrpugh; .•school,, s new 
Ipcati has superior seating facili- 
tie.s and; is more acces.sible to cpii- 
cert goers. 

Max •• Stein nert>bn ricl . i rector 
and solo .cellist bf St. .Louis Sym- 
phony, will serve as resident ..con- 
ductor, although Hari.s Lange, asso- 
biatc conductor ^of Chicago Sym'- 
phony Orch, will direct .scvcrar of 
■concerts. 



Dapce Conveiitipn 

Newly formed American Dunce 
Assb., representing the Ney Dance 
Le.agiie, the Dancers Asso., and the 
Dance Guild, last, week held ' 
first . .annual convention, , at the New 
School for .'Social Research, N. Y, 

Session la.stcd three day.s, Friday, 
Saturday and Sunday (14-15-16). 



MET FIRST-TIMERS ON 
NBC CONCERT TOUR 



FpUr of the past season's newcom- 
ers to rolls of the Met Opera will 
make their first American concert 
tours next autumn, booked by NBC 
Artists Service. Orioles are Klrstln 
Thorborg^ Gina Cigna, Vina Bpvy 
and Irene Jessher*^ 

Mrs. Ciiigha is also set for Frls£0 
and Chi Opera companies, with Miss 
Bovy lined for the Frisco outfit. 



Mekhiwr Can't Get His 
Beer on Ciillege Campas 



Ann Arbor, Mich., Moy 18. 

-Lauritz Meichior, in A. A. for U. 
pf Mich. Choral Union concert, called 
a local hostelry 'Sing Sing' because 
it wouldn't serve him beer. Because 
of campus ruling no liquprs of sucli 
ilk are to be served on campus 
and mighty tenor's hotel was on 
ciampus — so no beer.. 

Meichior had every student oh 
campus laughing With him but still 
couldn't get served, so finally took 
himself downtown to old A. A. and 
spent, most of the .week in a favorite 
tavern beyond student restriction. 

Before walking out he said he 
liked A. A. but next, time wbuTd 
bring a couple of cases of his own 
along for consumption. 



Guizar to Mexico 



Tito Guizar, radio, itery and 
vaude singer who recently made his 
concert debut at Carnegie Hall, N. Y,, 
is .slated for; a .series of Sbuth 
American concert dates this sum- 
mer. Pact calls for the Mexican to 
open in Buenbs Aires, for six weeks, 
with options.. 

After, ishing 'Big Bi-oadcast' . for 
Par, GUizar goes tp Mexico to fill a 
one-pic deal .with Europa Films.: 
Booked by Columbia Artists. 



Detroit Symphony PriVe 

Detroit, May 18, 
Civic mii.sic drive, seeking funds 
for maintenance of Detroit Sym- 
phony'. l937-'38 seasoii and. for i.e- 
sumpli.on of -annual .six-week concert: 
scrics;bn Belle Isle this surnmcr, 
be 'launched, next Tuesday ..(Itli.with 
one-hour concert bver WWJ, WXYZ/ 
WJfiK, CKLW and WJR.. 

Com Jilee of 500 volunteer solicU 
tors is headed by Mrs. Edwin R. 
StrpTi. Object, is to clear up any 
deficit in .symph's 1937-'37 season ahd 
.provide nightly concerts on Isle for 
.six .weeks, this summer. 



Pliilly Ballet Sails 

Philadelphia, May 18. 
illy allct, dii*eotcd by Cath- 
erine Littlcfield, left Friday (14) for 
Paris KxpQ aijcl tour bf Europe. 

Co pa'oy of ()0 wijl also make ap^ 
pcariuicoH at ru.sselis, The- Hagu« 
and Londo 



60 



VARIETY 



CHATTER 



Wednesdair* May 19, 1937 



Broadway 



Ward Morehouse planed to Coast 
for short visit. , 
Bill Stein, brother of MCA's J. 
tein is in town.; 

Jack Blue plans new talent theatre 
at MacDowell Club. 

-Emibassy newsreel theatre got new 
igns on. its marquee. 

Mike Jacobs will install Ice rink 
at Hippodrome. Cost around $40,000; 

. Alice Faye, 20th-Fox actress, .is 
due in from the Coast within 10. days. 
Joe y?ii, World Teily sports' editor, 
it by auto, abed with fractured ribs, 

Staridish O'Neill is readying a 
rixusical for June called 'Cross My 
ttieart.' 

Jean Travers, singer, is rhaking a 
Mentone short,! opposite J. Harold 
Murray. 

Eleanor Roth, of the United Artists 
traffic department, is on the Coast 
for a couple of weeks. 

Equity staff gave party. Friday 
night (14) on the occasion of Frank 
Gillmbre's 70th birthday. 

Ham Fi$her installed 75-£pot 
swimming pool at Deal, N. J., place 
gift to his eight months' bride. 

Ronald King, fohnerly of King, 
King and King, vauders, has opened 
' a dancing schobl in Montclair, N. J. 
.Emanuel Eisenberg and James: 
Proctor, ruralizing on a Bucks coun- 
ty (Pa.) farm while they collab oh a 
play. 

Eleahoir Hunt in. town to appear in 
location shots to be. taken aboatd an 
ocean liner. For a . Grand National 
picture. 

.Irving Jacobs of Holly Wood sailed 
for Scotland to sell distilleries there 
ScotchyWhisky which, he: has under 
bond therei.- 

Grand National home office goes 
on . a five-day week beginning this 
Saturday (22). Expect it to be car- 
ried over into a permanent policy. 

Eatdry on Broadway has . gone in 
for some miacabre showmanship with 
display of framework remnant of the 
ill-fated. Hindenburg in its Window 

.Theatrical'. Democratic League 
closes its offices thiis week for -the 
summer. Will reopen in fall and 
elect a heiw prexy to . replace late 
Gus Hill. 

Sheila Barrett cancelled engager 
m0nt: at: Earle! theatre,. Washington, 
last week to take a month's rest oh 
'doctor's, orders. Throat troubled her 
after quitting, the Savoy-Plaza hotel. 

Those 'Wake Up and Live' safety 
first placards on blisses, subways 
and surface cars are indirect bally 
for pictuire of same title. Twentieth- 
Fox publicity lads spotted 'em. 

,Fox Movietone giving a special 
showing of Coronation reels to Asso- 
ciation of Foreign Press Correspond- 
ents tonight (Wednesday) at home 
office. Sir Gerald Campbell, British 
consul, attending also. 



London 



a last ihinute booking as . Jackson 
had planned to return .to N.- Y. on 
Hindenbeirg, 

Warners has . acquired stage 
rights of 'Wise 'Tomorrow,' onie of 
current season's successesi also op- 
tion on world film rights. Stage 
show planned for. N. Y. in fall. 

Jack Hylton ini Bud Flanagan 
took Rudy Vallee to see the Football 
Gup Final, the biggest sporting event 
in London, outside of the Derby; 
Vallee cried 'ehoUgh' after the first 
half, and walked. 

Jack Swinburhie, stage director of 
Gaumont-British deluxe houses, will 
put on this year's' Radio Exhibition 
at the Olympia. Starts Aiig^ 4, and 
promoters, are looking aTound for a 
big American name baiid. 

George Black, Jr., now a fiUl- 
fledged film director. First effort is 
an indie production being miade at 
Highbury Studios starring Douglas 
Wiakefield, Gracie Field's brother-in- 
law. Title is 'Penny Pools.* 

Oscar Deutsch served with a writ 
by H. S. Swift, latter claiming com- 
mission on several picture theatre 
deals, including $110,000 oh the . Sir 
Oswald StoU Alhambra deal, 
Total amount involved is $280,000. 

'Moonlight. Sonata,' , Lothar Meiidess' 
first pic since he formed, his Own 
production company, Pall-Mall Pic-, 
tures, Ltd., is breaking records in 
Warsaw. Picture gets premiere at 
the London Pavilion, . May 19, with 
Mendes sailihg for America inime- 
diately after. 

'Let's Go Gay,' Frank RubinsrCecil 
Landeau musical, which had a hectic 
career when produced at the Shaftes- 
bury two. years ago, is being re- 
written for a West-End. revival. 
Erte, French , desigiiier, will ".. devise 
new scenes and sets. ,.Will be . re- 
titled 'Let's Go Gay Again.' 

Archie Pairnell, booker of legit 
attractions at (irolder's Green and 
Streatham, has been haying diffi- 
culties in getting Weist-End attrac- 
tions, as nibst are holding on to see 
if they can cash in on Coronation 
feistivities. He thblight he might 
run. a vatideviUe season, and when 
he looked arouiicl he found he could 
not get .enough attractions for thC' 
first week's biU. 



Sydney 

By Eric Gorrlck 



J'ohn Mock down with flu. 
Composer Leo Ascher over from 
Vienria. 

T, H,. ostock has gone to Austria 
for a cure. 

Harry Ham off to Hollywood to 
isit his family. 

Herbert Farjeon's 'Honi 
Soit,' postponed. 

Guy Bolton adapting comedy 'Ger 
aldihe' by Hans Jaray. 

Owen Nares talking of doing new 
comedy by Gilbert Wakefield. 

Ritz hotel being modernized.. Even 
introducing a real American bar. 

Frank Lassiter (Lassiter BrO.) do 
Ing three-a-day with torn ligament. 

Maurice Browne has offer to write 
his .meinoirs — and is thinki of 
doing so. 

Margaret Kennedy adapting Bus 
sian cdmedyi 'Autumn Violins,', for 
Basil Dean. 

Helen Morgah 
series bi transcri lo 
Luxembourg. 

Harry. Richman makes his air 
debut for the British Broadcasting 
Corpbrafion last week in May. 

Midnight ' show at the. Empire in 
aid. of the. Cinematograph Trade 
Benevolent Fund^ May 6, realized 
$55,000. 

Frances Day to appear in a new 
revue by Beverley Nichols, titled 
•Floodlight,' at the Saville some time 
in June. 

'Tobacco Road' being staged pri- 
vately at the Gate theatre, May 19; 
Censor has refused license for pub.lic 
exhibition. 

Rene Blum's Monte Carlo Ballet 
comes to the:. Coliseum, May 31, 
headed: by Nana GpUner, young 
American daiicer. 

Lise Ephrairh one of three man- 
agers negotiating for, American aiid 
picture rights of 'Melbdy That Got 
Lost,' by Kjeld Abell. 

Merle Oberon to. south of France 
for final stages of recuperation.afte]r 
double shock of her auto srriaiih, f ol^ 
lowed by; her mother's death. 

Will; Mahbney retired ffom the 
Victoria Palace revue after one per- 
formance and taken to a sanitarium 
suffering from nervous breakdown, 

Margaret "Lane (daughter-in-law 
of Edgar Wallace) won the Femiha 
Vie Heuren'-a nrize for 1935-36 with 
hei' nov^^l■- Faith. Hooe, No Cimritv,' 

Joe Jackc^n added to the new edi- 
tion of the Dorchester hotel cabaret. 



Cool weather sends biis along nice 
pace. 

Frank Leighton and Mari Le 
Varre to London. 

Wirth's Circus leaves on road tour 
after Sydney run-: 

Harry Hunter, Par boss, settling 
down in new spot; 

Jack Musgrove has the danc6 mob 
lining up. now for the Trocaidero. 

Herbie Hayward, G.U.T. publicity 
chief, undergoies minor operation. 

Members of the 47 (Tlub throw a 
feed, to officially welcome Harry 
Hunter of Par. 

Williamson-Tait jiyill send a legit 
company . to New Zealand soon 
headed by Gladys Moncricff . 

Expected thai . Williamson-Tait will 
produce 'Swing . Time' in Melboiume 
next August as legit attraction. 
' Graham Mitchell; Melbourne revue 
operator, underwent a major opera-, 
tion recently and is slowly improv- 
ing. 

Qrrie Perry, besides managing the 
State, Sydney, produces the stage 
shows as well for Greater Union 
Theatres. 

Ivor Novellb play, 'House Full,' 
clicked in Adelaide In conjunction 
with Brett Randall and Williamson- 
Tait. Show will tour Tasmania and 
New Zealand; 



State of Mass, 



(Continued from page 1) 



man, investigator of contraband 
publications for' the American So- 
ciety of Composers,. Authors and 
Publishers, tate legislature has al 
ready -adjourned, so that there isn' 
any chance of putting through a re 
peal of the measure ;until .after the 
summer vacation has ended. Mean- 
while the music industry will have 
to decide on one of two courses of 
action; the' bringing of injunction 
proceedings or effecting a test case 
by . arresting .one of the schoolboy 
peddlers. 

Act which refers specifically to 
songsheets; is, ah amendment to i 
law involving the granting of ped 
dler badges to boys under 16 and 
girls under .18, after each applica- 
tion has been passed upon by. the 
local school committee. 



ridgeport, Conn,, May 18. 

■Charles Robbiris, who gave Phila- 
delphia as his home, was sentenced 
to 20 days in jail last week fo.llbW- 
Ing his arrest while ijeddling con-' 
Araband songsheets. Local ordinance 
against peddling ithput a license 
.was invoked in the. case when, it 
came up in the local police court. 

Arrest was made at the instiga- 
tion of Arthur Hojffman, an investi- 
gator for the American Society of 
Composers, Authors and Publishers. 



Berlin 



Richard Fishberg tratns in. 
Cortet gives brilliant Chopin pro- 
gram. 

Garbo's 'Anna (MG) at 

the Kamera. 

Schheider-Edenkoben irectihg 
'The. Gray Sister,' 

Wera Engels signed for .a lead in 
Rudolf Forster pic in Vienna. 

Fred Angermayer's 'Andreas and 
His Dog' premiering at Stuttgart. 

Paul Petras, first vaude performer 
to be filmed, celebrates 70th birth- 
day *.: 

Premiere of 'I Love You* at 
Komodie, directed by Stahl Nach- 
baiir. 

■Actress,' Roland Schacht's comedy 
with Agnes Straiib in lOOth perform- 

'Sein Letztes .Modeir premiering 
with .Alexander Sved and Camilla 
Horn. 

Otto Gebuhr tcoring big hit in 
Zwischen-: Abend urid. Morgen' at 
Reval. 

Furtwangler back to . Berlin next 
^eason for seven symphs arid -ten 
Operas. 

Anton Walbrpok: to for 
Tobis when shooting is over in 
London. , . 

Geza directs Anny 

Oridra's 'Der Unwider- 

stehliche,' 

Franz Nicklish takes over part of 
Laertes in ' Hanilet; production at 
State theatre. 

, Francesco , Mignbne of RiO: de 
Janeiro,.: eh route to Germiany, . being 
ihvited by the government to baton. 
Berlin orchestra. 



Violet Perdue in town, 
lirvin Marks in from London, 
Serge Lifar off fOr Casablanca^ 
Mabel Manning out. of hospitaL 
Clifford Fischer in from London. 
Isola Bros, writing their memoirs. 
George M. Cohan browsing 
around. 

Bricktopi adding hew life to Mont- 
martre.,, 

Guy Cadenat for; 
Casino de Paris, 

Betty Randolph trial getting ride 
in French press. 

Hollywood strike making all of 
town's front pages; 

IJariy Leasim recovering froni ap- 
pendicitis operation. 

Wanda Landbwska giving concerts 
at Saint Leu La For6t. 

New York's shutting out burlesque 
given laugh by French; 

Eileen. O'DriscoU' offered job as 
Chez Jean Patou model. 

Albert signing to return to Res.» 
taufaht des Ambassadeurs. 

Mistinguett at A B C, and Cecile 
SOrel at Empire same week. 

Lilian Harvey -losing suit in Aix- 
eh-PrOvence court asking for delsiy 
on payments due on Riviera cha- 
teau. 



Pittsburgh 

By Hal Cohen 



'Press,* flew back over week^rend 
after six months in Hollywood. 

George Seibel, former drama 
crick, head orator at Drama 
League's last meeting Of season. 

Mrs. George Lefko, wife oit the 
RKO chief here, oh her way to 
Hollywood by boat fot two months. 



IIS 

9y Les Reel 



National Screen club held its first 
outing. 

Joe Vehuti'S band at Nicollet hotel, 
Minnesota Tbom. 

Variety club held last 
luncheon meeting. 

W. C. Gehring, 20th-Fox diviision 
manager, in town for a day. 

Harry Katz of Gayety spending 
sunimer vacation on golf links. 
. Little Jack Little's band held over 
additional ^week at Hotel Lowry. 

Ted, Aver, Piaramount salesman^ 
vacatiomng at his home in Philadel- 
phia. 

Joe Podoloff, 2,0th-Fbx branch 
managei:, sprained knee , and pulled 
tendon playing handball arnd miist 
lay off game for at least a month. 

George Thar^, publicity assistant 
at Minnesota theatre, promoted to 
Century, as expl.biteer arid Don 
Alexandier advanced from the lat- 
ter hoiise to St. Paul as head of 
PUblix publicity department there, 
succeeding Martin Kelly, resigned. 



ON BROADWAY 



ORCHIDS PREFERRED 

(Continued .from page 58) 



Harlem Casino installing cooling 
plant arid stays open all summer. 

Eddie Peyton has the f rau, Marion 
MuUer, in his current floor: show. 

John McGreevey's family in again 
after five months at St. Peter sbxirg. 

Margaret Daum slated for summer 
season with St. Louis Muny Opera. 

Husk O'Hare' in town again to 
open new roadhouse about six miles 
out. 

Jakie Klein has given up Turf 
Cafe and scouting around for a new 
spot.. 

Summer season at Willows gets 
under way May 21 with; Artie Shaw's 
band. 

^ ejus A. Schanbel celebrating; silver 
anniversary with Pitt Cap and Gown 
Club. r • 

Phil Regan's . mis.sus accompanied 
him here for his personal at the 
Stanley, ' 

Isham Jones, instead of Ozzie Nel- 
son, for Duque^ne U's Junior Prorii 
May 26. 

When Loper and Hayes quit ixon 
cafe here, theyll go to Mayfaiir in 
London; 

Mike Cullen and the wife have 
gone to Florida for couple of weeks 
of fishing; 

Elmer. Keriyon . corivalescihg at 
Mercy Hospital frbin bpqfi'ation for 
gallstpnes. 

Danny Rogers home i seeing , the 
folks between itery engagements in 
Manhattan. 

Vet .Skinny: Dawspn ' .hitting the 
newspaper?; ahead of Gble Bros.- 
Beatty show, 

J6rfy S.alisburys (Princess White- 
wing) kept arrival of a son a secret 
for five weeks, '. 

. Harry Feinsteiri and Ben Brown 
back on job again after., that 18-day 
West Indies ci-uise. 

. John Goring'is early scores, stamp 
him a cinch to snatch gold honors 
among m.ana.E!erlal clan, 

Sammy KayeVs band slated for 
month's stay at William Penn Urban 
Roof late this' summer, 
Aleen Wetstein^ columnist for. 



funny, but isn't. At i close there 
is. a reverse of the strip-tease with 
Hilda Knight dressed up sbriiewhat 
by. two ' attendants. She gives out 
some lyrics and then goes into the 
weirdest solo dance in seasons. It 
may have been her own idea for it, 
is doubtful if Robert Sanford, the 
dance director, will admit it was his; 

Benay Venuta and Vicki Cum- 
mings have most of the song nurii- 
bers.. Latter has; 'A Million Dollars' 
and 'A Boy, a Girl, a Mobn,' sung 
with John Donaldson.. Miss Vienuta 
has 'What Are; You (Joirig to do 
About Love' and 'Eddy-Mac,' also" 
'Selling a Song.' Not so good is a 
repbrtediy Tecentlyrforriied male 
quartet of middle age billed as 'Men 
of Gotharii' with 'Three R's' and 
'Mirisky* descriptive of burlesque 
managers going into opera. 

Eddie Fby, Jr.,- as the. capering 
young broker, Bubbles Wilson, tries 
to work up the comedy scenes but 
with the ma;terial ' at hand . ifirids it 
tough igoing. Jack Clifford teams 
with hiiri in some iriterludes and also 
works hard. Both hobf to fair pur- 
pose, but: Joanne and. Jules Wal- 
ton are niore effective. Team im- 
presses ,as a comedy ballroom duo 
turning square. Though the Waltons 
draw a good hand their routine 
seems indecisive. Ibee. 

(Withdrawn after seven pcr- 
fofmances; printed for" the record.) 

A Welcome Stranger 

Farco In- ' three acts by Stanley Page. 
Btaged by .Reglnt^Id Bach; eettlnprs, Mary 
Morris Boykln. Presented by alumni ot 
Feagin School of pramatic Art at school 
auditorium, N, Y., May 12, '37. 

Humpy .................. Arthur Zwerllnp 

Babs Streeter Doriha Ducltworth 

Gerry Stapleton ........ .Richard Courtney 

John Stapleton, ......(..'.Douglas Mciyiullen 

• Mr. Beams ....... ;'...:.;..... Robert Dryden 

Bex Alting . , . . . .David Evans 

Tubby Fenwlck ,.; ..Robert Scott 

Mrs. Dropley, Elizabeth Duggan 

Jean Dropley ;..;..Quepnelle Tucker 

Dr. Melingote .Andipw BllHnj?3 

Nurse Fitzgerald ......; Julia Johnston 

Mrs. Sophie Ar llage. . .Carmnlyn McC'ahh 
Phlneas Matf. , ; . . Charles Paraons 



Listed as a tryout, this play -by 
Stanley Page, not. to he confused 
with the Broadway success 'Welcome 
Stranger' of an earlier day, was 
done by graduates bf the Feagin 
School of Dramatic Art. N, Y.. Ma- 
jority of the cast hav6 played on the 
professiorial stage, either-, on Broad- 
way, the rbad or in summer stock. 

As possibility for Broadway or 
films, 'A Welcome Stranger' is nega- 
tive. Lacks any definite' central idea 
and the nothing it has to sky isn't 
said entertiainingly. Situations and 
dialog bristle with cliches. Without 
b e i h g particularly objectionable, 
play just resembles- one of those 
stock company standbys. 

Plot cpnberns yoiing college grad 
whose grandma will hand him $300.-. 
0.00 if he marries.. Since -his pop's 
business is on the skids, hero decides 
to elope with the acquisitive looker 
doWri. the street, ignoring the adoring 
girl nisxt door; He's prevented by a 
couple of. college pals and a strange 
lady who. arrives mysteriously to 
have a baby upstairs. Plenty bf com- 
plications without, logic, and a 
happy-ending e x p 1 a n a t-i o n that 
doesn't explain, 

Unirispired direction- has speed 
but not pace. Players are handi- 
. capped by' the incredible script, arid 
have a tendency to overplay, Dortha 
Duckworth, Elizabeth Duggan and 
Julia Johnston are occasionally con- 
vincing. Understood David Evans is 
nephew bf John Anderson; legit 
Critic of the New York Journal, 

Hobe. I 



Hollywood 



Sol Lesser siestaed at Corbnadb, 
Eric Linden off to amble Broad- 
way., 

Dorothy Peterson a Catali 
baisker. ' 

Fredric March defeated 
fectibm 

Henry lanke taking Weeks* 
vacation. 

Victor McLagien building a Cata- 
lina villa. ' 

Addison Randall to be tagged Jabk 
hericefbrth. 

Harold Hurley back from Hawaii 
hula ogling. 

Pat di Gicco bowed 
nick agency. 

Gertrude Berg back front N. Y. 
talerit search. 

Binnie Barries to England iri June 
for fllrii work. 

Marlene Dietrich goes for ian. Ar- 
rowhead aerie. 

Franciska Gaal returning from 
Mexico vacash. - 

Gertrude ..Niesen baqk after three 
mohths'.;p. . .'ing; 

Julian Olenick joins Lichtig & Eng- 
lander as iassociate. 

Bill. Hice . transferred, to Samuel 
Goldwyn praisery. 

Walter Abel back fromi tour with 
Katharine Cornell. 

Ralph Wheielwright iriotori 
On month's vacash. 

Myron Selznick fled from the heat 
to Lake Arrowhead. 

The Irving .Cumriii 
the briny to Seattle. . .. 

The Paul Muriis moved from the 
valley to Palos Verdeis. 

Eddie Saulpaugh. and Ralph Sari- 
ford, eyeing Hollywood. 

Darrel Ware quits his typewriter 
fOr a nnonth . in Mexico. 

Beulah Bohdi on ah 
leave to ogle Broadway. 

Marcia Remy now assisti 
Collum,. the ;Roach. caster. 

Richatd .Arlen's new yacht,; 
Mary «■ JO, kissed .the' breakers. 

Snub Pollard and Tex 
p.a.ing : east, starting June 25. 

Grady Johrison. moved from L. 
United Press to Metro flackery.- 

Wesley Ruggles and William Le- 
Baron flew in frorh the north. 

W. P. Lipscomb put i a nine-hole 
golf course oh his ;valley estate here; ^ 

Chicago ; Better . Films Council 
scrolled Darryl :Zariuck for clean 
pix.. 

•Herbert Morg^in here for studio 
talks from Metro's N. Y. publicity 
h. q. _ 

Macelellarid Barclay flew in for a 
part in 'Artists and. Models, ■ at Par- 
amount. 

Bert Levey moving his, booking 
offices to Hollywood after 15 years in 
dbwntbWn L. A. 

Clarence Brown was thrown a sur- 
prise birthday party On the 'Madame 
Walewska' . set at MG. 

Dean: Dbrn; Metro publicity, will 
be at the Mayb clinic, Rochester, 
Minn., six months longer. 

Teddy Beck, Chi Trib m.e. and 
John T. McCutcheon, cartoonist, 
looking Over the studios. 

Edwin H. Morris had a mastoid 
operation here and Sam E. Morris, 
his father, came from N. Y. to visit 
him. 



Boston 

By Maxwell Fox 



Sid Pairie off Sick list, 
Arthur Tarshis in town lor quick 
visit. 

Ed Gainer in ahead of 
Born.' 

Joyce Dana in hospital 
eral 0.0. 

Eileen HarrOld Kearney 
for New Qrlearis. 

Helen Eager recuping after being 
relieved of appendix. - . . 

Stanley Gosriell haunti the 
bridle paths Sundays. 

Lou Strauss paid recent visit 
connection p.a. job for 'Sea Legs/ 

Sieriis and Kaye, magic act, back 
in club work after Siems Was on 
sick list 

Red king. Keith Bostbn stage 
manager, will .be ^tage. manager at 
^Dallas Expo this summer. 
. Kathleen Addison, daughter of, 
Loew- divisional managier; clicking 
with poetry program oh WMEX. 



By Pete Wemhoff 



• Dog racing bill passes house,- 
Plaza riabe joins East. End circuit, 
Zorine, nudist daricer, recupiriii 

from fall. 

, Freddi Schader promoting 
Horizon* (Col) at Cass. 

New Eastwood Park ballroom 
holds 8,000 persons; believeid biggest 
in world. 

Ralph Holmes, drima crick at 
Times, wrote book for, 'Friday at 
Four.' musical opening iri Boston, 

,Wally Townserid, staff pianist at 
CKLW, will direct own band at 
KingsviUe Casino, near Windsor, 
Ont;. this "summer,. 

Following Chicago's step. localitc<^ 
having Belle Isle's 11-mile drive sur- 
veyed for possible 'use as road race 
course this falL 



Wednesday, M»y 19, 1937 



OUTDOORS 



VASJETY 61 



Carney Owners Sing Rainy Blues; 
Wet Lots, Poor Weather, Floods 



icago; May 18. 
litis and hopeis for the biggest 
season in ciarnivals look washed up 
at present, .with rairistprms through- 
out the country having dampened 
the enthusiasm of the carney boys 
considerably. For the past four to 
six weeks th^ carnivals hive been 
dragging themsielyesif rem one muddy 
lot to another, with litt]^ chance or 
hope of busi , due to the almost 
steady downpour. ' 

Things have been pretty tough m 
the midwest, for not- only has the 
constant rain kept people away from 
the lot, but also the fact that tht 
riiiii has Jmade spring plowing an 
impossibility, with the,. result that 
the farmers . are too worried about 
the bad condition of their fieldis to 
tackle this ferris wheiels and the pad- 
dle booths. 

iFloods havie ruined the eastern 
portion of the couhtry, killing off all 
chances ifor coin throughout Maty- 
land, Virgi ia, West Virgini , Ohio, 
western. Pennsylvani and through- 
out the .Ohio River valley. 

Result of ^e floods and rain bias; 
been to haVe the carnivials shifting 
the routes and bookings, all over the 
place, with the tricks often playing 
day and date whierever they can find 
a dry lot. In many situjations one 
carnival hais been moving its wagons 
onto a lot While another show is 
trying to get off the sanrie spot; Espe- 
cially is this true at present around 
the Virgi ia and West Virginia ter- 
ritory, wherie ciit-thrpiat routing has 
reached a new high. 

FRISCO HOTEL STRIKE 
TOUGH ON THE FIESTA 

San Francisco; May. 18; 
Pointing but that, closing of the 
city'is 16 major hotels had . affected 
5,500 out of 45,000 hotel rooms in 
the city, directors of the apiproach 
ing Goldeuk Gate Bridge Fiesta 
joined Mayor Rossi of San Fran-^ 
Cisco last week in a new move to 
"break the deadlock i the hotel 
strike. 

To be held between May 27 and 
Juiie 2, the fiestsi is expected to at- 
tract himdreds of thousands of 
visitors from aU parts of the West. 
-'A formal resolution was addressed 
to the warring hotel operators and 
striking unions. 

If a truce in. stri is et 
fected, the hotels plan on reopening 
the Rose , Room at the Falace, the 
Persian Room at the Sir Frahcis 
Drake, the Mural Room at the St 
Francis, Peacock Court at the Mark 
Hopkins and the , Fairniont with a 
celebration which will surpass New 
Year's Eve in exuberance. 

Most of the other niteries- and dine 
and dance - ^pots in the city have 
been, floing capacity biz during the 
shut-down of the hotels hit by the 
strike. 

Musicians in orchs led by Al 
Kavelin, Paul Pendarvis, Joe Reich 
mahn and Hermahn Waldeman, all 
thrown but of Work by the: strike 
at the hotels, started collecting $50 
a week per man yiesterday when the 
strike entered its i6th day. 



Literati 



(Continued from page 59) 



Al Fresco Berlin 



fesei-ye agiainst future options, to' 
officers and employees for additional 
compensation are 85,000 tickets, eiar- 
inarked at; $?.50, Outstanding stock 
aggregates 161,551 shares. 

Compahy was formied last fall to 
put out' Cinema Arts and is headed 
by A. Griffith rey. Paul Husserl. 
until recently with Mai-ch of Time 
has moved over as editor pi the mag 
which is, dU.eVpUt June, . Publication 
is to bb Fortune of the film World. 



Berli , May, 9. 
With spring Weather Ipokirig as if 
it has corne to stay, Circus is 
coming into its vown agai 

Hagenbeck's bias arrived to put on 
a , ishow at the Deutschlahdhalle, 
Germany's largest .indoor stadium. 

Busch, formerly a regular in Ber- 
li ,, tut of late on the road, is back 
here again with the idea Of making 
the capital its perrrianbn.t; home. once, 
morbi. 

. liUna' Park in the north of Berlin 
is getti ready to swing bpeh its 
portals- in.; New /attractions are 
a. giant shpotTihe-chutes and a plane 
ride. 



Gumperlz Admits Unionization of 
Ringlins Show Under A. F. of 1. 



jearsi's .Chicago Check 
Practically the entire ekecutive 
board of the Hearst papers huddled 
in Chicago last Week to discuiss ways 
and means of' strengtheiriing 'the 
American, evening paper. This hud- 
dle followed the revelation that the 
rival Chicago Daily News has passed 
i he American .'in circulation for the 
first timie ^in 15 years; Thoijgh the 
difference in. circulation between 
the two papers slight, it's 

enough: to cause a quick get-together 
pn the situation. 

lo McCarthy is; how on the jbb 
:as manafjing' editor^ ithi Eddie 
: leticker as assistant im.e. aind Eddie 
Reitlihger, city editor.v. 



e a Mich. Fair 

Detroit, May 18 
rovisions for a Detroit World's 
fair, in 1941 are contained in a. bill 
introduced thiis week in the state 
Iegisla.ture by :Rep; Charles Snow., 

Appropriation of $500,000 for the 
next bierinium and 'establishment of 
a 15-man xommissipn, to be appoint- 
ed by the are also prP 
Vided. 



Goma UP 

Detroit, May 18, 
Month ago Eastwood. :Park here 

opened, ballyhboed as. the $1,000,000 

playground. 
Jefferson Beach, opening . this 

week, has raised 'the afttb.and billing 

itself as the $2,000,000 family 

ground, 



riowefs^or Fait 

Birmingham, Ala., .May 18. 
Beauty will be the keynote and 
Sept. 27 to Oct, 2 the timie for the 
1937 Alabama - state fair. Severa 
acres have been planted i flowers 
Which wiii be in bloom duri 
week. 

The midWay concession has been 
granted to Rpyal American Shows, 
the same as last yeair, but with an 
additional 500 feet ol midWay. 



Stcrii .Eyes Cleve News 
Reports are current that J. David 
Stern, publisher of^ New York Post, 
: 'hilly Rbcord . and : Camden Courier- 
Post, is negptiating with the Cleve- 
land Plaiin Dealer Co., owners of the 
Cleveland News, for purchase of lat 
ter paper. 

Understood thait Williani F. 
Hawkes... Record rti.e.,. will go. to 
Cleveland if deal is completed, and 
Arthur Pierce, chief editorial Writer, 
Will take his spot on the Record; 






NEW CHI CIRCOS 



CHATTER 

Russ Countryman due back from 
Hollywood this week. 

Hehdrik. Van Loon writing a shprt 
piece on Treedbm of the Air.' 

Nannine Joseph leaving f Or Holly- 
wood this week. WiU return May 30. 

Otis Chatfield-Taylbr has joined 
the N. Y.'Mirror, handling legit and . 
film news notes. 

Knopf will publish three of 
Thpmas Mann's lectures delivered on 
his recent visit in New Yoi^k. 

Heiheman & Co, is publishing 
Deep Surnmer,' novel by dwen 
Bristbw, in England this summer. 

'Slave Ship,' adapted to screen 
from the Cover neur Morris story, is 
being put out in serial form by 20th- 
Fbx. 

Four .m6n discharged at Paul 
Block'^s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette re- 
main out Guild has agreed to let 
the dismissals stick. 

Louis Adamic has finished his new 
boojc and has started work on ari- 
bther titled 'My America: An Adven- 
ture in Understanding.' 

Morris Watson has resigned from 
the. Associated Press and will resume 
his activities as director of the 
WPA's Living Newspaper. 

Desmond Hall, editor of. Made- 
moiselle, has left to take over the 
play and, radio department at 
Jacques Chambrun agency. 

John Steinbeck, and his wife sailed 
oh Saturday (15) for Denmark. He 
will return i August for rehearsals 
of the adaptati oi his novel 'Of 
Mite and Meii.' ' 

Lewis A. Lapham, former -marihe 
editor of the San Francisbo Exam- 
iner and active in Newspaper Guild 
has j 0 iried up. ith Ambricari Ha- 
Iwaiiiah Steamship co: 
. Todd Wright, financial editor pf 
the N; Y. .Daily News, and Walter 
Merkbl, formerly finance writer on 
same paper, have cpllctborated in 
writing ' implified Speculation,' a 
book on stock market activity and 
Wall Street trading. 

Book ' 'Magazine Guild 'will 
hold its second annual birthday ball 
in New York on Sat. (22). Spon- 
sors include .Joe Freenian, Carl Gar- 
mer, May Lambertbn Becker,. Mrs, 
Clarence Day, Malcolm Cowley, 
Rcilph Thompson, Alfred Rhys Wil- 
liams. 

Frances Mercer youngest daugh 
ter of Sid Mercer, sports columnist 
for the N. Y. American, was given 
a screen test on the. Coast at the 
Seltnick-Ihternationai studio. --Miss 
Mercer Won a trip to Hollywood in 
a contest conducted by the New 
York Journal. 



May 18. 
Week final 

plans were set for the esiablishmeht 

of a midget circus "tp be knoWii as 
Graham's Interhational Midget . Cir- 
cus, pwned by iStahley Graham and 
John McMahon. Associated in an 
executive capacity will be J. C- Mc- 
Ciaff bry ■ prbsident of the Showmen's 
League of America. 

, which will .be . a regulair 
three-ring affair carrying 175. ftiid- 
getSi herd bf elephants, ponies, 
monkeysj seals, .caihels, etc.; will be 
produced and presented for opera' 
ti . under niost elaborate sponsor- 
ship. 

Opening this first Week in .June in 
Dallas, Where It Wilr play under the 
auspices of the Salesmanship CI ub, 
which has undertaken to dispose of 
between 75,000 and 100,000 tickets. 
Will play Oklahbnia City under the 
auspices of the Oklahomian, Kansas 
City for the Kansas! jCity. Stjar and 
the Katz drug chain, Omaha for the 
NeWs-Bee. also Tulsa, Meriiphis, Des 
Moines, St. Lbuis, Chicago (for the 
Herald-and.-Examiher and a top de- 
partment store), Indianapolis. All 
dates, are full week stands. 



Withciut A Country 



(Ciontirtued frorii page 59 ) 



matter niXich that the story is thus 
contorted, . nor that Nolan's death |s 
changed tp a gioribus one in battle, 
rather than a miserable One in exile. 
It makes it, in fact,, better ..drani.a. 
Biut Arthur Guiterman, in writing 
this libretto, has given it n liihgly 
Gilbert . and Sullivan quality quite 
out of step with the heavily under- 
lined score in the Wagnerian tradi- 
tion. ■ ,. 

ven iiC Dahlrosch were not. as he 
is, an ardent Wagneritij, he could 
hardly havb failed to see the con- 
notation between the story of this, 
soldier ilbd to eternal life on the 
high sbas and the mythical dutchmari 
of . Wagner's work. ut . Wagnei: 
made of it a heavy, rnovlng work, . 
while Damrosch pulls his , punches. 

Met, as . has been too frequently 
true, dpesn't bother even giving the 
work a Worthwhile production. The 
scenery, all but one i set, is from, 
the storehouse. That -one scene, a 
ship affair, is only fair. A^s has been 
noted i the. past, an, brdtnary. legit 
producer wodldn't , dar^ try anything 
like that-^ven the Shufobrts are care- 
ful to buy new scenery, for all their 
new shoWs— but the Met, asking tbp 
pricesi can and does get away with it.^ 

Singers are all secpndary. There 
is a new girl, Helen Traubel, who 
has an excellent voice and who 
should go places. Shje is statuesque 
and needs some instrvictibn in diction 
and on hOW tb wear jilothes. But 
given that .she can re^eh the heights. 
The chief male rple lis sung, by a 
young man, Arthur Carron, who, oh 
the. other hand, has excellent diction 
but not an important voice. Also he 
needs ba dly to go o^>^-die t. Kmtf. 

BALTO PARKS OPEN TO 
GOOD GETAWAY TRADE 



WLS ADDS TWO UNITS 
TO MIDWEST FAIR LIST 



, May 18, 
lans for formation, of five 16- 
people units to play fair dates being 
made by WLS, Prairie Farmer sta- 
tion, figuring that with 200 dates al- 
ready booked; and prospect of at 
least another 100, they'll require two 
inprb units than usuaill 

Bookings to begin about mid- July 
and . continue to the end of thb sea- 
son, most of them for onerday 
stands bn percentage. In' some cases 
units will be held for entire fair, 
with a change of program daily, but 
fair bperators prefer opening day 
only. 

All talent for units to come from 
present WLS staff and each unit to 
be headed by one of station's name 
acts. 

Because of early bookings every 
body required to vacation in May 
and Juney to be ready for heavy 
work by first pf July. 



Washi , May 
. Sam Gumpertz, general manager 
of Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey; 
told Ipcal . press this week that outfit 
Will be first li. tent show -to go 
completely union and that it will be 
A,F.pfL. 

Gumpertz, who refused to ; 
cept in generalities, ' scoffed at ru- 
mors of strike here,.. aiid id. he 
was in complete agreement with a : 
move to place all emplbyees not nbw 
in uhions under A, F. of L. anner. 

Ralph Whitehead, secretary of. 
American Federation of Actors, was 
skbdded in town for a conference 
today (18) to go over details.' Only 
major points in demahd Were said 
tp be union recoghitioh an return 
:o 1931 scale, cut during depression 
jy late John Ringling, both of which 
Gumpertz clairned to have ac- 
ceded to. 

Gumjbertz: denied he had heard any 
agitation for C,I.O, affiliation; claim- 
ing that, since musicians, bill posters, 
etc., were now A. F, of L., it would 
hot be practical.. Gumpertz said the 
upped scale would go into effect a 
week from, today in Philly. 

Sani. Gumpertz signed an .agree- 
ment , with Ralph Whitehead, presi- 
dent of the American Fedieration bf 
Actors, bringing all but 30 execur 
tives Mof 1,600 employes the leader- 
ship of the, American Federation of 
Labor. -Makes the Ringling Bros, 
and Barnum & Bailey enterprises a 
closed . shop proposition and first of 
outdoor field to unionize.. 

Move also brings about payroll ad-, 
justmehts Which move 'uji) to the 1931 
level. However, that high will. not, 
be reached completely until next 
nionth. 

Side, shows are included in the 
deal, but' cpnces&ipnaires, not direct- 
ly on the Gumpertz payroll, 
included; 



Baltimore, May 

Baltimore's park season got off to 
a good start, with Carlin'sJ and 
Gwynn Oak. both presenting brand 
new fronts and the'addi.tion of new 
rides and features to excellent biz 
fpr the first time in five years. 

John J. Clarlin,. Who operates bn-- 
terprise here and Buckeye; Lake, 
Ohio, counting on a prosperous sea 
son, has taken the rubber band biff 
the b.r. and remat'r* the fronts of his 
entit'e park and midway. Con tern 
plates using free acts on midway and 
booking name bands into , ballroom, 
Staff at Cai-lin's is made up Of Cliff 
Neild, manager; Carl Hulsey, superr 
intendent; George Bushby, rides, and 
Clem White, publicity. 
• Gwynn Oak Park, long a' local 
landmark formerly owned and op- 
erated by Ipcal. traction company, is 
now being riin by Arthur iPrice and 
Jack Whittle, nabe movie exhibs, 
and they have tossed in plenty of 
dough to. rehabilitate the spot. 

Ballroom, one of most, popular 
hereabouts, has been enlarged and 
rernodeledi . and present plans also 
call for building of a new swimming 
pool. Price and Whittle are in ac- 
tive, management, ith publicity be- 
ing handled by Jim Shellmah, 

Carllri's Ballroom is featuring. cur 
rently Bob Craig and his prch, and 
Gwynn Oak has negotiated a 10- week 
contract with liudy kill! 



The A.C Tap 

Atlantic , May 18. 

The city fathers have jacked up 
prices for rjadlo, . keno, bingp. and 
other such- games from $1,000 .to 
$2,006,v Bagatelle fee. remains at $10 
per niachi 

A circus must - pay $1,000 " ; 
peddlers pf books and magazines, 
$50- phrenologists, $300; open air 
shows and amusements, $100; thea- 
tres, $250. An automatic machine 
parlor will pay $60 and grbup games 
having less than lO chairs will pay 
$1,000.: 



Whoopee the Expo 

Last Saturday (24) was des)£natecl 
by the Pan-iPiacific Peace Es^p: at 
Nagoya, as 'America Day.' 

America- Japan Spcj of Tokyo 
attended in a body and several hun^ 
dred Americans from different parts 
of the Empire gave the big show 
the OiO. American Ambassador Jo- 
seph M. Grew was forced tp send 
a proxy, due to pressure of official 
biz. 



IS 



Two Circuises Switch 

Conhellsvile; Pa., May 
This , city gets its. first big circus 
next week after 10 years passing up 
this spot and two ' within 

three days.- Jack Hpxi 
here phi IVIay 18 and/ 
Wallace On May. 20' 

ircuses ; of late years have been 
showing at Uriipntown, Pa.i 12 nriiles: 
west of here; but on account, of John- 
ny Jones Exposilipn Shows play- 
ing there all this week,, a last min- 
ute j£t was. made believing this 
Would be a better money spot un- 
der the stances; 



American Federation of Actors, 
chartered by the American Federa- 
tion of Labor, claims a coitipiete vic- 
tory in itis attempt to organize all 
the Unorganized groups with the 
RihgUng-Barhum & Bailey Circus. 
Activities w6re begun while the show 
was in New York and continued last 
week, in firpoklyn, with the AFA 
amicably settling thb issue With 
.Samuel W, Gumpertz^ viccrpresldent 
and {{eneral manager of the big 
show. 

Itingling trick pitched its tents i 
Washington yesterday (Tuesday), for 
a' three-day date, with a ihass meet- 
ing pf all employees called by the' 
AFA preceding the opening show. 
Performers connected with the cir- 
bus will join the AFA directly, while 
non-performers will be put into a 
new Circus Employees Division of 
the. AFA. Show carries 800 perform- 
ers and 800 Workers, with some of 
the latter already unionized as stage- 
hands, electricians, etc. 

According to a bulletin signed and 
posted by Gumpertz in Brooklyn, he 
is requesting the employees of the 
circus to join the AFA. Statement 
also said that arbitration of salarieii 
and working conditions between the 
show and the AFA will be consum- 
mated on ..the opening .of the circu.? 
in Philadelphia, its next stop; after 
Washington. 

^ Ty^FA has three organizers working 
jn the. circus field, George W. iSmith, 
John C; McClusky and John Macht, 
Who Will go after the other tricks, as 
soon as the R-B&B situation is 
cleared up. 



Circus Routes 

Week of May .24 
Flbtb 



Poi'tlii 
2C; M) 



Canton, Ohio, 21; Akron, 2r.: 
20; Toledo,' a? ; Cleveland, 
'in. 

Ringling: Bros,-Batnum & Bailey 
riilladelphla, 24-29. 



MICHIGAN CRACKS DOWN 
ON AD FUNI^ SEES GRAFT 



.t)etroi , May 18. . 

With; the largest tourist -—-•'•i in 
history in prospect, stale of Michi- 
gan has called a halt on dis 
ments. of the, $l5p,00d 'advcrlisintf^ 
Michigan appropriation. Action fol- 
lows revelation that, fund is be! 
used as a 'grab .bag' for the state's 
tourist .and resort associations, ' 

Instances where 'dummy- ad agen- 
cies were set up to collect usual 
i5fc discount and charging to the 
state for 'news items,' which. neviSr- 
papers used free, have been uncov- 
ered. As a result, the ad appropri 
tion; boosted by the state legislature 
to $150,000 this year. Will be recalled' 
and subjected to drastic revisions, 
calling for control of the money by 
the state itself; instbiad. of by resort 
associations representing the four 
sectiohs Of Michigan. 



62 



BURLESQUE 



Wednesday, May 19, 1937 



News Froni the Dailies 

This department contains Tewfitten thcatncal neiv^ items qs pub- 
lished during the week in the daily papers of New York, Phicago, 
San .Francisco, Hollywood and London. VARiExy takes no credit lor 
thtsse lieios iterhsi tach has been rewi^ltteh irom a daily paper. 



East 



Ethel twill Tolley^ ex-wife of 
iRoy Atv^ill, in the. Darien (Gonn,) 
hopsegow oh charges of careless 
^riving. Did a strip tease jri her cell 
and refused to get dressed until she 
was bailed . out. Driving on the 
wrong side of .the Boston; Post roiad 
lid hit; a truck. 

Transfer tax appraisal shows that 
the estate of the laite Francis Wilson 
grossed $135,306 with a net of $98,- 
979i His Widow will; deceive one- 
third of the residuary estate. 

Walter Hampden out of the page-, 
ant -at: Madison Square Garden for. 
Sj>anish relief. Says he. understood 
it was to be non-partisan and it 
isn't. '■ 

Maj. John A. Warner, isUpt; of 
State.police, elected to the board of, 
governbrs of the N. Y. Philharmonic- 
Syiiiphpny, He's a concert pianist 
and. musical enthusiast on the side^ 

Will H: kays, for the producers, 
and Lenox Lohr, of NBC, ainohg 
the;.praisers of the Red Ctoss at 
its convention in Washington last 
.vreefe Frank B. Noyes spoke for the. 
Associated Press. 

Courtney -Burr to HoUyTvbod to 
try and snare some actors for next 
season. Wants "em for' a musical. 

About ioiO aspirants competed lor 
the privilege . of soloing with the 
Philly orch next^easdn in its youth 
series. Yolahda Picucci, flutist; Mil- 
dred Gordon, piainist; Rafael Dru- 
rian, violin, and Mark Dawson, bari- 
tone, selected. 

. Actors' Fu'iid to . benefit ^ from a 
spedial matinee of 'You Can't Take 
It With You,' Friday (21), Stage Re- 
.iief had a special performance of 
•Penny Wise' last Sunday (16). 

Cornelia Otis Skinner considering 
TEdna,' His Wife,' riecent best seller, 
es a .mbnpdrama for next season; 

K. Y. .Zoological society .planning 
a motion picture auditorium for its 
Bronx garden. To show animal films. 
Extension service woiild send same 
films to public schools. « 

Wife of Dennis King hid her jew- 
elry whilie spring cleaning was on 
at the Great Neck home. \Yent to 
the incinierator. and salvage is about 
an ounce of gold and some badly 
burned stones^ Loss about $16,000. 

Homes- exhibition on at Mad. Sq; 
Garden all this week. Opened last 
IThursday. 

Loretta' Shea, actress, and a friend^ 
■who had called to escort her to 'a 
party, robbed by two gunmen in her 
apartment at ' the Barbizon-Plaza. 
Then, she alleges, the hotel asked 
her to leave because ;^e told the 
cops. 

Al Howard, nitery operator, being 
sued by his wife, a former stage 
dancer; for divorce. She names a 
former hatcheck girl at the Paradise. 
He entered, a general denial. 

Bath houses at Jones BeaCh opened 
last Sunday for the day, though 
'formal opening is not until Satur- 
day (22 >. 

New Jersey hooch control com- 
missioner rules uncaged bears out 
of drink spots. Apparently a quaint 
Jersey custom, and the cdmmish says 
it ain't right. 

Rpsie, WPA. circus elephant, on the 
loose in Brooklyn Friday. Got out 
of her stable and was making for the 
RihgUhg show lot when headed. 
•Taken over to the lot and permitted 
to . meet the old crowd. Mayb? a 
press, stunt. 

Frank Ciillmore, of Equity, cele- 
brated his 70th birthday Friday by 
sticking to his desk. 

Usual home-town delegation to at- 
tend Met debut of .Thomas Thomas 
About 1,000 from iScranton, headed 
by the mayor. 

A. O. Brown new prexy of the 
Percy G. Williams . hbnie. , Walter 
Vincent .. and Sam;' Scribner 

treasurer. , , 

N. Yi :Public Library reopens its 
outdoor reading- room. Second sea- 
sonl Last year, there was a turnover 
of 64,624 books during the summer; 

Marc Connelly decides N. Y. wPn't 
care to see 'Till the Cows Come 
Home.' Off his .schedule. 

S.warthmore (Pa.) amateur orch, 
experimenting with a new device 
which, can simulate any orchestral 
instrument. Similar iti idea to the 
Hammond electrical organ; but 
capable of pinch-hitting ' for any 
lacking 4nstrument. Initial experi- 
rnent will b^ tones of the French 
hbrn and ba.ss clarionet. 

Thi'ee killed and many injured at 
auto races at Langhbrne, Pa.^ May 
16^ when a car lost a tire and crashed 
into the crowd. 

Gov. Lehman signs the bill allot- 
ting $2,200,000 to the N. Y. World's 
Fiir. Of this $1,600,000 will be ex- 
pended on a permanent amphithea- 
tre, which will revert to the city 
.when the fair, is over. . 

Ettore Nava nicked by Enrico Gap- 
pelloti in the Hipp performance of 
•Carmen' Sunday. Were going 
through the duel scene. N^iva dre.w 
« cut finger. 
Boris Koslelahetz made special as- 



sistant to TJ. S. District Atty Hardy, 
Brother of the Orch. leader. . 

Paul Robeson announces that fol- 
lowing; hi.5 w.ashup of a current G.B. 
piGfiire he'll tour Europe before .rer 
turning to Americai He's playing 
the Zulu in 'King Solomon's iilineis.'. 

'Tovarich' will give . a benefit per- 
formance for Stage Relief next Sun- 
.day .(23):, . > . 

: Leeds estate" at; Oyster Bay sold 
Saturday to an unnamed bidder. 
Formerly, the home of Commodore 
J. Stuart Blackton, and the scene of 
many .old > Vitagraph outdoor shots. 



Melvyn Douglas asked the L. A, 
superior court to make professional 
name his legal monicker. He was 
born Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg.' 
His wife . also, retiuested that her- 
name be legalized as Heleh Gahagan 
Douglas. Plea also includes their two 
sons,, Melvyn Gregory Hesselberg, 11, 
^nd Peter Gahagan Hesselberg,. 
three. 

Mrs, Violet Wells ;Nprton was sen- 
tenced to a year in jail in L. A, 
federal court, for attempted mail 
fraud in; her attempt to establish 
that Clark Gable is the father of her 
daughter, 14. 

\ Richard Dix forfeited $20 bail in 
L. A. night. coUrt following his arrest 
for being .drunk. 

Decree of divorce was awarded F. 
Hugh Herbert, screeii writer, in L.A. 
May 10 when he established that 
Mrs. Arlirie L. Hertiert left him 
March 15, 1935. 

Marion Orth filed suit in L. A.; 
asking $10,000 from Repidilic Pic- 
tures for assertedly unauthorized use 
of the title, 'Circus Girl,' from plain- 
tiffs novel. 

Mrs; Ruth Eileen Skinner Stuart 
won a Reno divbirce from Nick. 
StUart. 

Claire H. Riidgeway; described as 
a writer, was fiined $150 for in- 
toxication in Malibu justice court. 

Alexander d'Arcy and Cliff Ed- 
wards, actors, have filed bankruptcy 
petitions. Former states he owes 
$103,056, and has assets of $889. Edr 
wards liists obligations of $41,904 and 
$1,100 in assets. 

Mae West facing contempt charge 
for her assorted failure to answer 
depositipn questions in a suit filed 
by Frank Wallace to clarify the cou- 
ple's alleged marital status. 

Mrs. Virginia "Thomas Westmore 
filed suit for divorce from Percival 
Westmore, Warners' rriakeUp depart- 
ment chief, in Los Angeles. 

LoUis B; Mayer was luncheon host 
to Jonkheer Dr; H. M, van Halrsma 
de With, The Netherlands' minister 
in Washington, at Metro. stUdio in 
Culver City. 

San[i Hoffman, showman, appealed 
from a 90-day jail sentence imposed 
in San Diego for failure to pay a 
hotel bill. 

Mrs. Hilda Keenah Wyhn woii a 
final divorce decree from Ed Wynn 
in Reno. She was granted $300 a 
week alimony and in the event of 
Wynn's death is to receive $500 
monthly from his estate. Also wins 
right to resume maiden name. She 
is a daughter of Frank Keenan. 

tay Garnett's yacht Athene was 
towed into Sah Diego harbor after 
bieing disabled off Mazatlan due to 
engine trouble. 

, Ernest Booth, Folspm. prison con- 
vict, was paroled ieffective in August 
with proviso that he keep from cities 
and remain in the Central California 
mountains to recuperate from tuber- 
culosis. Booth, a writer, haS peddled 
a number of screen originals. 

Funeral was held in Los Angeles 
for Jacob Wilhelm Henie, father of 
Sonja Hen ie. Body was cremated and 
ashes will be returned to Sweden by 
his son, Leif, who is due here May 20. 

Gb.verhmeat has filed inboine tax, 
liens against a number of .pic biz 
folk. Zoe Akins Rumbold i.s said to 
owe $2,236;39 fOr 1934; Charles Far- 
.vell, $1,396.51. for 1934; Virginia Valli 
Farrell, $1,405.96 fot .1934; Jules 
Furthman; $2,854.44 for 1932; Joseph 
Louis Frisco, $9,767.03 for 1930; Wil- 
li m A. Ullman, $1,713.20 for 1932, 
and Alan Harcourt lack, $6,745.93 
for 1933. 

Bubbles Rogers, strip teaser; is de- 
fendant in a divorce suit filed in L, 
A. by Cass Warner, assistant theatre 
manager. 

- Mrs. Mary K. Chambers asked a 
divorce in L. A, from Dudley B, 
Chambers,, studio vocal director, and 
$100 weekly for support of herself 
iEind two children. 

Suit for $250,000 charging malicious 
prosiecutipn has been filed by Dor- 
othy Sebastiian against the New 
Plaza Hotel Co., of San Diego, foil- 
lowing dismissal of a charge against 
actress of defrauding an innkeeper 
brought by the hotel growing out of, 
an unpaid bill, 

Arthur McLaglen, brother of Vic- 
tor, and Marie Mitchell Shipley an- 



Mildred Harris' PA 
Set for Frisco Burley 

,'May 18. 

Miidred Harris is the 

first, ex-screen star a p>a, 

jit ich is 

planning on using a series of Hpllyr 
wpod actresses if thi "out 
with the former Mrs, 

Although opening date Isn't ;set, 
Mrs,, Harris is expected, to cOine In 
in about a . Week or so. ,. it is re- 
ported that she yrill,get $150 a W^ek 
with a 14-day guarantee. This iS 
about tops for this hoUse< 



BlIRtEY PUBUCITY 
UPS WASHINGTON BIZ 



Washington, May 18, 
Threatened clean-up of- burlesque 
by Federation of Churches, which 
cracked front pages of Cap dailies, 
resulted principally ing; at- 

tendance at Gayety,. only 
burley temple. 

Estimate based oh fact that house 
drew steady stream of women, and 
girls, cbming in groups to see what 
all the shouting was about. House 
was winding up regular season with 
Ann Corib, who interests femmes 
more than any other strip teaser 
because of flood of smart publicity, 
but .parade was' so obvious it could 
only be attributed to page-one pub- 
licity given reform drive. 

Drive launched week before house 
was to . close anyway and had no eU 
feet. Manager Jimmy Lake using 
all-sepia show as p<ifit«season attrac-'., 
tion this week and gives house over 
to three weeks - of films before go- 
ing dark. Season averaged well; 
over last and ran three weeks longer. 



Gayety, Det., Closing 

Detroit, May 18. 
Gayety, local spot of the Minsky 
wheel, is .. going to clean up of its 
own accord. Spot closes this week 
for summer,, during which house 
will he renpviated, redecorated and 
other extensive improviements made 
before reopening; Sept. 1.. 

, Closing will leave town with two 
burlies for hbt months, the Avenue, 
operated along with Gayety by Ar- 
thur damage, and the National, 
Management of Gayety . leaving this 
week for the east to Ippk pver new 
ideas fpr traveling burlesque to be 
initiated here next fall. Better 
known burly :names, plus recruits 
from better N. Y. shows, are prom- 
ised. 



OBITUARIES 



Pitt Casino Closes , 

Pittsburgh, May 18. 
After announcing he'd install a 
cooling plant ' and run. stock bur- 
lesque; at Casino all summer, George 
Jaffe had a change'' of heart last 
week and. decided he'd call the 
whole idea off. 

As result, house will shut down 
last of month and stay dark until 
Labor Day. 



IndepeiideDt Burlesqm 



Week of May 23 




pounced that they will be married 
m Pasadena May 23. 

Superior Judge Burnell in L, A. 
denied plea of Mrs. Lita Grey Chap- 
lin Aguirre for a divorce from Henry 
Aguirre, Jr.; actor. 

William J. James, husband of Mar- 
garet Irving James, actress, was ar- 
rested in L. A. on suspicion of hav- 
mg fbrged the name of Mervyn Le 
Roy to three checks for $300 each. 
, Joan Bennett filed djvorce suit in 
L. . A. against Gene Markey charging 
cruielty and that he often berated, 
scolded and ridiculed, her. Actress 
also seeks custody of their daughter 
Melirida, 3. 

Donald G. Novis waj? made defend- 
ant in an alimony action for $5,400 
filed by Mrs. Julietta Novis, his for- 
mer wife, in L. A, Superior court. 

Five persons were badly hurt in 
ian automobile accident in Beverly 
Hills. Victims were Clarence Hut- 
son, business representative of sev- 
eral screen personalities; his wife, 
formerly Aileen Sedgwick, actress; 
Mrs. Joseph Sedgwick^ mother of Ed- 
ward Sedgwick, director; her sister, 
Mrs. James Deagon, and Mrs. Dea- 
gbn's daughter, Mrs. Edward Holman. 



Ali.FRIEDLANDER 

Al Friedlander, 46, whp with 
Harry H* Thomas founded the First 
Division exchanges, and. .was promi- 
nent in Pther independent under- 
takings, died in the Radio City of- 
fices of Thomas I^ay 12. Death as 
ascribed to heart trouble.' 

He became a prbjectiphiSt in Chi- 
cgigo :in 1905 wh.ile playing with a 
Chicago stock company. He joinedi 
the Continental Vaudeville exchange; 
-in l9ii3 and Went to Pathe as a sales- 
man in 1913. Service in the AEF. 
terminated this connection and. on 
his return firom bverseia$ he joined 
the Merit Film exchiinge. With 
Thomas h$ formed First Division in 
1927 -and was v.p. * charge of 
publicity and iadvertising for sev- 
eral years. For the past two years 
he has been connected, with Fprtune 
Films, his pwn cpmpahy. 

H6 ■ survived by his wife, 
YvPnne, and' sister. 



CARL LEVI 

Carl Levi, 57,. district manager for 
Lpew's theatre circuit in New York 
city, died in; N^w York, May 13, 
after a brief illness. 

Starting as a doorman for Mar- 
cus Loew's first theatres, thirty year s 
ago, Levi has beien continuously as- 
sociated with Loew's theatres in New 
York and othier citi He was suc- 
cessively promoted to assistant man- 
ager, nianageri publicity man, trav- 
eling special representative and then' 
district manager, having supervision 
of many theatres in Manhattan and 
Brooklyn, including Loew's State, 
and the Astbr. 

Survived by his widow, Rachel H., 
a daughter, ' Mrs. Jennie Goodman, 
two" sist'efs;" Mrs.~*Amelia 'Blumen- 
field and Mrs. Henri Voehl, two 
brothers, Jacob and Salli Levi, the 
latter manager of Loew's 46th Street 
theatre, Brooklyn. 



ROT HOLLOW AT 

Funeral services for Roy HoUoway, 
31, former Atlanta theatre manager, 
who was drowned in a lake near 
Hot Springs, Mexicp, were held May 
12 in EUaville, Ga., where he was 
horn. 

. Holloway, a theatre manager in El 
Paso, Texas, at time of his death, had 
gone on a fishing trip across the bor- 
der with a friend on April 26, The 
two werie aboard a boat, on the lake 
when, a storm capsized the vessel 
and both, were drowned. Police 
searched two weeks before they 
found the Georgian's body. 

Wifcj daughter/ and parents sur- 
vive. 



ELEANOR J. B. PEARSALL 

'Mrs. Eleanor Juliana Bettertpn 
Pearsall, 87, wjho in her' day had 
played for AugUstin Daly, D'Oyly 
Carte, Lester Wallack and others, 
died at her home, Tenafly, N. J,, 
May 17. 

She was both actress and singer, 
daughter of Howard Glove*r>^BFitish 
composer, and Juha Glover,, actress, 
well known on the iEnglish stage. 

She is survived by a. son and 
daughter, a brother, a sister, two 
grandchildren and three great-grand- 
children. 



ness. Rpssi fprmer blackface cbniic, 
was teamed for years in a cpmedy 
act knPMvn'as Hutter and Ross, illed 
as '500 Pounds of Harmony." 



MIKSA PREGER . 

Mi Preger, prpducer, died in 
Vienna after the amputatipn of his 
left leg. 

•Pr-eger staged Various Leo Fail 
and Emmerich .: Kjilman pperettias in 
Central Europe, His son is manager 
of, German theatre in- Prague. 



LLOTD C. FINLAT 

Lloyd C. Finlay, 53, former con- 
ductor of the orchestra at the Ma- 
jestic theatre here, died in Houston, 
May 11, after a 10-day illness. 
. At the. time of his death, Fi - 
lay was manager of the Tower the- 
atre here, .an Interstate nabe house. 
He, had been in show busi in 
Houston for 22. yeatrs, all of the time 
in assoeiatibn With, the Karl Ho- 
blitzelle interests. 



ADDIE LESTiER 

Mrs. Addie Lester, 87, died May 
11 in New York. 

In her girlhood she was a slack- 
\yire performer with the P. T. Bar- 
num show, and for many years ap- 
peared with her husband, Eddie 
Lester, in vaudeville. She retired 
from the stage in 1917. 

Funeral services under the aus- 
pices of the Actors' Fund and in- 
terme;it in the Fund plot in Ken- 
sico. 



GEORGE BELFORD 

George .W. Belford, 7l, died of 
apoplexy at his home in Kendal- 
ville, Ind., May 11. 

Belford put on the road the Six 
Flying Belfords and Also organized 
the Six Lucky Boys, another acro- 
batic act. 



WALTER ROSS 

Walter Ross, 56, died May 12, In 
In ianapolis, following a short ill- 



JOHN ERNfiSX BORLAND 

Jphn Ernest RPtland, 71; British 
composer, who wrote jnusic for the 
coronation of three Engliish kings, 
died in .London May 15. ' 

, Hi idbwj 
ter survivie him. 



MAX COOPER 

Max Cooper, 30, operator of Twen- 
tieth Century, Gold, and Villa the- 
atres in Chicago, died at his honia 
in Chicago, May 14; 

Mother and. three sisters, survive. 
Burial was in Proviso. 



FRANK M. SHAW 

Pifank M. Shaw, 43, stage, 'screen 
and radiO' entertainer who died in 
Kansas City May 7, was given . f u^ 
neral service May 15 in Los Angeles.- 
Body was cremated. 



LEWIS McKOWAN 

Lewis McKowan, 61, former Mid- 
wiest theatre oWner, died of a heart 
attack May 18, in Los Angeles. He 
was an uncle of Richard Di 



WALTER t. NANNET 
Walter T. Nahney, 63,. head of the 
Paranriount studio, mechanical de-- 
partment, died Lbs Angeles, 
May 9, ' ' 



Mrs. Mar^herlia Conklin, , wife 
of Chester Conklin, screen comic, 
died May 14, in Lps Angeles. Once 
a concert violinist, Mrs. Conklin' had 
been an invalid for 27 years. 



Alfred, T. Payne, 89, father of Loula 
Payne, actor, and fathef-iii-law of 
Mrs^ Lieslie Carter, diied. in Holly- 
wood, Ma>y 14. He Was a native of 
England. 



Mother of Hardie Albright, actor, 
died in Beverly Hills, Calif., May 10, 
aged 73. Burial in Holly Wbod. 



Coronation 



(Continued from page 1.) . 



closing. brUry Larte's 'Careless Rap- 
ture,' 'On Your Toes' at the Coli- 
*seurh,~ "The Frog' at Prince's," 'Over " 
She Goes' at the SayVille, 'Black 
Limelight' at thfe St, James, 'Wise 
Tombrrow' at the Lyric are all fold- 
ing. Hippodrome, With 'Danger Zone,' 
is doing well. 

Situation is not as bad as it Would 
appear, however, since there are sev- 
eral new shows ready to replace the 
Weaklings, 



MARRIAGES 

Jane tock, singer i "The Drunk- 
ard,' in L. A., to George Stuart, 
Theatre Mart, m.c,^ " Hollywood, 
May 12. 

Mildred Morton, to Fired Steele, 
.comptroller for Tremi Garr, Inc.,: at 
Universal, at Las Vegas* Nev.r March 
17. Bride is a non-professional: 

Mrs. Esther Rosine, makeup artist, 
to Gabe Pollack, scenic artist, ■ 
Las Vegas, Nev,, May 13. 

Mrs. May Markett to Louis Gold- 
berg, May 12i in NeW York. Grobin 
is an RKO theatre executive. Bride 
is the widow .of ..the .late Mark I. 
Markett. 

. Marie Barton to John Stanley Mc-f 
Guirl, In Miami, May 16. .Groom Is 
known' in: the ' pirbfession* Jack 
Adams and is at present a vaude 
agent in Montreal. 



BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Kretzinger, 
son, in Brooklyn, May 14. Mothev 
is Marge of 'Myrt 'n' Marge' team 
in radio. 

Mr. and Mrs. Syd Dikon, daughter. 
May 10, in Pittsburgh. Father is In 
theatre booking office of Warners- 



t 



Wednesday, May 19* 1937 



FORUM 



VARIETY 



63 



Hope for XT. S. 






(Continued from page 19) 

^n^, moreover, was /employi 
dreds of Frerich people. 

As the interview was primarily 
one of 'information* foi: the commis- 
sion no inkling of what the terms of 
the eventual bill it will draft was to 
be learned. But the Americans stress 
that their views and arguments were 
listehed to so attentively and intelr 
ligentiy that they have reason to. be- 
lieve that their interests will not be 
entirely forgotten and they have 
hopes of believing that they will not 
be shut but in the cold entirely. 

iSimultaneously with these argu^ 
ments, the Americans took advantage 
of the hearing to refer to the recent 
decisibrf of the French censor to bar 
an American film ('Black Legion^). 
The point- of view was maintained 
that this action was imriecessarily 
id and that no American film 
could be considered immoral because 
malefactors Wete never gldrifled and 
were always punished. 

Petsche's. Report 

ph the other hand, a recent inci- 
dent has given the Americans reason 
to'wpjrry from an entirely different 
aspect. Maurice Petsche, reporter of 

chamber sub-commissibh charged 
with studying measures to prbtiect 
the interests of the French cinema 
industry, in brie bf the recent sesr 
sions of the chamber has gone 
through the formality of protesting 
in .writing against the rights granted 
American films under the. Franco? 
American trade treaty.. 
• On the face of it, this appears in- 
nocuous ehoujgh but, in reality, it 
means that when the treaty comes 
up for discussion in the chamber his 
protests necessarily cause a discus- 
sion of the terms of the ti-eaty by 
tjhie chariiber. Had no siich protest 
been made the ratification of a treaty 
which has already been signed by a 
government is a mere form of pro- 
cedure and the clauses of the treaty 
are not discussed. 

in some quarteris, usually reliable; 
it is reported that Petsche intends to 
move that, unless the clauses in the 
treaty relegating the exact position 
bf American .films are not changed, 
that the chamber refuse to pass it. 
If the government makes, .its pas-, 
sage in its entirety a question of con- 
fidence it will undoubtedly pass, but 
whether such . ia move will be taken 
and just how; miich support Petsche 
has behind him has yet to be seen. 
No date has yet been set for the 
diiscussion bf the treaty, but it is not 
exp.ected to be duri the present 
short session. 



Censoirsliip Inspires iPqem 

Nfew York City, May 14* 
Editor;. Variety: 

Oh> Mumbb-Jumbo, God of The 

Cashier's Till, 
Save, Oh save us, if you will 
From the inanities of the Dunnigan 

Bilh 

OutU^w the Mirisky^, Ann Cprio and 

Strip-tease. '.■ 
Go ahead and take away all of these. 
But this we .dsk aiid ask.it with a 

'pled.se': 

Don't let. one man be 
Sole; /judge of how much we shall 
see—. 

Or whete the dress comes with re- 
gdfds the knee. 

One man . couldn't possi judge. 

IheTrt oil to o 'T'-— 
Remember? Moss grows oiily on 
one side of a ttee! 

Jim Crouch. 



late I have nbtictd a very re- 
markable change In the situation. 
There is at present .a great demand 
:!or real vaudeville acts to play the 
letter class of night clubs. This is 
a good omen. 

The younger generation has never 
seen a first- cjass, uprtc-diate Vaude- 
yille show. Once in a while some, 
film house puts on vaudeville in 
cbhiiectibn with pictures, but "a few 
mediocre, song jthd daric^ .acts siand- 
wiched in between a Mickey Mouse 
cartoon and a hews reel closing with 
a second run filhi is -nbt . vaudeville. 

It is my belief that: vaiide Will re- 
turn and take the place which it 
really deserves, I only wish that 
I'm granted the privilege to . stand 
up with the rest, of the rboters and 
shout 1. told ybu so/ 

Harry . Lakola. 



Equity Oh Radio 



(Continued from page 56) 



progressive independent council -that 
will assume its original responsi- 
bility of again becoming the govern- 
ing board of the association.' 

In Miss Wood's article she re- 
ferred to 'a hpary method of point- 
ing to an administration as a lot. of 
old dodos . . . putting trip wiries and 
hindrances at eVery inch so that, ah 
administration is sO busy attending 
to parliamentary details that its real 
business is slowed up . . . dema- 
goguery based on implications of 
dishonesty and incompetence.' 

Association's m&g carries all three 
tickets, both the opposition lists 
being headed 'an independient ticket,' 
Notice of the annual meeting, dated 
for June 4, at the Astpr hotel, N. Y., 
sets forth the schedule of procedure, 
.also .the proposed constitutianal 
cha?iges which Would reduce the 
salaries of Gillmore to $7,500 ' an- 
nually and Dulzell's to $5,200. New 
matter concerning salaries is set in 
capital letters. 

Ifotice is giy^h thaj; the council re- 
jected both prbposais. Only if the 
motipnis are carried by .substantMi 
majorities would the amendmerits be 
put to referendum. 

• J. lunkall, liead of the third 
.party ticket and the sole candidate 
opposing Gillmore, also criticized the 
edition of the house organ, 
ims that his grouip's endorse- 
ment pf the . renominated officers, 
except that of president, had been 
deleted from the ticket, also that 
they- also endorsed three council 
candidates on the regular tickiet; 

Alfjo complained of is a rule adbptr 
ea by council to the effect that the 
third party cannot bill itself as the 
progressives. Pointed out that the 
second, or iridepehderit group, also 
uses the same term. 

Co'mrrienting on the adoption of 
the admiriistration committee of both 
independent parties' plank to organ - 
'i^e radio, Blurikall said, 'At last the 
tones have been awakened.' 



Running Time In Philly 

, May ;15. 

Editor, 

.1 am very much shocked. Shocked 
ihd annoyed. 1 have always heard- — 
and believed-^that VAiiiETY wias to 
be trusted and believed and sworn 
by., And no.w I find that I liitist re- 
construct 'ail my conceptions and 
beliiefs. 

To put . it very simply, the issue 
inyolved has to do with a picture, 
'ShaU We IDance,' a nice reyiew of 
which I -read in your paper last 
week.. Now, I shall say nothing about 
the picture or. the review itself, but 
there is a little matter of running 
time which I should like to discuss. 
It is possible, bf course, thait your 
reviewer doesn't think running time 
mieans anything.. Only I happen to 
be from Philadelphia and to us, in 
Philadelphia, running time is im- 
: pbrtant. Or, sit least it was. this time. 

Your reviewer says the picture is 
101 minutes long. Well, I was in New 
York last Friday night and I wanted 
to see the picture, so I cjalled up the 
theatre to find out . what time 'it 
started. They told hie it started at 
7:18, so I figured that I cpuld get. out 
lOl minUtes later, which Would be 
8:59, and rush over to Penn Station 
and catch the 9:15 back to Phila- 
delphia. 

Well, 8:59 came arid the picture 
wasn't over, but I knew my watch 
couldn't be wrong, so I decided I'd 
better go. I waited five, more min 
utes and the picture wasn't over, and 
it was 9:04, so I really had to go 
And i di . 

Now that may sound like nothing 
at all to you, but when I got to the 
station my watch was right, so your 
reviewer mUst have been mistaken 
And I called up the Aldine Theatre, 
where it is playing here, aind they 
tell me the picture runs 111 minutes. 
So I gueiss I'll have to pay to see the 
finish of it. And I don't . need to tell 
ybu what I am thinking about your 
paper, of its accuracy, or its re- 
viewer. 

Ash. 



yySlX Not Nepollatlnr 

Nashville, May 1. 

Editor, Variety: 

I dp not know , where rumbr 
sprang from but, personally, and 
officially as director of WSIX,;! w|sh 
to go oil record as siaying that nb 
negotiations with WSM br. any other 
party have been "gping Pn. with a 
view to selling any iiitierest in 
WSIX. 

WSIX is owned by Jack M, and 
Louis R. DraLUghbn of Springfield, 
Tenn.. They are the proper parties 
to contact for any infornriatibri a 
sale of the station. 

WSIX is beconfiing well estab- 
lished- During the- local flood relief 
work we led all local agencies 
(newspapers, and radio statioris). in 
collecting cash donations, turning in 
more than $21,500, one .fifth of the 
city total; On May 2 we joined the 
Mutual network to carry the Sunday 
night Willys showi Our local busi- 
ness for April .^yas riio.re than 50% 
above last December, and bur list of 
local clients is growing steadily* 

is. A. Cisler. 



Roots For V»ud«'» 

Mansfield, May l4 

'Ediior, 

Paul rockhorst's comment a few 
weeks- ago expresses the. sentimen ; 
of a multitude of. ybur " readers, 
ma i illy perhaps the old timers. The 
public is responsible for the present 
conditions. The riiasses are Clamor- 
ing for vaudeville but the managers 
are reluctant to give it to them. Of 



Chance For a Career 

CJhampaign, 111., .May 
Editor, Variety: 

There is a vacancy here at the 
University . Illinois which am 
sure will be of interest to a number 
of . your readers, and ich has -a 
genieral news value. 

University of .Illinois. is the largest 
university located- oh one campus in 
a Small cpriimuhity in this. coUritry. 
There is • naturally considerable so- 
cial life, and dancing, of couirse, 
plays a leading; role. 

Illinois Student Union operates, 
several times a weiek, dances in its 
own ballfoom. We want a young 
nian to organic pur orchestra vfor 
next .year, select his. own personnel 
aiid in gerierial have , eritire respon- 
sibility fPr the orchestra arid its per- 
forrnance. What wie, are looking for 
is a man who . has made .a success 
is own or in-'soriie other orches- 
tra, but who is ambitious arid be- 
lieves he can go farther with a uni- 
versity education. 

Several .years' ago Bill Goodheart, 
now -. vice-president of the Music 
Corp. of America, held the position 
of which I am .speaking.. A few 
years later Joe Kayser, now ah ex- 
ecutive of the Consolidated Radio 
Artists, held the same pbsition. 

A man who gets the job will be 
able to earn , his entire expenses 
here at the University of Illiripis; 
something of which ?.ny man enter- 
ing college would like , to be assured. 
I hope you can give this opportunity 
publicity in your publiciatipn. It may 
be that yoii know, of somePne perr 
sonally who has ambitioh along the 
lines I have suggested. Y;ou will be 
doing him i. favor as well as us in 
recommendi im lor this positipn, 
E. E. Stafford. 
Businei^s . Manager, . 
is Students' Union. 



where sbmeone else always takes 
care Of your headache by providing 
you with the ; talent, paid for by 
the cha.i ; and ideas cind sales, while 
the smallee iriUst do all of tiiis. him'^ 
self. 

Just a word to iDuke arid the other, 
small station men; jRead the columns 
bf. Vawety on expioitatiori used by 
the .film meri and also the coriimerits 
of the big timfe shows. You will,, find- 
more' ideas than you have talent 
aind timie to put across. 
, Surprisirig thing ' to those of us 
who have been in . radio isrid then 
scampered out. is ;to see the riuiriber 
of small stations. which fall and fold 
up because of the inarie desire on 
the. part of the owner to demand 
his pound of flesh in .the form of 
profit, and then expect the n^ariageiV 
and Operators to .work for glory 
aiid fun, both Of which useless 
in the paying of food bills. Let, us 
all hope that these day,s are grow- 
ing to a. close and that the new crop, 
^pf owners of small stations will soon 
see the light oiE day and realize that 
even the victim who carries ithe title 
of manager should be able to buy 
food for- his family. 

McKee. 



..Straw Hats Needed. 

Palmyra, Mo., .May 15; 
Editor, Variety: 

Enclosed you will find $1.50- and 
extend hiy Variety subscription that 
much. ;If I remember cprfectly I 
sent you $2.00 last time but it doesn't 
seem very long since I had a 
bill from you for that until I got 
billed thiis tinie. You might check up 
oh it. . 

I .realise thht mid-western stock 
COinpanies are hardly in your field 
but I can't see why we don't get 
better ones. Theire are so many 
straw-hat theatres in New England, 
and I am sure they can't all pay. 
Why can't some of those groups get 
tents, arid conie to the Middle West. 
They can have experience, rhako 
money, and give us a lot of enjoy- 
ment,: maybe. 

It ought to be a lot of fun for a 
group of youngsters. 'We don't care 
about big names, just enjoyment. 

Stewart Johnsori. 



ichard and Robert 

, N. Y., May .15. 
ISditor, Variety; 

Leiave it to Variicty to dig up a 
sports announcer nanied Richard. I 
refer to Richard Flshell, to be exact, 
and the Radio Review you ran pri 
him in last week's issue (12). 

It makes me wonder if you guys 
are acquainted with Fishell. Up 
here, in the Salt City, we remember 
Richard as Dick, that, little boy who 
did a deal of running, in the Syra- 
cuse backfield, except when we 
played Colgate. Since which tinne 
he left for New York and is now 
pri the staff at WMCA. 

I noticed .that last week's, review 
was sighed Land. I haye also seen 
some news stbri ith the credit 
line of Bob Landry. Therefore, pre- 
sume that Laridry beconies Land for 
critical purpos^es. Am I the brie.? Be- 
sides which Fish'eU only predicted 
football, winners, for VArUETY all last 
fall, and Land still calls him ilidh- 
ard. •■ 

_• 'For the record -an able profes- 
sional cbirimentator on muscular pas- 
times,' said Land, Bbb Landry, nay 
Robicrt Landry. Um-m-m! 

So What? S.b lit me be the first to 
introduce them. pb meet Dick, and 
let's scotch the formality.. Or arlri I 
tCQ masculine? 



Claims Top Rate 

EditPi-j VARtETY: 

-New York, May 13. 
In your issue of May 12, Page 43, 
urider the caption, 'Wax continues 
as Medium for Yankee Advertisers 
Using South America,' in the last 
paragraph you quote as the top card 
rate in . South America— $280 m/n, 
as quoted by a 20,000-watt radio sta- 
tion; 

This is misleading. Largest sta- 
tibn in Buenos Aires has 50,000 
watts and this is LRI-Radio-El 
Mundo.. Tbp rate we ask for this 
station is 1,000 Argentine Paper 
Pesos per hour, or approximately 
$300. U. S. This station does not ac- 
cept electrical transcriptions lor 
its programs. . 

liniversdl Publishers Representa- 
tives, Inc. 



Managing a iOO-Watier 

May 14. 

Editor, Variety: 

Note letter from Duke McLeod of 
Victoria; B,. C, Up to just a year 
ago when I left the broadcast field 
like Duke, I was manager of a.lOO- 
watt stati . I went into it icold fi'om 
the real estate busi ..., .and during 
eight yeiirs saw nriapy other stations 
come forward and many others drop 
by the wayside. It lakes more brains 
to run' a 100-watt local station than 
it does the average chain stiation, 



Editor, Variety: 

In legit recently, it . Is announced 
that 'Tovarich' advance of $10,000 
was. the biggest yet. In. 1026 I leased 
the Coast rights ;for $10,000 of !Ah 
Ariiericari Tragedy ' 



Guild Cancels 



(Continued, fi-oih page 56) 



after recent stand against perform-, 
ance bf .. 'Tobacco Road' arid film 
■ Ecstasy.' Figured if these were 
eligible, for censors' scissors and 
erasers,' 'Delight' comes under the 
sanne heading. , 

'Idiot's Pelight' was; to have been 
the fifth legit cbmpariy brought here, 
this season by Driiriia League. An 
earlier : presentation, \ last fall; Was 
'Bby Mteets Qirl/ which; went on 
with London version in.defererice to 
requests by League, which has hete- 
tofore acted as its own censor,, land 
has consistently refused sponsoring 
'Tobacco Roiad.' 

According . to Mrs. Rushtbh, 
thought of censorship was antici-' 
pated .at time of booking, but, con- 
sidering recent cbntroversy, it was 
thought best to have the Mayor pass 
on the script.' Particiilar exceptibn 
was taken by Butler to the passage 
referring- to . Gov. ryari hotel' in 
Omaha. Actually rio. such hostelry 
exists , here; but it is thought revi- 
sion Was asked in deferenoe to 
nieriipry of statesnian, for which 
state is. known. It is paradoxical 
that the passage referring ' to town 
be bianned here hvit used in per- 
formances, by the company In all 
other spots. Drama League bbard; 
indicated it " would ,stpp bririging 
plays here if sUch b.bstacles . con- 
tinued. - 



The Theatre ild says that its 
productipns may riever agairi play 
Omaha, as a result of this incident. 



Merrill 



(Continued from page 1) 



Editpr,' 

Your yaudeyille revi .Wasn't 
very careful the recent review 
Of the Fox, Philadeiphi , during the 
Patrici Bowman date. Gdve no 
mention whatever to. pianist Irving 
Fields who stopped the show the 
performance 1 caught I am a mu- 
sician my.sell. 



Who Started II? 

Mil 

Eiditpr, yAfixEXY: 

O. M; l^amuels' list of ' real Sing- 
ers' of .Great Songs' ' , is weck'.s 
Variety was very ihteresti '. I note' 
he lists Lottie Gil.son as the singer of 
'Ta-Ra-Ra-Bbom-De-Ay' and it seems 
to me this should be credited to 
Lottie Colli I heard Lottie Collih.s 
—'the lady in red— sing this ditty 
in the British Music Malls around 
1891 and it was believed she was, the 
first tb sing it. 

Lottie Collins popularized .-Ra- 
Ra-Boom-De-Ay' afpuhd the world. 
It so happens .she wiis born in the 
same city as myself— Glasgow, Scot- 



definite cash -guarantees, and. If (he 
plane crashed in mid-ocean, they 
might be held responsible, and face 
heavy damage actions. Also there 
nriight haye been public censure, 
which they. Idn't feel they cpyld 
afford to risk. 

Merrill's only deal fbr pictures 
thcri Was for stills with the Hearst 
brganizatibn. This, too, was an un-^ 
written deal. With verbal undprr. 
standing that Merrill was to get 
$5,000 on delivery of the prints, with 
a share in. syndicate, returns above 
that figure- after deduction .of cb.sts. 
Hearst brganizatipn wouldn't signa- 
ture ainything for the same fear of 
liability risk. .. 

Merrill, besides the stills, brought 
back with hini a. number of letters 
spebially post-marked for the voy- 
age, for which he was paid nicely, a.* 
welt as a nuinber of official pi'o- 
£rams and; pther gadgicts which he 
sold at gobd figures to collectors on 
this side. Also, he was signatured 
immediately ior . 11 different kinds 
of ad eridorsements. of commercial 
products,, with several more such 
deals in the. wind and due to go 
through, 

Newsrecl cbmpanies, althbugh they 
all agreed not to use Merrill's serv- 
ices, were .suspicious of each other 
and were very, worried when he ar- 
rived. Arrival wis cbyered from 
every possible angle and his baggag 
carefully pholographed and scruti- 
nized, just in case somebody was 
trying tb, pull a fast one. Melrotonc 
was especially suspectod by the 
other coriipanics bccau.se of its 
Hearst tieiip, and: a sigh of relief 
went up when Merrill's cu.stom.s 
manifest •mentioned np . moti 
lure footage of any kind, . 

Columbia and Dufaycolor (EnglLsfii 
outfit) both hoped to get enough 
footage- on the plane for a one-rcelcr, 
thinking thus tb beat the reels at 
their own gariie, but, Ihcy cpulcln't 
geii lootage' enough past the British 
censors in time to miikc .the plane. . 

Merrill, was formerly a figiir 
on rpadway, pai-ticularly.. 45lh 
street. For a tinrio he was a fight 
manager, handling Andy Chancy oif 
Baitimore, He..quit the racket when 
anothbr haridler copped, his riian." 

Merrill became interested in flying 
during the wai*. At one time he was 
a railroad fireman and cngi 



Iturbi Sit tb Debut 

Detroit, May 18. 

Am paro Iturbi, sister of CpridUclor 
Jose Iturbi, who' made, her A'^erl- 
can radio debut pver CBS May 2, will 
take her bow as a cpricert pianist i 
this country May 24 at Orcheslra 
hall here. 

Concert- urider aLUspiccs.bf IDetroi 
Concert Society. 



land, arid I remember her in he.P 
early, days. She was the, mother, of 
Jose Collins. 

/. V/Hsoii Roy. 



64 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, Muf \% 193T 










WOMAN CHASES MAN" 
risht into RADIO CITY 

MUSIC HALL! Op^n^ium3rd 



SAMUEL GOLDWYN present. 




Midam Joet 

HOPKINS ^M^CREA 



CH ARLES WINNINIGER* ERIK RHODES 

ELLA LOGAN • LEONA MARjCLE • BnOOEniCK CRAWrOltD 
OirecUd bx^JohiilB)/<ron* t. KoUatad fKru UNITED ARTISTS 



IS 

to 

CM 



RADIO 



SCREEN 



STAGE 






Published Weekly at ,1C4 "Wast. 46th Street, New Yoilc. N. T.. by Vailety, Inc. Annual subacrlptlon, |(t, Slngl4 copies, 15 cenis, 
Entered aa aecond-clasB matter December 22, 19()5, at. the Post Otflce at New York, N. T., nd«r tUa act oC March 3, ISTU. 

COFTBiqiHT, 1»37, VARIETlf, INC. AIX BIGHXS KKSEUVJKD 




Voi.m No. 11 


NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1937 


64 PAGES 




TALENT 




Beat the Sticks and Out WiD Jump 
Talent, Says Sir Harry Lauder 



Bjr DENid MORRISON 

Hollywood, iyiay 25. 
You . can't bottle lip talent. 
HaVry Lauder says so and adds: 
5 %arjfy Lauder ought' to know. A 
I coal 'mine couldn't bottle me up. A 
f.lliik mill couldn't. If a man or a 
woman has honest, genuine ability 
to entertain the public and the will 
^ip work at it;" out it'll come.* 
Scotch, comedian, a little rounder 
about the middle, a iittle thinner 
and grayer on the top of his thatch, 
knitted hi brows and pounded on 
the turf of the garden behind the 
everly-Wilshire hotel to emphasize 
his conviction that show business 
has got to get on closer and more 
intiiriate relations with the great 
body; of the common people. 

•He views, the passing of vaude- 
yille' in this country with misgiv- 
ing. 

'The great talent of talking pic- 
tures' today,' he said, 'where did they 
come from? Out of the sticks. Out 
of the music halls, the variety shows,, 
from the ranks of the smalltime 
troupers. I count myself one of 
thiem. W. C. Fields, Ray Bolger, 
Burns and Allen, Ella Logan, 
Eleanor Powell, Martha Raye, Fred 
Astaire — I repeat, where'd they 
come from? That's your answer to 
the source of talent for the future. 
From Burley, Mebbe 

•You can't bottle it up. It may 
turn out that the most fertile ex- 
isting field for tbe training of fu- 
(Continued on page 51) 



Station SAM 



Washington, May 25. 

'Construction of a govern- 
ment-owned short wave station 
has the backing of most of 
President Roosevelt's cabinet. 
Celler bill authorizing outlay to 
erect transmittier which will oc- 
cupy irequencies granted the 
U. S. will be boosted by the 
State, Interior, and Navy de- 
partments, as well as the Pan- 
American Union, when heai-ings 
take place. 

If set up, plant will be the 
first government venture into 
broadcasting. Time cannot be 
sold for advertising, but out- 
siders could use the station if 
they agreed to lay off propa- 
gandizing. 



DID BASEBALL 
AIR RULES 
HURT? 



Scotch and Symphony 
Possible in Philly 
Again, After 56 Yrs. 

Philadelphi , May 2.'5. 

Philly music lov.ers ill soon be 
.able ' to have a cocktail with their 
Aida' and a iScotch and soda , with 
their_Heifetz. A bill has been intro- 
auced in the state legislature to per- 
mit bpenirig of the bar in the base- 
ment of the Academy of Musi 

Mahogany fixture, which has been 
collecting dust , since 1881, n a 
law was passed forbidding sale of 
• alcoholic beverages in concert halls, 
IS the longest in the city. It was 
famous in the 'TOs. 

Measure was proposed by Sena- 
lois Israel Stiefel and Anthony J. Di 
isUvestro, of Philly. It was drawn 
up by attorneys for the PhMy Or- 
.che.stra association at the latter's re- 
ue.st. No objections have been 

ised to its passage. 

(kleptomania on Danube 

^ . Vienna, May 25. 

foreign tourist trade has its dis-^ 
aayantaiges, accdr " ^ to Austrian 
stale railways. 

Pf the 110,000 towels or red and' 
l>laced at the disposal o[ the i)as- 
senyers beginning of 1937, only 13,- 
a)UO are now left " 



Chicago, May 25. 

Test to discover whether or not 
this year's strict-reporting ruling of 
ba.seball broadcasting- was causing 
any drop in listener interest wds run 
by Ruthrauff & Ryan, and has boys 
guessing that it didn't. 

To rn a ke things hard, test was put 
on the Dodge dealers Sunday a.m. 
WBBM shot, which' h^s nothing to 
do with baseball. Further in asking 
for votes as to which team was most 
popular, it required that the listener 
get a ballot from a dealer by per- 
sonal call, and- on top of that;, asked 
him' to mail it in. But the ball.ot 
was addressed. 

Announcerhents on two programs 
pulled better than 8,000 votes and, 
considering the conditions, every- 
body's slapping everybody ielse on- 
the back and saying that the new 
rulings haven't hiirt a bit. 

Riesults showed iSox getti , 
and Cubs 49.7. 



'AND NOW THE ADMIRAL 
IS DOING THE RHUMBA' 



Baltimore, iviay 25. 
June Ball at the U. S. Naval 
Academy will be radio-described 
for the first time on night of June 
2 by WFBR. Bailtimpre, which will 
feed it to the Red network of the 
N.B.C. 

Event, a social " highlight of the 
sea.son, was lined up by Stewart 
Kennar , in charge of Special vents 
department of WFBR. 

No commcrciaL 



m iw ciix 




Edgar Bergen an Exception 
— *F i b b e r McGee and 
Molly* One of Season's 
Developments — - W. C. 
Fields aiid Charles Butter- 
worth 



JAW-EXERCISERS 



By BOB LANDRY 

'Rodio develops little, new talent.' 

That's what Variety said in 1936, 
1935, 1934, 1933 and even further 
back. It's still the season summary 
streamer. roadcasting season just 
ending has run true to form in that: 

(a) Most of its topriotchers are 
carry-overs from yesteryear (five 
years or better for Cantor, Benny, 
Wynn, Baker, Vallee, Burns and 
Allen, Jolson, Amos 'n' Andy, Easy 
Aces, Lombardo, Bernie, etc.) 

(b) Radio itself is slow to bring 
forward new personalities and its 
tendency is to eschew experimenta- 
tion on its own, preferring instead 
to borrow established popularities 
froim other sources. 

During the present season the 
most notable personality to bob up 
is Edgar Bergen, ventriloquist. As 
usual, radio 'discovered' what show 
business had known for years. In 
a remarkably short period of time, 
following a number of guest dates 
on the Vallee program, Bergen has 
(Continued on page 62) 



BEHER PLAY SAFE AND 
PUT THIS ON PAGE ONE 



Tokyo, .May 6, 
Horne Office here is sensitive to 
articles and cartoons critical o£ 
Japan or which treat Japanese 
themes in lighter vei . Action was. 
taken yesterday (5) against Thq Liv- 
ing Age, March issue, and.The Wi.nd- 
.sor Magazine of Londpn, April issue, 
for articles considered disrespectful 
to the throne. Esquire i'an afoul of 
the authorities for an article ,in the 
April issue which criticized Japan's 
policy toward Chi 

All three magazines were put un^, 
der police ban and removed from 
newsstands for the one ofTensive 
issue and, if any of them repeat, will 
be permanently barred. Type of ar- 
ticles sure to draw fire are those 
which question descent of Emperor 
fi'om Sun Goddess, criticisrn of Ja- 
pan's expans; policy and those 
which question bi'/t ethics of Japs. 

English language mags have been 
reprimanded or suspended for vary- 
ing periods for placing pix of Em- 
peror on inside pages or placing an- 
nouncements regarding Imperial 
family movements in positions other 
than top of column. 



New York Didn't Like Ehner Rke s 
'Judgmehf ; London's Nuts About It 



Force o( Habit 



Philadelphia, May 25. 

Great Zacchini, who twice 
daily gets shot out of a cannon 
for Ringling Brothars-Barnum & 
Bailey, appeared at the Philly 
Record office last week with a 
feature story about himself. He 
was taken into the photo de- 
partmeht for mugging. Without 
warning lensman took a shot of 
him from the side. 

Flash sent him four feet Into 
the air. 



PLAY AGENTS 
USE WPA ON 
THE CUFF 



Play agents in New York are us- 
ing the playreadihg bureau of the 
WPA Theatre Project as a mill to 
separate the wheat from the chaff 
among innumerable manu.scripts sub- 
mitted weekly from the hinterland 
by unknowns. By sending plays over 
to the Federal readers, agents are 
assured of a good reading and a 
comprehensive report, with k synop- 
si."?, minus the expense it would 
ordinarily entail plus the labor to 
thernselves. 

WPA reads everything submitted 
and writes a report for its own reg- 
ular bulletin' to outI,and units.. At 
the same tinrie. a repoi;t is given the 
agent who redeems the play if con- 
sidered to have jnerit. They tiien 
give it their own time and consid- 
er a ti n. 

Gag is worked by agent stamping 
each no 'name' entrant .With t-hc 
agency label as sooii as it arrives 
and rOsiiing it over to the WPA. 
(Coritinued b£i page 63) 



DEATH CHEATS 98-YR. 
OLD OF STAGE DATE 



Repprtij from . London that Elmer 
Rice's 'Jiidgm^ent l^By,' which opened 
there last.^ week, .was rated by.th» 
critics as 'one of the finest plftyu 
seen in London in a long tlma,' at- 
tracted unusual interest on Broad- 
way because when the same melo* 
drama. opened at the Belasco, N. Y. 
in September, 1934, and drew ahairp- 
ly divided notices, Rice went oh a 
one-rnan campaign against the re<« 
viewers. Play lasted 12 Weeks, but 
ended well In the red. Then 
he pi-esented 'Between Two World«,' 
arid when that-play< too, failed to get 
the critics* nod, Rice declared h'* 
was through , with show buslne.is. 

The agitation against the critlcrt 
lasted throughout the fall and, just 
as it was dyihg out, Sean 0'.Case.v'H 
'Within th6 Gates,' which also drew 
divided opinions, started the argu-* 
ment all over again, ('Gates' lasted 
about three months, but also was a 
flop). Rice nearly got Equity in- 
volved in the dispute. Author-pro- 
ducer steamed up Frank Gill- 
more, who wrote the Theatra 
League (managers) and Drama- 
tists' Guild. Stated at Equity 
that it was Gillmore's own move. 
He asked the two bodies to confer 
with an. idea of doing something 
about the critics, but neither wanted 
any part of the matter anid all Bide,s 
decided to forfi[et it. ice stiick t(» 
his word and refused to produce 'For 
Children Only.' Subsequently ho 
headied the WPA Theatre Project 
and, after a row with Washington, 
resigned. He recently went abroad. 
Foreign Locale 

'Judgment Day,' which treats with 
the trial of three victims of a 'to- 
talitarian state charged with"^ at- 
tempted assassination,' aroused no 
less than four feuds on new-spapcr 
(Continued on pajye 52) 



What's Ahead for Kid 
Stars? Jackie Coogan 
Will Wave a Stick 



Spartan.sbUrg. S. C;, May 25. 

George Isaac Huglves, 98-year-old 
Civil War vet who astonished the 
medical .profes.sion by becoming a 
father at 95 arid again 97, has been 
cheated out of intended sld«c 
and radio career. 

He made one trip to New York 
and participated In a national- rudin 
broadcast. There was much talk of 
a vaudeville career and he boasU?d 
that he would live to be 110. 

On May 20 death played-an im- 
promptu . role afid rang down the 
curtain, leaving his young widow 
and two children. He had Itt chiiriroii 
by his first wife, wlu died several 
years ago. 



Jackie Coogan has been signed by 
Charlie Green, Consolidated Riidio^ 
Artists prez, n<)w visiting the West. 
Coast, to head an orchestra, 'Kid' 
will slick to the West until brokcfi 
in, and then try an eastern inv; 
sion. 

Art Ciippen's band at th 
dero has been taken over 
ex-film kid to head. Both n 
worked, and polish bcgi 
for bow next month. 



Blueblood Ballyboo 

KIsa Maxwell will act as press 
n;4ent deluxe in Europe for the 
American Ballet. Latter group con- 
templates a swing , around the Eun»- 
pean centres. Party-tosser in visits 
to London, Paris and .Vienna wil' 
whrtop it Up using her social contacts 
to win. interest and support for th« 
young Yankee ballet. 

She's been supplied with art and 
minicographSi 



■I 



vAsiEtr 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, Miiy 26, .1937 



COAST STRIKE SErTLEHENT IMMINENT 
AGAIN; JURISDICTION IS ONLY HOLDUP 



One Major Agreed Verbklly to Recognize Union 
Shop But Was Stymied Prontor^SUE Settlement 
aBlowtoFMPC 




HoUywopd, May' 25. 
Hopeful that ibe A.F. of L, 
will . decline to intercede in the 
lATSE encroachment of juris- 
diction in other studio craft?, 
leade rjT^re treading water 
before drivini''i(iB-s^!>iLhff wed^e 
for foothold in the industry.- 

Leaders 'of the malceup-meh. 
anhOnnced a preference for 
CIA. affiliation, and the radical 
groups are all 'for bolting the 
A.F. of L« JjaXUx refuses to take 
cofnlian<:e of strlbc - breakinr 
charres leveled agrainst the 
lATSE, which cMUed settlement 
.4f the labor . difficulties by 
cf<iiminr Jurisdiction over make- 
nps, hair stylists, and draftsmen. 
' Charles Lesslnir denied any. 
concerted' mevenaent afoot - to 
tie up with Cj.O. and expressed 
belief that the AJ". of L. would 
rally to the support of tiie strik-. 
In; craftsmen. ' Joe Clarke, in- 
ternational T. p. of the Painters-. 
Decorators' Brotherhood, is cm 
route here" to study the Jurisdic- 
tional dispute.; FJW.P.C. iii iitand- 
ing:' by for word from Cincin- 
nati, wltli pickets, eontlnainr 
snake-dances around studio por- ■ 
tals. 

.rrospeetfl 

trike settlement appeared . im- 
minent Friday (21), when the head 
of .one of the major producing com- 
panies agreed verbally to recognize 
the demands of the Federated Mo- 
tion Picture Craftn for a union shop. 
Qffer was speedily withdrawn, how- 
ever, when the International Alli- 
ance of Theatrical Stage Employees 
claimed Jurisdiction over the make- 
Ujp artists, hair stylists and drafts- 
itieh. Threat of George Browne, in- 
ternational ptez of the lATSE. and 
Coast irep William Biofl to Louis B. 
iMayer, of « (complete studio and 
theatre strike; , in the S. and Can- 
ada if the FMPG agreement is signed 
minus lATSE sanction. Indies were 
imilarly notified. 

FMFC had given the iiidies until 
Friday liooii to sigia the agreement 
calling for -.union shop of 11 crafts 
affiliated with that org. Indies re- 
fused to negotiate after attorney 
conferences, pending . settlement of 
jurisdiction dMerences between the 
two orgs. 

Aaron Shapiro, former N. Y. - 
torney jepping the maritime 
groups in San Francisco, secured a 
Verbal agreement' from one major 
jproducer, unnamed, he saidr J. R. 
Bobinson, vet organizer and chief of 
FMPC pickets, brought. Shapiro into 
the picture. He pointed out that 
men were asking no more than what 
the Guild was granted, and that the 
producers, at the N. Y. labor con- 
<erence on April 4, had agreed to a 
closed shoip for painters and scenic 
artists. Deal was upset when the 
lATSE becamie incensed over the 
FMPC's claim that the former was 
a company org. 

Browne's View 

Browne, announced that no settlie- 
ihent would be made until the ar- 
riyar of an intemational- icer of 
the Brotherhood of Painters, Deco- 
rators and Paperhangers to discuss 
terms. HC' declined to talk with 
Charles. Lessing, exec secretary of 
FMPC, or . Rudy Kohl, biz rep of the 
. etudip' painters. 

FMPC collapsed. ias an org Friday 
(21). when the Studio Utility Em 
ployees, Local 724, agreed to return 
to work and theii deal for a . union 
shop. SUE members wei'ci given a 
wage tilt from iO to 75c per hour, 
but few will find jobs, sinee more 
than. 1,000 were taken over by the 
lATSE and given rating Of Class B 
grips, with a wage boost to .82'/^>c 
per hoiir. 

Statement was given by 

rpwne and Joe Marshall, interna- 
tional v^p of SUE, that settlement 
had been effected through the inter- 
vention of the lATSE. Jointly signed 
Etatement read: 

'The International Alliance , of The- 
fitricail Stagie Employees again inter- 
vened in the strained studio union 
situation yesterday. Similar to thieir 
demands .upon the ihajor producers 
two weeks ago that the Screen Acr 
tors Guild be given recognition;^ the 
lATSE yesterday secured a union 
shop agreement and 15c per hour in- 
crease for the Studio Utility Em-_ 
ployees Union.' 

In announci the lATSE 



would block any settlement hot sat- 
isfactory to his gro.tip,'Browiie issued 
a scorching denuhciation of the bp- 
position, denying all its claims and 
rendering a glbwi .history of the 
work and achievements of his . own 
org. 

This' was followed by a lengthy 
statement by Joseph M. Schenck, 
chairman of the producers' special 
committee, in which he charged that 
settlement of the strikei was being 
bloicked by Lesising. Schenck pointed 
to a^reeableness of producers to .ne- 
gotiate, and decried the FMPC as 
misleading, and misinforming studio, 
workers and thus keeping them out 
of . Work. 

Picketing 

Picketing cpntihued . at lO major 
studios where walkout started on 
April 30. Lines have thinned out, 
hbWever, since eight of the FMPC 
affiliated crafts returned to Work, 
leaving only t>aintel:s, 'Scenic artists 
and makeup artists ..on strike. Pick- 
ets. were temdyed frqini studios Sun- 
day (23) and assigned to L. . . and 
Hollywood theatres. Lines WetC 
switched back- to th^ i(>lants of Mon- 
day: (24). 

In the meantime directors, script 
girls; cutters, costumer^ and other 
workers have either/ perfected,- cr 
are working on, separate organiza- 
tions to seek producer recognition 
and improved working conditions. 
Studio plasterers completed their or- 
gianizing .last week and were given a 
wage tilt of 10%. 

Recognition has: already been - 
tended to directors, and negotiations 
with the producers Will. -be opened 
as soon as directors complete a draft 
of their demands. .Assistant direc- 
tors have been admitted to member- 
ship, and an affiliate organization 
will be' made upi of the. heads of 
iscenic departments, interior .deco- 
rators and illustrators. Script girls 
are expected to affiliate with the fllni 
editors. 



INDIES HOWL 
ON GDIU) SHOP 



Hollywood, Miay 25. 
HoWl has been set up by shoestring 
producers following the Guild's de 
mand for use of its actors, and extras 
on locations within a 300 mile ra 
dius. Indies claim that conformity 
to Guild shop ' wo\ild .more than 
double the currently budgeted 
figures. 

Heretofore indies shooting out of 
town used natives for mob and bit 
parts. Guilders claim . westerns cost 
as low as $7,000 through use of 
home-guards lor atmosphere. 

Producers are trying to figure 
where to cut corners to stay within 
li its. There's a possibility, of 
course, that the wage hike will be 
absorbed i increased rentals and 
state right sales. 



IT WAS NO FUN 



Hollywood News Corccspondentc Got 
Ga-G« Covering Strikes 



Hpllywood, May 25. 
Correspondents to whom trouble 
in the main, is money in the bdhk 
don't waint. any more strikes on 
which to fatten their; b.r.'s for a 
While. 'They've had their fill after 
a month covering strikes, no- 
strikes, near-strike's and Pat Casey. 
There " joy in Mudville for 
Casey- either; for on iriore than' one 
occasion the mighty Casey struck 
put. He didn't lead the boys up a 
garden piith exactly, but .many of 
hi ipe li blew up before the 
boys .could get their on the 

wires. 

Every day iand ofteii. several times 
every hour events changed so rapid- 
ly the course of negotiations that 
newspaper boys ' and iris jiist gave 
up trying to frame ai lead that would 
hold together long enough to get in 
type. 



Gaumpnt Set^Up 
For New Season 
In Negotiation 



Simultaneously with the return of 
Arthur Lee from the Coast coihe in- 
dications that Gaumpnt-British will 
be prepared to announce its new 
season's program of American dis- 
tribution next month. In the mean- 
time; GB is going ahead with plans 
for three regional meetings in con- 
nection with its new season's plans. 
One of these sessions will be held 
on; the ' Coast .and possibly one in 
New York,. 

GB's minimum offering for the 
coming season in all probability - will 
be 16 films and the program, includ- 
ing around 8 which have still, to go on 
the current release schedule, may 
mount to 24. 

No^deal betWeeri GB and 20th 
Century-Fox for distribution of the 
British firm's films here for the com- 
ing season has been concluded as 
yet. 

It is expected that negptiations to 
this effect will be begun upon the 
return from the Coast of Sidney ^i, 
Kent, 20th Century jFox- president, 
and John Clark, 20th Century-Fox 
sales manager, Kent fthd Clark are 
on the Pacific slope in connection 
with the 20th Century -Fox conven- 
tion. 



Aw, Felleri 



Hollywood, May 25. 

.Students of Cornell Univer- 
sity, who can't stage their an- 
nual ispring ceremony without 
a Hollywood picture beaut on: 
hand, want the strike to end. 

iThey wired the Federated 
Motion Picture Crafts that col- 
lege is pro-labor, but, *if w* 
don't get some . Hollywood pul- 
chritude, we'll probably go 
Fascist, capitalistic and niaybe 
Republican, so how about a 
colossi, stupendous^ gigantic 
settlement?' . 



A.F.OFLHEARS 





SAILINGS 

June 12 (New York to Scotland) 
H^iry and Greta Laiider (Came- 
rpnia). 

June 2 (New York to London) Mr. 
and Mrs. G. C. Pratt (Berengaria). 

May 27 (New York to Mexico) 
Clarence and Elfrida Derweht (Yu- 
catan). 

May 25 (New York to Paris) Rich- 
ard Watts; Jr., Hans Kindler, Marcel 
Joui-net, Albert Morihi (Lafayette). 

May 22 (New York to Buenos 
Aires) Joseph Hopfenberg 
(Southern. Cross). 

May 21 (New Ypr Hamburg) 
Mary Garden, Maxwell 
(Bremen). 

May 20 (New York to London) 
Philip Merivale, Gladys Cooper 
(Beiengai'ia). 



Hafrig^an Vice Kalligan 

Hollywood, May 25. 
Iness of Robert Mulligan has 
forced him ..from the cast of Samuel 
Goldwyn's 'Dead End' and he has 
been replaced by William Harrigan. 

Actor was brought from the New 
York stage for the part. 



incinnati, May 25. 

Protest against the lATSE wais 
filed Monday (24) ith the AFL 
executive: committee, following a 
special meeting of various tirade 
leaders called- together by L. P. 
Lindelof, intei-national prez of the 
Brotherhood of Painters* Decpratprs 
and Paperhangers of . America. 

Protesting trades are painters, and 
djecoratPrs, laborers,, stationary en- 
gineers, sheet metal workers, plast- 
erers, plumbers, steamfitters, mould- 
ers, irpn workers, culinary workers 
and machinists. 

Lindelof orgahizati includes stu- 
dio painters, scenic iirtists, makeup 
artists, hair dressers, idraftsmeri and 
sdehic designers in the film industry. 
He is reported to have submitted 
affidavits to special prptest ' meeting 
of evidence that lATSE cards have 
been issued to npn-union workers to 
permit them to take jobs of ^tri ing 
unionists in Hollywood, 

Protesting body demands that the 
executive committee call on the 
lATSE to immediately suspend in- 
terference with jurisdiction of other 
unions. Special meeting also re- 
ported to have discussed protest of 
N. Y. scehiic artists against trespass 
of jurisdictipn by lATSE in that city. 

SOC. SEC OKAY STILL 
LEAVES BIZ PUZZLED 

Washington, May 25. 
Decision of the Supreme Court 
Monday (24), p.k.'ing Federal levies 
of payrolls, to provide funds for un- 
employnient -and old-age., pen-; 
•gionis, did. clarify; nunierous 

points- of importance to the amuse- 
ment industry. 

, Remaining still, unsettled are 
questions about migratdry talent; 
who pays for whom; whan per- 
formers are employes of the broad- 
caster, film producer, or theatre, iand 
when they are independent cbn-r 
tractors outside thie tax system; and 
how accounts must be handled ifot 
enterprises with speedy labor turn- 
over. . 



N. to L. A. 

Madeleine Carroll. 

Harold B. Frankli 

Leonard Gay nor. 

Jack Linder. 

Claudia Morgan- 

Mr. and Mrs. David O; Selznick, 

Leo. Spitz. 

George Weeks. 



ARRIVALS 

Rudy Vallee, Three. Nonchalant.*!, 
William C. .Knox, Isidore Achron, 
Mi.ss H. Tannenbaum, 'Dorothy Kil- 
gallen, John DPs. Fassos, Sylvia 
Frops. Lowell -Thomas, Truman TaN 
ley. Sir William Wiseman, Cornelia 
Otis Skinner. 



L. A. to N. Y. 

Edward L. Alperson. 
P. p. Cochrane. 
R. H. Cochrane. 
Jack Cohn. 
Ralph Cohn. 
Walt Disney. 
Catherine Doucet. 
Charles Ford. 
Max Gordon. 
James R. Grainger. 
Johnny Gfeert. 
Babette Greene. 
Eve Greenie. 
Hai Home. 
Alexander 
Leon Leoni 
Morey Marcus. 
Charles Morrison. 
Ozzie Nelson. 
Joe Rivkin. 
Hal Itoach. 
Bill Robinson. 
George SchaeffeT. 
Murray Silvcrslone. 



Tay Ganiett Readying 
Trade Winds' for UA 



Hollywood^ May 25. 

Renowned Artists is established in 
Its new quafters oh the Selznick In^ 
ternational lot in Culver City and 
preparatipns are gping ahead fpr Tay 
Garnett's first picture. Trade Winds,' 

Pic is skeded to start in October; 
with Garnett dircctihg for United 
Artists release. 



Brishin's New Method 

Hollywood, May 25. 
S. J. Briskih i.s tryin«i out a. new 
budget plan at RKO whereby his 
assistant, Lee Marcus, draw.s a lump 
sum fcir his group in.stead of in- 
di\;idual allptmehts: Such pictures 
warranting cost sheet iiicrc^jses dur- 
ing developments will get additional 
coin. 

Idea behi the plan get 
around bracketing pictures on a pie- 
cpnceived notion of their piodiictipn 
value Without putting a fixed price 
on any one film. 



Dorothy Hall's Test 
Dorothy Hall, star of 'Behind Red 
Lights,' legit show was screen tested 
jlgain Monday . (24) by 20thrFox. 

Has been before company's lens 
several times. 



Fleisclier Strike 
Continues in NX; 
Odier Unions Aid 



Strike of the Commiercial Artists 
and Designers* Union at the Max 
Fleiseher studibs, N. Y„; remai 
deadlocked, with little prospect of 
an early settlement. Paramount and 
Roxy theatrics, iii the Times Square 
district, were subjected to mass 
picketing last Saturday (22) night. 
Afoput 100. strikers kept a snakeline 
in frPnt of each house for half an 
hour during the heavy business hour, 
causing considerable congestion. 

Police were on hand in large num- 
bers, but .oflered no interference. 
Agreeiment was- reached in advance 
to limit the picketing to half an hour 
at each house, pickets marching up 
Broadway to the Roxy when finished 
in front of the Paramount, 
for the . picketing was showi 
Fleischer cartoons, by the 
houses. 

According to. CADU officials, pro- 
ductiPh at the Fleischer studios is 
at a complete standstill, with around 
115 of the 135 artists on strike. Ex- 
ecutive committee of the musi 
union. Local 802, Was to meiet late 
yesterday supposedly to deal ith 
the case of four employees allieged 
to have be;en discbarged from the 
music department and possibly to 
take action on Max Fleischer andihis 
brother, Dave, both .of whom are 
reported members of the Union. Also 
talk of picketing by 802 of Fleischer 
studios and theatres ing the 

films. . , 

Mbvihg Picture Machine Opera- 
tors* Uriipn, Local 306, has likewise 
acted to intervene in the strike, the 
membership last week voting ap- 
proval of the executive board's de- 
cision to participate and threatening 
Fleischer with being placed on the 
unfair list Protest has been sent to 
Paramount,^^ which releases Fleischer 
products. Failure of Paramount to 
bring pressure on the cartoon pro- 
ducer would result in 'strained' re- 
lations, the protest said. 

Asslatanee 

, Various otheir unions and organi- 
zations are giving the strikers ac- 
tive support and financial help, ac- 
cording to CADU. Committee of in- 
dependent professional people, head- 
ed by Charles Hendley, president of 
the N. Y. teachers' Union; is sked- 
ded for late this week. Reported the 
group will organize a public boy- 
cott of houses showing Fleischer 
films. 

Among other organizations which 
have voted support to the strike are 
the Allied Printing Trades Council of 
Canada, Amalgamated Lithographers 
of America, American Advertising 
Guild, American Artists* Congress, 
American Fed. of Actors, American 
Fed. of State, Coimty and Munici- 
pal Employes, Artiists* Union of Chi- 
cago, Artists' Union of N: Y:, Artists' 
Union of Toronto, Cigarmakers' In- 
ternational Union of America, otel 
and Restaurant Workers' ion. 
League of the Physically Handir 
capped, N. Y. Clothing Gutters' 
Union, Skirt Makers' Union, Screen 
Actors' Guild, Social Service Em- 
nloyes' Union and Taxi ChaufTeurs' 
Union. 

Max Fleischer has steadfastly ,re- 
fjused to be interviewed, even by 
telephonet regarding the progress of 
the strike or the issues involved, be- 
ing represented as acting entirely on 
the adyice of his attorney, Louis 
Nizer. 

Nizer declares he has offered lo 
pay for aii inspection of Fleischer's 
books by any certified public acr 
countant the union would pick, to 
prove ; the unreasonableness of 
CADU's demands. Union icials, 
on the other hand, say Nizer's ofter 
was naade with; the stipulation that 
the union call off the strike. 

Meanwhile picketing continues, 
the Fleischer studios, ith 
picketing twice daily.. 



Hunting the Reason 

p. p. Lehmann, Dr. H. Schmjfit 
and G. Kemma, execs of UFA in 
Germany, arrived in N. Y. this week 
to look into the whys and where- 
fores of the cpllaipse of the Deulsch 
film biz here. Committee seeks rea- 
sons iand possible remedies for the 
turn against Nazi films, which on 
held their own in the U. S, field. 

While here representing the. Ger- 
man combine, they will also chock 
on technical and management an- 
gles of U. s. film industry with an 
eye ' tQ', modernizing the home sell) 



PICTtlRES 



VAKIEtr 








i Fox Hakes Peace with 
Moguls, Touts New Tint 




. Holly wooid, W[ay 25. 
William Fox, who has been here 
tor the past we^k, has been seen fre- 
quently ith Sidney R. Kent, presi- 
dent of 20th-Fpx, and Joseph M. 
Scheiick, chairman of the company.. 
FaK had a two-hour meeting "with 
Joseph Schenck oh Wednesday (19), 
Following this Fox had a lengthy 
conference with both Kent and 
Schenck on Friday (!21), resultiijg in 
a friendly understanding between 
these interests which ihay have some 
bearing on future business relations 

of all^ ^ . 

Fox came here with Julius Ausenr 

berg who formierly was aissociated 
with' im i ' Anierican Tri-Ergon 
arid later was instrumental in help- 
ihg Fok niake that Bfitish Chemi- 
color deal with Rati Grune, who 
perfected the process. 
' Has World Rights 

William Fox coiijrols the process, 
owning the world rights to it. He 
brought with ; him . to^ the Coast f oiir 
reels of film showing thie color, one 
of which is silent and includes a test 
shot of Ann^ Harding, besides some 
butdoir -stuff oh boats and a weather 
stripl Remaining three reels in 
wind includes a 'Pagliacci' it made 
abroad. ... 

He claims for his color that u Is 
the cheapest for iuse from point of 
cost, bringing color in at a fraction 
of the cost of other processes, and 
that it can be devieloped as fast as 
black and white. 

Fox has been showing it around 
to various friends and comparing it 
with other color processes, claiming 
that }t will be a revolution in color. 

.He has given ho indication of just 
how he will hook up his proposition, 
but simply that he is going through 
with it and will perfect his niarket- 
inf- plans uppn'his return east at 
tha .eiid of this week. . 

Fox will not be interested, how- 
ever, in any theatre projects, as has 
beein reported around here lately, 
h« says. 



80% m Names 
Set for Chores; 
Lot Gets 



Memories 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Joseph M. Schenck conducted 
William Fox on a tour of 20th- 
iFox's Movietone City plant tiie 
other day.- It was Fox's first 
gander at the prodiictioh set-up 
launched while he still held the 
;reiris of the old Fox Film Qoi'P* 

Fpx; spent several hours 
gawki 



UNCLE SAM, INC 
PIC PROD, IS 
NEW IDEA 





f[jl WiD Be Too Late 



Sweeping Cleanup Demarid- 
ed— rTakes in All fir anches 
of ^iz— Worse Than Piet- 
tengil or Other Measures 
of Piast 



PLENTY OF QUESTIONS 




Hollywood, May 25. 

Within a few days, 80%_ of the 
20th-Fox contract hiames, players 
and directors, will be working, 
when six hew pictures are slated to 
be in productiori, in "addition to the 
current seven. . 

Starters will be 'Danger, Love at 
Wor ^ 'Chicago Fire,* ^Ali Baba Goes 
to Town,* 'Jean,' 'Wife, Doctor and 
Nurse,' and 'Adventure of 
Moto; 



Dr. 



•ROAD BACK' TO GET 
TWO-A-DAY BOOKING 



Holly wood,. May 25, 
Universal has diecided to roadshow 
"The Road Back' following iti preem 
at $2 top in the Globe Theatre, N; Y„ 
June 14. , 

U conyentioneers .were polled by 
Jamas Grainger, genetal sales 
manager, after they had viewed a 
condensed version of the film in four 
reels at the recent U conclave here. 
Grainger ired the result to Charles 
R. Rogers, who then made the de- 
cision to roadshow the picture fol- 
Ipwitig it3 New Vork run. 



'Rosie' Lives Again 

Hollywood, May 25. 
^Charles R. Rogers has set Edmund 
Grainger to producie 'The Daughter 
of Rosie O'Grady* for Universal.- 

fit Rooney and Herman Timberg 

111 be featured. 



Washington, May 
Uncle Sam, Inc., producer, exhiblr 
tor distributor 6f motion pic 
tares depicting all phases of Gov 
ernnient activities, will hang upl his 
shingle in competition with the Hoi 
lywood 'big eight,' if legislation in- 
troduced last week is approved by 
Congress. 

Consolidating all Governineht flint 
experimehts into onei bureau— tlie' 
'Office of Motion Pictures'— a bill,, 
introduced by Representative Fred 
Schulte, Democrat of, Indiana, would 
set up Washington as a national film 
center and give the Governihent the 
opportunity to pictoriialize any prop- 
aganda it wishes. 

Operating as a subsi iaryypf the 
Government Printing Office, the 
U. S, Office of Motion Pictures would 
hire its oMvri director at $8,000 a year, 
and cQrtcentrate oi\ any subject it 
.wishes. 

Complete with technical assistants 
and motion picture engineers, the 
d:M,P. would be empoweried to 
'produce and provide' film produc- 
tion and manufacturing services lor 
all Federal agencies of the Govern- 
ment; ■ to 'distribute motion picture 
films, and to render professional apd 
technical services for any Federal 
agency in connection with the pro- 
duction,, the procurement and the 
distribution of motion picture films.' 

Federal departments, or agencies, 
desiring to make use of the Office of 
Motion Pictures, would be required 
to 'pay promptly by check' to the 
Public Printer for services rendered. 
Take would be collected by the 
'Treasury and deposited to the credit | 
Of the working capital of the Public 1 
Printer for use by the motion pic- 1 
ture office... 

Price lists and general information 
concerning Government pix would 
be compiled and published by the 
Motion Pictuie Director, according 
tp Schult^'s bill, and films Would be 
sold subject to the approval of the 
head, of the iaigency in which the pic-, 
ture, originated. Cash receipts from 
salie of such pictures would again 
be cfedlted to the account of the Mo- 
tion Pi.ct:wre> Off ice. 

Complete arrangements for the 
expenses of the office were con- 
tained In the bill arid an annual re- 
port to Congress would be required; 
as to the caslt expended. 

Legislation authori7.ed the Joint 
Congressional Committee pii Prittt- 
ing to adopt whjitever. measures it 
deerhed necessary to 'remedy any 
neglect, delay, duplication or waste 
in rbduction, procurement, 

preparation and distruction of mo- 
tion picture films by the Office of 
Motion ictures,' 

Establishment of the Government 
pictur^ studio would taica place 
within 90 days of the passage of the 
act, according to Schulte's legisla- 
tioti. 



Holly wood, May 2 
Albert -I^aw, special assistant 
to v. S. Attorney .General, has- 
bfieh summoned to Washington, 
after conducting an anil-trusi 
probe here amoniir indie ibeatro 
owners durinir the past several 
weeks. 

Belief here Is that he will sub- 
mit -his . report. Juat ahead of the 
proposed congreissional' probe 
'into film bii. Law iinder-, 
stood to have interrogated 
about S9 cxhibs for his info/ 



From London 
for Par Coflvention 



Only Execs Attend 



Paramount ill . not take, its 
film salesmen to .Los Angeles 
for this year's annual conven-r 
tion (June. 10) as other cOi 
panies' are doing. Only 
office executives, division, is- 
trict'jind branch managers will, 
attend. A special train ill 
leave New York, Sunday (6) 
for the convention. 

Prograiiv will not be as large 
as last year, numbet* of pictures 
probably rariging from 5i2 to 58.. 
Company has for year^ sched- 
uled 60 to 65 or 65 to, 70. 




. . Washington,. May 25. 

Charged with enough potential dy- 
namite to blast Hollywood into the 
middle of the Pacific ocean, a resolu- 
tion asking for the most sweeping 
clean-up of the motion picture in- 
dustry so far - proposed was intro- 
duced in the house last Thursday 
(20). 

Causing chills to run up; and down 
the spines of producers, distributors 
grid exhibitors; .the legislation— of- 
fered, by Representative Martin Dieis, 
Democrat of Texas — would give con- 
gressional snoopers carte blanche to 
investigate trade practices, possible 
monopolies,' hours, wages, lobbying 
and a score of other industry prob- 
lems which lawmakers have been 
eyei with suspicion. In addition,, 
tiie : special investigating committee 
of the House would be authorized to 
request 'fullest co-operation'; from 
justice department sleuths, federal 
tradie commission probers and other 
experts from the various government 
agencies. 

Fact that the Dies resolution would 
inchide independent exhibitors in the 
general massacre, increased industry 
shudders and gave the legislatio.M 
added significance. Possibility that 
the measure was designed to over- 
come objection to the Hobbs resolur 
tion might indicate, however, that 
the indies were included .to provide 
a smoke-screen. 

Hobbs esentment. 
Considerable resentment was ex- 
pressed in congress at the introduc- 
tiori of the Hobbs measure .on the 
grounds that it persecuted the ma- 
jors and the Hays organization and 
let the smaller producing companies 
(Continued on page 25) 



ASK nm 

OF a 



Londoh, May 16. 

A new stage in the protracted 
(jaumont-^ritish stock negotiations 
consists of a manifesto 'by a self- 
apppinted group of shareholders, 
which proposes, to approach the 
Board of Trade for an investigation 
into the affairs of the corporation 
under the Companies Act, A circular, 
issued by what is called the Pro- 
visional Shareholders Committee, in- 
vites . stockholders to support the 
move and to supply, funds for car- 
rying on the campaign. 

The circular declares that the re- 
cent la^y action, when stockholders 
attempted to restrain G-B from pay- 
ing its preference dividend, brought 
facts hitherto unknown to stockhold- 
ers to light. The committee claims 
capital and tradi losses of the cor- 
poration approximate $15,000,000, al- 
leging very serious jeopardy exists 
in regard to^ share capital, and that 
prompt and drastic i5tepS:Vvill be re- 
quired if stock Is to be restored to 
a dividend-paying basis. 

The manifesto claims mismanage- 
ment, as well, as unchecked opera- 
tion of the assets. 



Biddell on Own 



Hollywood, May. 25; 
Sidney M. Biddell is starting his 
own production unit and is talking a 
releasing deal with Edward. Alper- 
son. Grand National head. , 
Biddell formerly was Alperson's 
' story editor and production assistant. 



Stock Conversion Move By Paramount 

Stanton Griff is Explains Zukor Siiper vision 
of Production at $3,000 Weekly Plus % 



Paramouht's studi end under 
Adolph Zukor appears destined 
dbminat« Paramount's annual con- 
vention, which gets under way June 
5, on thie Coast. Barney Balaban,: 
president of the firm, ill not return 
to the States from Europe until two 
days following the openi " of th« 
uieetin 

Zukor,. chairman of the bOBrd« will 
top the dais, in a.ssocia tion With Neil 
Agn^w. y^p. and sales chief tai 
the Compiany. 

tanton Gri of the Hemphill, 
Npyes, downtown fir , and chiiir- 
man of.: the . company's executive 
cornmittee is another who, iir be 
in absentisi Grffis has been south 
on a fishing tl-i 

Balaban has been abroad several 
weeiks su i' veyl ng Pa r amount's f orel gri . 
.situation with .lohn W. icks, Jr. 
the fli'm's , in charge of iorei 
Hicks is return! hg- at the same time 
with Balaban, scheduled to arrive 
around June 7. 

Balaban is. for the first 

time since h^; biecame president o? 
the compiaiiy look into Par's 
properties oyer there. Included 
athpng these are Pkr's greater Lon- 
don theatre properties. Deal was 
proposed not long ago to turn thi 
chain over to London interests. 

Stanton Gri is, shortly jafter being 
named qhairriian of the executive 
committee, undertook to hegotiate 
the transaction' started by the Par 
officials. Grlffis went to London and 
worked on the matter but it fell 
through. 



U'f New Money Man 

I Hollywood, May 251 
Harold S, B«'ewster moves to Uni- 
versal from Price, Waterhouse & Co. 
as comptroller, following appoint- 
ment by J. Cheevcr Cowdih. Brew- 
ster takes the post that has been 
held temporarily by R. W; Allison 
siince James P. Norma nly moved up 
into a v'ce-presidency, 

Brewster reconlly functioned as 
manager of motiori picture accounts 
for Price-Waterhoustf. AlUsoni re- 
mains as his assistant. 



A £E6AL START 

Hollywood, May 25, 
Tom Rutherford, 'Broadway actor, 

plays the king of St)ain in Metro's 

'The Firefly.' 
.Role is his screen 



ramouht Pictures. Inc., sent no- 
tice of its annual meetiii to stock- 
holders last week, putli irig a pro- 
posal to increase the 'authorized, com- 
mon stock by 1,500,000 shares and 
a new contract for Adolph Zukor^ 
as prpductioh executive. Stockhold- 
ers Will be asked to Vote ori both 
propositions;. 

If the cbinpsiny's. stockholders vote 
approval, Paramount \yi II hike tlie 
authorized commoiv shares from 
4;500,000 to 6,OOQ,000 and reduce the 
first and second preferred stock by 
the number of shares, which wi.M. 
have been converted into common 
shares prior to this annual meeting, 
Company made denial, through 
Stanton Grlffis, chairman , of the Par 
executive committee, that there; was 
any plan for Issuing additional com- 
mon shares, a natural deduction in 
some financial circles when a large 
ihCrease is asked. Griffis, besides 
stating that Paramount has no plans 



for issiimg ion 
shares, said the cornpany is iug 
no new financing and has lio 
liegotiationi^ concerning iiddi- 
tionalstpck. 

His official explanation was that 
'the reason for asking the stock- 
holders to increase the authorized 
common stock at this tinie is to pl<*ce 
the corporation in a po.sition to issue 
such stock in the future for any cor- 
porate purpoK which the board of 
directors deems to be Ipr. the bene- 
fit ot the corporation.' 

Xukor's Income 

Zukor agreement, dated April 27 
this year, the date after the directors 
authorized the execution of the pact 
subject to approval of stockholders, 
would enriptoy Adolph Zukoif to have 
full charge of and to .supervise all 
motion picture production activities 
of Paramount and its subsids and all 
itj motiott. picture studios, laboia 
(Continued on page 26) 




Triida Mark IteRlBtered 
FOUNDKD BY SIMM SIT-VKnMAN 
I'uI*IIhIi«)(I WaekLv hy VAHIKVK. Inc. 

S|(J MMvennan, roHldflnt' 
114 WoHt 4i;Ui Street, New Yor Uy 



sun.scmi'TioN 


Annunl, . , . , , IS 


Korol ,.,..,$7 


SIiikIo Copies..... 


.'. IB. Cenlfi 


Vol.. iiij^ 





INDEX 



Advance Production Chart 19 


Bills ^« • • • • • • 


. 49 




flO 


Conceit 


59 


paiice Toui s. . . ,.i ........ 




Plx.ploitatlDti 


23 


15 Year; Ago , . . . . .... . . . 


; .48 


Film 


18 


'1? ill ;..... «'••« 


,,14-15 
<)3 


I hs 1 d er-Leg it 


-51 
.. 52 


Inside— Pictures 


15 


iiv-side — Radio . . . , • . ■ • • ■ 


. 38 


•Internatloiiai ilni r^ew.s. 


II 


Inlenialioiial Show No 


58 


Legitimise 


.32-57 


Literati 


59 


Musjc , 


.. 44-4(5 


New:s from the Dailies. , . 


. 62 


Nile Clulxs. . , , , ; . . . 


. 48 


Obitiiar 


(52 


Outdoois 


Gl 


Pictures 


2-2G 


Radio . ....... i . .;, 


. ,27-43 


Radio— Pacilic .Notes. 


.. 28 


lladi.') Reviews. . , 


30 


Radio Showniaii.slTi|>. . 


.. 40 


Units . . . .... 


, 51 


Vaudeville ,■• • • • • • • 


. .47-48 


Women 


H 



VAKIETT 



NATIONAL SURVEY OF LEADING EXHIBS 





Broadcasts 



'I Met Him in nnt^ 



Net Result of MPTOA kesolutUiii Is Zero^Kiiyken- 
dall, Wilby, Li^htman, Grifftth^ Picquet, Fay, 
Wehreniberg, Michael^ Larti, Lust Report 



. Gurrierit opinion of leading; theatre 
'Operators and exhibitor leaders who 
were sounded out by Vahiettt this 
week oii: the niatter of radio broad- 
casting film studio contiract players 
' .that conditions have, hot changed 
since the Miami convention of the 
Motion Pictui-e Theatre Owners of 
America in -March. Resolutions 
-passed at that time condemned the 
practice and declared complete 
eliminiaflori. : . 

Radio committee set up Jby. the 
MPTOA in conseq^uence of these res-^ 
plutions aiid headed by Walter Vin- 
cent has held two meetings, one a 
week ago with: producer-distributor 
representatives, but tq date no. 
course has. been suggested by 'the 
committee which would Indicate it 
■will attempt to eradicate or come to: 
.girips .With the -form of : radio com- 
petition complained about In Miami. 

Vincent committee is not conduct- 
ing a poll of theatre men as was 
expected. 

Wires to VAiiirnr from numerous 
leading/theatre men includes one 
Irom; E. L/ Kuykendall, president of 
the Motion Picture Theatre -Owners 
of Americja. He states: 

'My opinion is exhibitors are more 
alarmed Ihsm evi?r .over indisiirlm- 
inate bTOadcasting by stars and use 
Of picture scripts and apparent In- 
difference on part of producers to 
thfeir appeals. Broadcasts at peak 
hours .in. theatre attendance costing 
DX offices many dollars;* 

M. A. Lightnian, with a chain of 
around 50 houses in Tennessee, Ar« 
kansas' and Mississippi, had this to 
say: 

■It has never been my cohtehtion 
producers and stars should not par- 
ticipate in radio broadcasting. On the 

..contrary this medium i$ most helpful 
in some instances. Trouble with pro- 
testors is confusion. Undoubtedly 
some stars and producers should 
ne.ver appear before a mike; al$b 
some, iare entirely overdoing it. My 
opinion has always been balanced 

< judgment plus good showmanship 
ntakes broadcasts an excellent me- 
dium to sell certain pictures.' 

How to Approach Badio 

At the meeting with producer repre- 
sentatives held in New York a week 
ago the Vincent committee discussed 
the question of hovir radio broad- 
casting could be approached with 
the thought of mutual benefit lor 
bo^h rather than whether or hot pro- 
ducer-distributors and players could 
be removed from the air in protec- 
tion of film at the box office. 

,R. p. Wilby, of Kincey-Wilby, 
largest operators in the South, with 
around 150 houses in chain, located 
in small as well as large situations, 

ii-ed: 

'Am personally convinced that 
participation by picture produ9ers 
and stars in radio broadcasting- is 
detrimental. Recognize that, there 
should be conditions under which 
this; would ' not apply but such con-^ 

itions are in my judgment rare.' 

Another large operator, L. C. 
Griffith, of the Griffith Amusement 
Co., which : has- -ISO theatres further 
west in Oklahoma. Texas and N<sw 
Mexico, shares, Wilbx's, opin 
states: '"' r ■ 

'It, is my dpinipr) that conditions 
in this territory' or- «ny other .terri- 
tory .have not .undergone any changes 
which would .warrant mOdificatioh of 
Motion . Pictiire, ^Theatre Owners of 
A.merica resolutions" at Miami con- 
demning • participation • ' of picture 
produCeirs and stars in radio broad- 
casting and I fj^el cphfldent if the- 
atre owners in America: spoke their 
minds they would say the same 
thing;* • ■': , .' 

Chqrles W. Picquet, exhibitor leiad- 
er of prbmi " the CarpUnaSi 
wiired as follows: 

'Sentiment in this territory among 
IndCDcndents npt changed since 
Mianji convention* 

In E. M: Fay's New England ter- 
ritory a similar opi ion is rendered 
by ..Fay, ' ^ffho stated; 
. ' 'know pf no reason to modify Mo- 
tion Picture Theatre- Owners of 
America resolutions regardi ip 
broadcastins.' 

Fred Wehrenberg,. for years , an 
officer of th6 MPTOA who had been 
active in politics and- reforms wiired 
that he was 'opposed to stars ap- 



pearing top frequently on. radi ' and 
stated that he had sent a questi - 
nialre to Walter Vincent -'explaining 
our positiph thoroughly .V 
Air Previews 

While decliaring that opinion is di- 
vided In his western New York ter- 
ritory, Jules H. Michael, chairman of 
the MPTO of western N. Y„ believes 
that previews coming .releases 
should never permitted. He 

wired: . o: 

'Exhibitor opinion divided on .res- 
olution as passed at Miami,. Many 
stars are made more, popular through 
radio appeiarances. This is helpful 
to theatre Attendance. Previews of 
coming releases, regardless .of 
whether ending is given or npt, 
ishpuld hot be. allowed.. It spoils the 
entertainment value lor th^ patron, 
and. in nxany ' instances is over-sold. 
An example of this : is Hollywood 
Hotel on Friday nights.* 

'My opinion ■ , conditions not 
changed since . resolutions offered in 
Miami,' iried Sidney Lust. 
Lam's Point 

Oscar C. Lam, niember of the 
board of the MPTOA and k, in 
exhibitor cirPles, said 'there are rip 
changes in this territory that will 
warrant modificiation of the MPTOA 
Miami resolutions', adding.^ 'have 
heard" no exnibitbr express ■ any 
opinion recently other "than the sen- 
timent that, prevailed in Miami.' 

Letter from. R. A* McNeil, general 
manager of the powerful Goldeii 
State: Theatr is chain in northern 
California, stated in part; 

't am not against a. star who is 
doing general broadcasting, such as 
singing on the regular program, but 
when they .ststrt. to broadcast the 
show line for li . , as it will be pre- 
sented in the picture that will be- 
shown in the theatres throughout 
the country, I believe It doles more 
to injure the picture than help it. 
Also, wh6n the ..broadcasts are given 
right at the peak hour, and all the 
big, stars appear, it has a. tendency 
to .keep the . people home instpad of 
patronizing theatres. . I am not 
against individual picture stars ap- 
pearing oh the air if good judgment 
is used as to when they gp on and' 
the type of entertainment they 
present.' 

'If anything getting worse. 
WPTOA resolutions not strong 
enough,' wired H. V. Harvey, Inde- 
pendent "Theatre Owners of North- 
ern Californi ' 



Colm Sets CoL Meet 



Hollywood, May 25; 
and Ralph Cohh lef( last Fri 
day (21) foi? New York after the 
former had compietied preliminary 
plans for the .Columbia- isales cbnyen- 
tiort here.. 

Sessions start June 28, haying been 
set back a week. 



Ed Small Quits 
RKO-WillGoto 
bgland On Own 



Hollywood, May ' 25. 

Declining a three-year extensibn 
of his current contract,. .Edward 
Small will leave RKO to produce on 
his own, in England. . After a. vaca- 
tion abroad he will.do 'Clerhenti ',' 
with Robert Dpnat. He departs June 
12 and expects tP .remiain in England 
six' months. ' 

Small's withdrawal from the kadi 6 
lot complicates production conside.r- 
ably on 'Gunga Di,' which h^ 
brought to the studi ith him and 
in \yhich he still retains an interest. 
S. J. Briskin indicated that it may 
not be s'tarled until Small returns 
from England; 

Kipling yarn already has $300,000 
Charged againist it. Ben Hecht and 
Charlie MacArthur " 'prepared the 
screen play. Hpwiard Hawks has 
been assigned to direct the fil 



Final Hearings 
On Ro]^ Reorg 
Set for Thurs. 



inal confab: on; Roxy reorganiza- 
tion plan will be heard beforeTed- 
eral ' Judge Francis Caffey tP- 
mprrow (Thursday) when attorneys 
for, and against prpvisions of plan 
will present briefs ' and have their 
last say oh the. matter. Last Friday 
(21 ) Judge Caffey listened to ar- 
guments pro and con and decided 
bpth sides must cpnclude. their talks 
by Thursday. The court indicated 
he would decide on confirmation of 
Special Master Addison. S. ' Pratt's' 
repori^ which favors the amended 
plisn^by June 4. However, it is be- ; 
lieved that should the court approve ' 
this plan, it would , not become ef- 
fective until August 1 in order to 
conform with Twentieth Century- 
Fox's schedule. 

Under the plan 26thrFpx will take 
oyer thie Rdxy theatre, control for 
20 years on payment of $650,000 and 
certain other concessions. Opponents 
to it are Class A stockholders and 
noteholders who claim they will be 
left out in the. cold under this, setup. 

Ernest Angell, attorney fpr the 
Securities and. Exchange Commis- 
sion, refused to. comment on the plan 
Friday, but told the court he be- 
lieved the special master's ' report 
was a fair one. He. estimated that 
the theatre should shpw a profit of 
$274,500 for the fiscal year ending 
npxt August. 

Samuel. Kramer and Samuel Hir- 
shenstei , representing groups of 
Class A stockholders, argued for 
holding put for a better bid than that 
of 20th-Fox so their clients could 
get a better break. Both disputed 
the special master's claim that' the! 
theatre is insolyeht," -Hirfehenstfe'ih 
declared the reorganization plan ac- 
tually was a sale and in violation of 
provisions of 77B. " 

Edward Tatum, pn behalf of ' a 
large group of noteholders, took a 
rap against the Npteholders Protec- 
tive Association, declaring note- 
holders were not properly repre- 
sented at hearings held before Pratt 
Harry Seligson, of the Tipton 
Bondholders' Committee; Daniel W. 
Blumenthal, of the Adler Bondhold- 
ers Committee, and Carlos Israel, for 
the Funds Committee, all spoke in 
favor of the plan. They recom- 
mended that the court confirm Spe- 
cial Master's findings. 



Pramatizatioh of 'I Met Him in Paris' (Par) over CBS on the 'Hollywood 
Hotel' program last Friday (21) Might clicked nicely and may be a sellirig 
argument in. building up a demand fpr,' this gay screen comedy; It is 
rioticealile, hpw,ever, that the radip adapters of the script seem to haVe 
given in to the wishes of the film companies in that the plot Of the pic is 
hot completely ; summarized via - the air. At the. halfway, mark, -whien 
certain climactic question asserts itself as' to 'what course 'th6 her ' 
should. pursue the' broadcast version ends. rather abruptly. 

This method may be okay, a§ far as Paramount or ' the film biz is con- 
cerned, in not .giving 'away the complete, story in advance, but it must 
seeni somewhat unsatisfying lor the network; listeners, ' Interest may 
built iip for , What might follow, but this . time it was a, rather abru 
blackout: ' 

Claudette C^olbert and her two leading men, Melvyn Douglas and Robert 
Young, are alert participants in a lively story glistening with bright dialog 
and engaging situations and it seems, to be a picture filled^ ith winning 
assets. There were a few too many 'I love you's' in the abbreviated script 
fpr coinplete comfort but, on the whole, it. Was a merry triangle projected 
in sockp fashion by its; trio of Hollywood name players. 



Aisher Set for Two 

More Years at U 

Hollywood, May 25. 

E: M. Asher has. signed' with 'Uni- 
versal for two inPre iyears without 
options as ah executive producer; 
He has been , with U since 1929 con- 
'tinuously, making his assbciation the 
longest of any top. man on the lot. 

Producer has turned out many of 
U's ieature pictures during his sierr- 
ice ther/e. . 



SUFFER NtiriSH 





BY KORDA 



Crawfok'd's 'Red Bride' 

HPllywood, May 25. 
Joan Crawford'.s next for Metro 
will be 'The Bride Wore Red,' which 
will .serve also as Dorothy Arzner's 
ilirst directorial chore under her new 
pact. 

Pic, based on Ferenc Molnar's 
play, 'The . Girl from Triest,' has 
Joseph Mankiewicz as producer. 



Hollywood,^ May 25. 
Alexander Korda of LPndon Filhis 
explained the complications ior fPr- 
eign production and distrib.Ution 
problems to his fellow owner-mem- 
bers of United Artists at a session in 
the offices of Dr. A. H. Gianni i, 
UA president, last week. 

Even stricter British quota regu- 
lations are in prospect> Korda told 
his ipartners, uhless theatres on this 
side find room for more British- 
made product. He said he believed 
heavier sales pressure and explpita- 
tion would .boPst the grosses of his 
pictures in the United States, point- 
ing out that their , European reve- 
nues have been heavy. It's an old 
Korda squawk. 

Present were Dr. Giannini, Korda, 
Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford, 
Dougl,as .Fairbanks, . Samuel Gold- 
wyn, George Schafer, and Murray 
Silverstone, UA's LpndPn represen- 
tative. 





Va Re 




Next Joe E. Brown Film 
For Loew Rolls June 7 



Hollywobd- May 25. 
Joe E,, Brown ill start his new 
starrer for Davi L. Loew rod. 
for Rico-Radio release June 7. Ed- 
ward Sedgwick wilt direct. Loew 
is now looking for a title. ilm will 
be the. final on Loew's schedule for 
RKO before he swings over to Cb- 
lumbi on a deal, completed last 
weeki 

rown returned last week from 
his eastern yacash. 

Larry "Tarberi production assistant 
to Hal Roach, has joined David L; 
Loew to cast th^ latter's next Joe 
E. Brown picture. 



Lauder in Astaire Pic? 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Deal i being talked by William 
Morris and Pandro S. Berman whieh 
may land Sir Harry Lauder in the 
next Fred Astaiie picture. 

Morris wants to lamp the script 
before reaching for the dotted line. 



Special Master Still 
Hearing RKO Reorg Plan 

Indie shareholders are having 
their innings beforie special master 
George W. Alger in the matter of 
RKO;s. reorganization. Next session 
is Thiir.sday (27) morning. 

On -Monday (24 ) George' L. Schein, 
attorney for indie stockholders, put 
Bernard Bercu, an accPuntant; on 
the stand to analyze RKO's financial 
setup. Bercu, only witness of the 
day, testified as to his own opinions 
and estimates Pf RKO's possible 
earnings for this year. In this -wise 
he offered testimony to prove that 
proponents of RKO's reorganization 
plan might have- underestitiiated the 
cpmpahy's earning, capacity. 
■ Proponents, tinder the plan, are 
understQod to figure the company's 
1937 net possibilities are' $2,173,000, 
but Bercu thinks it is aii- under- 
estitnale by around. $3,000,000, and 
that RKO's 1937 possi ilities might 
be $5,173,000. . 

Apparent " intention of BercU's 
Ppinioh is to .show that, after inter- 
est on debentures and ..preferred 
stock, under the plan, is met, RKC)'s 
1937 earnings might leave a net resi- 
due of around $3,600,000 for the 
common stock diy.vy. 

Majority of Rko stock at present 
is under control of Atlas-Lehman 
and RCA, the RCA holdings being 
under pptipn to the A-L group. 

LOWE'S PAR PAIR 

.Hollywood, May 25. 
Edward T. Lowe, now a Para-. 
mount associate prbducor under 
Harold Hurley, is preparing two pro- 
ductions. 

" Lowe for » 
fhe lot 



DetrPit, May 25. 
iggest hookup in the 

history of fllrii exploitation in Michi- 
igan, with ,13 . stations in -the state 
participating, is skedded fpr Sunday 
(30) iisiballyhoP for ParamPunl's 'I 
Met Hiiti In riaris,' Which opens' the 
.following Friday (4) at the Michigan 
theatre here and- in Butferfield thear 
tres scattered thrPughPtit the statie. 

Half-hoiir program, rbm 12:30 to 
1 p.ni., will be the second extensive 
air bally of a picture here in recent 
months.. In March the 'United De- 
troit Theatres (Par) pulled a similar 
stuiit on 'Waikiki Weddinjg': (Par), 
with five local stations airing a half- 
hour program. iStuff has iprpved- so 
popular, and aided tbie -b.bi so much, 
that ii's likely air bally will become 
an established policy for the U. D. 
circuit. 

■With program ori irtating in WX YZ 
(operated by George .W. Trendle who 
also heiads the U. D. chain), the 
broadcast will gP out over WWJ; 
WJH, WMBC, WJBK and WXYZ in 
Detroit, and "WEDF, Flint; WJIM, 
Lansing; WELL, Battle Creek; 
WKZO, Kalamazoo; WOOD, Grand 
Rapids; WBCM, Bay City, and WIBM, 
Jackson, all members of WXYZ's 
state vireb. -Thus will blanket prac- 
tically the entire state of Michigan. 

Program .Will follow the pattern 
used for 'Waiki i Wedding,* consist- 
ing of a 30-piece orch., 16-voice 
choral ensemble, actors, and the 'Al- 
vance Men' (singing p.. a.'s), plus 
elabbrations on the -original idea. 
Practi'cally all of the talent will be 
drawn, from, WXYZ's staff. 

Robert M. Gillham, Par director of 
advertising, is here to handle the set- 
up with tr. D. execs. 





VISIO SURVEY 



Hollywood, May 25,; 
reher, chairman of the sci- 
ehti committee of the research 
council pf the Academy Of Motion. 
Pictuire Arts and Sciences has com- 
pleted ia survey on current television, 
developineht . in England. Commit- 
ieie npw is. writing a repPrt. 

Document will lean heavily on an 
analysis, of television^ in .film pro- 
duction and ill be intended pri- 
marily fot the information, pf slu 
executives, directors and others, 
familiarize theni with progress 
that field. 

Assisting Dreher in compilihg the 
data are Gordon Chambers. J. . - G. 
Frayne, William Mueller, Gbrdon S. 
Mitchell, L, .E. Glark, ' Wesley C. 
Miller and HoUis Mpyse. 

That Coronation ceremonies in 
London provided the most exlerisive 
use of telbvision eyer undertaken 
was the word sent to the committee 
from England. Survey was made in 
Britain for the bommittee by John 
Boyle, Lloyd Kriechtel and William 
Hornbeck, members of the techni- 
cians' branch of the Academy; F. S. 
Ditcham, London representative of 
Universal; Ft. L. Harley, London rep- 
resentative of 20lh-Fox, .:md R. J. 
Hanbury, London representative of 
RKO-Radi 



Vednesdayt May 26, 193T 



PICTURES 



VARIETY f 



Kuby Keeler Follows Al Jolson 





HoUywbod, May 23. 

Repeating the action of her hus- 
band Al Jolson* Ruby Keeler ef- 
fected her release from a Warnei" 
contract Saturday (22). Dancer still 
had two films to go. Immediately 
following, RKO and Universal 
started bids for her services. 

Actress had nbt had an assign- 
liient in seven months, since she 
completed 'Ready, Willing airid Able,' 
and studio refused to loan her out 
td RKO. As in the case of her 
hiibby, Warners paid no money for 
the release. 

On Sunday (23) both RKO and 
Universal started negotlattions with 
Miss keeler for her jseryices. Uni- 
versal has eyes on her f ot the f emme 
lead in 'Young Man's Fancy,' which 
Buddy De Sylva products as his 
first. 

In event her film ivorfc does not 
start pronto she will go to EuroPe 
with Jolson for six weieks, with the 
latter probably playing a couple Of 
wcefca in British music halls* Al- 
though abroad several times before, 
Jolson never flayed over there. 

Very Hush-Hush 
Report of Trust 
Suit Vs. Chains 



Whamming & Whimsy 



Hollywobd; May 25* 
Warner writer who toils oh 
curdlers for Bryan Foy, took a 
story to Frank Craveri> who 
found hiniself stymied trying. to 
saVvy a certain sequence in the 
script. 

'What does it mean?' Gfayen 
inquired. 

'It's a bit of whimsy,' 
ter retorted. 

Graven shot back: 'That's hot 
what We want. What we want 
is whamsy.' 



UA TALKS MORE 
FINANCING Iff 




Washington, May 2S. 

Rumblings are heard in Washing- 
ton of an ordier that is supposed to 
have been issued from the office of 
Assist?int U. S. Attorney General 
Joseph Keenah. to the U. S. District 
Attorney in Brooklyn, to jproceed 
with anti-trust action against Loew's 
and RKO. 

Such an order, it seems, was issued 
more than a week ago. Since no woird. 
has been had from Brooklyn, the 
fact may be that;the officials of that 
district have now yet presented the 
matter to the Federal Grand Jury. 

Nature of th#' complaint is not 
known except that it 'may' have 
originated from squawks made on 
behalf of A. H. Schwartz, operator 
of the Century Circuit of theatres. 



Los Angeles, May 25. 

Government suits against the in- 
dustry and rumors of alleged orders 
issued from Washington to local of 
fieials, during thiie past week or. so, 
is bewildering the, trade. There is no 
understanding of;'^it, and belief is 
strong that much of the talk is being 
circulated deliberdtely. 

None knows offically what the 
Government's intentions are and in 
view otthe iaccounts that seem to be 
wafting westward from Washington 
or. thereabouts, it seems to have be 
come incumbent upon the Govern 
ment to stop the chatter bhe way or 
another by official indication of its 
in the matter* 



Sound Track Changes 
Under Tech Scrutiny 

Hollywood, May 25* 
Suggested changes in sound track 
imensions will be inquired into by 
a committee of the Reseiarch Coun- 
cil of the Academy of Motion Picture 
Arts and Sciences appointed by 
E. H. Hansen, chairman of . the 
Acad sound recording coinmitteie. 

Researchers held their first huddle 
at Metro last week. Those attend 
ing were Gerald Best, J. G. Frayne, 
Wesley Miller, S. J. Twining and 
Wallace Wolfe. 



SELTZER HOME 

Hollywood, May 25 
Edward Seltzer, Warner studio 
ublicity chief, winged in Sunday 
alter several weeks' absence in the 
^st. Proceeding west, he visited 
Wartier exchanges in Bialtimore, 
Washington, Pittsburgh and Chi 
cago. 

Carlyle Jones subbed as bo&s. in 
Seltzer'a absence. 



Hollywood, May 25. 
Plans for financing additional pro- 
ducers were discussed by member 
owners of United Artists at a. meet- 
ing Mohday (24). During the week 
David O. Selznick ,will talk over 
contract renewal for . anothei" eight 
pictiires, which wiU include. 'Gone 
With the Wind.' 

Metro and others have dangled 
offers at Selznick and his associates, 
with the MG proposition calling for 
his own production unit and financ- 
ing. Understood, that he is agree-, 
able to a renewal, providing UA. has 
a Well-rounded pt'ograni from other 
producers. . He has four more to go 
before the current pajpier expires. 

Dr.. A. H. Giahnni presided at the 
meeting, with all member owners 
present Selznick announced ap- 
pointment of Henry Ginsberg as 
vice-president of Selznick Interna- 
tional. He relieves Selznick of gen- 
eral businiess matters, so the latter 
can devote his full time to pro- 
duction. 




Copyright Protection Bu- 
reau Mutt Spot Ingenious 
SubteriFuget of Ren t » 1 
Chisielers 



RUSH PRINTS 



GN Dickers for Two 
Producers on Timers; 
Bobby Crawford Mebbe 

HoUyWood, May 25. 

During his current sojourn in New 
York, where ^e \vent following the 
company's first annual sales con- 
vention here a week ago, Edward N. 
Alperson, Grand National president, 
figures to close for two new pro- 
ducers. One of the prospects Is 
Bobby Crawford, who would make a 
musical pic. 

Second producer prospect is a 
newcomer to the picture .field, who 
would also be contracted to turn out 
a musical, specialty. 

While eastj Alperson wiU . arrange 
for world .premiere' of Andrew 
Stone's production, ' irl Said No,', at 
Washington, D. C, early in June. 

Closing biz of the GN sales pow 
Wow he)re saw; the designation of 
.eight of company's 65 features for 
'37-'38 as percentage pictures^ 

Peter Arno Shorts 



■Hollywood, May 25, 
Peter Arno is forming his own 

company to produce animated car 

toons-of His comic strips. 
Negotiations are in progress for 

major release of the briefs. 



inney, Neary Hanffliiff On 

Hollywood, May 25. 
W* j. Neary, Grand Natibnal comp 
troller, arid Edward Finney, adver 
tising and publicity head, remained 
ov6r:a weeic after the GN sales coii' 
ventl . 

Finney laid out next season's ad- 
vertising program while Neary 
huddled with sjtudio production of 
flcials on budget matters. 



Plenty d Co-operation and Fun» 
But No Reel Profit m Coronation 



Pro Patrie 



Trans-Lux newsreel theatre, 
oh Madison avenue, N. .Y., hav- 
ing many English-born patrons, 
is tising at the conclusion of 
each showlng'.of the. Coronation 
reels, 'Qod Save the Ki ,' 
played from the screen. 

Audience stands up invariably. 



By MIKE WEAR . 

Advent of the spring thaw in most 
sections of the. country is enabling 
the 'jack rabbit' exhi itors : to 
ehaerge from their winter resting 
places, creating fresh headaches for 
the traffic cop of the film industry, 
the Copyright Protection Bureau. 
Unlawful . .operations, by part of 
these, and tmauthorized exhibition 
in : non-theatrical institutions are 
th(S principal, violations now being 
checked by the bureau in an effort 
to protect both exhi itor and dis- 
tributor. 

With highways and weather cpnr 
ditiohs favorable: operations, 
the jack rabbit i tag applied 

to itinerant ^xhi itprs opefrating off 
the beaten path, is isetting up busi- 
ness again. These traveling show- 
men generally create a small cir- 
cuit of towns in a given territory. 
In making it financially profitable to 
operate, the itinerant secures about 
six towns , in his. s^o-called chain, so 
that he can book a print from a par^ 
ticular exchange and retain it a full 
week, exhibiting one day in each 
cbmniuhity. And he usually, con- 
tracts with the exchange such 
exhibitions. 

How It Works 

Up-and-iip exhibitor operating in 
this manrier follows his contract toi 
the. letter., But it is the fleet 'jack- 
rabbit,' virho overlooks that vital de- 
tail of informing the exchange about 
aU of the commiinitie^s in which he 
intends to operate, who causes the 
annual flood of protests. 

Simplest way of getting away 
from paying the rightful rental in 
such an alignment is to line up pic- 
tures to show in three diflierent 
towns on Tuesday, Thursday and 
Saturday, leaving four, open dates on 
the traveling exhibitor's schedule. 
His deal with the exchange is out- 
lined to cover only these three 
dates and spots. 

What the agile itinerant neglects 
to tell the distributor is that he has 
laid plans to use the same picture 
in other towns on his open play- 
dates. The chiseling exhib con- 
trives to locate communities within 
easy traveling distance of the three 
officially scheduled so that he can 
run in the identical film on Mon- 
day, Wednesday and Friday, and 
sometimes for a private showing 
Sunday. 

This is made possible on the Mon- 
day open date because the travel-, 
ing exhibitor gets his print in ad- 
Vance, holding it through the' week, 
because of the manner ' which he 
has spotted his declared playdates. 
Usually Caught : 

This type of . showman gfets away 
with the practice for a time but 
eventually the long arm of the Sher- 
lock of the industry, tlie GPB, 
catches up with him. It is the vigi- 
lant oh-the-level exhib vyho gen- 
erally uncovers these ight-of- 
hand operations, ith the eventual 
result that sleuths of the Copyright 
Bureau bri the culprits to justice. 

While the Copyright . Protection 
Bureau, which only recently fin- 
ished its first 10 yeai's of activity, 
is, entrusted with watching the 
movement of. 50,000 prints of diS'^ 
tributors daily, the other most per- 
sistent violators today re those 
using unauthorized showings in non- 
theatrical institutibns. 

Most, of them occur in two dif- 
ferent ways. First is wh(^n the 
regularly operating theatre in a 
town arranges a special showing at 
a local institution for a stipulated 
fee. "This enables the exhibitor to 
save part of his film rental or iii 
some cases, all of it. In the second, 
(Continued on page 62) 





2 MORE YEARS 
FOR % RAP 



Washington, May. 25. 

Two-year continuance 6f 10% Fed- 
eral admissions levy was proposed 
by Administration leaders in Con- 
gress last week, coincident with a. 
report showing further gains in yield 
from box-office tap. Bill extending 
all nuisance taxes . w;as introduced 
Thursday (20) and slated for quick 
adtion. .. . . 

Any lingering hope of modification 
of the amusement bite was killed 
when Democratic rulers arranged to 
shove the tax bill through the House 
without public hearings. Ciag was 
applied to the Ways and Means Com- 
mittee in order to head off a parade 
of industriies which w^ht their ovyn 
taxes lightened and the other fel- 
low's stiffened. 

On the heels of the continuation 
measure, the Treasury's monthly 
statement :on miscellaneous revenues 
disclosed that the .April haul from 
amuseinents .was the biggest ,so far 
this year. Total for the first four 
months from that 10% tariff is 
$6,108)118, more than $700,000 better 
than during the corresponding , por- 
tion of 1936, more than $1,000,000 
ahead of 1935, and nearly $1,500,000 
above 1934. 

April haul, based on March wicket 
business, was $1,589,682, up $50,274 
over the prior month and $323,257 
better than the same stanza last 
year. This was the fifth successive 
jump over the preceding year and 
the second monthly rise in 1937, 



Five U. S. newsreels, for perhaps 
the first time, agreed on one phase 
of coverage and stuck to the pact to 
the end in handling the Coronation. 
After originally getting together on 
shipping upon the ill-fated, Hindlen- 
burg, and then shifting to fast 
steamer transportation when the 
Zep ' was destroyed ' at Lakehiirst, 
the American newsreels held to the 
agreement to take prints off the boat 
at the saine time. It was up to in- 
dividual ingenuity and. speed to get 
thiem in hands of exhibitors after 
that, with the reels getting on 
Broadway only a few 'hours after the 
boat docked. 

Only other alternative v^rould have, 
been to use Dick MerriUI^. plane, and 
the newsreel executives decided the 
fee asked was too excessive. Also 
danger of damage suits in case of 9 
xnishap was considered. 

As it was, probably .only 20th-Fox 
will wind up out of the red in the 
coverage, and that only because of 
the footage taken In Technicolor 
which is to be released as a short 
feaiture of three or four reels. 
Through thifj. Fox Movietone has a 
chance to show a profit because ex- 
tra short feature rentals, can .be ob- 
tained. Even before the prints 
landed in America, most of the 
newsreel companies had expended 
enough to prohibit showing, any 
profit on the reels.. This was.becatise 
of elaborate , coverage and cost of 
getting locations. 

All newsreels except Pathe held 
their usual flrst-6f-the-week print so 
that the Cdrbnatloh material might 
be included. Pathe put out its usual 
early week release and then special-- 
ized the Coronation stuff. 





Adele A^aire, Jack 
Buchanan in Musical 
Megged by Rene Clair 



London, May 25., 

Adele Astaire will make her film 
debut, after seven years* retirement 
from the stage, co-starred iri a rnii- 
sical with Jack Buchanan, which 
goes into production the first week 
in July. 

Produced by Jack Buchanan Film 
Prods., the musical wrill cost $300,000. 
Rene, Clair will direct, . with the as 
yet untitled film to hie the first ot 
two he has been signed to do for 
Buchanan Prbds. 



Leo Spitz to L A. 



Leo Spitz left .for the Coast, by 
train, on' Saturday (22). Indicali ns 
are that the RKO T>resldent will re- 
mai on the Pacific slope for sev- 
eral weeks on general company 
, business arid studio matters. 

RKLO conyentloh hits duiin tine. 



loe 

Plans Exit from 
WRiMigstoU? 



Hollywood, May 23. 

Harry Joe Brown is washing up as 
an associate producer at Warners 
around July. 1 and it is understood 
he will join the Charles R. Rogers 
production forces at Universal in an 
executive-producer spot. 

Brown has been at Warners three 
years. He has three plx still in pro-, 
duction and will remain on the lot 
until they are completed. He plans 
an extended vacation before resum- 
ing. 

Three he will wind up for War- 
ners are irst. Lady,' Kay. Francis 
starrer; 'It's Love I'm After,' with 
Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland and 
Leslie Howard, and 'The Perfect 
Specimen.' 



Dorr's 'Timber* Rolling 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Production got under way last 
week on E. B. Derr's 'Raw Timber,' 
Ci-escent picture starring Tom 
Kecne .with Ray Taylor direct!' 

Others in the cast are Ilafael n- 
nett, Robert Fiske, Peggy Keys, 
John Rutherford and Lee Phelps. 



WILL LYNCH TAKES OVER 
MIAMI, FLORIDA, GROUP 



rost, in charge .ppcr 
tlons for S. ..Lynch over the' Para- 
mount-Lynch theatreis in M' 1 tor 
.<;evcral years, has been succeeded at, 
Miami by Will Lyiich, brother of 
S. A. 

Paramount is trying to work but 
a ,.new operating assignment for 
Frost, who arrived in New York to 
discuss that last ^yeek. 

Prior to. joining Lynch, rost had 
been ith King^Trendle in Detroit. 



HORNBLOW, THOMPSON WEST 

Hollywood, May 25.. 

Harlan Thompson and . Arthur 
Hoi iiblow, Jr., are back on the Para- 
mount lot as associate producers af- 
ter trips east. Hornblow vacashed 
with his frau, Myrna Lby, while 
Thompson was business bent. 

In New York he conducted 
cordings by Kirsten Flags tad to ha 
incorporated into 'The Big Biroad- 
cast of 1938.' 



VARIETY 



PICTURES 



Wednesclliy, Maj 26, 1937 



Labor Orgaiiizatioii of Pic 

Continues; Exchanges Mostly Set 



Iios Angeles, May 
Theatre janitors in picture houses ' 
of this area, numbering several, hun- 
dred, movinjg toward formation 
of . a unit to seek affiliation, with the 
American Federation Labor. 
Workers : want upped wages and 
slashed hours. 

Tentaitive. demands. a $5 

ily minimum wage itprs 
iand . a six-day: week. Men curirently 
are drawing from $16 to $22.50. 

This form of labor is hired directly 
by th^ American iBuilding Mainte- 
nance Co., Inc., which takes contracts 
from chains and individual houses. 
Fox-West; Coast recently handed out 
a pay increase to the company, os- 
tensibly to be passed on to the jani- 
tor^, but latter protested that only a 
few benefited'. In, some instances, 
wages; were eveii cut when the raises 
became effective, according to the 
janitors. Supervisors are collecting 
the coin which should be going to 
the men yrhb do the ytork, they 
claim. 



week ago that the GIO would take 
charge of Charlotte exchange work- 



ers. 



Exchange Enrolled 

Spiartanburg, S. G., May 25. 

Dope is thai idr the present CIO 
izers v/ill pas? up stage em^ 
ployees, projectionists and other the- 
atre. ..workers in. South Caroli i 
Concentration now is on tex;tiles. 

Exchange eniployiees at Charlotte 
have organized under banner of, the 
International Alliance of . Theeitrical 
Stage Employees' and Motion Picture 
.Machine. Operators, ^an affiliate of 
the American Federaition of Labor, 
which,' as elsewhere in the U. S., ;is 
waging a: bitter 'war with the CIO in 
the Carolinas. 

Eigh^-flv(e lier cent of Charlotte's 
exchange employees voted to apply 
fbra charter. 



Pitts. Bclns Org'ed 

Pittsburgh, May 25. 
lATSE has had representatives in 
town for a week or so layi|jig ground- 
work ior organization of. ail- film 
hous^ manager^ nshiers, iers and 
porters. Union has been . >vorking 
quietly, getting its aitiairs in order, 
and an announcement of definite 
unioiiization is expected iii . short 
order. . , 

vOrganizeris are meeting nO opposi- 
tion Irom theatre: owners in their 
efforts, since the lATSE is at present 
friendly to ' producers and ' most, of 
ittsburgh's houses are controlled by 
ircuits'also operating studios. 
Spokesmen for theatre men said 
that, when' and if Organization goes 
through, it will boost personnel pay- 
roll considerably 'arid will likely 
mean a general hike in adrhission 
prices. 



Philly 100% 

Philadelphia, May 25. 

Wage, and hour agreements with 
the heads . ot all exchanges were 
worked oUt by , representatives of 
the Philly Film Exchange Employes 
Union at a meeting in the State -The- 
atrie Buildi , N.: Y., last we.ek. 

Agreement reached be prei- 
sented to the general merribership of 
the local tomorrow or Thursday (27). 
Committee will, recommend that it 
be accepted, Harry Cohan, IATSE 
organizer, declared.; 

At the N. Y.y meeting, chairmaned 
by Wi iam R, Rodgers, Metro sales 
manager, exchange^ fully recogriized 
the , union and agreed, to closed shop. 
Maximum hours will be limited to 40 
a week and vacations with pay will 
be granted on the same basis as at. 
present Minimum salaries for each 
class of work were al$o adopted, 
uppirig considerably thie present low 
of $14,. and assuring increases for 
many workers. 

Cohan isaid. the meeting was On a 
very friendly basis and practically 
all of. the union's .demands; were 
granted, with very little comproiriis- 
ing necessary.. Every possible ex- 
change employe is now a member of 
the local, which rosters 239 names. 
IXies are $1 a month. 

Representing the union the 
negptions were Harry JDressler, Fox 
shipper- Oliver Gullfoyle, Warner 
booker; Harry Bache, Metro poster 
department, arid Margaret Fogafty, 
Metro inspectress., 



(Cincy Lined Up 

Cincinnati, May 25. 

Cashiers, doormen, ushers, clean- 
ers; porters and maids of downtown 
theatres have been unionized under 
•Uie banner of the A. P. of L. ' 

Organization, was conducted by 
Jack Hawthorne, president, arid 
Arthur Fix, business agent, of the 
operators' local, and Bill Elliott, head 
of the Clricy stage hands' local, 
IATSE, 

Ne\y body; was formed on the eve 
of a special meeting here this week 
of national, chiiefs of the A. F. of L. 
to . combat inroads' riiade of late by 
John L. Lewis' Committee for Indus- 
trial brgsfnizatipn. 



Ushers for Seattle 

Seattle, May 25. . 
Theatre, civic auditorium and race 
track cashiers and ushers have or- 
gam'zed a; union, affiliating with 
A.P. of L. and local stagehands' 
union. Basil Gray Is business agent. 

About 400 are reported in the new 
union. Frank Hood, brother of 
George -T. Hood, f Or. years manager 
Of KlawrErlanger house here, is 
president, and Frank MtCormack, 
doorman at Fifth Avenue, vice-, 
president. Scale at present is $15.50 
on 40-hour Week for tishers and ush- 
eriettes; $19 for cashiers, and $20 for 
doormen. 

No change Iri sctde Is planned, but 
uniformity for entire city will be 
sought. 

Pallas Ready 

Dallas, May 25. 
Unionization of employes in Dallas' 
film exchanges has been completed 
successfully, with 128 workers signed 
up, according to C. E. Rupard of 
Moving Pictures C^erators local who 
sponsored drive. International Al- 
liance of Theatre and istage Em- 
ployes, an affiliate of the American 
Federation of Labor, will be asked 
for a charter. 



Charlotte 85% Enrolled 

Charlotte, N., May 2S. 

Eighty-five, percent of Charlotte's 
film exchange emplPyees have or 
gariized under the banner of the In 
ternational Alliance pf Theatrical 
Stage Employees ind Motion Picture 
Machine Opetdtors, an affiliate of 
the American Federatipn of Labor, 
ing to Wiliiani Fowler, busi 
ness manager pf the motion picture 
ojperatorS group here. 

Shippers,- ripster clerks and inspec: 
tors met with projection room operar 
tors at the Hotel Char lotte -and. de 
cided to apply to Washington head 
qoprters for a charter. 

This organization, Fowler 
plainedi has nothing to do ith 
.either the CId( or with motion ' r 
ture unions on the West' coast. 

A.nnouric^ment th&t the American 
Federatipn ot Labjor had organized 
the eitchanga employees, coinciding 
with the iarrlvdl here bf; George 
GbPge, pfepsorial representiitlve of 
' WilHam - Green, waives rtiniPrs. pf ^ 



Baldwin WiD Write^Em 
And Let Odiers Produce 



Hollywood, May 25, 
Earl .Baldwin, 'Warner associate 
producer; has voluntarily relin- 
quished that post and is on a six 
weeks' vacition. On his return he 
will resume as a writer ori the lot, 
Baldwin receritiy completed the 
prpdiictiori; of 'Ever iri.ce Eve' for 
Warneirs. 



Cuticle to Art' 



Los Angeles, May 25, 
Arleen Whelan, discovered 
by H. Bruce Hiimbei'stpne at a 
riianicui-ing table, drew , a, 
termer at 20thrpox to run for 
several years at $60_ beginning 
, salai-y, ballbpriirig ' $800 a 
week. 

Because player is only' 20 
years old the Superior CoUrt 
had to give, the nod before the 
contract was legaU 





TO RIDE 




HPllywopd, May 25. 

Ruck Jpnes is walking out of the 
Universal corral .around Aug. 1, 
when he figures to, wind up his final 
three cayuse dramas under commit- 
ment to that' outfit; 

Lariat .tosse'r ' Wants to. set his own 
production Unit with a major pro- 
ducer and, turn out gallopers de 
luxe, ranging ground $150,000 each 
in cost {tnd'to be made from stories 
by name scribblers,. Finanipes already 
have been lined Up, he, says. 

Jones has been delivering eight 
a year to U for three years,, but of 
iate has been irked because the- 
studi . haltered, the. bankrpll. 

Hence is desire to under a 

new brand. 






Settlement Pf plagiarism suits 
seemed to be in order last, week in 
N. Y. Federal District Court. 

Action for $15,000 brought by Mrs. 
Mary Louise : E. McFadden as ex- 
ecutrix for the estate of her late 
husband, Elmer McFadden, plaiy- 
right, against Warner Brothers, First 
National and Vitaphone Corp., alleg- 
ing the title of her husband's play 
'Girl Ttouble' had been lifted by 
the defendants for a picture pf;the 
same title, was discontinued. 

Similar suit broiight by, Barnett 
Binkowitz and Fred Patrick, Song- 
sters, against RKO, Irving Berlin, 
Inc., and others in connection with 
the songr'Eenre'.Mieenee, Minee, Mo,' 
in film, "To Beat the Band,* was 
called off after ,the principals talked 
the matter over out of court. Plain- 
tiffs sought injunction and damages 
on claim they owned copyright. 

Belwin Corp., music publishers, 
had asked $50,000 and an injunction 
against Harms, Inc., for alleged 
pirating of lyric of its ditty, 'Rococo,' 
in the piece '24, Hours A Day,' fea- 
tured in film, 'Sweet Surrender.' Ap- 
parantly disputants came tO agree>- 
riient, as case, was discontinued Sat- 
urday (21). 



Lamour's Starrer 



Hollywood, May 25. 
aramount is pushing Dorothy 
Lamour tO: star billing, in ^Her 
Jungle Love,' a sequel to 'The Jungle 
Princess,?. debuter. Gerald 

Geraghty is writing the screen play 
and .George Arthur will produce. 

Ray Milland,,. who had the male 
lead in 'Princess,' probably wiU get 
the same spot in 'Lpve/ 

Miss LariiPur currently is working 
] 'HurricaneVfor Sr^nuel Gpldwyn. 

Grablie Vice Ross 

Holiywopd, May 25. 

Betty Grable's first chore .under 
new Paramount pa'cter is in "This; 
Way, Please.' 

Actress^ was jerked ijito the part 
after Shirley Ross and Director 
Robert Florey traded words on th«* 
set on the first day of shooting; ' 



Orson Welles Says No 



Orson Welles, legit actor, has 
nixed film bid from Warners. Hitch 
was over coi , Welles and studio 
having previously agreed on terms 
to perriiit. actor to dp yearly legit 
stint. 

In addition to lead in 'Dr. -Faiustus,' 
WPA show, Welles also has a num- 
ber of radi jobs. Setup in New 
York made hi m reluctant to go to 
the Coast. Handled, by Columbia 
Artists for pix, but books himself 
for radi 



KUDOS FOR EIGHT 



U. of .So.. Cal. Awards Silver Plaques 
To Film Folk 



. oUywood, May 25. 
ilver plaques, were handed but 
last Thursday - night to eight fllmiteS 
at the fourth annuSiV banquet of the 
American Institute ,pf Cinemato- 
graphy, affiliate of the "University of 
Southern Galiforni' . . ' 

Recipients were cHpsen fPr' 'out- 
staridirig contributions to. the " ad- 
vancement of motion pictures.' Those 
honoVed ' were . Ado^ph Zulcor, Luise 
Rainer, Sj>encer .Tracy, Cecil B. De 
Mine, Lionel ' ' Bai'rof more, Frances 
iiarion, Boi-is ' KjOrro's,' arid Slavko 
Vorkapich. ': ' 

"Howard fi^tabrijS^k tba^tmaistered. 



Going Places 

By Cece:lia Affer 

^ What Are 'Drcamliir XIps'T 

It isn't tough eripugh as it is for the American audience to figure but 
Elisabeth Bergner. 'Dreaming Lips'-l-ifs got to 'woriy what the titli 
means. 'Dfeamirig Lips'-^what kirid of lijps are 'dreami xvJi 
Do they have pleasant dresims? Why? ' • ■ 

Which ones are the dreaniers? Miss Bergner's, Raymond Massey*! 
Romney Brent's? Studying them, now that the title makes such a fusl 
about it^ there is something exti-aordinary about all of them. But 'dreani* 
ing' is hardly the word, quite thiB coritrary. Irisomnblent's nearer. Well* 
developed from constant exercise. Yes, it would have been more tactful 
for the title to eall attention to their eyes. It just so happens neither the 
lips of Miss Bergner, Mr, Massey nor Mr. rent can weathei? the hypnoti 
inspection that the title, pointing its horribly fascinating fingier, induces. 
It would have been kinder to let sleeping lips lie. Oh, the hell with it. 

Miss Bergner's latest femme fatale shares several idiosyncracies with 
the old. onie's; the gripping of a teacup in bOUi. hands, spread fingers hold- 
ing the bowl close, to denote strong fundamental appetites; the siriiple 
straight bob. uhconfined by machine-age " ins, tumbling uninhi ited 
over One eye only to be pushed back again .with a fine, free gesture— a 
sprite; again sommersaults; again tenderness made the more bewitching 
by periods bf rnadden ing remoteness. So much temperament, so many 
facets to her . nature; such arrogance, now dissolving, into utter need- 
such unpiredictability evoking such suspense, such insidiousriess and such 
frankness, such ia little girl and such a naughty Woman^Miss Bergner's 
performarice in 'Dreaming Lips' drives, the ^aightCorward American 
fenime audience, which likes to feel sriug and secure watching its picture 
stars, bats. 

According to American picture star standards. Miss Bergner is not 
pretty enPugH to cari-y on so mightily. • What does she think she'i got 
anyway? Plenty for the fasti ious Americari male intelligerizia?: So how 
many of them are there anyhow?. 

John Boles' Respectabliity 

Double entendre, as delivered by Alan Mowbray in the opening ge- 
quehce of 'As Good As Married'— wherein he does everything but use a 
pointer and say 'get it?' as he leers, at ;.Esther Ralston's legs while sup- 
posedly admiring soine architectural, blue prints, during which time Miss 
Ralston's truly excellent legs happen to .be displayed in photographic angles 
so distorting, his boundless enthusiasm for them brands him a novice he- 
sides-r-is the tip-off on the fun that follows, those who read handwriting 
ori the wall will-now silently steal away. ■ 

Carefully charted ilarity that ensues, however, can not all be blamed 
on Mpwbray. His sledge-hariiriibr. delivers buttei'fiy strokes, compared to 
poor John Boles'. Here is Boles, by nature a liice, honest, conventional 
fellow, who never did anybody any hatm; who never even thought a 
lively thoiight-r-suddenly catapulted into Ihe: role Of a chaser, a devil with 
the ladies, an irresponsible, irresistible blade. It is a metamorphosis so 
appalling Lucifer himself could scarcely effect it Certainly, then, Boles 
can be excused for trudging. Certainly he faces it with a stiff upper lip. 
to fact, as an abandoned rogue. Boles has never beeri so conscientious. 
He can't help it if he can't escape his -good intentioris, no more than he 
can prevent dashing sports jaclfets— that wbuld be gay as the dickens on 
anyone else— from settling down soberly on his shoulders. 

Clear-eyed Doris Nolan yells 'uricle', as sOon as the self-sacrifice she 
agrees to, clear-eyed, is accepted; slinky Tala Birell is a menace, though 
the flies she can't scare know different; but the sets are interesting. There's 
an allrovei:, clear glass, dining room table, and on it a bunch of lighted 
tapers, arranged in a vase like flowers. 



Only Actine Matters In Vienna 
Tor her performance in the Viennese fibn 'Episode,* Paula Wesseley 
won a prize. She won it competing with Dietrich and other flawless masks. 
Which fact console a lot of girls who aren't flawless masks. Iri 
Viennese studios, and to in European awards, it's okay to have a face 
fuU of character and a frame with flesh on it. Paint-box glamour doesn't 
count. 

Miss .Wesseley plays a good and earnest art Student who likes to d&nc* 
the old-fashioned dances, and nobody stops her because she happens to 
be a size 38. Nobody's scandalized, either, because she's not In her early 
teens. In Vienna it's all right for a fenime to reach maturity; she needn't 
be ashamed nor despair, the shelf is only for tbtterers. And the cosiest 
part is,, though she's full grown and quite level-headed, she is still eon- 
sidered in need of.i^.he,prptecti^ strong man; of his honorable pro- 

tection.: , , .. , , ... ..... "••> ' ••■ ■ 

;As .for the protectors; they don't have td cover a thinning thatch with 
hair-lace pieces, .so long as they keep a military bearing and pierce you 
With a glance. Only acting seems to' matter in Vienna. 



REPUBLIC IN RIVOLI; N. Y, 

, ■,] 

First Time for Flrm-^Seis * it Pa- 
rade' June Start 



First important rst-run • New 
Yprk contract for. Republic in its ex- 
istence is the booking by the Rivoli, 
N. Y., of ' it Parade? musical. 

'Parade' is scheduled to follow 
■Dreaming Lips' at the Riv, probably 
opening June 2. . Bopking of this ohe 
from Repub enables United Artists 
to. spot, its 'Woman Chases Man' 
(Goldwyn) into the Music Hall 
Thursday (3). 



Tossed for $50,000 
loss, Zobel Charges 
In Suit Vs. Republic 

Los Angeles, May 25. 
ictpr Zobel, former associate 
producer at Republic, has a $50,000 
suit on file against his former em- 
ployers i Superior court here. 
Through his attorney, Gordon Levoy. 
Zobel charges that his reputation was 
damaged when his contract was ter- 
minated 'in April. 

Plaintiff claims his.; contract ran 
until Sept. 15 at $300 a week. Levoy 
Said a novel legal point is at issue 
in Zobel's claim that he was Injured 
through his bUster. iSariie point has 
stood up in British courts. ' 

Bing's P. A.' 

Herman Bing is coming' east for 
a couple of weeks of personals be- 
tween pix, . 

Opens June 3 at Loew's State, N'ew 
York, with the Capitol, Washington, 
to follow. " • 




Hollywood, May 25. 
. Sol Lesser is reported talking a 
deal' With the Guaranty Liquidating 
Corp. for the purchase pf Republic 
Studio. Republic heads admit thei r 
lease of the property contains no 
option to buy, but cite a clause giv- 
ing them the right to meet any price 
offered, should a sale be decided on. 

Republic has further indicated; an 
intention tb hold on by acquiring 48 ' 
additional acres adjpining the studio;. 
Lesser has. intimated he may build 
his owri studio should his efforts to 
find: prodUctiPri space prove unavail- 
ing. '■ ' _ . ■ 5 ' ^ 
. Guaranty Liquidating Corp. claims 
Republic's lease of the property was 
taken ovek* from Mascot Pictures 
Realty Corp. without legal right. 
Case is due for a court airing June 
7, Lease h£ls three years to run. 



Back from the Farm 

Hollywood,. May 25. 

Alan Cariijpbell and Dorothy ParHer 
are due in frpm thei^ Pennsylvania 
farrii the first week in June to report 
to Samuel Goldwyn on a new five- 
year scribbling ticket. 

GPuple's .initial chPre Will be . to 
script. "The Cpwboy and the Lady.' 
^rom jin .Original, by Frank R., Ada\ns 
ancl ,L?p 'McCarey. 



Wednesday, May 26, 1037 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



F.D.R. Takeoff Gags U Meeters 



Los Angeles, May 29. 

Initial session of the Universal sales convention was astounded 
when a radio , loudspeaker in the Ambassador hotel ^'iesta room be- 
gan spouting a broadcaist apparently from the nation's capital. 

Ether message purported to be a greeting fromi Presidient Roose- 
velt. It really Ayas a record played by remote control and cut by 
Harold Adamson, U lyric writer. Stunt carried no tip-off line until 
the tagline when impersoniator of the President said: 

'Gentlemeh of the cbnverition, I salute you. I salute every thi 
you are doirig, but what the. hell is a convention good for if you 
haven't got any, telephone numbers?' 

Gag was put across by Joe Weil, U exploitation chiet 



GEORGE ABBOTT 
MAY COAST 




George Abbott, whose iifiost recent 
success as a prpducer-director on 
-Broadway is *Room Service' at the 
,G6rt, may turii to Hollywood as lal 
change of Warners, witji 

whom Abbott has be6n associated 

'ith in stage deals, has proposed he 
direct several pictures^ with the 
manager said to be favoring the idea. 
As yet no vcontract for the studio 
assignment has been. made. 

Abbott knows his way around Hol- 
lywood, having directed several pic- 
tures for Paramount. His last film 
for the latter was 'Manslaughter,' 
with Claudette Golbert, released in 
1930. 

'Boy Meets Girl,' still current on 
Broadway (Ambassador) has War- 
ners and Abbott as joint owners. 
..They also are partners in 'Brother 
Rat,' Biltmore, which theatre was 
purchased by the filth i>eople early 
this season^ Ahbott having a 25% 
interest. Warners is not in on 'Ser 
vice.' 



MAHIN HEADS SCREEN 
SCRIBES; 11 ADDITIONS 

Hollywood, May 25. 

ilew prexy .of Screen Playwrights, 

is John Lee Mahin. William 

Conselman is first vice-president 

JWeredyth second vice-president; Bert 
Kalmar' secrietary, and Walter 
.DeLeon. treasurer. 

Committee, including Grover 
Jones, Howard Emmett . Rogers and 
Waldemar Young was ordered to ne 
■gotiate with the producers on work 
ing conditiQns under the existing 
contract By-laws were amended so 
that writers upped to directorships 
become associate members. 

Screen Playwrights admitted 1 
new members last week at a session 
held in the home of Grover Jones, 
prez, at Santa Monica. Included are 
Malcolm Stuart ' , Boylan, Gene 
Towne, Moncktbn Hoflfe, Kyrill de 
Shismareff, Warren Edwin Groat, 
Graham Baker, Jaick O'Donnell, 
John Meehan, Winston MiUer, Mor- 
ris Markey and George Harmon 
Coxe. . 

Playwrights also chbse the follow- 
ing new directors: Grcver Jones, 
Rupert Hughes, Bert Kalmar, Wil- 
liam Conselmahj Walter . DeLeon, 
Tfank Butler, Bess Meredyth, How- 
ard Ernmett -Rogers, John Lee Mia.- 
hih arid Waldemar Young;. 



U^S EMPLOYEE DIVVY 



Workers to Share In Troflts Under 
Cdwdin's Flan 



Goldwyn Holds Bigelow 

Holly wbod. May 25. 

Joe Bigelow has had his option 
taken up by Samuel Goldwyn for 
another six months. Currently he is 
cooking Up. an or i inal with George 
Bradshaw. 

Bigelow, fornner. Variety mugg, 
joined the Goldwyn writing staff 
foot months ago. 






Hollywood, May 25. 
iJ. Cheever .Cowdi , chairman of 
the board of Universal, has an- 
nounced a profit-sharing plan for all 
employes to become effective this 
fall. 

U. auditors \vere ordered to 
start working on the idea at once. 
Cowdin . had no infprmatioji as to 
the amount of the split, or how it 
will be divvied. 




PARREBUKQ) 





Holly wood, May . 25. 
Independent Theatre Qwners ■ of. 
Southern California, bias filed -. 
test with Paramount because . of 
failure to deliver full block' of. 65 
features the 1936-'37 program, 
as promised. ITO claims that Para- 
mount stepped on the right of con- 
tract holders and the resolution 
holds the company's policy 'unfairj 
unethical, . unjust- and .contrary, to 
the implied promises in the 1936-'37 
work sheet.' 

Adolph Zukor and Neil Agnew 
W6re sent copies and the matter was 
brought, to the attention of Albert 
'J. Law, special assistant to the 
tlnited States Attorney General. 

Protest also will come before the 
convention of the Allied States , Ex- 
hibitors in Milwaukee this week. 



NETTER ON SWING-AROUND 



the 



A Paramount home ice check 
Oh policies, conditions, and current 
problems in the more distant zones 
to which its vast chain extends: is 
being undertaken, with Leon Netter, 
Par operating executive and assistant 
to Y, Frank Freeman en route to 
the Texas territory, his first stop. 
Netter left New York Saturday (22), 
and will be gone a month or close 
to it. 

In Texas he will discuss rhatters 
affecting that territory with Par's 
various partners, going from there 
to Phoenix and Tucson, where Rick- 
ards & Nace are in partnership with 
the company. After visiting Coast 
situations, he will stop off at Salt 
Lake City, Des Moi^ves and Minne- 
apolis on the returh trip east. 

Netter was in Kansas City recently 
to inspect results of the. RKO-Para- 
mount pooling arrangement there. 



'Dear Mr. AfneV , 

:.ColUmbus, May 25. 

Neil P. Agriew, Paramount general 
sales manager, has been iiivited to 
appear before the Milwaukee con- 
vention of the Alli6d States Asspcia- 
tion of Motion Pictures Wednesday 
or Thursday (26-27) to present par- 
amourit's side of the exhibitors'i 
squawk that Par pictures were not 
delivered as promised in 1936-'37. 

Invitation was extended by P. J. 
Wood, secretary of Independent The- 
atre Owners of Ohio and general 
chairman Of the convention. 

Complaint of exhibs is ' that Par- 
amount releiised only 52 pictures in 
the current Sseason, leaving undeliv- 
ered "some of the topnotch pictures 
promised to exhibitors when they 
signed 1936-'37 contracts." 

Josepbine Hutchinson's 
Possible Shubert Job 

Hollywood, IVIay 25. 

Josephine Hutchinson is being 
sought by Liee Shubert to star in a 
legit production of 'Love pf Women,' 
skeddied for a September opening on 
Broadway. Producer plans names for 
other leads. Has been trying to cast 
the play for two seasons, 

Miss Hutchinson's agent ichard 
Pitman;. 

Lewis Frames Three 

Hollywood, May 25. 
, entering on is 
termer a Warner aissociate prof 
ducer, is preparing his first trio of 
productions, 'Prayer for My Son,' 
by Hugh Waipole; 'Comet Over 
Brpadway* arid 'Men Are Such 
Fools.' Both the. latter were written 
by Faith Baldwin. 

Bette Davis draws 'Fools and 
Kay Francis is set for 'Gorrtet' and 
the Waipole story; Mauch twins will 
appefar with Miss Francis in the 
. latter. 



Headed by J; .J. Milsteih, ..-p. in 
charges of sales; Edward M. Schnit- 
zer, eastern sales supervisor; and 
Sam Hacker, ' contract division man- 
ager, the Republic TPicts. contingent 
is .heading for the Coast today 
(Wednesday) for the annual confab 
of company franchise holders, home 
office arid studio executives, which 
will be held at the Roosevelt hotel. 
Holly wood, June i. and 2. 

Max Rothi central sales super- 
visor, and Heck Everett, southern 
sales supervisor, who have been in 
New York since thie first of the week, 
head the Republic field sales organi- 
zation, also leaving today. Herman 
Gluckmari, New Yprk; Herman Rif- 
icin, : Boston; and Harry , LaVine, 
Philadeiphii', also shove off. Sam 
and Jake Flax, .Republic franchise 
holder^ in Washihgton; James Alex- 
ander, of Pittsburgh; Berhie Mills, 
Albariy; Jack Berkowitz; Buffalp, 
and Sam SeploWin, Detroit^ will join 
the contingent in Chicago. 

Others jpining the party en route 
will be C. A. Schultz and Robert 
Withers, Kansas City; H.. M. Wein 
berg, Omaha; and E. J. Tiltpn, of 
Des Moines. Southwest and north 
west branch managers will go direct 
to Los Angeles. 

Nearly 60 franchise holders and 
salesmen are duie to attend the east 
em division regional sales cohven 
tion at the St. Moritz hotel, N. Y., 
June 14. They will come from Bps 
ton. New Haven, N. Y;, BMff^lo, Al 
bany, Philadelphi Pittsburgh. 
Washington^ Detroit, Cleveland and 
Cincinnati, 



ZOTHGABFEST 
GETS GOING 



Paul Jones Back in Harness 

Hollywood, May 25, 
Paul Jones returns to Paramount 
as producer of the next W; C; Fields 
starrer.' 

Has been absent a year due to 
illness. 



Hollywood, May 25. 

20th -Fpx. international sales con 
vention will convene May 31 at the 
Ariibassador hotel for four days. 
Event will bring In 340 members of 
the distribution department. 

Foreign delegation,, headed by 
Walter Hutchinson, will be the 
largest ever brought to the Coast 
for a sales powwow. . .Fenime dele- 
gates are attending for the first time. 
Also precedental is the attendance 
of the company's theatre interests, 
including American theatre circuits, 
rioyts' Australian chain and 20th 
Fox interests in Gaumlont-British 
houses. 

Special train carrying 175 hpme 
office and eastern delegates pulls out 
Wednesday. (26) from ;N.Y., picking 
up midwest contingents en route and 
arriving here Sunday (30). Cpnveri 
ti opcne Monday (31), running 
through Wednesday. "Thursday will 
b(» spent at the studio and with a 
Windup party at the Cpcoanut Grove 
Thursday (3). Exodus for home 
starts over the weekend, 



WHAIE AT WAENERS 

Hollywood; May 25 
James Whale has moved over 
from Universal to Warners, where 
he will direct 'The Great GarriCk,' 
Mervyn LeRby prbductiPn. 

Cameras are skeded to roll in a 
month. Meanwhile Whale has 
started supervising test^, research 
work and set-bulldihg. 

Anton Crroat has charge of ixi and 
Milo Anderson Will do the costum- 
ing.; 



Grace Bradley in 'Parole^ 

Hollywood, May 25 
race Bradley has been assigned 
to a featured spot in Colunibia's 
'Lovers on Parole.' 

Cast toppers are Francis Lederer 
and Madeleine Carroll 



Allied Exhibs Expected to Tom-Tom 
Against Producer- Owned Circuit; 

Also An Issue 




Tough Assignment 



Hollywood, May 25. 

Morton Thompsortj Citizen- 
News cbiumnist ' has moved in 
to. Metro publicity bureau as a 
feature writer. 

]E'irst assignnicnt after a week 
of moseying the sets 

was to interview Garbp^. i 

Being a comic he hasn!t yet 
igpt wise to the fact that this is 
a , routine rib which Howard 
Strickling first thought up in 
the middle ages. 



Smith, Connolly 
Quit Pathe 'Reel; 
Ned Depinet hi 



Large-scale shake-up at Pathe 
newsreel last week saw. Courtland 
Smith and Jack S. Connolly, vets of 
the outfit, lopping themselves off the 
payroll; Ned El Depinet, Of 

IKO, succeeds Smith as chief e<ec 
and director.. ■ 

Frederick Ullmah has stepped into 
he spot of managing editor and gen- 
eral director, in' place of Connolly, 
n arranging the ne\y setup, Frank 
Donovan is now the prodiictibn .man- 
ager, a hew position. Donovan, who 
has: been: in the 'reel's commercial 
production department for three 
years, will work on Pathe Topics as 
well as 'reel prpductipn. . 
' Connolly has announced his. In- 
iehtibn of joining up with Smith 
in his new endeavors, at present 
rather vaguely termed 'other film 
activity . and television.' Smith is 
one of the long-service vets of plx, 
having had a hand in the develop- 
ment of sound on film for. Fox 
Movietone: and the initial sound 
'reel, Fox Movietone News, which 
he headed before his election to the 
presidency of Pathe News. 

New layout at Pathe will have 
Uliman as active manager, Claude 
Collins remaining as news', ed, and 
Allyn Butterfleld staying as assign- 
ment, ed, positipn to which he was 
named last hionth. 



GOLDWYN YENS JASQN 
TO MEG HIS TOLUES' 



Holly^yood, May 25. 
Samuel Goldwyn js talking a deal 
with R:KO-Radio for loan of Leigh 
Jason to direct 'The Goldwyn Fol- 
lies.' 

Howard J. Green, Harry Ruby and 
Bert Kalmar are scripting and pro- 
duction is skedded, for around Aug. 1. 



Cromwellf John Ford 
To Wanger on Singles 



Holly wood, May 25. 
Ford has . been signed bn a 
one-picture deal by Walter Wanger 
tp.direct 'Desert Intrigue.' 

John Crbmwell has also been 
sighed by Wanger. to pilot 'Arabian 
Nights.' Latter film ,a color 
bath. 



May 25. 

Allied, indie exhi 
Milwaukee this week looks, li 
to be one of the liveli 
gethers in 

organization. of. questi 

ready to come up on the floor con-« 
tain plenty of fireworks. Expected 
that the keynote of the independent 
campaign will be the continuation of 
the present divorcement, (of theatres 
and producers under single^ owner- 
ship) activity. 

Divorcement campaign .has 
placed 'almost .conipleteiy the formier 
indie and Allied, drives, such as 
anti-block booking which was the 
big. Allied objective for inany years. 

Anti-blpck booking drive never 
had the fuU support of independent 
exhibitprs since they weren't con- 
vinced that pictures could .be satis- 
factorily bought one or. two at a 
time; and; they weren't even sure 
that they would want to be bothered 
continually dickering; with salesmen 
all the time, instead of making .full 
season deals and having it . pver 
with. But in the divorcement cam-' 
palgn the indie exhibs have found, 
something they li in that there: is 
a 'general feeling' that circuit the- 
atres affiliated with producers and 
distributors get the break on flilms. 
On the Defense 
Whether Allied expects to get to 
any real objective in breaking up 
theatres and producers to individual 
operation and ownership is not im- 
portant to the nieinbers pf Allied as 
a grpup. They . believe, that they will 
accpmi>lish enough, by m'akitig the 
jroducers and 'distributors unconi- 
ortable, uneasy, and put theni pn 
uhe defensive. And it is th.is . desire 
to keep the circuit and producing 
groups on the defensive side of the 
(>leture that shapes Up as the 
primary reason for the increased ac- 
tivity on the part of Allied natipn- 
ally and in its various state group 
to press forward pn the divprcement 
qtiestion. . . ' 

Additional build-up on this ques- 
tion, will be made to the assembled 
Allied' members at the convention, it 
is expected, with the Allied leaders 
using the meeting as the ppiiortunity 
of obtaining full cooperation on the 
part of the individual members to 
give every possible aid to. the 
divorcement legislative activities be? 
iiig conducted, or to be instituted, 1 
the various, localities and states. 

Anpther question figured to 
brought before the convention is that 
of the use of Allied theatre screens 
for commercial advertisements. Ever 
since the Ford Newsreel deal 
(despite its failure) Allied has been 
ready to listen to a good adver- 
tising proposition which will, be 
sufficiently entertaining to the the- 
atre-going public and would meet 
the full approval of exhibitors. 
"To date the Allied groups have rz- 
ceived and presented to thejr mem- 
bers several screen advertising' pro- 
posals, but they haven't been suc- 
cessful in , putting it over with the 
exhibitors. 

Usual answer of the individual ex- 
hibitor, when tpld that he will got, 
say .|5, fpr putting: an ad reel oh hi 
screen, is: Til pay the, organlzallDh 
$5 if you don't ask me to play the 
reel.' To that reply, the Allied lead-, 
ers have as yet found wo reply. 



MG, RKO SPANKED 

Admit ForffctUnr to Credit Writers 
In Ads 



Hollywood, May 25. 

Metro and RKp admitted viola 
tions of the basic agreement when 
they neglected to use writer credits 
in newspaper, trade and poster ad 
vertising of 'Captains Coiiragedus' 
and 'Shall We Dance.' 

B.eef was brought by screen play 
Wrights, who drew promises that 
sUch things would not recur. How 
ard Emmett Rogers, Grover Jones 
and Waldemar Young irepresentec 
the scribes at the sessions with the 
studio chiefs. 



TOP KICKS SCARCE, SO 
'ARMY GniL' FALLS OUT 



Hollywood, May 
Republic has transferred 'Army 
Girl' to its next year's program be- 
cause of inability to obtain the pc 
pie desired, for top spots. Plan Wjas 
to make the pic at.Fort Bliss Army 
post, near El Paso, Tex.^ ith, the 
army's co-operation. 

Colhert G!lark, who was 
produced, is scrambling for 
stitute musical. 



Kahn-Fritnl^ Inc;^ 

Hollywood, May 23. . . 

Gus Kahn has been loaned to RKO 
by Metro to. do the lyrics in 'Musi 
for Madame,' starring Nino Martin ii 

Rudolf Friml, is doing the music 
for the film, which, starts July 19, 
with Jesse Lasky on productioii. 



VASIETr 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesdajt May 26, 1937 



Tliose Snakehes' Snuicldiig Dawn 
LiJiz;loon;VaiHleBig$2i^^^^ 
%mm Sad $17,300; XapW OK 



Los Angeles, May 25; 

Gontinued picketing' first run 
houses here, in cohjuriction with the 
Federated Crafts' studid strike, has 
hurt "biz miateriallyv Carriage trade, 
espeicially, . has been chary about 
driving uj? to the ace emporiums, and 
tinion workers to a large fextent are 
heeding the strikei-s' , pleas to stay 
awiay from theatres. 

Lbipks like." only- two five-figure 
takes oh the icurrent week; with most 
bf: the town pretty well shot. Topper 
is , the Paramount, where Fahchpn it 
Marco insured a corkingr firist week 
for Fanchon's initial Paramount opus, 
'Turii Off the Moon,' by. installing a 
stage show of uhqu^stiohed bbx office 
draw. Firist pop-piriceid run , of 'Rdr 
meo and Juliet' is a disappointmeiit 
at the diay-date State and Chinese^ 
where combined gross is expected to 
hit around $17,300, not too forte, 

•Tally's Criterioin, after being dark 
ihoi-e than a year, reopened as a first 
run (21).' Metro's road show, 'Gap- 
tains Gourageoiis,' started picking up 
on second stanza and should b^at 
first week's take by several hundred 
doUars. 'Shall We Dance' is holding 
for third week at the day-date RKO 
and Pantages to satisfactory returns^ 
■while Warner houses, Downtown and 
Hollywood, are hidlding ^Prince and 
Pauper' for second stanza. 

Estimates for TUa We^k 
Carthay Circle (Fox) (1,518; 
MO-1,65)— 'G a p t a i n s Courageotis' 
(MG) (2d week); Starts building 
after first few days and second week 
sh-juld be better than the $i3,400 gross 
oil bri ihal «even days, including $5 
rcsm. 

Obinese (Graumah) (2,028; 30-40- 
5.r,.75)_<Romeo and Juliet' (MG) and 
'Nobody's Baby' (MG), dual. Pretty 
poor at $7,100, with most of HoUy- 
"wobd apparently having seen the opus 
on its two-a-ddy run. Last'' week, 
'Hit Parade' (Rep); and 'Chajrlie 
Chan' (20th ), hot profitable at $7,400. 

Criterion (Tally) (1,640; 30-40-55) 
—^Elephant Boy' (UA). Widely dis- 
cussed pic, but . house location and 
fact, it has been dark for a year not 
helping much, so best in sight for 
op-iner is $7,000, . 

Downtown (WB) (1,800; 30-40-55- 
65)— 'Prince and Pauper' (FN) (2rid 
week) .HbldoVer doing right well at 
$5,800, compared with first week of 
$9,800, big. 

Four Star (Fox) (900; 55-83-$1.10- 
$1.65)— 'Lost Horizon' (Col) (11th 
week). Plugging along nicely. Last 
week dOth) okay $4,100. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 30-40-55- 
65)— 'Prince and Pauper' (FN) (2nd 
■wk). Running behind its Downtown 
day-dater and will have to be satis- 
fled with $5,500 on second iVeek. In- 
itial week drew fair $8,000. 
^ahtases (Pan) (2,700; 30^40-55)— . 
jShall We Dance' (RKO) (3rd wk). 
Indicating draw possibilities of the 
Astaire-Rogers team, this fllmusicai 
on third week heading for swell $6,- 
200. Second week of run finished 
With $6,300. 

Paramonnt (Partmar) (3,595: 30- 
40-55)— 'Turn Off Moon' (Par) and 
stage show. Bill Robinson and Pinky 
Tomlin, both heavy favs lopally, are 
helping to bring sweet $21,700. Last 
week 'Thunder in City* (Gol) and 
Olsen and Johnson oh stage^ disap- 
pointing at $16,600. 

RKO (2,950; 30-40-55 )— 'Shah We 
Dance' (RKO) (3rd wk). Satisfac- 
tory $5,400 in sight after oke $6,200 
on second stan2a. 

State (Loew-Fox) (2,Ci24; 30-40-55- 
75)— 'Romeo and t Juliet* (MG) and 
•Nobody's Baby* .(MG )^ dual. Little 
to get excited about when itting 
meager $10,200. Last week 'Hit Pa- 
rade' (Rep) and 'Charlie Chan' 
(20th ),. fared badly at $10,400. 

United : Artists (Fox-UA) (2,100; 
30-40T55)-^'Old Soak' (MG) and *13th 
Chair* (MG)^ dual. .First-run. dual 
running below house average, $4,500, 

?retty -weak. Laist week 'Night Must 
'all' (MG) and 'Way Out West' 
(M(3), brutal $2,800. 

Wilshire (Fox) (2,296; 30-40-55-65) 
—'Old. Soak' (MG) arid .!l3th Chair* 
(MG). dual. Bit. way off. as witness 
slim $5,100. Last week 'Night Must 
Fall' (MG) and 'Way Out West' 
(MG), just so-so $5,900,. 

Tarzan in Shorts 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Glenn Morris, Olympic decathlon 
titleholder and Sol Lesser -s new 
Tarzan, has been loaned Metro for 
a Pete Smithie. . 

Script is being wiritteh by Robert 
Lees and Fred Hinaldo. 



Jack Randairs Historicals 



. Jack Randallj, Monpgiiam contract 
player, Will be given star buildup via 
•historical' westerns. by Scott R. Dun- 
laip, istudio v.p. in charge of produc- 
tion. He'll warble. 

Actor was taken by RKO *from 
•The O'Flyhh,* Broadway musical, 
two seasion ago, but wasn't used fOr 
tuners by that studio. 







'EMPEEOR^ DELAYED 

Holly wood. May 25. 

Metro's production of The Em- 
peror's Candlesticks' has been side- 
tracked- for a Week, or Id days, due 
to the illness of Luise Raineri who 
is being treated for a throat ailment. 

George Fitzmaiirice directs. 



Pittsburgh, May 25. 

With competisK virtually at a 
standstill, Penn and Stanley have the 
field practically to themselves this 
week. Even bad weekend break,' 
with heavy rain Saturday nijght and 
Pirate-Giant baseball series, didn't 
stbp the^e two. and they're .sailing 
along to sizzling grosses. 

Shep Fields and his . band the mag- 
net at the Stanley, with 'Internes 
Ciux't Take Money' . on . the ■■ screen. 
Combo is topping every vaudfilni bill 
since vatide was resumed here last 
September and will fall only a trifie 
short of Jack Benny's all-time high 
for this .site. 'Kid Galahad' is a. 
pleasant surprise - at Penn, Figured 
to be strictly a male draw, flicker 
drew rave notices and iis beating 
'Shall We Dance' of previous week 
with room to spare. 

Estlnutes for This Week 

Alvln (Harris) (2,000; 25-35-40)— 
'Wake ITp and Live' (20th). . Still 
heads up in third week and could re- 
main a fourth, but bookings are pil- 
ing up ahd musical comes out Thurs- 
day (27) in faVor of a dual, '20 Roads 
to Town* (20th) and 'Charlie Chan 
at Olympics' (20th), pushing G-B's 
'Silent Barriers^ back a week.'. In 
third stanza, 'Wake Up' looks like 
$5,300, plenty okay Oh top Of $7,500 
last week and $11,000 on the opener, 

Fulton (Shea-Hyde) (1,750; 25-40) 
-^'Hit Parade* (Rep). Not in the 
real dough, but musicars hot costing 
house anything at $4,100, or slightly 
better. Best Site has done in last 
three weeks. Last week, 'Fire. Over 
England' (UA). a disappointment at 
$3,400. 

Penn (Loew's-UA> (3,300; 25-35- 
50)— 'Kid Galahad' (WB). In the 
real dough. Combo of Robinson and 
Davis, together with splurge papers 
have been giving the newcomer, 
Wayne Morris, turning the trick. 
Should skate right along to good 
$15,000. Last week, 'Shall We Dance' 
(RKO), $14,000, was plenty disap- 
pointing. About six grand less than 
takes of past Astaire-Rogers musi- 
cals and flrst time one of their 
hoofies hasn't rated a h. o. 

Stanley (WB) (3,600; 25-40-60)— 
'Internes Can't Take Money' (Par) 
and Shep Fields' orch.' Band is the 
big noise and shooting de luxer to a 
new high for the year. Biggest open- 
ing since last. September and should 
skyrocket house to corking $26,500. 
Last week, 'Woman I Love' (RKO) 
and Benny Meroff and Phil Regan, 
fair $17,500. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 25-40)— 
'Murder Goes to College' (Par) and 
'Way Out. West* (MG). Laurel and 
Hardy are potent in the nabes but. 
downtown. they don't mean a thing* 
This dual .will have to thump out 
plenty to get even $4,000. pretty me- 
diocre. Last week, 'Outcasts of 
Poker Flat? (RKO) and 'Don't Tell 
the Wife' (RKO), poor $3,800. 

DENVER DULL; 'CAFE' 
PLUS ORCH FAIR $7,500 

Denvei:, May 25. 

Looks like the summer slump has 
set in to stay. Exhibs hoping that 
strong pix will come along to head 
off the doldrums, but that isn't likely, 

'Cafe Metropole' is only fair at the 
Denver,. but goes to the Alladin for a 
second week. 

Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Fox) (1,500; i25-40)— 'Ele- 
phant Boy' (UA). Just fair at $4,000. 
Last week 'Star Is Born* (UA) gave 
the house one Of ,its biggest weeks 
in months and went to the Broad- 
way. Did $5,000, though it had al- 
ready played the Denver. 

Broadway (Fox) (1,500; 25-40)— 
'Star Is Born* (UA), following a 
week each at Denver and Aladdin. 



1st Runi on' Broadway 

(Subject to Chsnge) 

Week of May 27 

Astor— 'Captains Courageous 
(MG) (3d wk). 
Capitol— 'Pick a Star' (MG) 

(27). 

Central—Girl from Scotland 
Yard' (Par) (29). 

Criterion— 'Mitke Way for To- 
morrow* (Par) (4th wk). 

Globe— 'Lost Horizon* (Col) 
(i3th wk). 

Music Hall-^'This Is My Af<* 
fair' (20th) (27). 

Paramount^ 'TUm Off th« 
Moon'. (Par) (2d wk). 

ia;ito— 'What Price Venge- 
ance' (Indie) (25). 

Rivoli— 'Hit Parade* (Rep) 
(29). 

Roxy— 'Wings Over Honolulu* 
(U). 

Strand- 'kid Galahad* (WB) 
(26). 

. Week of June 3 

Astdr-^'C^aptains Courageous* ^ 
(MG) (4th wk). 

Capitol— 'ParneU' (M(S) (3). 

Central — 'Great Hospital 
Mystery' (20th) (5). 

Criterlon-^'Go-Getter' (WB). 

Globe— 'Lost Horizon* (Col) 
(14th wk). 

Music Hall-r-' Woman Chases . 
Man' (UA) (3). 

Paramonnt — 'I Met Him in 
Paris' (Par) (2). 

Bialto ^ 'Behind Headlines' 
(RKO) (1); 

Rivoli— '50 Roads Town* 
(20th). 

Stran*-'Kid Galaha*' ( WB ) 
(2d wk). 



Excellent here at $3,000. , Last.weiek 
•Wake Up' (20th ), nice $2,50O. 

Denham (Cockrill) (1,500; 2^-35- 
40)— 'Make Way for Tomorrow' 
(Par). Not so forte at $5,000. Last 
week 'Husband's Secretary- (FN) 
with Haven MacQuarrie in person, 
so-so $5,500. 

Denver (Fox) (2,500; 25-35-50)— 
'Cafe Metropole* : <20th) and stage 
band. Not drawing over fair $7,500 
pace. Last week 'Marked . Woman' 
(FN) got. only poor $3,500 and was 
pulled after five days; 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 25-35-40) 
—'Gave Him Gun^ (MG) and 'Old 
Soak' (MG). Fair enough $6,500. 
Last week 'Shall Wo Dance* (RKO )j 
got fair $5,000 in second week. 

Paramouiit (Fox) (2,000; 25-40)— 
'Thunder in City* (Col) and 'Motor 
Madness' (Col ). Poor $2,500 Is best 
in sight Last week 'Charlie Chan 
at Olympics' (20th) and 'Midnight 
Taxi' (20th), fair $3,500. 




BIG$13jMIN 
PROV. 



Providence, May 25. 
irly good picture fare about and 
biz is okay. Loew's the leader with 
'Woman- Chases Man* topping double 
bill, and 'Cafe Metropole' at Majestic 
is second best. 

Estimates for This Week 

Fay's (2,000; 25-35-50)— 'Happened 
Out West' (20th) and Bowes' 'Dixie 
Jubilee' arhs. on stage. Latter largely 
responsible for swell pace, . Should 
get $8,000. Last week, 'California 
Straight Ahead' (GN) and vaude 
sp-so $6j200^ 

Loew's .State (3,200; 25-35-50)— 
'Woman Chases Mah' (UA) and 
'Speed to Spare' (Col). Nice cam- 
paign bringing $13,500, big. Last 
week, 'Romeo and Juliet' (MG) and 
'13th Chair' (MG), fair $8,800'. ■ 

Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 25-35-50):— 
'Cafe Metropole' .(20th) and 'Night 
Key' :(U). Nice going and sUre to 
corral $10,000; maybe more if - the 
breaks are right. Last week, 'Call 
It Day' (WB) and 'Let Them Live' 
(U), tepid $6,500: 

RKO Albee (2;300; 25-35-50)— 
'Good As Married' (U) and 'You 
Can't Buy Luck' (GN). Looks like 
poor $6,000. Last , week, 'Shall We 
Dance' (RKO),rtook a slide in second 
week to $6,000. 

Strand (Indie) (i,200; 25-35-50)— 
'Turn Glf Moon' (Par ) and 'Michael 
O'HallQran' (Rep): With half a 
break the going should be close to 
,$7,800, okei Last week, 'Thunder in 
City (Col) and 'Navy Blues' (Rep), 
$7,800,, nice. 

Joe Brandt's New Go. 

Hollywood, May .25. 
Joe randt left for New York to- 
He is understood going there to 
form a new producing company^ his 
principal purpose on the present 
journey being to purchase plays 
and material owned by the William 
Gillette estate. 



FUly B. O.'s in Sdmnier Gear; 'Gun' 




Wyatt M SettliMi 



Hollywood, llL^y 25. ; 
Suit ioi $13,000 brought against 
Universal by Jana Wyatt has been 
settled oiit of, court on undisciosed 
terms, understood to . be a coniprp 
mise,,' 

Actress Was alleged by the stuiiio 
to haVe become Incapacitated due 
to having a child and the ensuing 
controversy arose over the sui^en-* 
sion Of her contract pending her 
ability to resume work. 



Hlik Biz Torrid; 






'37G 



Boston, May !25. 
Bonanza week for filmers here, 
with a good lineup of pix on several 
screens. Benny Gpodman on Stage, 
with 'Go Getter' oh screen, is jam- 
ming up the Met and best week in 
long time is in view. 

•Star: Is Boirh,' dualled with 'Fam- 
ily Affair,' holding over at the On)h 
and State after dandy opening stanza. 
'Shall We Dance' moves to Keith 
Boston after two frames at the 
Memorial, solo. Oh Boston screen 
it's doubled with 'China- Passage.' 

'Captains Courageous' opened $1.65 
top roadshow at Colonial last week, 
receiving rave press and strong re- 
sponse at gate. , 

Estimates for This Week 
Boston (RKO) (3;000; 25-40-55)— 
'Shall We Dance' (RKO) (3d week, 
moved over from Memorial), and 
'China Passage' (RKO), dual. About 
$9,000. 'Dance' has had less pull than 
two previous Astaire-Rogers films, but 
still yery good. Last week, 'Wings 
Over Honolulu' (U) and 'Men Not 
Gods*, (UA), dual, satisfactoi^ $8,100. 
^ Colonial (Loew) (1,643; 55-85-$1.10- 
$1.65)— 'Captains Courageous' (MG) 
(2d week). Drew very good trade 
opening stanza of roadshow here, 
but not sockO, indicating Hub public 
may be losing taste for toadshOws. 
Reviews and word-of-mouth better 
than indicated by $9,500 for first 
frame. 

Fenway (M&P) (1,400; 25-35-40-50) 

— Midnight Taxi* K20th) and 'Prince 
tod Pauper' (WB) (2d run), dual. 
Fair $5,500 on the way. Last week. 
'Call It a Day' (WB) and 'Once 
a Doctor* (WB), dual, so-so $4,800. 

Keith Memorial (RKO) (2,90(); 25- 
-40-55 )-.'Cafe Metropole' (20th) and 
•Let Them Live' (U), dual. Young- 
Power combo is sUre-fire here. Big 
$19,000 indicated. Last week, 'Shall 
We Dance' (RKO) finished two-week 
sOlo with dandy $16,200 in second 
week. 

Metropolitan (M&P) (4,300; 35-55- 
75)— 'Go Getter' (WB) and Benny 
Goodman band. Whammo on strength 
of the band alone. For first time in 
months the de luxer has chance to 
crack $37,000. Last week, 'Turn Oft 
the Moon* (Par ) and stage show, dis- 
mal $15,500. 

;^Orpheum (Loew) (2,900; 25-35-40- 
^»92"T?tai' Is Born'; (UA) and 'Family 
Affair' (MG) (2d week). Sailing 
mtO big holdover week, $15,000. First 
week hot $19,000. 

_^Parampunt (M&P) (1,800; 25-35- 
55)— 'Midnight Taxi' (20th> (1st run) 
and Prince and Pauper' (WB) (2d 
run), dual. Medium $7,000. Last 
week, 'Call It Day* (WB) and ^Once 
Doctor' (WB), dual, wilted to $6,000. 
Scollay (M&P) (2,700; 25-35-40-50) 

— Mountain Justice' (WB) and 'King 
of Gamblers' (Par).. Slushing around 
at $5,500 crawl. Last week, 'Wake 

i^-T P^A^rls^^^. and 'Men in 

Exile' (WB) (1st run), dual, very 
good $8,500. 

^ State , (LoeW) (3,300; 25-35-46-50)— 
f^^- M^;^"^ ^^A) and 'Family. 
Affair' (MG) (2d week). Aiming at 
pleasing . $12,500. First week sockb 
?17,500. 

Garden Find Debuts 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Robert, randin, warbling i)i-otege 
of Mary - Garden; makes his screen 
debut in Metro's 'The Firefly.' 

Real name is Julius Skliite. 



PHIL EEGAFS TRIO 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Phil Regan's initlaier of three pix 
to be made for ReiJublic will be 'One 
If By Land,' Winston Miller Oi-iginal. 

Second will be 'Merry-Go-Roundi' 
title of which was acquired from the 
radio show, and the third. ' it Pa- 
rade of 1938.' 



, Philadelphia, May 25. 

With Summer weather arriving lor 
fair,, biz in . Philly's downtown fii 
houses started to slide and the cur* 
rent week is figured to be deci 
under recent siverage. 

Crix were JgeheraUy hospitable io 
both 'This Is My Affair' at the 
Stanley and 'They Gave Him a Gun' 
at the Fox. Marquee names in 'Af- 
fair' are likely to hold it to a higher 
figure than 'Gun.' 

•Star Is Born* is now in its fourth 
week at the Aldine,. thus establish- 
ing best record house has had this 
year. , 'Wt)man Chases Man* is set 
for Friday (28). That will carry 
house— which isn't air-cooled— into 
middle of Junie, later than last year. 
Estimates for This Week 

Aidine (1,300; 40-55.65)^'A Star 
Is Bom' (UA) (4th wk.). Should 
get $8,000 or better if it completes 
7-day period. . Best record for house 
this season. . Last week's $11,300 was 
Plenty hot, 

Arcadia (600; 25-4^-50 )—'Waiki 
Wedding' (Par) (2d run). House 
tried a new opening date on this one. 
bringing it in Sunday (23). Should 
get $2,600, fair. Last week 'Husband 
Lies' (Par) (2d run), sad fioppo at 
$400 in two days. Back bf that 'In- 
temes Can't Take Money' (Par) (2d 
run), fairish $2,200 in seven days. 

Boyd (2,4016; 40-55-65 )-^'Prince and 
Pauper* (WB) (2d wk ). Complet- 
ing week tonight with $10,500 intake, 
fair. Laist week, $15,500, good, out 
not what had been hoped^ 'I Met 
Him itt Paris'; (Par) tomorrow 
(Wednesday). ■ 

Earle (2,000: 25-40-55 )-r'Melody for 
Two' (WB) and vaude. Califomi 
Collegians and .Stepin Fetchit on 
stage. So-so $12,000 in sight. Last 
week 'Way Out West' (MG) and 
vaude (Guy Lombardo), got nice 
$16,000. 

Fox (3,000; 40-55-'65)— 'They Gave 
Him a Gun* (MG). Crix raved, but 
pic isn't likely to have much appeal 
for house clientelie. Fair $14,000 
seen. Last week 'Gafe Metropole' 
(20th), strong reviewis and word-of- 
mOuth built this one . yp to swell 
$16,500 after slOw staft. 
- Ka,rIton (1,000; 25-35-40) r- 'Shall 
We Dance* (RKO) (2d run). Okay 
$3,000 figured. Last week '23% 
Hours Leave* (GN) (1st run) poor 
$2,000. 

Keith's (2,000; 30-40-50) — 'Cafe 
Metropole* (20th).. Shoved in here 
for second run and should get nice 
$3,200. Last week 'Wake Up and 
Live' (20th) second week of . second 
run, strong $2,800. 

Stanley (3^700; 40-55)— mi is Is My 
Affair' (20th). Notices good and 
names mean something on marqUee. 
Only weather to hurt. Ought to get 
$16,000 and a holdover; mebbe more. 
Last week 'Shall We Dance* (RKO) 
(2d wk,), $12,000 after first week's 
$17,300 gave pic a good two weeks* 
run. but not notable. 

Stanton (1,700; 30-40-50)— 'Soldier 
arid Lady* (RKO). Looks Very 
dubious; so-so $4,800 will probably 
be all. Last week 'King of 
Gamblers* (Par), average $5,500. 

Free B.B. Sloughs Lincoln 
Biz; *Ster* Good $4,000 

ihcoln. May 25. 
'Star Is Born! is leaning for the 
better sugar at the. Stuart, while rest 
of the town is so-sO. Civic opening 
of the floodlighted, free admish, ball 
parks. Which drew 297,000 last sea- 
son, giving the pix hoUses plenty to 
worry about. 

Estimates for "riiis Week 
Liberty (LTC) (1,200; 10^15)— 
'Charhe Chan Olympics' (20th) plus 
'Looking for Trouble'. (UA), split 
with 'Scotland Yard'- (Par) plus. 
'Mummy's Boy.s* (RKO). Not bad 
if the weather stays, cbol; might 
touch $800. Last week, 'Old Corral' 
(Rep) plus 'Laughing at Trouble' 
(20th), split with 'Happened Out 
West' (20ih) plus 'Public Enemy's 
Wife? (WB), ir $800. 

Lincoln (LTC) (1,600; .10-20-25)--- 
'Night Must Fall' (MG). About aver-, 
age, $2,200. Last week, 'Cafe Metro- 
pole' (20th), very nice $2,800. 

rpheum (LTC) (1,350; 10-15^20- 
25)-^'Murder in Red Barn' (MG), 
split with 'Elephant Boy' (UA), plu.s 
mentalist. Dr. X, on the stage. Total, 
will be little better than $1,700, so-so. 
Last Week, 'That I May Live' (20th ) 
plus 'Greenwich Village Gambols.' 
unit, split with 'Men Are Not God.s' 
(UA) nlus 'China Passage' IRKO), 
fair $2,300. • 

Stuart (LTG) (1,900; 10-25-401— 
'Star Is Born' (UA). Doing swell 
biz; present pace indicates: $4,000. 
Last week, 'Maytime' (MG), terrific 
$5,6.00, 

Varsity (Westland) (MOO; 10-20- 
25)— 'Trouble in Morocco' (Col) 
plus 'Backstage' (GB). So-so $900. 
Last week,. 'Silent Barriers' (GB) 
plus' 'Motor Madness' (Gol), fair 
$1,000. 



Wednesday, May 26, mi 




ICTURB GROSSES 



VARIETY 



CIn Biz on See-Saw; 'Prince/ Un^ t 
Big $31000; Harried/ HcQuarrie 
PA N.G. $im iOOO 



4* 



icago, May 25. 

them that ha"s. gets: them ^as 
haven^fiot good Pix arein a pretty 
harv/ay this week, There is . no 
iifletween currently in the box- 
offSe receipts. The houses are either 
Sthere, or way down. , 
Riding into one of its^best yre^s 
long, long whUe iB the Chicago, 
which is crowding into considerable 
S With 'Prince and Pauper on 
SJSen^ and 'St Moritz Follies* on 
Following a long line 



ctaffe Jf'OUOWinB.. « xuiie "^»'» . Of • 

8Sie Ghan' cUcka at the pnental, 
the current 'At the Olympics' who- 
dunit is doing all right. 

On the sadder side of the picture Is 
the State-Lake, which based all .of 
+hi« week's hopes on Haven Mc- 
QuarrYe'f 'Do ^ou Want to Be an 
Actor'' personal on the stage; and it 
has turned but to be a public nay, 
instead of aye. 

Estimated for Thi$ Week 
Apollb (B&K) (1,200; 35-55-65-75) 
^^ight Must Fall' (MG). Gettmg 
tofe comment in the pubUc prints 
and good wbrd-of -mouth. . Highly 
satisfactory at $9,000. .Xagt week 
•Metropole* (20th)i oke $7,200. 

Chicago (B&K) (4,000; 35-55-75)— 
•Prince and Pauper* (WB) and stage 
show. 'St; Moritz Ice Follies* head- 
lining stage and accounting for ppr-. 
tion of the good b.d. currently. 
Started well and looks to hold to 
best mark in weeks at $31,000. Last 
week Turn Off Moon' (Par) and 
stage show, $24,000, ppor. . 

Erlanffer (1,200; 55-83-1.10-1.65)— 
'Captains Courageous' v (MG) (3d 
week). Getting good eviening play. 
Got $11,000 in second session; okay. 

Garrick (B&K) (900; 35-55-65-75) 
—Turn Off the Moon' (Par). In 
here from the Chicago, but still no 
go.' Looks like poor $5,500 at best. 
Last week 'Wake Up* (20th) did good 
enough considering length of stay, 
in loop with $6,400. '; 

Oriental (B&K) (3,200; 35-45-55- 
65)— 'Chan at Olympics' (20th) arid 
vaude. Flicker is surefire- here. 
Stage has Heloise Martin, the girl 
who got- her picture in the rhags 
taking a. shower, and Harry Savoy; 
$15,000, will be okay. Last week 
'13th Cihair' (MG) and vaude, fair- 
ish $15,100. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 35-55-65^75) 
—'Shall We Dance* (RKO) and 
vaude (4th week). Finishing this 
\yeek. Picked up after, bad slump 
in second siessiori. Will conclude to 
$14,000, okay, following $16,300, good 
enough, in third week. 

Boosevelt (B&K) (1.500: 35-55-65- 
75)— 'Old Soak' (MG) (2d week). 
Never got started; goes out tomorrow 
(Wed.) to be replaced by 'Make 
Way for Tomorrow' (Par). For this 
week around $8,000, sad. Last week, 
poor $9,000. 

State-Lake (Jones) (2,700; 25-35- 
45-55)— 'Let's Get Married* (Col) 
and vaude. Haven McQuarrie*s radio 
act in person on the stage, and 
figured lor business. However, a 
distinct disappointment at $12,000. 
Last week, 'Night Key* (U) and 
vaude, fair, $13,300. 

United Artists (B&K-MG) (1,700; 
35-55-65-75)— 'Star Is Born' (UA) 
i^d week). Will stay four weeks. 
Nearly $13,000 currently, line, after 
^ouchinj $16,700 last week (2d). 
They Gave Him a Gun' (MG) fol 
lows. 



Who Dared' (GN) and *Headed for 
Rio Grande^ (GN), t^ooks like $2,500, 
good. House: dark last week. 
. Clneqia . l^arli (France-Film) 
(600; 50) 'Cesar.' Okay at $3,00O. 
Last week, second of 'Marius 6t 
Fanny,' good $1,600. 

S<(. Benla (France-Filnn) (2,300; 34) 
—'Elaine'* and *La Meprise de Mde 
Vidal.' Average $4,800. tast week, 
'Josette' and 'Mysterieuse Lady,' good 
$5,200. 

Hot Temp., Cold 




Ne'er Too Late 



HoUyWbod, May 25. 

Irving Cummiirigs is display- 
ing around ah embossed scroll 
sent to- him by the Societe des 
Artistes of '.Xiangres, France, 
commending his directorial job 
on 'The Whitb Parade.' ■ 

Pic was niade two years- ago, * 



BUFF. BIZ BUM: 





Young-Power, $7,000, 
Nice in Dull Mont'I 



Montreal, May 25. 
^Holiday week-end (Victoria Day 
Monday) arid warm weather pulling 
aown grosses. Looks like Capitol, 
Cafe Metropole,' will top town 

^, EsUirtatiBs for Tftls Week 
t,^*,'c*J'»J«sty's (CT) (1,600; 50-75- 
|i-$l;.5p)— 'Lost Horizon' (2nd week), 
kf^"^ showmg , first week at little 
better than $3,500: Figured to im- 
Sf^u^, '^"''.'^?'^"y> but prices are too 
high for this town. . 

Palace (CT) (2,700; 50)— 'Star is 
Born (UA) (3rd wk). Still holding 
up .^with likielihood of. good $5,000, 
Last week, first, big $7,500. 

.Capitol (Ct) (2,700; 50) 'Caje 
Metropole' (20th) and That I May. 
i-'ve (20th). Pointing for nice $7,- 
a J .^'^^ week, 'Call It Day' (WB) 
a" $5 000 ^'"■'^'"8' (WB), riot so . hot 

Loew's* (M. T. Go.) (3,200; 50)— 'No 

Man of Own' (Par) and 'Hills of Old 

Wyoming' (RKO), plus stage show. 

.js getting average play at $8,500. 

W we^k, 'Hit Parade' (Rep) and 

tonXJf Blues* (Rep), with revue, 
$a,qpo,- good. 

Princess (CT) (2,300; 50)— 'Woman 
i Love- (RKO) and 'California 
^tiaisht Ahead (U). Not Very 
promising and chances are for 
around $4,500, fair. Last week. '50 
Koads (20th) and . 'Charlie Chan at 
Olympics; (20th). nice $5,500. 

Orpheum, (Ind) (900; 34)— Tjvb 



incirinati. May 25, 
Sunimer temperatura over the 
weekend put the chill on takes of 
majority of riiain-Steriii cinemas. 

Trade topper currently is 'A' Star 
Is Born,' registering $17,000 for the 
Aibeie, a shi ing figure in any kind 
of weather. By contrast, 'Turn Off 
the Moori' Is charted :for $6,500 at 
the Palace; cloudiest take for that 
stand in iquite a spell. 

Estimates for This Week 
Albce (RKO) (3,300; 35-42)— 'Stal- 
ls Born' ; (UA). Smash $17;000; Last 
week 'Cafe Metropole' (20th ), $14,000, 
good. 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 35-42)— 
'Cafe Metropole' (20th) (2d run). 
Pair $4,000. Last weisk 'CaU It Day' 
(WB)* $3,500, tariie^ 

Family (KKO) (1,000; 15-25)— 
'Midnight Taxi' (20th) and 'Nobody's 
Baby' (MG), split. Okay $2,200. 
Last week 'Avenging Angels^ (RKO) 
and 'Woman Alone' (GB), split, $2,- 
300, good. 

Grand (RKO) (1.200; 25-40)— 'Shall 
We Danc6' (RKO). Third downtown 
week; $3,000,, faii:. Last week, 'No 
Man of Own' (Par) (revival), Jriild 
$2,500. 

Keith's (Libson) (1,500; 25-40)^ 
'Fifty Roads' (20th), Average $4,500. 
Last week 'Mountain Justice' (WB), 
$4,500, average. 

Xyric (RKO) (1,400; 35-42 )— 'Silent 
Barriers' (GB). Slow $3,000. Last 
week 'Park Ave. Logger' (RJfCO), 
$3,000, meek. 

Palace (RKO) (2.600^ 35-42)— 
Turn Off Moon' (Par). Very poor 
at $6,500. Last week 'Shall We 
Dance' (RKO) (2d week)* $7,500, 
fair. 

Shubert (RKO) (2,200; 35-42)— 
'Wake Up* (20th) (2d week), Swell 
$8^500. Pulled $15,000, great, in first 
seven days. Will remain for third 
week. 

Conventions Flood Indlps. 
And Vaude Spots Benefit 

Indianapolis, May 25. 
Several conventions meeting here 
this week are bringing an overflow 
of out-of-tbwners. Stage attractions 
at the deluxe Indiana arid the sriialler 
Lyric are giving these two down- 
town spots the edge over the film 
houses in playing to the convention 

delegates. 

Estimates for This Week 
Apollo (Fourth Ave.) (1.100; 25 
40)— 'Angel's Holiday' (20th). Jane 
Withers means little here, and the 
take will be mild at $3,500. Last 
week 'Prince and Pauper' (WB), $3, 
500, light. " ' 

Circle (Monarch) (2,800; 25-40)-^ 
•Makei Way for Tomorrow' (Par), 
dualled with 'Silent Barrier^* (GB) 
Former picture, lacking nariies, was 
plugged valiantly in novel ad cam- 
paien, but results are poor at $3,300. 
Last week 'Turn Off the Moon' (Par) 
on dual with \ 'King of Gamblers' 
(Par), tepid $4,000, 

Ihdiaiia (Devihe) (3,100; 25^40)— 
'Soldier arid Lady' (RKO) and 
Fletcher Henderson band on stage. 
Latter featured in ads; ice $10,200. 
Last week 'Man Who Found Himself 
(RKO) and Jari Garber orch, ftrii§hed 
with $10,800, which is, moderate 
profit in face of tilted, expense of 
show. 

Loew's ■ (Loew's) (2,600; 25-40)— 
'woman (jhases Man' (UA) .on twin 
bill with •! ..Promise to. Pay^ (Cpl) 
Fol-mer stressed and . ^ on; way to 
$6,200, okay. Last Week, dual of 'Star 
Is Born' (UA) and 'Song of City' 
(MG), good $8,100. 
. Lyric (Olson) (2.00O; 25-30-40)— 
'As: Good as Married' (U) and Mills 
Bros. A neat profit for this con 
sisteritly good vaudfilmer With an in 
dicated take of $9,800. Last week 
'Cafe' Metropole' (20th) and Ted 
Lewis band on stage, very big $13,- 
000, which Was not far from house 
record. 



, Buffalo, May .25. 
Box office figures ,are marking 
time this week, with average tak- 
ings Indicated all around. 'Shall We 
Dance' is being held for a secorid 
week at the Lsikes. 

Estimaties for This Week 

Buffalo (iShea) (3,600; 30-40-55)— 
'Star is Born' (UA). Looks lik« 
around $16,000, good enough. Last 
week, 'Call It a Day' (WB) and 
Horace Heidt's band, not quite up ro 
expectatioris but fair al? $18,000. 

Century (Shea) (3,400; 25^35)— 
'No Man of Her Own' (Par), and 
'Girl From Scotftnd Yard' (Par). 
Ariothier average dusd, maybe. $6,500.> 
Last week, 'Timfe Out for Romance' 
(20th) and 'Her Hysband Li ' (Par ), 
$6,300, fair. 

Great Lakes (Shea) (3,400; 30-50) 
Shall We Dance' (RKO) (2d Wk). 
Still going strong for possible $9,000. 
Last week, excellent $13,400. 

Hipp (Shea) (2,400; 25-40)— 'Love 
From a Stranger' (UA) and 'That 
Man's Here Again' (WB). Looks 
headed for good $7,500. Last week. 
Nobody's Baby' (MG) arid 'Fire 
Over Englarid' (UA), $5,500. so-so. 

Lafayette (Ind.) (3.400; 25-35)— 
Racketeers iri Exile' (Col) and 
Back Stage' (GB). Only $6,500 in 
sight. Last week, 'We. Have Our 
Moments' (U) and 'Girl Overboard' 
(U), poor $6,300. 

B'KLYN WILTS 



Biz Scnuns, Red Splasher 6'way; 
%m% flutton OK Wc, DHamecl' 
I BergnerJSG, Both N. G. 




Beaches, Parks^ Do the Biz; 'Melody' 
Dual N. G. $i3,0QQ 



Brooklyn, May 25. 
Warm', sunny skies drove majority 
of residents to beaches and parks 
over weekend, making considerable 
dentin b. o.'s at downto\yn. deluxers., 
Picture fare is only so-so. 

Estimates for This Week 
Albee (2,500; 25-35-55)— 'Wake Up 
and Live' (20th) and 'You Can't Buy 
Luck' (RKO). Lively ballyhoo for 
this pair will give house satisfactory 
$15,500. Last week^ 'Cafe Metropole' 
(20th) arid "That 1 May Live' (20th )i 
$15,500, alright. 

Fox (4,0OO; 25-35-55)— 'Melody for 
Two' (WB) and 'Angel's Holiday' 
(20th). ' Anticipate weak $13,000. 
Last week,. 'Thunder in City' (GB) 
arid 'In the Army Now' (GB), $17,000, 
fine. 

Met (2,400; 25-35-55)— 'Star Is 
Born* (UA) and 'Way Out West' 
(MG). Holding . up to tune of $15,- 
000, okay. Last week, 'Night Must 
Fall' (MG) and 'Family Affair' (MG), 
good $16,000. 

Paramount (4,000; 25-35-55)— 
'Prince and Pauper' (WB) arrives 
tomorrow (Wednesday). Last week; 
'Internes' (Par) and 'Call It a Day' 
(WB), $15,000, okay. 

Strand (2,000; 25-35-55)— 'Draeger- 
man Courage' (WB) and 'Tough to 
Handle' (Synd). Better than aver- 
age at $6,000. Last weiek. 'Bill Cracks 
Down' (Col) and 'Venus Makes 
Trouble' (Col), $5,000, poor. 



Business hks suddenljr taken it on 
the lam., leaving certain pictures with 
a smaller gross than.was anticipated. 
This is .tr tie of only a few, however, 
the list generally ..being none tod 
strong, in b. ,6, weight. Matinees are 
way .off all ovej;' town* including the 
$2 'Captains Courageous,' and ori the 
past weekend the pl^y was very 
slender for all theatres. 

Best take this week is the Par- 
amount's $34,000, where 'Turn Off 
the Moon' is getting good in-piersoh 
support firbm Ina.Ray Button's band. 
House threw in a preview last night 
(Tues.) of ;'I Met Him in Paris,' which 
is scheduled to open at the Par next 
Wednesday (2 ) after two weeks of 
the current bill. House is doing bet- 
ter on the mats than other houses, 
but nothing extra at night, althoiigh 
the $34,000 first wetsk provides a nice 
profit. 

Biggest disappointei: , at the ticket 
windows is the Astaire-Rogers musi- 
cal, 'Shall We Dance.- at the Music 
Hall. It slipped the first week to 
$94,500 and this week (2d) will be 
lucky to hit $70,000. This means a 
profit, , but riot what the manage- 
ment had hoped for, even though the 
picture came in late. 

'Dreaming Lips,' coupled with the 
Walt Disney Acaderiiy Award Reyue 
cartoon special, . running 45 minutes, 
is popr at the Riyoli, ,an<3 'As (3ood 
as Married,' Roxy incumbent,. Is no 
better. Hiv's ■ first seven days with 
the Elisabeth . Bei*gner British-lriade 
and the Disney picture is blah at 
$18,000, While 'Married' puts the Roxy 
in the red at $23,000. 'Lips' goes an- 
other half-week at the Riv, with 
'Hit Parade' coming in Saturday 
(29). Roxy bpens^ 'Wings Over 
Honolulu' Friday (28), while the 
Music Hall ushers iri 'This Is My Af- 
fair' tomorrow (ThurS.). , 

Among pictures which the street 
feels should have received better 
business, breaks is 'Prince and the- 
Pauper.' which, ended third week last 
night (Tues.) at around $17,000, The 
sefotid week also wais not what it 
should have been at $25,000. 'They 
Gave Hini a Gun' is suffeiririg from 
an apathetic, public. Picture got only 
a little better than poor $20,000 last 



'Ladies' Gets Toppers 

Holly wood, May 25. 

Lynhe Overriian, Eleanore Whitney, 
Johriny Downs, Benny Baker and 
Terry Walker have bfeen set for the 
cast of Paramount's 'Good Night, 
Ladies,' which George Archainbaud 
is preppirig for productlori. Miss 
Whitney is now resting following a 
p. a. toiir in thie east and Downs 
was recalled from a Honolulu vaca- 
tion to work in the pic. 

Screenplay was penned by Lillie 
Hayward arid Eddie Welch. 



Miss Gibson i(jet8 'Pooi' 

Hollywood, May ZS. 

Pandr^o S. Herman has assigned 
Diana Gibson to a featured spot in 
'Stage Dqor,^ Radio production with 
Gregory LaCava directing. 

Other toppers in the cast are 
Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers 
and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. 




WUteinan 
Running Neck ¥ Neck iii Rainy Wash. 

Washington, May 25. . big $20,500. La.st week, /Prinde and 



Everybody prietty well satisfied 
this week, although no records are 
being threatened. Plenty ot rain 
over weekend kept '.em from flock-, 
ing to woods and total take, is oke. 

Capitol and iSarle, two Vjaude spots, 
are battling on even ground? witli 
Paul Whiteman. at former and (J,\iy 
Lombardo at latter. Interesting an- 
gle of week is way 'Shall We Dance,' 
which operiirig under other Astaire- 
Rogers pics, is hanging on. riicply 
through, third week,: indicating that 
the pe^Me figured it would be 
around month iat. least .and didn't 
■rush to see it. 

Estimates for This Week 
Capitol (Loew) (3.424; 25-35-00 )— 
'Old. Soak' (MG) and vaude, Wbilt- 
man helping Beery; should see oke 
$21,500. Last week. 'Cafe Metro- 
pole' (20th). good $22,000. 



Pauper' (WB)' and Hal Kemp orch, 
tiice $19,500 

Keith's (RKO) (1,830; 25-35-60)— 
'Shall We Dance' (RKO) (3d week). 
Holding up to ice $7,500, Last 
week, same pic, took good $0,500. 

Met (WB) (1,853; 25-40)— 'Doctor's 
Diary' (Par). Maybe $4,OO0, oke. 
Last week, ' ilent Barri ' (GB), 
fair $3,800. 

Palace (Loew) .(2,363; 25-35r60)— 
•ROmeo and Juliet' (MG). First pop 
price run after three weeks of 
roadshow last fall Should see nice 
$19,000. Last . wceki 'Star Is Born' 
(UA) (2d week), oke $9,000. 

Rlallo (Indi (1,100; 25-30-40-55) 
— 'Barbary Coast' (UA) and, 'Ghost 
Goes West' (UA). (revivals). Should 
get good $.3,000. Last week, 'Be Mine 
Tonight' (U) •land .'ll's'a. Gift' (U) 



Columbia (Loew) (1,583; 25- i revival.-,-),, s^atisfactory $2,4j)0 

'Wake Up' (20th) (2d run). Look- 
ing toward riicie $5,000. La.sl week, 
'Personal Property' (MG) (,2d run), 
oke $4 500 

Barie (WB) (2.244; 25-.'55.-40-f)0- 
70)_'Go-Getter' (WB) and vaude. 
Guy Lombardo pulling gross toward 



Belasco ' (Indle) (1. 100; 25-35-55)— 
—'Gods At lay' (Globe), Eight 
days split 11-day period got 

oke $4,000. 'Le BqnheUr' and. 'Lac 
Aux Dame.s' (Franco-American) 
opened tonight (25) for four-day fill- 
in run. 



week, flrist, and on a forced holdover 
will be lucky to hurdle $12,000. 

'Charlie Chan at the ,01ymi>ics,' on 
a grind at the Central, is doing 
pretty well. $9,000 or a bit over, after 
a disappointing week with '23^, 
Hours L0ave.' which last week 
slipped to $7>500 along with the 
rest of the street. Arthur Mayer got 
only a fair $7,500 ith 'Nobody's 
Baby' at his Rialto and replaced it 
yesterday morning (Tues.) with 
'What. Price Vengeance.' 

First week for .'Captains Coura- 
geous' totaled $17,200, good but not 
startling. This is about $5,000 under 
capacity. Instead of closing today 
(Wed.). 'Horizon' is being forced an- 
other three weeks at the twice-daiiy 
Globe by Columbia. Picture is do- 
ing only around $7,000. 

Estimates for This Week 

Astor (1,012; 55-$1.10-$1.65-$2.20)-- 
'Captains Courageous' (MG) t2d 
WPek), Started its run at a bad tiisie 
of the year; with riialinee<? suffering; 
the first week's ,gross hit $17,201), 
good but nothing uonsational. 

Capitol (4,620; 25-35-55-85-$1.25)— 
'They Gaye Him a Gun' (MG). (2d-, 
final: week). This one was forced 
into a. second ' week (current); only 
around $12,000, poor. Oh the first 
seven days it went a little over $20,- 
OOO, weak. 'Pick a Star' (MG) opens 
tomorrow (Thurs.). 

Central (1,000; 25-35-40-.55-65-75- 
85-99)— 'Charlie Chan at Olympics' 
(20th), Will be $9,000 or over, pretty 
good. Last, week '23 1/^! Hours' Leave' 
(GN), slid, toward the end of the 
week, ending at $7,500, disappointing. 

Criterion (.1,662; 25-40r55)— 'Make 
Way for Tomorrow' (Par) (3d 
week). Built a little last week (2d), 
ending at over $10,000 and this week 
(3d) might be around $9,000. Al- 
though picture is making no money, 
it is going a. fourth week as a build- 
er-upper. 

Globe (1.274; 55-$1.10-$1.65-$2;20)— 
'Lost Horizon' (Col) (13th Week). 
Was to have closed today (Wed.), 
but is being pressed another three 
weeks. Last week (12th) only around 
$7,000. poor. 

Palace (1,700; 25-45-55)— 'Cafe Met- 
ropole' (20th) (2d run) and 'Melody 
for Two' (WB) (1st run), dualed. 
The 'Metropole' picture credited 
with majority of draw for $11,500 or 
better, oveir average. Last week's 
duo. 'Marked Woman' (WB) (2d 
run) and 'You Can't Buy Luck' 
(RKO) (1st run), finished under $9,- 
000, fair. 

Paramount (4.664; 25-35-55-85-99)— 
'Turn Off the Moon' (Par) and Ina 
Ray Huttbri band in person. With a 
preview of *I Met Him iri Paris' 
(Par) thrown in last riight (Tues.), 
first week's grbss of $34^000 is fairly 
good and combo holds. Miss Hut-^ 
ton's personal credited with much of 
the draw,. 'I Met Him in Paris^' with 
the Ozziie Nelson band, opens Wed- 
nesday (2), Last week, second for 
'Internes' (Par) and the Xavier 
Cugat orchestra, $21,000. fair. Dixie- 
land Jazz Band fell but on the hold- 
over when asked to take a 20% sal- 
ary 'Cut. 

Radio' City Music Hall (5,980; 40- 
60-85-$99-$l .65)— 'Shall We Darice' 
(RKO) and stage show (2d week). 
At only around $70,000 on the hold- 
over week. Astaire-Rogers pic is dis- 
appointing. First seven days slufTcd 
off toward the end to $04,500, along 
with the rest of the town, but on the 
fortnight'.s run at $104,500 there will 
be an agreeable profit. 'This Is My 
Affair' (20th), opens tomorrow 
(Thurs.). 

lllalto (750; 25-40-55) — 'Nobody's 
Baby' (MG). Finished out its week 
Mpriday night (24) at $7,400, ,iust 
fair; 'What Price Vengeance' ( inl- 
to) was brought in yesterday morn- 
ing (Tue.s.). 'Mountain Ju.sticc' 
(WB), in ahead of 'Nobody's Baby,* 
wound up at $7,000. 

RIvoll (2,092; 25-55-75-85-99)— 
'Dreariiing Lip.s' (UA) and, W.ilt 
Disney's Academy Award Revue 
(UA). Dual type of bill no dice; 
poor $18,000 first week. Goes three , 
additioriai days, 'Hit Parade' (Ren) 
opening Saturday morriirig (29)1 
"Third week for 'Cafe. Metropole'' 
(20th) was under $14,000. 

Roxy (5.836; 25-45-5.')-7.'5) — 'As 
Good As Married' f ) and staKe 
show. This one draws red at only 
$23,000. Last :week, "Talk of the. 
Devii: (GB), also, piiik. $22,500. 
'Wings Over Honolulu' (U) debuts 
Friday (2^). 

Siran (2.7(37; , 2,5-55-75 )~'Prince 
arid Paupier' (WB) Cid-final week). 
At around $17,000. this week (3d) un- 
der expectatiori.s and out. with 'Kid 
Galahad' (WB> reolacing this morn- 
ing (Wed.) Second week for 'Prince* 
was ■$25,000, good but leiis than an- 
ticipated. 

■ State (3.450; 35:-55-75) — ing 
HigK; (Pai) (2d run) and vaude 
headed by Anna Mae Wong and 
team of Smith and Dale, This week 
it looks like no more than $20,000. 
lowest in a long; long time, but still 
in black. Last week. 'Personal: Prop:- 
erty' (iVIG) (2d run) and Paul 
Whiteman'.i orchestra, $29,000. 



10 



VARIETY 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wetlnestlajr, May 26, 1937 



'Star' Bright $11,000 Among Minne/s 
Sad B.O/s; 'Horizon Poor at $1500 



Minnieajpolis, May 23. 
Sole good boxrofflce bet this week 
Is 'Star Is Born,' Marbh-Gaynor pic- 
ture promising to give the Minnesota 
' best gi"oss in several irioritbs. 

''ise trade continues decidedly: 
wobbly and mah^geri teairs still 
flow plentifully. . 

One week of roadshowi. 'Lost 
liorizoh' at the Lyceum was more 
than enough; 

Estimates for Xbis Week 

Aster (Publix-Singer) (900; 15-25) 
—'Nancy Steele* (20th) (2d run), 
split with dual firstrruns 'Bulldog 
Di-ummond* (Par) and 'Pehrod and 
Sam' (Par). Fair $1,200 indicated. 
Last week, 'Gay Desperado' (U)" and 
*When's Your. Birthday' (RKO) (2di 
runs), split with 'Night Key' (U> and 
'Happened Out: West! (20th), duals, 
fair $1,000. 

Century (Publix-Singer) (1,600; 
25'-35-40)— 'Romeo and Juliet* ■ (MG ). 
First pop engagement following last 
season's mild roadshdwirig at Alvin. 
and far froni setting the box-office 
afire. Tame $5,500 in prospect. Last 
weeki 'Shall We Dance* (RKO) (2d 
weiek), $5,000, ^air. . 

Lyceum (N. W, Bank) (2,200; $L65 
top)— 'Lost Horizon' (Col). In 14 
shows picture drew $4,500, not so 
good. Out-of-the-way, and rarely 
lighted house was a handicap. 

Minnesota (Publix-Singer) (4,200; 
25:-35-55)— 'Starls Boirn' (UA). Raves 
by critics and customers and a tip- 
top exploitation and . advertising 
campaign sowing seeds of brisk busi- 
ness, but far less than such an oiit- 
st^dihg attraction would pull under 
more normiat conditions. Heading 
for good $11,000. Last week, 'Prince 
and Pauper' (FN), $8,000. Fair. 

drpheuui (Publix-Singer) (2.890; 
25-35-40)— 'Old Soak' (MG). Pleas- 
ing enough entertainment, but Beery 
no draw here. Light $5,000 all that 
can be expected. Last week, 'Cafe 
Metropole' .(20th). $7,000, fairly good. 

State (Publix-Singer) (2.300; 25- 
40)— "That Man's Here' (FN) and 
•Midnight Taxi' (20th), dual. Rather 
frail line-up and will do well to 
reach weak $2,600. Last week, 'Way 
Out West' (MG) and 'Husband Lies' 
<Par), $3,600, fair. 

Time (Berger) (290; 15-25)—. 
Eighty Barnum' (UA). revival. Re- 
issue headed toward poor $400 oh 
five days. Last week, 'Dealers in 
Death' (Indie) and 'Last Journey' 
(Indie), dual. $700, ipoori 

Uptown . (Publix) (1,200; 25-35)— 
daytime' (MG ). First nabe show- 
ing for this hit is zooming toward big 
$4,000. Last week, 'Waikiki Wedding* 
(Par), $3,000, good. 

World (Steffes) (250;, 25-35-40-55) 
•^'Love from a Stranger' (UA). 
Looks like $1,000, light. Last week, 
'Smallaningar' (Swedish), $1,500, fair. 

Food Up, Port. Biz Down; 
'Gun' Dual Fair $5,000 

Portland, Ore., May 25. 

Rising , cost of groceries has been 
taking the edge off pix biz. Local 
exhibs are contemplating a raise in 
admish prices as the answer. They 
figure since everything else has gone 
up, ducats will haye to do the same.' 
Estimates for This Week 

Broadway (Parker) (2,000; 30-40) 
—'They Gave Him a Gun' (MG) and 
■'That Man's Here Again* (FN) Will 
wind up with fair $5,000. Last Week 
'Prince and Pauper' (FN) and 'Way 
Out West' (MG), cashed in on Coro- 
ination element in second week for 

kay $4,400. First, good $7,300. 

May fair ( Parker-Sver green ) ( 1 ;400: 
30-40)— 'Head Over Heels in Love* 
(GB). Good enough at $2,000. Last 
week (55-$1.65) — 'Lost Horizon' 
(Col), roadshowed and regiistered 
fair $4,500. 

O'rpheum (Hamrick - Evergreen) 
(2,000; 30-40)- 'Shall We Dance' 
(RKO) and 'Midnite Taxi* (20th) .(2d 
wk). Headed for fair $3,800 in five 
days. First week connected nicely 
for strong $8,000. 

Paramount (Hamrick -Evergreen) 
(3.000; 30-40 )— ' Wake >Up' (20th ) and 
*I Promise to Pay' (Col). Hitting ter- 
rific pace, for around $9,000. Last 
week 'Intiernes' (Par) and 'Thunder 
in City' (Col), closed for fair $5,600. 

United. Artists iParker) (1,000: 30- 
40)-^'Hlstory Made Ni?ht' (UA). 
Connecting for okay $5,000. Last 
week 'Garden of Allah' (UA), so-SQ 



MONO TRADES GOLDWYN 



Indie 



roducer Cast^ . Leads 
Borrow System 



on 



Breen's 'Wish* 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Principal Pictures' 'Make a Wish,' 

obby Breen starrer, started rolling 
on Ibcition at Cihatsworth last Fri- 
day (21); 

Moppet's suppoft includes Basil 
Rathbone, Marion Claire, Sammy 
McKim, Harry Watson, Tommy and 
Buddy Bupp, Rex , Downing and 
'Bobby Bollinger. 

Edward Gross is assdciate. pror 
ducer for Sol Lesser, and Kiirt Neu- 
mann directs. 



Scott R., Diinlap, Monogram v.p. in 
charge of production, has grabbed all 
thr^e isads via loan-out for; is 
forthcoming picy 'Hopsier Schoolboy.' 
Trio are Frank X. Shields, from Sain 
Goldwyn; Anna Neagle, frprn. 
Warnersj and ..Mickey Riooney, fropi 
Metro. Got Shieldis in trade for 
Movita Gastenada, Goldwyn want^ 
ing the South Seas girl for part in 
'Hurricane.' .Other tWo were out 
right loans, 

Generally consider6d difficult. for 
indies to get players from majors, 
former rarely having desired ma- 
terial for swap. 




Torrid at $7,500 



Baltimore, May 25. 
Sudden , onslaught of . tropical 
weather denting local box offices this 
week, with all cooling plants in full 
swing. . 

This Is. My Affair' got. off to a 
good opening at the New, .indicating 
a hot $7,500. Hippodrome,' town's 
lone combo,..is playing Major Bowes'^ 
International Revue on stage to bol- 
ster ^Behind Headlines' and getting 
a so-so $11,800. 'Star; Is Born,' at 
Loew's Century, and 'Prince and 
Pauper,' at the. Stanley, maintai ihg 
fair pace in h.o. weeks. 

EatlmstcB for This Week 

Century (Loiew-UA) (3,000; 15-25- 
35r40-55)— 'Star Is Born' (UA) (2nd 
wk). Maintaining nice pace at $9,- 
000, after a bang-up first week of 
$16,800. 

Hippodrome (Rappap6i-t) (2^300; 
15-25-35-40-55-66) — 'Behirid Head- 
lines' (RKO) and Major BoWes' Ih- 
ternatibnal Revue. Crarnering only 
so-so $11,800. Last week 'Thunder 
in City' (Col) and vaude, not very 
exciting $11,400. 

Keith's (Schanberger) (2,500; 15- 
25-30-35-40-55)— 'As Good aS Mar- 
ried' (U): Not much more than $5,- 
400, weak. Last week, five days of 
'When Love Is Young' (U), n.g. 
$3,100. 

New (Meiehanic) (1,400; 15-25-30- 
40-55)— 'This Is My Affair' (20th). 
Off to profitable $7,500: Last week,, 
second of 'Cafe Metropole* (20th), 
okay $5i500. 

Stanley (WB) (3,450, 15-25-35-40- 
55)— 'Prince and Pauper' (WB) (2nd 
wk). Holding fair pace to $5,900 after 
hey-hey opener of $11,800. 



Bettie Macdonald to LA. 

Bettie Macdonald, former Ziegfeld 
chorine, left for Hollywood Friday 
(21) on spec. 

Leon Errol and Walter Winchell 
encouraged the trip, feeling she 
could do okay as free lance. 



Yowsiiliy the Champ ! 



Ben Bernie set some sort of 
a priecedeht last week when the 
horse he owns, 'Wes,' finished 
third in the third race at Bel> 
mcint, Friday (21). Pals of 
Bernie claini that he now. has 
it on Bing -Crosby, .Joe Brown 
and' Cjlark Gable in being a film 
player hoss-owner to get .hi 
pony in the mohey. Berhie's 
hor^e paid 4-to-l to show. 



HEAT PLUS WEAK PK 
TOTAL N.G. L'VILLE BIZ 



Louisville, May 25 
Things are beginning -to , sag here 
with the coming of warm . weather 
and: grosses generally are showing 
an inclination to seek lower levels, 
Current Week's apathy is also caused 
by : ladk of standout product. Rialto 
; is leading town with 'Turn Off the 
Moon' and 'Night, of Mystery,' With 
Loew's State close behind on 'Wo- 
man Chases Man' and 'Song of the 
City." 

Estimates for This Week 
, Brown (Fourth Ave.-Loew's)— 
'Star Is Born' (UA) and 'Family Af 
fair' (MG), dual. Moved over from 
Loew's State after big seven days 
and will pick up $2,400. or there 
abouts here,- fair. Last week, 'Shall 
We Dance' (RKO), a ihoveover from 
RialtQ, good $3,000. 

Kentucky (Switow) (900; 15-25)— 
'Green Light' (WB) and 'Criminal 
Lawyer' (RKO), dual, splitting with 
'When You're in Love' (Col) , and 
'Girl from Scotland Yard' (Par), 
dual. Hitting aiverage $2,200. Last 
week, 'Swing High' (Par) and 'Your 
Birthday' (RKO), dual, fine $2,500: 

Loew's State (3,000; 15-25-40 J— 
'Woman Chases Man' (UA) 'ahd 
'Song of City' (MG), dual. Dual 
satisfactory at $6,d00. Last week, 
'Star Is Born' (UA) and 'Family Af- 
fair' (MG), dual, big $9,000. 

Mary Anderson (Switow) (1,000; 
15-25-40)— 'Go. CJetter' (WB). Only 
solo among first^runs and b.o. results 
n.s.h. at $3,400. Last week, second of 
•Prince and Pauper' (WB), okay 
$3,500. 

Ohio (Settos) (900; 15)— 'Married 
Her Boss' (Col) and 'Three on Trail' 
(Par),' dual, splitting with 'Witness 
Chair' (RKO) and 'Everybody's Old 
Man* (20th), dual. Fair $1,300 in 
sight. Last week, -Princess Comies 
Across'. (Par) and 'Big Broadcast' 
(Par), dual, splitting with 'Poor Lit- 
tle Rich Girir (20th) and 'Star of 
Midnight' (RKO), dual, average 
$1,400. 

Rtalto (Fourth Ave.) (3,000; 15-25- 
40)— 'Turn Off the Moon' (Par) and 
'Night of Mystery* (Par), dual. An- 
ticipate nice $6,500. Last: week, 
'Cafe Metropole' (20th) and .'Mid- 
night Taxi' (20th), dual, okay $6,500. 

Strand (Fourth Ave) (1,500; 15-25- 
40)— 'As Good As Married' (U) and 
'Let Them Live' (U), dual. Headed 
for $3,700, fair. Last wfeekj 'No 
Man of Own' (Par) and 'Night Key' 
(U ), ,dual, strong $4,800. 

Mary Boland in ^Danger' 

Hollywbod, May 25. 
Mary Boland has been inked into 
the cast of 'Danger, Love at Work,' 
20th-Fox starrer for Simone Simon. 
Otto LudTvig Preminger directs. 



deve. Look to Expo as 6.0^ Hypo; 
1)ance^fair$l(000;^l^ 



K. C. BLAH 



'Woman' Dual So-So $9,000; fMoon' 
Fair $8,500 



Cleveland, .May 25. 
Parade ot tourists helping grosses, 
a bit, but ail houses are waiting for 
opening Saturday (29) of Great 
Lakes Exposition's second edition to 
start the ban rolling. Exhibitors 



Kansas City, May 25. 
Looks, li week currently. 

Nice looking marquees, but ohly fair I l*!.ary of civic event's competish last 
biz. year, but in end benefited heavily 

EstimaieiT for ihi^ Week friom influx of visitors 

Mainstreci (RKO) (3,200; 25-40)— Three conventions this week givi 

•^r'^sSS ^ K*^ a push, paruoularly PauW. 

Midland (Loew) (4,000; 25-40)-^ fa" ?c,?°,VPJS^??"'^ behind at 

'Woman Chases Man' (UA) and 'ISthj ^Pajl we Dance is hav- 

Chair' (MG). Quiet $9,000. Last ■ iJ^ '1?^ ^^2?®/,?^ ?'PP 

week, :'Star Is Bom' (UA) and 'No- Aii.,«h«"*?^f!ir ^^'^ „ . 

body's Baby' (MG), big $13,500. oo^n*^?*V •* ^ ^hW\ 

Newman (Par) (1,900;. 25.40)- ??r30;35>--.^acketeer^ m Exile' 

•Call It Day' (WB) ahd 'Man Found M^^S^^nff ntt/tlnnn i^^?^ ^^d 
Himself (MCO). Fair. $6,000. Last f'j^iv.f"ajv. 

week. 'Shall We. Dance* (RKO) (2nd ^^" v,^*^/o°iS 
run), $4,500, n.s.h. S^5j,!li£°i^ ^^** ''""^*^^^^'«h ^^'^^^ 

Tower (Fox) (2.200; 25-40 )--'Cafeh°i?"^<*^yfj 
Metropole' (20th) and vaude. 



Fair I (RKO) (3,000; iZ5-40)— 

$9,000.^ Last week, 'nlt^'Wade* 
(Rep) and vaude, poor $8,000. «t w^OO 

Uptown (Fox) (2,020; 25-40)-^*,J7'%.Lf'=^^^^^ 
«Cafe Metropole' (20th).. Over J^Oth) on similar move-over, 

average at $4,500. Last week, 'Fifty | ) 



Roads! (20th) (2nd run), poor $3,800 
in eight days. 





1 FRKCO 



(3,700; 30-40)— 
'Shall We Dance' (RKO ). Slow, de- 
spite swelegant campaign; should 
rate fairly good $16,000, but may 
have to sweat to reach that figure 
if crowds don't pick u Last week 
'Prince and Pauper' (WB), was 
timely with coronation, angle, yet 
collected only $15,000, fair. . 
' Palabe (RKO) '■(3.200; 30-75)— 
'Melody for . Two' : (WB) with Cab 
Calloway's band on stage; Although 
too much music in this combo, Cot- 
ton Club revue is boosting weak- 
sister pix to $20,500. excellent. Last 
week 'As Good as Married' with 
Clark Robinson's 'Glorified Vanities' 
unit, dropped to $17,000. mild. 
: State (Loew's) (3,450; 30-65)— 
.'Night Must Fall* (MG). Copped top 
critical honors, also proving a good 
money-maker in spite Of macaber 



'Star,' 3d Wk, Big 7G; 
Rest of Seattle Blali 



Metro's Yiennese Tenoi* 

Metro has taken, an option on 
Serei Abranovich^ tenor f rOm Vienna, 
who recently arrived in N. Y. 

He is to be given a screcfn test in 
the next few weeks. 



Pix Singin' the Blues in Del; 'Stan 




Detroit, May 25. 
iz remains in depths. It's fourth 
In row for letdown, at pix 
Spots, Outdoor attractions, aided by 
warm weather, most of 

town*s coin. 

Leader looks like 'A Star is ' 
plus vaude, at the Michigan. 
Estimates for This Week 

Adams (Balaban) (1,700; 25-40)— 
'Silent Barriers' (GB) plus 'No Man 
Of Her Own' (Par), dual. Around 
$5,200, just about fair. Last week, 
'Cafe Metropole' (20t.h) (2d week) 
and 'Jeeves' (20th), former moved 
here from Fox, so-so $5,000, 

Cass (Indie) (1.400: $1.65 top)— 
'Good Earth' (MG) (4th. week). 
Pulled out Saturday (22) after four- 
week; favorable stand. Oke $5,700 
last week, following sessions of $10,- 
000, $12,000 and $1 1,500. 'Lost Hori- 
zon' (Col) opened roadshow stand 
Sunday (23); given favoriable send- 
off. 

Downtown (Ki-im) (2.800; 25-40)— 
'Slaves in Bondage' (Indie). For- 



men-only opus figures for nice $8,500. 
Last week, on '23% Hours Leave' 
(GN) and 'Boy Loves Girl' (GN). 
poor $3,000. 

Fox (Indie) (5,000; 30-40-65 )^'Ilit 
Parade' (Rep) with Gene Autry top- 
ping vaude. Oke $22,000. Last week, 
'Love Is Young' (U) plus Cab Callo- 
way band on stage, swell $23,000. 
'-Madison (United Detroit) (2,000; 
30-40-65)— 'Shall We Dance' (RKO) 
$6,000, following 
$8,000 last session after being moved 
here from Michigan. 

Michii:an (United Detroit) (4,000: 
30.-40-65)— 'Star Is Born' (UA) bUis 
stage show. Nifty $26,000 in view. 
Last week 'Turn . Off Moon' (Par ) 
and^'St. Moritz Follies' it, fair 
S19 500 

Detroit) (3,000; 25- 
40)— 'Billy the Kid' (MG) and 'Scot- 
land Yard' (Par), dual. Around 
.average at $7,200. Last week, .'Poker 
Plat' (RKO) . and 'Midnight Court' 
(WB), $7,200. fair. ^ , ■ 

United Artists (United Detroit). 
(2,000; ;30.-40-65)— '13th Chair' (MG). 
Thmgs. continue off here; $8,000 
rt.s.h. Last week 'They Gave Him 
Gun' (MG). so-so $7,800. 



San Francisco, May: 25. 

. 'Captains . Courageous,' which . _ 

opened roadshow engagement at thel f5f'^^'^^§;P^^^**^*^«'■\"Sv^f?st^weiek 
Geary theatre last week, is having L?°r'!'^ (UA). $9,500, 

trouble keeping afloat. Although StlUman (Loew's), (1,972; 25-35)— 
about $5,000 was sunk in advance on !Star Is Born' (20th)' (3d week). Still 

nrt\rprti«inif thp flearv \<in'i reoeivinf hOt; $6,500i SecOhd Week, after shift 

advertising, the ueary isn t receiving caught corking $9,500. 

a good play. . i 
-Estimates for This Week 

Fox (F-WC) (5,6o0; 35-55)— 'Kid 
Galahad' (WB) and 'Charlie Chan at 
Olympics* (20th). World preem of 
'Kid Galahad' stimulating plenty of 
interest and biz for week will rank 
with top grosses at this house. $21, 
000. Last week, 'Cafe Metropole' 
(20th) and 'Mountain Justice' (WB) 
(2d wk.), did $10,000, fair. 

Geary (Lurie) (1,200; 56-75-1-1.50) 
— 'Captains Courageous' (Metro). Pic 
go.t good notices, but the fans just 
aren't interested at these prices. Al- 
though the first night was plenty 
papered, .the lower floor was .little 
over half full. House has rather a 
phoney scale, with most of the seats 
selling at 50c. Last week 'Lost Ho 
rizon* (Col) (12th) overstayed its 
welcom« when it closed to thin 
$4,000. 

Golden Gate (RKO) (2,850; 35-55) 
—'Shall We Dance' (RKO) and 
vaude (2d wk). Only so-so $14,000 
in sight. Goes out tomorrow, Wed 
nesday, to make way for Bell's 'Orig 
inal Hawaiian Follies.' Last week, 
first, and vaudevillp, $22,000, good, 
prpheum (F&M) (2,440; 30-35-40) 

— League of Frightened Men' (Col) 
and 'Speed to Spare' (Col). Booked 
with a summer Of B product, the 
Orpheum had to drop the admish 
15c, competish from the other houses 
being far too keen. Expect $5;000 
currently. Last week 'Good as Mar- 
ried' (U) and '23>/2 Hours' Leave' 
(GN), poor $5,000. 

Paramount (F-WC) (2,740; 35-55) 

— They Gave Him a Gun' (MG) and 
^Melody for Two' (WB)/ Expect 
fair $12,000. Last week 'Night Must 
Fair (MG) and 'Nobody's Baby' 
(MG). disappointing $11,500. 

St. Frahois (F-WC) (1,470; 35-55)— 
Cafe Metropole' (20th) and 'Moun- 
tain Justice' (WB) (3rd wk). Antici- 
pate fairish $4,000. Last \week 'Man- 
hattan Melodrama' (MG) and 'Girl 
Loves Boy' (GN), good $5,500 in six 
days.. 



Seattle. May 25.. 
Copd biz continues, for 'Star, is 
Born/ now in its third week. Major 
Bowes unit at' Palomar shows con- 
tinued interest here in the ams. 

Rest of the town is in the dol- 
drums; 

Estimates for This Week 
Bide Moose (Hamrick-Evergreen.) 
(900; 32-37-42 ) ^ 'Cafe Metropole' 
(20th) and 'Midnight Taxi' (20th), 
dual. Moved from. Fifth Avenue;, in- 
dicate good $3,200 here. Last week, 
'Wake Up' (20th) arid 'Murder to 
Town' (Par), dual, (4th wk), bi 
$2,700. 

Coliseum (Hamrick-Evergreen ) 
(1,900; 21-32)— 'Swing High' (Par) 
and 'Clarence' (Par), dual; Expect 
only fair $3,500. Last week, 'Mrs. 
Cheney* (MG) and 'Under Cover 
Night* (MG), dual, poor $3,000. 

Colonial (Sterling) (850; 11-16-21) 
—'China Passage* (RKO) and 'Gold 
Bracket* (GN), dual. Iridicatie fair 
$2,300. Last week, 'Left Handed Law' 
(U) and 'Paradise Express' (Rep), 
dual, $2,400, fair. 

Fifth Avenne (Hamrick-Ever- 
green) (2,400; 32-37-42)— 'They Gave 
Him a Gun' (MCI) arid 'Nobody's 
Baby' (MG), dual. CoriibO drawing 
fair $6,800. Last week, 'Cafe Metro- 
pole' (20th) arid 'Mi ight Taxi' 
(20th), $7i600. good. , 

Liberty <J-vH) (1,900; . 21-32r42)-^ 
'Star Is Born* (UA) (3d wk). Paced 
to reach big $7,000. Last week, sec- 
ond for same film, big $8.500., 

Music Box (Hamrick-Evergreen) 
(900; 32-37-42)— -'Prince and Pauper* 
(FN) arid 'Song ^of City' (MG). dual 
(3d wk). Fair enough at $2,200. 
:Last week, same films, $3,200, good, 
Orpheum (Hamrick-Evergreen ) 





week fine $7,500 

Warfieid . (F-WG) (2,680; 35-55)— 
Turn Off Moon' (Par) and 'Two 
Wise Maids' (Riep). Not expectirig 
much over $9,000. Last week 'Prince 
.and Pauper' (WB^ and 'Fair Warn- 
ing,' second, n.g. $7;000. 

'Wish' Oets Castings 

Holly\yood, May 25. 

Sol Le.fser has spotted Herbert 
Rawlinson, Philip MacMahon, Spen- 
cer Charters, Billy Lee and Billy 
Lechncr in Principal's 'Make a Wish,' 
Bobby Breen starrer. 

Kurt Neumann directs. 



(2d wk), mild $4,600. 

Palomar (Sterling) (1,450: 16-27- 
37)— 'Everybody Danced' (GB) and 
Major Bowes unit. Drawing big 
$6,800. Last week; 'Hit: Parade' 
(Rep) and vaude. good $6.100,. 

Paramount (ttahirick-Evergreen) 
(3,106; 32-37-42)— 'As tSood as Mar- 
ried' (U) and 'Elephant Boy (UA), 
dual. No draught; $3,000 will be 
poor. Last week, 'Turn off Mo.on' 
(Par) arid 'LOve From Stranger' 
(UA), dual, slow $3,300. 

Roosevelt (Sterling) ( : 21-32)--- 
'Meade's Woriian' (Par) and 'Devil's 
Playground' ((jol), dual. Fairish $2.- 
500 expected. Last week, 'You're in 
Love' (Col) and 'Great O'Malley* 
(WBv, fair $2,600. 



INTERNATIONAI^ FILM NEWS 



€(kh\e> AddreHs: TABIETY, LONDON 
Teleplinno Xeinple Hue 0041-5041! 



11 



'teh Pirods. Demand Limitation 
Of U.S.Pixr(Mn Over-Flooding 



London, May 23. 

British producers, in a body,, troop 
lib to the Board of Trade tomorrow 
(W«di ) to plead lor limitation of 
American film imports. Th6y -will 
Itg^rt that unrestricted import of 
low-grade indie pix floods the mar- 
ket here and jams play-dates for 
British product. 

Another contention, held the 
British producers, is that there are 
more pix available for the 5,000 
United Kingdom theatres than for 
the 15,000 in the U. S. Federation Of 
British Industries wiU therefore be- 
seech His Majesty's government to 
introduce legislation to halt dump- 
ing on the market here. 

Producers: will also present a two- 
way, reciprocity, scheniie by which 
Amerjcan firms would, voluntarily 
agree to take Btitish product for the 
U. 9i or alternatively for compul-: 
^lon^ by which American outfits 
yroiid" be obliged to take British 
product for playing time in the .U. S. 
aa a condition of trading, in England.: 

Hooter Telk Anzac Pic 

Mob That Ihiak Are 
Rather Isolated in U, S. 

fi 

Sydney, May 6. 

Harry Hunter, 'newlyrarriyed Par- 
amount boss, told the pic mob at a 
luncheon given in his- honor that 
he couldn't quite figure out the tri^- 
meridous hold dual bills have in. 
Australia, He pointed out that in his 
own territory, Washington, D. C, and 
other spots,, the single feature pro- 
grams were quite satisfactory, 

Huiiter declined to make any 
itateiherit regarding the local quota. 

UMIT U. & FILMS 
TO 5 DAYS-TOKYO 



Tokyo, May .5. 

Because 'Toho houses in the Kwan- 
ial (Western. Japan) istrict' are 
zoroed'to take an increased number 
ot Jap subjects, due to Toho's pro- 
duction, .expansion, foreign: films, are 
being given only five-day bookings 
in those spots. Toho infornied Amer- 
ican managers that new schedule 
goes into effect May 12. 

New schedule affects Paramount, 
Universal, Columbia and RKO, all 
of them being, tied to Toho for re- 
leases. Grosses will be affected some 
because all pix won't get Sat-Sun 
play, which are the big money days, 
but it was a case of take it or have 
certain subjects stay in the vaults 
without possibility of release. Con- 
dition may right "^itself when Umeda 
Cehijo, Toho's new acer, is com- 
pleted.. 



Production Spurts with 
New itahan Hollywood 

!Rome, May 14. 
After the inauguration of the new 
Roman Holly Wood, Italian icture 
. production is experiencing a great 
push and the list Of pix scheduled 
.for spring prodiidtioh is very ambi- 
tious. 

. ^f^^ally finished .and sent over to 
the cutting and syiichronization 
studios are 'Scipio, the Africarti' '1 
Gondottieri' (The . Robber Barons), 
Fossa degli Angeli' (Tomb of the 
Angels), *I fratelli Gastiglioni' (The 
Castiglioni Brothers) and 'Regiiia 
aella Scala' (Queen of the Scala), 
Which Paramount is going to dis- 
wibute. The Italian Somaliland film. 
Which was to be called 'Marrabo' 
and has now been changed to 'Sen- 
tinella di Bronzo' (The Bronze Sen- 
"nel), is practically finished. 

#s Jap Distrib 

. Tokyo, May C . 

Lvn"^^ Srm of pix distribs. beaded 
oy Hoy Tanaka, formerly manager of 
western Japan for Paramount, has 
wKen over the distribution of Grand, 
mtional product for Japan, Man- 
cnuokuo. Chosen and Dairen. Head- 
Warters will be established at 
"saka, with branch here. 
,^f*^P°'^'ted new company contracted 
lor d8 pix, including two James Cag- 
v«y 3, on a straight royalty basis. 



Metro Registers Squawk 
On Laurel-Hardy Billing 

Berli , May 16. 
'Metro has taken steps to prevent 
the Hamburg Primus theatre from 
announcing the 'personal appearance 
Of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.' 

is announcement is clainled^ a 
hoax, for. the two appearing artists 
are. the French vaudeyillians, Laury 
andHardel. 







Sydney, May 11. 
Indie pic producers are making 
new efforts to put. some productions 
in work. 

Commonwealth Productions, under 
Jack Bruce;: expect -to get mipying 
within the next few weeks after 
leasing a studio site on the local 
show ground. New World Produc- 
tions will start shooting exteriors 
soon in Fiji instead of New Guinea 
On first try under A; R. Harwood, 

Latest to come into thiei indie game 
is Figtree Productions, Ltd., whichj 
has taken, over tlie old Mastercr^tft 
site arid the Efftee gear. New com- 
pany includes R. E. Denison, C. Ogil- 
vie and Fred Daniell. Denison is a 
son of Sir Hugh Denison, chairman 
of National Productions, and also 
head of Associated Newspapers. , 

Giiiiesound, the only unit in. con- 
stant production, has just completed 
'Tall Timber,' and swings at once 
into 'Lovers and Luggers,' under Ken. 
Hall. Actually, Stuart F. Doyle is 
the only person to make ia success 
so far in the local production field. 
There is a , very, strong feeling here 
how that the ihdies will make a de- 
termined . effort to produce good pix 
for local consumption, keeping, in 
mind the possibility of one day 
crashing' into the overseas market 
There is also a. strong feeling that 
the government will back its Quota 
Act so that the indies in the field 
can secure a break. 



AUSTRALIA BIZ GOOD 



ix Doinr Nicely 
Antipodes 



the 



BRIT. PIX INTERESTS 
MULLING FIIM BANK 



London, May 16. .. 
jty' interests are exploring the 
possibility of a Film Bank, on lines 
urged in the Lord Moyne Quota 
Committee Report.- Proposals have 
already been tabled and a draft out- 
line submitted to moton picture 
chiefs. 

Object of the .scheme would be to 
back projects considered to have a 
reasonable chance of success, and at 
the same time checking undesirable 
financing of pictures.; 



Report Metro on Hunt 
For More Anzac Houses 



.Sydney, -May 10.. 

Repibrted that Metro is seeking a 
site for another theatre .here in addi- 
tion to the St. James, the lease of 
which still has .sOme years to run, 

Inside has it that Metro would like 
to own a theatre here as is the case 
in Melbourne and Brisbane,, and that 
preparations are being made to this 
erid in case the St. James' lease is 
hot r wed in the future. 



Adelaide, May 10. 
.Metro is dickering for the Majesr 
tic theatre here to use i. chain 
build with holdings iii other cities. 
Berriie Freeman, Metro chi a 
biT: visit covering the Majestic prop- 
osition. 



IVicINTYRE TO U. S. ? 

•Sydney; May 6, 
Mclntyi'p, local ll.niversal 
chief, may take a trip to the U. S. 
in tl.ie near future to meet the heads 
of his organization. 

Mclntyre has not been abroad for 
some time.. 



Sydney,, Miay . 

Biz ]s still riiost satisfactory ih 
this spot with 'Rose Marie' (Metro), 
*My Man Godfrey' (U) and 'Beloved 
Enemy' (UA). New ones include 
'One in a Million' (20th), 'Maid Of 
Salem! (Pari und *FolloW Your 
Heart' (BEF). Cinesound's 'It Isn't 
Done*. boWs out after eight Weeks, 
and U's 'Show Boat' ill soon call 
it a day now that one year's run ap- 
proaches: 

Managers are readying additional 
attractions; for the schools' vacation 
next month and expect to cop some 
feiy heavy grosses on mats. Yankee 
pix still control the top spots. 'Head 
Over Heels' (GB) opens this Week- 
end for a run.' 



Rydge Out of Greater Union as 
Australian Battle Grows Tenser 



Melbourne, May 6. 
There's a nice lineup of attrac- 
tions currently here and biz is solid. 
List includes 'Lloyd's' (20.th); 'Plains-i 
man' (Par), 'Ladies in LpVe' (20th), 
'Romeo and Juliet' (Meti-o),. fDods- 
worth' (liA), 'Three Men on a 
Horse' (WB), 'Amazi Quest 
Earnest Bliss' (AD), , 'Sally of Regi- 
ment' (GB) and 'Sutter's Gold' (U). 



Zealand, May 6; 
Yankee pi holding Well with 
'Three "Smart Girls'- ( .), 'Piccadilly 
(MG), 'Hearts in .Reunion' (20th), 
•Polo Joe' (WB), 'College Holiday' 
(Par), 'Lloyds' (26th) and 'Racing 
Lady' (RKO). British include 'East 
Meets West' (GB) and 'Sabotage' 
(GB). 



NEWDISTRIB 
IN JAPANESE 
FUM BIZ 



Tokyo, May 5. 

After unsuccessfully dickering 
with Grand ; National and several 
other American indies for distribu- 
tion of their product in. Japan, 
Empire Picture Clorp. has closed 
deals With several French and 
Italian studios to place- their prod- 
uct on the market; here: 

■Sqliodrone Bianco' is' the; first 
Italian subject to be offered, fol- 
lowed by 'Arma Bianca,' both qi 
which are now being titled. As hp 
Italian pix have heretofore been 
shown here their success is prob- 
lematical, but distribs expect no. 
trouble in securing initial bookings 
because. Of friendly political attitude- 
of Japanese towards Italy. Mutual 
admiration followis somewhat along 
the same lines of the recent Jap- 
Germaii co-opefati , except no 
treaty has been signed. 

French subjects ordered and be- 
ing readied are 'Secret de la Mare 
Rouge,'. *Avec. Sourier.' 'Atlantic 
Slid,' 'Madamoiselle Docteur.' 'Quelle 
le Drole de Gosse.' Only American 
subject boiight by Empire is 'Tun- 
dra.' 

Because Empire has not previously 
been a factor in the biz, they have 
not been assigned to a place in the 
Shochiku-Toho alignment of distribs 
and. are therefore privileged to sell 
to either side. If Empire's subjects 
click it's a cinch they ..wlU be forced 
to line up with, ither of the two 
exhibs, for no other . reiason than to 
kjeep the other distribs qui' . 

A good guesS: is that they will 
eventually find themselves bedfel- 
lows of Shochi as that organiza-' 
tioh has built up quite a following' 
for European pix while Toho's ex- 
perience ■ importatiDns has been 
negative. 

The Empire Picture Cor is a 
comparative newcomer, haying just 
recently been incorporated for 
$35,000. A. Nagae, prez, has had no 
previous pix experience, but has as- 
sociated with, him Noboru Kawai,' 
formerly connected ith the Japan 
■offices of Wiarher's. 



U. S. Pic Cos. in Japan 
Form Mutual Association 



MG Product Lined Ur 
In Sydney Till Aiigiist 

Sydney,- May 6.: 
With 'Rose Marie' cOncltJding its 
six weeks' run, Metro's St. James is 
solidly set for ace attractions. Line- 
up includes 'After the Thin Man,' 
'Love bri the Rurf and 'CamiHe.* 
MG. execs, expect theise- attractions to 
cover the theatre's wants until Au- 
gust. In the vaults are 'GOod Earth' 
and 'Maytime.' 

No date has been set fOi* release of 
'CJoOd Eairth' as yet. There 
mote possibility that piC may be sold 
to an. indie, either Dave Marti for 
Liberty, or Dan Carroll, for Prihce 
Edward. Latter, .however, is pretty 
well tied up with Par. 





Tokyo, May 6. 

American Motion Picture Ass'n of 
Japan, Comprising managers o£ all 
American companies maintaining of- 
fices in this country, is now in oper- 
ation. Object is to act in conceit on 
all matters afTcctirtg Amcricari prod- 
uct and to eliminate unhealthy and 
destructive cD.mpetisli. 

Previous attempts at orgntii/.ini5 of 
U. S, companies never jelled. 



to U S. FOR 




Moscow, May 24. 
Under cui'rently talked of plans, 
Russia may expend upwards of $250,- 
000 during the coming year on sound 
reproducing equipment for its the^ 
atres. This is additional to preisent 
agreements between the Soviet and 
American flrnis oh IrecOrding equip- 
ment. On the. recording end alone 
Riiissia may be spending aroimd 
$1,000,000 for American equipment, 

it is indicated.. 

• " - ' - 

Although the' American flrin is not 
identified, intimations are that a deal 
is underway, whereby the Sloviet 
aims to purchase upwardie of 5,000 
talker equipments for its theatres. 

Russia is dallying around and. has 
been for some years with its own 
sound. Jntiinations here are that 
outsiders (don't, figure ahything con-^ 
Crete can be developed in Russia on 
sound equipment which will be com- 
parable to present American equip- 
ment for a decade or more; 

However, none doubt but that 
eventually Russiti will have its own 
sound.. Presently, the Soviet indus- 
try is being serviced technically, un- 
der agreement, with engineers sup- 
plied from America. 



J.A.HOPFENBERGVIStTS 
SO. AMERICAN THEATRES 



Joseph A. Hopfehberg, general 
manager and U. S. rep for Max 
Glucksmann's film, theatre and radio 
interests in South America, sailed 
for Buenos Aires, May 22. 

To be gone 10 weeks on business 
trip, Hopfenberg will give the S. A. 
market a thorough o,- o. Firm has 
extensive theatre and radio interests 
in Argentine, Chile and UragUay. 



Repub's 'Follow Heari' 
Bloomers in Sydney 

Sydneyi May 6. 
Republic pic, 'FplloW Your Heart,' 
went into, a quick floppb here foi: 
Greater Union. In for a run try, pic 
liad closing notice up three days 
after piremiere. 

Failing to. cop any biz over the 
Anzac Day period holiday^ and 
swinging into a marked low after 
panning by the critics, G. U. T. execs 
ordered the film out. 

Another Republic pic, 'Hitch Hike 
Lady,' Is playing number two: to 
'Beloved Ea»my' (UA) at . the ace 
.State, 



Tokyo Likes 'Horizon* 

Tokyo, May 5. 

'Lost Horizon' (Col) did smash biz 
last week at Hibiya Eiga GekijO and 
holds for the second and possibly 
third. On second stanza pic is teamed 
with 'I Promise to Pay' (Col). 

Because Jap. audience got restless 
during 'Horizon' on account of 
length, subject has been split into 
two sections with over 15-miri. in- 
termission between first and ,second 
sections. 



I' Sydney, May 25. 

Vast shakeup here strips Norniah 
Rydge of most of the power he for- 
merly exerted in Australian ftlni biz. 
Out as chairman Of ; the Greater 
Union Theatres, With Stuart Doyle 
iemai ing as managing . director, 
Rydge has also been replaced as 
chairman of the Greater J. Wil- 
liams unit of the sarnie chain by John 
iaoulston, 

No longer a director of Greater 
iJnion and Australasian Filnoi Holdr 
ings, Rydge keeps merely, a director- 
ship: on the board of the J. D. "Wil- 
liams Unit,. 

Meanwhile Stuart Doyle has issued 
a writ against Rydge, clainfiing $l00,- 
000 damages On an imdisc.losed ac- 
tion. 

Charles Munro, .managing (director 
of HOyt.'s, has resigned as co-director' 
of General Theatres, .With Maurice 
Slomah, general njahager of Hoyt's, 
replacing hihi. It is. understood, that 
Muhro's resignation - is only tem- 
porary, ihg to his absence abroad 
and to protect Hoyt'i interests, 
through Sloman, who is on the . scene 
here. Hoyt's, as an individual com- 
pany, is not cbhccrned in the Cireater 
Union inside fight, it is claimed, 



Just the Bcfflnhlnf 

. This is the first In a series of 
bombshells expected in Australia^ 
Hoyt's and Greater Union are tied 
up by the bankers in a partnership 
as General Theatres, wlthi members 
of both firms jockeyltig for position. 

Munro is in New York, but would 
not: comment on the situation, al- 
though admitting that he expected to 
be able to make an inlportant state<^ 
ment shortly. 



Deutsch Talldi^ 
Takeover of Sir 





London, May 23. 
Quiet negotiation is under way be^. 
tween Oscar Deutsch.and Sir Oswald 
StoU to acquire the latter's entire 
circuit, which comprises the London 
Coliseum and fOur theatres outlying 
in suburbs and provinces. Deal, 
yolvihg $3,000,000, is holding up the 
DeutschrDonada $25,000,000 public 
stock issue, in Which the Stoll prop- 
erty is to be included, if a sale is 
effected. 

Negotiation is also delaying Lew 
Leslie's vaude ptesehtation at the 
Coliseum, a show that tentatively 
was topped by Harry Richman and 
Florence Desmond. 

Some months ago Deutsch acquired 
the Alhambra from Stoll, and is now 
erecting a super-spot on the site. 



Garbo Big in Milan, 

But "Bm' N.S.6. 

Milan, May 14. 
reta GarbO, in 'Camille,' has set- 
up a record at the Milan Corso 
Cinema, five big weeks at 75c top. 
The usual stay is seven to., 10 days 
at 60c. 

'The reat Ziegfeld' has been 
somewhat of a disappointment, due 
largely to- the Italians being out. of 
touch with the persohality . of the 
subjebt. 



U. S. Pix in Berlin 



Berlin, May 10. 

With: Par dishing out three open- 
ings in one week, in expectation of 
the holiday rush, and 20th-Fox 
keeping a close second, Berlin seems 
like old times again. 

Twentieth's Gable-.YoUng opus* 
'Call of the Wild,' got off' to a good 
start at the big Ufa Palast im Zoo, 
the first American picture there in 
ageSi Shirley Temple continues in 
'Stbwawti ' (20th) at the Primus. 
^Ramona' (20th) will fade but to 
make room for Par's 'Texas Rang- 
ers' at the Astor on Kurfuersten- 
damm, while along the same avenue 
'The Bride Comes Home' (Par) 
crowd out 'Born to Dance* (MG), 
which pops up again at the more out 
of the way Titania. The third of 
Par's offering."; will be 'Now and 
Forever' at the Atrium. 



12 



VARIETY 



PICTURES 



Wednesdaf« May 26, I937 



Full Text of Guild- 





BASIC MINIMUM GONTKAGT OF 1937 

AGREEMENT executed at Lps Angeles, Carlifornia, May 
15, 1937, between the SCREEN ACTORS GUILD, INC., a 
California non-proflt membership corporation, hereinafter 
called the 'Guild,V and such parties who are engpged in the 
production of motion pictures as may' concurrently or here- 
after become signatories hereto, hereinafter; called the. 
Ti-oducers.* 

WITNESSETH: 

in consideration of the. mutual agreements herein contained 
the parties agree as follows: j >l# 

1. The Guild is recognized by the Producers, and each of 
them, as the exclusive collective bargainmg agent for all 
ftctors in the motion picture industry; The Guild a^ees that 
the Producers may terminate this contract at any time that 
the Guild is determined not to be the exclusive collective 
bargaining agent for actors by the National Labor Relations 
Board of by any court of competent jurisdiction. ^ If the 
National Labor Relations Act is repealed and a>substitute 
Act is enacted, the preceding sentence will apply to the sub- 
stitute Act and to the substitute agency under such Act. 

WPAT AN ACTOR IS 

2. ; very actor Weafter:. employed by any Prbducer, 
"Whether by contract or otherwise, or who^acts before the 
camera for any Producer, except as may be heremaftet pro- 
vided, shall be a' member of the Guild in good standing, 
subject to the following qualifications: 

(a) If any actor now under contract to any Producer is 
hot a member of the Guild and refuses to join the Guild, such 
actor shall be exempted from this paragraph 2^ during the 
term of his existing contract as the same may be extended 
according to the existing terms thereof . Each Producer shall 
forthwith furnish the Guild with a list of all contract and, 
stock players under contract to the Producer at the date of 
this contract. The Guild will then notify thp Producer as 
to the names of such of said players as are not members, of 
the Guild, whereupon the Producers will promptly furnish 
to the Guild the approximate expiration dates of the con- 
tracts of such non-Guild inember players. 

(b) Stars and featured players may be exempted from this 
paragraph 2 during the first five years of this contract, and 
during the first five years only, to the extent of • ten; t)ercent 
of the principal players in the cast of each picture produced 
by each Producer. Pirincipal players means actors whose 
bdse rate of pay is $200.00 a week or more, but extras, stunt 
men and day players shall not be counted as principal 
players. Actors under qualification <a) shall be included 
in the calculation in computing the teii percent of the cdst 
who do not have to be Guild members in good standing under 
qualification (b). For example, if there are twenty principal 
plaiyers in 'the cast and two are not' Guild members m good 
standing and come withih qualification (a), the Producer is 
entitled to no additional non-members under qualification 
(b). 

(c) During the first five years of this contract, and during 
the first five years only,,if the cast of principal players Is; 
leiss than ten, ohe star or one featured player need hot be 
IB member of the Guild. If the star br featured player comes 
under qualification, (a) no additidhal non-member is allowed 
under this qualification Cc). 

(d) In case of the exigencies of casting and as an ex^a- 
ordinary circumstance that shall not happen more than two 
times a contract year in the case pf any Producer who pro- 
duces forty pictures a year 6t more, and not more than once 
a year in the case of any Producer who produces less than ^ 
forty pictures a year, the Guild wilt give a waiver that will 
allow, stars and featured players to the extent of three in a 
cast to be non-members. This, qualification only applieis 
during the first five years of this contract. 

CHECKING BY THE GUILD 

Each Producer shall give the Giiild full opportunity to' 
check the peformance of this paragraph, including access to 
sets, but the Guild's checking shall be done in such a manner 
as not to interfere with productiorij The Guild agrees that 
<I) it will accept as a member of the Guild any actor the 
producer wishes to employ, subject to the imposition of 
.reasonable terms in the case, of members suspended by the 
Guild, or Actors' Equity Association, or the British Actors'. 
Equity Association; (II) it will not impose unreasonable 
initiation fees, dues or assessments . (exclusive of fines and 
penalties), and if the Producers claim a violation by the 
Guild of the provisions of this sentence, such; question shall. 
be determined by the committees provided for in. paragraph 
14 hereof andi if such committees cannot agree the matter 
shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the arbi- 
tration provisions of said paragraph 14. It is the intention 
hereof to prevent the Guild from closing its: books so as to 
prevent any. person who wishes to act in motion pictures 
firom joining the Guild. Nothing in the preceding sentence 
shall limit the; right of the Guild to discipline or suspend or 
expel a member, or to refuse to re-admit him. The Guild 
agrees, however, that if it suspends or expels a member who 
is under contract to a Producer, or if a member resigns, the 
suspension, expulsion or resignation shall not affect the 
player's obligation to perform any existing contract or con- 
tracts with any producer or producers or such producer's or 
producers' . ri^t to demand performance, except with the 
producers' consent. Subject to the qualifications hereinbefore 
. in all of this paragraph 2 set forth,, the Producer agrees that 
in every future contract it enters into with an actor the 
actor shall agree that the actor shall be a member of the 
Guild in good standing and shall remain so for the duration 
of the contract; it being the interit hereof that any Producer 
:may, without including such ' agreement, sign . a star of 
featured player during such five-year period who refuses . to 
become a member of the Guild, provided that In no event 
shall a Producer have in its employ stars of featured players 
hot belonging to the ■ Guild, to the extent of more than ten 
percent of the total numbier of stairs and featured players in 
its employ; and provided, further, that . a greater number of 
stars and featured players may not appear in any production, , 
^han is provided for in subdivisions (b), (c) and (d) of . this 
paragraph 2. No breach by a member of the Guild . of his 
obligations to the Guild shall give, such member a defense 
to any Producer's right to enforce an existing contract against 
siich member. 

3. Each Producer agrees that the following conditions 
shall govern the employment of all extra players employed 
by the Producer and shall become a part of. the contract 
with the extra player, niamely: 

(a) The. rules governing extras contained in the Motion 
icture code under the National Recovery Act and the rules 

enacted! pursuant thereto and the rules under California 
Industrial Welfare Coihmission Order No. 16-A shall become 
. and are a part 'Of this contract except as specifically to the 
cbntrary herein provided. The rules in said Order No. 16-A 
shall be extended so far as Ihis contract is concerned to cover 
men. 

(b) The $3.20 check for extras is abolished. 

(c) The mi imum pay per day for any extra player shall 
be $5.50. The minimum weekly rate for extras employed 
ph a weekly basis shall be five times the daily rate for a 
six^day week. This applies to all extras and hot merely the 
extras receiving $5.50 per day. 

(d) ' The wage scale in force contained in the Motion Pic- 
ture Code under the National Recovery Act and in the rules 
enacted pursuant thereto shall be increased ten percent 'for 
all classes of extra players receiving thereunder up to and 
including $15.00 per day. 



STAND-INS MINIMUM 

(e) The minimurh . compensation for stand-ins shall be . 
$33.00 per week (six working days), or $6.50 per day. 

(f) Straight time shall be paid for time actually consumed 
in traveling to and from location. Compensation for travels 
ing time, however, shall hot exceed one day's pay in any 
twenty -four houris. . Travel time which occurs during the 
period for which the extra' is .compensated may be deducted- 
from travel time. 

(g) The : Guild asked for the abolition of 'weather permit- 
ting' calls. The Producers have refused this, and the parties 
have agreed that the committees hereinafter in paragraph 14 
provided for shall work out rules governing, such calls which, 
shall . correct any present inequities, in the .situation which 
niay exist. Likewise -sUch committee ' shall Work out clarifica- 
tions and adjustments of . the National Recovery Act rules 
for* cxtrdS; 

■(h) The terrii 'extra player* or 'extras' Includes stand-ins, 
danceris, cowboys and all other classifibatioi^k' included Under 
the term as used ih the motion picture code under the Na- 
tional Industrial Recovery Act., and the rules - enacted; pur- 
suant thereto or under Industrial 'Order No. 16-A herein- 
before ; refer red to, except stunt men who are : specially 
treated ill this agreement. Irt the case of locations three 
hundred miles of more "from Los Angeles or from' the studio 
base of operation .of the picture, the Guild agrees to issue; 
permits exjempting pefsons who would otherwise be classified 
as 'extras' hereunder frorn this agreement . The . committees 
referred to. in paragraph 14 shall immediately work out other 
proper, exemptions such as the armed forces of the United 
States, and a case of a military academy used, as a back- 
ground, for which the Guild will also agree ( to issue like 
..permits. In' the t:ase that the committees' cannot agree; the 
matter will be settled by arbitration and the decision of the 
arbitrators when rendered ' shall* be incorpbrated in this 
agreehient ^nd become. a part hereof. The (Guild will also 
issue permits exempting persons who would otherwise be 
'extras' under this agreement from this agreement for all 
shots made in the Republic of Mexico or the City or Port of 
San Diego. In the event that children of tender years are 
unable legally to join the Guild, the Guild will issue the 
necessary permits sb that any Prbduoer will not be hampered 
in using children in any production.' The cbhimittees shall 
also determine what shall be done ' in regard to extras of . 
the'tsrpe Of .freaks^ dwarf s,.fife.reaters, and similar types. 
> (i): AH compensation piaid to extras employed by the 
Producers through any agency shall be Aet to the , extra 
except for such deduction's or withholdings as may from titne 
to time be provided by law; it . being, agreed that the Pror 
ducefs and hot the extra shall bear the agency fee for 
obtaining , employment and that the extra shall not be re- 
quired by the Producers to pay sUch. agency, fee, directly or 
indirectly. 

4. The Producers agree that reasonable access to the 
recof ds of Central Casting Corporation or any agency used 
by the Producers, or any of them,, for the employment of 
extras shall be afforded to thi^ Guild. The agency referred 
to in the preceding .sentence means only an agency used 
regularly or customarily by One or more Producers perform- 
;ing for such Producer or Producers substantially the same 
function as Central Casting . Corporation, and does not mean 
agencies used casually and not generally. . Records do not 
include the financial records of the agency. 

MINIMUM ^OR DAT FLAYERS 

5. Each Producer agrees, that the following conditions 
shall govern the employment of all-day players employed 
by the Producer arid , shall become a part of. the contract 
with the day player, tiameJy: 

. (a) Sections 1 to 12, incluisive, of the piiesent rules govern- 
ing day players adopted .by the Academy .of Motion Picture 
Arts and Sciences printed on pages '8 and 9 Of The Academy 
Bulletin of. February 11, 1935, shall become and are a part 
of this contract except as specifically to the contrary herein 
provided. 

(b) The arbitration provision in the Academy rules shall 
nbt govefn, and the general arbitratibn clause hereinafter 
set forth shall apply. 

(c) The 'minimum pay for day players shall be $25.00 per 
day. 

(d) . Straight time shall be paid for time actually con- 
suihed in traveling to and from location. Compensation for 
traveling time shall not exceed one day's pay in any twenty-- 
four hours: Travel time which... oppufs during the period for 
which the day player is cbiripensated may be deducted from 
travel time. 

(e) The day player shall receive one-half of the daily pay 
agreed upon if he makes, or reports pursuant to call for, 
costume fittings or photographic or sOund recording tests, 
and is not offered employment in the picture fbr which the. 
fitting or test is made. 

(f ) The rule new in fbrce in the industry that day players 
defintely engaged, and not used receive a day's pay shall 
continue in force. 

(g) Meal periods shall not be less than one-half nor more 
than one hour. 

' (h) Weather permitting calls. Same provision applies as 
under the paragraph on the subject concerning extras. 

(i) Cbnversion to a •weekly basis as Specified in Rule 7 
of the Academy Bulletin of February 11, 1935, shall be the 
same except it shall be on. the minimum terms for ffee-lance 
players hereinafter set- fof th and under the free-lance con- 
tract hereinafter described. 

(j) Stunt, men shall receive a minimum pay oif Thirty-five 
DoUafs ($35.00) per day, but the conditions concerning day 
players shall not apply to stunt men. The Committees here- 
inafter referred to in. paragraph 14 shall work out rules 
covering the working conditions of stunt men and if said 
committees carinot agree, the matter shall be settled by 
arbitration, and the determination of said committees or said 
arbitration from the date thereof shall become • a part of this 
contract. Stiint men shall only be. classified ais such on the 
days when they are: perfbrminig stunts.' 

FREE LANCES 

6. The term 'free lance jplayers' as used herein shall mean 
players employed for a specific picture, on a weekly basis 
and at a weekly salary in excess of $65.00 per: week; The 
Producers agree that the following cbnditionS shall gbverh 
the employment of all free-lance players employed by the 
Producers and shall become a part of the contract of the 
frecrlance player, hamelyr. 

(a) One picture employment for free-lance players shall 
be at a weekly rate of compensation with a guaranty of at- 
least one week's eriiploymeht under the minimum contract 
hereinafter specified. The purpose Of the foregoing is to 
entirely eliminate the so-called 'deal contract,' except that 
a deal contract' maiy be made with any free-lance player who 
receives $20,000.00 or , more per picture, 

(b) If the contract referred to in (c) hereafter is de- 
livered by any Producer to any player and if the same is 
■executed without alteration by the player and is so returned 
to the Producers by noon of the next succeeding business day 
after its delivery to the player, it shall thereupon constitute 
a contract binding on both parties even though not executed' 
by the Producer, but the Prbducer. On demand shall deliver 
a signed copy to the player. 

(c) The Producer shall execute With the player a written 
contract containing the terms of the contract printed on pages 
4-7, inclusive, of the Bulletin of The Academy of Motion 
Picture Arts and Sciences of February 11/1935, except said 
contract shall be changed as follows: 

L Paragraph 15 concerning arbitration ihall be omitted. 



and the substance of the GrUild arbitration clause here! 
after in this contract set forth shall be substituted. 

II. In respect to paragraph 27 concerning general right of 
termination, i every case of -termination of . the contract 
prior to the commencement of the term, the Producer shall 
be liable ior compensation during the minimum guaranteed 
period, but if the player receives other employment dufine 
such period, the compensation redeived by the player from 
such other employment shall be applied, in reduction of the 
Producer's liability. Said contract Shall be changed ac- 
cordingly, 

III. With respect to paragraph 31, the rules of the 
Academy therein .specified shall, not apply,^ but the corre- 
sponding rules of' this contract with respect to day pla\°ers 
shall apply. Said contract shall, be modified accordingly 

IV. With respect id free jance players, receiving less thaii 
$200.00 per ^veek, . the player shall receive straight pay for 
overtime in excess of fifty-four hours worked in any week 
beginning with the commencement of the contract, and con- 
tinuing from week, to^. week* and prorated in case of a pfo 
rata week. The overtime shall be paid on the basis of r/48th 
of the weekly salary for each hour or fraction Of an hour 
worked in any week in excess of 54 hours, and in case' of a 
pro rata . week the 54 hours shall be prorated accordingly 
Hours of work shall be computed In accordance with Rule 
2 (a) on; page 8 Of the Academy Bulletin of February 11 
1935; which rule has been previously incorporated herein 
for day players. Nothing herein, hovrever, shall limit the 
free latice. player's right to a twelve-hour rest period and 
to holidays as granted by paragraphs 18 and 19 of page 6 
of said Academy Bulletin of February 11, 1935, and incor- 
porated herein. The rights granted hereunder are, additional 
and cumulative. Said contract shall be modified accord- 
ingly. ' 

V. The heading of said contract shall be changed to read 
as follows: ."Screen Actors Guild Minimum Contract for Free 
Lance Players— Continuous Employment— Weekly Basis- 
Weekly Salary— One Week Minimum Employment."^' In bold 
face type at the top of the contract shall be printed the fol- 
lowing: 'The actor may not waive any provision of this 
contract without the written consent of the Screen Actors 
Guild.' 

T. Reasonable access shall be afforded the Guild to the 
records of the Call Bureau or to any similarly cbn.«!tituted 
substitute owned or controlled by any Producer therefor. 

MINIMUM FOR STOCk FLAYERS 

■ « . , . • ■ ■ ■ . ■ 

. The Producer agrees that every contract hereafter en- 
tered into with a stock player shall conform to the follow- 
ing rules and contain in substance the following terms, which 
shall be a part of such contract whether or not contained 
therein: 

' (a) The minimum- rate of . salary for stock players shall 
be $50.00 per Week. 

(b) Return transportation shall be furnished the stock 
player, if brought to California frbm outside the state, if his 
salary is less than $75.00 a week, if he does not secure other 
employment in or about Los Angeles, California, and if hi 
return trip is. commenced within fifteen days after the tef ' 
nation of his employment by the.. Producer. 
. (c) Where a contract to employ a stock player has been 
executed,, the player shall not be required to work without 
compensation after the date of the execution of the contract 
or after the cornmencement of employment^ thereunder. This, 
includes a prohibition against free tests for stock players 
after the date of the execution of such contract or after the 
commencement of; employment thereunder. Option test 
agreements are not to be construed as contracts to employ, 
,(d) The suspension period specified in the 'Acts of God* 
clause of stock players contracts shall be limited to. four 
weeks; provided, however, that Producers shall have the 
right to continue such suspension from, week to week riot 
exceeding eight additional weeks at ohe-haU salary. 

(e) The cancellatiori period specified in the illness clause 
shall riot be less than a period of aggregate of periods of 
three weeks per year. 

(f ) Lay-offs shall be for at least .one consecutive week, 
subject to recall for retakeis and added scenes. Any lay-ofi 
period falling at the end of a contract period may be for a 
shorter time. 

9. Every contract hereafter entered into by a Producer 
With a. contract player shall embody the substance of sub- 
paragraphs (e);and (f). of paragraph 8 hereof, and such terms 
shall be deemed to be .contained therein whether so specific- 
ally incorporated, therein of . not. 

10. No Producer shall after the termination of the play- 
er's employment prevent such player from continuing the 
use of any stage or . screen name used by sUch player. The 
name of a role owned or created by .the Producer, such as 
Tarzan or Charlie Chan, belongs to the Producer and not to 
the actor. 

11. Stock players and term contract players, if. required 
to render services on New Year's Cay, Decoration Day, July 
Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas, or if 
required to render services on either the Sunday immediately 
preceding or the Sunday immediately succeeding any such 
holiday shall be entitled to an additional one-sixth of the 
weekly rate. The foregoing, however, shall not apply to 
stock players or contract players whose compensation is paid 
to them on a picture basis. Or whose contract provides the 
maximum number of pictures' in which such actor can be 
employed per year br other specified period. 

GlilLD MUST CONSENT 

. The Producers agree that no waiVef by any actor of 
any term of this contract shall be requested of this actor pr 
effective unless the consent' of the Guild to the making of 
such request and such Waiver is first had arid obtained. Such 
consent may be oral but the Guild agrees that all oral waiv- 
ers .will be corifirmed by it in writirig. . The Guild further 
agrees that upon being riotified by any Prbducer that a com- 
pany is gOiiig on location, it will appbint a deputy to be with 
the company On location, with full power tb griant such waivr 
ers. The Guild further agrees that it willmairitain a twentyr 
four hour service at Los, Angeles, Californi for the jgiving 
of waivers in accordance with the provisions Of this para- 
graph. 

13. The terrii of this contract shall be ten years from the 
date hereof. On April 1st of each calendar year during, this 
contract, commencing in 1938, a meeting will be held at Los 
Angeles. Californi , between a committee to be /appointed 
by the, Guild arid :a committee to be appointed by the Pro- 
ducers. The said' committees shall at said meeting discuss 
such, modifications of this iagreement as may be suggested, 
by either committee, . and submit recommendations to the 
Guild and to the Producers, and if such recommendations 
are concurred in by the Guild and the Producers, they shall 
become a part of this contract. If the committees cannot 
reach an agreement, either committee may demand airbitra- 
tion on the following subjects, and on the following sub- 
]ects only, namely: 

(a) Minimum salaries fof extras, day playefs; 
and stock players. ' 

(b) Hours of labor for actors receiving $500.00 a Week 
or under. This iiicludes actors employed by the day receiv- 
ing $83.33 per day of under. 

The arbitration Shall be by a Board of three arbitrators, 
one chosen by the Guild, one by the Producers arid the third 
jointly chosen, and in default of agreement the third arbi- 
trator shall be chosen by the Board of Directors of the 
Anierican. Arbitration Association, The decision of the arbi- 
trators on the subjects hereinbefore permitted to be arbi- 
trated shall be final and the conditions imposed by such 



iMnesday; Slay iWl 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



1.1 



arbltratlori relating to such subjects shall become a part of 
+hi4 agreement from the time of the decision of the arbitra- 
tors or from such time as the arbitrators s]|>aH decide that 
they shall become effective. 

INTEBFBETATiON COMMITTEE 

14 The Guild , shall forthwith appoint a committee and 
the Producers shall.lor.th>vith appoint a committee to perr 



frfreement between the two committees the matters left opeii 
f of clarification and further deflnitioh in said paragraphs 
shall be settled by arbiti;atiott by a board of three arbitrators, 
one chosen by the Guild, one by the Producers and the third 
iointly chosen, and in default of agreement. th6 third arbi> 
teator shall be chosen by. the Board of Directors of the 
American Arbitration Association. The decision of the arbi- 
trators on the subjectis, to be arbitrated under this paragraph 
shall be final and the conditions and definitions fixed by them 
shall become a part of this agreement from the date of the 
decision of the arbitrators, or irom such date as they shall 
fi]( in said decision foti the cOnditiohs and definitions- to . be- 
conve effective. ' ; 

7 15, The Guild agrees that during the term hfereof it will 
not call or engage in a strike: affecting' motion picture prO'- 
duction against any Producer: signatory hereto; and will order 
its members to perform their contracts with the Producers 
signatory hereto even though .other persons or' groups of 
persons are on strike. 

: 16. A joint concilation committee of .four, , two . tO be ap- 
pointed by the; Guild and two by the Producers shall sit 
within seven days after call to ' attempt to conciliate any dis- 
■pute between any Producer and any actor with respect to 
Which disjaute arbitration is herein provided for.. If concilia- 
tion. iails;all •such .disputes shall be settleid by arbitration, 
in accordance with the laws of the state of Californi , to be 
supplemented or niodified by such rules as lirtay be agreed 
upon by ai committee to .'be appointed by the Producers and 
a similar committee to be appointed' by the Guild. Pending 
the agreement of such conimittee the arbitration shall be by 
thrde arbitrators,, one to be selected by the Guild, one other 
by the P-Toducers, and the third to be chosen -by the two first 
selected, in the. event of thie inability of the firist two arbi- 
trators to agree upon the selection of the third, the third 
arbitrator shall be designated by the American Arbitration 
Association.. It is understood that this agreement provides 
for arbitration only in the case of extras, stiiht men, day 
players, and free lance players. Recognizing with respect 
to stock players and contract players, the desirability of 
arbitration in connection with disputes not involving the 
right of termination of the contract or the 'right to injunctive 
'relief, the joint ^committee provided for in pairagraph 14 will 
en<feavor to work ;out. and recommend the adoption by the 
sigi\atories of a proper basis for the arbitration of such dis- 
putes, but sdch basis shall not be the subject of arbitration. 
The Guild and the Producers' agree to. cooperate in facilitat- 
ing the prompt settlement-^ of disputes without resort to the 
machinery provided for in this paragraph. Any complaint 
may be presented for any member of the Guild -by the 
Guild. The Producers agree not to. discriminalte in any way 
against an actor presenting a complaint. 

17. All future contracts entered into by the Producers 
shall, in so far as they are. affected by any of the provision^ 
hereof, be deemed to include such applicable provisions for 
the benefit of the actors or Producers who are parties thereto. 
This contract ' niay l^e. referred to .as the 'Producer-Screen 
Actors Guild . Basic Minimum Contract of 1937.' 

BETTER TERMS 

18. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to pre- 
vent' any actor from negotiating with and obtaining f rOm 
any Producer better termis than are herein provided for. 

■19., This contract does not apply to contracts now existing 
between the Producers and actors. 'Within sixty days after 
receipt by the Guild of the written notice provided for in 
Paragraph 2 hereof any actor under such written conti-act 
who is or has becOme a member of the Guild may give. the 
]^oducer written notice that he elects to come under the 
terms of this contract- and thereupon he shall be subject to 
the terms hereof applicable to such contract and such terms 
hereof shall be deemed incorporated in the existing contract 
between the; Producers and actors. 'Within sixty days after 
conflicting provisions in said contract. Any actor notifying 
any Producr, purisuant to the provisions of this paragraph, 
of the actor's election to come under the terms of this con- 
tract, by such election agrees that any resignation from the 
Guild, or suspension or expulsion by the. Guild, shiall be 
equivalent to a. failure, refusal or neglect on the part of 
such actor to. comply with his existing contract with the 
Producer and shall give to the Producer the same rights and 
remedies as are provided' in such existing contract in the 
event o^ failure, refusal or neglect by the actor to comply 
with his obligations thereunder. 

20. This contract shall-be_ineffectiv(e for any purpose as 
to any corporate Producer until ratified by the Board of Di- 
rectors of such Producer, except in the following respects, 
namely: 

(a) Subject to the quali 



2. set forth, the Producer agrees that from and after the date 
hereof every contract it enters into with an actor for a period 
of twelve (12) \veeks or more, or which gives the Producer 
an option on the. serVices.of the actor for a period of twelve 
(12) weeks or more, shall provide that the actor agrees that 
the actor shall be a member of the Guild in- good standing 
and shall remain SO for the duration of said contract, 

(b) Beginning June 1, 1937, the Producers shall operate 
under the terms of this contract On or before June 10, 1937, 
each Producer shall notify the Guild in. writing whether or 
not its. Board of Directors has ratified this contract. If 
Producer notifies the Guild that its Board of Directors has 
ratified the contract,, then from and after such date the con- 
tract shall be in jyll. force and effect, except that the June 
1, 1937, commencement date of working conditions shall still 
apply. If the. Producer notifies the Guild that the Board of 
Directors has .refused to ratify this contract, then imnie- 
diately this contract shall be ineffective folr iall purposes, 

21. Subject to the limitations hereinabove in pariagraph 2 
set forth, nothing heiein shall be 50 construed as to prohibit 
the Guild from disciplining its members under rules and 
regulations to be e.stablished by it, but the . imposition by 
the Guild of such discipline, shall in no manner^or to ahy 
extent deprive the Producer of such rights as it. may have 
under any Contract with any player who may be subject to 
discipline pr fi-oin enforcing, the .provisions thereof ^s against 
any such player. 

22, ^ith respect to all pictures in production oni the date 
on: which this agreement goes into effect, the Guild will issue 
all permits necessary to avoid interference with production. 

23. , This agreement shall be binding on thie signatories 
hereto and all; parties who by reason of mergers, consolida- 
tions, reorganizations, sale, assignment or the like, shall suc- 
ceed to or become ehtitled to a substantial part of the pro- 
duction business of any signatory. < Eaich Producer, agrees 
that its signature to this agreement shall likewise bind sub- 
sidiary and controlled companies engaged in the production 
of motion pictures to the terms of this agreement: This 
agreement 'may be executed in any. number of counterpai-t 
.originals, each counterpart to have: the same effect and all 
such counterp;arts, shell be Construed together as one ia^gree- 
ment,. 

EFFECTIVE IN HEW TORK 

24. With, respect to motion .picture production in and 
around the city, ol Ney/ York, New . York, by any • Producer- 
such motion picture, production shall be exempt from this 
agreemeht uhtil; the Guild establishes a New York office, at 
which time it, will come under the terms of this agteemeht; 

25v The Operation of this agreement shall be lirnitied to 
motion picture production wittiin the -territorial limits of 
continental United. States of America , exclusive of , .Alaska, 
provided, however, that' the committees provided for in para.- 
graph. 14 shall attempt to work, put rules covering, motion 
picture production outside the United States of ' America by 
any Producer and if the committees , cannot agree the ihatr 
ter shall be settled, by. arbitration and the agreement of the 
committee.<( or the decision Of the arbitrators ^haill become a 
part of this agreement in like • manher as provided in para- 
graph 14. 

26. In the event that children of tender years are unable 
legally to join the Guildi the Guild will issue the, necessary 
permits so that any Producer will not be hampere^d -in using 
children in any production. 

27. The Guild agrees that if there is anjrthing in its articles 
of incorppratiOn.or its by-laiws ■which win prevent- it from; 
performing its obligation's hereunder that it will take proper 
steps to amend such articles or by-laws so as to correct any 
such defect, and the Guild further agrees that during the 
term of this agreement it will not adopt, any code for actors 
or any amendment to its articles or by-laws which will be. 
in conflict with its . obligations under this agreement. The 
Ciuild agrees that it will cause , its by-laws to be amended 
to provide that each of its members shall be bound by the 
provisions of this agreement. 

ADMISSION QF NEW COMPANIES 

28. Any person now Or hereafter engaged in the .business 
of producing motion jpictures in the United States shall be 
afforded the opportunity' of becoming signatory to this sigree- 
meht either by signing' this agreement or .counterparts 
thereof. Nothing.- herein contained is intended nor shall it 
be construed as intended tO prevent the Quild from entering 
into contracts with any such persons on terms more favor- 
able to such persons than are afforded to the signatories 
hereto. 

29. Unless otherwise: specifically defined herein terms shall 
be given their common meaning in the motion picture in- 
dustry. ■Actor', includes 'extra.' Thie masculine gender 
includes the feminine and neuter, and the. singular number 
the, plural, when such construction is a reasonable one. 'Day 
player' is player em't>Idyed'by the day other than an extra 
or stunt man, A 'stock player' is a player employed for 
more than a specific picture and for a term of at least twelve 
weeks .(.with or without lay-offs) who receives less than 
$150,00 a week. A 'contract player' is a pliiyer employed 
not for a specific picture but for a term of at least twelve 
weeks (with, or without lay-offs) who receives $150.00 a week 
or more. The committees referred t0| in paragraph 14 hereof 



shalKwOrk out appropriate rules ifor actors who do not. come 
within any of the foregoing definitions or within the defini^ 
tion of a 'free lance player' hereinabove in. paragraph G 
set forth and the same provision a$ to agreement and arbi-' 
tration shall, apply ais in other cashes to be determined by' 
the committees under paragraph 14. 

30. Wherever provision is made herein for the, appoint- 
ment by the Producers of committees or arbitrators such ap- 
pointment shall be made by. the mutual consent of the Pro- 
ducers- signatory hereto. Hov/ever, i£ any such Producier 
shall not. agree as to any such appointment, such Producei-, 
either separately or jointly with any other. Producer. or Pro- 
ducers who are unable to so -agree, may appoint committees 
or arbitrators, as the case may be; of its' or their own choos- 
ing, and in such event the. committees or arbitrators so sep- 
.arately appointed shall function for and: in behalf ' and. .only 
for and . in. behalf of the Producer or Producers who .shall., 
have made such sieparate appointment, and the discussions, 
negotiatiohs and arbitrations with respect to which, such, 
separate appointment shall have been madc .shalU as to the;. 
Producer or Producers who shall have made such separate 
aplpiointment, be conducted with the comniittec or arbitrator 
so separately appointed, and ' the agreement, oi: decision 
reached thereunder shall be binding upon, the Guild and the 
Producer-or Producers 'Who shall have niade such separate' 
appointment biit upon no. other Producer or Pi'oducers. The'. 
Guild in such a case may appoint a separate committee br'- 
arbitrator, as th^ case may be, to deal wlttx each separate 
committee or arbitrator appointed by the resbcctivc Proi- 
ducers but need not do so, arid if it so . desires may designate 
one committee and arbitrator to deal with the several coni- 
mittees or arbitrators of the several Producers. Arbitration 
as herein referred to does not /mean the kind of arbltratioii 
covered in paragraph 16. 

31. Except as joint action by -the. Producers in the appoint-' 
men of committees or arbitrators is pirpvided herein (but 
limited by paragraph 30) this agreement shall be constt'ued 
as a separate agreement between the Guild and each Pro- 
ducer, signatory hereto, and it is expressly agreed that no 
default or 'breach: of this agreement by any -Producer shall' 
constitute a_default or breach hereunder by; or jmpo-sp- 
liability on, any other Prpdiicer, and it is further expressly 
agreed, that a default of the Guild as to one Producer shall' 
not constitute a. default of the Guild as to any other Pi'o> 
ducer^ This Agreement is a several agreement as to each 
Producer, and is not joint and several. 

PERMITS WITHOUT COST 

32. Whenever the Producers, are entitled hereunder to a 
permit or waiver from the Guild, the Guild aglces to issue 
the same without cost 

33. ^ News reels, travelogues, newii and sports commenta- 
tors and persons rendering similar services in short, subjects; 
shall be exempted from the oiiteration of this agreement; 
provided, however,-that the committees provided -for in para- 
graph 14 shall attempt to work out rules governing such 
production and persons, and if the committees cannot agree 
the matter shall be settled by arbitration: and the agreement 
of. the committees or the decision of the arbitrators shall 
become a part ot this, agreement in like manner as provided 
in paragraph 14. , 

34. In any arbitration pursuant to the pi-ovi.siOns of this 
agreement, the decision of a majority of the' arbitrators shall 
be final, and such decision shall be in writing. 

IN WI'TNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed 
this instrument.. 
HAL RbA<iH STUDIOS, INC., 

By HalE. Roach, President. 
R.K.O.-RADIO PICTURES, INC., 

By Samuel J. Briskin, Vice-I*resi 
PARAMOUNT PICTURES, INC., 

By Henry Herzbrun. Vice-President. 
WARNER BROS. -PICTURES, INC. 

By Herbert Freston,. Assistant Secretary. 
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION, 

By Joseph M: Schenck, Chairman. 
METRO-GOLDW YIN-MAYER CORPORATION, 

By Louis B. Mayer, Vice-President. . 
UNIVERSAL PICTURES CO., INC., 

By J. P. Normanly, Vice-President.. 
WALTER WANGER PRODUCTIONS, INC* 

By Loyd Wright, Secretary. 
SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL WCTURES, INC., 

By Loyd Wright. Secretary. 
B. P. SCHULBERG PICTURES, INC., 

By B. P. Schulberg. 
MAJOR PICTURES CORPORATION, 

By, Loyd. Wright, Secretary. 
COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION OF CALIFOR* 

NIA, LTD., 

By Harry Cohn, President. 

samuel goldwyin, inc.. 

By Samuel Goldwyn, Presi 
Attest: 

Kenneth Thompson, 
Secretary. 
screen actors guild, INC, 

By Robert Montgomery. 



NEWPARHIGit 
94 CONTRACTEES 



. Having placed many people on 
its contract list during the past year, 
since Adolph Zukor took command 
Qf production at Hollywood, the Par- 
amount studio ■ reached a new all- 
time high for contract players last 
week, books showing. 914. 
Majority of the people under con- 
tp Par are in the featured; 
, studio having fewer star rat- 
ings than some other major plants. 
Included the player list are nu- 
merous, persons who have been im- 
ported from the other side, latest 
beuig Oscar Homolka, who arrived a 
week ago. 

Among Par's contradtees, however,, 
ace mahy who have come from radio 
and are cohti. i rig. on .the air. 



Plenty of Writin' 



Hollywood, May 25. 
. - ,B. DeMille . has pacted C 



Cecil j_,v;miiie . nas pagiuu a..-. 
^ardner siriliyan, and Harold Lamb 
to toil on the scriot of 'The Bucca^ 
ill produce for 



"eer," >vhich. 
Paramount. 

Script up to now bears the handi- 
work of Edw,ih Justus Mayev,. Pres- 
^<»» turges Md Jeani MacPher- 



soa. 



NAPIES MAMMY 



Dame Mae Whitty In 'WAlcwska'-r- 
Hoss-Backiiig: in Monterey 



Hollywood. May 25. 

Metro signed Dame May 'Whitfy, 
British player, to enact the role ol 
Napoleon's mother 'Madame 
Walewska' followi work iri 

'Night Must Fall/ 

Director Clarence Brown is leadr 
ing his troupe headed by Garbo to 
Monterey tjiis- week for horseback 
sequences. 



Hogan Takes 'Ebb Tide' 



.Hollywood, May 25. 
roducer Luci h Hubbard switched 
directors, on Paramount's 'Ebb Tide' 
at the last minute jfron\ Henry Hath- 
aWay to. Janies , . set the 
starting date for next Thursday (21 K 
,.Pic was. postpoiied while' Hatha- 
v/ay washed up .'Soul.s at Sea.' blit 
that one hung fire too lonf,'. Hogan 
•jumped 'Last rain Fi'om 

ivi.adri he .'broUtfiU in last 

week. 



LEON £ EDDIES 
WONT BE IN 




jFanchdn's Next Par 

Hollywood,. Miy 25. ,1 
Seena Owen and Grant Garrett 
are scripting Miss Fanchon's: next 
;prodUctioh for Paramount, 'Su mer 
Romance.' 

Don Hartman authored the orig- 
inal. 



Going out r to jOi other 
night club entertai .In 
Hollywood in to. 

Walter "W^ingei-'s .^52nd Street,' Jack 
White of the' r- 
rington, im ther , 

left Thursday night (20) for tiie 
Coast and will be followed toward^ 
the end of this Week by ilh: 
frorii the Onyx.: 

ElTort.s to get together with ie 
Davis. of Leon & Eddie's for his iii- 
clusi in inc piciure. haVe fa.'n.ed, 
even, after he reduced his guarantee 
frojn eight weeks to five. He wants. 
.$5,000 .a week and at first wanted a 
gu rantee Of eight weeks in Holly t 
wood or $40,000, later reducing it to 
a $25,000 guarantee. Inability to 
reach a deal means that Leon & 
Eddi will not invaded, 
camera.s. 

People already signed and on 
the coast iiiclude Dorothy Saullars, 
Sweet Fingers Johnson, Jerry Co- 
lon na, X'corgie Tapps and Al Nor- 
Alf are froni the nitery fie!d> 



THAT MAN'S HERE 



Ken Murray Sues Warners for .Using 
His 'Trademark' 



Hollywood, May 25, 
Damages of $100,000 are asked in a 
suit filed by. Ken Murray against 
Warners for the announced use of 
'That Man's Here Agai ' as a pic- 
ture title. 

Radio comedian clai 
ori inated the phrase, 



to have 
ich is his 



theatric trademark, .he says. 



Einanuel Cohen Shoves 
Off 'On Sucha Nighf 

Hollywood, May 25, 
Added to the cast of. Paramount's 
'On Such a Night' last week were 
Karen Mprley, Alan Mbwbray. Ros- 
coe Karris and .Mil.li Monti and pic 
got Way yesterday (MOn.) 

with E. A. Dupont directing dtor 
Emanuel Cohen. 

Screenplay is by Doris Mallpy and 
W. Lipman fi-om an original by Morr 
ley P; Cassidy, John p. Klorer and 
S. S!- Field.. Fpi'nicrly titled 
■'Flood Cf.e..st.' 



MG's Ruby Mercer 

Ruby Mercer, who has becri given 
a contract by M-G-M, i.s due on 
tlie Coast to .start her. first picture ori 
Jurre T. 

.She was given a leave of. absence 
for two months lo allow ' time .for 
appe;jrancc.-j- .nt th? Metropolitan 
Opera. 



12 per. PICS 
IN ITS BLOCK 



Hollywood, May 2!i. 
Sales policy set-u 
for 1937.; prpvi 
bracket percentage pictures. Di.sr' 
tributlrig forces will offer company's 
50 ieatures in .bijik. exceptifig that 
in situations where westcrn.s are not 
used, 40 pictures will be sold. 

Percentage pictures number 
more than during the current sea- 
son, not all of which, however,' 
delivered.: 

At the clasing session of la.st. week*. 
U sales convention here, distribuli 
organ izati resented Jatnies 
iGrain ral sales manager, 

with m dia^fiOnd-sludded 

watch. 



May Robsoli Quits MG^ 
Freelances at Warners 



Hollywood, May .2.ti. 
May Robson wound up her Metco 
contract last week and went into 
'The Perfect. Specimen' at Warners 
as her first freijlahce job. 

Metro released her a weak early 
so she could take on the WB job. 



14 



VARIETY 



FILM RETIEW8 



Wednesday, ' Maj 26^ 19,17 



DREAMING LIPS 

(BRITISH MADE) 

TTnllea Artists jelefi.«*. t>f .Min« Pfhnih 
Kxliu-rlon, SVnr.H Kll.'SHhPlh Bt-iKi)*-!-, I>V<i- 
res KHyinand MnHst .v atiil, Hoinn^y . Hierit. 
lieotPd l>v I'aiir Czlhrier. A<Ini>tHll.<'ti »i.v 

<'«>•) Waver fiotrt pIh.v •Melo,' l>y Vr«nil. 

iBrriistelii; Ipc-hnlcal. .^•upervlsIoh i\n<\ ct<- . 

^lli'cotltirii T/t-e (5;<riii''S;. I'iiniprn, Tloy rioik, 

At nivoli; 'N. Vr, week M;iy IluH- 

Tilnfr.tlme. 70' mlns. 



JllBiiol del Vhvo. 
Petfr. ; . . . ...... 

Christine.. ... 

>1rs. Rliinwfty, . . , 

JD|-. Wilson.., 

The rhijosophor. . 
nis KrJenS. . . . . . . 



. i . . lll.snlilHh f rgner 
, . . I<Hymon«I AliiMny 
Romtiey Brent 
, . . . . . , . ..loyi-n JRI.jinrt 
, . . Svdnev Knlrbrrtl her 
,..i.,..FKsheiv AVhlt# 
■. i i . . imKUr C-n llliirop. 
. flonwid Shiner 



TURN OFF THE MOON 

(MUSICAL) 

Piiir«m<)unt reieaHe of a Kithchon produce 
lun. DIreoted by r^ew.ls Se.Uir. Slory. ,\!ll- 
.lied Harrington; artupluiloiv, • AlnrKuerlle 
HobertR, >lnvl<in. Ware, Paul Gerurd .Snith; 
inuslo Hiid lyrloa. Sum Coslow; onniorii, Ted 
TetzlftfT; At Paramount. N. week May. 
If), "flT. Runhinif time, 7 mlns. 

Klllott Dinwlddy, Ohnrlle nuKfJItf 

Caroline AVIIson Jlcaiiorei AVhllney 

Tt>rry KeJih. t. . . . . ... ; . , . ..lolinny JTiownji. 

Kenny Baker. . . . . ,l<enny Baker 

Phil HnrrLs and Orihealrii . 



The easjieist way to. say it is prob- 
ably thie most direct: is is not a 
good - picture. Miss rgner; as - 
lovely a$ -ever to look' u - 
tures liite is won't do het much 
good/ It's not only above the heads 
of average filnt-goers in content, but 
well enough iriade to fall into 
the artistic flop division, which .seems 
lb have becpnie so desirable lialely. 

"Stpry is one of which Miss ; 
tier and her husband, Ayho- diirect'5 all 
her films, sieiem to be. especially fond. 
They did it once before, in Germaoyi 
in German, and English versions, 
liatter was very . bad, although the 
German version did some. bXisiness. 
Play from which it Was. taken, Henri 
Bernstein's 'Melo,' was a dud on 
Broadway, althotigh it did very well 
abroad. 

Like most . Bernstein plays it is 
pstychclogical in intent, a stvidy in the 
mental realm of a woman involved 
in ah offside sex adventure,: Miss 
Bergner is very much in love with 
her husband, Ronriney Brent, a Musi- 
cian. She meets his friend, Raymond 
Massey, a fairtbus violi ist, and it. is 
immediately -one of. those ihiiigsr. : She 
can't resist Massey, nor can he resist, 
her. He goes to America; she is to 
tell her husband about it all and fol- 
low. But the husband falls ill and 
she has to n|irse him; She cah'.t fell 
him. . She, Can't follow her l^eart's 
dictates. She has to linger and suffer.' 
, .S6, :not knowing how to get out 
of. the mess, she leaps into the 
Thames. Cute? 

A typical European triangle iahd 
handled that way, tortuously. There 
isn't a breath of irelief or compromise. 
The misery is simply piled on. They 
, .'won't go for that over here. 

Nor is the casting ' tod successful. 
Miss Bergner Continues that; tor- 
tured gamin illusion she does.so welli 
but it is /beginning to., wear thin. 
Brent, as the husband, is fine, but 
Raymond Massey, as the other man, 
is hard to believe. His is. a good perr 
formance in itself, but not as related 
to the rest bf the pictute. 

Technically this . is ! a good job, 

ghbtography and physical production 
eing standard. An expensive pic 
ture, too, and looks it despite the 
implicity of the ■ story.. Kauf. 



liik*''. 

Myrtle .Tweejj.' 

Trtielove • Spen<-ei^ . . 
Detective DuKan.'... 
Dr. Wakefield. . . . . , 
:Mu 1% le .iones ^ i :'. .. . , 
.Mr; Perklna. . . ; . . . . 
The Albee Sisters.. 



.Sp«>(-lalty. Act'. . ;,. .KloyU i^hrlaiy, Jfal (lould 
The. Fnnchonettes'. , ; ... i . .-.i.SpeclHltle.H 
.Brooks. . , .'. ... .Jharlee.. WlHiuin!?. 

PhotoKiapher. . ,. . .t:. .' . , , ; . ... . .■; .Pitt West 



AS GOOD AS MARRIED 

irnfycraal productton and release. - Stnra 
^ohn Bolen and Doria Nolan, AssocKile 
producer, B. M. Aaher,' Directed by 'Kddle 
BuKzell. Screen play, P, Hiitrh' Herbert 
and T<ynn ' Starling. From original .hy Nor- 
nian Kraana.- PhotOKvaphy. Merrit (lerBiad: 
illni editor, Philip Ca.hn;. muelnal director 
Ohnrlea Preyln. SJieclal effects, Jo>in P 
Vulton. At Boxy, .N. T., week May 21, '87 
niinnine time, Ti mlna. 
Alexander Dre^v. ..Tohn BAles 

Sjylvlit Porker. . , ... ... . ; Doris Nolrin 

Froser; .Tn men . Walter Pldgeon 

Prjnress Cherry Bouladoft. . . . . .Tala BIrell 

■^Viilly; ; . , . Alan Mowbray 

.*'•»« . ; Katherlne Alexander 

Ml.ss Da ., ....Esther BaLstoh 



en Blue 
, ..Miirjorle GuleNon 
...,.1^1'ody. Sutton 
, .,>:Ronio Vlni-erit 
; . A ndi'e\v ToiiibPf-: 
.Constance - BerK«'n 
'rnnkllii PariRborn 
.Specialty 



The office secretary who marries 
her boss to keep him out of girl and 
financial trouble. Placed where it 
belongs, this one will slide by if too 
much is not expected of it. 

Picture gives audience.<; another 
look at Doris Nolan, young dramatic 
actress who attracted some -attention 
in New York two seasons ago: Her 
role here calls for light comedy. It 
is a part not 'exactly suited, for her 
talent is on the sterner side. She 
shows to advantage in the. more seri- 
ous niomehts. Universal has blugged 
Miss Nolan hard in ah effort tb, 
make her haitie mean something. She 
is- still waiting.) however, for a dra- 
matic story. Her last previous start 
v/ais in 'Top of the Town.' 

John. Boles walks thi-bugh a char- , 
acterization which is none too clear-- 
ly . defiried i the script, and supr 
porting parts are played by Alan 
Mowbray, Walter Pidgeon and Tala 
Birell. 

AU.marriage. for convenience films 
contain, at some point, a bit of bed- 
room feinting and sparring, but .<ince 
neither of the two main characters 
here seem to care very much what 
happens after the lights go out, the 
audience is in the same franie of 
mind. 

Eddie Buzizell has ; directed better 
comedies than this one, .sb it is prob- 
able that he, too. is manacled by an 
imevcn: script. There couldn't have 
been very much to start with. ■ 

Production values are good and 
the .settings by John Harkrider .and 
J, M, Smith are in excellent taste. 
PholoBi'aphy splendid and the 
musical accOnipahiment adequate, 

FHn. 



As a musical 'Turn Off the Moon' 
is what it was Orig;i.nalIy charted for. 
Grade B ranking. Its corhedy assets 
are Charles ROggles and Ben Blue, 
t)ut the score is one of Sam Coslow's 
weaker jobs. Story is no great shakes, 
and picture is the first under the 
Fahchon banner. 

'Moon' evolves Ruggles arid . lue 
into a pair of cronies. Riiggles is. the 
pi-oprietor of a department store and 
Blue, the night watchman; Assort- 
ment of hokum to which the film 
becomes heir stems from Ruggles' 
personal life and business career 
twing dependent oh his . horoscope 
and the advice of his pet astrologer, 
A'hdy Tombes. 

Johnny Downs and Eleahore Whit- 
ney ate the younger; rbmantic twor 
some, with their assjgriment to the 
store's honeymoon cottage iserving as 
ia source of complications, songs and 
dance numbers. Downs' singing is 
fair enough and the dancing prbves 
itAiss. Whitney can do ice ballet 
'urns besides taps. She is; not well 
photographed, however. 

Store celebrates its 25th. anniver- 
sary. by staging a musical show. This 
event serves as the picture's finale. 
!PhiI Harris and Kenny Baker, both 
bf Jack Benhy!s. radio proigram, are 
spotted here for vocal interludes and 
all right. But the smack incident 
in this, sequence is Blue's burlesque 
Russian stepping. 

Tombes gets some mirth, into the 
astrologer, Marjorie Gateson figures 
sprucely as Ruggles' secretary-fian- 
cee, and Roniq Vincent does an ex- 
cellent impersonation of Charles 
Laughton and leads ; the ' Jamm in* 
number icely. Grady Sqtton ac- 
counts for some chuckles as the boss' 
nephew. 

'Jainmin' and 'Southern Hospital- 
ity' seerh best of the tunes. An brdi^: 
n^ry picture -undistinguished as to 
direction and writing. Odec. 

Lies Perlet de la Cburonne 

('Pearls. of the Crown') 
(FRENCH MADE) 

Paris, May 13. 
Tobis release of a 'ClneaB' Serge Sahd- 
herir Pradiiictlon; Directed by Bacha Gultry 
and Christian raque. Screen story by Sacha 
Guilty. Music by Jean Tranoalx. Caiinera, 
Pierre Kruger. At tlie Mai'lghan, Pavls, 
May 12, '37. Running tltue, 118 inlns. 
Fruncolse Martla. Jacqueline Deluliac 

Jean Martin V-.Sncha Gultry 

Francois I .,"<acha Guitry 

Madeleine de la Tour d'Auverghe, 

■Renee Sillnt-Cyr 

Pope Clennent Vir ...Brinette Zacconl 

Olouet .... Romuald . Jotibe 

Calherle de edicla (little girl), 

Paulette Elambert 

Hana Holbfein , ...Craven 

>Tltlen ........ i. ... I.autner 

Henry VIU . . . . Uyn Harding 

Cardinal Wolsey. Percy WaiMnont 

Queen of Abyssinia. , . ... Arletty 

An Italian .......Claude Dauphin 

A Singing Worker... Ponzlo 

Catherine de Mckllcila (mature). 

Marguerite Moreno 

Queen Ellzaheth Tvette Plenne 

Mary .Stuart .. .... .Jacqueline Delubat 

A Fentiine du Mo»id Lisetle I.anvln 
An Industrial o£ the Midi.., ....... ft«lniu 

Henry IV ............ .Aline Simon G'lrard 

Giibrlelle d'Kslre ; . . ; . .Geniiulrie Auasey 
Du Barry .. ......... . . . .Slmone H^nant 

A Woman. of t :l)amla 

A Revolutionary. I>| MaziccI 

Barras Sacha Gultry 

Josephine de Beuuharnals, 

.tacciuellne Dcluhac 
au-r.uuls Barrault 
I 



Miiiiature Reviews 

Gobd. ais Itfarried*. .( )•' 
Not strong enough for first 
run singles. With John Boles 
and Doris Nolan. 
'Turn Off the Moon* (Par), 
musical from: title to cli- 
max. 

^ 'MelQdy for Two' . . (WB). 
Musical el.erfients carry, picture 
through for. okay twinTj9iU f bd-*. 
der. 

'Nobody's Baby' (MtG). Full 
length Hal Rbach comedy. 
\with songs, that will get by as 
iecond half of a double bill. 

'Charlie Chan at Olympics* 
(2Pth). Warner bland in the 
14th of the Chan seiries. Mod- 
erately entertaining. 

'Draegcirman CoiirAge* (WB). 
Exciting meller about .a mine, 
cave-in and rescue. With Bar- 
ton. McLane and. Jean Muit it 
packs a punch and will please; 

'Angel's . Holidiiy' (20th). 
Jahe Withers as an obtrusive 
child mixer-upper. Okay sec- 
bndary product. 



yil obtained, seven pearls to give 
to. Catherine de Medicjs when she 
came to France, to becomle. the wife 
of the Dauphi , sbn bf Francois I. 
until, the beheading of Mary Stuart 
by Elizabeth of England; They are 
then stolen, but four of them are 
quickly recovered and. turned over 
to Elizabeth, who hides them. Queen 
Victoiria discovers them again and 
they are siipposed to be the biies 
■currently in the English crown. 

The history of the other three 
takes up more than hailf bf the film 
and, whether true or -fictitious, the 
presen ta tion bf th is episode i n \the 
story of the pearls/ based both on. 
history and . the imaginative geniiis 
bf Guitry's mind makes cOmitiehdar 
ble entertainment 'that brings the 
stpr^y up to the present day,, with 
the latter scenes taking place aboard 
the Normandi . 

Although pic is made with an eye 
to making it understood in at least 
three languages; the mistake is made 



are hardly stimulating, but the tunes 
should iput the filni upon a .satisfy- 
ing gait on. multiple r.ow. 
' James Melton's singing of 'Septem- 
ber in the Rain' is the strbn^est mu- 
sical moment of the film. Both 
Patricia £llis and Wini Shaw prb- 
vide interesting vocal numbers ad- 
ditionally. Miss Ellis' opening gown 
shriack tbo strippy for the part, but 
otherwise her costumes pass. 

Melton, as a biand leader and sing- 
er, mixes with his arranger and gets 
a peeve on because he . has to play 
music provided by the latter. That 
busts up Melton and his girl friend, 
Patricia EUis; •who also is Melton's 
singing soloist. „ . 'i,. -.„. 

From that time, and. on, Miss Ellis 
handles the band and Melton takes 
up ith a girly musical crew. He 
hammers back to fame on the wings, 
of swing, aided by Fred Keating, his 
manager, and Charles Foy, a dead- 
pan publicist. In the finale, for no 
reason, Melton must get a slap ih 
the jaw from Wini Shaw to bring 
Patricia Ellis back to, him, and the 
two climb back to radib fame to- 
gether. And Keating stops talking 

Marie Wilson is the ohly comedy 
asset in the . picture, but her role 
is only, a sneezer, as a witless .bull- 
fiddle bumper, 

Photographically^ picture can bow 
on its last setting, that radio studio 
item, but otherwise it's a simple «*- 
fair. SJian. 

NOBODY'S BABY 

(WITH SONGS) 

Melro-Goldwyn-Mayer release, of al 
ndaOh tjroduotlon. yeatureo ;Patsy , Kelly, 
I.vda Bobei tl, r.iTnn Overnian, Robert Arm- 
strong, .Directed by Gun Mel ns. Story and 
adaptation, Harold Law, Hal .Tatea and 
Pat G- VVicXv, fllni editor, Ray Snyder: 
camera, Noibert Biodlne: muEjc, Marvin 
Hatley; Ivilca, Walter Bullo<ik. At^Rlalto, 
N. T.. we«k May 19, '87. Runn|ng tlme, 
«7 njins. .■ 

kitty ; i . . . . ; . . ... ... .-. . . . .'.Patay Kelly 

Lena . Lyda Robertl 

Detective I.ittleworth. . .. . .T.yYine Overman 

Scoops Ha nf ord . .iFtbbert ArrnqtronK 
TVi>nne, . . . ........... ; . . . .Uosiha I>twrence 

Coi-tes!. . . ... . . . ....•■'; ...Don Alyarado 

Bus Conductor,. "Torn Cugan 
Maurice. ....... ............ .. . . .Otrin Burke 

Miss McKehzle. . . ; ; .; . .Doi'a Cleniaiit 



Bo'nu parte' 

■Talleyrand . .■. 

Queen Hvrtenae ■. 

Napoleon I 

Napoleon III 
Knipres.s EuKenle 
A Younp Givl. . .. 
.\ French • liaOy; , 

.A KliiKfer ... 

Ah Oil! Man..... 
A. Griind Duke... 



....... 



. . ... . . . . 



'Nobody's Baby' , is agreeable 
enough; comedy with songs. Picture 
rateis as a NO; 2 feature for duals. 

Hal Roach, veteran of the shorts 
school, is the producer and the two 
reel technique dominates the prb 
ductioti. However, there is not too 
much slap-stick. 

Misses Kelly and Robert! make .a 
good tearn for comedies of this kind, 
the latter (from musical cbmedy) 
playing the dumb foreigner. Girls 
are thrown in with each other acci 
dentally and enter a nurse's training 
school. -Things look suspicious to 
their boy friends when the girls take 
possession, in turn, bf a baby tb 
cover up a night -Cliib . dancer who 
doesn't want the public to khow she's 
married to her partner. Somb amus 
ing situations ai's developieid and the 
four top cast members, paired in 
double romances, play them to their 
limit for laughis. 

Biosina Lsuyrehce and Don Alva 
rado are the dance team in floor 
show- sequences. Their routines are 
nothing to rave about, but they 
acquit themselves creditably- in the' 
domestic quarreling. In addition to 
the title isong, done by members of 
Jimmy Grier's band, sbngs include 
Tm All Dressed Up in Rhythm* anc 
Tve. Dreamed About This,' They 
listen okay. ■ Char. 



I'lziiii 
uetto DunoH 

Drain 

. ..•ilL-li'ii Gultry 
ri;iiei-lle Moreno 
. .Roslne' bcreiii) 
....reclle Sorel 
. .liMlle (iranval 
...lean Coquelln 
. <Git!>toU' Dubosc 



Herbert. OIL Pons .Yam 

Hollywood, May 2.5. 
i;. Hugh Herbert is scripting 'Mtiaic 
for Madam ' Lily Pons starrer, at 
HKO. 

Jesse L. Lasky produces. 



(In French, Italian, English) . 

Guitry has outdone himself oii this 
one, 'Les Sept Perles de la Cour- 
onne,' whether intentionally or un- 
intentionally done, is one of those 
things the French .call a melange, 
which means a mixture, and this 
film is that and more. 

If taken from a. straight' historical 
presentation point of view then dis- 
appointments will be. iencourttered, 
as they will if only the eye for 
light comedy or drama is kept. open. 
That is where the melange Comes .in. 
And because of that,' combined with 
words -which might call them.seive.s 
pageantry, unusualneiss, comedy and 
in sparse Cases, farce, this picture 
is headed to bring in returns both 
here and abroad. 

It's' unusualness, in some cases, 
borders almb.<;t on the freaki.sh, al 
though that latter description i.s side- 
stepiped. But because of its uncom- 
mon aspects it is going to catch on 
and will' be enjoyed, for, with all 
of its unusual characteristics — de 
spite its faults iand sorne of them 
coiild have been easily avoided — it 
v^ill be talked about and be seen. 

Story sticks to history more br 
less from the time Pope Clement 



that one must understand, at least 
two to get airthei-e is in it, French 
being necessary with either Enjglish 
or Italian. .One unusual aspect is 
that in the scenes taking place in 
Italy, Italiai}': is spoken; for France. 
French is.' spoken and for Great 
Britai , English. In the early reels 
Guitry takes pai to : explain in 
French everything thiat - has been 
said in English and Italian, but this 
is dropped when the pix is well un-. 
der way. A person, speaking Only 
English or Italian could not follow 
the pic without subtitles. 

As? the. most formidable undertak- 
ing, that has yet been attempted in 
France, M will pi-Obably go down 
as one of the outstanding pictures 
produced this year. It is loaded with 
historical facts and scenes but the 
reversal to modern life . at pleasing 
intervals brings the onlooker back 
to present-day realities long eniough 
to relieve the heaviness.. 

Pic opens With Guitry^ ais.^a mod- 
ern man; relating; tp'hi^;,yp;i^e "iace^^ 
line Delubac, thie'hustory of the seven 
piearls. Unlike/ h|s'"'Roman d'un Tri- 
cheur' he does hot talk continually 
but allows screen actors and ac- 
tresses to talk in one of the three 
languages as the story moves from 
country to country. At intervals he 

switches back to the present day to , _.,,„ . _ „ ,, 

airnlolr. fv... o4.n..ir .,0 -„iasaistant director, "tVilllam E. Mull; pho 

explain the story as it evolves on toKraphv. George Coo.pej 
the screen. ~ 

A look at 'the personages por- 
trayed gives some idea, of the suc- 
cession of events which are so mani- 
fold in this pic. Like those of so 
many others, the appearance of Ger- 
manie Aussey, Jean-Louis Barrault, 
Cecile Sorel — who makes her film 
debut in this pic— Huguette Duftos. 
and Renee Saint-Gyr is for a few 
moments . only as history is traced 
ih.GUitry's fantastic story. And each: 
actor appearing assumes so many 
different roles it is sometimes cbn^ 
fusing. But the acting for the most 
part is of a high degree, and On a 
commendable plane. Settings . and 
cO.stuming have been well carried 
through while photography deserves 
praisewprthy comment for a Firench 
fi' Hugo. 



DODGE CITY TRAIL 

(WITH SONGS) 

Cblumbta production and release.' Starii 
Charle.x .<5tarrett. Features Donald Gray 
son. Marlon Weldon. Directed by. C. C 
IMIeman,. ,Tr> Screen play, Harold Shumnte 

n E. Mull;- pho 

_ _ . . Blm editor, DIok 

Fnnti; musical . director, Morvis StololT 
snugs. Ned 'Washington and .Sammy Stept 
At Chaloner, N. X., week May . 21, ' 7;. on 
dual bllli Running time, mln.«. ' 

.Steve Braddoi'k , . . .•.Chailea Slarrel 

Slim Grrtyson ......Donald Grayeoii 

.Marian Phillips... ...Marlon 'Weldon 

Kenyon Phillips; , Rua.sell Hlcka 

Rawtilde. ..... .... ... .,,'.,.. SI .lenk 

Daw,<ion ^ i Al Bridges 

Bla ck le, . i . ; . , . . . A i- 1 Mix 
Dillon... ....... . , . . , . ji-nlie - .Mams 

.Trte/. , . . , . ... .. M\\ Meehun 

'Red.. . . . . .Hank Bell 



Chan at the Olympics 

aOth-Fox. production and l-el^^^^^. ,i„)j_ 
Stone, BMOClate producer. Peiiture.^ Wainer 
Oland. Directed by H. Bruce Huiiil>eiKi(.ne 
Adaptation, Robert Ellis, He^len Ix^wn* 
original, Paul Buruer; camera, iiimlfi b' 
Clark; mualcal direction, Samuel 'nyiin' 
At Central, N. T,. ^eek May au, f;i7, jivml 
inlng time, Tl mlns. . 

Charlie Chan, ...>.«.•,'•> . . , ,Wai-ner OInnd. 

Yvonne. Roland. Kutlierine tUMIDe 

Betty Adams. . ;'. ..••t.;^.., .I'aullnit JVloure' 
Richard Masters....,.,.;,,.,., .Allen i.nno 

I.iee Ghan'i ...;.'.. i ^ .Kvyt 
Arthur HuKheo, ... . : . . . , . .G. Henvyif;,,,.,!,,^ . 

CartwrlCiht ,,rohh. Bl<lv.ei|jie 

Charlie Chan,. Jr.i....,.i..IjH,vne- 'j'<mi'. .j,.^ 

Hopkins .........'<.'.......... ..fonatbap llij)^ 

^Honorable Charles Zarako . Mor^a-n SviiMnce 
Captain Straseet . . .Fredi -Ik A'.o»;Ki|>f 
Police Chli»t Scott..,.;., i. Andrew 'iViiiiii 
Burton....... ...'...'.'.Howard it-ki ' 



Another of those elaborately com- 
plex detective yarnis in which the 
inscrutable Charlie Chan, ith his 
customary finesse and Oriental ad- 
ages, outwits a powerful ring of 
international .spies.' This time it is-ii 
robot airplane piloting gadget with 
which the. Him plays hide-and-seek. 
Action : swings all the ,wav from 
Honolulu to the Olympic Games in 
Berlin. > 

Chan, with a party of U. S. Navy 
officials, tracks the foreign agent,f by 
clipper ship, airliner and; finally, the 
ill-fated Hitidenburg, to the games in 
Gerihahy. Irt his sleuthing he is 
aided, by his 'No. i Son,' Lee Chan, 
a membet of the Anierican swim- 
ming team. 

In Berlin, the invaluable gadget is 
recovered, only to be temporarily 
lost again in a series of fairly ex- 
citing incidents. It had been hidden 
in the luggage of a girl member of 
the Amierican squad on shipboard 
and Chan has quite a time trackini; 
it: down and uncovering, the real 
villain. Needlescs .to say, the actual 
head: culprit is disclosed to be the 
lea^t-suspected. member of the film's 
cast. 

Oland is his customary bland^ un- 
ruffled self irt' his portraj'ai of the 
noted Chinese-American detective. 
This is the 14th .film in. a seemtngly 
endless ..series and provides, lively 
.entertainment in its stylized way. C. 
Henry Gordon and Katherihe.deMilie 
play the leaders of the spy ring in 
effective fashion. Slight thread of 
romance is furnished nicely enough 
by Pauline Moore and Allan Lane 
and some helpful assistance is 
rendered by John Eldredge, Jonathan 
Hale, Keye Luke, Morgan Wallace 
and Andrew Tombes. 'Layne Tom, 
Jr., as Chan's, youngest son. is a 
bright youngster, : and Fredr ik 
Vogeding is amusing as the Berli 
chief of police. 

Newsreel shots of the Olympic 
Games are effectively blended into 
the action by Director H. Bruce 
Humberstone, wl^ose work is expert 
throughout. Photography and pro- 
duction are of a nigh grade.. RowL 

TOUGH TO HANDLE 

.Syndicate release of Maurice Oonn, pro-' 
ducllon. Stars Frankle Darro, Kanf 'Hii-h- 
mond. Directed by Roy Xiu'bey. Ad«vl;>- 
tlbn, .Sherman L. T.owe. Jack NevUlt; 
.original; Peter B. Kyn^; camera', .Tii':k 
Greentialgh. At Strand. Brooklyn.. fliiiiVIe 
blU, week May 20, . 'ST. Running Hint, Ct) 
ml nil: 

Mike, , ...a.' . 

Ed.....,,.,,.. 

G-ldria . i . .. . 

Franko .>...'...', 

Reggie..... 

Clara. .... ,', ; .^ii . 

Grandpa 

Barney. 

Splice •*••••.■« \ •* *• «.■•«•••■>• » 

Hud* •■•••••« 

• > ••••'• • • ■ ■'»• * • ■.. t«* •• 
Editor 



MELODY FOR TWO 

(MUSICAL) 

Warned ros. production and release. 
1!'.»-Hli>re>' . ..liiuie.s Melton. Patricia Kills, 
.\larle Wll.son, Fred. Keating. Dick Purcell, 
Wlnl Shaw. • Directed by Louis King, 
Story; lUchard. Mncaliley;. ' screenplav; 
GeorKe, Brickt-r,. T.ucl Word, Joseph K. 
Watson; p'loductiion number.^,- Robert 
Vreeland',, inniil<-al director, Leo F. Forb- 
steln; camera. Arthm". Todd. At Fo.x. Brook, 
.ryn, dui(l. .week May 21, '37.: Uunnlns 
time, fl(J!.:))iin.s, 



Toil. Weaver; . 

(?aie Slarr. 

<.'anillle (?iih-ey. , . . . . 
.'Ileinoiv^e' iJuni.so'ii,; 
Mel I.ynoli . ; , . . 
r.ornii. Wray . .' . . ... 

Bill HolUiui 

■Scoop' 'i'roll«fr ; 

Wilson.,......;..,;., 

.Kxodu:M .lohnson. . . , 
. A le x Mo n l vciyne 
'Wooilriirt; .>,,.,.;., 
Arnistroni;. . . . .>:. . . . 



James elton 

....Patricia lillla 

. . . , .Mtirle W'll.=on 
. . . . .Fred KcalinR 

......Dick Purcell 

.. .IVlnlfred Shaw 
Craig Reynolds 
.Cii)-*r|es Fov 
....<iordon KIlloiL 

..vlilddic :Ancleri>un 
1-:ddlo. Kane 
......Cordon Hart 

....Harry. Hiijaen 



There isn't mUch fun to this story, 
but there's some tuneful music and 
it's upon the musical , elements that 
the film will have to iride.. .General 
performance of ^player's and the story 



So-so western, with Cbarles Siar- 
rett as the stern-jawed cowboy who 
rescues the gal from .kidnapers only 
to discover, she's the daughter , of the 
gang's front: man. The snatch job,, it 
turns out, was jUst a little something 
the boys thought up on their own. 
Not a particle whiffed by such skull-, 
tluggery, Starrett reforms his prois- 
pective in-law^; delivers his consign^ 
ment of, cattle and returns to cap- 
tui^e the culprits. '. 

Being governed by the script writ- 
ers, he takes a clumsy way about it 
and the poppa is bumped off in the 
process. Still, the rascals relent at 
the last-moment and do the sport- 
ing thing by hiding the old boy's 
shame,. Starrett and the gal ride off 
over the hill into a suniset fadeout. 
. As the star of all this, Starrett is 
properly muscular- and humorless. 
Or rather, his humor, is the sort of 
Unvarnished he-man rough stuff that 
the urchins understand and love. 
Donald Grayson is a somewhat civil- 
ised edition of .cowbOy* with a harm- 
less crooning style. As the girl, 
Marion Weldon looks a bit sui-priis- 
ing with such blonde hair amid the 
rough surroundings. Russell Hicks, 
familiar in a hundred or so similar 
parts in bigger pix, is the father. 

'Dodge City Trail' , i.sn't even in- 
tended for adults. And. it won^t 
knock. the moppets into the aisJes,' 
?ut it will probably get by on mati 
nee duals. Hobe. 



Unconvincing and slip.shod in its 
wearisome attempt to spin a sensa- 
tional yarn of racketeera being 
bested by a brave reporter and his 
newsboy pal; 'Tough to Handle' is 
suitable for only the lesser duals. 
This new meller is ii bad 
volving.all concerned, from 
to actors. 

There is a mi imum 
the handling of this tur 
Of sweepstake swi v; 
third-grade, medjccre 
word for the camera work. 

StOry concerns a scOwling gioup 
of ihiscreants, headed by a gtnt 
named Franko, which defies the 
laws of justice and ciedibilily. by 
gypping sweeps winners of their 
prizes. Frahko is one of those gu.y-s: 
Who run^ a riitery to cover up his 
nefarious practices as a hireling of a 
mysterious Higher-Up; Hiis hench- 
men first kill an old man. who hold.s 
a lucky number and then they fcke 
the ticket away from his grand.v-on, 
Mike. Boy's sister has a job singi 
badly in Franko's Cafe, and,.wei-t i. 
not fOr her boy friend, Ed, Ihe re- 
porter, hers would have been a fear- 
ful fate. 

Justice conquers evil at the fini.«h, 
and, after Ed and Mike ha\e en- 
gaged : the gangsters in some, of the. 
wildest and crudest roiigh-ancl- 
tumbld shown ohrthe screen in a 
long time, Franko and his wiclttd 
assistants are delivered over lo the 
authorities. 

Frankie Darro, as Mike, the riew.*;- 
boy, and Kane Richmond, a."? the im- 
porter, are starred in the film, which 
is one of a series for the duo. Harry 
Worth plays Franko, the sneeiing 
and oveFrobvious menace, and Phyl- 
lis Fraser is Mike's sOhgstres.s*si.«iter. 
Best performance in the pic i.s^ given 
by Lorraine Hayes in the thankless 
role of the chief igangster's girl. She 
shows promise and is worlby^oi 
)}eUer surrx)uhdings. Howl. 



Wedoesday, May 26^ 1937 



FILM REVIEWS 



VARIETY 



IS 



Draegiennaii Courage 



w.irner Bros. ' reJeasft of First National 
•ni^ffilon Features Jean Mulr an* Bar-' 



Directed by I^ula King. 



of 



coldeway: camera, Gilbert Warrentqn 
s rand. Brooklyn, douWft bill, week 
Mrun ... Running time, 09 mlna. 

•Jiean Mulr 
....Barton MclAne 



May 

Kllen Haslett 
Andr* BeaUpre 



l>r Thomas Haslett. 
Martin Crone.,... >• 

John McNally... 

■ •jfary. Haslelt.,,... ; 
■.■yete. • • ? • 
Pr. Hunter, . . .'• 

■fjunanne. . . . • V • 

ttanwell.'.-. • V 

yteve. • • • • 
. Captain Harper. , . . . 



....Henry O'Neill 
....Robert Barrat 
.Addison ittchards 
.Helen MacKellar 
.....Gordon Oliver' 
.'.'..Joseph Crehau' 
. ...Prradlla Lyon 
....^Walter Miller 
.He'rt>ert -Heywood 
....Ben: Hendricks 



Obviously ihspired by the actual 
events oi Nova Scotia's Moose River 
gold mine cavcriri oi a year ago, 
Warner^ hais turned out ai vivid and 
often thrilliiie melodrabia of under- 
ground disaster. The draegerman o< 
Ihe fllni's title are thos^: brave bur- 
rdwers iemployed by mine iterators 
to rescue, victims of subterrainean 
crackups and the pictlire pays excit- 
ing tribute to their courage. 

In admirably filmed detail, directr 
ed by Louis Kiiig, the story , concerns 
the trapping pf three men, a kindly 
physician-scientist, the owner , of the 
mine and his foreman, in a gold mine 
acpident. . Barton McLane, as Andre 
^Beaupre, a French-Canadiah draeg- 
erman, leads a hazardbiis expediti6n 
underground and succeeds in releas- 
ing the trapped trio. Beaupre is in 
'love with the doctor's daughter 
(Jean Muir) and the . story builds 

icely up to the ne&r-fsitiii disaster. 

Dr. Haslett has bo en persuaded to 
sell his. treasured but seemingly 
worthless gold mine, called The 
Graveyard,' to Martin Crane, a 
wealthy mine operator, iiii order to 
raise money to pay for an operatioii 
tq save his youngest child's life. It 
is during a tour Of the hoodoo mine's 
deep passages 'that the caye-in 
occurs." 

Tense, moments for the;, assembled 
crowds oiitstde thfe mine during the 
draegermian rescue are graphically 
pictured as are also the underground 
scenes. It all stmts up to on^ of the 
best screen productions of its. sort in 
many a day. MdLane is a most suit 

■ able; choice -for the vital role of 
Beatipre and he gives a. performance 
of rugged power that is tmusually 
effective. Sharing featured honors 
^ith him in the cast, Jeah Muir is 
attractive ,and sympathetic in a 
somewhat colorless part. , Heniy 
O'Neill is fine as Dr. Haslett; Robert 
Barrat 19 the mine owner and other 
lesseir parts are well played by Addi- 
son Richards, Helen MacKellar and 
Joseph Crehan. .Camera work 
throughout is exceptional, as is also 

, ,th^ direction. The film can boiast of 
a well-managed plot, topnotch dia 
log and a story, that lifts to its cli 
max with smoothness and dispatch. 
This picture ' will please audiences 
and has the stuif to stand alone, 
ithout dual support. Rowl. 

THIRTEEN 

(RUSSIAN MADE) 

Moscow, May 7. 

Mo3fllfn release and production. Directed 
l»y RiHiini. Screen play by L. Prout anti 
Romm; camera, B. Volchek. 



editor, Jane Withers has a rolie that 
must have delighted her. She starts 
out by butting into everybody's busi- 
ness and winds up by bringing rack- 
eteers 'into a situation .which' began 
as a publicity hoax revolving around 
the supposed disappearance of a film 
luminary. 

There never was a braver or 
smarter child than that which Jane 
' Withers plays in this film, She dares 
*o chide the toughest gangsters who 
ever. Jived, without winlcing an eyer, 
lash,' and unarined at that. So; it is 
a natural conclusion to find her also 
isolving the busted romance between 
•;he somewhat naive iemme star and 
nhe handsome story-book reporter. 

By this time, Jane's pappy has re- 
;urned to claim her from her uncle, 
so all's well that iehds well. 

Miss 'Withers is given , a chance 
even to iitiitate Martha Raye for a 
slight change . of pace, during a Ro- 
mantic interlude between Robert 
Keiit and Sally Blane. Miss .Blane 
is the lead and Kent is the handsome 
mugg. . 

For humorous asides there are ia 
cOuple. oiE comic strip characters in- 
cluded in the plot;' one of these is 
the part of Gram pfayied by Al 
Lydell. > 
Camera \/ork is satisfyi 



V "Thirteen' is supposed to be 
Soviet version of The Lost Patrol, 
which intrigued Director Romm 
when he saw it. It is an effective 
variation on the familiar theme of 
Soviet patriotism becoming more 
and more frequent in Russian films, 

A detachment of 13 Red Army 
soldiers, demobilized after the civil 
war and intervention, is pushing 
through the desert, trekking from 
well to well; Finally the men come 
to an old ruin in which are found 
guns and ammunition hidden thet-e 
Dy_the 'Basmachi,' ahti-Red bandits. 
. The soldiers decide to stay, send- 
mg one man off for reinforcements. 
When the bandits return they start 
picking off the defenders of the 
ruins. Only one man, ah old geolo 
^'S;..'5.^"''V»ving when help arrives. 

Thats aU there is to the film. 
Which IS without love interest. It 
resembles /Beau Geste' in its desert 
oattle scenes and comradeship. Pho- 
tograohy is ejtcellent. Mill. 

ANGEL'3 Holiday 

W'eaae ot John St6n6 produc 
iT'v ^^1*" Withers. Teatures Rob 

r^H*^*".'- •'i**" I>avls, Sally Blane. D| 
L.^itl.v.'*'' TInling, Original arid 

wreenpiny, Frank Feriton. Lynn Root 
"i?'"* Howard, Bill Telaak: musical 
ria^i; ^ i?."^^''*^ Kaylln ; camera, Daniel B. 
W-A'-r Brooklyn, dual, ■week May 

^i. J7. Running time, 74 nilns. 

iMt^t^Kw"/ ' "■ • • ' ••• i i . . Jane Withers 

Jttlver • • " • • • • • ' ••■ Kent 

1 aullne Kaye. . .Sally Blane 
tt»u??i?""v • • '............o.. Harold Huber 

( vl» 1 - ........ i ^ . i . Fraiik Jenks 

i • . ... . . ..... .Kay Walker 

iswi ^^'"e"-.. .-John Qualen 
<'^1."";"'.."........I^'^ Chaney, Jr. 

J:^"* • • • . . Al Lydell 

j-'us. ....... y.. ... . . . i ii. • . , , .BuBSell Hoptoh 

^«rKeu n t Murphy. . . . , . „ . Paul Hurst 

i . . . . Jdhn Kelly 

■f ')irJ?' ' ; • .> . . ...... George . Taylor 

................. Cy Kendall 

♦Iph Everett... Gharl Arnt 



Die Stimme Des Herzen$ 

(The Voice of the Heart') 
(GERMAN MADE) 

Berlin; May 10. 

IBaVaria producLInn nnd release. Directed 
by^Karl Helns! Marl.fn. Book. Gerhard T. 
Buchholtz,:'Gerd TolKleh;' music; -Giuseppe 
Bacce; i-amera, Fi-iin-.^' Kuc-h; sound, K.'A. 
Kellerl At Gloria. Palaai, Berlin. Running 
time 01 mina. 

....... Beniamlno. Glgll 

. . .... . .G^raldlne Katt 

. . Kerdlhand Marian 
> , i : , . iQIna Falckenberg 
. . . . , . . .Fritz Odemar 

....... .OuHtav Waldau 

.Hubert von Meyerlnck 



The World'* in Love 

(WITH SONGS) 
(AUSTRIAN MADE) 

Vilennese Song Corp. release" oC Sliinditrd 
production.. .Stars- Maria EBtcurtli, Ia^o Sli>- 
znk. Adapted from Fran?, l.ehnr'a oporetln, 
'Clo Clo' ; screenplay, Krnst iirlschliu; 
music, l<\-anz Leluir; .niURlo niTiirigeiiipiit, 
Willy .Sehiiildt-GeiUner; orolieslra, .7uU«s 
Von Borsody. At Pllmarte; N". • 18, 

'37. Ruflning time, S7 mins, 
llqna Ratkay ' . .'. . .-. ... . . arta EbspHIv 

AldQll>crt voii' Waldenuu; , : l..i>(> SIiv/:»lc 

Helene vbii' Wnldeii'au ;.,J'.-.:lila AVuCst 
I'etw von • Wiildenaii i . . . . 

Anton . . ... . i ; . . 

Wardrobe Mlstrciia ....... 

Director 



iKd.lf Wuriku 

, l A nny, Hoanr 
.N<.*ug'(!bauei' 



GlnO Marl......... 

Princess Helene -. 
Prince' Konstandn 
Miss Mary Smith.. 
Count Losses ; , .. 
Ferrat 

Lord-in-'wailing . . . 



Precocious, Jane Withers was 
never so continuously in the center 
things as she is in this picttire, 
:with all her familiar tricks. It's a 
lUMwarm story which teaches mo- 
ments of hilarity via the overgrown 
.gyrations exhibited by the child ac- 
tress. Kids will laugh plenty over 
inis one and even adults will get a 
"ckle or two. 
As Angel, iece of 



a newspaper 



(In German)' 
One of Bavaria's first moves after 
coining into, the coin was to hand a 
fat islice of it to Gigli and make one 
of the . Worst flops of . the season; Ex- 
cept for the tenor's name, .this pic 
has nothing :to make it of b.- o. 
promise. Story^ is a flimsy affair 
made iip mostly of excuses for Gigli 
to render arias from siindry plat- 
forms, trunks and balconies. Fbr his 
thespic deficiencies one overlooks 
much, because of hi^ . voice and. the 
very definite charm and sympathetic 
quality,' which do get across. But 
these assets, are not strong enough to 
offset a weak-kneed tale,. bad camera 
work, lagging histrionics and 
starched direction. 

Princess Helene, happening to. be 
in Marl's hotel as the singer fires his 
love-lorn pianist, steps in and helps 
him out on the ivories. That evening, 
at the concert, he calls her from the 
box to play his encore; Late party 
follows and,, returning to his room, 
he finds Mary Smith, an American 
thrill-seeker, waiting. He gives her 
the ozone. Seport; however, reaches 
Prince Kohstaritin that Helene, his 
fiancee, had been the nocturnal 
visitor. He cuts her dead without an 
explanation. Embittevred by the mis- 
understanding, she decides to break 
from the home ties and off she goes 
to Vienna to establish herself as a 
pianist. Marl is there, doing a date, 
and his feffdrts, Cbmbined with those 
of the Sewet 'Police,' disclose 
Helene's whereabouts and. lead to 
her clinch with Kohstantin. 

Geraldine Katt.- who did a good 
job in her pic debut "Das Madchen 
Irene" last winter, has taken a backr 
ward slide here, showing how much 
she doesn't know about acting. 
Comedy relief is supposed to go to 
Hubert von Meyerinck. but as there 
is hardly any comedy there cant be 
much relief. Gina Falckenberg gets 
by as the second femme. Others do 
ail they can with wobbling assign- 
ments. 

TAKE MY TIP 

(BRfllSH MADE) 
(WITH SONGS) 

London,. May 7. 

Gaumopt- rltiah PictuVp, released .In 
United Kingdom' 1>y Gpner,il Film Distrib- 
utors. Stars Jack Hulbert, Cicely Court- 
neldge: tealure.i Harold Hulh. Frank Cel- 
Her Directed bv Herlwrt Mason. Screen 
play bv Sydney Glillat, Michael Hogan, 
Jack Huibert. Ortmcru, jBornnrd Knowles. 
At jPhennix ttjealre, London. Running 
time. 74 mlns, ■'■ 

i .Jftck Hulbert 

. . .Cii-elv Courlneidge 

i... Harold Huth 

Frank Celller 

; .Frafik PettlngeU 

.....;..R6l>b WlUon 

.. ........ PHilip Buchel 

......... ;.H. F, Maltby 

;. Olllot Makeham 

..Paul Sheridan 



(In German with Engiish itles). 

Franz Lehar's operetta, 'Cio G16' 
gave birth to this tuneful, .backstage 
romance. Marta Eggerth .sings the 
Lehar tunes appreciatively. Comedy 
end is steered skillfully by .Leo Sle- 
zak and Anton Moser and the film 
stistains art amtising gait mainly be- 
cause of the able blending of all 
these elements by the. director, W. 
Toiirjahsky, who has done a good 
Job. 

Story is simple and very light. 
Okay for ;the arties, dialog being 
simple, and the literalism; of the 
English titles can be overlooked. 

Principle virtue of the film is Miss 
Eggerth's personality ', and voice. 
Plot's an old one. Settings are. un- 
pFetentious, but varied and. a glimpse 
or two of Vienna's night life is pro- 
vided in addition to a dash of coun- 
tryside scenics. ■ 

Miss Eggerth is a musical comedy 
queen Who has trouble with her 
manager because he persists- in 
planting off-color publicity about 
her. A gay old farmer, and his hand- 
some son arrive on business, biit 
wind up competing for her, with the 
youngster winning out under amus- 
ing circumstances. 

In the meantime, due to the mah- 
ager's activities, a paper publishes a' 
yarn making- the girl the offspring 
of the old farmer, and a former 
Himgarian .dancer he knew; years 
back. So the old man tries to breiak 
the affair between the girl .and his 
son. However, the farmer's wife 
takes a hand in the situation and, 
by this time, the manager, ' rather 
than lose Eggerth, gets the papers 
to deny the story. Which squares 
it all. Shan. 



George; 

Hattie.^ r. 

Buchan. . .■. . . . . 

Paradine. ...... 

Winis. . .• 
FoMmfin. . ,,. . . . 

Dancing Guest. 

Patchelt..; . 

DigworUiy.. .-> * 
Clerk in Hotel. 



Definite entertainment value for 
this picture in England, ahd a rea- 
sonable gamble it will succeed in 
America as a second feature. Jack 
Hvilbert and Cicely Coiirtneidge have 
been musical cbmedy stars for a 
ntunber of years here, and later had 
more or less success as individual 
film luminaries. . , ^ 

A popular kind of musical farce, 
at least a couple of popular ditties, 
and that many dances: very adequate 
supporting cast; expensive, biit not 
extravagant production; intelligent 
direction commensurate with the ma- 
terial at hand, and fairly good pho- 
tography. V 1 
' The basic plot is melodramatic, but 
treated in buflesqu fashion, and 
the whole thing is designed and 
executed for laughter, at which it 
succeeds. Jolo. 



hside Stulf-Pictiires 



Recent move ,in the .N. Y. state legislature, which terminated when 
Governor Lehman vetoed the rneasure that would have set up a- virtual 
bne-riiian control of the stage, is viewed, by ntimerbus industry chief tains 
as a hangover of the censorial attacks formerly directed at pictures. Atti- 
ture held' currently by most leaders in the film business is that there is no 
such thing as a, dirty 6r. offensive , screen production. 

Feeling throiigihout the film industry now is that the trend on censoi-shi 
is status quo. Though there are no new threats of censorship, it is di 
cult to remove a state censor board establishment once, it has been set tip. 
Obvious reason for this is that there are no legislatures ; who are willing 
to repeal the b,oard because so much easy patronage Is eliminated. 

One thing that has kept the state iegislatures in line on new censorship 
laws is the fiare-up of sen timet) t among the people themselves, When a 
strenuous effbrt is made. to. pick' on screen pjrodiictidn reaction is 
such that thi^ censors ar6 represented as mierely going through the mo-' 
tions, followed by a hasty retreats This is bacause few active picture com- 
pany leaders believe that there has been anything of importance censbr- 
able in the: last three years. Vbluiitavy censorship within the business has 
produced this result, they. say. 



WILDCAT TROOPER 

Syndicate , release of Maurice. Conn' pro- 
duction. Features ICennlC-- Mu.vnard, 
Directed by Eliiver C'lirttm. Ailiiiitaiion, 
Joseph O'Donnell; .original, Jnines Oliver 
Curwood; camera, , Arthur Heed. At 
Chnloncr; N. Y., one - day, (lai. May 22, 
-a7. Running time M nilii.s. 



Semi-monthly report of the Securities &. Ex^change Commission lists 
Standard Capital Corp. as owner of 26,50(> vtc's and 111,283 warrants for 
certificates in Universal. Proportionate interest of various individuals ' 
not known, but statement reveals that George N. Armsby, trustee, Paul G. 
Brown, trustee-director, J, Cheever Cowdin, trustee-director, Peyton Gib< 
son, officer, -and Daniel M.' Sheatler, director, all have an interest via 
Standard, in which they have money. 

, In addition to their slices of the pool holdings, Brown has 9,900 vtc's in 
his own right, Gibson has 400,. and Shccilfer has 13,700. Only promiiient 
individuals whose 'say in Universardepends entirely on their direct hold- 
ings are Bob Cochrane, president, ith 26,473 certificates, and James P. 
Normanly with . 100. 

Standard's 111,283 warrants for cerliflcates^account for the interests of 
Armsby, Brown, Cowdin, Gibson and Sheaffer, since none of the officers, 
directors or trustees hold any options on~ their own behalf. 



roup of Satndan natives staged a sit-down strike after the best ap- 
proved American manner on Samuel Goldwyn's unit engaged in filming 
advance scenes, for ^e Hurricane,' Nbrdhbff-Hall South .Sea thriller.- 
They parked in their outrigger canoes and refused to put oh Slceded mass 
aquatic demonstration unless they got more coih. Leaders on being in- 
formed that 'United States gbvernment. ruling had fixed their wage stand- 
ard, and that nothing could be done about it quickly got over their sklt- 
tishness. Goldwynltes traveled 9,000 miles and brought back 140,000 feet 
of celluloid. 



Warners is getting , a beef on 'Helm Solomon,' picture it plons to 
make around the Jewish financier who carried a big part of the nut of 
the American Rievolution. . i 

.'Studio had: a full script by Art Craffney in which Jim Tully had a |>iece. 
Gaffney has sihce died and Warners turned; the script back, Sarhfl 
thing, .Tully contends, was dbne. bn ^The . Bruiser,', with studio siibjsequen.tly 
announcing it's going to .do a fight picture along stumble biinv lines bf the 
'Bruiser.' 

Tully. has asked the studio to square these things. 



Gale...;. 

Dr. Martin 

Pftt:...:..v:......;..: 

Ruth 

Indian. . . . > 

The Raven , 

Reynolds. 

McClain. ;. ;; . 

Foster..........'.- .. 

Slhii 

Ucnrl. ....... ....... 

Rogers. , ............. 

Buyer 



.'.Kernilt. Maynard 
,■ . Hobiu't ■ 'Bu.i.worlh 
. . , ; . ViiMy Kolght 

.Lprs Wilde 

..Iliii O'horite 
; . . . Yiikliria Cnnutt 

....I'Mdio IMilllips 

.-. . . ..fohn MeVton 
, ...Krnuk llngney 
. .. toKor 'Willlanis 
.. IMciinvd CurilH 

-'JV Lrtrch 

......... II a i Price 



Kermit Maynard in the trappings 
bf a m.ountie and a James Oliver 
Curwood northwestern yarn is 
getting to be: a familiar combo to 
the', gun .and . gore fans, but it is 
dbubnut '."whether he wilt soob re- 
place his i irere Ken. Story, from 
Curwbod's 'Midnight Call,' packs 
plenty of pistols, ponies, but lacks 
the convincing note which Ken's ex- 
pert histrionics lend. What Kermit 
lacks in acting he makes up for with 
his fancy saddle work, however. 

As with . Maynard's performance, 
acting never enters into things, but 
action does. Film possesses a fund 
of hard riding on . the part of Mayr 
hard and two rival fur-trapping 
outfits engaging in regularly pitched 
battles. Only thespics are handled 
by Hobart Bosworth as the gentle 
country doctor who, underneath,, 
lays all. the nefarious plans , which 
start the feuds... In the soft disguise 
he snares the pelts for himself, while 
prompting wholesale murder. 

Trooper Maynard plays a three- 
cornered game between the two fac- 
tions and his investigation of the 
trouble. Fuzzy Knight, his crony, 
helps little in is rambling assign- 
ment, coraiirig ih at the finish,, after 
Maynard bottles and ' corks the en- 
tire crew of pelt pilferers by play- 
ing both sides against the. middle. 

Scenery snared by Reed . rates h'bi 
a nod. Speedy action sustained by 
Clifton ' merits similar citation. 
Jumpy soundtrack (possible house 
fault) is a distraction. Hurt. 



THE VICAR OF BRAY 

(BRITISH MADE) 

London, May 9. . 

■ Associated British releftflc. oT .FuIIum 
Hagcn pr4)ductlon. S'lfirs. Stanley HoIIowh.v. 
Directed -by Horiry ' Edwards. Oi'lgiiial 
Anson Dyer; additional dialog, and aflHUln- 
tibn. H. Fowler Mpni'; caimra, Wlllliirn 
Luff, At Piccadilly, r.ondtjn. Kunnlng 
time C() mlna. 
The Vicar ot Bray' 
King Charles I . . , ; , . 
Prince Chiivje.s .Stuart, 
ISarl of lirondon. ..... 

Lady Nonih Urehdon , 
Sir Richard Mdh'os.s. . 

Dennis MelroHS' 

.Sir Patrick Condon .. 
Meg Clancy ;.,.<....., 
Molly 



Central Casting reports that Hollywood hasn't enough dress extras to go 
around, in case of any ' emergency arising where two studios must ..meet 
their requirements on th6 same day. Total dress extra list comprises 207 
men and 253 women, but not more than 100 are available on any one day. 
Initial outlay for a dress extra's wardrobe is $1,000 and the minimum for 
upkeep is set at $5 a week. This factor accounts for the shortage. Stand- 
ard wage for dress extras is $15 a day. 



' One of the Coast agents, who has a propensity for . making a lot of calls, 
has figtired out a means of beating the office phone rap, which differs 
there greatly from the home rate. Latter can be had oh an unlimited 
local basis for a .flat fee, while office rates are based oh individual calls. 
Agent uses the home phone of a comedy trio -be's trying to spot in pic< 
tures; in return fbr the phone service, agent chauffeurs the actors wher* 
ever they want to go. 



Pathe neWsreel specialled the John D. Rockefeller death Sunday (23 ), 
rushing through an edition that was placed in the hands of theatres early 
the afternoon of his death. Special issue, comprising about 170 feet, vi^as 
tranisported by plane to Washington, getting in houses*there about 4 p. m. 
Sunday. Most other newsreels said that his prominence as a world figure 
had diminished considerably in the last 'five or six ycarsi in explaining 
why they put out no special^ 



New technical process for creating spooky camera effects has been 
perfected by Roy Seawright, special, effects photographer on Hal Roach's 
'Topper,' and his assistant, Frank Young. Pair conducted a series pf ex- 
periments and finally found the right formula.. Patent has been applied 
for. They have also- effected improvements on old makeshift technical 
devices iised for multiple exposures,, they claim. 



Saniuel Goldwyrt publicity, organization is taking advantage of the cur-^ 
rent candid camera epidemic by getting up a tome titled 'Show,' using 
candid shots bf stars, sets, personalities, etc., for blurbing purposes. 'Life' 
has given okay to use its, format. All pix on the coming season's schedule 
will be jgivbri the candid treat v 



Unethical tactics of publicity freelancers is irking the Hays ofTicc. With 
regular studio channels bottled against the release on offcdlor photos and 
ccnsorable stories, irreSponsibl.es are Said to be disseminating objectionable 
material. Result is that the Hays bffice has put a ban on handing its list 
of newspaper apb other oiitlets lb the nonconformers. 



Tim Connor 



.Htnnley. ollowny 
. . , . . . .IfUK'li Miller 

', iiirillioii I'rice 
. , V ; . . j''cllK- Ayliner 
, . . , Miii'Bari'l V'.lne.M' 
.. . . . .(>a|'i:y Mar.fh 

, . . •;. oTid Knight' 
;i.rlin ■%V!<ll;C'r 

, ., , .V'.ve CrHy 

.. .'. .JCIlly KIrwan 
, , .'I'Ved 0'r.>onovan 



Good atmospheric romantic melo- 
drama,' with singing, intelligently 
strung together and making a feature 



which should : appeal to • the pop- 
priced . pictiiregoers here, and might 
do as a second feature in America. 

Picture Serves to bring forward in 
a semi-serious role the personality of 
Stanley Holloway, best known here 
as a revile performer and mimic. He 
has a rich, voice and is possessed of 
donsiderable unction, Cast. for. the 
role of an lirish priest in a little vil-; 
lage hear Dublin, he becomes tutor 
to the young Prince Charles, and, 
through this connection is more or 
less involved in the history of the 
times. Authenticity of the British 
.history contained in the film is riot, 
altogether correct, but that does not 
interfere with the entertainment. 

Some good acting by. standard 
players, but. the bit parts are brutally 
interpreted* Still; the production 
will dOi Jolo. 



Wally Beery as Coach 

Moscow, Idaho, May 25. 

Wallace Beery has offered to spon- 
sor University of Idaho football team 
which has maintained cellar position 
in Coast conference for years. Beery 
has hunting ranch in Idaho and plans 
to construct a landing, field on. it 
soon for flying trips from Hollywood. 

Beery said he would help- coach 
the team. 



Mooiiey oh 'Chan* 

Hollywood, May 25. 
Martin Mooney is dialoging Twen* 
tieth-Fo^'T 'Charlie Chan on Broad- 
v/ay.' 

John Wtone produces. 



VARIETY Wednesday, May 26, 1937 




18 



VARIETY 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



FILM BOOKING CHART 

(ForMormatiou of theatre and film exchange bookers, Ya^i^v Presents a complete^ chart o/. feature releases of all the American distributing compares for 
the cicrr^iii quarterly pJrwl Date of the reviews as. given in Variety and the running time of prints are tnchtded.) 

COPYRIGHT, 1937, BY VARIETr, ALL EIGHTS RESERVilD 



OF 
RELEASE 



4/16/37 



4/23/37 



is. 



4/30/37 



5/7/37 



5/14/37 



5/21/37 



DIRECTOR 



WHEN 
TIME REVIEWED 
MINS. RY VARIETY 



TWO GUN LAW 
THE GOLD, RACKET 
GIRL FROM SCOTLAND YARD 
TOO MANY WIVES 
SOLDIER AND LADY 
JIM HAN VEY, DETECTIVE 
FIFTY ROADS TO TOWN 
MARKED WOMAN 



Col 
Condor- 
E. Gohen 
W. Sistrom, 
P. Beritian 
A, E. Levoy 
R. Griffith 
WB 



C«l 
GN 
Par 
RKO 
RKO 
R€P 
2tlh 
WR 



Melodrama 
Western 
Mystery 

RohirConi 
Melodraina 

. Mystery 
Com-Dr 

Melodrama 



Charles Starrett 
C. Naffcl-E. Hiint 

. Morley-R. Baldwin 
Shirley.jr. M«fley 

. Wailbreek-E. Allen 
Klbbcc-T. Brown ~ 
Amecbe-r Sothern 
Davls-H. Bofart 



£i. Barsha 
Xr. Gasnier 
R. Vignola 
B. Holmes 
G. Nichols 

P. Rosen 
N. Taiirofi; 

li. Bacon 



TWO. WHO DARED 
MAN IN THE MIRROR 
ROMEO AND JULIET 
WAY OUT WEST 
HILLS OF OLD WYOMING 
INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY 
OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT 
GUNS IN THE DARK 

NAVY BLUES 
STEP LIVELY, JEEVES 
LET THEM LIVE 
THAT MAN'S HERE AGAIN 
CALL IT. A DAY 



E. iPrenke (iN Drama 

J. Hagen GN Comedy 

I. Thalberg MGM Rom-Gom 

H. Roach MGM Comedy 

H. Sherman Par Westtni 

B. Glazer Par. Drama 

R. Sisk RKO Western 

. W. Hackel Rep Western 

B. Kelly Rep Comedy 

J. Stone 2«th Comedy 

Grainger tJ Drama 

WB WB Comedy 

WB WB Comedy 



.. Stcn-Wlicoxon E. Frenke. 

B. Er HortODTG. Tobin . M. Elvey 

Slicarcr-HowaTd G. Cukdr 

Laurel-Hardy J. Home 

William Boyd N. Watt 

McCrea<^Stanwyck A. Santell 

P. Foster- J^ Muir C. Cabanne 

J. M. Brown S. Newfleld 

Hi. Porcell-W. Hyimcr R^ Staiub 

Treacher-Ellis E. Forde 

J, Barrett- J. Howard-N. Gray R.. Voting 

. M. McGuire-T. Brown Lb King 

De Haviland-Ian Hunter A. Mayo 



i PROMISE TO PAY 
SP^ED TO SPARE 
THilNDER IN TBiE. CITY 
SILENT BARRIERS . 
KILLERS OF THE St A 
GOOD «LD SOAK 
NOBODY'S BABY 
KING OF GAMBLERS 
WOMAN I LOViB 
HIT PARADE 
WAKE UP AND LIVE 

ELEPHANT BOY 
TOP OF THE TOWN 

NIGHT KEY 
MOUNTAIN JUSTICE 



M. Connolly Col . Drama 

R. Cohn Col Melodrama- 

Atlantic Col Com-Dr 

GB GB Drama 

R. Fricdgen GN Outdoor 

H. Stromberg MGM Drama 

H. Roach MGM Comedy \ 

JL Florey Pair Drama 

A. Lewis RKO Rom-Dr 

N. ]Levine Rep Miisic^ 

K. MacGbwan 2«th Musical 

A. Korda UA Outdoor 

L. Bi-ock U Musical 

R. Presnell U Mystery 

WB WB Melodrama 



C. Morrls-H. tfack-Carrlllo 
C. Quiffley-D. Wllsoh 
E. G. Robinson-L. Deste 
B. Arlen-L. Palmer 
Capt W. Casswell 
W. Beery-J> Beecher' 
P. Kelly-R. Armstrolnr 
A. Tamlroff-L. Nolan-C. Trevor ' 
MuBl-Hepkins 

F. Lanf(ord-P. Regan 

. Winehell-Bemle-Faye-Haley 
W. E. Halloway-D. J. Williams 
D. Kolan-G. Murphy-H. Herbert 
. B. 'Karloff-J. Rogers 

G. Brent- J. Hutchinson 



D. R. Ledermian 
L. Hillyer 
M. Gering 
M. Rosner 
R. Friedgen 
R. Thorpe 
G. Meins 
Robert Florey 
A. Litvak 
G. Meins 
S. Lanfleld 
R. Flaherty 
R. Murphy 
L. Corrigan 
M. Curtii 



CRIMINALS OF THE AlR 
JUGGERNAUT 
NIGHT MUST FALL 
MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW 
YOU CANT BUY LUCK 
BOOTW TOOTIN' RHYTHM 
ESCAPE FROM LOVE 
THAT I MAY LIVE 
A STAR IS BORN 
KNIGHT WitROVT ARMOR 
CALIFORNIA STRAIGHT AHEAD 
MELODY FOR TWO 



Col Col Action C. Quigley-M. Keith 

J. Hageh GN Melodrama Boris Karloff 

H. Rapt MGM Comedy R, Montgomery-^ Rnssell 

L. McCarey . Par Comedy V. Moore-B. Bendl : 

M. Cohen RKO Coniedy O. Stevcns-H. Mack 

A. Schaefer Rcjp Western Gene Antry-Arnlda 

L. Landau Z«th Rom-Com G. Stuart-M. Whalen 

S. Wurtzel 2Mh Rom-Dr R. Hudson-Robert Kent 

D. Selzhick UA Rojn-Dr. Gaynor-Mareh 

A. Korda UA R6m-I^. Dietrich- Donat 

T. Carr U ' Action J. Wayhe-L. Latimer 

WB. ^B Musical J. Melton-P. Ellis 



C. C. Coleman 
H. Edwards 
J. W. Ruben 
L. McCarey 
L. Landers 
M. E. Wright 

E, Forde 
Allan Dwan 
W.. Wellman 
J. Feyder 
A. Lubin 
Louis King 



FRAME UP 
THEY GAVE HIM A GUN 
SHALL WE DANCSr 
GUN SMOKE RANCH 
GUN LORDS OF STIRRUP BASIN 
CAFE METROPOLB 
IT HAPPENED OUT WEST 
WOMAN CHASES MAN 
AS GOOD AS MARRIED 
PRINCE AMD PAUPER 



R. Cohn ^ Col Com-Dr P. Kelly- J. Wells 

H. Rapf MGM Rom-Dr S. Tracy-Tone-G. George 

P. Berman RKO Musical Astalrc-Rogers 

S. Siegel Rep Western W, Llvlncston 

A. W. Hackel Rep Western Bobby Steele 

N. Johnson 2ftli Com-Dr A. Menjon-L. Young 

S. Lesser 20th Western . Kelly- J. AUen- J. Arthur 

S. Goldwyn UA Cohiedy Hopkfau-MeCrea: 

E. M. Asher U Cbm-Dr J: Boles-D. Nolan 

WB WB Rom-Dr. E. Flynn-Mauch Twins 



D. R. Ledemian 
W. S. VanDyke 
M. Sandrich 

J. Kane 
S. Newfleld 
E. H. Griffith 
' H. Bretherton 
John Blystone 
E. Buzzell 
W. Keighley 



VENUS MAKES TROUBLE 
THE TENTH MAN 
FOREVER YOURS 
THIRTEENTH CHAIR 
TURN OFF THE MOON 
BEHIND HEADLINES 
AFFAIRS OF CAPPY RICKS 

MICHAEL O'HALLORAN 
GREAT HOSPITAL MYSTERY 
DAVID HARUM (REISSUE) 
LOVE FROM A STRANGER 
OH, DOCTOR 
CHEROKEE STRIP 
DRAEGERMAN COURAGE 



W. McDonald Col Com-Dr 

Alliance GB Drama' 

Alberto Giacalone GN Musical 

J. J. Cohn MGM Melodrama 

Miss Fanchoii Par. Comedy 

Cliff Reid RKO Com-Dr 

B. Kolly Rep Com 

H. Schlom Rep Rom-Dr 

S. Wurtzel 2eth Mystery 

S. Wurtzel , 2Mh Comedy . 

M. Schach UA Melodrama 

E. Grainger u Comedy,.. 

WB WB Western . 

B. Foy WB Rom-Com 



J. Dnnn-P. Ellis 
John Lodgc-A. Cellier 
Beniamlno Gigli 
M. Eyans-H. Daniell 
C. RUggles^E. Whitney 
Lee Tracy-D. Gibson 
W. Brennan-M. Brian 
W. Gibson- Jackie Moran' 
J. Darwell-S. Rnmann 
W. Rogeri-L. Dresser 
■Ai.. Hardlng-'B. Rathbone 
E. E. Horton-Eye Arden 
D. Foran-J. Bryan 
J. Muir-B. MacLane 



G. Wiles 
B. D. Hurst 
Stanley* Irving 
G. Sietz 
Lew Seilcir 
R. Rosson 

Carl Brown 
. J. Tinling 
Jf Cruze 
R. V. Lee 
Ray McCarey 
Noel Smith 
Louis King 



bEVFL IS DRIVING 
SING, COWBOY, SING 
A DAY AT THE RACES 
PICK A STAB 

NIGHT OF MYSTERY 
THERE. GOES MY GIRL 
COME ON, COWBOYS 
CHARLIE CHAN AT OLYMPICtS 
WINGS OVER HONOLULU 
THE GO GETTER 



Col' Col Meller 

B. Finney GN Western 

L. Weingarten ' MGM Rom-Com 

Hal Roach MGM Musical 

Par Par Musical 

W. Sistrom RKO Comedy 

Sol Siegel Rep Western 

J. Stone 2«th Mystery 

E. M. Asher U Rom-Dr 

Cosmo WB Rom-Dr 



R. Dix-J. Perry 
Tex Rilter 
Marx Bros. 
J. Haley-P. Kelly-Laurcl and 
Hardy 
R. Karns-H. Burgess. . 
G. Raymond-A. Sothern-B. Holmes 
B. Llylngston-R. Corrigan 
W. OUnd-K. de MiUe 
R. MllUnd-W. Barrie 
G. Brent-A. Louise 



H. Lachmdn 
R. N. Bradbury 
S. Wood 
E. Sedgwick 

E. A. Dupont 
Beii Holmes 
Joe Kane 
H. B. Hum'stone 
H. C; Potter 
B. Berkeley 



66 
«1 

«• 

96 



4/28 
.4/14- 
5/12 

714 



68 
67 

66 

89 



10/26/36 

•5/5 

5/12 

5/5;. 

5/12 
.4/7 

4/21 
5/12 



68 



85 
St 

91 
81 
8t 

68 
82 



3/3 

4/28 
.3/31 

4/28 
5/26 



4/28 

4/7 

3/31 

4/21 

5/19 



65 
60 



5/5 

5/12 

5/19 



5/12 
4/28 



5/26 



60 

93 
111 



84 
65 
70 

73 
115 



5/19 
5/12 



.5/5 



9/26 
5/12 



58 



5/18 



59 



9/26 



71 
80 

92 



^ 5/28/37 



6/11/37 



LEAGUE OF FRIGHTENED MEN 
HOLLYWOOD COWBOY 
I MET HIM IN PARIS 
THIS IS MY AFFAIR 
UNDER THE RED ROBE 
DREAMING LIPS 
THE MAN IN BLUB 
KID GALLAHAD 



K Chodorov Col 

G. A. Hirliman RKO. 

W. Ruggles Par 

K. MacGowan Zfth 

R T. Kane 20th 

M. Schach UA 
K. Glasmon U 

WB WB 



Drama L Hervey-W. Connolly 
Western G. O'Brlen-C. Parkcr-E. Scott 
Rom-Com C. Colbert-Melvyn Douglas 
Musical R. TaylorrB. Stanwyck- 
Drama. C. Veldt-R; Massey 
Rom-Dr E. Bergner-R; Massey 
Melodrama R. Wllc6x-N. Grey 
Drama E. G. Roblnson-B. Davis 



Al Green 
Ewing Scott 
W; Ruggles 
W. A, Seiter 
V. Seastrom 
Paul Czinher 
M. Carruth 
M. Curtiz 



RECKLESS. RANGER 
TALK OF THE DEVIL 
BANK ALARM 
PABNELL 
HOTEL HAYWIRE 
MISSUS AMERICA 
DOOMED AT SUNDOWN 
ANGEL'S HOLIDAY 
THE CALIFORNIAN 
WHEN TliiEF MEETS THIEF 
THE WILDCATTER 
CASE OF STUTTERING BISHOP 



Col C . 
B. & D; 

Condor GN 

J: Stahl MGM 

Pai Pair 

Al Lewis RKO 

A. W. Hackel Rep 

J. Stone' 20th 

Sol Lesser 20tk 

Criterion. . UA 
Geo. Owen y 

WB WB 



Western Bob Allen-B. Weeks 

Rom-Dr R. Cortci-S. Eilcrs 

Melodrama Conrad Nagel 

Rom»Dr C. Gable-Myrna Loy 

Comedy L. Carrlllo-L. Overman 

Comedy' H. Brbderlek-V. Moore 

Western Bcl Steele 

Drama J. Withers-Robert Kent 

Western Richard Arlen-Rlcardo Cortes 

Rbm-Dr D. Fairbanks, Jn-V^ Hobsen 

Drama . Colton-J. Rogers 

Mystery D. Woods-Ann Dvorak 



S. G. Bennett 

Carl Reid 
Louis Gasnier 

John Stahl 
G. Archainbaud 
Joseph Santley 
Sam Newfleld 
James Tinling 
Gus Meins 
Raoul Walsh 
Ray McCarey 
W. CleinehS' 



ROARING TIMBER 
EMPEROR'S CANDLESTICKS 
THE GREAT GAMBINI 
TOAST OF NEW YORK 
IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU 
LOVE IN A BUNGALOW 
SLIM 
BLAZING SIXES 



R. Flothow 
J. Considine 
B. P. Schulber 
E: Small 
L. Fields 
E. M. Asher 
WB 
WB 



Col 
MGM 
Par 
RKO 
Rep 
■ U 
WB 
WB 



Outdoor 
Rom-Dr . 
Melodrama 
Drama 
Rom-Dr 
Rom-Com 
Drama 
Western. 



6/18/37 TWO-FISTED SHERIFF 

' YOU'LL BE MARRIED BY NOON 

NORTH OF RIO GRANDE 
MOUNTAIN MUSIC 
RIDING ON AIR 
RHYTHM IN THE CLOUDS 
YODELIN' KID FROM PINE RiDGE 
THE LADY ESCAPES 
WALT DliSNEY'S ACADEMY AWARD 
REVUE 
THE ROAD BACK 

PLY AWAY BABY 
WHITE BONDAGE 



H:L, Decker Cbl Western 

S, Zimbalist MGM . Com-Dr 

Harry Sherman Par Western 

Ben Glazer Par Comedy 

David Loew RKO Comedy 

A. E. Levoy Rep Musical 

A, Schaefer Rep Western 

L. L. Landau 204h Comedy 

W, Disney 1)A Comedy 

J. Whale- U rariia 
E. Grainger 

WB WB Com-Dr 

WB WB Drama 



Jack Hoit-G. Bradley 
. Powell-Rsiiner 

A. Tamirofr-J. Trent 
E. Arnold-C. Grant 
A. Baxter- A. Leeds 
N. Grey-K. Taylor 

P. O'Brien-H. Fonda 
D. Foran-H. Valkis 

. Starirelt-B. Weeks 
R. Young-Florence Rice 
Wm. Boyd-Geo. Hayes 

B. Burns-Martha Raye 

Joe E. Brown ' 
P. Ellis-W. Hiill 
Gene Autry-B. Bronson 
M. Whalen-G. Stuart 
Cartoon 



G. Farrell- . MacLane 
Jean Muir-G. Oliver 



Phil Rosen 
G. Fitzmaurice 
C. Vidor 
R. V. Lee 
Phil Rosen 
Ray McCarey 
R. Enright 
Noel Smith 



Leon Barsha 
E. L. Mairin 

Nate Watt 

C. Reisner 
E. Sedgwick 
John.H. Auer 

Joe Kane 
Eugene Forde 

W. pisncy 

James Whale 

P. McDonald 
Nick Grinde 



100 
70 
00 

105 



5/26 



.5/lt 



5/26 



Weduesdayt May 26, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARlETr 



19 



Advance Production Chart 



Holly woodi May 25. 
trike of the Federated Motion Picture Cra/ts; started May i, 

liaa had little effect pii production at the major ios. Currently, 4^ 
ictures are "before the cameras, a. drop of five from the previous two 
weeks' totaU. In addition, Hal Roach, Paramount, 2Qth-Fox, Universal and 
Wdrriers are above thieir current selling sked. During last two weeks only 
10 pictures were previewed and readied for release. Total of 93 films, are 
being editedi and the survey shows that IIQ yarns are in the various stages 



of preparation. During the past two weeks 16 pictures have gone before 
the camera^i 

Txoentieth'Fqx, with five, and RKO-Radio, with three, lead the studio^. 
Universal started two during the Coast cdnveniion, while all other lots 
with; the exception of Columbia and United Artists started one each. 

Greatest production activity is centered, at 20th-Fox, Metro and Para- 
mount. Other studios ;show in work: Warners, six; United Artists, four; 
RKO-Radio, three; Universal, two; Coluinbia, Grand National and Mono- 
gram, one each. 



PENNSYLVANIA 





ColumiHa 



>Ooe in work, 11 ediMnr> 1?. preparfnf. la work: * 
reported VARiETY.May 12. None started. 

Readied to start: •LIFE BEGINS WITH IdVE,' 'LOVERS O? 
<THE AWFUL TRUTH/ and 'THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE.' 



Grand National 



One In work, six edltinr, seven preparlnr. Started: 

•LOVE TAKES FLIGHT,' produced by George A. Hirlimani irected by 
Conrad Nagiel, original by Ann Morrison Chapih, screenplay by Lionel O. 
Houser and Mervin Hoiiser. Cast: Br uc6 Cabot, Beatrice Roberts, John 
Sheehan, Astrid AUwyn, Elliot Fisher, Gbrdon Elliot, Edwin Maxwell, 
Grady Sutton, Arthur Hoyt, Harry Tyler. • 

Story begins oh a transcontinental air trip to Los Angeles with Beatricfe 
Roberts, plane hostess, bein^ offered a picture contract by Edwin Maxwell, 
producer. She's in love with Brucie Cabot, a pilot, and xejeicts the pffar. 
Upon arriving in L. A., Cabot is ordered to take a ship back to N. Y. carry- 
ing Astrid AHwyn, flhn star. Weather is muddy and the ship is forced 
down, and the pair are found on a mountainside, with newspapers scream- 
ing headlines. When Miss Allwyn gives Cabot the lead iii her hejCt film, 
Miss Roberts begins to take her flying sei-iously and eventually wins raceSi 
etc., and finds an angel for a trans-Paciflc flight. Cabot tri^s to persuade 
her to abandon the flight, but she refuses. She takes oft from L. A. and 
while over the ocean finds Cabot stowav/ayihg. He takes the controls and 
just before they are ready for a glide into Manila, Cabot leaps from the 
plane. Miss Roberts liainds the ship but tells the truth of the flight, with 
Cabot showing up in wet togs. 

Readied to start: 'SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT,' 'FRONTIER TOWN.' 
OUATBE IT'S LOVE/ and 'FACE THE FACTS.' 



Metro 



Sieveh in work,^flve edtting. It preparing. In work: 

•BROADWAY MELODY OF 1937,' reported Variety March 3; 'MADAME 
WALEWSKA,' reported March 10; •TOPPER,' reported March 24; 'FIRE- 
FLY,' reported April 28; 'MARRIED BEFORE BREAKFAST,' reported 
May 12 as 'YOU'LL BE MARRIED BY NOON/ and 'SARATOGA,' re- 
ported May 12, Started: , 

•GENERAL HOSPITAL/ produced by J. J. Gohn, directed by George 
Seitz, original by Erich von Stroheim, screenplay by Carey Wilson. Cast: 
Franchot Tone, Virginia Bruce, Maureen O'Sullivain,. Leonard Penn, 
Charles: GrapeWin, Cliff. Edwards, Janet Beecher, Anthony Nace, Helen 
Troy, Edwiaird Norris, Grace Ford, J^ino - Clay wor th, Paul Stanton, Ed 
liCSaint, G. Pat Collins. 

Storjr concerns Franchot Tone, interne in a general hoispiial, who hopes 
to become the resident physician. Maureen O'Sullivan, a nurse; loves 
Tone, but remains faithful to her drunken husband. Leonard Penn, also 
an interne, is wealthy. Sadistic and a heavy drihker; he has a mania to 
operate on all hiis patients. Virginia Bruce, self-willed heiress, enters the 
hospital with a ruptured appendix, and Tone saves her life. They become 
infatuated and ' are married. However, she tires of Tone and welcomes 
visits froni Penn. Tone becomes rlesideht physician shortly before Miss 
O'Sullivan's husband is brought in with a fractured leg. Penn decides to 
operate, and despite Tone's efforts to repair Penn's. bungling the husband 
dies. For revenge, Penn intimates to Miss Bruce that her husband iis in 
love with Miss O'Sullivan -and she leaves him to go to Paris with Penn. 
That night, the train bearing them away is wrecked. Penn's legs are 
smashed and Miss Bruce is horribly burned and hei: beauty is marred for 
life. Tone saves Penn's legs from amputation, .but he Is no longer free to 
marry Miss O'Sullivan. Shfe leaves for another city while Tone returns to 
his work. 

Readied to start: *ONCE THERE WAS A LADY/ 



Monogram 



One In work, four editing, eieht preparing. Started: 

♦THE HOOSIER SCHOOLBOY/ produced by Ken Goldsmith, directed 
by William Nigh,- original by Edward Eggleston, screenplay by Robert Lee 
Johnson. Cast: Mickey Rooney. Ann Nagel, Frank Shields, Edward Pauley, 
Bill Gould. Bradley Metcalfe, Doris Rankin, Harry Hayden, Cecil Weston, 
Dorothy Vaughn, Maude Philby. . « , . „ 

Story depicts Mickey Rooney as the son of Edward Pauley, a shell- 



PRO D UC TION T A BLE 

{This table shows number of features prorn'tsed t9 be Jelivtrei 
f» exhibitors by the major distributing organizations, and the inde- 
pendent produceri contributing product io their producing organiza' 
Hons for the \936'37 season.). 

Balanee 
Pix to bo Storlos. 
Ix now plseed in 
how In the beforo prop- 
in cutting tbo ara- 
work, rooms. camcrM. tion;; 



roducers and 
eohtrlbuting 
compahlei. 
COLUMBIA 
. L»rry Darraour. ... . . . . 

GRAND NATIONAL .. . 
METRO- 

•• • •• 

MONOGRAM . 

PARAMOUNT 

B. P. Sehnlberg. ...... 

Emanuel Cohen. ...... 

Harry . SherMan . . ^ . . . . 

Frank Lloyd. 
.KKO RADIO 

David Loew. 

George Hirliman 

Sol Lesser 
REPUBLIC . 

■ A., at. Haekel 
8«TH CENTURY-FOX. .. 

UNITED ARTISTS: 

Samuel Goldwyn; . .v. . 

W»lt>.r Wanger . 

Selinick ..^ 

.t.Bergner..... 

Criterion ..... 

Korda London 
BNIVERSAL 

WARNERS 



Number ■', 
Number now 
of pix com- 
promised, pleted. 



> • O O • 0 

' * • • o • • o 

• -•,.« • • • 



50 

8 
44 
48 

4 
42 
48 

8 
.8 

6 



?.r 

3 
27 

25., 



11 


11 


10 


1 


4 


1 


6 


10 


10 




11 


10 




1 over 


1 




37 


7 






10 






.2 






% 






% 



1 
1 
s 

10 

% 



• o • • • f 0 



Totab 



7 
7 
5 
1 
2 
6 

36 
6 

60 

588 



35 
6 

60 
358 



8 
1 
8 



39 orer 



ll» 



shocked wair vet, who is inebriated most of the time and in trouble with 
the law. A milk strike hits the village with the farmers fighting the co- 
operatives. A new school teacher arrives ait the village, takes a liking to 
Rooney iand attempts to straighten but the situation. Frank Shields, son of 
a milk dealer, falls for the gal and eventually sets hithself in right when 
he keeps Ropney's father out of jail. The strike is reaching a crisis and 
Shields' father talks. Rooney 's dad into driving a truck through the picket 
lines. The truck is overturned aiid Rooney's father is killed. . Washup 
has Shields and the teacher marrying to adopt young Rooney. 

Readied to start: •PARA«ISE ISLE/ 'LUCK OF ROARING GAMP/ 
'FORT OF MISSING GIRLS,' 'WEST OF RAINBOW'S END,' 'TELEPHONE 
OPERATOR/ and 'COLLEGE SWEETHEART.' 



Paramount 



Seven in work, 12 editing, 10 preparing. In work; 

'ANGEL/ reported Variety March 31; 'EXCLUSIVE,' -'EASY LIVING/ 
'ARTISTS AND MODELS,' reported April 28; 'DOUBLE OR NOTHING' 
and 'SHE'S NO LADY/ reported May 12 as 'LET'S TALK. OF LOVE.' 

Started: 

^ 'THIS WAY, PLEASE/ produced by Melville Shauer, directed by Robert 
Florey, no Writing credits. Cast: Charles (Buddy) Rogers, Betty Grable, 
Ned Sparks, Fibber McGee and Molly, Jerry Bergen, Romo Vincent, 
Porter. Hall, Lee Bowman, Wally Vernon, Mary Livingstone, Cecil Cun- 
ningham. • 

Story depicts ai romance between a singing usherette aqd Rogers, emcee 
at the theatre where she's employed. He's continually putting his singing 
finds oh the stage and presents th6 usherette to the theatre manager, but 
the latter refuses to put her- on, saying that she had made several floppOs 
previously. When the manager fires the gal, Rogers takes a powder, The 
theatre manager, now up agiaihst it: for. an emcee with a draw, rehires the 
gal and she in turn aids in getting the manager to take Rogers biack. 
Washup has the pair being. marriied on the stage. 

Readied to start: 'EVERYBODY'S DOING IT,' 'FLOOD CREST/ 'GOOD 
NIGHT LADIES/ 'EBB TIDE/ 'HOP ALONG CASSIDY RIDES AGAIN,' 
'BULLDOG . DRUMMOND/ 'ARIZONA AMES/ 'THE BARRIER/ 'AN 
EMPIRE IS BORN/ 'BONANZA/ 'MURDER GOES TO JAIL.' and 
'SOPHIE LANG IN HOLLYWOOD.' 



RKO-Radio 



Three in work, 13 editlng> It preparing. Started: 

'TAKE THE HEIR/ produced ; by Maury Cohen, directed by Edward 
Killy, original by Lawrence Pohle and Thomas Aheafne, screenplay by 
Arthur T. HOrman and Bert Granet. Cast: Guy Kibbe^, Cora Witherspoon, 
Dorothy Moore, Gordon Jones, Paul Guilfoyle, Barbara Pepper, Richard 
Lane, Frank M, Thomas, Dudley Clements, William Corson,- George Irving, 
Maxine Jennings. 

Story shows Guy. Kibbee, leading veterinarian In a small village, with a 
social climbing wife. She is attempting to curb a romance between their 
daughter and a reporter, awaiting momentarily until Kibbee's rich uncle 
dies and leaves them his fortune. Latter dies and the Kibbee family goes 
to the big city to get the coin, but they do not realize the unk had been a 
top-flite racketeer. Reporter^ fail to recognize Kibbee as the heir, but one 
of them gets a yarn from him in .which he' attacks gambling, etc. Newsr 
hoiind, seeing Kibbee with the dead uncle's business: manager, writes a 
scathing report of this new racketeer Who denounces his own enterprises. 
The politicians get to the managing editor atid the . town is tossed Wide 
open, with the reporter told to take the air. However, h^e tells Kibbee the 
circumstances and instead of the latter taking it on the lam he buys out 
the n«wspaper and starts a crusade. 

•A HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY/ produced by Cliff Rei<J, directed by 
Richard Rosson, f rom. a New York stage play with the s;ame title by Melyin 
Levy, screenplay by J. Robert Bren, Edmund Hartmann. Cast: Fred Stone, 
Emma Dunn, Marjorie Lord. William Cbrsori, Tommy Bond, J. Carrol 
'Naish. Ray Mayer, Bradley Page, Frank M, Thomas, Lee Patrick, Paul 
■'GTlilfdyle. ' V 

Siory concerns 'Fred Stone, and his family, compo.sed of Emma Dunn, 
daughter and a foiling son. Stone has never done any work for years, per- 
mitting his wife' to support him by sewing. He's in the village store loafing 
whien he hears, a stranger inquire as to the location Of the Stone menage. 
Stone rushes home to tell his wife, inasmuch as he realizes that the family 
has- been squatting on the farmland of a city feller for years. The in- 
quiring visitor is the owner of the farm, but he is seeking a hideOut with 
two buddies from the Broadway gangfare. Stone agrees to take, in the 
trio as boarders and stages a party, inviting all in the village, including the 
sheriff. The gangster chief makes a play for the daughter and her forest- 
ranger suitor smacks him on the snout. Itching to get back to Broadway, 
the gangster sends Stone as ah emissary to pay off the rival gangsters, but 
the latter trail him when he returns to the country. Guii fight follows, 
and Stone turns out as the hero of the neighborhood. 

'MAKE A WISH/ produced by Sol Lesser, directed by Kurt Neumann, 
no writing credits. Cast: Bobby Breen, Basil Rathbone, Marion Claire, 
Ralph Forbes, Henry Armetta, Leon Errol, Leonid Kinsky, Donald Meek. . 

Story describes Basil Rathbone as writing a new operetta for production 
in New York. Near his lake home is a summer boys' camp and the com- 
poser forms a close friendship with Bobby Breen. He learns much of the 
.boy's mother^ Marion Claire, former actress and singer. She arrives at 
the camp with her fiance, Ralph Forbes, and she and Rathbone immediately 
are attracted to.eaiCh other. Rathbone offers her a role in his oi^eretta, but 
she refuses because of her coming marriage to Forbes. Leaving the final 
act of the operetta toi be mailed to the producer by a servant, Rathbone 
voyages away, but the. script is appropriated by, three slightly nutty song 
writers In the colony.; They lose the manuscript and s'ecretiy substitute 
a third act, taking it jo the producer. The latter talks M.iss Claire into 
taking a role in the' play after she refuses to marry F6rbes. Bireen hears 
the. score and declares it is not the one Written by Rathbone, and the three 
songwriters confess as Rathbone returns to make the oti^retta successful. , 
I Readiedito start: 'THREE ON A LATCHKEY/ 'JUNIOR G-MaN,' 'MUSIC 
FOR MADAME/ 'FLIGHT FROM GLORY/ 'STAGE DOOR/ and UNr 
TITLED JOE E. BROWN picture. 



20th Century-Fox 



'T HAVE 

/ reported 



irected by. Alan DwanV. original 



Eight in work, five editing, 10 prepari 
EVERYTHING,' 'THE C ALIFORNI AN/ 

Variety May' 12. Started: " 

'HElDI/ produced by Raymond Griffith, 
by Johanna Spyri, screenplay by Walter Ferris and Julien Josephson 
Cast: Shirley; "Terhple, Jean Hersholt. Arthur Treacher, Thjomas'Beck.; Hel6n 
Westley, Sidney Blackmei:, Mady Christians, Gene Reynolds, Violet Kemble 
Cooper, Marcia Mae Jones. 

Story shows Shirley Temple as Heidi left by Mady Christians, her durit, 
with Je&h Hersholt, her irascible old grandfather, in a Swiss Alpine village. 
Hersholt leiarns to love Shirley, who restores him. to amity with the- vil- 
lagers, The a Unt returns to take Shirley away to Frankfurt by stealth. 
There Shirley meets Marcia Mae .Tones, invalid daughter of the wealthy 
Sidney Blackmer, who leaves her in the care of the governess^ Violet 
Kemble Cooper, a deceitful woman who hopes to marry Blackmer. Marcia 
loves Shirley but Shirley is pitifully lonely Tor her grandfather. Hersholt, 
also lonely, sets out afoot for Frankfurt to bring Shirley home. Meanwhile 
Blackmer returns to Frankfurt for Christn"'as. Shirley's best friend in the 
rich household is Arthur Treacher, the butler. Blackmer is so grateful 
when Heidi teaches Marcia to walk" that ho wishes, to adopt her. Heidi re- 
fuses. Marcia and Shirley attend the Christmas pantomime together. 

(Continued on page 23) 



., Philadelphl , May 25. 
ills to end blind booking, 
compulsory ■ block booking, and 
ferre.d playing days have been 
troed 'into Stiate Legi.slature by Sena- 
tor Isr > Stiefel, Philly, and Repre* 
sentative John Dent, Jeannette. 

First- bill state.s; 'It is unlawful for 
any prpducer or istributor to lease 
-fllrn without first offering' the ex- 
hi itor an oppbrturilty to view a. 
projection pf that fllni. It is also 
unlawful for any di.stributbr. tO: 
lease film unless he furhishes the ex-^ 
hi itbr at or before the time of mak- 
ing the lease a complete and 
synopsis of the contents of the film- 
Such synop.sis -shall cpntai an out- 
line o( the story and scenes and a 
statertiieht. descri ing the manner of 
treatment of dialogue conder ing the 
sceines depicting vicei, crime or sug^ 
gestive sexual passion, 

Second bill prohibits requiri 
a. precedent condition to the licehs-^ 
ing .or leasing of fllin thit' the lessee 
shall take, ail or a designated num- 
ber of photoplays or subjects out of. 
the^ total xiumbeir offered in order to 
obtain the bne^ which the lessee de- 
sires. Purpose and Intent of this 
isectibn is to make imlawful . tha 
prajCtice of. compulsory block bbok- 
ing..ahd confer, on. the, operators 
of motion pictiir theatr the right 
to lease only such pictuie as in their 
judgment will be acceptable to thciir 
patrons.' In: case of /disagreement aa 
to rentals asked by . the distribs. for 
the pix wanted oiit of the whole, 'ap- 
peal to the courts of common pleag 
is provided. 

Final measure provides: 'It Js un- 
lawful for any person to enter into 
a contract to sell, lease, lend or bar- 
ter a fllin Upon, condition impo.sed by 
the distributor th!i,t such public' ex- 
hi ition shall begin or take place on 
a specified day of the, week.' 



New 10% Mit^h. Tax 

Detroit, May 25, 
Teh per cent state amu.sement taic, 
applying to theatres, and ba.seball, 
hockey and football games, Js pro- 
posed in a bin submitted to the stats 
legislature by Chairman M, Clydo 
Stout, of the ways, and means com- 
mittee.^ 

While not earmarked, money is 
sought to supplement state aid for 
schools and fill the gap between the 
$38,000,000, Which is now scheduled 
annually and the $47,000,000 which 
the Michigan Educational Assn. Is 
demanding. Amusement tax is flg-^ 
ured to produce between $6,o60,000 
and $8,000,000 yearly. 

Whereas federal amusement levy 
is limited to tickets costing oyer 50c, 
the Stout measure would begin taxa- 
tion at 10c, thus biting all nabe.s and 
kid admlsh. Exempions would be al- 
lowed :for religious, charitable: pur- 
poses, and symphony concerts. 



Nebraska Clear 

Linfpln, May 215.' 

Nebraska's legislature closed with- 
out R fjlngle slap at the amusement 
biz, especially films. Originally, at 
the beginning of Session debate, 
$650,000 of proposed detrimental leg-: 
islation lay on the. docket for con- 
sideration. 

Two^man booth , bill asking 
10% of the 13.0. take and 10% of the 
gross film rental' for reiicf, were 
killed In committee. The $1,000 an- 
nual license fee bill and measure to 
make over-buy i n oltense pu ish^ 
able by heavy in plgeon- 

hble. 



CONTRACTS 

Holly Wood., May 25. 
iele GoodeMe has. been signed: by 
Paramount. 'Formerly w.nR.. on the 
air with Jofr Lilli 's orch in New 
Yofk.- 

ODtion"? of .Tune Stoi'oy and 
Regan, 20th- Fqx stock players, 
been taken Up, 

Paramount lifted the bntiohs on 
Dorothy Larhpur, Leif Erikson and 
Fav Holden. 

Betty Grable affixed her signatur 
to ain acting .termer at Paramount, 
■■: MfiivCi took Roger Converse, away 
from sielling rfta I estate and signed 
him to an acting ticket. 

Walter Wanger pactod Charlie Wil- 
liams for 'Vogues of 19.38.' 

Metro ; lickeled W illia m 
termfei- a.<? director, 

Rosella Towne, serpen novice, ti 
to a term acting contract by War- 
ner.s. 

Metro ha.s, r,ewritlen Ann Ruther- 
ford's octing contract, uppiiig her 
from shorts to features, 

Samuel Goldwyn signed Charles 
Kullmairti, operatic and concert 
singer, to a tecni fonli-act. 



20 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 




TV'', 



m 

ml 



8 

m 

If 





THE 



The, 



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¥1 





it 



pi 

iii 



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A 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



21 



WARNER PROHT 
UP $2,m000 IN 
6H0S. 



Net operating profit of Warner 
Bros, and subsidiary companies rose 
more than $2,000,000 in the 26-week 
period ending Feh. 27, as compared 
with the corresponding quarter in 
1936, After deducting all charges, 
including amortisation, depreciation 
and normal federal income taxes, but 
without providing surtaxes on . un- 
distributed earnings, net was $4,040,- 
388 in the 26 weeks ending on the 
Februax-y date, as against a net 
operating profit of only $1,976,245, 
after similar charges. In comparable 
period the previous year. 

Net profit was $7,696,486 in the 26- 
weak period this year, before amor- 
tization, depreciation and federal tax 
deductions. 

Warner Bros, earnings for the 1937 
quarter covered, in the report, issued 
yesterday (Tues.) were equivalent to 
$1.03 per common share on 3,701,090 
shares outstanding in February, after 
allowance for current dividend re- 
quirements on the preferred stock. 
Earnings of $4,040,388 also were 
equivalent to $39.18 per share on the 
103,107 shares of preferred outstand- 
ing. Dividends in arrears March 1 
on the preference issu6 totalled 
$19.25 per share." 

Company made note of the fact that 
results of operations by subsids and 
branches in foreign territories, other 
than Canada, covered the 26 weeks 
ending on Jan. 2 or Jan. 30, 1937. 

Large net operating profit enabled 
Warners to reduce the deficit of 
$10,469,148, as of Aug. 29, 1936, to 
$6,363,301 as carried to the company 
balance sheet on Feb. 27 this year. 

Net income after deducting $12,- 
511,760 for amortization of film cost 
including depreciation of studio 
properties, but before other income 
and charges, totalled $9,558,649. 



FOX MICH. REORG PLAN 
HELD UP BY DETAILS 



Playing It Safe 



Omaha, May 25. 

Recent ruckus caused by city 
fathers in censorship .blast 
against 'Idiot's Delight' and 'To- 
bacco Road/ legits, has given 
the exhibs concern over what's 
in the films they show. 

One took it to heart enough 
to ask the Welfare Board if 
they wanted to see a screening 
of 'Cherokee Strip* (western) 
before it was booked. 



LOEWS INC. 
BIG STOCK 
DIWY 



Directors of Loew's, Inc., cut a 
dividend melon of nearly $3,000,000 
for common stockholders last week. 
Directorate ordered an extra cash 
diwy of $1.50 and the usual 50c. 
quarterly, both payable on June 30 
to stock on record June 12. This 
makes a total of $3 that the com- 
pany has declared for common 
shareholders since the first of 1937. 

While the Street had expected an 
extra of 75c. or $1, the healthy cash 
distribution came as a pleasant sur- 
prise to stockholders when the board 
of directors got together at the post- 
poned session last Wednesday. 
Loew's paid or declared $3,50 in cash 
extras and maintained its regular 
divvy on a $2 annual basis during 
the present fiscal year which ends 
next August 31. The company paid 
$l,62y2 OA May 15 on the preferred, 
thereby maintaining the annual rate 
of $6.')0 on the preference issue. 

The cash distribution on the com- 
mon, via both regular and extra 
dividends, after the June 30 pay- 
ment will amount to approximately 
$8,240,000 for Loew's current fiscal 
year. With preferred shareholders 
getting about $884,000, both classes 
of Loew stockholders will have been 
paid more than $9,000^000 in this 
fiscal year. 



Detroit, May 25. 

Final decree approving reorg plan 
for the Fox theatre here, okayed 
several weeks ago by Federal Judge 
Ernest O'Brien following months of 
legal arguing, is being held up while 
several minor disputes in the new 
Fox Michigan Corp. setup are ironed 
out. Final approval on plan, how 
ever, is expected soon. 

Among the points understood to be 
holding up the decree are differences 
over appointment and number of di- 
rectors for the new corporation, 
which will control the theatre and 
the major share of which will be 
owned by Skouras Bros.; and a dis- 
pute over the necessity for a $500,000 
loan from the RFC. 

New corporation, it's understood, 
wants only five directors and wants 
to appoint its own. Court, it seems, 
thinks it should have a say in who's 
named to at least a couple of the 
posts; furthermore believes the di- 
rectors should serve without pay, 
and that there should be at least 
seven of 'em. 

In addition, it's reported the court 
won't approve a $500,000 RFC. loan, 
which already has been tentatively 
okayed by the local RFC office. 
Money is said to be wanted to pay 
back taxes, and not for improve- 
ments, and the court figures it'd just 
be adding another big burden on 
stockholders. Latter, under the re- 
org plan, will get only 10 shares of 
$3 preferred stock and 10 shares of 
common for each $1,000 bond and 
interest thereon now held. 

Plan proposed by Colwood Co., 
original owners of theatre and Fox 
building, calls for leasing the theatre 
to Fox Michigan Corp. for 15 years. 
National Theatres (Skouras, will 
guarantee the Fox Michigan setup 
fixed rental of $125,000 yearly, 12y2% 
ot gross income if vaude is used, or 
15% if only pix are shown. 



Astor Sip Cost 6G'$ 

New in-motion elaborate overhead 
riiarquee at the Astor, on Broadway, 
prepared by Metro for 'Captains 
Courageous' represents an expendi- 
ture of approximately $6,000. . Sails 
on the boat, which form a principal 
portion of the display, alone cost 
?600. 

Outlay does not cover the cost of 
li,s!hting or the mechanical device 
\^'hich keeps the boat rocking. 



STANDARD TO PRODUCE 
EIGHT; 6 WEEKS APART 



Hollywood, May 25. 

Standard Pictures Corp. and 
Standard Distributing Corp. have 
announced eight feature length pro- 
ductions for their 1937-'38 program 
with first release, 'The Deerslayer,' 
slated for August 1, and one every 
six weeks thereafter. 

In addition to the James Feni- 
more Cooper story, titles include 
'First Woman.' 'Daughter of Ra- 
mona,' 'Big Business,' 'Bet a Mil- 
lion,' 'Argentine Take-Off,' 'Night 
School,' and 'Love Star.' 

B. W. Richards, formerly with 
Paramount, heads the production 
company and Lou O'Brasky the dis- 
tribution unit. O'Brasky is now in 
the east arranging distribution out- 
lets. Richards claims that Standard 
has ample financing and expects to 
borrow name stars. 



RUBIN FRELS CASE DOCKET 

starts This Week in Dallas— Many 
Legal Moves 



Dallas, May , 25. 

Anti-trust law action of Rubin 
Frels against virtually all major dis- 
tributing companies is scheduled to 
get fully under way this week here 
in the U. S. district court of Texas. 
This is the long-pending case, 
which was filed originally while the 
NRA code authority was in opera- 
tion, in which Frels charges that he 
is unable to purchase pictures and 
that there is a conspiracy to drive 
him out of business. 

Unusual aspect about the litiga- 
tion is that the distributors- moved 
for dismissal on at least three occa- 
sions on the grounds that there was 
no cause of action. This motion was 
granted several times but in each 
instance the petition was amended, 
thereby preventing actual diismissal. 
Court here finally consented to per^, 
mit the action to go to trial. 



Incorporations 



> NEW YORK 

Albany. 

Nevco Amusement Knterprl>«ei«, l»o., 

New York; theatrical bualne.ss; capital 
stock, 60 shares, $100 par value. In- 
corporators: Lioulse Norbeck, 4642 41sl 
street, Loner Island Cliy; Arthur Ito^cra, 
4636 44th street, Lojig lalanU I'lty; Hazel 
A. MacRae, 303 West 45lh street, New 
York City. 

Hippodrome Ica Shows, Inc., New 
York; operating and producint; ice-skai- 
Ing entertainments and carnh'Hls; capital 
stock, 600 shares,^ no par value. Incor- 
porators: Nathan Kllenboi^on and lioniHe 
Young, both ol 1120 Sl.\th avenue, New 
York City; Sol Strau.Ha, 102 West 4i!nd 
street, New York City. 

SocIaI Grand Opera Co., Inc., Manhat- 
tan; coaching: and tralnlnt? of artl»t.s, 
actors, etc.; capital stock, 20,000 share.i, 
ft par value. Incorporators: Francis 

C. Torre, 319 West 61st alyeet, New York 
City; victoria Sengel'Mi, 212 Mvrtle ave- 
nue, Pa-ssalc, N. J.; Krank DoPrestl, 703 
Main street. Passaic, N. J. 

Schiiie Circuit, Inc., Oloversvllle; mo- 
tion picture business; capltKl stock, 10 
shares, no par value. Incorporatorn: 
F. D. Thompson, Mark BenJ.aniln, K. K. 
Wallace, all of 40 North Main street, 
Oloversvllle, N. Y. 

Mustctype Corp., Manhattan; compos- 
Inar and transposing music, etc; capital' 
stock, 60 shares, no par value, Incor- 
porators: Stanley n. Levy, Harold M. 
Gelb, Harold Q. Masiir, nil of 65 AVest 
42nd street, New York City. 

Frank Hazard, Inc., Manhattan; em- 
ployment apency for aclor-i, olc; capital 
stock, 50 shares, no pur value. Incor- 
porators: C. N. Bennett, 425 Bast 04lh 
street. New York City: Arthur Philips, 
Room 802, CarneRle Hall, New York 
City; John J.. McAndvew, 185 Madison 
avenue; New York City. 

Statement and Desigrnation 

Wynn Producing Co., Inc., 317-326 
South State street, Dover. Del.-; motion 
picture and theatrical business; capital 
stock, 1,000 shares, flOO par value, .lohn 

D. Murphy, president; New York o ce, 
234 West 44th street. New York City. 



CALIFORNIA 

Sacramento. 

Hollywood Press Club; no capital 
stock. Directors: F. .Schrooder, E. O. 
Saunders and William K. Swigart. 

Tlirce.Arch Bay Association; outdoor 
amusements; no capital; permitted to 
issue 40O Claa.s A and 400 Class B mem- 
berships: Directors: Goorpe Grant, 
E. M. Scofleld. D. V. O'Flaherly, Robert 
M. Lawson, Edward IL Cirltllth. Jessie 
E. Gibson, J. M. Stamford, H. M. Proc- 
tor and Alfred GItclson. 

Internatioiuil Kduratlonal films; mo- 
tion picture exhibitions; cnpital, 1,000 
shares, no par; permitted to Is.sue all. 
Directors: Charles K. Ilcwinp. Warren 
S. Hewlnp, Cecil E. May, Harris Ander- 
son and John T. llBrnis. 

Eairer Theatre, Inc.; capital stock, 
$25,000, none subscribed. ' Dlrpctora: 
Harry Vinnlcof, Frank Baffa, O. Bolllno, 
all of L. A. 

Barle X^rrla Radio Venture Service; 
capital stock, 2,600 shares, non sub- 
scribed. Directors: Rex L. Burrilt. 
C. M. Shannon, Henry L. Stewart, all 
of L. A, 

Visual Bntertnlnments, Tnr.; raplt.nl 
stock, 100 shares, subscribed $3. Di- 
rectors: L. Ryan, Irving Cohen, I<. 
Kingston, all of L. A. 



MISSOURI 

.Tef/erson City. 

Southern States Theatres Co., Spvlnp- 
fleld. Mo.; to own and operate theatres 
and to buy and sell th(»atre equipment; 
$5,000 authorized capital. Incorporators: 
.Tohn Brown and A. S. Rosewall. Sprinp- 
lleld. Mo., and P, R. Tsley. Tulsn, Okla. 

Xivoll Amusement Co., Savannah, Mo.; 
to operate, lease, buy, sell, etc., nmii.'<e- 
ment enterprises for prollt; capital, 
J;6,000. Incorporators: C. R. Cook, 
v. O. Cook and Ray WelRhtman, all of 
MaryaviUe, Mo, 



NORTH CAROLINA 

Raleigh. 

CiAStonla Theatre KnIorprlseH; 100 

shares "^ftibscribed. IT. V. Klnccy. Roy 
L. Smart and Henry L. Anderson, all 
of Charlotte. 



Hamilton Divvy 

An accumulation dividend of $1.25 
on the 7% preferred stock was de- 
clared last weeic by Hamilton United 
Theatres, It is payable on. June 30 
to stock on record May 31. 

Company now is about $6.75 in 
arrears in dividend payments. 



TEXAS 

Galveston. 

Beaumont Broadcasting t'orp., Beau- 
mont; radio; capital stock, $J2r..00O. In- 
corporators: C. W. Snider. L. If. CUilum, 
D. A. Kahn. 

Brazos Amusement Co., Hunlsvllle; 
opera; capital stock. $1,000. Tncorponi- 
tors: R. B. Weatherull. Jr., J. W. 
Prultt. B. B. Fercuson. 

.Tack Pickens Then! res. S!in Antonio; 
theatres: capital stock, JTiO.ono. Incor- 
porators: Jack rickeii!?, P. K. Hansen, 
Lanhnm Croley. , „ 

South Texas EsposUlon AsHoclnllon, 
Cornus Chriatl; falr.s: oplt;!] slock, 
$1,000. Tncorporator.sr L. inn, E. S. 
Joslln, B. P.' Biircp.oM. 

Foreign. Per Its 

Oddities, Inc., Caiifornlo; Ihcilrp; 
homo office, Los Am^ele": Texas oni(c>. 
Dallas: capital stock, $10,250. Awent, 
F. F. BoUern. 

Alexander Film Co.. Dclnwn e: ndver- 
tl.sing; home oHlce. ('oli.r:iilo SDrlnt'M, 
Colo.: Texas office. Dalbs; <'fi"ltal slock, 
$390,000. Agent, J. C Tr'irri«. 



K-A-0 Pays $1.75 



Keith-Albee-Orpheum continued 
its policy of keeping up dividend 
payments on its preferred last week 
by again making a $1.75 declaration 
out of capital surplus. New dividend 
will be paid on July 1 to stock- 
holders of record at the close of 
business, June 15. Payment covers 
the. quarter ended Dec. 31, 1933. 

When another $1.75 payment was 
made on April 1, this year, the ar- 
rears owing on this slock totalled 
$24.50. 



Lefty Recalls the Guy Whose Fihn 
Test Came Back Tagged 'No Bl( 



if 



By Joe Laurie, Jr. 





NATIONAL SCREEN EXPANDS 



Gaston Stern Delegated' to Move 
Company into Philly 



Gaston L. Stern, National Screen 
Service executive at the home office, 
has been delegated to supervise the 
establishment of new branches in 
Philadelphia and Washington for 
Nat'l Screen Accessories. He will be 
in Philadelphia this week. 

Later on additional offices will be 
opened, plans so far including Mem- 
phis and Oklahoma City. 



2 DAMAGE' PIX 
SPLIT PHILIY 
CENSORS 



Pathe Meet 

Pathe Films Corp. directors will 
act on preferred dividend payment 
at their regular monthly meeting to- 
day (Wednesdny). Aside from 
routine business and reading of cur- 
rent earnings, directorate is not ex- 
pected to take any other action at 
today's confab. No divvy on common 
is anticipated. 



Philadelphia, May 25. 
Columbia's 'Damaged Goods' and 
Weldon Pictures' 'Damaged Lives' 
have split the State Censor Board 
here into an almost hopeless dead- 
lock. It has had both pix, which deal 
with social diseases, for more than a 
week without rendering a decision. 

'These two pictures have caused 
the Board more trouble than all the 
others we have revlewied put to- 
gether,' Mrs. A. Mitchell Palmer, 
chairman, told VARiEiy. She said 
she is in favor of passing both in- 
tact, but is being opposed by the 
other two censors. Division of 
opinion may end up before Governor 
Earle. 

In the meantime, members of the 
board are awaiting an opinion by 
Attorney General Charles Margiotti 
on legality of passing films with a 
proviso that children under 16 not 
be admitted. Mrs. Palmer declared 
She was told when the present board 
took office more than a year ago 
that this was illegal in Pennsy, but 
she is demanding another opinion, 

Mrs. Hester M. Fye and Patrick 
Duffy, other board members, have 
suggested the pix involved be shown 
only at clinics and educational in- 
stitutions. 

Special showing of "Damaged 
Lives' was held at the Erlanger The- 
atre Saturday night (22). It was at- 
tended by the Mayor and admittance 
was only on cards signed personally 
by him. 



BERGMAN STAYS PUT 
Wim LORD & THOMAS 



Maurice Bergman has reconsid- 
ered leaving Lord & Taylor to join 
the Buchanan agency, which has ob- 
tained two accounts that Bergman 
handled for L, 8t T., Paramount 
(nationally) and the Si Fabian group 
of theatres, Brooklyn. He was to 
have switched with these accounts to 
Hanff-Metzger June 1. 

L. 8c T. retains the RKO-Radio 
picture account and Arthur Mayer's 
Rialto, N: Y. Bergman takes care of 
the latter, while Jack Pegler is in 
charge of RKO. 



N. Y. Court Throws Out 
M. P. Union Squabble 

Suit to compel Harry Glover,' as 
president of the Allied Motion Pic- 
ture Machine Operators' Union, and 
Joseph Basson, president of Local 
306, to throw out the agreement of 
last January reached between ITOA 
and the local and to continue under 
the 1933 contract between Allied and 
ITOA, was dismissed on a techni- 
cality Saturday (22) by N. Y. Su- 
preme Court Justice Levy. Gotham 
Amusement Corp. and other indies 
who have been vigorously battling 
the new agreement, under whicli 
they are compelled to engage ma- 
chine ops,' instituted the court action. 
In dismissing the case, Judge Levy 
allowed plaintiffs ten days in which 
to file ah amended complaint. 

Gotham et al had . claimed tiio 
January agreement was illegally 
forced through by the defendants 
and that it had never been raliliod 
by the ITOA board of directors. 



Dear Joe: — 

Well, me and Aggie are still waiting 
to hear from the lawyers in Ireland 
about how much dough her Aunt left 
her when the ticker gave out and 
she went to live in a marble orchard. 
It's tough on. our nerves sitting 
around wondering jf we're still poor 
or if we're in the money. Me and 
Aggie sit around the trailer nearly 
all day waiting lor a cable or a let- 
ter or whatever they tell you with 
that you're rich. 

We have been looking around to 
see what we'll do with the .dough 
when we get it and we're pretty 
near all set with our list, I figure 
there's no use wasting time, we'll be 
ready to start spending as soon as 
we get it. You ought to get a load 
of us rehearsing with stage money. 
We take turns playing the part of 
the customer, and you'd be surprised 
at all things that you always felt you 
would like to buy \yheh you're rich 
that you don't even want when you 
got the dough. It's a lot of fun play- 
ing like that, but the worst part of 
the game Is when you really want 
something, like groceries, and you 
flnfl out that the dough you arc go- 
ing to buy it with is stage money. 
Well, it won't be long now before 
we get it. 

We saw a little picture house W9 
can buy pretty cheap because the 
guy that owns it has to go back 
£ai;t on account pf his health, he says 
it's too sunny for him out here. Ag- 
gie can sell tickets and I can run 
the house. Maybe we can do our act 
once in a while, instead of running 
bank nights, give 'em a touch of 
vaudeville, and if they like it we 
can give our pals a chance to plclc 
up a couple bucks to keep the wolf 
outta the ice box. I got a lot of 
swell ideas how to run a picture 
house, ain't I been on the stage for 
years'/ 

Me and Aggie saw a preview of 
the picture I was In where I played 
a banker. They showed the front 
of the bank and the back of the 
banker. Pictures are sure wonder- 
ful. I had my face facing the 
camera every minute when they 
took the picture, blit in the picture 
all I can see is my back, I wouldn't 
even known it was me, but Aggie 
recognized the run-down heels. Well, 
maybe if I own a picture house they 
will give me a chance to play a 
decent part so that they can book 
my house. 

Listened in to W. C. Fields again 
Sunday, and he sure is doing great, 
which goes to show you what a 
jugglef can do if he puts his mind 
to it. And that Edgar Bergen is 
sure slaying them with his dummy, 
Charlie McCarthy, he's the best belly 
talker that ever drank a glass of 
water while singing 'Maggie.' Got 
a letter from Henry Bergman, you 
remember Clark and Bergman? 
They just closed with the 'Great 
Waltz.' 

I received the copy of your new 
song, 'Unfair to Organized Love' and 
it's a pip. Me and Aggie arc learn- 
ing it and will put it on the first 
benefit they run here. There's a 
story going around out here about 
the actor that took a picture test 
and the report came back, 'No 
blood.' ... It may bo an old gag 
because there's very few new ones 
out here. 

This is about the end of the record 
so I'll close with best to you and 
the 'set pieces' outside of the Bon 
Building. SEZ. 

Your pal, 

Lefty. 

P. S.— Aggie and me saw the 
Coronation pictures, it reminded me 
of the initiation night of the Wood- 
rnen of the World. I could see 
where the guy that handled the 
crown coulda got a big laugh if he 
took a fall, but tho.se English guys 
have no humor. 



British Exhibs in Town 
To See Whaf s Doing 

Group of picture theatre operators 
and owners from England arrived 
in New York City last Saturday (22) 
on a combined pleasure-business 
junket. They will study various 
phases of American exhibition and 
distribution in the cast and on the 
Coast, concluding with a tour of in- 
spection of Hollywood studios. 

Party, which is headed by Nat 
Cohn. loaves for the Coast the last 
oC thi.s week, arriving in Hollywood 
June 1. 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 




THE KEYSTONE 

OF YOUR FirruiiE 



■ "•'TOwS^^^^•^■v.^^^7.^v.^^^>:.:o:■:^^^>-.>-.-■;.>-.■o ■.■.-.v.-,",* ■ • <* ' 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



2J 



Advance Production Chart 



(Continued from page 19) 

Hersholt is seeking Shirley and is put in jail. Blackmer discharges Miss 
Cooper who, for revenge^ tries to give Shirley away to the Gypsies. 
Hen-sholt escapes from jail in time to foil her plot and 'Shirley is happily 
reunited with him. 

•WILD AND WOOLLY,' produced by John StOne, directed by Al Werker, 
original and screenplay by Lynn Eoot and Frank Fpnton. Cast: Jane 
Withers, Jackie Searl, Berton Churchill, Douglas Fowley, Lon Chaney, Jr., 
Walter Brennan, Pauline Moore, Douglas Scott, Robert Wilcox, Carl 
'AU'alfa* Switzer. 

Storv deals with the feud of two old men m Mesa City. Walter Bren- 
nan, ex-sheriff, ex -bad man, is the grandfather of Jane Withers. Brennan's 
lifelong enemy is Berton Churchill, the town banker. Action revolves 
around the Pioneer Day Jubilee. Churchill's grandson is Jackie Searl, 
and the boy aind girl have inherited ;the bitter rivalry that keeps the old 
men apart. Jane and Jackie are saved from death when they start an 
ancient locomotive by Robert Wilcox, wealthy publisher's son sent west, 
to operate the Mesa City Courier. A love affair starts between Bailey and. 
Pauline Moore, the local schoolma'ani, who is loved also by Frank Melton, 
Churchill's nephew. Jane becomes an under-cover repox-ter and detects 
a plot. Brennan, running for sheriff, quai-rels anew with Churchill and 
a duel is arranged. Brennan is eager to fight but runs out because of the 
consequences to Jane. Jane and Jackie decide on a duel of their own in 
the cemetery and Jane frightens Jackie away, at the same time overhear- 
ing a conspiracy to rob the bank. She and Jackie foil the bank robbery 
and Brennan gets the credit for arresting the bandits. He is elected sheriff, 
and is reconciled with Churchill. 

•THIN ICE/ pr<3duced by Raymond Griffith, directed by Sidney Lanfleld, 
screenplay by Boris Ingater and Milton Sperling, script by Melville Baker, 
from the stage play, *His Majesty's Car.' Cast: Sonja Henie, Tyrone Power, 
Arthur Treacher, Le^h Ray, Alan Hale, Maurice Cass, Sig Rumann, Mel- 
ville Cooper, Joseph Schildkraut, Elisha Cook, Jr., Raymond Walburn, 
George Givot, Joan Davis. 

Story is laid in a. winter resort in the Swiss Alps. Sonja Henie is the 
skating instructress and niece of Raymond Walburn. Resort is in a dither 
because the snow has not fallen and the villagers who earn their living in 
various capacities at the hotel are staring at poverty. An international 
neutrality conference engages accommodations for many important dig- 
nitaries including Tyrone Power, who is Prince Rupert, ruler of a neigh- 
boring country. Power, feigning illness, is brought in on a stretcher but 
leaves the hotel by ia rear door and takes lodgings at an inn posing as a 
journalist. Bitter rivalry exists between Alan Hale and Maurice Cass, 
diplomatic agents of rival powers. Power meets Miss Henie skiing and a 
love affair starts, she not realizing that he is the prince. Hale and, Cass 
plot for the favor of Walburn when the rumor gets around that' Power has 
fallen for Sonja. The girl denies it to all parties, but she is not believed. 
Both Hale and Cass offer bribes to Walburn. Power tries to mari'y Miss 
Henie but the village minister refuses because of the sour rumors about 
Sonja and the prince. Hale and Cass agree on a duel. Power's prime 
minister arrives in a dither because of the international sitiiation provoked 
by stories of Power's philandering. Walburn dreads the vengeance of 
Hale and Cass, both of whom believe he has duped them. Power saves 
the situation by announcing that he will marry Sonja. She is sent for and 
when she discovers that Power is "the prince she swoons happily. 

'LANCER SPY/ produced by Sam Engel, directed by Gregpry Ratoff, 
original by Marthe Cnockaert McKenna, screenplay by Philip Dunne. Cast: 
Sig. Rumann, J. Edward Bromberg, Frances Drake, Germaine Aussey, 
George Sanders, Peter Lorre, Virginia Fields, Joseph Schildkraut, Colin 
Clive, Maurice Moscovitch, Lester Mathews, Fritz Feld. 

Story is written against the background of the World War. A German 
officer taken prisoner by the British bears a striking resemblance to a 
British naval officer, both parts being played by GeOrge Sanders. Sanders 
is relieved from duty and carefully schooled to impersonate the German 
officer. It is given out that the German has escaped. Disguised as the 
German^ Sanders makes his way over the German border charged with the 
task of obtaining for the war office all the German military dispositions 
for the proposed giant drive meant to end the war with victory, for the 
Central Powers.' Sanders receiv.es official recognition and is decorated by 
the Kaiser. However, he as suspected by a certain official of the German 
secret service who sets Germaine Aussey, a dancer, to spy .on. him. They 
fall in love. Miss Aussey reveals to Sanders that he is under suspicion. 
He learns the German plans and prepares to flee. Before taking -flight back 
to England he goes to the cafe where Miss Aussey is performing for a last 
interview and to pledge undying love. He is followed by the suspicious 
German, who draws a pistol and fires. Miss Aussey leaps in front of her 
lover and is killed. = Meanwhile, a French spy who has been working 
with Sanders, kills the German and Sanders escapes. 

•TOO MUCH L1W(ELIGHT/ nroduced by- Max Golden, directed by Frank 
Strayer, no writing credits. Cast; Jed Prouty, . Spring Byington. Florence 
Roberts, George Ernest, Kenneth Howell, Shirley Deane, June Carlson, 
Biliy Mahan, Joan Marsh. 

Story is another of the Jones Family series, Mr. Jones is running as the 
reform candidate for mayor. His political enemies fi-ame the older Jones 
boy on a drunk driving charge. Incensed, the younger son finds family 
loyalty coming to the fore and through a series of complications discovers 
the plot and fastens the guilt upon those responsible. Mr, Jones wins the 
election. 

Readied to start: 'ROYAL BRISTOL HOTEL/ 'DANGER, LOVE AT 
TVORK/ 'CHICAGO/ 'WIFE, DOCTOR AND NURSE,' 'ALI BABA GOES 
, TO TOWN/ and 'JEAN/ 



Republic 



None in work, 13 ediUfitr^ eifrht preparing:. Started and completed: 

'RANGE DEFENDERS^,' produced by Sol Siegel. directed by Mack Wright, 
original screenplay by Joseph Poland. Cast: Bob Livingston; Ray Corri- 
gan, Max Terhune, Eleanor Stewart, Harry Wood, Earle Hodgins, Thomas 
Carr, Yakima Canutt, John Merton. 

Story shows ' Bob Livingston learning that his younger brother has 
been accused of murdering a rancher, and is now a hunted fugitive, al- 
though innocent. Sheriff is' controlled by the leader of the usurping sheep- 
men, and inasmuch as the chance for a fair trial is slim, Livingston and his 
pals, Corrigan and Terhune, set out to clear the boy. They put up a can- 
didate for sheriff and Livingston falls in love with the daughter of the 
murdered man. Livingston's brother is jailed and the trio raid the jail 
and free the lad. However, Livingston is captured just as his gal friend 
learns the identity of the slayer. 

Readied to start: 'SHE DIDN'T WANT A SHEIK/ 



United Artists 



Four in work, one editincr, elfirht prepariner. In work: 

'VOGUES OF 1938/ reported Variety March 24; 'STELLA DALLAS,' re- 
ported April 7; 'HURRICANE' and 'DEAD END,' reported May 12, None 
started. 

Readied to Start: 'NOTHING SACRED/ 'ADVENTURES OF TOM 
SAWYER,' '520 STREET/ 'STAND IN.' 'SUMMER LIGHTNING/ 'MARCO 
POLO' and 'THE GOLDWYN FOLLIES/ 

Universal 



Two In work, six editing:, eiffht preparing. In work: 
• '100 MEN AND A GIRL/ produced by Joseph Pasternak, directed by 
Henry Koster, no writing credits. Cast: Deanna Durbin, Leopold 
Stokowski, Adolphe Menjou, Mischa Auer, Alma Kruger, Viola Callahan, 
Jack Mulhall. 

Story describes Adolphe Menjou, a musician out of work, as the father 
of Deanna Durbin. In looking for labor, Menjou finds a purse containing a 
lot of coin. In an effort to make a showing, he flashes it at his boarding 
house and tells his daughter and friends that he has obtained a job. 
However, the next day he returns the coin to its owner, but continues to 
pretend he is practicing daily with Stokowski's ork. Deanna learns the 
iiuth, however, but in doing so makes the acquaintance of a wealthy pa 
troness of the arts and music. Miss Durbin captivates the woman with her 
. Singing and she agrees to angel an orch composed of out-of-work musicians. 
Before the setup is arranged. Miss Durbin learns the woman has sailed for 
Europe so she goes to the husband and explains the situation. He finally 
agrees to carry on with the idea of sponsoring the orch as a gag. However, 
he soon learns the true situation, and in an effort to get out from under 



Theatre Changes 



St. Louis. 
J. A. Siepker and associates, 
Webster Groves, Mo., are planning 
erection of a 1,000-seater in Old 
Orchard, a suburb. 

Rufus H. Limpp, King City, Mo., 
oil company owner, will erect new 
theatre in this town. 

Frisina Amusement Co., Spring- 
field, 111., has taken over Fulton and 
Gam, in Fulton, Mo. 

Farrar & Turner Circuit, operators 
of Cozy, Marion, 111., have purchased 
site for a new 650-seater to be erect- 
ed this summer. 

V. Ji Helling is managing New 
Avalon, Lawrenceville, 111., and Capi- 
tol, Bridgeport, 111., for the Frisina 
Amusement Enterprise Circuit. 



Denvei'. 

Colorado purchased from J. B. 
Melton by Edward and Robert Ma- 
pel, owners of the Tivoli and Gem. 



Columbus. 
Frank Throop, treasurer of the 
RKO Palace, replacing Daniel Pol- 
lard, who is leaving theatre biz fo'r 
an athletic director's post in Pitts- 
burgh. 



Spartanburg. S. C. 
H, F. Kincey and Roy L. Smart of 
Wilby-Kincey, operating four Spar- 
tanburg houses, are members of 
Gastonia Enterprises, Inc., chartered 
this week end to operate motion pic- 
ture theatres in the Gastonia area of 
the Carolinas. 



Milwaukee, 
Harold Mirisch has resigned as 
manager of the film booking depart- 
ment of Warner-Saxe theatres in 
Wisconsin. He had been identified 
■with Warner theatres for 15 years, 
five years of which were spent in 
Wisconsin. His future plans are in- 
definite. 



Des Moines. 
East Des Moines will have new 
picture houses soon. The old Ritz 
at 1544 E. Grand ave. will be razed 
and a new theatre to cost $18,500 
erected on the site. Elias Garbett 
and his son, £. M. Garbett, will man- 
age. 

L; H. Kahn and L. L, Depovitz, 
East Des Moines theatre men,, will 
build a new theatre less than a block 
from the new Ritz. 



Los Angeles. 
Clayton Wright succeeded Bob 
Wells as manager of the Colony, Hol- 
lywood boulevard subsequent run. 

Lou Halper announced several 
shifts in the Warnjsr theatre line-up 
in Los Angeles aVea. Bill Hendricks 
(Continued on page 58) 



Wanger Ad Sked 

Hollywood,- May 25. 
Advertising pampaign has been 
set for Walter Wanger's 'Vogue's of 
1938' and '52nd Street' in confer- 
ences held by Wanger with Charles 
Curran, account executive, and Al- 
lan Bogart, art director, of the 
Donahue-Goe . agency. 
, Pair returned to New York last 
week af ter . confabs. 



EXPLOITATION : : By Epes W. Sargent 



Working Newsreels 

Too many managers regard , the 
newsreels as part of the furnishings 
of a theatre rather than as a ticket 
seller, yet the newsreel can be made 
a positive aid to the box-office with 
very little effort. It will sell tickets 
that cannot be vended through any 
other source and at the same time 
the reel can give definite tone to the 
theatre's offering. 

Now and then some widespread 
disaster nsuch as -.he recent floods 
will be played up, and even given a 
one-sheet display in the lobby, but 
lew managers realize that practical- 
ly every week there is something 
that can be played up importantly 
if they study the list of subjects. 

For an example one hustler found 
he was getting good coverage on the 
President's proposal to enlarge the 
supreme court. The newspapers had 
made much of it, so he took extra 
space to advertise on the same page 
as the rujioVer on the court story 
'The Bijou theatre is now showing 
the Supreme Court discussion. Hear 
the arguments and then vote for or 
.against as you leave the theatre.' In 
the inner lobby a ballot box was es- 
tablished with a supply of votes and 
pencils for marking. An attendant 
gave a ballot to each patron who 
asked for one. For three days a tab- 
ulation was made and sent to the 
papers and the theatre obt&ined 
three invaluable free ads. 

For the flood stuff a special ad was 
rUn on the picture page; 'For addi- 
tional views of this great disaster, 
see the newsreels at the Bijou, New 
oictures Mondays^ and Wednesdays,' 
That made business, too. 

There's gold in the newsreels, but 
it takes a little digging to get it out, 
though even without advertising the 
reels probably draw more coin than 
most front men realize,. 



Adapted Striker 

A toy elevator on a 30-foot compo 
board skyscraper in front of the Ritz 
theatre, San Bernardino, Calif., at- 
tracted the attention of passersby to 
Manager Howard Ralston's 'Top of 
the Town' lobby. 

Sign offered free passes to those 
who could jerk a rope and send the 
elevator up the skyscraper so that it 
stopped at a bell, which then rang. 
Giant letters spelled out 'Top of. the 
Town' down skyscraper front. Spec- 
tacular appearance of display, plus 
frequent ringing of bell by boy In 
charge, plus lure of free ducats, plus 
clatter of zooming elevator; added to 
success of the novelty. 



Strong for Club 

Spartanburg, S. C. 
A Mickey Mouse Club starting 
with 5,000 ypungstei's as members is 
included in City Manager Bob Tal- 
berl's plans for further seasonal ex- 
ploitatiori of four Wilby-Kincey 
house offerings here. State theatre 
going places with kiddies with thou- 
sands enrolled in a Popeye Safety 
Club that meets Saturday mornings 
with WSPA hookup, eats, pictures, 
etc. 



he demands that Stokowski direct the outfit. This is eventually arranged 
in the closing scenes. Miss Durbin sings four tunes in the film. 

'REPORTED MISSING/ produced by E. M. Asher, directed by Milton 
Carruth, original by Verne Whitehead, screenplay by Joseph Fields, Jerry 
Chodorov and James Milhauser, Cast: William Gai'gan. Jean Rogers, Dick 
Purcell, Joseph Sawyer, Hobart Cavanaugh, Michael Fitzmaurice, 
. Story depicts Gargan eixperimenting with a scientific drift indicator for 
airplanes which, if successful, will prevent crashes due to fog. He finally 
arranges to have it tried out on one of the transcontinental ships. It is 
installed secretly, but Gargan's close circle of friends know about it. 
Michael Fitzmaurice pilots the plane towal-d New York and everything Is 
apparently going satisfactorily when it crashes suddenly. It is found with 
the passengers and crew dead. At a governmental hearing, Gargan's testi- 
mony seems to throw blame on the pilot, and. as a result Jean Rogers break 
their engagement. Gargan sells his invention to Dick Purcell, who is on 
the make for Miss Rogei-s, but in another week a second plane experiment- 
ing with the contrivance cracks up. In each- instance it is discovered that 
the passengers have been robbed, Gargan plans a trap and Purcell turns 
up to be the fiend. 

Readied to start: 'THAT'S MY STORY.' 'LAW OF TOMBSTONE/ 'CAR- 
NIVAL QUEEN/ 'MIDNIGHT RAIDERS,' 'BEHIND THE MIKE,' 'THE 
LADY FIGHTS BACK/ 'MERRY-GO-ROUND OF lO.*}?/ and 'HELL ON 
ICE.' 



Warners 



Six in work, 13. editingr, eight preparing. In work: 

'IT'S LOVE I'M AFTER,' reported Varikty April 28 as 'A GENTLEMAN 
AFTER MIDNIGHT'; 'ANGLE SHOOTER,' reported April 20; 'MR. DODD 
TAKES THE AIR' and 'FIRST LADY/ reported May 12. Started: 

'THE PERFECT SPECIMEN,' produced by Harry Joe Brown, directed 
by Michael Curtiz, original by. Samuel Hopkins Adams, screenplay by Law- 
rence Riley and Norman Reilly Rainc. Cast: Errol Flynn, Joan Blondell, 
May Robson, Dick Foran, Beverly Roberts, Edward Everett Horton, Hugh 
Herbert, Warren Hymer, Marie Wilson, Granville Bates, Donald Meek. 

Story concerns Errol Flynn, 'The iPerfect Specimen,' sheltered through- 
out his life in luxury by a doting grandmother. Joan Blondell, anxiou.<>. to 
meet Flynn, drives her car through the fence on his estate, almost running 
over him. His interest is piqued and the next day he goes into the village, 
.-■eeks out her home, and drives through her fence. He talks her into tak- 
ing a drive during which he blocks a truck driven by Warren Hymer. A 
fight follows in which Flynn trounces Hymer. Hymer cannot go into a 
prizefight because of his condition and stands to lose the coin on which he 
and Marie Wilson were going to be married. Flynn substitutes for Hymer 
and knocks out the gorilla. Flynn and Miss Blondell learn that, the coun- 
try is being scoured~for the kidnapers of the perfect specimen and take 
refuge in the home of Hugh Herbert, an eccentric poet. The next night 
they stop at a hotel, but after registering fictitiously as man and wife, Miss 
Blondell flees, with Flynn taking a mechanic's job. Herbert is arrested 
when he attempts to cash a check given him by Flynn. Miss Blondell and 
Flynn arrive to prevent his incarceration when Flynn's grandmother shows 
up accusing Miss Blondell of being a fortune hunter. "The latter starts to 
leave When a hotel clerk shows up with a sheet torn from the register. 
It is then developed that when two persons register as man and wife in 
that state they are legally married. 

Readied to start: 'ALCATRAZ ISLAND/ 



Simple Gags 

House manager in a spot whore 
ballyhoo helps was uLucl: i )>• .an idea 
for a picture with few e,\pl'.)iinti(m 
angles. Finally hit on a J;nocl:out 
that is so good ho plans a repeat 
presently. 

He has his signwrilcr do a 00- 
woi'd spiel on the picluic and hung 
it prominently in the lobby with the 
announcement that at ssven and nine 
o'clock prizes would bo given tlie 
persons reading tivo tjxt dislinclly 
and rapidly, A stop watch \va.s held 
on the contestants, and any stumble 
or mispronounced word tiire\/ him 
out of the contest. A number of boys 
wex'o on hand for each trial, with 
prizes of tickets for, the fa.stosL ro:)d- 
er and the runnor-up. No ciitch- 
words were used, but the kids grow 
so eager that on the two contents 
only five boys wore able t) read 
through to the fini.sh. It created a 
lot of fun, and a suroriiic develop- 
ment was an editorial in tho local 
paper the followin;? afternoon on the 
virtues of good diction. 

Reverse stunt will be tried next 
time, with the copj' to be read 
through and then repe"tod, bu^ in the 
speaker's own words, o.st soicl coos 
the award. After tliat the idea will 
be carried to the school rooms, with 
pupils supplied with tlio toxt the 
day before. Three oUt of the five 
grade schools have welcomed the 
idea and a fourth is under prcisuve 
to run off the stunt at the assembly 
instead of in the finciisli classroom. 

Best point in the ido.i is that the 
spectators get the message not once, 
but over and over, .'ind iC t'>ere is 
any sales value to the picture, the 
result is assured. 



Wrapper Tickets 

Through a tie-up with local dairy, 
Al Sobler, manager of Lou Meb.fier's 
new Spreckels theatre, San icgo, 
arrsinged a candy matinee for bin 
'Top Of the Town' campaign, l»nd 
netted big smash in e;:tra advance 
advertising for his en^racromont. ' 

Children were admitted fof a 
Scooter Bar wrapper, nlus 5cv;' the 
dairy making uo the differcncjlj \\\ 
.admission. Dairy flooded townfiwith 
10,000 heralds, placed under / .'each 
bottle of milk thoy delivered/^ Six 
hundred groceries and drug j^t^'cs 
carried a large window streamer 
plugging event. Dairy ran .special 
ads and secured i ewspaper publicity. 
Theatre party for dairy's <<Wnto^es 
and friends was arranged ai;^ tijflbl!) 
paid for by dairy. am 

As part of Sobler's campaign." on 
which he was assisted by Pul)licity 
Manager Marian. Grpnow, he planted 
a 'Top of the Town' window of 
straw toppers, secured a olorful 
Kress window flasli display of film's 
song hits, and also landed a knockout 
full-page co-op ad. 

Swing Stuff 

Seattle. 

A 50-foot swing is setting tht>Jown 
agog at the Coliseum this weeic and 
the past few days, ballylng for 
'Swing High, Swing Low,' current 
at this Hamrick-Evcrgreen house. 

Manager Leo Hartley figured but 
the stunt which rates tops hore \n 
years, as to novelty and stopper re- 
sults. The swing has each rope en* 
twined with blinking electric lieht.s. 
It extends from top of the building 
to marquee on Pike Street side, and 
is visible for blocks, A doorman is 
used to .swing the usherette, so cost 
Is almost nil. 

This gag not only attracted to cur- 
rent show, but when put up 'Mis. 
Cheyney' had been drawing lighlly. 
Folks would stop, and then go into 
the theatre to see another pix, from 
the one that is being plugged. 



Getting Personal 

Frank Shaeffer; of the VirginI 
theatre. Harrisonburg. • th'U .stale, 
used the regular RKO tabloid on 
'Shall We Dance.' but h'i hundlod 
it differently. Acro.ss the tip of the 
front page he printed 'To nr)vie- 

goers of — ' and in addition Vy 

Harrisonburg hp impriotcd lots f;)r 
five feeder town.-?, usin.i; from l.'iO 
to 350 tabs for each. Each Iov.mi wa.s 
given the impression tlie appeal was 
directed to that spot particularly, 
and it seems to have had the cITCct 
of centering, attention on the adver- 
tisement. 

Boys were sent over to the feeders 
to make sure the distribution was 
complete. It meant si.'c changes on 
the press, but in a small town that 
probably was an inexpensive mat- 
ter. 



Used Psychology 

Columbus. 
The pathological angles of 'Night 
Must Fair provided Manager Russ 
Bovim of Loew's Ohio and Fred 
Oestreicher, Loew's press agent here, 
with an opportunity to line up 
learned and dignified exploitation for 
the film's opening. 

First step was to invite a small 
group of Ohio State University p.sy« 
chology professors and local psy* 
chologists and newspapermen to a 
special preview at the Paramount • 
exchange four days before the pic- 
ture was to open. After the film had 
been run, Oestreicher led the group 
I ..(Continued on page 63) 



24 VARIETY Wednesday, May 26, 1937 




And by the way, the 24-sheet above is currently appearing on 9000 stands in 1500 cities nationwide. 
Amplifying full page ads in 27 famed national magazines reaching 69 million readers. Only M-G-M does it!| 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



25 



Pic. Biz, on Spot 



THE WINNAHS! 



(Continued from page 3) 



and independents off free. Legisla- 
tors also grumbled over the idea of 
turning the Hobbs investigation over 
to the house judiciary committee, in- 
stead of to a special group which 
could handle it exclusively. 

All "of these objections apparently 
have been overcome in the six-page 
Dies resolution, which calls for a 
complete going-over of every branch 
of the industry. Beginning with an 
investigation- into possible existence 
of monopolies within the industry 
and continuing into the question of 
unfair trade practices, cutrthroat 
competition and other delicate mat- 
ters, sleuthers would busy them- 
selves— 'whether or not the House is 
sitting, has recessed, or has ad- 
journed'— with a long probe of the 
entire siturtion. 

Under the .terms of the legislation, 
film lobbyists would be shoved under 
a gov,ernment microscope; organiza- 
tions and associations of exhibitors, 
distributors and producers would be 
scrutinized, to determine what ef- 
forts are being made to 'monopolize 
business, prevent competition and 
promote legislation,' and the whole 
picture of producer-exhibitor rela- 
tions would be unfolded to find out 
just what the two groups have been 
doing to trip each other. 

Included in the long list of film 
activities which will be put under 
observation if the resolution is 
passed, are: 

Questions 

1. Question as to whether mo- 
nopolies exist and, if so, the individ- 
uals or corporations guilty of such 
monopoly. 

2. Question of possible unfair 
trade practices within the industry. 

3. Question as to whether — and 
where— cut-throat competition exists. 

4. Question as to whether motion- 
picture employees are receiving fair 
wages and reasonable hours of work 
and whether working conditions are 
fair and satisfactory. 

5. Activities of members of or- 
ganizations and associations of ex- 
hibitors, distributors and producers 
to 'monopolize business, prevent 
competition, promote legislation.' (In 
this connection the committee is in- 
structed to find out 'the total mem- 
bership of such organizations or as- 
sociations, the amount of money 
raised by each of such associations, 
and the amount of salary paid to the 
officers of such associations, and the 
amount of money expen(ied, if any, 
by such associations for propaganda 
purposes to bring about discrimina- 
tory legislation.') 

Monopolies 

6. Question as to whether or not 
ownership by a producer of stock or 
other interest in exhibiting corpora- 
tions of concerns tends to create a 
monopoly and results in unfair com 
petition, and whether or not pro 
ducers should be prohibited from en 
gaging in the exhibition of their 
products and should be 'entirely 
divorced from exhibition or distribii 
tion.' 

7. Question as to whether any of 
the producers and distributors have 
'adopted such devices as uniform ex- 
hibition contracts, withholding of 
product from independent theatres, 
allocation of product to controlled 
theatres, unfair and unreasonable 
zoning and protection, compulsory 
block booking, and blind selling, 
forcing out of business and acquisi- 
tion of independent theatres, and 
other unfair trade practices and, if 
so, the appropriate steps that should 
be taken to correct this condition 
and prevent a continuation of such 
unfair trade practices.' 

8. Efforts of certain theatres to 
cut the price of admission below 
what is reasonable and fair in order 
to deprive, competitors of profits and 
drive them out of business, and 
whether such cut-throat competition, 
" any, results in inferior quality of 
pictures and in lower wages. 

Admish Prices 

. EfYorts of the theatre-owning 
producers to regulate admission 
prices of independent theatres by 
limitation in exhibition contracts 
and by withholding films for unrea- 
sonable periods from low-admission 
hoidses. 

10. Relations— corporate, contrac- 
tual and otherwise — between the 
producers and distributors of motion 
pictures and the manufacturers of 
electrical equipment for. reproducing 
sound in theatres, the principal 
music-publishing houses, and the 
rnanufacturers of so-called screen 
trailers, and the effect of such rela- 
tions on the independent theatre 
owners and the public. 

11. .Effect on the independent the- 
atre owners and the public of per- 
centage playing,, compulsory designa- 
tion of play dates and other terms 

«»d conditions imposed by producer- 



distributors on the independent the- 
atre owners; also special favors 
granted to the producer-distributors' 
owned, controlled and affiliated the- 
atres and discriminations practiced 
against independent theatres, in the 
matter of such terms and conditions, 
and the activities of independent the- 
atres through their associations, and 
organizations to moriopplize the 
business of exhibition so as to be 
able to dictate to the producers the 
terms and conditions under which 
their product shall be run, and to 
proniote discriminatory legislation. 

After applying the heat to prac- 
tically every phase of the motion 
picture industry, the Dies resolution 
further provides for an investigation 
as to Whether or not producers must 
have some dependable outlet for 
their products 'in order to insure 
continuous production on a high- 
grade basis,* and whether the 'pres- 
ent practices of producers tend to 
stabilize the entire industry and to 
Insure to the independents better 
pictures, more dependable sup- 
ply and fairer admission prices.' 

7-Man Committee 

Legislation for the correction of 
motion picture abuses also would be 
studied by the seven-man committee 
proposed by Dies, and for the res- 
toration of fair-competition condi- 
tions if it is found that such condi- 
tions do not now exist. 

While some skeptics were inclined 
to pooh-pooh the idea that Congress 
would find time during this session 
to fuss over any more legislation for 
the investigation of the picture in 
dustry, other observers were equally 
convinced that the Dies measure car 
ries more conviction than any of its 
predecessors. 

Bills of the nature of the Neeley 
Pettengill measure, on which hear 
ings were held last year, did not 
pack half the wallop contained in the 
new Dies resolution, it is pointed out 
Fact that the indies — who previously 
have been permitted to do a lot of 
pious patty-caking with women's 
clubs, civic organizations and other 
gatherings which opposed block 
booking and other industry methods 
of distributing pix — will be put on 
the spot if the law-makers get 
peeved at their lamentations, alsd is 
brought forjvard as a sound reason 
for considering the possible appeal 
of the new law. 



'Windjammer' Beached 

Hollywood, May 25. 

George O'Brien imit making 
'Windjammer,' George Hirliman pro 
duction for Radio release, com 
pleted eight days of sea scenes last 
week and returned here for in- 
teriors. O'Brien, Constance Worth 
and William Hall voyaged to waters 
off Balboa and Catalina for the mar 
itime sequences. 

Director Ewing Scott toiled under 
difficulties, having his leg in a cast 
due to a broken kneecap. 



UA, Sales Prizes Dished .Out-rFirst 
Time lor Co. 



Winners of the United Artists' 
sales drive which closed on May 1, 
first in the history of the organi- 
zation, have been decided on final 
audit of the business done. 

Harry Gold's eastern division led 
the west, figures show. Grand prizes 
of de luxe radio bars are awarded 
to Bob Mochrie, whose . district ; in,; 
the south led all others; Ewen Mac- 
Lean of Los Angeles, whose branch 
came out on top in the west, and 
A. J. Jeffrey of Montreal, leading 
exchange in the ieast. 

Four extra weeks' salary for lead- 
ing salesmen in the various districts 
go to Jack Groves (Dallas), Frank 
Eisenberg (Minneapolis), Guy Gun- 
derson (Los Angeles), Elmer Don- 
nelly (Indianapolis), T. L. Davis 
(Philadelphia) and David Burkan 
(N. Y.). 



Another WB in Philly 

Philadelphia, May 25. 

Warners is continuing building ac- 
tivities. Has just taken over a site 
on North Broad street in the North 
Philly section for the erection of a 
new theatre. 

Will be the third to be built on 
Broad street within a year. One, the 
Dante (indie) on the southern end of 
Broad, opened Thursday (13) and 
the Broad, about 20 blocks from the 
site just announced, and also indie, 
was opened recently. 



SCEIPTING HIS OWN 

Hollywood,. May 25. 

Konrad Bercovici is writing the 
screenplay of his own original, 
based on the life of Sir Richard Bur- 
ton of Arabia, for Major. 

Tammy Cotter is assisting him. 



FEMME COMICS' SCRIPT 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Leonardo Bercovici is working on 
the script of an untitled story to 
feature Alison Skipworth and Polly 
Moran for Republic. 

Al Levoy will produce. 



'EULER' IN TOW 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Max Miller is toiling on a treat- 
ment for Paramount's 'Ruler of the 
Seas,' Cunard-White Star epic. 

Production plans are still in- 
definite. 



STIR PIC STIRS 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Warners rolled off 'Alcatraz Island' 
with Dick Purcell. Ann Sheridan and 
Mary McGuire as cast toppers yes- 
terday (Mon). 

William McGann direct.?. 



BINGO BACK IN 
N. Y. CINEMAS 



With warmer weather in the offing 
and the usual summer slump antici- 
pated, there was a fresh outbreak 
of Screeno, Bingo and kindred 
money and merchandise games in 
Greater New York picture theatres 
in the last 10 days. Numerous indie 
exhibitors and independent circuits 
are taking the lead in re-establish- 
ing these audience contests on a 
wholesale scale. 

While major circuits thus far have 
not gone in for such games on a 
wide front, confining their efforts to 
individual locations, many large in- 
die chains, such as Randforce The- 
atres, are installing Screeno or Bingo 
in virtually all their houses. Rand- 
force notified managers in the past 
week to start using Screeno. 

Added impetus to the extended 
use of these audience games has 
been given by the product Situation, 
with circuit officials and exhibitors 
realizing that many of the more me- 
diocre screen production shortly will 
be booked into their houses. Many 
exhibs soon will be dipping into the 
supply of pictures that were shelved 
earlier in the season because tagged 
as lacking in substantial draw. 

This problem of using up weak 
films during the hot summer month 
lull is almost an annual occurence. 
And with many so-called 'B' films on 
tap for the next three or four 
months, exhibitors are looking for 
something to bolster their programs 



Interstate Meet 



Galveston, Tex., May '25. 
Karl Hoblitzelle, president, and R. 
J. O'Donnell, general manager of 
Interstate Circuit, Inc., were here 
from Dallas this week with several 
hundred circuit officials for a three 
day convention and to attend the 
opening of the new Martini theatre 
A. Martini, Interstate city manager 
here, and veteran local operator, was 
host. 

University Theatre, 550 seater, 
Houston's newest, opened recently. 
D. F. Luckie is owner and operator. 



Interstate circuit's three-day con- 
vention at Galveston, Texas, starting 
today (26) and running through Fri- 
day (27) is attracting executives of 
other companies. Ned Depinet of 
RKO left Monday (24) for Texas, 
while last night Andy Smith and 
Monroe Greenthal of United Artists 
boarded a plane for the confab. 
George J. Schaefer is coming on 
from the Coast. 

Paramount will be represented by 
Leon D. Netter, home office theatre 
operating executive. 



Smith Ballew Joining 

Lesser for Westerns 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Sol Lesser has pacted Smith Bal- 
lew to star in a series of Harold Bell 
Wright and Zane Grey outdoor.s pix 
for Principal, to be released through 
20th-Fox. 

Ballew's fii'St, 'Western Gold,' goes 
into production soon after comple- 
tion of his RKO contract. 



Newest H'wood Idea Is Series Pix; 
B. 0. Shows Yen for Same Names 



1870 Props 



Hollywood, May 25. 
Scouts are looking for an- 
tique fire-fighting equipment to 
u.se in 20th-Fox's 'The Chicago 
Fire.' 

Now being inspected at the 
stuclio are two ancient hand 
pumps dating from 1870. They 
were purchased from the town 
of Marysville, Calif. 



New Phoenix Firm Sets 
1st of 12 on June Sked 

Hollyvvood, May 25. 
Charles E. Coe, vice-president of 
Phoenix Prods., has arrived from 
Montana to function as technical ad- 
viser on the company's initial pic- 
ture, 'Bold Heritage.' Coe was in 
the government Indian service for 
30 years. 

Cameras will roll the first week in 
June. Warren G. Campbell will pro- 
duce with Ed W. Rote as production 
manager. Robert Hill directs from 
an original by Thiele Lawrence. 
Company will make a series of 12 
films. 



Those Reporters Again 



Hollywood, May 25. 
Universal has pacted Claudia Mor- 
gan for the top femme spot opposite 
William Lundigan in 'That's My 
Story,' newspaper yarn to be pro- 
duced by Robert Presnell. Cameras 
rolled yesterday (Mon.), with Sidney 
Salkow directing. 

Miss Morgan's dad, Ralph Morgan, 
has a featured character role. Others 
in the cast are Jack Smart and Ho- 
bart Cavanaugh. 



Lubin on 3 Horses 

Hollywood, May 25. 
Arthur Lubin has been pacted for 
three more nag thrillers by Trem 
Carr. 

Carr also tied Norton Parker to 
script an untitled western. 



Hollywood, May 25. 
Heavy box office returns regis- 
tered by pictures turned out in 
series have caused practically every 
studio in Hollywood to turn, to this 
type of programiner as a backbone 
for the production schedule. 

Almost every studio in town is 
making at least one big musical a 
year now which is annually iden- 
tified by the same title. In most in- 
stances, the studios are also sending 
out several pictures on the low cost 
schedules which are known to the 
public by identical titles and cast. 

Paramount is going heaviest oh 
the train idea. It has the annual 
production o[ 'The Biji Broadcast* 
and it has now been decided to make 
'Artists and Models' another yearly 
affair. 'College' scries of musicals is 
ah'eady establi.shed by 'College Holi- 
day' and 'College Humor' and other 
of the same type will' follow. 'Mur- 
der Goes to College' started a serieg 
of whodunits featuring Roscoc Karns 
and Lynne Overman and the next 
one will be 'Murder Cioes to Jail.' 
'Sophie Lang,' the lady crook, is 
established and will be followed by 
more pictures with this character. 
Same applies to 'Bulldog Drum- 
mond.' In the western field. Para- 
mount has found Bill Boyd in the 
'Hopalong Cassidy' scrius a con- 
sistent b.o. winner. 

Gland Ifolifn Forth 

Twentioth-Fox was one oC the 
earliest to discover the value of 
established characters. through 
public reaction to Warner Oland's 
characterization of Earl Dorr Rig- 
ger's 'Charlie Chan.' 'Jones Family* 
was 'the second series started by 
Darryl F. Zanuck and this is now a 
hardy rival to the 'Chan' pictures 
in receipts. Latest inauguration is 
Peter Lorre in the 'Mr. Moto' pic- 
tures. Success of the first 'Pigskin 
Parade' has prompted 20th-Fox to 
make this an annual production and 
.'Pigskin Parade of 1937' is now in 
preparation. 

Warners has long regarded its 
'Gold Diggers' pictures as a program 

(Continued on page 56) 

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New York Theatres 



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PARAMOUNT.^'^'" 



I BQDABB 



"Turn Off 
the Moon" 



HKU) OVKH 

In Person 



INA RAY 
HUTTON 
nnd Her Ore. 

MARY SMALL 



CAPITOL 



"They Gave Him a Gon' 

.starling TliurMduy 
"PICK A STAR" 
liM-k Hiil<^y, I>iit»y Knlly 





STATE 



l''r<'(l Miii-.MI?IIR.\Y 
4 11 role M)MitAKf> 

"SWING HIGH 
SWING LOW" 

Plus!— VAUDEVILLE 



Vi Shore On 'Harmony' 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Radio has assigned Viola Brothers 
Shore to write the script of 'Perfect 
Harmony,' with Charles Boyer and 
Ginger Rogers featured. 

Edward Kaufman will produce. 



llllr IH^I Mayer's Masterpiece 

COURAGEOUS 




_ _ . Daily 2:"., 6:">, Kxlm Mlrt- 

■ OTnn "<>:<>l ^l>'"v Mai.. Huji., ::, K, 
A \ I IIK ■">■ MIS. .'.lie, 7Tc. tl. Kvs. 

no I Ull r,n,::f.%\.),\.7,U,^'^. Hnt.Mnt. 

Siil.Mldiili'.hl .'V- Hun. (I )>.M. 
It'kViiy i<M.'>tli SI. .'■.iii-,7ri'.JI.>il,,'>(» (J'lUB T»K) 



TNi At. * MMi M. 



ROXY 



•■ATI 



"Wings Oyer 
Honohiln" 



On tlie HinK'^ 
KU.STKK WBHT 
I.UCIM'K VMiK 



Oipenx SrthirilHy, Mny 'i» 

"HIT PARADE" 

FRANCES LANGFORD 
and PHIL REGAN 



UNITED 
ARTISTS 



RIVOLI 



B'WAY ■! 
4»th St. 



NOW PLAYING — D00R3 OPEN 9:30 A.M. 
EDWARD G. BETTE 

ROBINSON • DAVIS 

111 "KID «;.\i..\ii.\i>" 

B'way a nd 47tli 81. — Mldni«lit Show M 

^^^^^ ^ 25 



RADIO 
CITY 



MUSIC HALL 

TA/LOR and STANWYCK 



—IN— 



"THIS IS MY 
AFFAIR' 

Spactacular 8t«g« Production* 



26 



VARIETY 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



Midwest Exhik Weeping Bitterly 
About Drop in Biz; Beath of Banko 
Blamed, and Triple Bills No 




Chicago, Mfiiy 25. 
il^ business is agreed to be top- 
ambiig, the eastern thfeatres, 
jrnidwesf exhibs. are yelping bitterly 
about the unejf plained but sharp 
drop in b.Oi receipts during the past 
few weeks. And .they don't seem 
abie to figure a way put. 

Lack ot patronage is being blamed 
on two items: JDpuble feature pol- 
icy and the absence of any- bip, 
iti lUus. equal to the strength of- the 
late bank nite igadget. Midwest cusr 
toriiers Jiave^ecome so accustomed 
to iyeaways through two-yeaf: 
-up that they can' seem to be- 
tpme recpriciled to the ; sudden , nio 
coin status, now that the. courts have 
banned bank liights. ' Theatre men 
are on the hot -;seat, lopking ardund 
diesperateiy for some kind- of sttint 
: that Avill be an added attraction tP 
th^. gambling-loving piiblib. 

As for; dPubl^ features^ while sin-, 
gie-bili houses have found it diffi- 
ciilt. to compete with dbuble-leaturfe 
.sppts^ twih^pictqre cinemas 

Efreni't doing sP hot, either. It's a case 
Df top/ many bargain sales. .That the 
twin- ill is not the ai?swer is indi- 
cated best by the:ne\v, trend towards 
trijile features. 

. One. of the leaders in the? thiree- 
'pix. treind is the E^sanesis 'cirQuit, 
which bitterly opposed double fea- 
tures. At bne . time Essahes^ openly 
stated that would never , go dpu- 
bies; later the chain was forced into 
the bargai policy due to competi-, 
live i)ressiire, 

At its ace. north side Sheridan 
Essaness is regularly presenting 
triple bills of representative prpdr 
uct; : 'ith -the tagrlihe in the hewipa- 
per - adVertisemefits, 'Take Your. 
Choice. See Qne Or All Three.* ' 
Yet, even with the marathon ppli- 

ies, and lyith kitchehware give- 
aways in addition at many indie 
houses, the public doesn't seem to 
be satisfied. 

What makes it hard for; the cus- 
tpmers to figure is thjit bank nites 
and othei; coin giveaways Were hit 
ih: the head suddenly by cpurt rul- 
ings, instead ot haying died a . nat- 
ural death. This sharp elimination 
of the coin stunts has resulted ih ir- 
ritated feeling. 



Courageous Silvers 



Hollywood,, May 25v 
ilverg refuses, to hire, a 
to; take "..somfr b^^ the: 
itraih off hini in playing hi 
>52d Street' role for Walter 
Wanger.:' 

, Script calls; for the comic 
take 22 beam-end falls a 
running gag. 



FIREFLY'S' TERRA FIRMA 

■ I 

Metro Uses Hnire Lois of Cal. Moun- 
tains as Pic Backgrounds 



M. P. BASEBALL LEAGUE 



BKO, With Three Wins, 
Columbia Second 



Leads— 



Leo Blanks HerOi Back 



Chicago, May 25. 

Leo Blank, midwest district manr 
eger: fbr Washer ros. exchanges, 
back in tpwn with $1,500 for win? 
nihg- the Grad Sears drive. Every 
one of the exchanges under Blank's, 
supervision went over its individual 
quota in the campaign. 

Also awarded to Blank was an all- 
expense trip to Sweden for two. 



Motipii |*icture Baseball League, 
cpmpirised of eight teams represent- 
ing RKO, Columbia, Skouras,' Paria- 
mount, Consolidated, MGM, N.B.C; 
and Apeda Studips is under 
way in New York; 

RKO; piicking up where it left off 
last; season, has already ru ' up 
tHiree straight victories agai ho 
defeats. Columhia, in the two games 
it has played* -ppunded out a total of 
25 . rtiiis and • served ■. potice it , ha$ 
plenty of piower and will be. a threat 
to RKO. 7pr. the .champiPnship. 

Skouras,. aftei: losing, two straight 
came back , to' take the next twp 
giames and is in thii:d place, followed 
by iPar, .Cons.,. MGM, NBC and 
Apieda, Which is. roosting cornfprt- 
iably in. the cellar, with no wins; and 
three losses. 



WB, Fhilly, Goes B^nko 

. Philadelphia, May 25: 
Warners had a sudden about-face 
and. introduced bank night ; in five 
spots last week. Some highly com- 
petitive situations are now using both 
games and bankp alternate 
nights. Banko was installed in 
Sedgewick, Germantown, rdmor.e. 
Ambler and Grove. 

Despite known satisfaction of cir 
cult execs with results being pro- 
duced by games, many indie e^bibs 
are scratching their heads. and won 
detlng: if WB really, put them in 
purely as. matter of. competish. S6me 
talk around that the chain hopes to 
make uie of the games so wide 
spread as to arouse pressure groups 
and. make all houses discontinue 
them. 



2 Stenching Arrests 

Houston, May .25. 

Police held a mian and Woman 
here today after the wornian ad- 
mitted planting a stench bomb in 
lioew's State, theatre on May 9. 
House was one ^of three theatres 
'bombed' during a strike of station- 
ary engineers. Strike has since been 
settledi Chiirgcs of malicious mis 
chi^f were filed against the pair. 

Pair said they hdd been offered 
$5 by a stranger to perfiume the the- 
atre. . Man has connection with 
the erigineers union. They.bOth dfi- 
hied any connection with other 
Stench bombs planted at two Hor. 
Ayitz theatres, the UptoWn and the 
te::an, . coihcidentally ith the one 
at Loews. 



Operator Killed in Crash 

Houston, May 25. 
J. U, tate, 38, projectionist for 
' )luebonnet tbeatre here, an Inter 
sta:te nabe house, was killed and his 
wife injured last week when their 
autb crashed off highway between 
Beaumont and Port A.rthur. 

Four ..children survive. 



Col. Exchange Expands 

Philadelphi , May 25. 
Work will begin shortly on Cblum 
ia , exchange's new $80,000 building 
accbi'ding to^ Harry Weinir, 
niahager.. Twb-stbry structure wil 
occupy site of two properties next to 
its pre.seht building, forcing out 
rhnd National arid Republic. 

resent spot was. giving fire mar- 
at the jitters. 



'GIBEAITAE^ SGRIPTING 

Holly wood, May 25. 

/Rock, of Gibraltar,' original by 
Hugh King and Daniel Moore, . is 
being adapted to the screen for .20th 
Fox by the authors. 

Producer will be Kenneth Mac 
gpwan. 



Hollywood, May 25. 

Metro has two camera' crews, pegr 
ging woodsy aind bUtdoorsy land- 
scapes for The Firefly.' 

.Units are in the .Lbne Pine region 
twixt inbuntain range aiid desert., 
Oliver Marsh .and .Jack Smith are in 
charge assisted at the lenses by Fred 
Mayer, John. Greer, F^ank Bjeerihg, 
John ickolaud, James Harper 
and Pbh Brigham. 



Cleanup in Nebraska 



Lincbln, May 25. 
State Attorney General Richard 
C. HUntbr , has asked all county at- 
torneys to bring injunction suits 
wherever they believe lotteries ex- 
ist, in. an attempt to halt bank 
nights. ' Hunter has become per- 
turbed by the backput of Nebraska 
bankp officials, who made a gentle- 
men's agreement, he said, to take the 
decision, no matter what, tp.; the 
State jSupreme Court foi* findl ruling 
immediately lafter the Beatrice, 
Neb. test. 

Gage county judge, yPred Mess- 
more^ recently denied the Beatrice 
Theatre dorp, a new trial i the 
matter. Bank: nigbts are still bh in 
some towns, but the attorney gen- 
brdl asked not only banko to go but 
also slpt maehihes, punch boards, 
and ahy other scheme bf chance. 



Freed of Murder Rap 

ihcinnati, May 25. 
. Robert Oy Laws, bboker in , the 
local Fox Film Corp. . exchange, was 
freed in police court Friday (21) by 
Judge William" Di Alexander bf slay- 
ing bf his brother-in-law, C. J. Bur- 
tbn, on evidencb that, act was in 
self-defense. 

LaWs fatally shpt his brother-in- 
law, an .exrconvict, when the latter 
attempted to. attack him with a ham> 
mer in the Laws home. Shooting 
ocburred early Thursday (20). 



Farsonfi Lands 'Mariiies' 

Hblljrwobd, May 25/ 
Monogram's 'The Marines .Are 
Here,' is being scripted by Edwin C. 
Parsons. 

Original story was written by 
Cieut. Ftanklin Adreon, Jr. 



Stock Conversion 



(Continued from page 3) 



Pic Engineers Get Inside oh Whafs 
l^w in Gadgets at fiivoi 




Beg 'IPardon' 



Minneapolis, May 25. 

Conyicted . of violating the 
state law prohibiting lotteries by 
holding 'Bank Nights' at their 
iiiale theatre, Abe Kaplan a:nd 
llpuiis R. Rubenstein have , filed 
, 3 plea with the; sta:t(6 board of 
pardons for a pardon, although 
their offense carried no ' il 
sentence. ' ,. 

Pair,. Vho ipaid theirs fine of 
$i250 each and made no reijuest 
for remission, asked the board 
tb remove the 'stigma'; from 
their names. 



WB PRESS SHAKEUP 



Blum Shiftis; Rnsslandcr, .Daws Quit 
to Take Other Jobs 



Three men hiaVe resigned from 
Warner Brbs. publicity department 
at the home office, to accept other 
jobsi . 

Osciar .Blurh,*pf the press book di- 
vision, Monday (24) joined the 
Music Publishers Holding- Corp., a 
Warner subsidiary, while Fred Russ- 
lander, press book editor, is join- 
ing the Atlantic City News> Atlantic 
City, next Monday (31). 

Geprge Dawsj who has been spec- 
ializing on publicity in. -the east fbji?, 
Mervyn LeRoy, quitting- to -hoOk 
up with Newson Pklmer & Co., pub- 
licity prganizatibn. 

Lee_Bluml3erg, who was fprmeiiy 
in the WB theatre department, takes 
charge of the press bbbks. Other 
successors not yet named. 



Ruth Schwerin at Mono 

Ruth Schwierin, formerly bf the 
Blackstone advertising agency, joins 
Monogram home bffice this week. 

To handle exploitation .tieUps and 
trade press. 



Doc Wyler 

.Hollywood, May 25. 
Robert Wyler i.s on loan from the 
Pai'ampuht scripting department tb 
touch UP tbe screienplay of 'Dead 
^rid' for Samuel Goldwyn. 

roduction. 



ADVANCE SET 

Mitchell Leichtery V.p. in. charge .of 
prpduction for Advance -Pictures, is 
back on the Coast after a tour Of 
key. Cities. . Claiming to have made 
arrahgcments for selling product in 
New York, Detroit, fiufl'alo, Pitts- 
burghj Cleveland, Cincinnati. Minne- 
apolis, Chicajgo, Philadelphia,. . and 
Seattle. 



tories and facilities and personnel 
Of its productipn department for the 
period from Aug. 1, 1936, to Dec. 31, 
1937, at a sailary of $3,000 peV week 
It also provides for additional, comr 
pensation equal to 7i/4% of the first 
$2,500,000 bf the profits,, as defined ih 
the agreement, and 5% of such 
profl^ts in excess of $2,500,000 from the 
film operations of the company and 
its subsidiaries on a consolidated 
basis between Aug. 1, 1936, and July 
31, 1938. 

Stpckholders also will be asked to 
pass on other terms which would en- 
able the detectors to renew this 
agreement or make a new one, on 
substantially the same terms for a 
period of not more than three years 
starting Jan. 1^ 1938. 

irectprs also are to be elected 
at the nieeting to be held June 15 in 
Par off ices. in New York City. 

Paramount's earnings for the sec- 
ond quairter this /year, according .to 
Wall Street accounts are pacing foi- 
k mark ., that's over $2,000,000 and 
may ieach close to $2,500,000.; This 
is an estiniiate of the firm's con- 
solidated net, 

Figure runs tb arp.Und that ich 
the firm ^showed for the li 1st quar- 
ter, after: all chairges. 



CLEYELAND HRE 

Cleveland, May 25. 
Hidden Are which started in a 
small ante-room off the Garfield's 
lobby swopped through the nabe 
theatre last week and caused damage 
estimated at $26,000 before, firemen 
got: it under control. 

. Back-draft explosipns brpke. all ol 
tbe house w'indbws, nearly injuring 
spectators, then completely ruined 
the: - interior. Only things that es- 
caped flariies iri the theatre building 
were the projection room and., six 
adjoi ing stores. 



Wells Bi'uen Joins Far 

Wells Bruen, of Miami, has joined 
Paramount's' publicity departrneht .at 
the home office; He is wpi'^king on 
roadshpw publicity for 'Souls at' Sea' 
as a. starter. 

Mi 

work. 



'spaper 



Perkins' Ncwsreeler 

Hollywood, , May 25. 
RepUbli has pacted Albert R 
Perkins to script an o.ri 'inal with a 
newsrecl background. 

Pic is. figured as one of the .stu- 
dio's heavier budgeted releases for 
next season. 



INDIANA ?AWIEY 

Hollywood, May. 25. 
Scott R. Dunlap has signed Ed 
ward Pawley for a featured part in 
Monogram's 'The Hoosier School 
boy.' 

William Nigh directs and Ken 
Goldsmith produces. 



Hollywood, May 25. 
. Widespreiad. renovation of theatres 
iand replacement of obsolete sbuhd 
and projection equipment; increased 
f acilitieis of studibs; • noted improve- 
menits in sound recbrdihg and. repro-^ 
ducing apparatus and ain arbused in. 
terest in color prbceissesl have been 
the highlights of the past year; dele? 
gates , to the. annual, spring cbnven- 
tibn of the Societjr of; Motion Picture 
Engineers were' told yeisterd^iy 
(Mbn.) at the opening' session of the 
convention at the Roosevelt hotel, 
by J. G. Frayne, chairrtian bf 
progress cbmmittee./ 

Convention, got , under way with 
ISO members registered. Delegates 
^registered frbni ' .Japan, England, 
Germany, Mexico and the Avgen-r 
tine. S, K. Wolf, president of the 
SMPE, delivered a paper oh 'Educa- 
tional Film Progress and Problems,' 
in which he declared that the educa- 
tional sound-film, has shown greater 
progress during the past year than 
at any previous time, and increase 
in production of films and sale of 
16 mm. projectors and films has 
more ■ than ° dbubled' any previous 
year's activities in both this country 
and Eurbpe.^ 

New" 

Anhoimcement of the new Agfa- 
colbr process aimed for 16 mm., and 
35 mm. fllrhs, together with commer- 
cial still photographs, was- made ill 
paper and demonstration , at the color 
session, Process utilizes the . silver 
dye-coUpling method, in which colbr 
bn film iff obtained ' through incor- 
ppratipn pf chemicals on . the nega- 
tive emulsions. Agfacolbr, at the 
present time, has achieved commer-! 
cial color results in whieh negative 
shot becomes the positive for projec- 
tion purposes, but laboratory results 
to date show that color negative can 
successfully have prints taken oft in 
unliniited quantities.. It is claihied, 
for Agfacolor that laboratory proc- 
essing •Will be nearly as simple as 
the present method for black and 
white films. 

See Fix In the Making 

Practical demonstration on 'How 
Motibn Pictures Are Made' at Uni^ 
versal was presented for delegates 
and guests. SMPE group took over 
two stages at the plant and were 
given, a c t u a 1 demonstrations on 
method of preparing and producing 
a picture, from selection of story 
through assembling of final sound 
track, ' Homer Tasker, past president 
of SMPE and head of Universal 
sound department, arranged the 
denionstratipn. 

Convention banquet will be held ' 
tomorrow (Wednesday) night at the 
Roosevelt hotel, Convention winds 
up Friday (28) with a. television ses- 
sion^ at which time Ralph R. Beal 
of- RCA y/ill present a paper on 
'RCA .Developments in Television.' 



Washi , May . 
' Paramount: ictures this v;eek 
sought registration for $12,502,800 
worth of new 3'/^% convertible 
debentures due 1947, as well as 
$2,497,200 vl^orth pf the sdme tickets 
still in the conipariy's treasury, and 
450,000 shares of $1- common to he 
issued in the . fUture. Application 
was made of the Securities and Ex- 
change commission so that new 
bonds, being exchange for the cur- 
rent issue of 6% liensi and common 
shares . may :be traded in- upon the 
various exchanges of the. country. 

it is understood that the 450,000 
shares of common are being listed 
in order tb; provide the conversion 
from the bonds into common as 
stipulated with the new bond issue. 



AGFA SPREADIN& OUT 

Hollyvirood, May 25. 
rnest Sphwarz, Agfa-Ansco prexyi 
was here last week chinning with 
C. King Charney, local representa- 
tive. 

C^bnfabs will result in .company 
expandi its activities here. 



RETAILERS LIKE BINGO 



Brings People to Their Nei 
hood, Helps. Biz 



3 RKO Writers Assigned 

Holly wpbd, May 25. 

Gertrude Purcell is screenplaying 
'Music for Madame;', Jesse' L. Lasky. 
production for .RKO-Radip release: 

Robert N. Lee goes on. the screen- 
play of 'Forty NaUghty Girls' and 
Jacques Thiery is scfi 'They 
Didn't Want Love.' 



TITLE CHANGES 

Holly wood, May 25. 

'Escape from Love' ill be re 
leased by. 20th-Fox 'The Lady. 
Escapes.' 'Chicago' out 'In 

Old Chicago,' 

Columbia 'Taxi War' tb 

.'A Fight to i ish' and 'White 

Heat' to 'A Dangerous Adventure.' 

Crescent has changed 'The Right 
to Kill' to 'The Law Commands,' 

STORY BUYS 

Hollywood, May 25. 
Film rights to 'Henrietta's Big 
Night,' Liberty mag story by Edwin 
Bulmer, have been bought by Marion 
Gering. 

Metro took - screen rights to 
'Witness to a Murder,' Harpers mag 
piece published anonymously. 



Philadelphia, May 25. 

Bingo and banko continued in 
Delaware county this week after ban, 
oh them by Rae M. Kaplan, chief of 
county detectives, was lifted. Kaplan 
was forced to. revoke th^ nix follpw- 
ing lUsty. squawks from rrierchants 
situated hear film houses^ 

Storekeeps complained bail sent 
customers into other couiities tb play . 
g^mes arid , while there, they , alsb 
filled .market baskets, iveaways and 
games may continue, it was decided, 
until pending decision on legality is 
handed down in Philly courts. 



ERPI SHIFTS 

G. L. Carri has been 

pointed commercial / relations man- 
ager for Electrical .Research Prod- 
ucts, Inc., both reporting to the gen- - 
era! operating Chief. 

Carrington fprriierly ; was 
Southwestern Bell: Telephone, going 
with ERPI in 1928; Sheridan went 
from Bell Telephone Laboratories to 
ERPI in 1927 and most recently has 
been General Equipment manager. 



SCRIPTING LEGION PIC 

. Holly woodv iviay 25. 

Paul Franklin and Dan Jarielt 
are collaborating on the screenplay 
of 'Fools of the Legion,' George A. 
Hirliman hair-raiser for George 
O'Brien. 

J. D* NeMvsom wrote the 
story. 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



27 





AT N. A. B.? 



ROY LANGilAM 
CIO. 




IM 



lawyers were stiU muUing 
yesterday' (Tu€!sday) over the terms 
of an agreement which ne Work of- 
had ith the 

ild of Radio Announcers 
roducers. Contract on wages 
ing. conditions will be. siib- 
itted to the Guild's member ship 
for approval as soon ias the web's 
attorneys have given the. document 
their final okaj^; 

Roy Langhain,'- temporary head of 
the Guild, denied last week that his 
organization was ialliliated: -with the 
•Cip. Report in the trade , has been 
that the Guild ;wias getting its advice 
and' steering on union brgsuiizatioh 
and agreement negotiation from, this 
source and that Columbia was 
-anxious to get the issue settled be- 
-fore it had to contend directly with 
CIO spokesmen,: Langham empha- 
sized his denial, with an assertion 
that not . only did. the . Guild have 
nothing, to do with the CIO but that 
• it had no connection with any other 
. labor organization. 
. Guild had, however, established a 
chapter at WMCA, New York, and 
had enrolled announcers and pro- 
ducers employed by networkr- 
operated and indie stations in varir 
pus parts of the country. 



IT'S OFF AGAIN 



That perennial WCAU— Musicians' 
Quarrel Hits New Snajr 



Philadelphia, May 2Si 
Agreement between WCAU aind 
.Musiciians' local on. tei-ms for put- 
ting house hand ih station next fall^ 
Which seemed well jelled last W'eek,' 
took a turn for the worse yesterday 
with upped demandis by the unibn; 

Doc Levy; prez of outlet, last week 
said he would, install band if it could 
be used sustaining and commercial 
and was offered at 'reasdnable' price. 
He originally said he could take only 
12. pieces, but . .had come around to 
accepting the .16 men the union 
wanted. 

Prexy of the local, A. Tpmei, 
however,, now is insisting on at least 
20 . men and $75. a week. Levy indi- 
cated he thought a 'reasonable' price 
sibout $60. 




Radio-Labor DiflFiculties In- 
creased as C.I.Q, Refuses 
to Permit Yankee Net- 
work Prez to Editorially 
Repudiate— -rTrade Is Di- 
vided oh Wisdom of Action 



NEUTRALITY 





m mm to 




Los Angeles, May 25. 
among independent radio 
tions was scheduled , for the big 
push today (Tues.) by Committee 
for Industrial Organization. Organ- 
izers ire oh the ground and confabs 
with leaders of studio workers are 
Set for tonight. Campaign may ex- 
tend to the nietworks on the Coast 
and their affiliate stations. 

Heat will be turned on Columbia, 
it is reported. 

Organization of L. A. unit of 
Postal Telegraph has been perfected 
and demands for recognition have 
been made on the company. 

Amefican Radio Telegraphists 
Ass'n. some tinie ago moved to line 
up radio technicians but it went up 
in thin air after a brief flurry. 
• Following lead of employes in 
Frisco, workers at NBC studio have 
organized for collective bargaining. 
5etup will be in the nature of an 
inside union and no outside affiliar 
tion will be sought. 

Committee of six has beeh nouhed 
to draft the by-laws, with Tracy 
Mopre of the ^ales departme;nt func- 
tioning as temporary chairman; They 
are Jack Votioii and Honor Holden, 
Qf artists bureau; Claude Farrell, of 
maintenance; Jean Darrell, program; 
Ed Ludes, and Joe Alvin, 

publicity. 



rancisco. May 25. . 
Employes o^f. the National roaid- 
casting Company here, exclusive of 
technicians, last week formed a pro- 
tective association which numbers 
practically all producers, announc- 
^^Vmembers of the sales, auditing, 
traffic, program, press iand other de- 
P*^"ients, including the clerical 
^taff. Technicians have theii: own Or- 
ganization, the Association of Tech- 
i^ical Employes, formed here a 
couple, of years ago. 
. Moyement ioi the formation of the 
association, which will represent 
??|")l>ers in any negotiations with 
WBC execs with reference to sal- 
aines, hours of employment, work- 
ing conditions, labor disputes or 
other grievances, was begun follow- 
ing the return of John Ribbe, pro- 
ducer, from the PaciiEic Northwest. 
Where various labor groups had 
(Continued on page 31) 






Jack iiavin has resigned as Paul 
Whiteman's personal representative. 
He joined the maestro over six years 
ago, and about three years ago Lavin 
organized an artists bureau to handle 
not Only the band's bookings but the 
individual placements of - acts and 
personalities within the Whiteman 
setup, with the bureau turning out 
to be one of Whiteman's most prof- 
itable ventures. 

Lavin submitted his first resigna- 
tion to Whiteman last October but 
was induced to stay a while longer. 
Lavin has no immediate: plans other 
than a vacation that may involve a 
trip to the Coast. May set up shop 
on his own. 

With his datebbok pretty well 
filled for the balance of the . sum- 
mer Whiteman is not contemplating 
replacing Laivin right away. 



STORER WANTS 7G'S; 
ACT ASKS mT FOR?' 



Ppug iStorer, former Rockwell- 
O'Keefe staff member hbw on his 
own, has filed, suit in the New York 
Supreme Court against Ed East and 
Ralph Dumke. Claims $7,000 in com- 
missions is owing him,- East and 
DUmke deny the claim saying that 
they booked, themselves direct with 
kellogg and Knox Gelatine and that 
the majority of theit guest star dates 
were set by William Morris agency. 

Storer bases his claim on a con- 
tract allegedly signed some years 
ago designating him to deduct 20% 
from. East and Dumke's earnings. 
Matter has been in . dispute privately 
between agent and act for some time 
on the act's plea that Storer had per- 
f^rmisd no value or service entitling 
him to cpmmish. Storer took the 
'nevertheless' position.and when pri- 
vate talks could, not get him ahyr 
thing he turned matter:" over to 
Miller & Klein. Al Walter Socolow 
is attorney fo'r. East and jbumke, 



Blair's Research Dept. 



Chicago, May 25. 
John Blair, rep firm establishing a 
research and promotion department 
under direction of Dick McBroom, 
foi-nierly of the NBC Chicago press 
department. McBroom joins Blair on 
June 1, 

Pi-omotlon and research endeavors 
will be to keep a constant stream 
of data on sales, programs, markets 
and stations to the advertisers and 
agenci 



Mrs. Bob Jennings 111 

, inclriiiati, May 25. 

Mrs. Page Crosley Jennings, wife 
of Bob Jennings, director of WSAI, 
unclov Bill Hodges, is in Jewish hos- 
pital recovering from an operation 
which she underwent last week. 

Her dad is Powel Crosley, Jr. 



Events i io-laibor situation 

are; seeh as the issue that rhay pos- 
sibly dominate the Jiine convention 
of the Natioiial Association of Broad- 
casters, "fhis became, increasingly 
probabife following the/drastic action 
taken by John Shepaird, 3rd, of the 
Yankee netwoirk, who last week in-: 
sisted upon personally preceding and 
following a proposed C.I.O. spon- 
sored; talk with a repudiation of 
C.I.b. arid its propaganda. 

Labor insurgency has bobbed up 
throughout the broadcasting industry 
With dizzy rapi ity isinc6 the Su- 
preme Court upheld the Wagner 
labor act. To the problems of labor 
unions among station and network 
employes, the C.1,0. has now added 
the extremely: involved question of 
labor as a buyer of radio time. 

Shepard incident is feared by soine 



Withycomb's View 

iladelphl 

American F e d e r a t i o n. of , 
Hosiery Workers began picket- 
ing WIP Tuesday morning after 
station refused to go through 
with, sale of quarter hour for 
union propagandia. , Don Withy- 
comb of WFI promptly agreed 
to sell the uhjon time, Issuing 
statement that, in his opinion, 
as an act of public service, both 
sides should have equal access 
to air. 

WIP iatej*..ih the day offered 
free time io., union for debate 

ith spokesman for opposite 
side of labor issues involved. 



of the far-seeing members of the 
radio industry in the event that labor 
should one day be in a position to 
retaliate against the broadcasting 
trade; 

One station man, who asks not to 
be quoted by name, declared: 'Shep- 
ard allowed his personal feeiingis to 
lead him into, a bad public relations 
mpve. On the surface his action was 
bold and many people will say well 
taken. But the question arises; Has 
Shepard placed the whole radio in- 
dustry, in a hostile position, toward 
a group that may be very piowerf ul 
in the future? 

Another trade observer expressed 
the Opinion that 'the newspapers 
came off second, best dtiring the re- 
cent political campaign because they 
took sidies and bet on the wrong 
horse; Radio gained prestige in the 
election by iremai ing neutral, it 
might be wise to follo\V the samp 
policy as far ;as. possible in this labor 
union advertising, propbsitioci,' 

Labor neutrality may become an 
issue before the N.A.B, in June. In- 
dustrial cornmunitiesih:>'hich union 
sentiment is strong are particularly 
embarrassing station owners 

therein. They cannot overlook the. 
fact that their listening .audience 
may include active adherents of 
unionism. 

Nobody, of course, knows, how long 
the present, situation will remain 
true. C.I.O, is today's ogre. To- 
mpirrdW it may be -a giant or a fallen 
meteor. Meanwhile radio stations 
fuhctioning pn a franchise cancella- 
ble every six months lack the vested 
property rights that strcncjlhen- the 
average business man's deCcnscs. 
Thai's why one group feels that 

(Continued on page 31) 



History Repeats 



That epitaph routine, used by 
W; C. Fields Sunday night (23) 
oh the Chase & Sanborn pro- 
gram goes back a good' 40 years. 

It steinis to- a forgotten mbnolo- 
gist named James Richmond 
Gleiiroy. Well, not exactly fo.r-. 
gotten. Just unknown to 
hew generation. And radio. 

Glenroy was a shovz-stopper 
back when ushers were also 
waiters^ He responded to the . 
sub-caption, "The Man with the 
Green Gloves.' 







BY WEBS 



Report circulating around Wash- 
ington mientioned that Basil O'Con- 
nor, President Roosevelt's law part- 
ner and brother of Chaif n 
J. O'Connor of the House ules 
Conimittee, has been retained by 
NBC Cblumbi Jpintly as 

special counsel in the event of a 
Congressional investigation of the 
broadcasting industry. 

Speaiking fromi his. New York of- 
fices yesterday (Tuesday.) Basil 
O'Cbnnor declared that he hasn't 
even been remiotely ined by 
either network or by anyone. else in 
broadcasting for that task or any 
other relating to' it. 

Political viewpoint in the Capital 
is that his iretentipn would be a logi-' 
cal development. In New York's 
biroadcast circles there have bieen 
long odds offered for sonie time 
that the current session of Congress 
will not make evert an approach to 
iputting the broadcasting industry 
through an inquisition, 



WORK SPREAD RULE BY 
LOS ANGELES MUSICIANS 



Hollywood, May 25. 

Two performances a week . and 
two hours a performance is the limit 
imposed by the Musicians Union, 
L, A. local, on its members for radio 
work. 

Though directed primarily against 
NBC, it will apply to all hook- 
ups 'and all. members who come in 
the L. A, zone. Idea is to spread 
the work among members, a policy 
Hollywood offlcials of A. F. of M; 
have followed since the depression 
and sound threw its members for a 
dpuble loop. 

New edict makes It possible for 
members to average $110 a week, 
but restricts thein from picture stu- 
dio.s. 



Amos V Andy Free 



Chicago, May 25.. . 

iPepsodeht Will release Amos 'n' 
Andy to another sponsor Jan. 1, 
1938. It will, wind up an association 
of nine years. New sponsor yet to 
be negotiated. 

Lord. &; Thomas act as the black- 
face team's rep. 







.R.A.? 



Washington, May 25. 

Brbadcasters probably 
hav^ to subscribe . to Government 
hpur and wage ; standards -as, pro- 
posed ■ CPngress Monday (24); 
Black-Connery bill extent is still 
argumehtatiye but flrst analysis indi- 
cated loop-hple for radio ii;xdustry i 
various, exemption clauses. 

While much huddling by lawyer* 
miist precede final interpretations, 
sponsors admit flexibility' sections 
seem to leave workers in radio sta- 
tions outside the scope of plotted 
Federal regulation of labor 
ti . Bill hits Interstate coinmcrce, 
which covers radio, but exempts 
'service trades,' in iVhich broadcast- 
ing always hitherto has been classi- 
fied. Further loophole ^wlll be sec- 
tion leaving empipyers of few people 
beyond powers of new labor staind- 
ards boards. 

Evien if the measure is reframed 
so that broadcasting comes inside 
the proyisipns, bill probably will not 
be much of a hardship for radio 
enterprises. Hour limits may be im- 
p6s6d, although fact that the indus- 
try has, topped pre-deprcssion em- 
ployment figures arid supply of 
trained personnel is none to .great 
would carry weight. Board, Is told 
not to be unireasoriable, phrticularly 
not to inflict any standards which 
would curtail bmploymerit chances/ 
.(More details oj this proposed 
measure will be found in /llm sec- 
tio7i:) 



DEALS ON FOR 





Hollywood, May 25, 
' Half-hoUr shpw built arouiid 
George Jessel and Harpp Marx at 
the head of a 30-piece orchestra is 
being offered. Marx wduld do a harp 
solo on each broadcast. If deal jells, 
show would go on for the sumrner^ 

Groucho and Chico Marx are- also 
being offeried for radio, with asking, 
price of $7;OP0 weekly for the pair. 

Brothers wiU forget about pictures 
for a while on completion of 'Day 
At the Races,' which washes up their 
Metro contract. 



Dionnes' 1st Broadcast 



Himbeir Shoyir Mutes 

Weekly Mutual web (Friday night) 
show, with Dick Himber's tnusic, 
buttressed by Gogo Delys, Stuart 
Allen as singers, and Fred Uttal as 
narrator, fades for surnmcr with the 
June 18 broadcast. 

Sponsor is group of local coffee 
roasting outfits. 



Schilliri Hires De Lit Motta 

Scbillih agency, .New York, begins 
concerted drive for foreign language 
accounts this week. 

Charles De , La Motta,, former 
Italian, screen comic, in charge of 
new division. 



Torontp, May 25. 
Canadian Bjrpadcasttrig Corp. has 
fixed four- way deal, for Itself, NBC, 
Columbia and Mutual chai ir 
third birthday party of Dionne quin- 
tuplets oh May 28. Arrangements 
made by George Taggart, Who man- 
ages CRCi" and CRCY in Toronto 
for corporation. Engineer Curly 
(iJarrpd ill .handle pick up at Calr 
lander. 

Guardians Dr. R. Dhfoc and 
Judge J. A. Valin will give history 
of qui and will attempt to get 
gaLs to speak into the mike. Quints 
parlez French only. 

Canadian radio premises there'll 
be no electrical transcriptions dur- 
ing the half-hour. Broadcast, last 
year had to be cancelled at last 
ininute by NBC. because the chain 
wasn't to get the real McCoy, but 
would be fed recordings. NBC i 
ahli-wax in policy. 



Joe Peiiner Renewal 



Hollywood, May, 25. 

Joe Pcnher and his entire Coco^ 
malt crew have beer handed, renew- 
als. Those carried along by th 
hitch 'are Jimmy Grier's.' orchestra. 
Gene Austin and Cahdy and. Coco 
arid Joy Hodges. Nate Tiifts pro- 
diice.s for Ruthraun; & Ry?n, 

Sponsor still wavering botvycoil • 
.summer sliow and an eight-week 
muting. 



VARIETT 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



{(Migre^manV Exciteme Can. 
Station on Mutual Peters Out Fast 



YTashington, May .25.. 

Attack Mutual Broadcasting 
System tiie-up with CKLW, at Wind- 
sor, Ont., launched last vreek by 
Congressional bloc, looks 'ais though; 
it will be ia iailure. Federal Comi 
munications Gbmmissioh indicates 
no dispbsition dictate network 
affiliation policies and btherwise has 
no ;reas6n for paddling MBS. 

Mbve against Mutual, was launcheo. 
by Ret). Gardner Withrow of . Wis- 
, Who charged it, is unpatriotic 
. S. chains to employ. C^nadisn 
outlets to >reach domestic m^arkcts. 
Withrbw wrote Chairman Annihg S^ 
PraU fbr.informatiph as to. why Mu- 
tual hooked up \vith CKLW instead 
of ferhpjoylng one of^ the Detroit 
ismallies which have hb network con- 
nections; dongressmah ialsb reflect- 
ed: cohvictiph that the. Cpmmish 
should take* necessary steps to 
change this situation. 

Hands OiS 

While no reply. :had been ; made 
through Monday (24). iridiciatiohs 
were the CommisK will follow ii^al 
hand-oiOt policy in afTaiirs of this sort. 
Most, members .expressed ' ion 
that there is nothing resembling a 
conflict ith Federal regulatibfts, 
principles o!r statute^: ' Networks are 
free to serve any outlet with which 
they can negotiate a deal, .except for 
the Commish supervision ovet ar- 
rangements which may affect actual 
ppergtibn and control of stations with 
U. S. franchises. 

i>efending the deal, explainers 
pointed out that CKLW nbt only is 
considered in the trade as a regular 
Detroit , outlet, btit alsb. is the main 
feeder for MBS programs for the 
CTanadian network. With WJR <*ar- 
rvinif Columbia and WWJ and 
^XYZ serving up NBC programs, 
the Mutual link with the Ontario 
plaht is a natural froih the biz point 
of view. 



Visio Gets Nowhere 



Los Angeles, May 25. . 

i)r. Lee 'de Forest told mem-- 
bers bif einematography insti- 
tute at University of Southern 
Califbrhia banquet that tele^ 
vision ; experiments aire head- 
ing thW wrbng Way. He said 
that the cathode beam is im- 
practical but offered ho al- 
ternative other than making a 
plea fb'r . energy direction to- 
ward other mechanics. ,. 

He foresaw fbr Lps Angeles 
the ivotal point of visip and 
ventured that it \vill reach the 
peak of its. deyelopment along 
the Coast due to topography 
and other beneflcial elements. 




Case to 




DAYLIGHT TIME JAM 



Three ..Broadcasts . Every ' NUht ' 
WXTZ^s 'Green Hornet' Show 



of 



Detroit, May 25. 
In order; to give prPgram early 
evening coverage in Detroit for the 
kiddies, Detroit Creamery Co., sppn 
sors of "The Green Hornet' .serial 
(WXY2), has set deal whereby 
thrice-weekly jirogiram goes over 
WJBK at 7:30-8 p. m. N. W, Ayer 
handled. 

WXYZ, in whose studios serial has 
been originating for past couple of 
years, couldn't clear time for the 
eiirly eyehing airing, due to day 
light saving, time. .Hovvever, WXYZ 
continues, to produce drama, piping 
It to WJBK, and WXYZ'S state web 
at 7:30; to WSPD, Toledo, at 8 and 
at 9 p. m. over WXYZ. Expected 
setup will run through daylight time 
period, ending in September when 
WXYZ will switch back to its fprmer 
6ked at 7:3.0 p.. m. iring of 'Hornet.' 



Detroit, May 25, 

Hearing rumors . attempts 
were being nia'de to halt W«^BK'S: 
airings - of Detroit Tigers' outrof- 
towh games. Owner James F. ,Hop>- 
kins last week laid the two:month 
old cpntroversy before the piibliq in 
paid ads in local sheets. 

After being denied a writ to com- 
pel Western Union to furnish station 
with play-by-play accbunts of the 
contests, WJ^K had only a few dayi 
previous to the. ads ; started air in g 
the games by means oif rieports via 
Postal; with Al "Nagler at mike. 

Figured, accPrding to Hopkins, 
that,' shioiild attempts to halt broad- 
casts prove successful, public Would 
know 'who dun it' and thereby bring 
odium on bpposish. 

Ads .poirited out that WJBK . was 
thie 'originator of the telegraphic 
method of reporting baiseball .games 
starting in 1933' and that after 'ap- 
pealing to the corporations' sense of 
fair play and were rebuffeci' statibn 
resumed airings thrbugh other chan- 
nels. Also ' declared stati 'will 
carry piay-by-plays frpm all seven 
cities in American League, including 
New York. 



Wants Commish oh Sale of 
WJAY to WHK, Cleveland 

Cleveland, May 25. 

Ralph B. Hurtiphrey, of Radio Air 
Service Corp. jmd radio director <)1 
the Great Lakes Expo, is being sued 
for $18,750 by Charies I, Kamerer, of 
Erie, Pa. Latter alleges he is pwed 
that amount es cbmmish fpr the 
sale of WJAY to WHK in May, ' 

It is ■ kamerer's contention that 
Humphi;ey and M. A. Howlett, one- 
time manager of WHit, apppinted 
him to negotiate the .deal, .which in- 
volved, a sale price of $375,000. 



POWER PLANT DE-JUICES 
FIVE DETROIT STATIONS 



Detroit, May 25. 

Storms^ and strikes :played havpc 
with Dettoit and Michigan staitibi^s 
last week, putting- at leaist five biit- 
lets on the blink for period?: rang- 
ing frbrn a few miniitesto Ave hburs. 

First ,tp hit \vas a . power strike 
last Wiednesday (19), which affected 
stati in Bay City and Saginaw. 
Both wei:e pif the air from noon 
until early evening after .iemployes 
of the Consumers Power. Co., serv- 
icing that area, pulled fires and 
switches in a Isibor dispute. Qpera^ 
tiohs= were back, in full force in the 
early evening after Gov. Frank Mur- 
phy prldered service resumed while 
peace parleys continiuedi 

Severe electrical storm Fridiay 
evening (21) silence WWJ, Detroit, 
for two.' hours .and 21 minutes, when 
lightning scored direct hits. WJR, 
WXYZ: and other local stations also 
were forced off the- air intermittent- 
ly. All outlets, however, were back 
pn ir as gulckly as repairs cpuld 
be made. 



Pacitc Coast RadiD Notes 



Arthur .: Caesar sold three radio 
playlets to be? performed by . Al 
Jolson. 



Joe Parker defected from KGFJ 
(Los Ahgeles) to bark for NBC. 



Gleiin Morris being peddled around 
the Holly wood agencies for a Tarzan. 
bit pn^ the air. 



Donald, Thornburffh was chosen by. 
Sbuthern; California Bankers '.Ass'ii 
to address them on radio. 



Marlon CUIre will be back on 
Rubiripff's- program from. Hollywood, 
June 6. 



Frank Kennedy upped to phief en- 
gineer, at KH J (Los Angeles), ^ 
placing ;Harpld Peery, resigned. 



Dtimm. Phil Lasky, kSFO manager, 
is subbing for Dumm during hi' 
absence. 



Wallacit Fordr ex-WLEU, l ie. Pa., 

has succeeded Tom Jpries, resigriedi 
aiS; annpuncer at KYA, San Frah^ 
Cisco. 



Hal Bock, of NBC's press stafi in 
Hollywood, and his wife, planed to ; 
San: Francisco for a wePk's vapash 
last Thursday- after a stanza, in 
Arizona. 



Wllliains isisters haifmpny trio arid 
Charles Marshall and' his Mavel-icks 
did a.p.a. Pn board the Tatsuta Marii 
last weiek under auspices pif the For- 
eign Trades Association of the San,' 
Francisco Chamber pf Cpmmetce. 



Originates in S. Francisco 
For KNX^ L. A. Give-Out 

San Francisco, May 25. 
-Lbng distance remote series, ori i- 
liating in the studios of KSFO, local 
CBS outlet, and released ,by KNX, 
Hpliywpod, ill be sponsored by H. 
SutliiT Tobacco Co. (Heine's Bland) 
weekly beginning Thursday, June 
7:15 p.m. PST. Labeled 'Smoke 
Rings,' shb\ys will use John Marley 
and Marci Miller. D'Eyelyn St 
Wadsworth is the agency. 

Sutiiff ■ also has two weekly prp- 
grams oh KYA here. 



Vince Callaban Takes Over 



Cleveland Ins, Outs 



Cleveland, May 25 
Changes arpund local radio row: 
Pv»ke Lidyard, quitting WHK 
WJAY announcing staff, has joined 
Gordon Vichek ad agency. 

Ranee Valentine, from TJ. Y,, ike 
man. addition at WGrARi 

Mary O'Kelly, Clevelandls only 
femme program producer, leaves 
WHK June 15 to marry. Dr; Arthur 
B. Peacpck, of Columbus, N. J. Men 
del Jones, conti ity director, ill 
replacP IVKss O'Keliy, with Beverly 
Dean moving u from a piiblicity 
post at station to. assiirne Jpnes' 6x\^ 
ties. 



New Orleans, May .25. 
incent; F. X. Callahan arrived 
here Wednesday (19). to take over 
the general managership of WWL^ 
He succeeds Capt. Arthur C. Prlt 
chard as manager Pf the Loypla sta' 
tipn.' Pritchard, who had been man 
ager for the past seven years, ill 
continue as associate. 

One of Callahan's first acts was to 
name J. I). Bloom, Jr., chief engineer 
of the station. Edward DuTreil has 
been named chief operator of the 
transmitter and Francis Jacob chief 
operator of the control room., 

Np other changes in the staff , per 
sonnel are contemplated at preseht, 
Callahan sai . 

'We hope to make WWL the out- 
standing station i the South,* he 
said. .'bur . first step will be a hearing 
June 8 befoi'e the F.CC. on pur ap 
plicatipn to increase the i power oil 
the station from 10,000 to 50,000 
AVattsi' 



Henry Busse's Successors 

ieagb. May 25. 
With Heriry Busse going Pn. tour, 
lineup of substitute bands has been 
set for the Mar-O-Oii Sunday stahiza. 
Ted: Weems to take the program 
May 30, Anson Weeks, June 2 and 
27; and Bernie Cummiiis June 13 
ind 20. 

PrPgram is aired frPm. local stu- 
Ids over NBC-Red net. 



Harvester Dealers Beriew 

Jiason City, la.. May 25 
Satisfied with a"^ 13 weeks, test 
series. International Harvester, has 
renewed with SlGLO, farm station 
here, for a year. Some 60 McCbr- 
inick-Peerlng dealers sponsor period 
which hi 
weeki 



Bohemian Club Affair 

rancisco. May 25. 
Three special cars were added to 
the Southern Pacific!s Lark to Isr ing 
a delegation ot Los Angelenos to San 
Francisco last Friday for the B6h6 
rriian (Zllub's first 'Los Angeles Night 
i :BpHerni .' 

In tlie grpup were Earl 
thpny" and Harrison Holliway 
KFI-KECA; Walter Bunker, arinoun 
cer; Sydney Dixon, in charge 
NBC. Hollywood sales staff, and A 
(Zormack; CBS western traffic .chief 
Dixon was chairrtian and Holliway 
the erncee. 



Carol Bowers to N. Y. 



Chicago, May 25, 
CarprBowers is leaving radio de 
jpartment of lackett-Sample-Hum 
mert here this week. Joins Benton 
the air five days each | Sc Bowles radio departmeht in New 

York in exec capacity. 



Help Along PhiBy's 150th 

iladeiphia. May 25, 
thilly stations, at behest of > Mayor, 
are plugging hard on city's celebra- 
tion- of 150th anniversary of si ing 
Constitution. Announcing on stations 
breaks: 'This is WFlL in Philadel 
phia, the Cpnstitution City.!. , 

Committee of five radio men. orig 
inally appPihted by Mayor to posts 
they expected to be hbnorary snaps 
are finding them, real job. Quintet- 
Ken Stowman, WCAU; Joe Connelly, 
WFIL; Jimmy Allen, WIP; Leonard 
Matt, WDAS; and Jim AuU, KYW— 
are meeting with Hizzoner twice 
weekly. 



Mayfleld Kaylor, KEHE <Los An- 
geles) prpgriani director,' pn mbnth's 
leave tO: win back his health. 



Cliiarles Peck, 13-year-old KFWB 
player, got a fat pait in the picture 
version of 't).ead End.' 



Jack Von - Npstrand and Carroll 
Q'Meara: have been, taken aboard the 
Young & Rubicam payroll in Holly- 
wood ..as. writers. 



Tom Hanloii moved over to KNX 
after long service as chief announcer 
at KFI .(Los Angeles). Doug Evans 
mloves ■ 



.Kelly Anthony sailing: for Erigland 
aifier a vacash among the hulas. 
When , he's around he's assistant 
manager of KFI^KECA (Los Ah- 
geleS). 



Tex Rickard, Who runs KMTIR 
(Hplly\ypod) fpr Vic Paltpn, passing 
a brief holiday . i Washington.' 



Fletcher Wylle will do his com- 
mentating on KNX (Holly wbod) next 
mphth between salad dressing blurbs. 



Herbert Maas, who started with 
Columbia in Holly wPod as an usher, 
draWs an announcing berth under 
the tag pf Kenneth Craig. 



V** Knight in Hollywood to pro- 
duct Texaco , summer show- while 
Eddie C!antor takes time put to make 
a picture. 



Zuiiia Palmer, radio editor of the 
Holly wpod Citizen-News, and her 
niece, Dorothy Stone, spent several 
days -seeing, Sah Francisco last week 
as part, of , a three-and-a-half -week 
cruise to the Pacific Northwest. 



WGY Sprucing Delayed 

Schenectady, N. Y., May 25. 

WGY's new modernistic studio 
buildingi.. the ground for which 
originally • was scheduled to be 
broken last winter, has not yet rnoved 
out of the blueprint stage. Delays, 
some of them due to changbs made 
by General Electric officials and. the 
time taken to obtain the approval of 
NBC (which will lease the structure 
fbr a long term), hiaiy set the open- 
ing date later than Sept. 1. 

Lenox Lphr, NBC president, re- 
cently visited WC3Y for an inspection 
and a broadcast on- GE's Farm 
Forum. 



of 



of 



Sagerquist, Gets Okay 

dhicago. May 25. 
ric Sagerquist. will be the baton-: 
wayer f^or the new" oirchestral setup 
With' the /First Nighter' program 
when it returns to Its Chicago 
origination point on June 4. 

Through a dispehsatioii from the 
Chicago Federation of Musicians 
Sagerquist will leave the program, 
for a four-week absence, with a sub- 
conductor replacing for the interim 



iStuart Dawson, at- WBBM 

Chicago, Ma;y 25 
Switch to five-day week ' by 

WBBM, Columbia key, adds Stuart 

Dawson, fprmpr NBC announcer, as 

producer. 
Will also require addition pf five 

engineers, and two announcers^ 

yet to be selected. 



as 



Ira L. Smith is the hew agricul 
tural directot of KSFO, Saiji , Fran 
Cisco. He becomes Farm iReporter 
daily except Sunday, at 7:30 a.mt 



Blenda Newlin, the KSFO, 
Frisco traffic staff, "visiting her par- 
ents in Salt Lake City. 



Mrs. Dolores Vnger, top secretary 
at CBS, San Francisco, vacash! 
Los Angeles. 



in 



'Legislative Highlights' ircasts 
ended, public affairs announcer Rob 
ert Struble of CBS-KSFO, San Fran- 
cisco,., returned from iSaciramento; 
only to be summoned to Hbllywood 
by Jack Dolph of CBS. He reported 
at KNX last . week. 



Farrell Buckley 

technicians at KYA, 
Formerly with K JBS.: 



now among 
rancisco, 



EUls imball's orchestra win be 
aired oyer NBC coast webs ; from 
Topsy's. Roost at Playland-at-the 
Beach,. Sail Francisco, 
June 



mnihg 



Rush Hughes, liahgehdorf Picto 
naler, spieling from NBC's San Fran 
ciscb studios this week. Back 
Hollywood next Monday (31). 



in 



Ken Stiiari,: spbrtscaster and 
nouncer, left San Francisco 
iday (22) to succeed Mel Roach as 
emcee of the 'Listen, Ladies' show 
oii KEHE, LPs j Angeles.' 



Al PearcP; brings his gang tb 
Franciscp fpr a Fprd broadcast 
June 22. 



Mereditli Wilison, ISIBC's Western 
DivisiPri music chief, tobk his- ba.t'pn^ 
to Lpdl, Cal.j, :last Saturday 
duct a 150-piece "high school orch at 
the annual spring music .festival In' 
riprtherni San Joaquin Valley. 



Frank Manpffi anhpuncer-technl- 
cian at KRQW's $ari Francisco siii- 
idios, gPes to KI^, Oakland. He was 
repliaced by Lee Hoagland, fprmerly 
KMTR, Lbs Angeles. 



Gene Tabor; Oakland tiidi 
noimcer, KYA, Put and to Los An- 
geles. " 



Ken Barkhardt, formerly KROW 
but put pf radip fpr several, months, 
ahnpuncing Sped shows at .. KLS, 
Oakland. 



Art itchle new to KOL, Seattle 
Commercial department.. 



Darrell . Campbell, t e c h n Icia n, 
moved from KOL, Seattle, transmit- 
ter to studio control room. 



rant Merrill, KOM-KJR produc- 
tion, director, Returned from a tri 
to New York -and Chicago. 



Friends Pf Darrell. Donnell,; 
editor of the San Friahciscp. Exam- 
iner, were summoned to his $ea Cliff 
home last week to. help him identify 
a small carnivorous animal which he^ 
captured in front Pf the house by 
thrpwing his hat over it. General 
opi ion is that it is an ermi 



CBS* p.a. staff in Skn Francisco is 
playing host to bay district radio 
scribes during a flight "over the new 
Golden Gate Bridge Friday (28) to 
0;o. official opening ceremonies from 
the air. 



Samuiei B. Dickson, NBC play- 
wright in San Francisco, accompan- 
ied the web's coast special events 
bhief, Don Thompson, to Rainier 
NatiPnal Park in Washington last 
week-endi Pair planed north for 
the weekly national park broadcast 
over NBC from piie of the new 
Mainliners. 



Fred Hari, owner, and J. Howard 
Wbrrall, biz manager, pf KGMB in 
Honolulu, gandei-ing the Hollj^ood 
scenie in tow of Donald Thbrnburgh. 



Sam Hayes will do his news broad- 
casting fPr a Coast banking cliai 
He was fPrrheriy the Richfield Re- 
porter. 



Chester Smith, leader: at KFRC, 
San Franciscp, and his bhe-man crew 
were dumped iritp Sah Francisco Bay 
when his sall-bpat capsized recently. 
A Coast Guard cutter rescued them, 
half drowned. 



Margaret Yates, dramatic soprano, 
radio-debuted last Thursday on KYA, 
San Francisco, and the Orange, web 
(California Radi System) during 
Hugh Barrett Dobbs' 'Ship of Joy.' 

Orient-<bound for an eight- weeks' 
vacash are W. L Dumm, Associated 
I Broadcasters, Inc., prpxy, and Mrs. 



Baker; Show Into And 



San Francisco, May 25. . 

ilpmestead Bakery is sending its 
Benriie Walker amateur hour .to 
Dreamlahd Auditorium Wednesday,. 
June 2, for a p. . at-ah exgositipn 
of California products being held 
May 26 to June .3 in conjunction vt'ith 
the Golden Gate Bridge iesta. 
Walker's tyros will air. their regular 
weekly program oyer KGO from the 
Dreamland stage. 

Several weeks ag:o 'Walker Prigir 
nated a broadcast at the annual Ala- 
meda County food show in Oakland 
Auditorium across the bay. 

Leon, Livingston" agency handles 
the accpunti 



NBC Attists 'Service. bfferi 
year-young blind organist, 
Berkowitz, for air guestshots. 
has never played over ozone. 



l^edi^esdny, May 26, 193T 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



29 





RESEARCH 






icago, May 29, 

Boys and girls who used to send in their box-tops so they could get 
|i b^dge .ahd 'be just .like the police capiat - are: how bored by such 
stuff and coniaequently radio is/3crattchi its head loi- a new basic 
idea for child selling. 

, Club idea; where a pirate, police, fire or gang chief stood up and 
declared: that, every boy and girl listening, could be as brave as he 
by sending . a box top .and, getting a badge and membership card, was 
one of the . ih6st successful commercial ideas ever to hit radio, and 
such programs aictiially . paid out in direct selling in greater percieht- 
*ges than any other type act ever used. 

' Figured that with a new crop of kids getting ears all the time, it 
would last forever, ^ahd drop-off was excused for a while, for any 
number of T<^aispns< But latiely the slump has been too inuch and 
many trade dopesters say it's all washed tip. Either the present day 
kids have beco>me too cynical, or else their older brothers and sisters 
or harassed mamas have told them it's all a fake. 

True hero storiies are also going a little sour with so much same- 
ness^ and premium gags are <flat, so. there's midnight-oil-burning for 
those who think the best way to sell merchandise is to get kids to 
yammet at their mothers to buy the product. 




Directors Decide to String 
Along -with Joint Commit- 
tee After Chi(cagd Meeting 



DUES BOOST? 






, Cincinnati, May 25. 

Unusual situation of an NBC sta- 
tion commiercial simultaneously 
broadcasting on a CBS station starts 
here tonight (Tues,). Crosley-pro- 
duced program, *Hits of the Week,' 
will not only be aired at 9:30 over 
WSAI, but will be fed to Columbia's 
WKRC. It was originally on the 
Verge of signing with latter exclii- 
sively; May Stern furniture store is 
sponsor. Agency is Frederick Ziv. 

Paid Sullivan will give hit toews 
story of week. Red Barber the hit 
sports event ditto, and the hit mov- 
ing picture of the week will be dra- 
matically excerpted. Bill Stoess will 
conduct orchestra - and Three Smooth- 
ies will warble. : AH regular staff 
entertainers of WLW-WSAI. 



*Aye MariaVoh WFIL 

Is Repeated for WIP 

Philly's WFIL has set aside the 
ban'on carrying any £^nd all religious 
programs, which: station maintained 
till this week, and will carry the 
weekly 'Ave Maria' half hour. Catho- 
lic commercial will be heard oyer 
station, piped out from WHN; N. Y., 
on the WLW-line to Cincy. WHN 
merely feeds each Sunday afternoon, 
program having beeii. heard for past 
four weeks on WLW and KQV, Pitts- 
burgh. Starts on WFIL this Sunday 

That gives Philly two slices of the 
same show each Sunday. Program 
rides the WLW-line early in the 
afternoon, while at the dinner hour 
same show is repeated over fiye sta- 
tions on the Intef-City System, in 
eluding WIP, . Philly, 



Soft Drinks V$. Beer 



Trained Radio Talent in 
Toronto-Buffalo Shifts; 
leases the Former 



Toronto, May 25. 
Program, producers of Toronto, sta-' 
tions are doing consi ' ing 

with alarm at tt)e general exbdus of 
home bred talent into more lucrative 
Buffalo fields. Four top performei's 
have taken up abode in the Bison 
City during the last few months and 
a quartet and two other air soloists 
have beeii offered programs aiid are 
contemplating a shift. ' 

Alan Savage, erstwhile CKCL art- 
nioUncer is now spieling for WGR- 
WKBW, Buffalo. Siegmund Smith, 
who handled sports assignments for 
CKTB, St. Catharines, and Stuart 
Ramsay, another CKCL. mikeman; 
also are doing B.B.C. chores. 

ingers include baritone John 
Sturgess and tenor Jimmy Shields. 
Former has been booked as iaoloist 
at Shea's Buffalo and is doing four 
a day for seven days a week; In 
addition he vocals over WGR, doing 
a Columbia job on 'Buffalo Presents' 
each Satiirday. Shields now is the 
B.B.C. staff soloist. 

Others due to shuffle off are Mar- 
garet McCann, C.B.C. soprano. Wish- 
art Campbell, baritone, and Alf Res- 
cprl's mixed quartet, 'The Fashion- 
aires.' 



JELLO'S SUMMER SUBS 



Jane Froman antf D*n ]t#ss . H»ld 
Spot f»r B^niy 



Hollywood, May 25, 

Jane Frpmari and Don- Ross step 
into the broadcasting breach on the 
Jellb program when Jack Benny and 
Mary Livi ston take their three- 
month summer vacation. 

New linfeup becomes effe.ctive on 
July 4, and program will revert to 
New York for. its origin point. 



Des Mpi , May 25. 

Although the Iowa Broadcasting 
System threw all beer advertising 
overboard the first of the year, they 
will soon have enough soft drink 
advertising to. balance, with^the fol- 
lowing accounts now being carried; 
7-Up, Gleb-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Dr. 
Pepper and Orange Crush. 

•Gleo-Coia just started three, quar- 
ter hours per week bn KSO. Dr. 
Pepper has started four quarter 
•no:ui;s per week oh KSO this weisk. 



Tlainsmian' for Lux 

HollyAvppd, May 25. 
. D'eMille, ■ an air 

version of 'The Plainsman.' v/hich he 
filmed, for Paramount, for Lux May 
31, Gai'y CooP'^r and J^an Arthur 
reenact their film. roles. 

Other guesters lined up foi: Holly- 
wood broadcasts are Tyrone Power 
and Loretta Young in 'Hotel Metro- 
Pole' on Hollywood Hotel, .May 28; 

Wray, Joan , BIbridell and Max 
Reitihardt. in that succession, for 
George Fischer's Hollywood Whis- 
pers over the Mutual network. 



Miss Roach Returns 

Kathryn Roach has returned to 
Chicago after her annual visit to 
New. York. Her program was fed to 
WGN, Chicago, her home base, put 
of WOR, New York, duririg the Man- 
hattah. interlude. 

Sister of Pjerre Roche of Roche. 
William & Cunningham agency, the 
household hints lady, broadcasts :as 
June Baker. She's also an exec at 
WGN. 



Lauretta Hopton, of the WMCA, 
^- Y.; publicity dept., convalescing 
m ah appendectomy. • 



Wynn Wright's Office 

Wyhn Wright, production man- 
ager of WWJ.ha.s been elected presi- 
dent of The Players, succeeding Ray 
Jacobs. 

Others include Hay ward S.. Thomp- 
son, vice-pvesidentr, and Lawrence P. 
Srnith,' secretary.rtreasurei'. Board 
members; besides officers, r Dr. 
William H. Ellibt. Johti R. J, Gi-ylls, 
Sheldon R. Noble: and Jacob.s. 





nsors 



Admen Won't Relinquish Gpocl , T^nie— 
Shows Rieady to Go But No Plac^ 



Dannenbaum Takes Cut 

Philadelphia, May 25. 

A. W. Dannenbaum, prez pf 
WDAS. in .University Hospital here 
recuperating from operation for re- 
moval of gall stones and appendix. 

Doing okay. 



. Cpnrimercial Committee of the Na- 
tional Association of Broadcasters 
has. agreed . to carry oh with the 
Joint Committee on Radio Research 
and J Oin. NBC and. Columbia in car^ 
rying the bureau's financial. ..load. 
NAB's contributions to this, venturer 
will, come from the 50% bpc^t in 
association fees which the commit- 
tee hopes to sell the meiiibeirship 
at the NAB's annual coifiyention, 
which opens in ■ Chicago, June 20. 
Under the proposed resolution, 
broadcasters would pay. the tithe, 
which is . equivalent . to the station's 
highest quarterly-hour rate, six 
times a year, instead of quarterly, as 
is . the current arrangeihcnt. , 

Deciision to go , alcmg implicitly 
with the Joint Comndittee was ihade 
at a meeting of the NAB's commer- 
cial committee in Chicago last 'u^eek. 
NAB reps on the research bureau's 
setup had been chary of the direc- 
tion .that the project'ji^^ work had 
taken but after - a . session .with : Keti 
Boice, CBS v.p. in charge of sales,' 
and Roy Witmer, NBCs sales chief, 
the NAB commercial committee 
came W the conclusion that it would 
be for the best interests o£ the asso- 
ciation to continue to support: the 
bureau. To date the project has de- 
pended .solely . expenses upon 
NBC .and Columbia, but under the 
new entente cordiale the two webs 
will turn its appropriations over to 
the NAB yhiich, in turn, will chip 
in a substantial amount and pass it 
all- on to the biireau. 

Qaestira •! Bfelhed 

What had the NAB'ers disturbed 
was the methods that the Joint Comr 
mittee had adopted f<>r its testing as-, 
signmehts. Bureau, as a result of 
these tests, began to talk in terms 
which were somewhat forteign to the 
broadcasters on the Joint Committed. 
Latter had 'been under the impres- 
sion that the bureau would cmicern 
itself y/ith determining the best 
methods for measuring station cov- 
erage, but the agency and adyertisei: 
delegates on the.. joint committee 
were more concerned with station 
listening areas by the device of find- 
ing out what percentage of listeners 
tune in regularly on stations whose 
signals reach their setS; 

Broadcasters On the Joint Coi - 
mittee had their fears allayed when 
it was made clear to them in Chi- 
cago that the bureau vvas concerning 
itself with .signal measurements and : 
mail 'counts . as well as personal ih-| 
teryiews and that the info on station 
po pu i a r i ty as derived • through the 
last rnelhod did not militate seriously 
against, previous claims set up by 
stations concerned. 

One angle which had. the. broad.^ 
casters at the Chicago meeting 
puzzled , was the supervisory sivr, 
rangement which the agency artd ad- 
vertiser delegates on the Joint 
Committee had imposed on the 
bureau. Without consulting the indie 
broadcasters, the others pn the com- 
mittee had. named L. H. D. Weld, re- 
search director for the McCahn- 
Ericksori agency, as the "supervisor of 
the bureau's operations. It's a sal- 
aried a.?signment. NBC and Colum- 
bia had consented to the move and 
indications are that the NAB will 
advance no objection to the setup as 
afTectlng Weldv The Chicago meet- 
ing agreed to Engage a research ex- 
perl who would servie as the NAB's 
technical spokesman on the Joint 
Comnnittee, 

Joint Committee's technical, 
rriittce is slated to spend a major 
pai't of the conjing week collating 
the findings of surveys financed by 
the bureau in New England, ll is 
doubtful whether the main' commit- 
tee will be able to get together be- 
fore June 24 to go over the tech- 
nical committee's analyses; NAB's 
delegates on the committee are dis- 



Safc From Radio 



ianapolis, May 25. 

'Moderns' in the ranks , of the 
Dunkards, whp' conyehed hear 
Logansport (Ihd,) last week, 
•were showed: under the nays 
when they atteinpted' to push 
through an okay on use of ra^ 
dips in the hdnte by members 
of this religious sect; 

Ohio delegates ihtipped the 
mbti to permit radios, and. 
debate vyraxed hot and. beavy 
for hour and a . half, and theh 
the Presiding Elder cut it short 
by motion for oral vote. Deaf- 
ening chorus of nays resiulted.. 



Frisco-Oakland 




24^flr. Schedule 



rancisco. May 2&. 

.A 24-jhour daily broadcasting 
schedule is contemplated by KpOC 
hiere, rting in July, increase in 
air time, is planned to tally with 
similar arrangements b^ihg made by 
KLS, Oakland. Two stations fortn 
the recently inaugurated Bay Broad- 
casting System. 

A hew 250- watt RCA transmitter 
has been bought by KGGC, whose 
owner, the Golden Gate Broadcast- 
ing Co., ia petitioning the Fedieral 
Communications Commission for a 
power increase from 100 to 250 watts 
daytime, and for a frequency change 
from 1420 to 1370 kilocycles. New 
500-foot . tower on the roof of the 
Olympic Hotel ill be erected. 



Listerihe has dramatic sHoWr 
IGraiid Central Terminal,' all. s.et'.td 
go on . the air, but it ' has elected to 
wait for the right network half -hoiiir, 
even if it iheans holding off lUitil 
next year, Agency on the account, 
Lambert A: Feasley, Had figured thiat, 
some advertiser with a choice spot 
would decide to call it quits for th 
summer, and thereby proyide Lis- 
terine with^ the opening th^t It has 
l^cen laying for.. 

• No siich opportunity hps been 
made iaivailable, nor is ft likely to 
develop in: the iiicimedia.te future, 
since. practically every account with 
a choice "period '* protcciing the 
franchise , with a . eheaper . summer 
show or thrbiigh a guarantee to re- 
turn after a nine weeks' abspnce.. 

Mouthwash was slatedf . to go ,on 
the air earlier in th^e sprlngM ut 
program difficulties got in the way; 
The show was a missing persons idea. 
NBC tabooed it .because the hetwork~ 
felt that .it. was similar to the' one, 
'PerwMnal Column,' that Procter 
Gamble was' underwriting^ while 
,CBS considered the tticrne . as too 
cohtroversiaL ' .j.- 

. Circumstance of .nccouiits waiting 
over long periods for the right spot 
to make itself available on the net- 
work has been no uhcommoh thing 
djuring the past year. Coca-Cola is 
reputed to have turned to transcrlp> 
tions because it could not be pro« 
vided with a choice period on either 
the NBC red (WEAF) or CBS, while 
others, whose agency -reps have been . 
bobbing in and . out of network .sales 
departments trying to tag a happy- 
time segment, include Standard Oil 
of New York. Wcstco (Dr. West den- 
tal products) and Old Cold (Loril- 
lard Co.), 



WOODRUFF NIXES BID 
OF BENTON & BOWLES 



Hollywood, May 25. 

Frank Woodruff, producer of the 
Lux Theatre of the Air for J. Wal- 
ter Thompson agency, nixed an o<- 
fer from Benton & Bowles to handle 
Maxwell House Showboat, when pro- 
gram switches here for origin. 

B. & B., throiigh Herschcl Wil- 
liams hONV negotiating with others 
for producing post. It is reported 
that Bill Bacher also declined the 
Showboat spot. 



Flings the Gauntlet 

Louisville, May 25, 
'Mi ule rnterviews'. conducted by 
George Pa ttersjon and Burton Black-, 
well over WAVE, received a sur- 
prise visit by Foster BrPoks, WHAS 
arinduncei' Friday (21). Purpose of 
the impromptu appca.rance of the 
spiclier wa.s to issue a challenge to 
the WAVE staff for a sbftball game, 
Brook.s' defy was left more or 
less up in . the air, after he stated 
that his learn Wa.s made up of WHAS 
announcer.s and technicians, most of 
whom were adept at' hjindling the 
' nay pellet. 



Wyandotte's Lay-OfF 

"Tell Us, Your Story,' thrice weekly 
aftef noon quartor-hour over . nine 
I CBS stations . (exclusive of WABC, 
N. Y.l foi- Wyandotte Cleaning Prod- 
ucls, d.iops oft air with the May 29 
broadca.st, 
After 13-wcek layoff, program re- 
I turn.s to sa/ne sliili N. W. Ay6r 
the agency; 

inclined to come On to New York for 
such gathering until their own con- 
vention is out of the way. Weld is 
due to sail for fiiirope June 26 and 
John Benson, prez of. the American 
Association of Advertising Agenci *, 
is going three days later. 



Interrupts Baseball to 

Carry Auto Speedway 

Chicago, ;May 25. 

Almost unprecedeh ted is WBiBM's 
decision, to clip the ball game broad- 
cast short to pick up another pro- 
gram, but the Chicago Columbia key 
has decided to do only flrist of the 
baseball double-header oh Memorial 
Day,; and let the other go' in order 
to air portion of the Indianapolis 
speed races. 

Makeid station probably the only 
CBS outlet hot to take whole race, 
as CBS wanted assuriance of its sta- 
tions to take all or nothing, but such 
a delBil impossible on WBBM because 
of baseball commitments. Aftsr 
wrangle, it was-: decided that part 
was better than none, so WBBM! 
agreed to break in on first ball game 
to flash race news, and drop sccon 
game to carry finish of race. 

Lap-by-lap stuit will be done thi.i 
year for CBS by WBBM s Ken El- 
lington,: assisted' by Staii THompson. 
Will make Ellington's afth year f xr 
the event, doing it once before for 
CBS, and four times for WFBM, 
Indianapolis. 



WWJ 20% Ahead of '36 



Detroit, May 25. 

Biz at WWJ during th DHt 20 
weeks of this year shows an incrrase 
of 20% Over the orrespondjii 
period a year ago. ' ure cxclu 
network bi/,. 

Rate increaiscs at WWJ range froi 
6% to 41%. Contributitig . factors, 
besides general upturn in biz every- 
where, are given station's now 
studios and radio theatre, incrcas.L' 
power, additions to talent stall 
more suitable organizatioo. 



Manny Shure Carried 

Mfiy. 

Manner Shure, perjional representa- 
tive for the Easy ,' w.ias mai-ricri 
here Saturday (22) to Ruth Cuetlinn. 
non-pro; Romance started in 19;': , 
during early pari of Shufe's six-yccir 
.stretch as an KKO theatre tnatiacjcr 
here. 

Couple left. Sunday i.2.'); lo lako U 
residence in N. Y. C. 



30, 



VARIETY 



RADIO REVIEWS 



Wednesday, May 26,. 1937 



*ABIE'S IRISH ROSE' 
Ablc^Ricbard' Bond 
Biosie^Marlon Shocklcy 
I,evy--Alfred White 
Pato-M^illiatn Fay 
Rabbi— John G; Beriln 
Priest— E. J. Blunlihall 

boyai^ gelatin 

Thursday, 8 p.m. . 
WEAF, NBC, New York 

(jr. Walter Thompson) 
is. third network airing with- 
in ia week for the revival of 'Abie.' 
Opening night, CBS had a sustainer. 
Next night, 'March of Tiiiie' gave it, 
attention. Vallee hour offered it in 
brifef excerpt. All of whibh adds up 
to a lot of publicity 'evien thbujgh the 
excerpt: as played for- the cold sight- 
less ether did not add up to, lot 
of laughs. . 

Beguiar cast members played theii: 
roles (slightly edited for airing) go- 
ing on about 8:10 at NBC and run- 
ninig iO minutes, or so. That en- 
abled the. cast to make the curtain 
fit the Little theatre. 

No radio credit to any of the 
players, an oviersight not character- 
istic pf .Rudy. Vallee's stanza in 
whicH prof essiortal courtesy hsvs 
often been plain log-rolling (as it 
was again between Rudy and 
Maurice Evans,, afid Rudy and 
Ethel Merman). 

- Bernard Gorcey, chief laugh-get- 
ter of 'Able,' was missing from the 
broadcast for the reason that he gets 
his laughs largely by pantomimic 
mugging. One or two snickers in 
the excerpt submitted but mostly 
tepid. Richard Bond as Abie was 
'the^ moist aggressive voice on the 
broadcaist. Others trailed off now 
and then. Sound level apparently 
dida't help. 

But as a. publi ity break on tht 
'top-ranking variety hour of them all 
^Anne Nichols had s6metbin»': Lend. 



JIMMT KEMPER 

With Bill Murray, Frances Wood- 
bury, William Shelly, MaDiuitt«n 
Four, Ai and Connie. 

.'Sonr Stories' 

15 Mins. 

. StisUiadnir 

Thursday, 6 p.nj.; EDST 
WEAF, New York 

One of the blossomis that spring 
.up every year when summer thins 
out the commercial accounts. Sus- 
taiher shot brings Jimmy -Kemper, 
mildly pleasant warbler, hybrid vo- 
cal background in a variation , of the 
musical comedy idea. Program is 
draimatized story highlighting Kem- 
per's songs. Shpvir caught (20) waR 
backstage- yarii about the, rising 
young singer and the seheihihg 
prima donna. She deals him a hand 
from the bottom of the deck, but 
the film talent scoiit put front, signs 
him regardleiss. 

All routine , . stuff, but harmless 
enough for a sustainer at that hour 
of the day. Singing of Kempei^ and 
his satellites fills the bill. Cannied 
applause sounds precisely like 
canned applause. ,Hobe. 



LEAH PLOTKIN 
*Explorlnr the Seven Arts' 
Talk 

IS MinB.— Local 
WPA 

Wed., 9:45 p.m. DST 
WQXR, New York 

WPA is running -a lofty-brow 
broadcast weekly on N. Y.'s most 
lofty-brow broadcaister. 'Exploring' 
dance, music, poesy, prose, drama, 
painting and sculpture, seiries is not 
employing WPA radio talent, but 
using aesthetic guests from outside 

When caught. Miss Plotkin, who 
plotted series for, and is member pf 
WPA, stepped up. herself fpr an up- 
liftrthe-masses' minds sessipn. A 
swell spieler with a plush pair pf 
pipes, she. defended art as a 'social 
force* on ground social roots are 
necessary to make it significant. De- 
nouncing the ivory-tower isolation-: 
ists, she called for art for all the 
people and 'explored! the arts to at- 
tempt to prove her. contentions. 
While , not likely to win any, con- 
verts tp her Side pf thinking, she did 
have spme slick ppints. One fault 
with her talk, was that she seemed 
SP ppinipnated she viewed phly her 
side pf the questipn i rovihg her 
ideas. Bert. 



J. O. FLIPPEN 

With Ethel Shepard, Helen Yorkc, 
Rose Marie, Jimmy Brierly and 
Irvinff Aaronson's; Orch. 

Variety 

30 Mins.— Lo(;al 
,BORDEN 

Wednesday, 8 p.m., DST 
WHN-WOB, New York 

(Young & Rubicam} 

Produced at WHN. fed to WOR, 
.program makes passes at pretentious- 
ness. But hot enough effprt ha 1 
been expended, ph the program 
itself. Flippen has spmething foi: 
the air. Indeed he has had fpr some 
years. But lacks socko material. 
When caughi 'he-dishedmp the same 
bid saws; they wouldn't even have 
been able to crawl by muster oh a 
split-week in Union City. 

Might help to add a fenime foil 
for Flippien.. As is. he uses the girl 
warblers in rotation; they should 
stick to singing, albeit probably they 
aren't spearing at comedy from 
choice:. With material and an apt 
co-workei: for Flippen on the laugh- 
levying, program mifiht Tear up into, 
importance in its sphere. > 
, Misses . Shepard and Yprke are 
good' songstresses, giving the show 
its best moments, There is not; 
enough contrast, however, in their 
voices or singing styles. Aaronson's 
crew is capable. 

When caught tenor rierly, 
doubling from appearance with 
Paul. Whiteman's oirch at Loew's 
State, did. not particularly inipress. 
Rose Marie (she has shed the 'baby') 
failed to likewise, but by time her 
tonsillinjg turn -came near end of 
program, it was already tonheavv 
•^•lat sort of talent. 6th were 
pne-shpt guesters, Bert. 



'EVERT WOMAN' 

With K*ye Brlnker,^ Milton Charles, 

To(i|d Hunter 
Songs-Monoldcii 
15 Mins.»^Local 
COMMONWEALTH EDISON 
Tues., Thurs., Sat., 1 p.m. CPST 
WBBM, Chicago 

(Lord <t Thomas) 
New set-up by Edisbn Cp.' has di- 
rect appeal fpr wpmen. Smppthhess 
of production above avei-age for day- 
time shots. In getting away from 
he usual dramatic blow-by -rblow de- 
scriptions of romances, program air.s 
the swell voice and organ of Milton 
Charlies, and the fine ori inal monp? 
Ipgs.of Kaye BrinKer. ■ 

Character sketches dpne by Miss 
Brinktr, in musical friame, are 
sparkling, altPgether human imper- 
spnatiPns ot 'Every-Wpman,' each 
time in. :b different sitiiatipn. Are 
gppd fpr tpp billing wherever light, 
frothy humpr is wanted. Has an 
especially neat way pf planting situa- 
tions by usiiig phe pr twp wprds, 
thrpwn away. Delivery is jgracipus 
and unruffled at all times, keeping 
away from anything but unfprcied 
naturalness.. In sketch caught did a 
bridge scene, and cbnversatipns ^up- 
ppsedly taking place all abpiit her 
gave her a chance fpr fine judgment 
in the use pf pause's for effectiveness. 
Miss Brinkei: shapes up as an excel- 
lent performer. 

Once introduced by Miss Brinker 
and onice by Charles, Todd Hunter 
does the commercials in an easy 
voice. 



PAULINE FREDERICK, PHILLIPS 

HOLMES' 
'Amber' 
13 Mint!. 
A. & P.- 

Thursday, 8 pjn. DST 
WABC-CBS, New York 

(Pom Se Peart) 
Guesting on Kate Smith's 'Band- 
wagon,' MiSs Frederick and Holmes 
beeame bogged in a most tedious 
slab of Martin Brown's play, 'Amber;' 
in which Miss Frederick starred on 
§tage. 

play, was not a good one, and it 
was a tiresome, mechanical .scene 
from it that was used. Par over- 
jehgih, it succeeded only dragging 
down level of ; the whole progrim, 
which had been skimming along pn 
high , level till 'Ambier' was shpt in 
near .- end.' 

Scene had to dp with ypung man's 
recpnciliatipn with mpther after 
twain had been separated 3ince chap 
was a tpt. What were primed as 
dramatic fireworks were smothered 
by heavy-hooted dialog and slow 
actipn. Bert. 



Follow-Up Comment 



MARGERY WILSON 
with Leonard Barron 
TalkH 
15 Mins. 
Sustainihc 

Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., EDST 
WEAF.-NBC, New York 

Netwprk is running weekly 
thrpugh May a ' series aimed at 
femme audience, with Miss WilsPn, 
Whd fpr.- past 16 years has been pen- 
ning bppks and platform- purring pn 
the ' psychplpigy ' pit charm and per- 
spnality-develppin'g; .and , Lepnard 
Barrpn, whp talks on fiowei'-garden 
hprticiiltureJ 

When : caught (11 )t each . talked 
scarcely exceeded mpre 'than five 
mins., which entailed a deal Pf or- 
chestral fill-in, fore,.. aft and mid- 
ships. Miss WiLson, .equipped with 
a swell diction and authoritative air 
perspnality, tpuched pn an aspect pf 
'Fitting Ypur Personality to Life' 
which should have appealed to the 
ladies in view of Its sanity and di- 
rectness. She talked in terms any- 
one might easily understand, sagely 
avoiding sliding off the deep end as 
do mp.st . spielers laboring under the 
title pf psychplpgiist. 

Barrpn ppinted oiit how nice are 
water .lilies, and how little trouble 
they are to park in a popl. Fanciers 
ampng the listeners probably knew 
all abpiit it, and it is hatd tp believe 
pthers were really interested during 
the five minutes the stiaitements cpn- 
isumed. Bert. 



JANE EVANS 
Food Talkfl, Music 
.15 Mins.— Local' 

EMPIRE-COMMUNlTY MARKETS 
Dally, 7:45'. a.m. 
WCY, Schenectady 

A hew and rather different 'vpice 
cpmes thrpugh the Ipudspeaker pn 
this recently-inaugurated prpgram, 
which fall's Jntp the general classi 
ficatipn pf a mu.sical. clPck,- mpd 
erately budgeted. .Jane Evans, 'Hpur 
Hpstess,' speaks with something of 
a twang suggesting the South. She 
is a gpod talker, clear, friehdiy, svib' 
stantial and convincing. Her recipes 
sound authentic and her plugs for 
independent chain sppnsors* prod 
ucts to the point, but not over in- 
sistent. Intermixed is tiinieful music 
from the NBC thesaurus. 
' Five-ihiniite time checks. May be 

-questibh whether all housewivei> 
and mothers will have the necessary 
spare moments to jot down the 
recipes,, but the commercial message 
Should get:; across, "nevertheliess. On 
one salvo, male miker sighed off 
' with pric* tabbings. Jflco. 



JACK AND LORETTA CLEMENS 
Songs, Patter v 
15 Mins. 

KIRKlMEAN'S SOAP 
2:15 p.m., EDST. 
WABC-CBS, New York 

(N. W. Aifer) 
Brother-sister duo were heard for 
a time over WABC, N. Y., solely 
for sponsor, but are npw pn CBS 
putl^ts in Albany, Bpstpn, Buffalo. 
Cleveland, Syracuse, Rochester and 
Utica as welL 

In pi^esent series there's a in 
thread of story with pair playing, 
sweethearts, and announcer John 
Allen Wolf assisting in the situa- 
tions salidwiched in /between the 
songs aCcomped by Lbretta on jit- 
box and Jack on electric swing 
guitar.: Situations and dialog are in- 
formal, and npt. tiken top seripusly, 
and dd brpadeh Out the music and 
warbling, 

A vet radip team, the Clemenses 
bunch. Up nicely as ah early after^ 
nppner aimed at the haus frau. 
Cpmmercial cppy is chiefly cpm- 
ppsed pf vpcal .plugs and .references, 
made by the team, including a not 
too judicious theme number lush 
with lyrics lauding the rbduct. 

Bcrti 



IWIDNIGHT IN MAYFAIR' 

With Howard Fof c's Orchestra, Joan 

Martin and Tom McOnoirie 
Musio, Sonirs Comedy 
30 Mins. 
Sustainlnr - 
9:30 P,M., DST 
WJZ-NBC, New York 

This innocuous half hour of . music 
firom Montreal, with full credit to 
the Canadian Broadcasting Comttvis- 
sion, is hampered by blatant at^ 
tempts at English wit. It represents 
a new high in unfunny air clown- 
ing. Material is doubly uniialatable 
without benefit of - visual build-up,. 

That moss-covered gaig .about the 
'happiest days of my life* not only 
is flattened piit when first- iititrp- 
duced Pn this prpgram,-' but it -is 
dragged in again • later ^ Even the phe 
abOut a man playing , the role pf a 
wpman, relegated frpm burlesque 
usajge is manhandled. Typical pf 
hpw thin the funning becomes was 
the nifty about 'where is lago? He's 
gone to Chicago:' 

Howard Fogg's orchestra starts out 
fait enough but evinces poor spot- 
ting of the brass division and other 
sections in sieveral .latei: tunes. Atr 
tempt to go swing in 'Oh, Say Can I 
Swing' is a sad try. -Joah Martiii 
looms as a radio personality; 'If You 
Love Me' was her neatest contribu- 
tion.- Wear. 



Jack Fulton, on the CBS Wngley 
flve-a- Week shot, is bringing it to a 
high level with his plenty-of-appeal 
voice and wise choice of iiumbers 
for the night spot. Evidently-giving 
him more to do at the sacrifice of 
the poetry readings lends a better 
frame and a much lighter touch to 
prpgram. . ^ , . ' 

Franklyn MacGprmack, tpp, is 
dPing a better job; his ppetry read- 
ing dpne in a cleaner, man-tp-man 
style, where, beifpre, he had a ten- 
dency tP wave it 

'Wayne Kinr 'fprmUla' keeps click- 
ing fpr: Lady Esther facie ppwder. 
Riding CBS Mondays and NBC-red 
Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the 
lassies listen, are lulled by the glPWr 
ing waltzes, and by the time 'tady 
Esther' speaks her piece the lassies, 
in fairyland pf .wistfulness, are pre- 
sumably quite ready ^0 be Spld 
Chaw in* tpbaccy. 

Waltzes cphduce reveries, and in 
dreams face ptPwder is pieddled. Oh, 
Fudge! 

•Vic and Sade,' which Ivpry Flakes 
and NBC cpntinue . tP dub : 'radip's 
happiest family,' was caught: during 
one Pf its. spmewhat rputine .wprk- 
oiits Oh .last Friday (21) night. Minpr 
inter-family arguments, iind disciis- 
siphs seemed abput as usual, With 
the. small-tpwn chatter neVer man- 
aging to reach a ,^ particularly high 
level pf interest Or intelligence. -In 
its .drawling Way it seemed pretty 
drab stuff mpst pf the time. 

Vic was. explaining in labprious 
detail the purpose pf the 14 vplumes 
of his Lodge Library, which he had 
just purchased. As Exalted Big Dip- 
per of the Milky Way .chapter pf the 
order he was entitled tP certain dis- 
counts in price for the buoks, sub- 
ject to various fees and taxes, and 
Ms. inquisitive wife (Sade) was en- 
deavoring tp find out just hpw^ much 
the vplumes cpst. This went pn for 
about the entitre 15 minutes — ^With no 
definite answer to the question at 
the finish. . 

Announcer breaks all known rec- 
ords in unctiousnesa and pompous 
delivery. 

. Jimmy Fidler will have to be care- 
ful not to lower his stuff , down to the 
fan mag and p.a. blurb status. His 
touching tale Of hoW Ginger Rogers 
sought to ,have charges dropped 
against the youth who seht her a 
threatening letter, while interesting 
.enough, was accentuated in a style 
thiat made the actress seem rather 
too good to be true. And his later 
Tersonality* essay on the habits and 
manners of ' the Great Garbo Was a 
bit silly, and appeared to have been 
clipped from some imaginative sob- 
bie*3 press book. 

: This sort of stuff will lessen Pid- 
ler*3 standing with the less gullible 



VINCENt CONNOLLY 
'Women Make the News' 
15 Mlns.-^Loeal ',' ' ' ' 
GOLGATE-PALMOLIVE-PEET 
Daily, 5:15 p.m. DST 
WOR, New York 

(Benton Bowles) 
. Connolly is straight for Martha 
Deane on her sessions. Here he 
does , a solo dishihg-out, 

tJ.sing Ti-ansradiP dispatche.s, Con- 
nolly is not at prcsertt making full 
xir.e of his opportunity. He .seems to: 
think that women listeners are only 
interested in 'rpund-the-wprld fla.shes 
in which §kiried celebs? make news. 
Obviously the 'femme angle' in news 
is much brpader; he cpuld take ad- 
vantage of it. 

Product (Supersuds) gets a plug^ 
by the newscaster at a staH and 
stpp. Blurbs are nicely threaded in. 

Bert. 



*TOMAHAWK TRAIL' 

WHh Al Brown, Charles Flynn. Ea,rl 

George, Dolores iGillen 
Serial 

15 Mins.— Local 
KRAFtONE 
Daily, 5:45 p.m. 
WBBM, Cbicaco 

IJ. 'Wulter THpTnpson) 
Daily s.erial using Indian adventui'e. 
as the basic idea fpr child audience 
appeal. Editcr of 'Boy's Life' rhag; 
given a by-line as the writer; pos- 
sibly to forestall any blood-curdlitig 
cry from Parent-Teacher giroups on 
the use. of the theme. But as it is, 
no squawk should occur anyway, as 
excitement is mainly Ordinary stuff 
hypoed, and ither sadistic npi' 
wild. 

Stpry has a cpuple pf kids, getting 
mixed iip with Indians, and plot 
deals mostly with threats that never 
happen; sequences i which kids are 
afraid of kidnaping, of what might 
happen to them, and if such-and- 
such comes about, what will so-and- 
so do?: Considering that kid audi - 
ence.s are u.sed tp blppd and thunder 
that, makes hp excuse fpr. its realism, 
the effect is only fair. If taken 
along with a few studied chapters 
on Indian Ipre, child will probably 
appreciate it mpre. 

Prpductipn job, _ ehtailing use of 
plenty of spund; is excellent; and 
acting, is'. pkay. Much pf the appeal 
in the shpW is. the narratipn and 
announcing as dpne by Tpm Shirley. 
NO pver-doinii here; everything is 
right acioss the table, and that's the 
way the kids like It 



'OUTCAST OF POKER FLAT' 

With Jay Jostyn, Florence Malohe^ 
f*tlKy Allenby, Reid Brown, Eunice 
Howard, John. MeBride, Walter 
Preston ^ 

'Outcast of Pokei- Flat' 

3» Mins. 

Sustaininf 

Monday, 8 p.m.; DST. 
WJZ-NBC, New York 

Bret Harte's ramed yarn was 
adapted fpr air, and strikingly 
scpred with original music by Wells 
Hively. through whpse effprt the 
fadip form of 'Outcast' retains the 
integrity Harte ingrained in it^the 
recounting of a sentimental meller 
devoid of slpppiness.' Hively's 
music and sad little snngs added 
much tp the illusipn piece created Pn 
the_air. With a unifprmly gPod cast 
projecting the • dramatization, it 
turned out to be first-rate ether fare. 

Under less skilled handling the 
melpdramatics would have gotten 
out of hand and made the story seem 
a bit siliy^ As it was,, the simple 
piece about, the f ugitive party snow- 
bound high ■ the Sierras after 
scampering a 'wild western* town 
developed dignity and persuasive 
ness. Tragic heroics marking the 
'finale were especially forceful. 

Cast hailed f rOm legit; Jay 
Jostyn played the lead— the gam- 
bler raced out On a rail whp dragged 
his Companions dpwn tp his dppm. 
Subordinates were fine; 

Baritone Walter Preston sang the 
hauntingly and songs with under- 
standing. Narrator William Adams 
also gppd. But it was really the 
work of . composer and adapter 
Hively who made the program. 

Bert. 

GENE O'HAiRE 
Sports .Talks 
15 Mins.-^Local 
KENTUCKY C1.UB 
T.-T.-S.; 6:45 p.tn. 
WGY, Schenectady 

(Ruthrauff A Ryan) 

b'Haire succeeded Jim Healey. 
Capable spprtscaster but held back 
by an overlpad pf advertising and 
an apparent agency attempt tp make 
the pirogram so regional that the 
local baseball angle is underem- 
phasized. On first broadcast, almost 
five minutes' ' time was taken up 
With the plugging of Kentucky Club 
Tobacco, the new pocket pack, 
and concern's unlpn labor policy, 
(Continued on page 41) 



film fans. Incidentally, Fidler cavi 
'I Met Him in Paris' (Par) rZl 
Bells as the best picture of the week, 

'Hollywood Hotel' broadcast 
Friday (21) night, with Para mount's 
new sophisticated comedy, 'I Met 
Him iti Paris,' as the piece cle i-e.^;! st- 
ance, was ah entertaining CBS .stan; 
za. During the program's fiisl half 
the Orchid Room gang; with Jerry 
Coojper as singer-emcee, went . Ha- 
waiian in a big way. Dulcet .songs 
of. the islands were given out in 
solo, duet and ensemble fp'rih. with 
Cooper, Anne Jamispn, Frahces 
liangfprd and even Igor Gorih i;;k- 
ing part. 'A set of native iii.stru- 
niehtalists and. singers was also oh 
hand to lend authenticity to the pro- 
ceedings. 

Air version of 'I Met Him in Paris' 
used, the three leading players; of the 
film, Claudette Colbert, Melvyn 
Douglas and Robert Ypung, and was 
ah enjpyable interlude, even thpugh 
but abput hailf pf the stpry was . con- 
tained in the air adaptatipn. It is a 
gay yarn about an American gi rl in 
Paris whp 'elopes' to Switzerland 
with tWp men, and the dialog If spir- 
ited and amusing throughout. All 
three principals' perfprmed their 
chores with, finesse and, at the be- 
ginning, liOuella Parspn gave them a 
big buildup, which included .some 
anecdptes by thei players of experi- 
ences during the filming pf the Swiss 
scenes at Sun Valley, Idaho. 

Broadcast of film excerpt was 
shorter than usual, winding up sud- 
denly in the middle Of the story, for 
reaspns best knpwn .tp Paramount 
and the sponsor. Balance of the time 
was filled in with a song, pr twp; 

Maurice Evanat, wprking with Rudy 
Vallee last week pn the Rpyal Gela- 
tine jamboree, naturally reminded of 
the Eddie' Cantor-Leslie . Howard 
cbmbb. .This stunt is amusing and 
was well done. 

Vallee, coming back from Londpn 
with a British accent, and Briti.sh 
actor Evans not understanding him, 
was droll. 'Come again.' requested 
Evans in a borrowed Dixie expres-: 
Sinn that fit thel moment ideally. 

Essence pf isuch celebrity-joshing 
patter is its breezy spphistication of 
manner while sticking tp broad lines 
of cpmedy, sp that it dpesn t gp over 
leftfield fence. 



. Lucille Manners, Whp replaced 
Jessica Dragpnette back in February 
as the chief feminine balladist on 
Cities Service .program; is gping 
strong on this Friday 8 p.m. spot. 
Last week she opened her series of 
solos with an operatic, tune, follpwed 
with a duet CYbu Are Free'), 
teamed up with Robert Fitzsimmons, 
and then followed with 'My Little 
Nest of Heaven.' Tapered off with a 
Chinese ballad and 'Not So Long 
Ago.' 

Miss Mianners shpws a Weil-round- 
ed tpnaii quality plus finesise. She 
has rugged singing cpmpetitipn from 
Fitzsinunons. 



James J. Walker^ making one of 
his infrequent public, appearances, 
walked aWay with the speaking hon- 
ors on an NBC broadcast pf a lunch- 
eon at the Lotus Club, cpmmem- 
orating. the tenth anniversary pf 
Charles A. Lindbergh's flight from 
New York to. Paris. Same fluency of 
speech, crackling wit, good-natured 
humor, sure-lfire . human interest 
touches and general suavity, which 
made 'Jimmy' famous as an all-occa- 
sion talker were in evidence. 



Ruth Etting whammed over sev- 
eral songs in snappy fashion. Sunday 
(23). pn Lep Reismain's program for 
Schaefer beer, Spng stylist displayed 
her customary prpfessipnal eclat 
throughout. Hasn't been heard much 
lately on the air. 

. Reisman's music remai con.sist- 
entiy warm-blooded. His arranger 
ments are pips. Qualifies as .a high 
mark on the WOR progr ' sched- 
uled 



Dorothy LianiOur, the publicity . de- 
partment's big campaign of a cpuple 
of years ago, had; to go into films, 
and return to radio ciircuitoupiy in 
order to get ,on - an NBC nctwoi k 
commercial. NBC in New York tried 
hard,' photographed, the gal from til 
angles, and got her pasted u pn 
the lockers of station engi 
from Coast to' Coast. But she . 
had to go to Hollywood to gel 
the radio. 

. Now Chase Sc Sanborn has writ- 
ten her into the Sunday- night 
scripts. She's a singer and she's a 
straight 'Woman, and it looks: like 
ishe might get tO: be known for her 
voice as well as her appeai-ance i 
skin-tight Sati . Art conquers in the 
end. 



. Don Ameohe sings, m.c.*.<;. 
Iaughs .it up for Cha.se & Sanborn. 
Doing a surprise on the first, 
credible job on the second, but over- 
convulsive in the giggle depiutment. 
Excessive mirth from radio straights 
has been a fault of others betpre 
him. Build-up should stop short of 
incoherency. • > 

Script should also make it clear 
Whp's talking. Ameche brpke in niter 
another item ott the program v,i'n 
a personal allu.sipn to himself that 
was puzzling since without itltDt id- 
cation of the speaker. ' 



/ 



Wednesday, May 26; 1937 



IIADIO 



VARIETY 



31 



Regional Raps Phone Rates 



(Copy) 

Lancaster, 

-Mr. Paul A. Walker, Chairman . Telephone Division 
Federal Communications Commission 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Mr. Walker: 

We vish to call the attention of your department to wha t Wo con- 
. sider a.grbss injustice and aisk that you investigate the. matter at your 
earlie^it cbnyenience. 

, As of May i, the Diamond State Teiephone Company, BeU Tele- 
phone subsidiary in the State of Delaware, increased our rates for 
local remote broadcast lines approximately 243% for the first quarter- 
mile . and approximately 44 % lor each additional quarter-mile. 

Usin^ air-line measurement for mileage, which we heartUy favor, 
instead of the old method of route measurement, radio stations are 
supposed to get a reduction in cost, ^However, the joker now comes 
to light in Delaware, with a miniAlum charge to WDEL and WILM 
of $3 for. the first quarter^mile and $05 for each additional quarter- 
mile. Heretofore, the cost was $0.87y2 per quarter-iiiile irregardless 
of length of line with 'no minimum charge, 

Thi^ means networks, and larger stations using long line hauls are 
now receiving loTwer .rates by airTline measureiheht while hundreds 
of stations operating in cities where most of their broadcast lines are 
purely local loops, a few quarters of a mile in length;, ill suffer art 
increase in rate beyond all reasph 'when the new ratbs become 
generaL"' 

If some compiinies during the recent investigation submitted new 
schedules using bulk costs by air-line .measurements which claimed 
reduced line costs fo broadcasters, they may have been correct about 
some stations, although; it was niever beforie known to hundreds of 
smaller stations that, eventually they were expected to ipay the bill. 

We irust'your Commission wiU inquire into the new rate schedule- 
for broadcast Unes in. Delaware and notify us^ 

Very truly yoUrs, ■ 

Clair R. McCtUlough, 
Gen. Mgr. Mason-Dixon Radio Group, 



iwcHOFTnr 





ime. Inc., cut two 30-min. 
recordings specially, .prepared 
'March of Time* , ether dramatisations 
in French for pzoning over the Con- 
tinent — covering commercial and 
unfettered station in the Duchy pf 
Luxembourg. 

Pair of discs will be given a whirl 
for reaction. Time for the two trial 
half-hptirs was not bought, the sta- 
tion speculating along with the 
magazine company. 

Two trial recordings are slightly 
linked iip with the T^me* monthly 
newsreel. It is thought that if spon- 
sorship for the French recordings is 
not a/btained, ' the air rides will - be 
continued as a ballyhoo for the 
newsreel released in France. 

jsan. Masson, program director ^t 
' Radio Luxembourg, came over to the 
U. S. to assist in making the re- 
cordings. Andre Barucli, CBS mike- 
man, is the narrator for 'Le Marche 
du Temps.' 



GREEN'S MUSIC mo 
IN HEAT FOR PACKARD 



Hollywood, May 25. 
.Straight music, will predominate 
the iPackard show after Fred Astaire 
ahd Charles Butterwprth check out 
June 1, Johnny Green's band is re 
tained for the main billing, with so 
loing to be divided between, Turdy 
Wood and Buddy Blaire. 
Considered unlikely that Astaire 
ill . return to the air in the fair 
as he is planning a three months Va 
cation abroad at the conclusion of 
|iis picture, which will take him 
into deep summer. 



O'Keef e a Columnist 



Walter O'Keefe, who takes Fred 
Allen's place for Bristol-Myers next 
months has been contracted to do a 
daily, column of topical comment for 
Scripps-Howard. Roy Howard 
handled the deal for the chain. 

O'Keefe makes the third radio 
comic doing a daily syndiciate stint. 
Other two are Bob iSurns and Ken 
Murray^ the latter under the Mc- 
Naught banner* 



GWdwln With Fiidale 

Chicago, May 25. 
Leaving desk to WBBM-Columbia 
publicity department Friday (29), 
Albert R. Goodwin will take a week 
oft, and then join the Tom Fizdale 
offite. 

Is to' write magazine press stories 
from Chicago office, and later go to 
new Coast office to be opened by 
Fizdale. 



RENE DAVIES PROGRAM 



Marlen's Sister OutUnlne: $3,500 Pro- 
cram Frem . H*lly weod. 



Hollywood, May 25. 
Rene Davies, sister of . Marion, 
and Hearst social chatterer, is lining 
up a half hoiir radio program with 
Joe Cunningham and. Ernie Stanton 
for comics and Leon Leonardi's 
band. 

. Pictiire stars have offered to help 
her over . the flix-st programSr. but 
Misis Davies says she won't take 
anything she can't pay for* and 
since she caii't at present pay the 
stars what they are wprthi she plans 
to dig into the mi ie strata of tial^ 
ent where the price is not so high 
and the routines often good. 

Sponsor not set as yct^ with sev- 
eral in the field and $3,500 figuried 
as the price for the ensemble: fpr 
the half hour. Miss Davies plans to 
freeze several programs pn platters 
to be sure her formula is right be 
fore iselling or releasing. 



Coast C. L O. 



(Con tin ued from page 27) 




Labor Issue 



(Continued from page 27) 



is the 



Shepard's 
wrong kind. 

Shepard. it is. pointed out, has hot 
only acted .for his own statiphis but 
for stations which he does hpt own 
but merely hooks up on affiliation 
contracts, It all tallies into an ex- 
ample of editbrialtzing by a broad- 
caster which many believe is awk- 
\yard and di icUlt for radio; 

Alsoi the idea pf an advertising 
medium accepting, paid space and 
then asserting the right, oni ian ad- 
joining column, cast doubts on 
the sincerity ' and legality, pf the 
copy in.the ad is a situation -vyith-. 
out precedent; 

Shepard's viewpoint of 'fight 'eiri 
to the last drop' " condemned by. 
one network official as 'heroic but 
unrealistic;' while a prominent ad- 
vertising- agency partiier .declared: , 
'there's, a right way and a wrphg 
way to handle social pressure.' 

C.I.Q. cancelled the time before 
the skedded broadcast Sdiiday (23) 
on which John L. Lewis and Sidney 
Hillmah sppke. ' opening blast to 
organize textile workers of New 
England. C.I.O. dropped Shepard 
stations- 'from its hopkup and aired 
pver a special, lihk that ernbrace'd 
WPRO, Providence; WSPR, Spring- 
field, Mass.; WCOP, Boston; WLLH, 
Lpwell, and WQRC:i, Worcester. 
Yankee stations that had been set 
were WAAB, Boston; WSAR, Fall 
River; WRDO, Augusta, Me., and 
and WNBX. Springfield, Vt. 

~ Lewis Attitude 

Lewis' stand was that newspapers 
do not announce his speeches as be- 
ing in discord . with their editorial 
policies when printing them, and 
consequently the C.I.O. was. not go- 
ing to tolerate repudiation directly 
prior to being ozoned. C.I.O. chief 
also added, 'the radio, companies do 
not' yet own the air, and it- is this 
sort of thing which will result in 
legislation, if thc^y^try it.' 

Though there were some rumbles 
that: t|ie C.I.O. planned to file formial 
charges against Shepard with the 
FCC, it looks now as ,if :the matter 
will be buried: 

Meanwhile the multilateral iunion 
cohtihues planning use pf radio in 
future organising. 



made considerable progress Jri the 
broadcasting industry. 

After a general meeting of all 
employes, at which vice-prexy Dpn 
E. Gilman explained their, rights 
imder the Wagner ]l.abor Act and as- 
sured them that none Would lose 
jobs, regardless of what union. affilia- 
tions any individual or group should 
make, the NBC'ites voted, to form 
their own protective associatiPn, 
naming Ribbe chairman of a com- 
mittee which includes representa- 
tives of all .departments; On the 
committee are Glenn Ticer. sales; 
Lbuise Landis, press; Jolin Wagner, 
accounting; Grant Pollpck,. announc-^ 
ei-s; Dorothy Brpwri, program; Ward 
Byron, producers; Jane Burns, hos- 
tesses. A charter was drafted Fri- 
day night and, will be voted upon by 
the. .entire membership some time 
this week. Board .of mediatprs, 
limited to five meinberis, has been 
prpppsed to handle dealings With the 
employers in place of the larger 
committee- previously named. 

Hollywood employes of NBC are 
already taking steps to i^orm a simi- 
lar organization, it is expected 
that New York an icago workers 
may fpllow suit. 

Other Ipcal radio emplpyeS.so far 
have taken no steps toward organ- 
izing but are watching the progress 
of the NBC activities. KFRCi, the 
Don Lee-Mutual, station here, last 
week became the first Pacific Coast 
transmitter to put its technical ern- 
.ployes oh a 4b-hPur webk. Five-year 
pact was signed by Lewis Allfen 
Weiss, general manager; of the Dpn 
Lee Broadcasting System. Weiss 
came north from his Los AiigeleS 
headquarters to make the deal fol- 
lowing word that the technicians had 
been approached by labor organ- 
izers. 

Announcements of a mass meeting 
of white collar workers were dis- 
tributed at KSFO, the! Ipcal Colum- 
bia outlet, last week by representa- 
tives of the Committee for Indus- 
trial-Organization. 



Washington, May 25. 

Feud between the. Committee for 
Industrial C>rganizatipn and manage- 
ment pf the Yankee network over 
freedom - of speech will not be 
stopped' by. the, Federal Communica- 
tions Cdifimission. Reluctant -to. 
make predictions until the matter is 
formally before them, Broadcast 
Division members indicated Monday 
(24) they will pigeon-hole the antici- 
pated protest on the grbi^nd of no 
jurisdiction. 

Speaking unofficially and in- 
formally, Judge Eugehe O. Sykes. 
broadcast branch chairman, and 
Governor Norman S. Case both ex- 
pressed doubt there is any reaspn 
for the F.G.C^ to intervene. On the 
basis of second-hand, information 
about the nature of the . alleged 
Yankee offense, they could not see 
any infraction of law or rules. Both 
remarked the anti-censorship clauses 
of the Communications Act- limit 
their authority. 



ridgeport> May 25, 
affirmed, right of WICC to 



'^Excltisive' Ebast No Longer Important to V/eh^ 
Welcomes Split Appropriations of Toppers— i^But 
Fears CBS Sales Promptioh Aggression 



Sweet Memories 



ia cornic who pays .his. ex- 
wife a percentage of his income 
as alimony turned down a pic- 
tui*e ofTer pf $75,0()0 after his 
.manager sho-wied him'that if he 
did take Holly^vood assignment 
he would/ net less thah he docs 
from his hiike income ialone. 

As the manager had it 
figured, the coniiic, after giving 
the former frau her share, 
would have to bear the Cali- 
fornia and: tiv S. Government 
levies by himself, with the re- 
sult that not only would the en- 
tire $75,000 be gone but there 
would be a further clip on his 
radio income io meet the added 
federal* surtaxes as. applied to 
his combined incomie. 

ife . refuses to give up 
any portibn of her split, of the 
pictuire proceeds for (California 
taxes. 



Look Magazine Helps Dyer 
Compile 'Sensational'Kews 

Chicago, May 25. 
Dyer spotting a MVf type 
of program on his WCBD station 
here, starting this week. Tagged 
'Cabbages and Kings,' it will present 
sensational facts sAiout personalities 
in the news. 

Prograni. is compiled in conjunction 
With Look, picture mag, but is 
not sponsored by it. Ed Roberts 
and Ed Allen handling the show. 



sell time to city garbage strikers 
after Mayor Jasper McLevy had 
been donated time to define admini- 
stration stand. 

C.I.O. protested after Joseph Lopez, 
station supervisor, acted Under 
orders of John Shepard Yankee 
headquarters in Boston. Latter in- 
structed Lopez not to let strikers 
buy spot, saying that C.I.O; favors 
'illegal' sitdowns. 

Bridgeport Herald queried F-CC, 
and T. J. Slowie, secretary, an- 
swered that a 'broadcast station is 
hot under a public utility obligation 
to accept all program material of- 
fered, and thie commission has no 
authority to direct a station to ac- 
cept any specific program.' Slowie 
noted exception in case of legally 
qualified candidates for public of- 
fice. 



Execs of station WHN and repre- 
sentatives of the American Radio 
Telegraphists and the International 
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- 
ployees will go before an examiner 
of . the National Labor Relations 
Board sometime next w*®'^ *<* thrash 
out the labor p>roblein8 of station's 
technicians, and settle the question 
of workers' union affiliation, ARTA 
is a CIO member while lA'IJSE, now 
seeking control of the men who are 
alreaidy 10()% signed with the former, 
wants to' moye in on thie grounds 
that it represents a larger group of 
Lbew employees thrpugh its theatre 
connections. 




McCann-Erickson Checks Giggles Vs. Sur- 
vey; Results Called Accuriate 



Hollywood, May 25. 

McCanh-Erickson agency, execs 
here have it all doped out how mahy 
laughs pile up on a Twin Star broad- 
cast, which has Helen Brpdeirick and 
Victor Moore in the comedy spot. 
Two members of th0 firm sit in their 
individual homes and check them off 
as they issue thrpugh their sets. 

Laughs are catalogued in two 
brackets-^just plain ones and hearty 
or belly laughs. When the final 
count is msjde it represents a pool- 
ing of all m.anher of chuckling. 

Pointing out its accuracy. Jack 
Hasty, producer of the National Bis 



. Always! leery of the .precarious 
spot: it's in when loaded tip with too. 
much business from a single source, 
RBC, it is understood^ Would like to 
wprli out' an; occasional sharing ar- 
ran.?cment with CBS but it hesitates 
to mcilie ah approach because of Cp- 
lumbia's promotional habits." NBC 
is afraid that if it does push soine 
pai't of a multiple million-dollar ac- 
count CBS' way the latter will take 
the incident as a cue for. the release 
of an elaborate brochure heralding 
the claim that here's another adverr 
tissr that has seen the light. 

With NBC the jittery feeling 
abPut having top many eggs in one 
basket develops every time ah ac^ 
count concentrates its many pro- 
grams that network. Though 
they jire gratified by the prestige 
that such expansion suggests, NBC!s 
sales heads: are ever mindful of what' 
a sock it would bie to the company's 
billings If the account were suddenly 
to diedde to retrench by pulling off 
some, if hot all, the programs. One 
blow of this , sort that NBC htisn't 
forgotten was the one it got when 
Colgate-Palmolive-Peet with a sin- 
gle sweep .turned over all its busi- 
ness to Columbia, as the result of 
a comparatively nriinpr 

FAG: D«inlniatl6n 
NBC sales execs have made no 
secret of the fact that they won't 
mind seeing some, of the Procter 8e 
Gamble business going to Columbia. 
This accounts' billing during 1937 
is expected to go over the $4,000,000 
marl^ although any set of circum- 
stances might suddenly throw the 
switch the other way. Contirary to 
impressions held by the trade, it 
is now okay with NBC when siich 
combines as General Fopds and 
General Motors divide their br6ad-> 
casting business' between itself and 
Columibia. "It might not be so 
pleased if one of these accounts: 
passed lip NBC.: altogether, but as 
long as it's allotted the .major share 
everything would be regarded as 
perfectly balanced. 

There was a time that NBC's pro- 
motion department made a periodic 
habit of putting out statistics show- 
ing the number of accounts that 
have used this network exclusively, 
as compared to the Columbia lineup. 
Conditions have made that sales 
angle an obsolete one, with NBC 
now figuring that a wide variety of 
sponsors, with expiration dates of 
contracts extending over wide inter- 
vals, makes for the healthier state 
of affairs in the long run. 



LnELt WILL STRETCH 
'VALENTINE' 16 WKS. 



ert Lytell will ^o 'Jimmy Valen- 
tine' as a 16- week serial for Edge- 
worth Tobacco starting on, or about 
June i. Series will be recordjiid' in 
15- inute episodes for thrice weekly 
airing. Contract carries usiaal 
tjons. . 

'Valenti was a play, by the late 
Paul Armstrong. .Lytell whb di it 
as a silent picture for Metro wjU 
carry the radio version beyond the 
play's conclusion. 

Agqncy Blackett, Sanriple 8c 
Hummcrt! 



cuiter, has polled the figures against 
thojse issiiied by Cooperative Analysis { 
of Broadcasting. In a month, where 
the laugh count dinijhished the 
G.A.B, figure dropped commensuv- 
atcly. It -worked the other way 
around, tpp. 

Highest number of laughs checked 
on one broadcast Was 107. Low was 
hit at 35. Mean average is arpiind 60. 

Hasty e^^plained that the laughs 
were clocked on the checker's own 
reaction and does not represent that 
of the audience. He pointed out 
that the latter would b? misleading 
•as laughs engendered by visual an- 
tics are not enjoyed by dialers. 



Stanley Takes Summer 
Spolas Cantor's 'Nephew* 

Holly wood, May 25.,, 
Eddie Stanley holds down the 
cprnedy spot on the. Texaco summer 
sho\v in the absence of Eddie Cantor, 
who will devote most of his vacay 
lion to picture making' He draws, 
the tag of Giantpr's nephew. 

Solosits on; the show will be Igor 
Gorini Ella Logan and possibly 
Pinky Tomlin. Jacques Renard's 
oi:k sticks through the summer as 
do Jimnriy Waltingtpn and Helen 
Troy. 



. WJBD, 'Tuscalopsa, has new pro- 
gram directress, Wilhelmina Quarles, 
and chief mikem'an, Gerald Little. 



82 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wedneedaj, May 26, 19.17 



Use Radio Advertising in Organizing 





Associated Wool. Industri has 
iiiken to the air to sell sheep r nch- 
ers in the Rocky Mountain sector on 
the ideh of contributing funds for 
the promotion of their product. It 
is the first time that broadcasting has 
been used for a purpose of this sort. 
Minute announcements ich the 
AWI has. started to place oh western 
stations through Lambert & Feaslcy 
seek to tell the ranchers why they 
should not only ally themselves with 
Ihe campaign but consent to a pro- 
posed method of getting their finan- 
cial support. 

What the AWI would like to have 
the tanchers let do is impose a 
lOc, fee oh every bag of wool 
•which they sell during the coin ing 
shearing season; - Buyer of the. wool 
would do the deducting and relay 
the money direct to the association. 
This arrangement w6uld be similar 
to the checkoff system which pre- 
vails between certai industrial ein- 
ployiers and labor unions. 

AWI flgures on using between- 12 
nd 15 stations in the sheep ranch 
area. 



Tom SabiVs Service 



TKonias G. in, one-time New 
England sales manager for. l^BC and 
recently radi the 
Riepublican Party during last au- 
tumn's Presidential campaigni ha,<? 
formed an ether advertising and con- 
.sultaht, service. 

Idea is to lend aid to agencies and 
advertisers in plotting .programs and 
buying time. 



j^freiu Zimbalist and Jack Heller, 
felloW guestees for BenBernie, June 
i. Set by Frere Herman. 



*Epit of America' Cuif o to 
WPA Offered to Networks 

WPA radio project is proposition- 
ing CBS and NBC for time to air 
a series dramatized from James Tru- 
slow Adams' ic of Aniierica,' his- 
torical tome. 

Author gave the government . his 
piece for air use free, with the stipu- 
lations that he must o.k. scripts pre- 
pared, by WPA writers, aind that 
'Erics' would get no less than major 
netwdrk spreading. 

F'iece has been air-conditioned and 
is now being lamped by Adams fdr 
his b.k. 



Police Cards to Radio 



Philadelphi , May 25, 
Mayor has granted riadio men 
here police cards similar to 
those used by news reporters 
for passing police and fire Ijnes. 
Issuance, will be carefully re- 
stricted to about 50 announcers 
and engineers who imiay need 
cards on as.signment. 
IdienlificaUon pieces drawn by 
immy Allen, program director 
of WIP. 



Eiiiil Brisacher, 'Frisco, 
Sets 13 Station Campaign 

San Francisco, May 25. 
sing stations from to 
coast, Garitner & Mattern Co. of San. 
Francisco- is .employing radio for the 
first time to conduct a two-week test 
campai on behalf of Wickies 
(swi ing trUnks); Firm is? spot- 
ting announcements just before or 
after, boys' programs, ihg the 
blurbs with current magazine , and 
nevy'spaper ads. 

Stations signed through Emil Bri- 
sacher & Staff, San Francisco, for 
the campaign are .KFRC,. San Fran- 
cisco; KNX, Hollywood; WFAA, Dal- 
las; WWL, N(Bw Orleans; KSD, t. 
Louis; WJR, Detroit; WSB, Atlanta; 
WGN, Chicago; WGAR, Cleveland; 
WNAC, Boston;. WCAE, Pittsburgh; 
WOR, New York, and WCAU, Phila- 
delphia. 




A Mountain Red 
Network Station 
programmed and 
represented by 
NBC 



Sold 65% more Fords 
using KOA". . /'We've had outstanding 
success with items advertised on KOA" 
'* We plan to cotitiriue on KOA for 
many years to come/* These are the 
things advertisers say! KOA^ covers a 
potential market of 275,500 families. In 
programs and power KOA is TOPS! 



Canada Building Two %000-Watt 
Stations for U-Hour Operation 



-4- 



Joy Heads KHJ Programs 

Xos Angeles, May 25. 

Jack Joy, for seven years produc- 
tion manager and musical director 
at KFWB, bias been named program 
director at KHJ. tte mioves into the 
spot vacated two months a.go by the 
resignation 6t Don Bernard, now 
freelancing In productiori. 

Prior to his radio affiliation, Joy 
was a stagie producer and creaited 
many tableaux and prologs oil the 
coast. While at KFWB he is credited 
with building the first radio shows 
around film names. 

Charles Bulptti, ,, who, has been 
pinch hitting ' prpducti con- 
tinues ,as supervisor' of studio activi- 
ti 



WDAS Opens Up Negro 
Market for Itself 



Philadelphi , May 25. 
WDAS, Philadelphia, has devel- 
oped into the first local outlet mak- 
ing a direct appeal to colored listen- 
ers. Station's prez, A. W. Danneri- 
baum, cottoned to the policy of de- 
voting, hours of special entertain- 
ment to this race, after a 1930 U. S. 
Census report revealied to him that 
225,000 of Philly's 2,000,000 popula- 
tion are colored.- 

Although Dannenbaum soon found 
that there was little chance of get- 
ting any business from colored mer- 
chants ' themselves, he learned that 
there were a large number of white 
merchants who were anxious to' 
get to the colored listener's ear. 
Dannenbaum's preliminary inquiry 
also disclosed that there is an in> 
tense loyalty among the race and 
that they will patronize advertisers 
who give them the programs they 
want. 

Station Js how carrying four shows 
aimed at this, trade, three of them 
sponsored. Liberal Store, credit 
clothiers, has an hour's prograrn 
Sunday afternoon and is directed at 
a higher cultural level, with colored 
chorusies,.. soloists and civic speakers. 
Other underwriter of colored shows 
on the stations is Mpskin Credit 
Clothiers, a daily half hour of waxed 
band music and news about the race. 
Station picks up .Negro bahdis from 
local niteries between 11^ p.m. and 
midnight, using colored announcers. 



MEXICO'S SCRIPT HUNT 



Prizes from fSS to $7.25 Offiered lor 
Radio Material 

Mexico City, May 25. 

Eager to put Mexico oh the map 
as. a broadcaster, the National Revo- 
lutionary Party, the incumbent poli- 
ticians,' is' staging a contest to bring 
forth good scripts. Contest closes 
July 15. Foreign as well as native 
authors resident in Mexico may sub- 
mit and there are no restrictions on 
subject matter. Sole pvoviso is that 
rnaterial be in good taste and not 
offend manners, pr religious beliefs. 

Scripts must be gauged, to a min- 
imum of 15 minutes and a maxinrtum 
of 45. minutes time. Six cash 
prizes, scaled from $56 to ,$7.25, are 
offered. 



Barry Bingham Honored 



, May 25. 

Barry Bingham, youthfui ublish- 
er of Courier-Jourhal & Tinies, 
and owner of radio station WHAS, 
has been awarded gold medal for 
outstanding public service by Junior 
Chamber of Commerce. Presentation 
was originally scheduled during 
January, but floor crisis caused post- 
ponement until May 19: 

Bingham's father is Robert W. 
Bingham, U. S. ambas.'jador to Great 
Britain. 



Fredericka Millet Joins 
Fergason & Aston in N.Y. 

Fredericka Millet joins Fergason 
& Aston, station reps, next week. 
She will act. as executive assistant to 
Pete Wasser; of the New York office. 

Miss Millet was Bob Berger's ' as- 
sistant at National Democratic head- 
quarters during campaign. New 
move puts her on other side of the 
time-buying fence. 



Montreal, May 25; 
' Government-cbjritroUed Canadian 
Broadcasting Corp, will start the 
erection of two 50,b00-watt statioii.s, 
one in Montreal and the other in To- 
ronto, June 1; Additional highrpow-., 
«red stations are anticipated ' 
M.aritimes and in the Rockies, 
if carried out, ill give the Dominion 
its first cross-country link, of 50- 
kilowatters. 

Alisp propose^ by .the CfiC is. the 
construction of a high-powered short- 
wave station, which will provide .for 
the transmitting of Canadian pro- 
grams to Europe. Large increase of 
nationjal program 'exchanges with the 
United Kingdom is planned; 

It is expected that the two new 
50,0p0-watt stations will be in oper- 
ation by .Oct. 1, with each scheduled 
to go lis hours daily. Each station 
will be equipped with a 600-foot 
radiating tower,' 

Bl-Llngual 

New stations will not in any way 
displace GRCM, Montreal, arid CRCT, 
Toronto, with the latter continuing 
to operate under present policies. 'To 
meet the complaints, of French-Gan- 
adiah listeners that ihey were being 
slighted on Friench language pro- 
grams it is planned to have a divi- 
sion of French and English prograins 
between the two new outlets so that 
there will be programs in both lan- 
guages on the air simultaneously. 

One of the ' chief drawbacks to 
Canadian broadcasting, it was point- 
ed out, has beeii that 40% of the 
total revenue derived from set licens- 
ing, has been consumed by leased 
wire charges, the two Trans-Canada 
railway systems and the. telephone 
monopoly being held responsible for 
this situation. New agreements are 
now being negotiated between the 
government, and the monopoly-hold- 
ers whereby this disprbpiprtionate 
operating cost will be reduced, par- 
ticularly in .view of the CBC's inten- 
tion to be on the air 16 hours daily. 

With regard td censorship, the only 
positive ban will be anything sug- 
gestive of an attack on race or 
religion, but it will be the policy of 
the CBC to encourage a fair repre- 
sentation of- controversial questions; 
There ^yill be a complete ban on 
birth control propaganda, nor will 
politicians be permitted tp make per- 
sonal attacks on opiponents. r 



PARENTS MAC INVITED 
TO ADVERTISE ON CUFF 

Parent's magazine has come into 
a self-promotional air program- gratis 
quite without any suggestion or idea 
for stiint from the publication. WOR 
asked mag if it would tie-iri for a 
weekly (Tuesdays, noon) quarter- 
hour in which perplexities of par- 
ents raising children would be 
threshed out. All mag had to do was 
supply the expert opinion on queries 
submitted by public: in return got 
credit fore, aft and during the pro- 
grams. 

Five other broadcasters linked on 
the Mutual net heard of; program 
and asked it be shipped 'em, they 
also willing to cuffo the time. So 
now WAAB, Boston; KWK, t. 
Louis; CKLW,. Windsor -Detrtit; 
KHJ, Los Angeles, and KBIX, 
Muskogee, Okla., have, joined in giv^ 
ing the publication a scot-free com- 
mercial blurbing. 



WMBG STAYS AS IS 



Fui-gason & Aston Retains 

Sales Representation 



WMBG, Richmond, remai 
Furgason & Aston list,^ Station 
talking a shift of national sales rep- 
resentation to John - Blaiir & Co. 

After Bob Mitchell.. "WMBG's com- 
niercial mgr., got home from New 
York last week it was decided to let 
the relationshi with F & A slay 
as is. 



Arnoux WRTD Boss, Too 

Norfolk, Va.; May 25; 
Campbell Arnoux, general irigr of 
WTAR, takes similar title for 
WR'TD, Richmond, with Ovelton 
Maxey, . sales nigr of KBTM, Dan- 
ville, as resident manager of the 
new station. Diavid Bain, of WTAL. 
Tallahassee, Fla.', forms technical 
staff. 

Opemng of station set for June 27. 
transmitter is to be on Belle Island. 
James River.. Pent house studi 
Richmond city. 



Wednesdayt May fd^ J03T 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



33 



CHI WAX WORKS FIGHT BACK 



N. Y. Local on Transcnptions 

Executive board of Local 802 meets this afternoon (Wednesday) to- 
dray up a resolution on the transcription issue for introduction at 
the conve;ntioh of the American Federation of Musicians at Louis- 
yille next months Indications are that the local will declare itself as 
favoring the imposition of drastic regulations on the transcription ! 
dustry, affecting both commercial and sustaining discs. 

One faction on the Local 802 board is strongly disposed toward 
the adoption on a national scale of the Chicago local rule which 
restricts the broadcasting of Chicago-made commercial transcriptions 
to those spots where the local union has decided whether to let the 
disc go through as is of compel the station to engage a standby man 
for every miisician used in the transcription. Another coterie on 
the board would prefer to raise the Scale on transcription recording 
so high that it would be cheaper for the commercial to hire local 
iiiusicians. 

Another resolution which the board is slated to pass on is that 
conceirning the adoption by: the convention of a national scale for 
network broadcasts regardless of the program's ori inating source. 



KIDS DUCK SCHOOL. 
SO NBC FIXES THAT 

San Francisco, May 
To obviate further squawks from 
the IfKai Bureau of Permits because 
ot irregular school attendance by 
some 15 juve actors ort tHe NBC 
staff, rclhearsal time of the S & W 
Junior News • oh Wednesdays and 
Fridays is being changed this week 
from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. PST. 

According to the complaint made 
to NBC by the Bureau, boys and 
girls used on these programs, which 
■are produced by the Botsford, Con- 
stantine & Gardner agency; fre- 
quently took the afternoon off when- 
ever they Were called for a broad- 
cast Rather than risk the disap- 
proval of school authorities or be- 
come involved in red tape by seek- 
ing special, permits for these young- 
sters to. cut classes, NBC execs ar- 



PAGING EDGAR DUDLEY 



KDB. Santa Bairbara, Wi^nts .Station? 
to Report His Whereabouts 



Santa Barbara. May 25. 

Don Hastings, manager of KDB, 
wants to hear from ahy stations con- 
tacted by Edgar Dudley. Latter has 
a book entitled 'Racket-Ridden 
America' and seieks to make tie-ups 
through local stations. 

Dudley sells his book to organiza- 
tions. 



(Dudley was once a vaude age^nt- 
producer around Chicago. Was con- 
nected with prohibition enforcement 
thereafter. His present whereabouts 
or the exact nature of his present 
enterprise is hot known.) 



ranged with BC & G to set rehear- 
sals. 45 minutes later. 

Salaries of the juves range up to 
$75 a week for the two S & W and 
other network dramatic shows. 




TOSS DOT 




Disc Houses Seek to Destroy 
Petrillo's Propaganda Ad- 
vantage of 'I Increased 
Employment' Slogan at 
A. F. of M. Convention 



AVOIDANCE 



icago, May 25. 
Chicago recorders and recoi-ding 
studios have embarked on a policy of 
what amounts to a tacit boycott oif 
the Chicago Federation of Musicians. 
This general boycott follows the 
campaign of . musiciians union presi- 
dent .James C. Petrillo against re- 
cordings. 

Employment of members of Chi- 
cago musicians union has been cur- 
tailed by the recorders in every way. 
possible. Not only are they trying to 
strip the miisicians from shdws now 
current, but are even sidestepping 
platterizing .contracts which call for 
the. use of uni ized music-makers. 
They' have in several, instances 
turned down such coiitracts from 
important advertisers, rather than 
be forced into a position where they 
would have have to go to the Chi- 
cago Federation of Musi ians :to ob- 
tain permission to make these rec- 
ords. 

Behind this boycott of musicians 
is the decision of the local recording 
offices to keep as much ammunition 
(Continued on page -51 ) 



Atlantic Ref. Football Budget for 
1937 Expected to Exceed 




Dummy Too Fresh 



Desjpite the avalanche of 
printed and palavered comment 
on Edgar Bergen's ventrllp- 
quistic act on the air, there are 
evidently many who still be- 
lieve 'Chat-lie MacCarthy' is ac-< 
tually a living 12-year-young 
boy. 

Hinterland stations carrying 
Bergen on the new Chase & 
Sanborn Sunday night spread 
over NBC-red found trickle of 
complaints flowing in from be- 
nighted dialers that 'MacCar- 
thy' was talking too fresh for so 
young a boy to the femmes on 
program. 

On the recent (23) program 
an announcement distinctly 
drove home fact, that Bergen 
does both voices. 



KMA, Shenandoah Seiids 
18-Person Unit on Tour 

Shenandoah, la., May 25. 

KMA's Barn Dance, with the 
troupe numbering 18 persons, has 
been routed for • personal appear- 
ance tour under the direction of 
Howard Chamberlain, who was for- 
merly with WLS' (Chicago) Na;- 
tional Barn Dance. KMA contingent 
will play several spots under Amer- 
ican Legion sponsorship' and broad- 
cast direct from the stages of its Va- 
rious stands. 

Where it can be arranged the' 
leading citizens of the town will be 
invited to put on a 15 to' 30-minute 
boosters' program. 



Atlantic irig, which jast year 
topped all sponsors of football, will 
hurdle its own record this autumn._^^ 
In '36 it is estimated fuel firm sperti^^ 
around $260,000 on time and fees 
to the colleges for broadcast rights 
to the 110 games bankrolled. Ac- 
Cording to present plans Atlantic 
will, swarm way over the .$300,000 
figure coming autumn. 

Last sea.son, sponsor started con- 
tacting rather late, and since field 
was limited to the Atlantic seaboard 
where the product i.-^ peddled, col- 
leges lined up were Pitt, Penn, Tem- 
ple, Franklin & Marshall, U, of Va., 
Duke, Qeorgia, yale* Cornell, West- 
ern Maryland; Maryland, Dartmouth, 
Syracuse,' Holy Cross, Delaware and 
Lafayette. 

Earlier Ajpproach 

This year advances are going to be 
made much earlier,' and it is thought 
likely that a flock of southern in.sti- 
tutiuns, which have heretofore coldly 
snubbed spohsbred and, in nirfny'*.in'- 
stances sustaining, grid broadcasts, 
will be brought to heel. 

Pro outfits' owners have. put. feel- 
ers out to the . N» W. Ayer agency, 
which spots Atlantic's biz, figuring 
account might be interested in their 
Sunday contests. Sponsor, however, 
has notified agency that it iht^ndi 
to bankroll only' the college tilts. 



Lauder Spurns Coin 



Hollywood, May 25. 

Harry Lauder, declined guest shot 
on Eddie Catitor program for Texaco. 

Scot woii'i work, oh Sundays for 
>eligious reasons. 



More Philadelphians 
Listen To This Station 
Than To Any Othei , . . 
local 01 Otheiwise 



Mi 



There's a Reason"' 



SO,pOO WATTS 



*Thank You, Grape Note I 



WCilll 

BOBERT A' STREET, Commercial Manager 



PHILADELPHIA 



/ 



34 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wedilefldaj, May 26, I937 



ONE ASCAP FACTION WANTS TO COMPEL 
NEBR. STATIONS TO UCENSE DIREaiY 



Would Force Broadcasters to Deal with Indiyidual 
Copyright Owners — - Likely, However, ASCAP 
Will Take Defense to Federal Courts 



Board of directors of the Amer- 
ican Society of Composers, Authors 
and Publishers is considering a pro- 
posal to suspend licensing operations 
immediately in Nebiraska and to in- 
form the Nebraska broadcasters that 
they will have to deal directly with 
the individual copyright owners. 
Although, the Society doesn't take 
over $20,000 a year oqt of Nebraska, 
those favoring this bit of strategy 
hold that the drastic withdrawal of 
wholesale rights from music, users in 
that state, would serve to .impress 
ASCAP opposition, throughout the 
country with the impracticability 
and costlipess of their efforts. A 
statute barring ASCAP from func- 
tioning in Nebraska became effective 
two weeks ago. 

Under the procedure advocated on 
the ASCAP board, the society would 
first turn back the power of licensing 
to each of its members as far as that 
power affects Nebraska, and then 



notify NBC and CBS of the organi- 
zation's action. Next step would be, 
to . advise Nebraska broadcasters that 
they would have to deal, with agents 
or trustees as appointed by each 
publisher, ith the agent of .each 
publisher instructed to install a sys- 
tem for checking on violations of the 
copyright law. Each broadcaster 
would be free to bargain with the 
individual publisher's agent. If the 
publisher's are so inclined there is 
nothing, in the Nebraska law to pre- 
vent them from appointing the same 
agent and trustee and thereby mak- 
ing him a central licensing source. 

A Nuisance 

With the networks holding licenses 
for all thesfe publishers' works things 
might 'soon become complicated for 
the Nebraska broadcasters. A net- 
Work commercial might contain the 
copyrigh^.^ of six publishing inem- 
bers of ASCAP and unless the Ne- 
braska affiliate has obtained the like 



rights from all Such sources that 
particular program could not be 
cleared over the Nebraska station 
without the latter violating the fed- 
eral cpp"right law. 

Despite the numerous arguments 
that have been advanced in favor 
of this strategy, predominant opin- 
ion on the ASCAP board is for fight- 
ling the. anti- ASCAP pieces of state 
liegislation in the federal courts and 
for having each local act vacated by 
decision of such tribunals. 



Hollywood Radio Script 
Writers Due in New York 

Pete Peterson and Jack Van Nos- 
trum, who did a goodly part of the 
writi on the Packard show, are 
due in New York from Hollywood 
next week to discuss an alignment 
with Walter O'Keefe for the Bristol- 
Myers show on NBC Wednesday 
nights. 

O'Kefefe had figured on meetirtg 
them on the westcoast, but the 
change in originating point for a 
guest appearance had forced a re- 
vision of his traiveling plans. 



OVER THE COUNTER 



49,000 FOOD STORES 




Fc 



OOD manufacturers can count on 
that many retail outlets in WTAM's 
direa^the enf're Cleveland Chamber 
of Commerce retail trading area 
which includes 42 major markets in 
Northern Ohio and Western Pennr 
sylvonia. This intensive coverage ex- 
plai why distributors of goods of 
all kinds insist onAAH'AM when broad- 
cast advertising is being scheduled. 

A fiastc Red Network Sfati 
programmed and represented by NBC 




Inside Stuff-Radio 



With some 500 in attendance, the RCA-Victor dealers* two-day conven. 
tion held at the DraHe last week did some heavy cheering at the talkthev 
received from David Sarnoff, and an announcement that advertising bud* 
gets were to be increased for the coming, season. 

Appropriation ■ icHT disc records, j-ecordiiig attachments, and combo 
phonograph-^sidiog will be upped about 26;%, business in that line showing 
life; qnd, for the .first time in three years, -RCA is going on a national 
newspaper ad campaign on its own. During past seasons has done only 
co-operative advertising with dealers, 

New campaign will usie some 200 newspapers, plus fortni 
in Saturday Evening Posfi and every third, week in Cblliier's. 

Line-up of speakers beside Dayid Sarnoff heard by the convention were 
mostly executives,fr6m Camde;n office, and included H. G. Bonifig, general 
sales manag|er; D. C. Richardson,^ record sales; Thpnias P. Joyce, advertis- 
ing rhanager; Vance Woodcbx, sales manager; Johti Vassos, coristriuction 
designer;. L. H. Sulliyan, radio sales manager; E. Wallerstein,' in charge of 
record sales, and E. C- Cahill, manager service division. 



Harry R. Luce, of Time and Life mags, and. William S. Paley of CBS 
were directed Friday .(21) to appear in K. Y. Supreme Court for exam- 
ination before trial of the $100,000 libel siiit brought by Dr. Harold M. 
Hays over a -March of Time' broadcast of Feb. "4. 

Dr. Hays avers that he had consented to the defendants using his views 
on ambulance chasing and split-fee physicians, but with the understanding 
that his name was not to be mentioned during the broadcast. Instead, he 
claims, his namie was mentioned three times and an actor impersonated 
him in.translating his comments. He claims that as a result he has been- 
held up to ri icule and his repi has been damaged. 



rrin Dunlop, Jr., marked 15 years of his radio departmeiit in the New 
Yoirk Times by itemizing salient events since 1022 in radio history. Of 
sorrie 60 dates cited, one-third concerned television. This reemphaslzed 
Dunlop's preoccupation with television, a subject to which the Times has. 
devoted enormouis quantities of printer's ink, although most dppesters see 
television as remote and uncertain in scope when it does arrive. 

Dunlop is tops in prestige among the radio editors and takes his pro- 
fession, naturally .a new one, very seriously. His partiality to television 
and the British Broadcasting System, however, has puzzled many; 



Mutual network deems its most successful jprogram to date the Sunday 
aftemodner for Varaday of Vienna, featuring Ted Weems' orch. Program 
has been going for two years, now and the sales promotion dept. of MBS 
tias been beseeching sponsor for some dope on his sales, etc., thait may. 
t>e included in a brochure on 'success story' slant to be thrown airoimd 
in the trade circles. MBS' sales promotion lads: have hit a snag in that 
Varaday absolutely refuses to give any info at all. 

Varaday hais lately added wax series of 15-mi programs spottin 
on small indie stations. 



•Lone Ranger' script serial, fed out of Detroit's WXYZ as a commercial 
to the Don Lee.net of ten stations linked with the Mutual web, is avail- 
able to other Mutual affiliates west of the 'Sippi as a sustainer with com- 
mercial copy cut. 

Most of the small-town stations iare carrying the program sans bank- 
rolling. 'Ranger,' sponsored by Gordon Bakeries, after getting eastern 
ride earlier in evehi , is shot west at 11:30 p. m. EDST, for its half-hour 
consumption. 



Announcements in four languages are. being used by CBS on its short- 
wave station W2XE. Recorded, the spiels are in English, French, German 
and Spanish. 

Not permited by the FCC to carry sponsored programs, W2XE In the 
evenings short-waves abroad and to South America the regular commer- 
cials picked off CBS' cog WABC, N. Y. Those barikrolling the periods get 
W2XE ride free, however. Short-\yaver vises the commercials because of 
good pirogran^ material. 



President Roosevelt is apprised in advance of the yarious subjects that 
his wife has. scheduled for. airing on the series that she is doing on NBC 
for Pond's Cold Cream. The arrangement does not in any sense assume the 
corhplexion ot censorship, nor is . it a precaution against Mrs. Roosevelt's 
speaking out of tutn. President just wants to make certain that the topics 
are kept in the right sphere and, that what is broadcast doesn't leave itself 
open to twisting and spoofing by the administration's foes. 



Ed Jerome recently told an interesting story about losing his voice at 
the age of 18 while singing 'Carmen* before a crowded opeira house In 
Paris, about turning to. pantomiming and clowning in Europe, and about 
the sudden, regaining of his speaking voice, for a career. as a radio actor, 
on 'We, the People,' broadcast over the NBC blue Sunday afternoon. His 
friend. Philips Lord, conductor of program, introduced Jerome without 
mentioning the name. 



NBC's Chicago end is relaxing considerably in its ruling restricting the 
number of vocals on sustaining- orchestra remote pickups to four numbers 
every 30 minutes. Some of the bands are getting away with more than 
four vocals, denvonstrating to the network's satisfaction that they can't 
present .a good show Under the restriction. Bob Crosby orchestra in addi- 
tion to the Henry Busse band have been able to get more vocals on their 
shows. 



WPA radio ptoject has permission from Hallie Flanagan, chief of Fed- 
eral Theatre Project, to buy four scripts a week at $25 each from sources 
outside project's rolls. .In past there were several instances when the 12 
scripters assigned to unit did not get up enough copy for the seven-a-week 
shows project has spotted on indie stations in N. Y., and it proved neces- 
sary to appeal to the outside for material to carry out commitments. 



L. Wilson; president of WCKY, celebrated his birthday anniversary 
Thursday (20). Staff ]presented him with 46 American beauty roses and 
card reading: 'To the best boss in the world.' 

At same time L. B. received word that the new RCA transmitter for his, 
station will be. shipped June 9 and set up for operation by July L It will 
care, for WCKY power boost from 5,000 to 10,000 watts. 



Mary Livingston, ibber McGee and Molly reported in at Paramount 
last week for 'This Way; Please.' Also featured are Buddy Rogers, Shirley 
Ross and Ned Sparks. 

Fibber McGee and Molly will play themselves while Miss Livingston 
(Mrs. Jack Benny) will be an usherette. 



Reported that, there is considerable agitation among announcers at 
WCFL, Chicago American Federation of Labor station, because they're 
not on a flye-day week as other stations' men are. Present schedule is 
for six days of six hours, while others work men 40 hours in five days, 



Lucio Villegas, waxing 'Echoes of Hollywood,' has struck a deal with 
picture studios whereby he is given use of sound tracks in exchange for. 
picture plugs. Platters are distributed through South America. Villegas 
uses a chatter routine with interludes of production music on the spinners. 

When the North Carolina board of cdnservatioii and development met 
at Raleigh the other day to hear 24 advertising agencies present their bids 

(Continued on page. 36) 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



VARIETY 




Radio 
D I rectory 

VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY will afford 
direct entry to all radio executives because of 
its iiivaluable inforiuation. 

An excellent media for advertising is one that, 
of necessity, is consistently referred to by 
those in charge of radio for sponsors, agencies, 
and press. Such is VARIETY RADIO 
DIRECTORY 

Offering every radio station the opportunity 
of placing its message in a special section 
dealing with its own state. 

Price per Full Page: $125- Half Page: $65. 
Quarter Page: $35. 

To be issued in July. Forms close in three 
weeks. We urge immediate inquiry. 

Price per copy: $5 



1937 



36 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



hvestigation-Mmded Congressmen 
Keep Agitation Sinmiering; Focus 
Attention on Temporary Grants 



Washi , May 25; 

experimental 
iseis permitting extra watt?ige 
aiid irequency^trespaissing looms as 
aftermath , of Cdngressipnal enmity 
toward the Federal Communications 
Commission, and the bro^dcasti 
dustry. 

^'^'AlthougH thti lid has been kept 
on, resumption ;of warfare betwben 
legislators and regulators has 
centered afouhd special, privileges 
for fair-haired license^holders, Com- 
niish currently is surveying activi- 
tifes of ekpeifimehters in response to 
prodding by lawmiakers .-who are 
clamoring for inquisition of both the 
F.C.C, and the biz. ' 

With the Commish stalling on new 
allocation policies, investigation- 
minded Congressmen have raised 
the question why 'temporary grants' 
should remain in effect year , after 
yeir. Broadcaist divisionites are 
jittery in. the face of smoke signals 
from Capital Hill. * 
. Foreshadowing revitalized drive 
to obtain authority for Special radio 
quiz, leaders ^ of anti-broadcast bloc 
in the House, of Representatives are 
studying a special report on the 
status of exjperimenters compiled by 
Andrew D. Ring, assistant chief en- 
gineer, arid forwarded to Congress 



by Commissioner 

Tnfo will be used on the House floor 

to attract hew interest, i 

nfery , currently 

slumbering in the House Rules com- 

mitteeropm. 

Lawmakers complain privately 
that the. F.C.C. not only is ducking 
the issue hut is trying to mislead 
'Congress. Ring report failed to 
cover present holders of experi-r 
mental, permits, listing only statioiis 
whose special privileges have ex- 
pired. This was not in accord with 
expectations at the Capitol." In- 
quii-ers looked for a statement that 
during intervening months the .Cpm- 
mish has snatched back papers un- 
der .which fair-haired broadcasters 
are. using niore juice ,than tlie rules 
allow or are occupying frequencies 
in viola tioh of .regulations. 

Dead Grants 

Review prepared, by Ring showied 
that special grants for thie following 
stations now are dead: 

WREC, WJZ. WEAN, KFHM, 
WMT, WORK, WDAE, WIMLC, 
KGKO, WORD, WGBI, KXYZ, 
WCAD, KStr, KTI5A, WSAN, KGT, 
KGA, KVJ, KGBX, WFRO, WIBA, 
WLVF, KtAT, WJAB, WFLA-WSCN, 
KiUL, Kl^RC, KSD, KTRH, WFEA, 
KTFI, WDBO, WKBC» and KXA. 



Prof. Studies Air Newt 



Chicago, May 25. 
Using WIND as a laboratory, 
iProf.. Charles Laurel Allen, of 
Illinois University, is experi- 
menting with news broadcasts, , 
prior to teaching a course next 
fall. 

Put in charge of the Ralph 
Atlass station news, flashes one 
day a week, aild . is outlining 
course along: with Al Hollander, . 
WIND news editor* 




IN 





News is indispensable to radio. 

But radio now demands more than merely 
"news" out of the liews. Radio newscasting 
must also enleriain and do a selling job. 

VanCronkhite Associates, Inc., announce two 
outstanding news features which are newsy^ 
which entertain-^which will do a selling job: 

1. "THE NEWS OF THE WEEK" 

A oiice-a-week, IS-minute newscast, fraphically 
reoounting: the^dramatic highlights of the week's 
hews. 

It is an ideal local program for Sunday morning 
or Saturday night. 

It is expertly written for radio by one of 
America's best knoiwn neWs commentators. 

It requires only one announcer for production. 

It is a tested program, yet it is amazingly ine?c- 
pehsive. 

It is instantly sponsorable! 



2. "HEROES OF THE WEEK 

A oncera-week, 15-minute broadcast, summariz- 
mg^the past week's thrilling and authentic deeds 
or heroism the world over. 

Everyone thriUjB to hear the ^'inside" of man- 
kind's heroism. 

It requires only one. announcer for production. 
It is amazingly inexpensive. 

It will do a whale of selli job for an 
advertiser. 

Write or Wire 

VanCronkhite Associates 

INC. 

360 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 
State 6088-6p40 

"Radio's Only News Counsellors*' 




BYK.CSTAR 




.Washington, Maj^ 25. 
Expansion of the Kansas ity 
Star's radio holdings was jeopardized 
last week, when Examiner George H. 
Hill, in response to rampant anti- 
moriopoiy sentiment, .Urged the Fed- 
eral XTommimications Commission to 
liix rag;'s plan to buy WREN. 

On the ground the transaction 
Would give a sinsle group the- toe. 
hold on both printed and aired ad- 
vertising. Hill said the deal should 
be cold-shouldered. Added objetltion 
was the $295,000 purcha&e price. 
Which the examiner believed was 
excessive, since the value of the 
physical property is substantially un- 
der ^IW.OOO. 

Report bore a close resemblance 
to the dissenting opinion of Commis- 
sioner Irvin Stewart in the El Paso 
Times case where objection was 
made to concentrating control o£ 
radio and press In the hands of one 
faction. While Hill did not refer to 
this document, his conclusions 
stressed points almost identical with 
the reasons Stewart cited in balking 
at the Texas sheets request for per- 
mission to set up a 100-watter in a 
town where the press is on the ropes 
and advertising volume is slim.: 

indicating the hard-boiled attitude 
Which lately has characterized the 
Commish, Hill said in his findings 
that 'the result of granting the re- 
quested authority would be a step 
in the direction of monopoly— would 
place in this hands of the largest 
newspaper in Kansas City two of the 
Uirgest stations now ser-ving this 
area and would remove from the 
Kansas City area a formidable 
competitor.' Star owns WDAF. 
Cash aspects of the deal also did 



Got. of Minnesota Urges 
WTCN Cet Green Light 
On Wavelength Exchange 

Washington, May 25. . 

Reopening. of the Minnesota cases, 
involving frequency changes for 
WLB, Minneapolis and WCAL, 
Northfield, to make possible full-time 
operation by WTCN, Minneapolis, 
was ordered by the Federal Com- 
munications Commission last week 
in response to appeals from Gov- 
ernor Elmer Benson. 

While the hearing formally con- 
cluded nearly three weeks' ago, the 
Broadcast Division directed the rec- 
ord to be held open until June 21 
in order that the state exec can tes- 
tify." Benson is expected to urge the 
Commish to' . apjirove' application^, 
which involve shifting the fwqi col- 
lege-owned transniitters, WIJB a-d 
WCAL. to the 760 channel used by 
WjZ, and giving WTCN hours on 
1250 which the ..pedagogs how em 
ploy. 

Governor Benson's entry into the 
picture makes the case one of the 
most political cases fever considered. 
Previously the two Senatots, Ernest 
.Lundeen and Henrik Shipstead^ 
Farmer-Laborites, had backed up the 
proposed, shifts, despite feuds be- 
tween the newspapers which own 
WTCN and the party to which the 
state exec and the two solOD's be- 
long, Shipstead sent a letter saying 
it would be in the interest of the 
people of the state for WTCN to get 
full time and Lundeen agreed that 
listeners would benefit from shunt- 
ing: the two college plants to WJZ's 
daytime ribbon. 



CBS-WOAI Deal 






Hoever's WbaL Talk 

Baltimore, May 25. 
. Edgar .Hpbyer, head G-man, 
will be guest speaker, tomorrow, 
(Wed) oh the Crime Clinic, weekly 
program fed to iWutual network by 
WBAI* 

Program directed by Samuel G. 
Kling, local crime authority, was re- 
cently awarded a certificate Of merit 
by the National Research Bureau 
and has attracted nationwide com- 
ment. 



not please the examiner. In review- 
ing details of the contract. Hill re- 
ported that 77% of the proposed 
purchase price would cover 'good 
wiir and only 23% would go lor 
the present worth of the property. 
Since the station has been in the red 
most of its life. Hill was uh'able 
to see how a tag of $295,000 is justi- 
fied. If the plea is allowed, time 
charges must be boosted to bring 
a fair return on the investment, the 
examiner sai , and this might hurt 
the public interest 



Washington, May 25. 
Revival ()f the Columbia- WQAl 
deal was barred for at least a year 
when the Federal Communications 
Commission last week refused to 
allow the web to. withdraw Without 
prejudice the stymied application 
for consent to . acquire the Sao An- 
tonio transmitter for $825,000. 

While all parties insist the deal is 
dead, the Commish turned down a 
proposal which would enable CBS 
«nd Hugh HalfE to come, back at the 
end of the year and ntiake another 
attempt to shift control of the plant. 
As things stand, no transacion caii 
be engineered until next summer at 
the earliest : 

Stopper was in the form of a de- 
cision to allow retraictidn ' of . the 
papers bearing a with-prejudice tag. 
Under the rules, no denied applica- 
tion or plea taken back under such 
circumstances, can be resubmitted 
until 12 months expire. A normal 
Withdrawal, without ainy prejudicial 
stamp, can be filed ajjai ithin si:t 
months. 

Although Web people expected the 
Commish would . be lenient, the 
Broadcast, Division agreed i- 
mously to apply the paddle in view 
of the headaches; which were at- 
tribujed to the complicated WOAl 
mianeuvers. 



Marcus. Bartlettr musical director 
of WSB, Atlanta, who finds time fbr 
educational pursuits at Emory tJ^ 
has been elected president of Alpha 
Epsilon Upsilon, junior college 
honorary scholastic fraternity. 



THE NEW CRY 

OF THE 

OLD WEST 

GENE OTAULON, Manager 

Bep. hy JOHN BLAIR A CO. 



BARRY 

MeKINLEY 



jVlanagemeht: 



GRIFFIN "ALL-WITE" 



NBC ARTISTS' 



BUREAU 



"TIC TOC REVUE 

WJZ AND NBC-BLUE NETWORK 
Monday 7-7:30 P.M., E.D.S.t. 



Personal Representative: 

JAMES L. SAPHIER 



Thanks to 
Oriffiti Manufacturing Co. 
and 

Birminfihamy Castleman & Pie 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



11 





ON THE SPOT 



RuleBi 




at 




Washington, May 25. 

Federal Communications Commissioners are pulling the rule book 
on potential broadcasters. .Appa'^«"tly because congressmen are pay- 
ing so' much aittentiori to comitiish activities, applicants must providie 
conclusive proof ttiey have not violated anti-monopoly clauses' p£ the 
communications act. 

In recent weeks, F; C. C. .examiri(ers have laid , considerable stress 
on the previous interests in Iproadcastihg of candidates for franchises. 
Several reports have pointed out that the applicant never has been 
accused or convicted of infringing on anti-trust laws. In other cases, 
ventilators have given lengthy resume of the other broadcast connec- 
tions of seekers for new-station paper^i 

Beason is that the law specifies that 'all laws of the United States 
relating to unlawful restraints -and monopolies and to combinations, 
contracts, or agreements, in restraint of trade* apply to broadcast 
pleas. Congressmen have been claiming that F. C. C. has encouraged 
monopoly by permitting chains to expand and ambitious indies to 
grab off stations by .the handful. 



F.CCBARASS'N 





Washington, . May ,25. 

Fiadio lawyers who profess to have 
inside tracks in and around the Fed- 
eral Corhmunications Commission 
were condemned yesterday (Mon- 
day), when the executive committee 
of the Communications' Bar Associ- 
ation adopted an amendment to the 
canons of ethics outlawing - client- 
solicitation with vain claims of pb- 
.lilical and personal influence^ 

Amendment specifically chided 
legal-lights who are reported to have 
told applicants they can. promise re- 
, suite via their prior employment by 
• the FCC, or through personal con- 
. tacts. 



Examiners Bramy I Hill 
Notable for Going Into 
Economics of Radio 



Washington, May 25. 
cpnomics of broadcasting are 
getting growing attention from the 
Federal Communications Commis- 
sion. Particularly true of exam- 
iniers, who, in recent weeks have 
gone into considerable detail oh oc- 
casions discussing the dollars-ahd- 
cents effect :of station sale, j.uice 
jurhps, hew transmitters, and similar 
changes in the business end. 

Notable leaders in the movement 
to touch economic factors are Exam- 
iners John. P. Bramhall and George 
H. Hill. In the intricate WMEX 
case, former concluded oh basis of 
data about rates arid volume of busi- 
ness that huge wattage rise, would 
not' injure competitors white Hill in 
the WREi«r-Karisas City Star sale re- 
port averred that transfer was un- 
desirable in view of some of the 
pirobable economic consequences. 




Accused of Setting Up Trou- 
ble-Making Dummy Cor- 
poration and Offside Sub- 
stitution, of Documents 



^1 DAYS TO FILE 



Washington, May 25. 
isbarmeiit of radio attorneys 
loomed this , week as' Federal Com- 
ihunicatibnis Commission probe into 
irregularities in handling of broad- 
cast applications jieared a climax. 
Accusation of unethical practices 
was directed at Paul' M. Segal and 
Gejprge S. Smithy. . proihirient:. radio 
law firm. 

Acting .unanimously upon recom- 
mendation of spieciai investigating 
comrhittee .headed by Commissioner 
George. Henry Payne, the F.C.C. 
gave Segal-Smith team 31 days to 
show cause .why they should not be 
suspended or. barred from further 
fLPpearance in radio matters as pun- 
ishment for causing a dumriiy cor- 
poration to' complicate broadcast 
squabbles and for tampering with 
papers in official dockets. 

Declining to reveal, his plans to 
meet the charges, Segal promptly is- 
sued a statement forecasting his vin- 
dication and defending his past con- 
duct. . Rejoinder contained an indi- 
rect dig at the Commish, with, attor- 
ney saying he waited three weeks 
for notice of a time to appear be- 
fore the probers. 

'Both '$mith and I are . confident 
(Continued on page 49) 





ICIOUS 0 





Washington, May 25. 

-Sale Of KFXR, Qklahoina City, to 
a syndicate of local business men 
hangs in the balance following 
precedent-setting action by the Fed- 
eral Communications Commissiori on 
unopposed petition fojr license re- 
newal and permit to transfer the 
franchise. 

Vientilation of the past activities of 
the. station arid furthisr study; of the 
transaction has been decreed by the 
Broadcast Division in a uniquie pro- 
cieedirig where the Commish law de- 
partment . suggested close attention 
should , be paid to the applications, 
which Examiner Robert 'L, Ii:win re- 
cently recommended should . be; 
granted. Case : comes up for oiral 
argument before the= diviision June 
10. 

Although the examiner urged ap- 
proval of the petitions; the Broadcast 
Division trio ordered' lawyers in the 
case, to stand quizzing whether pro- 
visions of the .Commuriicattons Act 
agairist franchise-trarficking have 
been violated. Irwin reported that 
record of operations presents ^clbise 
question' whether the statute has 
beeri obeyed. Attorney for; Exchange 
Avenuie Baptist Church, nominal 
licensee, is Elmer. W. Pratt, fprmer 
Commish examiner, while, counsel 
for prospective buyers are Paul M. 
Segal and George S. S|mith. 
Excepttonal 

No formal recoriiriieridatioh., Was 
presented, but the Broadcast Ivi- 
sion set .the matter down for argu- 
ment early this month after' Com- 
mish lawyers suggested further 
study might be desirable in view of 
the possible law infractions and the 
high price put on the transmitter. 
Veteran attorneys could Tiot recall 



another incident when a station sale 
had been held up because F. C. C, 
legalites were dissatisfied and .j^'^ 
marked thai neither the license re^* 
newal nor the sale .had been opposed . 
by any rival brbs^dcaster. 

Case attracted attentibn, originally 
when the two applicants, licence- 
holding Baptist group and Plaza 
Court Broadcasting Co., the potential 
buyers, waived the right to file ex- 
deptipns and petition' for argunient. 
Simultaneously, the .Cpmmish was 
urged to hui'ry' ' ratification, of the 
deal. 



m EXPECT YOil to PAY, 
SO PLEASE-NO PASSES' 



Des Moines, May . 2S. 
isposlng of the airius^ment pass 
probierii that confronts sponsor-sta- 
tion reliatiOns, Craig Lawrence, com- 
mercial manager for the Iowa Broad* 
casting Systiem here, issued a letter 
to all oif the regular amuseirrient eri- 
terprises in the city asking them not 
to offer passes to station employes. 

Lawrence pointed out that the sta- 
tions expected th^e amiusement enter- 
prises to spend money wiih the>n and 
that the statiph employees should ex- 
pect to spend money for their 
amuserrients. 



Edward Jay Clifford^ formerly 
Lenneii tt Mitchell p. a.i has gontt 
iri business for himself, describing 
himself .as a radio relations^ expert 
and offering a complete program- 
ming service, including casting; 
production and publicity. 



★ 




WLW is originating more 
programs per week than ever 
before in its history* 

Program origtnality is a strong 
factor in keeping 



WLW-"THE NATION'S STATION'' 



38 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



ADVERTISEMENT 



The 



to a 





way 

man ' $ heart 

IS 

4is stomach 
—and the 
way to a 




Agencies--Sp(iinsors 



Schwimmer &. Scott agency, Chi- 
cago, appointed t6 handle the new 
Sof-Wash account lor an , ether 
spread. Starting a double test, in the 
Des, Moines market on June, run- 
ning five l5-rninute periods across 
thfr board on KSO and thrte ISrmin- 
ute shots weekly on KRNT. 



Chicago Steai|iisli!lp Co. Using spot 
announcement campai on mid- 

west stations^ 



:Riverview Park plugging - with, 
spot announcements on WIND and 
WJJD, Chicago. 



Malcom-Howard agency^ Chicago, 
placing a spot camaign for Logan 
Appliance Co. 



Brent's Cleaning Co. has renewed 
Darrell V. Martin,, radio: editor 
of. the Post-Gazette, for 13 more 
weeks oh WWSW, Pittsburgh. Pro- 
gram stays as is, comibo of questions 
and answers about air personalities, 
gossip, news and guest stars, hitting 
the waves three times weekly, Mon- 
day.. Wednesday and Friday, fbr 
quarter-hour sessions at 6:30 p.m. 
Account placed direct. 



latt's Aiito Radio Stores have 
signed Jimmy Murray, p.a. for 
WCAE, Pittsburgh, arid Walt Framer 
for bncei.-weekly Man. iq the Street 
program over Hearst station for 13 
weeks. It goes out for a quarter- 
hour every . Saturday afternoon at 
5:30.. Accoiint was placed direct. 



Alka Seltzer has taken 15 minutes 
on WFAB, N. Y.; WELI, New Haven; 
and WNBC^ N6w Britain, six days 
per week, Monday through Satur- 
day. Biz was placed throii^ Nor- 
man B. Furman agency. 



It intends to 
tesl^ on the 



•pects to acquire soon, 
use two markets for 
basis of six announcements a day, 
six days a week, over a period .6f 
13 weeks. Agency is also quizzing 
stations about available spots, in the 
way of time signals , for a summer 
flier on Hinds Honey & Almond 
Cream. 

Bulova through Blow, New 

Yovk, has renewed for 52. weeks 
starting June 30 its time signals, five 
daily after 6 p. PST,'oyer KGO, 
San Francisco. 



Interstate. Co., owner of Feather 
River Inn, vacash resort, through 
brury tTpmpany, . San Francisco, has 
signed for six quarter-hour prograrhs 
with Tod Powell, sports commenta- 
tor, ori KGQ. 

, through D'Aircy, St. 
Loiiis, signed . 26-week contract for 
five daily broadcasts a week of 
transcribed 'Si ing Sam' programs. 
Starts May. 24. 



Fontana-Hollywood Co., (Galo dog, 
cat food), through Emil^Brisacher, 
on. KSFO, San Francisco,; ith two 
w:eekly five-minute *Calo News- 
hound' transcriptions. 



Slight Error 



Buffalo, May 25. 
iocal baseball announcer was 
complimented by Travis Jack^ 
son, jnariager of the Jersey 
Giants. 

'I heard your broadcast of 
the game today and it was fine.' 
said Jax. 'But ' you made a 
slight error. When you sai 
you could, see me peering out 
of the dugout you were mis-, 
taken. I Was laid up and didn't 
leave the hotel all day.' 



Mutual and -starts exclusively on 
^yLW, May 30. Talent is from Cros- 
ley staff. Buthrauff & Ryan ag.ency, 
Chibagp. 



Life of Mary Sothern, for Lehn & 
Fink, plugging Hind's Honey & Al- 
mond cream,, dropped Mutual iWay 1, 
but stays on WLW. Ciricy, Monday 
through Friday, 4:15 to 4:30 p.m; 



Crown Overall's set Jpe Lugar's. 
orcheistra, .Charles Wayne, Mary Al- 



cott and a hill-billy femme trio, ot 
Crosley st?^ff ; to start series on WLW, 
June 24, Programs will be trans- 
cribed in New York for later runs 
on KDKA, Pittsburgh; WOR, Newark; 
WLS, Chicago, and possibility of ex- 
tension to several _ additional sta- 
tions. Account handled by H. W. 
Kastor & Sons, Chicago. 



Ireene Wicker, will cut Friday 30, 
min. 'Musical Plays' for. Kellogg to 
15 niiris. starljing June 25. iBallobns 
again to half-hour duration in , late 
Sept, Program rides the NBC-blue. 

rander (Sun Tan Lotion) started 
this week on WMCA,: N. Y. with 
series of twice- weekly monolpg 
scrii>t serial quarter-hours for 13 
weeks;^ Title of serial, 'Salty at the 
Switchboard.' 



WTHT Gets Full Time 

WTHT, Hartford, Conn., goes on 
full-time sked July 6. Has basn 
shutting up shop at sundown daily. 

Station, operated by the Hartford 
Times, is a Mutual affiliate. 



Spiirry Flour Co. (division of Gen- 
elral Mills): 'Woman's Magazine of 
the Air,' four quarter-hour partici- 
pations June 21, 24; 30, July 2, 2:15 
to 2:30 p.m. PST. Basic Pacific Red 
and KFBK, KM J, KWG, KERN. 



KSOy Des Moines, has a new pro- 
gram for Sof Products Co. of Chi- 
cago with six quarter hours per 
weiek (Musical Time Sayers) and 
three quartier hours per week par- 
ticipating on Hawkeye Dinner Time, 
Handled by Schwirnmer & Scott, 
Chicago. 



Ruthrauff 8c Ryan has placed for 
Davles Farm, upstate New Yor^^-^^^J^'^Ujj^^ 



hour transcriptions,, with Frank 

nn nirHM -Ks^^if v^,-!, A« i,i!^i*„^"^ I Morgan, cmcee, Freddie Rich's br- 
oil WHN, New York, on heels of 1 ^j^^g^^g ' gu^gt ^tars, including 



vacash camp, using five-miri. periods 
bri WHN, New York, on 
baseball game broadcasts. 



THIESE ADVERTISERS 
HAVE FOUND THE WAY! 

Botid Bread 
Hauswald's Bread 
Koester's Bread 

Chase&Sanborn Coffee* 

Maxwell House Coffee* 
• 

Contented Milk* 
Ovaltine* 

Grape Nuts* 
Quaker Oats* 
Ralston Purina* 

PhilHps Soups 
• 

Goetze Meats 

Esskay Meats 
• 

Kraft Cheese* 

Standard Brands Foods* 

High's Ice Creahi 
Jello* 
Royal Gelatin* 



Filbert's Oleomargarine 



American Oil sjpotting series ojE 64 
one^min. e.t;'s on stations from 
Maine to Florida, through Joe Katz. 
Blurbs are blurted at rate of four-a 



Frances Langford, Dorothy Lamour, 
Judy" Garland and Ella Logan.- 



S.S.S. Company of Atlanta, Ga., 
sponsoring the Music for the Family 
,.-^1 J -11 1. J . X r. X 1 exclusively on WLW.-Cincy* Tiitie 
week, and will extend into Sept. for changed from Wednesday to Tues- 
what IS account s only summer cam- ^ay. 9 to 9:15 p. hi. and tag for stanza 
^ * ' changed to Tonic Time for new e. t 

«f— .» Di ^, -L. ■ 1 • I series by Transamerican. Agency is 

.plTnf ! ' ^^""^ff^l Pla<='."g the Southern State Advertising Co., 
series of one-mi . World transcrip ' 



tions on stations through the East. 
Agency, Walker & Downing, of 
Pittsburgh. 



Atlanta. 



Inside Stuff-Radio 



(Continued from page 34) 
for handling the $250,000 fund voted by the general assembly to be u.^ed 
in advertising the state. Burton H. Srriith of Charlotte appeared to ask 
that some of the moriey be used for radio; ' 

. Richard Mason of WPTF, Haleigh, appeared to. say that all stations i 
the state would co-operate in the state promotional program. 

.Newspapers of the state have, through several of the more prominent 
publishers and ofTicers of the state press association, asked that none of 
the money be spent with North Carolina papers. Several publishers have 
ofTcred to cariry f red such ads as are prepared for "use in out-of-state news- 
papers; 



Liack of clear-cut policy toward statidn transfer's was emphasized once 
more last week when Examiner Hill urged the F. C. C. to- turn down plan 
for Kansas City Star to purchase WREN, K. C. outlet for NBC. 

Hill found that the $295,000 price is excessive and objected to itirthering 
monopoly. As the third examiner to take a stern view of station sales 
and leases. Hill has presented the- question of definite standards to the 
Broadcast Division in a new way. 

The Hill action was in sharp contrast, however, with th6 general posi- 
tion of the Broadcast trio on the Arde Bulova-Paiilist Fathers transaction 
for WQV. On that matter, the; ivision granted, consent without, even 
a hearing, although the price was more out of line, $275,000 for a trans- 
mitter operating only a few. hours a week.. The tag on WREN, which 
shares time with KFKU and operates both night and day, was $295,000.. 



Bayer Aspirin extending its sum- 
mer campaign by spreading out onto 
15 Canadian stations. Account using 
e.t. 'Backstage Wife' serial thrice 
weekly on the stations due for selec- 
tion. Blackett-Sample-Hummert the 
agency. 



H. Fendrich, Inc., Evansville, Ihd., 
blUrbing LaFendrich cigars with the 
Smoke Direams series, 2:30 to 3 p. m. 
Sundays, terminated 30-week run on 



For the first time in its history station WQXR, N. Y., is paying its way, 
according to Elliott Sanger, v.p. Latter stepped into the station about a 
year and a half ago and put it on a commercial basis after it had beeh 
trailing along experimental lanes in the high . fidelity classification as 
W2XR,. Don't see any gravy yet but it's covering the nut. 

Now with, only eight class sponsors' assistance, including the first actual 
announced sponsor, Martinson's Coffee, station sees the clear; AH will 
remain on for the summer and station sees some real profit ih prospec- 
tive biz via travel agencies and kindred summer biz which nets don't get 
and which hoi polloi stations cannot garner. 



WLW, Gincy, will feed the Ihdianapdlis Memorial Day auto race to 
Mutual web as well as WHN, N. Y;, sustaining as race was not sold for 
sponsorship. Paul Sullivan will be at the mike. 



Adam Hats has renewed for an- 
other year over WHN, N. Y, week- 
ly (Sunday) half-hour sports-spiel 
by Sam Taub. 



N. W. Ayer agency does hot have 
the Veldown account as wrongly re- 
ported. Blackett-Sample-Hummert 
spots the ad spreads for the feminine 
hygiene product. 



Acme White Lead (paints) signs 
for 13 transcriptions, plus 30 spot 
announcements, over WWJ, Detroit. 
Set through Henry, Hurst & Mc- 
Donald, Chicago. 



Crisco* 



Pillsbury Flour* 

■^Nettvorh Program 

VKHB 



NQTIONftL REPRESENTPTIVES 
EDWARD RETRY & CO. 



.Detroit White Lead (Rogers 
paints), sponsoring 36 programs over 
■WWJ, Detroit. Simons-Michelson Co., 
Detroit, handled. 



Ctenerai Baklnir is arranging, to 
expand the territory covered by its 
'Terry and Ted' series. More 
transcribed proigrams are now in 
the works and B.B.D, & 6. is li ing | 
up the new stations for fall starting 
dates. 



Joseph Magnin Co., Inc., (depart- 
ment store), through Sidney Gar- 
finkel agency, San Francisco, has 
renewed its 'Hollywood Reporter' 
Sunday programs with Don Allen 
over KPP starting June 6. Follow- 
ing week quarter-hour shows move 
from 3:00 t6 9:30 p.m., PST. 



AlIis-Chalmers.Mfg. Co.,. (all^crop 
harvester),' through Bert S. Gittins, 
Milwaukee, spotting transcribed dra- 
matizations, ' 'Pioneer Stori ,' on| 
KGO, San Francisco, twice weekly 
May 18 to June 29. 



William Esty Co. lining up 
available time for a summer spot] 
campaign on an account that it ex- 




^^^^ 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



VARIETY 



39 




40 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



RADIO SHOWMANSHIP 

V 

Attention-Getters, Tie-ups, Ideas 



Outstanding Stunts: 



•GUEST STATION' DATS 
CLEVELAND iEXPO 



SUMMER RADIO COLUMNS 
TAPLINGER OFFICE 



'Guest Stations' Days 
Cleveland. 
WTAM. WHK and WGAR are set 
ting aside spei^ial :timie Slatut-day (29) 
to broadcast opening of Great Lake's 
E^osition's second season, leading 
oS^'ith 9 congratulatory speech by 
President Roosevelt that will be car- 
ried through WGAR to 55 Mutual 
chain stations. 

Initial broadcast, from Expo ' on 
lalsetront is to be a half-hour over 
CBS by WHK, which will use its 
new riiobile iuilt in pick-upis, Larry 
Roller announcing. Eleanor Holm 
Jarrett and Johnny (Tarzan) Weis 
muller heading cast of BUly Rose's 
Aquacade, to guest star with Ann 
Leaf, Alexander Gray and Myron 




0 



PLAHMIHG 




5 SOLID HOURS 

SPONSORED BY CENERi 



Romaa's orchestra also on program 
WGAR is picking up Wayne King, 
who is opening Aquacade's water 
theatre-restauiant; then switching to 
other spots on the grounds. After 
opening Ralph B. Humphrey will 
stage all broadcasts from Radioland, 
situateid this year in Sherwin-WU 
liams orchestral hall, instead of at 
civic, auditdrium.. Schedule of talent 
definitely booked there includes Gjny 
Lombardo, Dpnaild Dickson oh July 
11 along ith James MeltO'n and 
Janie Pickens in the Seal Test cast; 
th^ Carborundum bandj Firesicie re- 
cital, Mario Cozzi in Stainless Show 
on June 12 and 13, Uncle . Ezra and 
his 'Hbosier Hot Shots' June 7 and 
8, Frances Comstock, June 9-15, 
Betty Winkler, known as 'Girl 
Alone,' the Singing Lady, the Cycles 
Trades program^ Ben Bernie and a 
UBC show. 

Series of out-of-town stations are 
bringing stafT^ here for special days 
n0xt month at Radidlaind. Among the 
gUest-station programs being aired 
here are CFRB of Toronto, WLW of 
Cincinniati, George Heid's KDKA 
urtit from Pittsburgh and Joe Ferte's 
WBNSi show from Columbus. Al- 
though commercial programs will 
emanate from outdoor theatre with 
4,000 capacity, a hew stunt hert, the 
shelled-in' stage, has been devised 
to keep out majbrity of street and 
fair noises. 



Doinff the Editors' Work 

New York. 
Bob Taplinger, itive from CBS, 
now conducting a private whoopla 
factory, has systematized a set-up 
of guest columns, by more or less 
famous radio entertainers. Wily 
Bobby offers these to the radio col- 
umnists Of- the several hundred 
American and Canadian sheets car- 
rying radio stuff. 

It works . out thiis: Editor wants to 
go on a' vacation but his paper 
doesn't suspend publication just on 
that, accoiint. Along comes the New 
York press agent with a full two 
weeks' supply of pinch-hitting boiler 
plate all bearing famous names. 



Memorial Day idea . 

New York City. 
WOR, in an effort to do something 
appropriate yet unusual oh Memorial 
Day, found the town of Woodbridge, 
J;, ideal. Typical small town holi- 
day parade, high school oratory, 
>ahd music, and so on, sized iip as a 
gdod hour or so to pick Up. So spe- 
cial events chief Jojihny Johnstone 
nabbed it. 

Not the least attractive aspect for 
the station is :close proximity of the 
own and the goings-on to the WOR 
transmitter. 



Bedside Interview with Lad 
New York. 
A new special event idea was em- 
ployed by Martin Block on WNEW, 
N. Y.,. last Friday (21) night when 



he played a recording of his inter 
view with Jimmy Tiernan, tiny 
survivor in the front-paged slaying 
case. Block and a staff engineer, 
working in co-operation with the 
N. Y. Joiirnal, visited the Commu 
nity hospital, PatchQgue, N. Y., 
earlier in the week to 'cOver' the 
story with a portable recording out 
fit. Device was set up at the, child's 
bedside, with Martin Block playing 
a series of juvenile records, such as 
'Popeye,' and The. Little Red Hen.' 
Then he went itito his interview 
with the boy. 

This recorded ijiterview then was 
played by Block during his 'Make 
Believe Ballroom' broadcast Friday. 
Hecbrd contained voices of the 
nurse and Hannah Simons, Journal 
scribe, in addition to Block's and 
little. Tiernan's. Radio stunt also was 
employed as part of the WNEW- 
Jourhal drive to raise funds ipr the 
boy's future welfare, .with $4,000 
having been collected thus far. 

Merchant's Program 

Chicago. 

New commercial on WIND signed 
by Halsted St. . Business Men's As- 
sociation gives a twist to the 'Try 
and Stump Us* song gag. Every 
title ■■■ sent in by listeneirs which Ben 
Kanter and Bobby Dixon can't sing 
gives listener a two-dollar merchan- 
dise certificate. If they can sing it, 
a one-dollar certificate. 

Harold Colleh did the agehti 



KLZ Thought It Was a Gag 

Denver. 

Foi: two years KLZ has been 
broadcasting 15-min. calisthenics 
program at 6:45 a.m. SUped by Walter 
Hakanson, Y setting-upper. 

Show had been heavy postage 
puller, so KLZ invited listeners to 
bring along gym togs and stretch 
and bend in the . studio one .a.m. . with 
Hakanson. 

To station's amazement 25 showed 
up. 

iind Actors on Air 

Columbus. 

Blind radio actors will present , a 
dramatization scripted by a blind 
author as part of a series of pro- 
grams on education fjr the blind 
broadcast by WHKC. 

Half-hour play traces the progress 
of science against, the handicap of 
blindness from the Biblical incident 
of Christ and the beggar to the 
modern 'Seeing Eye.' Author is Bob 
Gay, field representative for the 
Ohio Commission for the Blind and 
himself Columbus' only possessor of 
a 'Seeing Eye' dog. 

One episode will be acted by stu- 
dents from the Ohio School for the 
Blind with WHKC Players present-v 
ing the rest of the program. 

Narrative, Device 

Milwaukee. 
New form of ether script show 
being introduced by WTMJ, Milwau- 
kee Journal transmitter. Tagged 
'Letters for the Cartwright Family,' 
it presents its story form in the 
guise of letters which four members 



Production V& Annoiincenients 

Much Discussed Issue Still Simmers^ — ^North^i 
\Yest Sees Revenue Too Important to Drop 




One Million Tourists 

Will Visit Michigan's Lakes and Resorts 
This Summer . . . AND They'll Bring Their 
Radios With Them. 

Pleasure Bent Spenders 

Who Add to the Market yalue of Michi- 
gan's Retail Sales Volume Accruing From 
a Population of Over Four Million People 
Residing in the Territory Covered by 

MICHIGAN RADIO NETWORK 



8 



EIGHT STATIONS IN MICHIGAN'S 



EIGHT LARGEST CITIES 



8 



WBCM, Bay City and Saginaw 
WFDF, Flint 
WJIM, Lansing 



WXYZ 

(Key Sttttlun) 

ilRTROIT 
liii) N'ltC Networ 



WOOD-WASH. Grand Rapids 
WIBM, Jackson 
WELL, Battle Creek 
WKZO, Kalamazoo 



; Portland, Ore;, May 25. 

Spot announcements may be' un- 
popular with ' leading prodtiction 
agencies, but they plaiy an increas- 
ingly big role in radio stsition sales 
reports. Day is "gone when a spot 
announcement was something that 
a 100-watter peddled for lack of 
biggier' ideasi Tile SO^word spiel , is 
ndy an important item of big sta- 
tion selling. 

Trend in these parts leans a good 
deal toward letting the agencies 
deal with those sponsors that want 
program, production. Stations can 
reap a good harvest by cphcentrat 
ing their sales efforts oh selling 
spots in and around the other fel 
low's entertainment. Since there's 
a steadily climbing demand and good 
prices paid for the SO-word sales 
blurbs, the attitude of' stations is 
that it's a definite part of the busi- 
ness. 

It's been I growing to the point 
where some small agencies concen- 
trate pn nothing but spot announce- 
ments. Advertiser is of . course sold 
oh the gag that his blurb , will pro- 
ceed or follow some popular pro- 
grjam.. It's all a thoirn . in . the flesh 



of thie family write to each other. 

Letters are read . over .the air in 
the voice of. the pei-son writing them. 
It's a three-a-week script written by 
WTMJ continuity men. 



Talent Angles 

Des Moines. 
. Some unique angles have been de- 
veloped in the radio columns of the 
Des Moines Register and Tribune by 
Mary Little, radio editor. 

Those causing comment included a 
series of photographic doubles, list- 
ing local radio personalities With the 
film stars they resemble; a page of 
radio mothers and their children on 
Mother's Day; photographs of KSO- 
KRNT employes who are still bache- 
lors eyen though June is close at 
hand, and candid camera photos of 
local and network stars who disliked 
the particular photographs displayed. 

Bachelor's Inquisition 

_ • , , , Des Moines. 

Bachelors Inquisition proved a 
novel half -hour snow on KRNT 
when, the station's two bachelor 
girls, Gwen McCleary and Mae Floyd 
Smex interviewed the ten most 
eligible bachelors employed by Iowa 
Broadcasting System, and including 
Lansing Benet. Ken Brown, Prank 
Jaffe, Orville Foster, Gene Shumate; 
Bill Spargrove, Ed. Linehan, Buck 
Rasch, Ray Scobee and Freddie 
Lamm. 

Program was put on 'cold,' and 
some funny questions got funny an- 
swers to an entertai ing show. 

'Who Am I?' A Mail-Pnller 

San Francisco. 
„ Succe.ss of the recently concluded 
Who Am I?' programs bankrolled 
by the California Conserving Co. for 
26 weeks over the western NBC- 
red web, was attested by Emil J. 
Brisacher of that ad agency, in a 
talk delivered last Thursday at the 
monthly radio session of the San 
Francisco Advertising Club. 

Brisacher revealed that more than 
364,000 letters, each enclosing two 
labels from CHB food products, were 
received during the broadcast series. 
Each letter contained one answer 
to the 'Who Am I?' game featured 
on the programs, in which listeners 
were given clues to the identity of 
a well known man or woman, after 
the manner of an old-time parlor 
game of the same name. Radio 
adaptation was copyrighted. Prizes, 
ranging from bathroom scales to 
bonbon dishes, were awarded for 
coi*fect answers. From 10,000 to 
20,000 replies were received each 
week. 

Show is off the air temporarily 
due to strike conditions in the spon- 
sor's cainneries. 

'Who Am I?' Was produced by 
Arnold Maguire, using a group of 
dramatic readers for the game, vo- 
cal soloists and an orchestra, and 
Archie Presby as host at a 'studio 
party.' Charlie Marshall, comedian, 
as the 'spirit of the sponsor,' in- 
serted the plugs. 



KLZ's DoiTKie Program 
, Denver. 

Dog lovers are being given an 
inmng by KLZ. Chris Cusack, canine 
authority, answers questions for 15 
mins weekly about dog feeding, 
habits, training, etc. 

One of his own dogs furnishes 
the sound, effects. 



Lay Off the Broccoli 

11 11- u St. Paul. 

ielling housewives just what^they 
can expect when they go to market 
to get their fresh vegetables and 
fruits this spring, summer and fall 
((."oiTlinucd on page 41) 



of the larger production agencies 
that want to build up the standard 
of radio showmanship. 

Mac Wilkins (IVIac Wilkins & Cole 
Agency) boils it down in this way; 
'Chiseling in a lot of spot announce- 
ments around the entertainment pro- 
vided by a' sponsor who really puts 
radio oin the majp is comparable to 
some poor guy. who supports his 
wife all week long just to see her 
step out with another fellow on Sat- 
urday night,' 

Billboard Analogy 

Bud Lynch of the same agency, 
who has 22 program piroductions bri 
thie Noi'th west 6ther, puts it another 
way: 

'Suppose an advertiser bought a 
series of high-priced billboards Using 
the best availablie. talent for their 
attractive display. That's done every 
day. But then suppose the billboard 
company deqided to enlarge the 
board's area and tack on a lot of 
exti-a ads around the edges making 
the thing look like an old time 
vaudeville curtain. What do you 
think the major advertiser woiild 
say about that? He'd squawk his 
head off, and he'd have a -right to. 
Yet the radio sponsor of today is 
exactly in that boat. The difference 
is that the stations don't yet think 
his squawk is legitimate.' 



Short, Short 
Presentation 
of 

WOW 

<R«aidlnc Tlm«^is Seconds) 



Powar alona is not enough. 
A'dvartisart want RE* 
SULTS! A regional cleared 
channel— .590 kilocycles — 
5,000 watts and affiliati 
with the N.B.C, Red Net- 
work make WOW the 
radio cai>ital of Nebriowa. 
Cheek W O W by any yard- 
stick — coveragci p o w e 
mail, showmanship, accept- 
respohsi ility. It's 
in this immensely 
trade 



WOW 

OMAHA, NEBRASKA 

590 KG 5,000 Watts 



OwiK-d and Operated by the 
Sovereign Cninp of the. 
WmHinieh ot the World 




Wednisday, Mny 26, W3T 



RADIO 



VARIETY 41 



feuEob Reviews 



(Continued from page 30) 
O'Haire working with Announcer 
Chet Vedder on two long stretches 
Irf dialog, which interrupted sports 
Shatter. The second salvo was only 
a little less heavily weighted with 

*^^To ^op it off, about 30 seconds 
were devoted to the New York- 
T3enn league and the score given on 
Albany's road game was of the third 
'miing. This despite the fact Albany 
station broadcasting play-by-plays 
for Wheaties had completed its de- 
scription of the nine-fraiiie contest, 
with a much different tally listed. 
Such tardiness did not help the 
standing either of WGY or Of the 
tDbacco tapp er. Jaco. 

IRVEN SCHIEBECK 
Sports 

15 Mins.— l-ocal 
SustaJninir 
Daily* 6 p.m. , 
WOOL, Columbus 

Irv Schiebeck has been a member 
of the sports staff of Columbus Dis- 
natciv for 13 years, but this is his first 
toy at radio— an odd fact considering 
his paper's radio station ownership 
and this town's liking for sports 
writers ais broadcasters. ^ , . , , , 

Good scripting gives Schiebeck s 
sports talks sparkle in spite of the 
monotone in which his voice comes 
over the air. His listeners pay at- 
tention because they know he speaks 
with authority, and because he dish- 
es up interesting facts gleaned from 
his background as a writer, in addi- 
tion to ,the ball scores. 

Schiebeck also has a tie-up with 
the city recreation department, which 
gives him an opportunity to com- 
ment on local sports besides running 
the gamut of baseball, racing, bowl- 
ing, tennis, golfj swimming, etc. 

Otis. 



TdUIL WITNESS' 

With Margaret Brayton, Edwin Max, 
Fred McKaye, Erin Colvill©, How- 
ard Swart, Phil Tcad, Lee Millar, 
IneE Seabury, Howard McNeer, 
John Deering:, Julian Madison, Guy 
Bicardl. 

Mystery drama 

45 mlBS. 

.Wed., 10 p.m., PST. 
KNX, Hollywood 

' Columbia kicked up plenty of dust 
on this one before it was put on. It 



RADIO SALESMAN 

W« hav* a Vacancy Tn. our tales 
forca for « man who can produce 
selling radio tim*. W« will pay 
a atraioht sales eommissloni of 
25% to the man we accept. Ap^ 
plicants Write or apply to 

WIBG 



PlilUddphta Offlec 
Dr«xil Bulldlns 



Olaiitlde, Pr, Offle* 
Keiwltk Bulldini 



KXBY 

Is Doing Top Spot Job 
For Advertisers In 

KANSAS CITY, MO. 



HAL Ft. MAKELI 



anager 



Furgason A Aston 

New York Chicago etroit 



is what the chain prefers to call 'an 
linnovatiom ia radio broadcasti^.' 
Playiers . were decked Out in ■ cos- 
tumes and lines were spouted fr'om 
miemory. Here!s what youUt see 
when television comes; raved tlie 
press "department, And so-on. 

Ashmeaid Scott, who wrote and pro- 
duced the whodunit, didn't let them 
down. It's dramatics with a fresh 
twist. Credit -also goes to the cast 
for a well rounded job, Fpr. ,a first 
performance it was singularly free 
from bugs and had a sprightly hop 
to it. ; 

Idea On the first one wa.s to have a 
gent stilettoed and then try. to find 
out who wielded the cutlery. That's 
where the audience is ruiig in as 
witnesses, a few of them being 
dragged up to the stage and per- 
mitted to question the suspects: 
Patently, they were plants but it 
provided the necessary hoke for 
comedy relief and left few of the 
dialers little the wiser. Finally a 
flatfpot points but the. guilty one and 
the ainnouncer breaks in with the 
query: did he name the murderer 
and if so what was the .motive? Best 
letter covering that premise win^ its 
author a radio set. 

Outstanding performance was con- 
tributed by Margaret Brayton, as the 
cheating dame , who brought on the 
knifing. Her hysterical clash with 
the third-degreeing coppers inten- 
sified the diamatics. Others also 
turned in forthright jobs. 

Only fault to be found was that 
average listener; When , guilt was 
fastened oh a waiter, ^yho had little 
to do .with the action, it must have 
thrown most of the crime-solvers off 
the track. There seemed much 
more reason for some of the others 
under. suspicion to b'ury the blade 
in tbe actor's, carcass. tieVni. 




FRANK NUGENT 

With Nat Brusiloif Orchestra 

Film Chatter, Music 

16 Mihs. — Local 

HUDSON DAY LINE 

M-W-F, 7:30 p.m. EDST. 

WEAF, NBC, New York 

(Wendell P. Colton) 

Frank Nugent, film critic of the 
N. Y. Times, on his initial appearance, 
stood out like a. veteran at the mike, 
presumably indicating careful groom- 
ing by program's production staff. 
His terse comments on late film en- 
tries to the Broadway scene were 
varied and different enough to hold 
proper interest. 

Regina Crewe and ROse Pelswick 
?comment- on screen fare for same 
sponsor other nights. Wear. 

Joe Laurie's Air Date 



Joe Laurie, Jr., guests tomorrow 
(Thursday) night on the Rudy Vallee 
show, . doing . five-minute Hollywood 
comedy sketch in the *Lefty' char- 
acterization Of his VAniBTT column. 

Agented.by iSam WeisbOrd, of the 
Morris office. 



It's All Yours, Allen 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Ken Murray's program took quick 
advantage" of an opening and moved 
up a half hour for the cOast re- 
broadcasti 

Switch took show out of competi- 
tion with Fred Allen. 



Roger Huston Quits KHJ 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Roger Huston has resigned as com- 
mercial manager of station KHJ to 
joiflL the KNX sales force. 

Thayer Ridgway nioves iipi; from 
the sales staff into the vacated spot. 



(Showmanship being iarge.ly , dependent on stunts, 
tie-ups, etc,, in connection with established hblidaDs 
and evienfs, Variety herewith presents a calendar for 
the month of J:une. This calendar is published monthly 
frqirt inaterial copyrighted by the National Retail Dry 
Goodis Assn.). . 

SPECIAL r.VEEKS DURING JUNE 

Convention . of the National Association of Broad- 
casters. June 20, for three days; at the Hotel Sherman, 
Chicago, III. 

Send a Child to Camp Week, June 20 to 26; spon- 
sored hy the Children's Welfare Federation of New: 
York, 325 E., 38th St., New York City. 

National Swim for Health Week, June 21 to 26; spon- 
sored by. the National Swim for Health Week Com- 
mittee, c/o Martin, Stern, 122 East 42nd St., New York 
City. 

SPECIAL DAYS DURING JUNE 

(I) Kentucky admitted to the Union, 1792; 
see joined Union, 1796. 

(3) Confederate Memorial Day in Louisiana 
Tennessee; birthday of Jefferson Davis (1808)— ob- 
served in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Lou- 
isiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virgini 

(6) Birthday of Nathan Hale, patriot, li55. 

(9) Birthday of John Howard Payne ("Home, Sweet 
Home'), 1791. 



(10) National Flower Shut-In Day. . 

(12) iSlew York City incorporated, 16iB5. 

(13) Childiren's Day (celebrated ih churches). 

(14) Flag Day; Harriet Beecher Stowe 
ToiTi'.s Cabin'), born, 1811. 

(15) Pioneer Day in Idaho; Arkansas admitlt'd 
the Union, 1836; Franklin's kite experi 1752. 

(17) Bunker Hill Day in Bostori.. 
(lis) Children's Day. : . 

(20) Father's Diay;. West Virginia joined Union. 1863. 

(21) Summer begins; New Hampshir(e joined Union, 
1788. 

(23) , L. Sholes patented typewriter, 1869.. 

(25) Virginia admitted to the Union, 1788; 
Last Stand, 1876. 

(26) American troops landed in France, 1917; . i,<j^ 
Fast of Tammuz (Tainmuz 17 — begins sunset previous 
day). 



(Sales promotion hot«: June's average volume in de- 
partment stores is 7.9% of the year's total, ranking the 
ihonth seventh among the twelve. Best sellers are 
men's clothing, men's furnishings, boys' weinr, . wash 
goods, aprons and house dresses, popular price drefises, 
sports wear, appliances, sporting goods, tires and lug- 
gage. According to several surveys, June still, leads 
all months in th^ number of marriage licenses Issued.) 



Radio Showmanship 



(Continued from page 40) 



is the iaim of a new series which 
KSTP has cooked up with the fed- 
eral department of agriculture. 

Diiibbed 'Housewives' Market Re- 
ports,' the series gives authentic, 
impartial reports as to quality; type, 
price, all given by Harry Charter of 
the Minneapolis division of the U. S. 
department.- 

Series first went on the air last 
year over KSTP and was so popular 
that station is renewing the stint for 
this year. 



This Is How We Do It 

St. Paul. 

Duluth's new transmitter, KDAL, 
as a 'get acquainted' - gesture, takes 
any listeners who show up at the 
studios on guide-conducted 'air 
tours.' After ogling the biz offices, 
studio."?, announcers' booth, control 
room and press room, staff members 
are glimpsed at work at their various 
stints, and the guide — back of the 
glass partition and out Of mike 
range — translates the goings-on in 
layman's English. 



17 High Schools Merge Music 

Detroit^ 

CKLW next Friday (28) will feed 
to Mutual- a half -hour broadcast of 
portion of concert by combined 
bands of 17 high Schools in this area. 

Combined band, numbering about 
500 musicians, will be under Dr. 
Edwin Franko Goldman. 



Wilkinson Bankrupt 



James Wilkinson, listed as a radio 
artist, employed by NBC* filed a vol- 
untary petition in bankruptcy Mon- 
day (24) in U. S, District Court, He 
listed his liabilities at $1,230, no as- 
sets. 

One of the creditors is William 
NeUinah of the Marks Music Corp., 
who holds a note for $125. 



Jack Pearl Silent 



Jack Pearl fades from the Brown- 
Williamson Tobacco Co.'s series 
(NBC-blue) with the June 25 broad- 
cast. Tommy .Dorsey-s band is set 
to stiay in the half hour spot. Also 
Morton Bipwe and Edith Wright. 

Dorsey's new cphtract takes him 
through the summer and part of the 
fall. ■ 



A Hot Subject 

Mason City, la, 
KGLO's newly inaugurated North 
Iowa forum of the air, Was high- 
lighted Coronation week by a debate 
between a paii: of native Englishmen 
living here on the question, 'Re- 
solved, the Duke of Windsor got a 
raw deal.' 

W. Earl Hall, Globe-Gazette man- 
aging ed., and John Price, KGLO 
prog, director, arranged. 




says the Ice Industry of America 

BROADCASTING ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH 



says 



V 




««4 tol**. 




:jf.:,fil 



Represented by E. KATZ, Special Advertising Agency 



WSB's Wet-Dry Debates 

Atlanta. 

Wets and drys of Georgia are 
having it out (free) over WSB's 
facilities as Georgia voters prepare 
to go to the polls June 8 to vote on 
the prohibition repeal issue. 

Lambdin Kay, general manager of 
Atlanta Journal's 60-kw station, 
offered time to the two accredited 
organizations supporting and oppos- 
ing the repeal amendment without 
charge . and they're ppuririg , the 
forensic fireworks into every nook 
and cranny of the state. 

Strategic moVernent puts station 
ace high with both sides and cpunit; 
less new friends (and listeners) ate 
net result. 



That Informa,l Touch 

St. Louis. 
WTMV's 'After Breakfast Club' 
program, conceived by Woody Klose, 
is a weather news, gags and miscel- 
lanepus period in which Fred 
Mbegle, announcer, warns listeners 
'You'd better not listen to this pro- 
gram. There's no good reason for 
it. The music isn't too good; the 
weather news i.<5 just weather, and if 
you have anything better to do — 
you'd better do it. Hubby has gone 
now and you can relax. You can 
even smoke that cigarette if you 
want, to.' 

Making use of NBC's Thesaurus, 
library, Moegle elects rniisic as. that 
played by George Hall, Harry. Reser 
and the Rhythmakers ar.d also pre- 
sents Thesaurus comic. Pinky Lee. 
'After Breakfast Club' program has 
been on air for several months and 
Klose reports that not one com- 
plaint against kidding has been re- 
ceived. 



Frisco Space-Time Swap 

San Francisco, May 25. 
, As the result of: a trade agreement 
recently effected between KFHC, 
local Don Lee-Mutual outlet, and the 
San Francisco Ejcamiher, Hearst 
morning daily, KFRC is airing a 
weekly program by Anita Day Hub- 
bard, the Examiner's 'Good Neigh-' 
bor,' in return for space in which to 
call attention to its shows. 

Mrs. Hubbard recently joined the 
Examined to conduct a column of 
advice on heart and home problenis 
in competition to ex-policewoman 
Kate O'Connor's column In the rival 
sheet, the Chronicle. 



Dugout Pickup Sponsored 

Montgomery, Alia., May 25. 

WSFA has the local ball club 
sponsoring a broadcast picked up 
remote from dugout in ball yard 45 
mins. before each game. 

Programs are buildups for base- 
ball and exhortations to lure the 
natives out to the park. 



Joe Cook Option Indef 



Shell Oil's Saturday night hour on 
NBC may be cliplped to half that 
time with the June 19 broadcast, , 

No decision, has been made as lo 
picking up the next option on Joe 
Cook's services. 



INITIAL NEVy^ YORK 
THEATRE APPEARANCE 

LUCILLE 

MANNERS 

NBC'a L9<tding Soprano 

ROXY . NEW YORK 

This Week (May 21) 
On the Air 

DVBHY FiRIDAY NIOHT 

Cities Service Program 

WEAF, 8-9 P.M., EPST 




* Ask the man who sells for you in 
Oklahoma I He's sold on the stiation that 
sells for him! Oklahoma dealers vvill tell 
you that WKY is the station that puts 
pep in sluggish mOvers , gives sales 
a quick start and fast get-iaway. Okla- 
homa dealers have felt the selling power 
of WKY from behind the counter. 'They'll 
tell you to tise WKY to get places i 
Oklahoma. 



A 0 



E. KATZ SPECIAL AE'VERTISING AGENCY 



42 



VARIETY 



RA0IO 



WPA'S 'SOCIALMINDED' 
SCRIPTS SETS ON WEVD 



WPA radio project has arranged 
lor a series of ten dramatizations, 
prepared by its writers and pro- 
jected toy its players, oyer WEVD; 
New Yor 

For long the Goverment group 
has been buttonholing the 'labor 
union' broadcaster tp cuffo its fa- 
ciliti Avrangiemqrit was firially 
made after the. workers' xonscipus 
roadcastelv got the WPA to agree 
to the stipulation, thiat the jplaylets 
would be 'social-minded.' 



Quite a Guy 

Atlanta, Ga., May . 
Paul Dbnehoo, Atlanta's blind 
crooner, has received an invitation 
from Robert L. Ripley to appear on 
his NBC Bakers' broadcast. Done- 
hoQ has been heard frequently on 
,WSB. 

He is a musician, attends theatres 
and sports events regularly, and is 
an expert chess player and mentalist. 



F C.C.'S WASHINGTON DOCKET 



DECISIONS 




Washington, May 25; 
California: KGGG, San Trancisco, granted^ chahge i 
hours of operation from specified to unlimited, comniish 

sustaining Examiner George H HiH- .. , ^.^^ 

Connecticut: WTHT, Hartford Times, granted change 
in houts of operation from daytimes^to unlimited ^re- 
quests facilities of WNRI, Newport, R. I, 1200 kc with 
100 watts ),. Examiner R. H. Hyde sustained. 

Illlhoisi K. E. Schonert, Hatrisburg, granted new 
hiKh frequency- broadcast station to be operated on 
frequencies 31,600, 35,600, 38.600 and 41,000 kcs with 
100 watts. WMBD, Peoria' Broadcasting Co., Peona, 
granted power boost from 500 watts nights, 1 kw days 
to i kw nights, 5 kw days, and instaU new transmitter, 
commish upholding Examiner Hill, . 

Kansas: KWBG, Hutchinson, denied frequency change 
from 1420 to 550 ke and i>ower boost from 100 to 250 
watts, Examiner Melvin H. Dalberg sustained. 

Massachusetts: WAAB, Boston, granted increase in 
day ppwer from 500 watts to i kw, commish support- 
:ing Examiner Robert L. Irwin. 

Michigan: Cadillac Broadcastng Co., Detroit, appli- 
cation for new station to be operated on 1140 kc with 
500 waits daytimes dismissed without prejudice. Exr 
aniiner Dalberg sustained; W. H. Marolf, Escanaba, 
denied as in default new station to be operated on 1500 
fp with 100 watts, commish sustaining. Examiner Hyde; 
Sscanaba Daily Press Co., Escanaba, application for 
new station to be operated on 1500 kc with 100 watts 
dismissed with prejudice, sustaining Examiner R. H. 
Hyde. 

Nebraska: WOW, Omahai, denied extension of special 
temporary authority to operate with 5 kw nights. 
( Commissioner 'Sykes diissenting. 

North Carolina: WSJS, '"inston-Salem, application 
for new station to be of>erated on 1250 kc with 1 kw 
dismissed at applicant's request. 

Pennsylvania: WQAN, Scrantori, granted use of 
transmitter of WGBI, Scrantoh, as mai , transmitter, 
and power jump from, 250 to. 500 watts, also granted 
icense to use present main transmitter as an auxiliary 
ransipitter for ; eriiergency purposies only; WGBI, 
Scranton, granted license to use present' transmitter of 
WQAN aS WGBI's auxiliary; WFIL, Philadelphia, 
granted extension of special temporary authority to 
operate on 560 kc with 1 kw nights, from June 1 to 
June 30. 

. Rhode Island: WNRI, S. George Webb, Newplort, de- 
nied.' extension of completion date on . new station to 
)e operated on 1200 kc with 100 watts nights, 250 watts 
days, commish upholding Examiner Hyde; E. Anthony 
itc Sons, Inc., Pawtuicket, denied new station to be 
operated on 1200 kc with 100 watts nights, 250 watts 
days .(facilities, of WNRI), Examiner Hyde sustained. 
. Te^s: KFPM, Greenville, denied . frequency chainge 
from 1310 kc to 1420 kc, power increase from 50 to 100 
watts, change h6i\rs of operation from specified to 
daytime, Examiner P. W. Seward sustained; Hunt 
Broadcasting Association, Greenville, granted new sta- 
tion to be operated on 1200 kc with 100 watt? days, 
commish supporting Examiner George H. HilK 



Phil 
baker 

THE - 
GREAT 
AMERICAN 
E l> I ;T Q B 

§ GULF REFiNlNG § 
■ COMPANY 



SUNDAYS 

i:30-s p;m.. DST 

WAHO 
CBS 



SET FOR HEARING 



Alabama: A. L. Beajrd, Jasper, hew station to be- 
operated on 1500 kc with lOO waitts. 

California: Airfan Radio Corp., Ltd., San Diego, new 
station io he Operated on 1420 kc with 100 watts. 

Illlnoli: WTAD, Quincy, increase power and time of 
operation from I kw days .only to 1 kw unlimited; 
Decatur. Newspapers, Inc., Decatur, new special' broad- 
cast station to °b.e. operated oh 1550 kc withM kw. 

Indiana: Curtis Radiocasting Corp., Richrhond,. new 
station to be operated on 1420 kc with 100 watts nights, 
250 -watts days. 

.North 'Caroliha: Carolinas' Radio, Inc., new station to 
be operated on 880 kc with 1 kw; .Broadcasters, Inc., 
Gastonia, new station to be operated on 1420 kc with 
100 watts nights, 250 watts days. 

NEW APPLICATIONS 

Florida; WJAX, City of Jacksonville, Jiacksohville, 
special experimental authorization to operate with 5 
kw. until September. 

Illinois: WJBIi, Decatur, change frequency from 1200 
to 1310 kc, contingent on granting of WBOW, Terre 
Haute, Ind., receiving frequency shift to 1290. 

Idaho: KSEI, Pocatello, change power from 250 
watts nights, 500 watts days to 250 watts nights, 1 kw 
days. 

Indiana: V^GRC, New Albany, change frequency 
from 1370 to 880, kc, , hours of operation from days tp 
unlimited time, using 250 watts, and install directional 
antenna for night time use. 

Kansas: KGNO, Dodge City, install new transmitter, 

. ^ — ■■ '■ — — - 



erect vertical antenna and boost power from 250 watts 
to 1 

Louisiana: Southern Broadcasting Corp., Pogalusa, 
new station to be operated on 1500 kc with ipO watts 
nights, 250 watts days. . ^ 

North Carolina: Capitol roadcastirig Co., Inc., 
Raleigh, new station to be operated on 1210 kc with 
100 watts nights, 250 watts days. . 

North Dakota: KGCU, Mandan, change hours of op- 
eration from speciflied to unlimited (contingent upon 
granting of hew frequency to KLPM, Minot). 

Virginia: S. L. Slover Corp., Norfolk, new station to 
be operated on 1370 kc with 100 watts nights, 250 watts 
days. . , 

Washinffton: Tom Olsen, Port Angeles, new station 
to be operated oh 1420 kc with 100 watts. 

EXAMINERS' REPORTS 

niinoLsi: Addition of ia hew transmitter to the Prank 
E. Gannett chain was favorably recommended by Ex- 
aminer Robert L. Irwin who found the request Of the 
Northwestern Publishing Company of Danville in the 
public interest. Daytime statipn, tp be operated On 
1500 kc with 1500 watts, would be managed by E. C. 
Hewes, editor and publisher bf the Danville Commer- 
cial News, bought by the Gannett Company, Inc., in 
1934; Granting of request wOuld give Gannett people 
their seventh transmitter, to add to their string of 20 
news. rags. Horace L. Lohnes and Fred. W. Albertson 
appeared in Gannett's behalf. ... 

Maryland: Diesires of Frank M. Stearns of Washing- 
, i). C, to establish a 256-watt' daytime transmitter 
orii 1200 kc at Salisbury, were okayed by Chief Ex- 
aminer Davis G. Arnold bedause of a -need lor service 
on the Delaware-Maryland- Virginia peninsula and the 
interest displayed by townspeople who are without a. 
local station. Although h? has had no experience in 
broadcasti , tearhs^a retail oil and gas distributor- 
proposes to manage the new transmitter himself.. A 
resident of Washington; he proposes to mpye tp Salis- 
bury, if . the application is granted. Sjtoarns wias rep-? 
resented by Clifenbe C. D'iir and James W. Gum. . 

New Toric: Okay for a ohe^kilbwatter daytime sta- 
tion fpr Troy was indicated, by Examiner Hill. To 
enable Troy to overcome a 'feeling of rivalry' which 
exists between it .and Albany and Schenectady, a 
transmitter of the type proposed would contribute 
considerably, HiU declared. 

Pending applications, from ytica and from Pittsfleld,. 
Mass., for the same^ 950 kc frequency . would cause 
mutual interference. Hill fPiind, but statioa would be 
generally in the public interest, .convenience and ne- 
cessity. Philip G. Loucks .apd Arthur W. Scharfeld 
appeared for the Troy Broadcasting Co., applicants in 
the case. 

North Carolina: Application of WSOG, Charlotte, for 
a juicerjump from lOfO watts nights, 250 watts days, 
to 250 watts nights, kw days,: Was frowned ph by 
Examiner Melvin H. Dalberg because, area already is 
adequately seryed and granting of the application 
Would npt contribute to any improvement in night- 
time service. 

Station, an NBC affiliate, conripetes with Columbia 
Broadcasting's siibsid; WBT. Pair of transmitters al- 
ready has provided Charlotte with superior service, 
Dalberg contended, and granting of the request would 
not be in accordance with the 'fair, efficient and equit- 
able distribution of radio service as contemplated in 
the corhmunications act of 1934.' Ben S. Fisher was 
retained by NBC. 

Oklahoma: STAritch from daytime to unlimited for 
• KADA Ada, was recommended by Examiner P. W. 
Seward because of a need for additional night time 
service existing in the community. Transmitter, a 
smallie operated on 1200 kc, is the only orie in the city, 
Seward pointed out, and service from other transmit- 
ters is not easily available nights. Paul Spearman 
represented c; C. Morris, owner of KADA. 

Tennessee: Change from daytimes only to day and 
night operation was advocated for WAPO, Chatta- 
nooga, by Examiner John P. Bramhall. Station, now 
operating 100 watts days, on 1420 kc, would boost its 
day power to 250 watts and, tack on night power of 
100 watts.. Night time reception is poor, in the vi- 
cinity of Chattanooga, Bramhall indicated, and grant- 
ing of the application would be in the public interest, 
convenience- and necessity. W. A. Patterson, appli- 
cant, was represented by Prank D. Scott. 

Wisconsin: Permission for WSAU, Northern Broad- 
casting Company, Wausau, to change from a daytime 
statipn to unlimited, will be recommended to the com- 
mish by Examiner P. W.Seward. 

One of several transmitters to join the rush for 
unlimited operation, WSAU showed ample resources 
to operate during night time hours and a need for 
additional service: within the area proposed to be 
served. Station, which uses 100 watts on 1370 kc. Was 
represented by Ben & Fisher and Glenn D. Roberts 



Wednesflaj, May 26, 1937 

KYA Staff Dinner 



San Francisco, May 25. 

Entire KYA staff, with exception 
of : artists, was. present at a, dinner 
given last Friday night tp celebrate 
the inauguration of the station's new 
transmitter May 24, Lpcal and east 
bay radio: writers from newspapers 
and magazines also attended. - Ford 
Billings, general manager of the 
California Radip System, with which 
KYA is tied, was in from Los An- 
geles for the feed and the official 
ceremonies Monday. 

Bob Roberts, KYA manager, was 
the only speechmakei-, tossi 
chids to his staft members. 




THI O'NEILLS' 

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jAUGhlTER JeARS -^-^o | -{ E ART-THROBS j 

PrcM- ntffi by Ivory Soap • 99'' . " ' - por.' ;l 



LISTEN ^^^^^ '^^'^^ 

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|M ' NBC Rod Notwerit/Mon. to 'i^ri. 3:45 p.m. DST 
* • COAST TO COAST 

Dir.. COMPTOM ADVCRTISIMa AGBNCT 
MGn E0 WOLF^RKO BLDC NEW YORK CITY 



General Electric Asks 



Washington, May 25. 
Construction Of super-po\yer inter* 
riatipnal stations on high frequencies 
was proposed to Federal Communi- 
catipns Commission , last week by 
General Electric Co.' Plea for per- 
mits to set up 100,000 watt short 
wave plants at Schenectady was filed 
to satisfy ambitions. 

After reputedlv wanting to ask 
for the right to use some of the five 
frequencies reserved for govern- 
ment use, G. E. petitioned the Com- 
mish to grant occupancy privileges 
on two channels how set aside for 
relay' broadcasting. Wavelengths 
mentioned are 9,530 and 15«330. 

Another bracket of applications 
came from the Mormons, who want 
to erect short«wavers at Salt Lake 
City operating with 50 kw and using 
15.250 and 21,460. 



WXYZ Tower Operating 

Detroit, May 25. 

WXYZ's new 283-foot vertical an- 
tenna, atop 15-story Macabbees 
building, no\y in operatiPn after six 
weelcs of construction. 

Tower, which is 474. feet above 
street level,, erected under direction 
of Lynne C. Smeby, Ineering su- 
pervisor of station. 



New WBBM Studios 

Chicago, May 25. 

Two more studios in thfe WPBM- 
Columbia remodeling deal will be 
completed June 9, finishing up the 
job except for two. small dramatic 
studios which are not to be done 
oyer until fall. 

CBS key now has one theatre stu- 
dio, three full orchestra studios with 
Observation booths, three dramatic, 
one organ and one news studio, all 
of which have air conditioning 
equipment. 

/ 



Clifford Johns Plhch-Hits 

Buffalo, May 25. 

Clifford Johns, actor, who played 
in the New York edition of 'Steve- 
dore,^ has tui'ned advertising copy 
writer and. press agent for a week. 

He's batting; for Addison Fletcher 
Biisch of the WGR-WKBW staH 
who is vacationing. 



TRV3IPET KING OF SWING 




ARMSTRONG 



(J. Walter .Thompson) 

9 P.M. D.S.T. Every Friday, WJZ 
Blue Network 

Just Comiileted Two .SnccessiTul Weeks 
in Chlcagro 

NOW 

rARAMOVNT riCTirRES 
HOLLYWOOD. CAl^ 

DECCA RECORDS 



MOT. .TOE GT.ASER 
BOCKWELL-O'KEEFJE 



I II liiTi ill 11 III ■■ I 



FRAY ^ 
/BRAOOIOT M 



I 11 III 11 III II. Ill iTj 

idav— 7:15 P.M* 
WJZ 



■/ ( . 



Fred Allen 
Portland Hoffa 

in "Town Hall Tonighr 

SAL HEPATICA IPANA 
WEAF—Wednesdayf 0-10 P.M. EST 
Dlr:t; WAIiTEB BATCHELpB 




and Hi 
Orchestra 

BE-ENGAGED 

2ND YEAR 

CURRENTLY 

HOTEL ST. REGIS 

KEW YORK 



MOT. 
M.C.A. 



EASY 
A C E S 



B R O A DC AST 1 N G 
6 t h Y i£ A R F 6 R 
BLACKETT SAMPLE 
H U M M E R t., INC. 

A N AC I N 



WeJnesday, May 26, 1937 



RADIO 



VARJETY 



43 



HERE AND THERE 



Bida Say*o, Brazilian sopraiib, on 
5 Ford hour next Sunday (30). 

Joe Weed, statioii rep, ducking 
out of N: Y. - end of June for a 
' month's trek through territory m 
' which are located the ten Canadian 
stations on his list 

Perchik MeMk, warbler on WPA 
radio project, has altered her label 
professionally to Anne MUford. 

Ann Leaf has been booked for 
opening- week of Clfeveland Expo 
(May 29) for Radioland exhibit. 

lifontana Slim' guests on 'Ham- 
mersteih Mxisic Hall* (Kolynos) over 
CBS on June 8. 

Howard E. Pill, frm, of WSFA, 
Montgomery, 'Ala., 'sailed yesterday 
(Tuesday) for International Rotary 
< Convention, held this year . in Nice, 
Pill is prez ol Montgomery's' chapr 
ter. 

lank biiUire; on leave from KLZ, 
Deliver, dramatic staff for 12 weeks' 
Etretcb with sumiper stock troupe 
at Raniona Park, Grand Rapi 

.CBS has tlie exclusive on thie air- 
iiig of the Latohia Derby for threer 
year-bids on June li2. Will devote 
' half-hour, starting at 6 p;m. DST, to 
the gee-gee gallop. 



Bernard Wilson, new program di- 
rctor. at KGVO, Missoula, Mont., is 
from WIBM, Jackson, Mich- Re- 
places Ed Coohey who has migrated 
to KGHli, Billings.. 



Balto Sfinpapers last week again 
iterated stand against carrying ra- 
io columns, asserting readers never 

squawked about their absence from 

pages... 



Earle Gluck, general manager Of 
WSdC, Charlotte, N. C., has, been 
appointed to. naval reserve policy 
board." 



The Choreh In the Wildweod, a 

transcribed sustaiher of sacred '^songs 




iBE!siJi;rsi 

WJAR 

Basic Bed Network Provl- 
dence eotlet, d b m 1 n » t e • 
Rhode Isbuid Md the M«th- 
eaatcm lectloB of MassR- 
ehvsetts. 



uiEEoecompRny 



vocalized by Baritone John Seagle, 
for a time an NBC director of music, 
has beeii spottied over various sta- 
ti" (including WGY). S6agle is 
a son of Oscar Seagle, former opera 
singer and now conductor of a sum- 
mer school of music at Schroon 
Lake, N. Y. 



Fred Kirby. has orgianized a stage 
unit from the hillbilly talent at 
WBT, Charlotte, N, G. With him are 
Happy , Sam Fowler, Ted Poole and 
Elmer Warren.. 



Burridec D. Butler, WLS top, back 
after wintering in Phoenix, Arizona, 
getting KOY in shape. 



Lulu Belle off on a six- week vaca- 
tion after roadshowinig one-niters for 
WLS seven weeks. 



George Partridge's spelli , bees 
done for season at WiCC, ridge- 
port. 



Walter Knick, pi ist with Billy 
Grantham's band,"^ now soloing on 
WBNS, Columbus. 



WHKC, CiDlumbus, has installed 
United Press wire, lot Bob, French's 
news broadcasts. 



Corwin Riddeli is back on the an- 
nouncing staff of WOAI,. San An 
tonio. 



Jimmy Dorsey qui the Kraft 
Music Hall (N^BC) July 1, opening 
nine days later at the Congress 
hotel, Chicago. 



Royal Wax. sponsoring, series of 
NBC Thesaurus waxes on LR4, 
Buenos Aires. 



Ward McCauley, literary , 
reviewing books'on weekly program 
over WJBK, Detroit. 



Jaek Wyatt, formerly with NBC!, 
N. v., joins announcing staff at 
WWJ, Detroit. 



Myron J. Bcniiett, formerly with 
NBC, new spieler at WXVZ, De- 
troit. 



William F. Mitten, former Boston 
newspaperman, is handling the 
newscasting for WCAM, Camden, N. 
J. Main source of the outlet's news 
service Is Transradio Press. 



Travis Barnes, singing salesman, 
sold program for Cuthrell Co. ovei' 
WTAR, Norfolk, and takes solo part 
himself. 



Jack Light, asst mgr, WTAR, 
Norfolk, in for second eye operation 
with local hospital attaches hopeful 
of success. 



.'Romance qt Helen Trent,' Edna 
Wallace Hopper's CBS serial, wind- 
ing up its fifth air year, remains at 
high standard for morning audiences. 
Well produced, well performed and 



WHILE THEY'RE COOLING OFF IN 




Secret Revealed 



Toronto, May 25. 

Vincent Boyd, pianist who 
boasts of being world's fastest 
keyboard artist, set for guest 
date on Robert L, Ripley's 'Be- 
lieve It Qr Not' NBC^! program 
next month' 

Before turning on the speed 
he bathes his arms and hands 
in steaming hot watei: for 20 
minutes and then hai a thor- 
ough massage. 



expertly writteiii it looks good for 
another half decade. 



Sam H. Harris, producer of legit 
•You Can't. take It With You,' ac- 
cepts Radio Critics' Award for what 
group deemed year's best play over 
a WMCA. N. Y., hookup tonight 
(Wed.). .Harry Hershfield, for the 
air-reviewers of legit, will make the 
presentation. 



Worthy ;HilIs' band, now in eighth 
straight, year at Pavilion Royal, 
Savin Rockj Conn., getting benefit of 
special New England hook-up in- 
cluding WELI, New Haven; WCOP, 
Boston; WSPR, Springfield; WAIH, 
Waterbury; and WNBC, New Britain. 



WELI, New Haven^ por tabled, .Yale 
derby crew races down HousatOnic 
Saturday (22). 



WICG, ridgeporl - New Haven, 

chiecking in half-hour earl! , 6 a.m., 
through summer. 



George Tompkins opening ?Young 
Playmates' juve series at WICC, 
Bridgeport. 



Freddy Hall and Bill Derwin palsy- 
walsying amateur baseball games on 
WATR, Waterbury. 



Marion Bergeron, 1933 'Miss Amer- 
ica,' addied to Sunday variety frame 
at WELI, New Haven. 



Herbert Anderson next Sunday 

(30) winds ijp fifth year of 'Chapel 

Echoes,' inspirational, at WICC, 
Bridgeport. 



Bill Gay, of WMBD, Peori 111. 
leaves in a few days to spieling as- 
signment with station KNX, Los 
A.ngeles. 



Bob Evans has resigned as sports- 
castier for WGAR, Cleveland, to join 
Mansfield (O.) baseball team as 
business manager. 



Newman Burnett, former actress 
with the Cleveland Play House, * in- 
injg WJAY-WHK as announcer. 



Ralph Kirberry cutting transcrip- 
tions for Chevrolet with Gus Haen- 
scheri's orchestra. 



Hal Culver, mikeman at KWK, 
St. Louis, resigned to take similar 
post with WLS, Chicago. 



Lester E. Cox, pres. KTMV, E. St. 
Louis, making rounds of Chicago 
agencies. 



Alex Buchan, sportscaster for the 
WTMV, leaves on June 9 for trip to 
Scotland, land of his birth. 



Uncle Jimmy and his 'Texas Cow- 
boys,' WTMV, East St. Louis, hill 
billy act, join Georgia Wildcats on 
WLW, Cincy. 



Cabin- Boys, pickaninny quintet of 
screen and radio, opened at the 
Beale Street Palace, Memphis, Sun- 
day (23), 



Browne and Lavelle, of Alka 
Seltzer program, played Imperial 
theatre, .Charlotte, .N. C, last week. 



Dewey Long, sales manager for 
WBT, Charlotte, N. C, has returned 
from Atlanta, where he went oh a 
business tri for Radio Sales. 



riarhopper Band, a WBT,- Char- 
lotte, N. C, hilly-billy act, is doing 
a series of .stage appearances. John 
McAllister, born in New York (I!ity, 
is the boss of this mountain band. 



Fred Steele, for five years com- 
mercial manager of WAPI, Birming- 
ham, has joined WHBQ, Memphis, 
for both sales and production. 



Les .Weeia'ns, musical director 
KLZ, Denver, vacationing^ 'Nornjian 
Sorensoh subbing on his programs. 



Martin' Block; Ted Webbe and 
Richard Brooks, of WNEW, Nl' Y. 
announcing stafT, and Max Weiher, 
station engineer, will vie for rifle 
marksmanship honors- today (Wed- 



nesday) at Coney Island after sev- 
eral days of preliminary shooting. 



Chaz Chase and Danzi Gfbodelle 
have been booked by Frank Cooper, 
of Curtis and Allen, for the cross- 
country tour of the Al Pearce (Ford) 
program over CBS . each "Tuesday. 
Troupe will be picked up next week 
(1) from Philly, first stand on 40-odd 
weeks' trek. 



Offer Elsa Maxwell 



T. A. McClelland, chief engineer 
Of KLZ, Denver, is tn to hospital 
with pneuinohia. 



Palmer Greer/ transmitter engi- 
neer, fornierly of WHIO, Dayton; 
has joined WkRC; 



Leonard Kapner, linanager of 
WCAE, Pittsburgh, has left for Cali- 
fornia and a month's vacation. While 
oh the Coast, he'll visit Ford Bil- 
li 



Betty Dugan, who for years con- 
ducted 'Juvenile Round-Up' on 
WWSW. ittsburgh, now has a jUve-; 
nile of her Own. Hiibby is Buddy 
Miller, radio 



: Kilbuck Theatre, Pittsburgh, seatjs 
40— ^is now airing an ori inal one^ 
act script over KDKA, every Sun- 
day afternpon. productions are di- 
rected by Robert. Alan Green. 



Jack ollister doubling as sports- 
caster iand publicity director fOr 
special events at KDKA, Pittsburgh. 
Kay Ba'rr, another ex-foiirth. estater, 
is in charge of regular exploitation. 



Arthur Caesar authored 'The Great- 
est Judge,' a playlet with Jewish 
characters, for Al<JolsOn .on latter's 
Lifebuoy program over CBS, 



Woody Klose, program director of 
WTMV, E. St. Louis, lined up Mayors 
in ,13 Illinois communities to make 
speeches on station's second anni- 
versary program Wednesday (19). 



CliiTord Glick. joined the sales 
staff, of the Mutual Network Mon- 
day (24).; His previous connection 
in a similar, capacity was. NBC, for 
eight years. 



fed Cooney, mikeman at KGHL, 
Billings, Moni;., marries non-pro 
Mary Wold on June 14. 



Henny Frankel added to WOR 
Artists Bureau to book club and 
vaudates. 



Tom Foley, of the N. W. Ayer 
agency, leaves today (Wed.) . as ad- 
vance p.a. for the Al Pearce (Ford 
dealeris) program, which goes atour- 
ing. 



N. W. Ayer agency last week au- 
ditioned for two of its accounts, a 
variety show headed by Elsa Max- 
well, famed party-plotter, 

Proffered program is built around 
Miss Maxwell's penchant, so much 
in favor with socialites, and features 
hei: a;s m.c. 



it Does Happen 

Lynchburg, Va., May 25. 
Speaker at. a Lions Cliib poW-wow 
forgot the mike was oti, and v gave 
WLVA a spell o£ jitters, ' 

Started spieling what sounded 
likie innocent yarn about a Negro 
camp meeting. Sock ending, plenty 
blue, said to ^ have hit the air despit* 
speaker's attempt to coyer the mike 
with his palm. 

, Engineers reached to cut him pff, 
but too late. 



WHK Hit from Sky 

Cleveland, May 25. 
WHK, Cleveland, was forced off 
the air for two: hours lajst Friday 
night (21) when its transmitter was 
striick by ligl^tning. Diamage done 
to equipment figuried around. $1,000^ 
WGAR and WTAM broadcast inter- 
mittent announcements explaihing 
the WHK mishap. 

WHK's major power line went at 
9;18 and the outlet wasn't back oh 
until 11.02, Bolt blew out five fuses 
and a rectifier tube! and burned out 
a transformer.. 



WMBD> New Equipment 

Peoria, May 25. 
WMBD, P6bria, lU. soon to stari 
on. an equijiSment .building program 
which will five times over increase 
its transmitting equipment, following 
the nod, from the Federal Communi- 
cations (Commission which will up 1^ 
daytime power from 1,000 to 5i000 
watts and double the riight time 
power. 

Project will be finished about 
Sept. 1. ) 



KaiO'8 A.P. Mention 

Mason City, Ia„ May 29. i 
KGLO recently was Instrumental 
in capture of a hoodlum and was 
given full criedit by sheriff of ;COun^. 
Station broadcast description and 
warning of the hood and the law 
nabbed him 30 minutes after hear- 
ing the air warning. 

Successful stunt earned the station 
free advertising on the AP wires. 




Here's a clue to .coverInK the Hartfofd 
market' that cannot be oyerlouked. And 
here's, how It was discovered. 
From February 28 to March 6. we engag<>d 
the fact-finding Robk Federal KeBcarch 
Bureau to analyze the llHtenlng habits o£ 
the Hartford market. They niade thou- 
sands of telephone call.s, and h«re are the 
facts which speak for iherhselve^i. 
WTIC not opiy blahketn Oonnpctlout, hut 
also large sections of we.stern MasBJi- 
chusetts and eastern New York, as well 
as New Hamp.qhli'« . and Vt-rmont. in 
WTIC!» primary cbveiftge area in a rich 
audience of 1,737, «10, and in Jt.s .'jecondary 
coverage area there Ik an additional 
1,600,626, making a total potenilal aiuli- 
ence of 3;3!)8,43C. 



AO 79 <V y^*'^* tuned !• 
wy*'^ /^ WTIC. 

04. ^7®/ were ttiried to 
x,-r» J / /q tjig jjgxt riioBt 
ula,r station, 

A were: tunefl to 

fJ'O-r /q the third most 
popular station. 

9 9ft**/ wore tuned to 
/o the fourth niot-t 
popular station. < 

6.09%: 



\vere tuned tr).a II 
theV -statlon.s. 



I 00.00% Total Calls. 
Writ* Tod ay for/th« B rtohlet ComulnUtK full Facte on tlie.RoNw Faderiil Buifi^ty 

50,000 WATTS— ^+ARtF6RD, C^NN. 
The Traveler*- Broadcasting Ser\/ice Corp. 
Member NBC: Red Network and Yankee NetWo.rk 
Paul W. Mdrenpy, General Manager James F. Clancy, fiusinesa Man^tger 

RepriBsentativeS: WEED A' CO. | 

350 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. 203' N. Wabash Ave., 

' Michigan Building, Peti*oit, Michigan .. . ._ 



WTIC 




.■^ Aliilialcd in Manngcmrni v, !'• WHY 
\, » y ,T[ul llin Ohinhoma Publishing Co. 



44 VAglETY 



MUSIC AND DANCE TOORS 



t 

Wednesday, May 2fi, I937 



On the Upbeat 



Barney Rapp's one-niters between 
plosjpg at Chase hotel, St. Louis, and 
preem at Beverly Clubj Newport, 
Ky., on June 15 are: Fontaine Gar- 
dens, LoUisviile, June 3; ;U. of Tehn., 
4; Gleritangy Park, Columbus, O., 5 
(two days); Richmond, Ky.; U. of 
the South, Sewanee, Tenn.; Cotillion 
Dance, Hopkinsville, Ky.; Williamson^ 
and Charleston, W. Va.; Pikevilie 
C; C, Pikevilie, Ky., and Meadow- 
brook C., Beacon, O. 



Kay . Kyser plays the Modernistic 
ballrooin at State Fair , Park, Mil- 
waukee, May 30. When, he made the 
spot last season he broke the record; 
with '8,147 paid admissiohs. 

Blue Barron closed a nine-month 
engagement at the Southern Tavern, 
May 14 to gp to N. Y. for a record- 
.'Ing date. Does a ohe-nitef' trek foi* 
CRA before opening at Westview 
Park;. Pittsburgh, Pa., on June 14. 



Harry Lewis orchestra started 
summer engagement at, the Dessert 
hotel Roundup !Robm; Spokane, re- 



OOBDON mnd BEVEL'S 

(Hum a Waltz 



From 2Mb Centorjr-Fox'a "Thli !• 
Mr Affair" 



WithoutYour 
Love 

From Hal Boach'* ^'Flck • siar" 




Mi-Kokolsle 

Earlaad'o Noveltr Sac^inM 

/A*^u% Music. |nc. 

Ifti* SflOAOWAY • NIW YORK 



The Enaliah Swing 
Novalty it 

"CUBAN 
FETE* 

Watch Thla Naraber Sweep 
The Conntry t 

Stm the Natlon'e Walta 

Favorite 

'SEVENTH HEAVEN' 



HOatWQQD SONG S 



placing Sid McNutt's which goes on 
Pacific northwest tour,. Lewis conies 
from College Inn, San Diego. 



Marvin Frederic follows Reggie 
Childs into the Commodore Perry- 
hotel, Todelo, O., May 26. Latter 
goes to New Penn Club, Pittsburgh. 

Mart enny band switches from 
Vancouver hotel to Royal York hotel, 
Toronto. Horace Lapp exits latter 
spot for Banff Springs hotel in Al- 
berta. Can. 



Oak Grove Casino, Milford, Conn., 
opened last week-end under new 
managehtent, Petrocy Bros. Paul 
Tremaihe premiere attraction Satur- 
day (22); 



George Hall booked for what looks 
like longest advance one-niter to 
date at Bronx Winter Garden, N.Y., 
Oct. 9. ill Wolfe set for CRA. 



Dph Ferdl's orchestra, at the Strat- 

flield hotel, Bridgeport, Conn., has 
taken on Barbara Perkins for vocal- 
izing. Has a twice weekly NBC 
wirei 



Maximllllan Berrere band opens 
the Ross-Fenton Farms, Asbury 
Park, June 19, for ah.indeflnite stay, 
just closed: the Miam^- iltmore. 

Set by , Harry Kilby. 



Olentonry Park, Columbus, has a 
double for Memorial - Day, booking 
Jah Garber as ah added attraction to 
Austin Wylie. Latter is in park for 
week of May 29, following Johnny 
Burkharth. ' 



Paul TremalDe gets a dozen days 
with the Fireiman's Carnival at 
Trenton, N. J., froril July 5 to 17. 
Also slated for JalTa Mosque, Al- 
toona, Pa., June 19. ROC set both. 



Charles. . Boiilanfer. booked for 
Lakeside Park; Barnesville, i>a.,^ May 
29. , Follows with prystal ballroom, 
Cumberland, Md., June 2.. 



Eddie WIttstein will fly up from 
the Hamilton hote^, Bermuda, his 
regular stand, to play the Yale se- 
nior jjrom in New Haven June 21. 



Virginia Beach suft club has 
Emerson Gill as first band leader 
through June and probably' Johnny 
Johnson for July and August. 



Herb Gordon's orchestra, recently 
at the Wardman Park Hotel, Wash- 
ington, has returned to Riley's Lake 
House, Saratoga Lake, for the Slim- 
mer season. 



Pierre Kara's band opens the roof 
of the Walton hotel, Philly, May 29. 



Blanche Calloway will return to 
the Southland, Boston, nitery, which 
she opened this past fall for one year 
starting Sept. 15. 



Grady MuUin's Southern Gentle- 
men Orchestra opens at The Pines, 
Pittsburgh, May 29, for indef stay. 



Mickey Alpert supplies music for 
Ben Marden's Riviera^ Englewood, 
N. J., opening May 27. 



Freddie Starr's band debuted at 
the Roosevelt hotel, N. Y., May 20, 
(Continued on page 46) 



Tops 

AnPther ''These Foolish Thinfls" 



THE YOU AND ME THAT USED TO BE 



The No, 1 Song 



Just Relsassd 



CARELESSLY 



A STAR IS BORN 



the Gr««test Sonfl of the Year 



GONE WITH THE WIND 



IRVINQ BERLIN, Inc. 

799 SEVENTH AVE., NEW YORK HARRY LINK, Gen. Prof. Manager 



Dobbs Sues 3 Writers 
Alleging Song: Borrow 

Al Sherman, Jack ' Meskill, Abner 
Silver, ■'all songsmiths, and the Joe 
Morris Music Co., were named de- 
fendants in a $150,0(M) plagiarism 
suit filed Monday (24) in N. Y, Fed- 
eral District Court by Georg;e Dobbs, 
who has also composed songs, 

Dobbs claims defendants lifted the, 
music of a song he composed in 1929 
entitled 'My Baby's Wise,' and used 
it in their latest tome, 'Oh the Beach 
at Bali Bali.' 



CODE DRAFT IS 
READY FOR 



FT.t 



Final draft of a code of fair trade 
practices for the music industry will 
be laid before the Federal Trade 
Commission by the end of this week. 
Immediate action on the' documerit 
was assured by FTC spokesmen at a 
meeting in Washington Friday (21 ) 
with a delegation from the Music 
Publishiers Protective Association. 

If the code is approved by .the 
commission this week a trade con- 
ference on the pact will be held in 
New York the week after next. 
Tentative date cited by the commish 
is June 10. 

Group that called on the FTC last 
week consisted of John G. Paine, 
who quit the chairmanship of the 
MPP'A to become gen. :mgr. of the 
American Society of Composers, 
Authors and Publishers, Harry Fox, 
newly appointed MPPA gen. mgr., 
E. B. Marks, Sam Fox and an asso- 
ciate of Joseph V. McKee, MPPA 
counsel. 



Last Weeks IS Best Selers 



• * • • • • « 



fLittle Old Lady ..... 
■^September in the Rai 

Carelessly 

Love Bug Will Get You , . . . . . . , . , . . . 

^BluG -Hsi^v&ii • •'• • • • • • •' • •.• • • • s • • • • • *-• • 

Boo Hdo . • • • • • • • • • •••»»•'••••.«••••• • • • « * • 

*Never in Million Years ......... 

*Sweet Leilani .......... 

•Where Are You? ....... 

•There's' a Lull in My Life 
•MTas^ It, Rain?'. . « ^ .-i.. . . . «.•...... 

It Looks Like Rain . . , 

•Moonlight an^ Shadows . . ... . , , . .... . / . ; . 

•They Can't Take That Away. 

•Let's Call the Whole Thing Oflf 

* Indicates ftlmusical song, i Indicates stage 
others are pops 



!■«'••••« ••••4 



. . . . ... Chappell 

...... . Remick 

. . .Berlin 

Santly-Joy 

. . . . . i .Tamouis 

...... . Shapiro 

. . . .Bobbins 

.... Select 

Feist 

Robbins 

...... .-Sahtly- Joy 

i ... ....;MorFis 

. .. . . i .Popiiilar 

Chappell 

....... Chappell 

production song. The 



Mnsician Sentenced 



Cleveland, May 
Frank Hesidehce; of Akron,^ O... 
dance band leader . and director of 
the lOTth Cavalry band of the Ohio 
National Guard, was sentenced' last 
week by a federal judge here to 
serve two and a haif years in the 
Lewisburjg (Pa.) penitentiary 'for 
embeiszling around $700 by padding 
the oand's payroll. 

Hesidence V pleaded guilty to 
charges; saying his actions were 
'silly' and that he did not realize 
the. seriousness of the offense.. Judge 
S. H. West retorted it was too seri- 
ous, fining him $500 in aiddition to 
serving time. 

Bandleader was accused of listing 
several my thieal musicians on pay- 
roll, taking their pay checks, en- 
dorsing and then cashing them him- 
self. 



CHESTER COHEN PUSHED 
'YOU' INTO NO. 1 SPOT 



Leo Feist, Inc., "nas succeeded in 
taking a tune out of 'Top of the 
TTown' (U), and raising it to top 
place among song-film performances. 
Song is 'Where Are You?' Through 
a mathematical error, due to a 
checker failing to coiint. a Charley 
Dornbeygei: playing, the number did 
not get the No. 1 rating -it had won 
on the 'most played' list for the week 
ending May 15. 

Chester Cohen, professional manr 
ager of Feist, is credited with push- 
ing the song to the pinnacle against 
real odds by an intensive exploita- 
tion of all plug avenues. 



Three Years to Catalog 
164 Pages of Copyrights 

Mills Music, Inc., has put. out a 
164-page catalog listing copyrights it 
controls which have been assembled 
from 1896 to 1937. In the book's.clas- 
siflcation of 'Yearly Song Hits,' as 
applied to the Mills catalog from 
year to year, 'Sweet Rosie O'Grady' 
heads the list for 1896, while 'Organ 
Grinder's Swing' is rated as the No. 
1 song for 1936. 

Compilation of the catalog; which 
took three years, was directed by 
Mack Stark, Louis Schwartz - and 
Harry Godfrey. 



Professional Men's Fete 



Installation of the new officers of 
the Professional Men,/ Iiic, at the 
Astor last Friday (21) was accom- 
panied by a banquet and a speech by 
Gene Buck. Following were the in- 
stalled: 

Mose Gumble, pres.; Rocco Vocco, 
1st v. p.; Joe Santly, 2d v. p.; Bob 
Miller, 3d v. p.; Irving Tanz, treas- 
urer; Michael Schloss, financial sect,; 
Louis E. Schwartz, recording sect.; 
Dave Kent, sergeant-at-arms; Mack 
Stark, Jules von Tilzer, Chester 
Cohn, Danny Cameron and Jack 
Richmond, board of governors, and 
Jonie Taps, Johnny White. Sam 
Smith, Ehnore White and Charles 
Warren, board of trustees 



Music Notes 



Joe Kelt has joined the New York 
professional staff of the Joe Morris 
Music Co. 



Helen Meinardt and Hoagy Carr 
michael have peddled another song 
to. Paramount titled 'I Met Him in 
Paris.' Ditty will be published by 
Famous. 



Connie Boswell will do a song 
specialty in Paramount's 'Artists 
and Models.' ~ 



Vincent Lopei orch doing record- 
ings with Yoshi Fujiwara, Japanese 
tenor, who will warble In Japa- 
nese to Americanized arrange- 
ments of native tunes. 



Marty Arden cleffing Fanchon 8c 
Marco shorts for Radio. 



David RnblnofTs 'Banjo Eyes,' 
piano composition dedicated to 
Eddie Cantor, will be published by 
Carl. Fischer. 



Eddie Lane's band replaced Jo- 
seph Zatour at the Shelton ho- 
tel, N. Y. 



Tyson's Radio Pow-wow 



Representatives from NBC, 
lumbia, Mutual and the National As- 
sociation of Broadcasters held a 
lengthy session with Levering Tyson, 
of the Advisory Council on Radio in 
Education, yesterday afternoon 
(Tuesday), discussing further ways 
and means of co-operation between 
the two groups. Plains embrace spe- 
cial broadcastia and the financing by 
riadio of a survey 6;i the topic of 
loudspeaker education. , 

Broadcasters at the meeting wiere 
John Royal, Frederic Willis, of CBS; 
Fred Weber, Mutual, gen. mgr., and 
James W. Baldwin, NAB managing 
director. 



EXCHANGE OF JOBS 

Chicago, May 25. 
Herb Lutz of the local Famous 
music office goes ta the Coast next 
week to take charge of the Holly- 
wood branch of the E. B. Marks 
firm. 

He replaces Walter Donovan; 
who, strangely enough, comes to 
Chi to fill the vacancy left in the 
Famous staff here by Lutz' depar- 
ture. 



WILLIE HOROWITZ TO 
NEW YORK FOR KEEPS 

Chicago, May 25. 
Willie Horowitz, who has been 
chief of the local Bobbins office for 
several years, goes to New York in 
two weeks to become professional 
manageir for the Miller ili'm, Rob- 
bins subsidiary. Horowitz ,\irill offi- 
cii take oyer 
June 21. 

Benny Goldberg of the Robbins 
office in Boston, in Chi to take 
charge here. Music row rejps and 
the band leaders tossing a farewell 
party and shindig for Horowitz, who 
is sticking here imtil the Bernie 
Cummins orchestra opening sit the 
Edge water Beach hotel. 



Joe Venntl stays at. the Nicolett 
hotels Minneapolis, until July for 
CRA. 



^lETOJVCr^ 

Announclor 
Thr«e Bir Sons Hits 
from "SING AND BE H/kPPV* 
Tlia M«w %Otli Century-Fox 
Musical 

'Sins and Be Happy' 

'What k 
Beautiful Beginning' 

*Traveiin' Light' 



MOVIETONE 
MUSIC CORPORATION 

250 Sixth AVENUE 
s L v\ YC a.K 




ILI.INOTON 

LEADS OFF THE 1937 
SEASON WITH A 
TERRIFIC DOUBLE 

TWO MELODIC 
CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO TIN PAN ALLEY 



LXCLLSIVr P L B LI C: ATI O %S Inc. 



WARREN AND DU BIN 

TOP THE LIST WITH 

SEPTEMBER 
IN THE RAIN 



REMICK MUSIC CORP. 

ISM gUth Av:, BCA Blig., N. t. 
CHABUB tfAJUIBM. fnt. Mir. 



AMERICA'S LATEST FOX-TROT BALLAD SUCCESS 



WHEN TWO LOVE EACH OTHER 



(JUST AS YOU AND 1 



'6'.9 BROADWAY, NEW YORK 



\rediieMl«y» May 26, 1937 



MUSIC 



45 



WRITERS-PUBS NEAR TRUCE 




Dispute Over Transcrijition 
and Sync Rights Looks 
Practically Settled 



50% TO SPA 



-Peace between writers and pub- 
lishers on the synchronization and 
transcriptioa rights issue was indi- 
cated late yesterdpy (Tuesday ) when 
ittee- of representative pub- 
lishers .and a delegation from the 
Songwriteris iProtective Association 
got together on. a tentative agree- 
ment making the latter association a 
arty to 'the distribution of f pyalties 
.cqilected from thesfe mechanical 
rights. , Agreemient will be submitted 
tc- the publishing industry and to the 
SPA. council for approval. 

Under the proposed pact the pub- 
lic turn oyer 50% of what 
tl->-y collect from the. sync and tran- 
•iption rights to the SPA for the 
::2r, in turn, to split up among its 
.nbers entitled to the royalties, 
}?:fos reserve the right to deduct first 
y debts due them from writers on 
Music Publishers Pro- 

t-ctive Association will continue as 
the sole agency for the disposal of 
these rights and to deduct 10% for 
the licensing sefvice. This agreement 
'ill affect only those works^ turned 
over to publishers by writers after 
June 1, 1937. 

More Income 

New arrangement will constitute 
something of a gain in income for 
the writers. Under the old contracts 
writers of production numbers col- 
lected 50% of whatever was derived 
from the sale of sync and tiran:- 
."cription rights, -while the authors of 




PrtsenU 

From "CHEROKER STBIir 

8t«rrlii« DICK FORAN 
THE GREATEST WESTERN BALLAD 
IN VEAR6 

MY 

LiniE 

BUCKAROO 



^ . WITMARK A SONS 
12S0 SIxtU AV«., JiCA Biar., »• I. 
CHARIilB WAMsiBN, ProC. Mirr. 



pop or stock, works got only 33 1-3%. 
For. the former class of writer the 
final amount might be less, sincie the 
SPA proposes, to deduct a com- 
mission for itself before passing on 
the royalties to the member writers, 

It is also understood that'publish- 
ers .wiU not enter into bulk deals for 
their sync rights with picture studios 
without first consulting the SPA. 
Term of the contract will be for over 
three years, and will in every way 
apply only to SPA memberc. 

Attenrtpt to settle ihe question of 
nnechanical rights ownership was 
undertaken by the comiTiittee of rep- 
resentative pubs the day (19) after 
the SPA council announced its in- 
tention of assuming the right to 
license the works of its" own mem- 
bers as placed, with publishers after 
June 1, As it later developed it was 
a case of the SPA demanding the 
whole thing, and settling for a fair- 
,soin6 increase over the status, quo. 

Among those, informed .by the SPA 
of its intention to assume the com- 
plete right to license mechanical re- 
productions on compositions turned 
over by SPA members to publishers 
after June 1 were picture producers! 
The copyright committee of the 
Hays office discussed this proposed 
move at a special meeting last week 
and although • the ■ committee; com- 
posed of copyright lawyers for the 
various film companies, expressed it- 
self as disturbied by the legal com- 
plication which the issue threatens, 
no line of acti was adopted. 
Calmer View 

Several major publishers were for 
engaging the SPA in a court flght 
and also wholesale rejection of SPA 
members' hew works unless they in- 
cluded concession of the mechanical 
rights, but calmer viewpoints pre- 
vailed and a committee was appoint- 
ed to meet with SPA councilmen to 
find out what their grievances were 
and what they wanted. At the sec- 
ond get-together last Friday (21 ) it 
became evident that the SPA spokes- 
men were not in harmony among 
tiiemselves as to what they wanted: 

Irving Caesar, SPA.prez, suggested 
that thie writers be alloted half of 
the monies collected from transcrip- 
tion and sync licenses and that their 
share be turned over to . the SPA for 
distribution. Piibs on the committee 
said that they had no objection to 
this arrangement as long as the 
Music Publishers Protective Associa- 
tion was allowed to (continue, to de- 
duct 10% as agent in the disposal of 
the rights tp users. 

After Caesar remarked that it was 
the SPA's plan to deduct 5% for its 
distribution service to members, Joe 
Yo-ung> ah SPA councilman, de- 
murred. Young was against any- 
thing that would bring him. less 
money. 

It became evident during the 
course of last week's two confer- 
ences that the heads of the SPA are 
determined to devise some system of; 
collection that will serve to fatten 
the association's exchequer. SPA 
councilmen pointed out that the as- 
sociation needs money to pay its 
lawyers, its general overhead and, 
if possible, the salary of the presi- 
dent of the organization. 

Besides Caesar and Young the SPA 
has been represented in these con- 
ferences by Sam Lewis, George W. 
Myer and Abel Bae.r, whjle the pub- 
lisheir delegation consisted oiE A. M. 
Wattenbergj: chairman; Louis Bern- 
stein, Jack Bregmaii;. and Walter 
Douglas. 



GOR DON and REVEL Click Ag ain! 

in 20th Century-Fox's "WAKE UP AND LIVE" 
Featuring Walter Winchell, Ben Bernie and Alice Fayie 

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS IT'S SWELL OF YOU 
THERE'S A LULL IN MY LIFE WAKE UP AND LIVE 
I'M BUBBLING OVER 

Robbltis Music Corporation 799 7th Ave., N6w York 



Most Played on Air 

Combined plv^t on VIEAF,. 
V/JZ and WABC are computed 
lor the week front Sunday 
through Sdiurdaif (May 16-22). 

Csrelcsflly 

* There's a Lull In My Life 
-* Never In a Million Years 

Love Bhc Will iQkt You 

* Where Are You? 

* September In the Rain 
It Looks Like Bain 

* They Can't Take Thai Away 

* Sweet LeIlanI 

* Too MarvcIoM for Words 

* Let's Call Whole Thinr Off 

* That Foolish Feeling: 
■* They All Laafhed 

Dream Ranch 

You and Me That Used to Be 

* Wake Up and Live 
r Blue Hawaii 

* Was It Rain? 

* How Could Tou7 
*It's Swell of Ton 

Boo Hoo 

* Sweet is the Word for You 
When Two LoVie Each Other 
Maybe 

You're Precious to Me 

* Indicates filmuaical song. 
t Production Nurtiher.. 



A%$ CAESAR 
REFUND $6S0 



Francis Gilbert, of Gilbert & 
Gilbert, has 'received instructions 
from Francois Salabert, French pub- 
lisher, to bring suit against Irving 
Caesar unless the latter rieturns the 
$650 he got from Salaber for the 
continental rights to 'Is It True "What 
They Say About Dixie?* Salabert's 
claim is founded on the . allegation 
tha Chappell Co., Ltd., published the 
same number in France while under 
the impression that the foreign rights 
which it obtained to 'Dixie' included 
French territory. 

As publisher of 'DixieV. Caesar 
made a deal with Chappell in March, 
1936, whereby that London outfit was 
granted foreign publication rights 
without territorial limitation. For 
thei rights to 'Dixie' and 'The 
Rooster's Crowing' Caesar got ah ad- 
vance of $1,000 from Chappell. Sala- 
bert closed for the rights to 'Dixie' 
in France, Spain, Holland, Luxem- 
bourg and other continental coiih- 
tries on Aug. 18, 1936. 

After Chappell had put out a 
French version of 'Dixi ' Salabert 
protested that he held the rights to 
the tune. Following a considerable 
exchahgei of letters between the two 
foreign pubs, Chappell informed 
Salabert that It was prepared to 
settle the controversy by letting the 
latter have the tune. Salabert re- 
sponded that he was no longer inter- 
ested, since the sale of 'Dixie's' sheet 
music had run its course. Salabert's 
next move was to demand; reimbuirse- 
ment of his money from Caesar. 



HOtEMEN HUDDLE ON 
SOOAL FDNCnON PLEA 



Philadelphia, May 25. 

Arthur Murray, manager of Barc- 
lay Hotel and prez of local Hotel- 
men's. Association, has called meet- 
ing of exec board of latter org Thurs- 
day to consider demands of Musi- 
clans' Local. 

Tooters are asking that no non- 
union musicians be allowed to work 
at functions ih the hotels. They 
threaten to picket arty liotel which 
doesn't come to an agreement with 
them. 




Lead-in ^ains for Hug 
CBS Warns Remotes on 
Last-Minute Publisher 




Pressure 



CBS last week warned remote 
dance bands to desist from the prac- 
tice of slipping into their broadcast 
repertoires any tunes which have 
hot been cleared through the net- 
work's program depairtmient. What 
the web had reference to particular-^ 
ly were the few bars to a song which 
leaders interpolate into a program 
the- last minute as a favor to some 
professional contactieer. 

Network order Was prompted by 
somethinig other than a wish to en« 
force its regulations on. the number 
of ' broadcasts permitted a current 
pop release during the eveihing 
stretch. It is afraid that a band will 
play a number which is not covered 
by the web's performi rights 
licenses.. 

Holly wood, studibs with publi ing 
house affiliations are beginning to 
get privy to a device that the latters' 
professional departments commonly 
use in the drive to, get No. 1 place 
on the- ^yeekly mo.st played lists for 
a. picture tune. This common resort 
is that of getting a broadcasting band 
or vocal group to include a couple 
bars of the melody in the repertoire. 
On the reports from which these 
weekly capitulations are compiled 
ihe few strains count as a plug, but 
it's a plug that means nothing to the 
exploitation of the film or the siale 
of sheet music. 

Interpolation of the few strains is 
seldom' announced on the air, and 
the event would eflcai>e the com- 
pilers of the report if the song plug- 
ger concerned didn't take ihe pre- 
caution of calling . up in advance and 
asking the checking .service to watch 



DUFFY GOING 
RUNPYIN 
SENATE 



Although no organization direotly 
concerned with the commercial side 
of copyright spoke in favor of the 
bill at the recent hearings, the 
Duffy measure seeking to make this 
country a member of the, Berne G6n- 
vention is expected to be approved 
by the U. S. Senate's foreign rela- 
tions committee. Dominant belief is 
that it will not be passed by the 
Senate this time. 

Only advocates of. the bill during 
the current session of Congress was 
formei: Registrar of Copyright Sol- 
berg and .delegates from learned 
Eocieties. Motion, picture industry as 
a whole and spokesmen for broad- 
casting took the position that there 
was nothing, to be gained by entry 
into the convehti until proper 
copyright legislation has previously 
been passed by Congress. 



out for so-and-so's pei'foi'mance 
the tune. To get these few bars 
into a program the plugger has to 
work at high pressure. He usually 
rhakes it a last-minute contact, 
pleading with the band, Icnde^ 
qiiartet arranger that he Is sorely i 
need of that plug! 

ictlon 

Networ is rarely informed of the 
proposed use of the few striand.S. If 
it were, the chahces are that it would 
be bluepenciled on the ground th^t 
some other band hud .received ap- 
proval to use the tune within thiE 
prescribed period. Webs try to keep 
current releases from being over- 
played by allowing but one broad- 
cast of sucli tune during every two 
to four hours. 

As far as the American Sticiety of 
Composers, Authors and iPubllshers 
is concerned, .some credit is gi 
for this type of plugj although there 
has been considerable agitation 
among indie pubs to disregard the 
few strains, perfonifi'ance altoKethei' 
and impose a rule allowing for. no 
royalty credit unless at least half a 
tune's chorus has been' used. 



CROSBY RAISES $3,000 
FOR JOE SELIVAN 



Holly wood, May 25. 

BeheAi for Joe Sullivan at Pan. 
Pacific Audiioriiim, Syhday, netted 
stricken pianist $3,000. Some 14 new 
bands' participated in. flve-hour 
swing, concert. 

Event was promoted by Binj; 
Crbsby for his former accompanist 
how in Monrovia Sanitarium. 



VISIT OR WRITE 



fF" TEN O'CLOCK TOW! "^1 
I (r rom *Sea Leg i') H 

PBE PRECIOUS ll 
TO mi 1 

ffTnro i wn x Go I 



TOU'BE PRECIOUS 
TOME 

A-HU NTIHO 

IT 'S HIGH TIM E 

WHAT A BEAVEHLY 
HIOHt 

TWO BOCKINfl CH AIRS 

STARDUST ON THE 
MOON ^ 

IF WE HAVE A 
R AINY SUNDA Y 

rchestratiorit 50c each 




With pleasure we announce ■ flreat' musieal -Moro from MGM's 
rorthcomihfl production FEATURING THE MARX BROTHERS 

"A DAY AT THE RACES" 

Tli« Hw«ll iicbrc, .by €iun Kabn, Kaitcr and Juriiiunn folluwM? 

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY 
A MESSAGEFROM THE MAN IN THE MOON 
ALL GOD'S CHILLUN GOT RHYTiiM 
DLUE VENETIAN WATERS 



BOBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION 



Ntw York 



AMERICA'S LATEST FOX-TROT BALLAD SUCCESS 

WHEN TWO LOVE EACH OTHER 

PlJHIISHFn HY .)0F DAVIS, INC. (JUST AS YOU AND I) .619 BROADWAY, NEW V%'hK 



46 



DANCE TOURS 



Wednesdaj, May 26, I937 



Name Band 
Has 






at Stanford U 
looters Perturbed; 
Frown on Prices 



Palo Alto, Calif., May 25, 
What has been going on In the 
East tor the past five years around 
college dances is just beginning to 
be lelt at Stanford University aiid 
other institutions alohg the west- 
coast^ Demand among the cpl^ 
iegians tor top name, bands pushed 
thSv campus orchestras almost com- 
pl«ely out of the picture. About 
all they are now getting to play are 
the smaller fraternity and club 
dances and out of this predicament 
has come vigorous squiawks. 

Campus combinations have gained 
the, sympathy" of the Stanford ad- 
niiiiistration. Latter sees 'Stanford 
dernocracy' tottering under in- 



esenis 

A New Smafih 



OLDFASHIONED 
MUSIC BOX 

VIENNA DREAMS 

THE 

MERRY GO ROUND 
BROKE DOWN 

I'M HATIN' THIS 
WAITIN' AROUND 

THE MOON IS IN 
TEARS TONIGHT 

From WB Prod.. '* lA Oalaliad" 
From: 

"RRADT. Vrn.TJNO AND ABLE" 

TOO MARVELOUS 
FOR WOHDS 



HARMS, INC., RCA Bldg., Y. 
MACK OOtDMAN. Prof. Mrr. 




An* Now The New 
Novnlty Hone Sonsatldn' 
That Is St«pplnr All Bhuwal: 

'THE ORGAN, 
THE MONKEY 
AND ME' 

SMASH HIT 
ON EVERY PROGRAM 1 



SAM FOX 

PUBLISHING COMPANY 

IJSO SIXTH *¥£NUt 



creased prices, ile the Asifociated 
Students' manager envisions class 
iand club treasuries drained by the 
big fees collected by the name 
maeStros. Campus leaders are con-* 
yinced that eventually no dance will 
be a click unless a topliner Orchestra 
is the attraction. So fair every dance 
with name orchestra has paid for it- 
self even though admissions have 
been upped to $2.50 and $3.50 for 
Jimmy Dorsey and Vincent Lopez 
and to $8.50 In the ,case of Phil 
Harris. 

of Women at Stanford der 
Clares that increased ticket prices 
keep out the poorer students, Mean- 
whiltt the studes are calling for the 
most outstanding of current names, 
and getting them. 



Band bookers in New York think 
that the aiithbriti^s kt Stanford are 
e}(aggerating-'the situation. Campus, 
orchestras will continue to find 
enough work to keet> them going 
around their own bailiwicks and 
will remain an important source 
bit organized dance units. As things 
stand ' the band business • 
day .many , iirtportant money com- 
binations have a campus/ back-: 
ground. Among them jare Fred 
Waring, Hal Kempi, Ted Weems and 
Kay Kyser; 



ALL-GIRL COLORED BAND 
HEADS INTO DIXIE 



Reese Du Pree, operator of the 
colored Sti-and ballrodrii in Phila- 
delphia, has taken Harlem Playgirls, 
Al'st all-colored girl, band, for a 
barnstorming through the South and 
Midwest, 

. Band, out of Minneapolis, is being 
handled by Du Pree on a percentage 
basis;. He is >vorking out the route 
and lining, up tha dates, although 
not owning. 



Consolidated Sets String 
Into Million Dollar Pier 

CRA sewed up the Million Dollar 
Pier, Atlantic City, N. J,, with book- 
ing of its name bands during the sea- 
son from Ji^ly 1 to Labor Day, Spot 
has. an NBC wlr« this year. 

3ands set are Jan Savitt, Johnny 
Hamp, Clyde McCoy, Clyde Lucas, 
Don Bestor, Harold Stern, Jack 
Denny and Russ Morgan. Majority 
are for a week'g stand. 



Sounds Wrong: 



Larry Shea and Jimmy Eaton 
have written a thenie song for 
the bookies arid Mills Music, 
Inc., is doing the publish! 
Title is 'Thank the Horses.' 

Number is billed as a .novelty 
love ditty.. 




SUMMER DATES 



Salt Lake City, May 25: 
Summer danceries in arid around 
Salt Lake <City open oh Decoration 
Day with put-of-to\yn bands . out- 
numbering horne-town cleffers. Car- 
vel Craig orchestra steps ih. at Hotel 
Utah's Starlite Gardens. Hotel spot 
will have three price scales in effect 
this year. On Mondays, Tuesdays, 
Wednesdays and Thursdays, admish 
per persons will be 50 cents; Fridays, 
75 cents and on Saturdays, $2 a 
couple. Craig's outfit, hails from San 
Francisco and filled a' 13-week en:- 
gagement in same spot last year. 

Carol Lpfner will be at Saltair, 
with pre-season dance' skeddecl for 
Saturday (29) and regular season 
opening on May 31, Verdi Br^inholt, 
hOmertpwn leader with a biahd com- 
posed of Coast musicians, break in at 
Lagoon.. 

..Johnny Peterson, uke playing 
maestro, will lead band at Old Mill, 
canyon resort, While Wally Williams' 
band will be retained at Rendezvouisi 
Hoiel. Utah beer drinking spot. Ethel 
Price, femme leader, moves in Club 
Heidelberg, with all dame band,^ 

Once again, patrons at any of the 
above dance spots v/ill be Unable to 
obtain, liquor, with beer being the 
only liquid refreshment okeh in 
Utah. 



CASTta FARMS DATES 

Consolidated Peheirstei Spot With 
Lew Brown, Clyd« McCof 
» '• ^ 

Consolidated Radio Artists has ciit 
Into another nice mii4western spipt 
for a couple of its bands .during the 
summer months with signaturing of 
Lew Brown and Clyde McCoy for 
Castle Farms, Cincinnati^ 

.Brown opens June 21 to remain 
until July 4. McCoy follows on July 
5, staying until July 11 afteir which 
he moves tb the Graystone ballroom, 
Detroit for preem July 14. Brown is 
a possibility for the Meadowbrook, 
C. C. Cedar Groye, N. J.; around 
July 18 when owher-maeestro Frank 
Dailey exits again foi: the. road. 



On the Upbeat 



(Continued from page 44) 

replacing (Charlie Dbrhberger. Starr 
stays until Guy Lombardo returns. 



Nye Mayhew . bpehs the Glen 
Island CasinOf Larchment, N. - -Y., 
May 27. Hal KemP plays the three 
day weekend opening on alternating 
basis. 



Johniiiy Long's orch set for sea- 
son's engagement: Beach 
Club, Virgin! inning 
May 29, 



.Charlies Stenr OSS band into Deshlev 
Wallick, Columbus, May 28, 
placi illy Baer. 



FRISCO STRIKE HITS 
WALDMAN, AL KAVELIN 

San Francisco, May 25, 
Strikebound for three weeks, 
two local orchestras left toWn 
over last weekend. They are Al' 
Kavelin's, from the Mark Hopkins, 
and Herman Waldman's, from the 
Sir Francis Drake, Kaivelin goes to 
Milwaukee, Waldma.n to Houston. 

•Joe Reichrhan's band, which was 
playing at the Fairmont Hotel until 
hbtel employees went on strike, Will 
depart, for the South sometime this 
week. Reichman has " deal on the 
fire with the Hotel Ambassador for 
a return engagement to' the Cocoa-r 
nut Grove. 



JlmniU Lunceford scheduled for 
one-nighter at Valley Dale, Colum- 
bus, May 29, 



Biernle Cummins' band ppened tviro 
weeks- engagement on Hotel Claridge 
Roof, Memphis, Thursday (20). 



George Hamilton into Hotel Pea- 
bod.Y, Memphis. Engagement at 
Beverly- Wilshire, Hollywood, follows. 



Waller Into Deep Dixie 



Fats Waller starts a tour of the 
South In early June for Harry Moss 
via an arrangement with Phil Ponce, 
Waller's manager. .Opener is on 
June 4 at V. M. I., annual cotillion 
dance. 

After three weeks in Dixie band 
treks north to NeW England for an< 
other short play of the Yank terri- 
tory before taking^ a week's vacation, 

Tbm Gentry's Singers 

Chicago, May 25. 

Opening at raystpne ballroom. 
Detroit, May 21, Tom Gentry's band 
has added two new vocalists, Hal 
JefTeri , to be known as Jeflt Hall, 
and Helen Parks, both from stall' 
of WJJD, Ralph Atlass indie here. 

Deal set by local .Cpiisolidated 
Radio Artists. 



itc from the RKO Rad! , "NEW FACES OF 1937" 

OUR PENTHOUSE ON THIRD AVENUE 
LOVE IS NEVER OUT OF SEASON 
IT GOES TO YOUR FEET 

THE WIDOW IN LACE NEW FACES 

Hr Wnller Bullock and Ifarold Spina lly Chnrl«<t ]It>ni1«pNi»n 

LEO FEIST. Inc. 1629 BROADWAY • NEW YORK 



Hylton May Return 

Possible that Jack Hylton, ritish 
maestro, will return for his .second 
visit to U. S. sometime this sum- 
mer. Matter depends on whether or 
not he can be cleared through im- 
migration authorities and also on 
matter of an engagement. 

Band is under management , con- 
tract to MCA, but there was some 
ill feeling between both, ends last 
year, Hylton is reported tp have re- 
turned home in a huff. MCA is now 
looking for a spot to place him, ilh 
Di-ake hotel, Chicago, one of the 
more likely prospects because of his 
success theire last year. 



Eric 

Wright's 
fOr stands i 
Va. 



leaving 
, Conn., 
ichmond. 



Artie Mayho's orchestra signed for 
S, S, Mayflower, NeW York-Bridge- 
port excursion tub, "this summer. 



Fats Waller one-nights Sunday 
(30) at Roton Point park, South 
Norwalk. 



Ben Pollack band, on toUr, stopped 
off for one night at Trianon* Seattle, 
Tuesday, May 18, and got nice tak- 
ings. 



en .Pollack orchestra back In 
Hollywood after doing a seriei of 
one-night stands through the north- 
west. 



lenn Miller does the Raymor 
ballroom, Boston, first week of June 
for Rockwell-O'keefe. 



Arag on's CRA Week 

Chicago, May 
CRA finally cracked the Aragon 
ballroom, Chicago, with a solid 
\yeek's booking for Ina Ray Hutton^ 
June 12. 

It's the first full week erigagemerit 
for any CRA band at the ultra dance 
spot and the first girl band to go in 
for a week's slay. Rita. Rio played "a 
week-end there last year. 

At same time CRA entered its first 
major Hollywood spot with signing 
of Jack Pettis' crevy' for the Troca- 
dero. Date still indef, but set. 

itzpatrick at Jantzen 

Portlan re., May, 23. 

Fitzpatrick's band is a 
popular biz-gettev at Jantzen Park 
Ballroom. Pitzpatrick built up quite 
a rep in Coast broadcasts and is 
here to stay two weeks. 
..-Eddy & Eddy, dance teai re 
with the orchestra. 



. Leo'g Spirits of Rhythm filling irt 
jfor exiting Stuff Smith crew at the 
Onyx Club, N. Y. 



Harry Rosenthal's band at the 
Versailles, N. Y. 



Tom Gentry current at raystone 
ballroom, Detroit. 



Ick Fidler doing a orie-niter se- 
ries for CRA. 



Earl Sodahl's band at Radisson ho- 
tel, Minneapolis, has added Janl 
Green for vocals. 



Chick Webb begins a five-week 
one-niter tour for CRA, starting 
May 25, its Savoy ballroom, N. Y. 

Joe Haymes and Les Brown band 
set fcr Pleasure Beach, Bridgeport, 
Conn., weeks of June 6 and 15, re- 
spec tiyely. 



Ferde Grofc flies west to conduct 
at Hollywood Bowl June. 21. 



Charlie Barnett plays Huns Prep 
at Princeton, N. J., June 3. 

Neil Golden stays at the Brass 
Rail. N. Y.. through June. 



RADIO CHANCES 
SHORT JITNEY 




Spokane, May 25, 
Nightly radio broadcasts of Billy 
McDonald and his Highlanders has 
causeci a change I the dance, policy 
at NaitatOriUm Park. To make the 
ftve-cent dances profitable, the . or- 
chestra played short snappy numbers 
that didn't register favoriably with 
radio audience. 

So Nat management is now charg- 
ing general admission and dances 
are Ipnger, smoother. 



Jan Garber will Play for seniors 
of University of Michigan, Com- 
mencement night, June 19, at annual 
Senior Ball, in Ann" Arbor, Mich. 



^ROY SONGS- 
RUSTY HINGE 

Swing Fox'trot 
Decca Record iVo. 1273-A 



WE CAN'T 60 ON 
THIS WAY 

Torch Btillad 

— — — -(y^ 

A Waltz ith a N«W 

ON A LITTLE SHIP 
SAILING THE SEA 



yn y MUSIC co 



Mt9 m\ 



The N«w .Cotfon CInb Hlti 

WHERE 

IS THE SUN? 
OLD PLANTATION 

Th« CuiMedy Sentiatlpa of 1931 

Today I Am a Man 

TLL NEVER TELL YOU 
1 L OVE Y OU 
I.ov«ll«cit qt lAtvv Songt 

Serenade In the Night | 



YOU CAN'T BUN AWAY 
PROM LOVE 

I KNOW NOW 

1H[ SONG OP THE MARINES 

CAUSE MY BABY SAYS ITS SO 

THE LAOY WHO COULDN'T 
BE KISSED 

NIGHT OVER SHANGHAI 



THE 
t 

. • I 

M 

A. 

I 

tNMlH WmMH W^-TKg' 

RIMICK MUSIC COIIP..II.Y.C 



FLASH !— Here'* the I^onMrrAiwaUed Boor* by JOB VOUNG and- FRED 
K. AIIL]Sn;c for JiKN .MAKOKN'S " iViKRA rotXlES.- 6f i937" 

THE IMAGE OF YOU 
I 'M HAPPY DARLING DANCING WITH YOU 
A WHIPPOORWILL IN A WILLOW TREE 

LEO FEIST, Inc. • 1629 BROADWAY • NEW YORK 



1 1 < j-i-ii J 



Wednesdayt M>y 26, 1937 



YAUDE-NITE CLUBS 



VARWTY 



47 



^ency Bill Passes Pa. Legislature; 

iDsing; 





Philadelphi , Bilay 
Cbiseli irresponsible* unlicensed 
agents were outlawed in Pennsy 
with oiie leU swoop last Wednesday 
7i9) when legislature put final okay 
Jn l-rey bill, amending act of 1929 
regulating employment agencies. 
Measure, which will be signed by 
Governor Earle this week, is con- 
cmding shot of campaign begun last 
fall by United Entertainers' Assn., to 
rid the state of unscrupulous agents. 

The act, which has had incorpo- 
rate Into it the best features of the 
rival Walsh-McGee bill, had the 
whole-hearted support of the ity's 
licensed agents, 

Its strongest point is the require- 
ment that every person or corpora- 
tion thit books talent in Pennsy— 
on no mater how small a scale^must 
obtain a license. Fee is $100. Thus 
MCA, Rockwell-O'Keefe and other 
big Newr York outfits, which place 
artists here, will have to obtain their 
sheepskins within the next few 
weeks. 

The bill brings into the fold a 
large class of agents who avoided 
licensing— and the strict attending 
rules laid down by the state depart- 
ment of labor and industry— by styl- 
ing themselves 'contractors.' They 
jumped the rules by claiming they 
hired talent for their own use ' and 
leased it to proprietors of niteries. 

To cpiiie under the wire now as. a 
^contractor,' the agent will hiai vie to 
proye he is. a real; producer, assemr 
bling alL talent at his own expense 
and accepting no fees eithei* directly 
or indirectly. All acts would have to 
Ibe^nt out as units. 

As the bill now reads, the only 
agents exempted from its provisions 
are those 'engaging talent for use in 
their own performances or ientertai - 
ment producers and managers as- 
sembling, managing and directing 
their own performaiiices at their own 
expense and who charge no com- 
missions or fees directly or indi- 
rectly.' f 

Triplicate Contracts 

The department of labor and in- 
dustry, which, through its ageht here, 
Vic Glrard, works in close harmony 
with, the United Entertainers, will 
deniand a triplicate contract form 
signed for every jbb. One copy will 
go to the agent, one to the act and 
one to the employer. This form, 
which is being worked out now by 
Tom Kelly, prexy oif the Entertain- 
ers, and reps of the licensed bookers, 
must show name of act, salary, com- 

ission taken by agent, whether 
wages include transportation and 
room and board, arid numerous other 
details. 

In cases; where the contract form 
IS not made out correctly and does 
not give all necessary information, 
or where there is any other violation 
M the iiit, the UE will turn over 
the data to Girard, who is empow- 
ered to take an agent to court* 
Where he is subject to a fine of $100 
to $1,000, or a year in jail, or both. 

Kelly was unsuccessful in an- at- 
tempt to have stricken from the bill 
a requirement that entertainers un- 
der 2i years of age cannot work in 
iteries. This has long been a 
wnnsy law, but has been winked at 
oy authorities. Kelly said he hoped 
|o prevail on them to continue to al- 
w\y: actors under legal age to work, 
as a high percentage of performers 
arc between 18 aind 21. 



Snrfside (1.1.) Opening 
Witb Elaborate Setup 

^^^^^o\xs& season around New 
ijV^ .flings into action this week 
opening Thursday (27) of 
e,® S^f'side, iformerly the Sua and 
^hA ' Peach, Long Island. 

v?^y.^l°'^« of the most elaborate 
in« eu**^ a suburban spot, featur- 
liAc f^P Fields' hand, Benny Fields,- 
«osita and Fontana, and Paul Sydell. 

thnf*^ ^'^^^^"^^'^ to have opened 
wS'-^U postponed a 

week, IS' Ben Marden's hew Riviera, 
W:,c!.- side of the George 

washmgton Bridge in Englew6od. 
dm.,!,', •'^'^ar'Jen's old spot burned 
neJ^ ;^«t fa", with the fact that the 
b,,^„?t»-ucture isn't fully completed, 
''i'»iging. about the. delay: i 

to^n^?^*^* is making a unique offer 
patrons; for $3 per patrons get 
"aihing privileges at Atlantic Beach, 
"ner, dancing and the floor show. 



FULLER OPENING JINZAC 
TIME TO U. S. ACTS 



Hollywood, May 25. 

Fuller theatre circuit of Austrailia 
is offering 12 weeks of vaude to 
available actsi New time is being 
booked by Bert Levey. Marks the 
first stage opposition that TivOli 
chain has had in' years: 

Sir Ben Fuller started ptanhirig a 
yaude comeback i Austrialia follow- 
ing the big opening of the A. B. 
Marcus show; in New Zealiand, last 
month. 



INDIE DET. SPOT 
DICKERING FOR 




Detroit, May 25. 

Downtown theatre, former IIKO 
showcase operated by Krim 

Bros., dickering for an 'Opera Under 
the Stars' it to supplement pix 
duri summer months. Manager 
Sam conferring with 

Fortune who stages the 

operettas for the Shuberts at Jones 
Beach, Long Island, every summer. 

If deal goes through, figured pre- 
sentations would start about middle 
of June and run through Labor Day. 
With unit already set for Toledo, 
operettas would -be jumped weekly 
between here and. Ohio city. 

Operettas were tried at Navin 
baseball field a few years ago. Latter 
venture, which ran for' two seasons, 
wasn't an outstanding success, due 
chiefiy to bad breaks in weather and 
excessive outlay for stage, hands, 
neccessitated by need for moving 
stage on and off. diamond when 
Tigers baseball team played at home. 

Downtown has already signed for 
next .fall's session of Sah Carlo 
Opera Co., with tentative opening 
diate set for week of Oct. 2. Possible 
run will extend two weeks. San 
Carlo formerly played at idle houses 
here, but Downtown will suspend 
pix for duration of stand. 



Bempsey Denies Quitdng 
N. Y. Spot; Major Owner 

In answer to reports that he con- 
templated withdrawing from the 
N. cafe bearing his name, Jack 
Dempsey issued a statement to the 
effect that he is the cpntrdllihg 
owner of the establishment and inr 
tends . remaining as such. Under- 
stood that Dempsey controls 65% of 
the enterprise, with Jacob Amroh 
having a smaller share, others also 
being interested. 

Dempsey explained that out-of- 
toWn engagements had kept .him 
away from the cafe frequently dur- 
ing, the winter and spring, but that 
such appearances are about over and 
he intends devoting much of his time 
to the place. 

Dempsey's is claimed to have 
earned oyer $100,000, most of the 
coin; beinig used to pay off on equip- 
ment and fees to the fistic figure. 
Cafe is drawing on its own, dearth 
of stellar boxing shows at the Gar- 
den; isffording little support from that 
source. 



Rosenthars Orch Set 

For N. Y. Versailles 

Harry Rosenthal and his band will 
open- at the Versailles, Y., night 
spot Thursday .(27), contemplated 
Paris engagement being called off. 
Contract for a " nii imum of six 
weeks at the De Luxe, a night club 
in the French capital, was entered 
into with Edmund Sayag, but was 
snagged over financial matters. 

Pianist-leader asked for two weeks 
salaries and return transportation in 
advance, which was refused, by 
Sayag. 



3,000-Capacity Colored 
Nitery Opens in PbiUy 

Philadelphia, May 25; 
New riite spot, said to be largest 
in World, opened here last week. 
Tagged 7-11 Club, cabaret seats 3.000 
patrons. 

Six bars operate continuously and 
therie is a continuous all-coldredi 
show. Operated by Jimmy Toppi. 







iahapolis. May 25. 
rotests of clubwomen and re- 
form groups ended the- proposed 
lease of the Municipal Gardens to 
Louis Howe, lawyer-maestro. Lat- 
ter had negotiated deal to operate 
place after dark as a nitery. Fact 
that liquor was to be served on 
premises stirred up storm. It raged 
for a week on page one here. 

Most quoted statement of the. op- 
position was one of fenime's re- 
marks: 'We want the Municipal Gar- 
dens to be a decent place where de- 
cent women can meet without sitting 
on beer kegs.' 

To; which Liawyer Lowe answeired 
yid letter: 'We are the victims rather 
than the advocates of the fact it is 
necessary serve alcoholic bever- 
ages in order to operate a restaurant 
and night club successfully.' 



THREE ACTS JOINING 
PEARCE GANG TREK 



Chaz Chase, Danzi Goodelle and 
Sammy Barton will augment Al 
Pearce's Gang on the latter's good- 
Will coast-to-coast toui: strictly for 
Ford dealers and their families. Curr 
tis & Allen set the outside actsi 
. It will be Barton's first appearance, 
in the U. S, in 14 years, the comedy 
bicyclist having been in Europe' thait 
length of time. 

Pearce's tou^ starts June 1 in De- 
troit, winiiJing up June 29 in, San 
Francisco. Will play only for the 
auto-sellers, their families and 
friends, with all .shows gratis. 



Musicians Continue 
Picketing puny Nitery 



ildelphia. May 25. 

Members of Musicians' Local con- 
tinued picketing of 20th Century 
nitery here this week as manage- 
ment continued in refusal to oust 
Barney Zeeman orch and install 
union oiitfit. Possibility loomed that 
waiters, bartenders and cooks, highly 
organized at the spot, may walk out 
in sympathy. 

Six pickets somewhat pared' the 
weekend hiz of the big mid-town 
spot. 



Garr, Cross and Dunn 

Set for Ky. Nite Spot 

Chicago, May 25. 

Eddie Garr. as mx' and Cross and 
Dunn are set for the new Beverly 
Hills Casi the river, from 

Cincinnati starti Jiinie 15. 

Through the local ligh & Tyrrell 
offices. 



Dancer's $1,750 Award 

Chicago, May 25. 

Damages of $1,750 were awarded 
Sally Warren, nitery^ dancer, i ^ 
siJit 'she brought against Illinois 
Central Railroad. She charged that 
a scar, which resulted from injury 
received when ri ing on a trai , 
prevented her from weari itery 
costumes. 

Case Wa.s tried in Circuit Court Of 
Judge Roma ri E. Posanski. 



From Legit to Units 

Teddy Hammer.stein and Denis Du 
For. are planning a vaude unit for 
next .<!eason instead of doing a play. 

Outfit tried. one show on Broad- 
way thi.<! .season, 'Howdy Stranger,' 
which di n't show a pro/it. 



Confab of Nitery Ops With Plnlly 
Mayor Ends in Pyrotechnics; Lid On 



ELAINE BARRIE SIGNS 
FOR PIX HOUSE P. A.'S 



Elaine Barri , ex-Mrs. John Bari^y- 
more, is teaming up ith Harry 
Holman, yet vaude sketch-player, for 
picture house Fir$t date 

set is through Paramount at the 
Michigan, Detroit/ week of June 11. 

Vehicle wiil be one of Holman's 
old favorites, 'Hard-Boiled Hamp- 
ton.' 

Miss Barrie, who divorced Barry- 
more a few -weeks ago on the Coast, 
played a personal, but solo, at the 
Orpheum, Los Angeles, a couple of 
weeks ago. 



f R HOLDS PITT. 





SUMMER 



, May 25. 

ing 

weeks ing twd 

months, Stanley, WB deluxer, is de- 
termi ing right 

through warm weather. Harry 
Kalmine, circuit's zone manager, is 
making regular trips east to line up 
talent, most of the time booking it 
on the' cuff, but. situation ha.s eased 
up somewhat and hou.se at the mo- 
ment has enough sho\ys to last it 
through June, and into early part of 
July. 

Shep Fields' band is current, with 
'St. Moritz Ice Ballet' and Three 
Nonqhalants coming in Friday (28) 
to be followed by a local amateur 
show, the Wilkehs Hour on WJAS 
headed . by Brian McDonald, Jerry 
Mayhall and Jock Logan. 

For week. of . June 11, Stanley has 
Benny Goodman's orch; June 18 is 
still temporarily open and June 25 
Ozzie Nelson brings his outfit back 
for second time .within a year. For 
July 4th week, house is building 
an all-Hollywood show around Hertry 
Armetta, Dixie Dunbar and LeOn 
Janney. 

Kalmine is- also dickering with 
Dick Stabile and his band, closing 
three-month stay here at. William 
Penn hotel's Chatterbox Thursday 
(27). Dance dates will keep Stabile 
busy well into summer, with chances 
that his Stanley date will come, 
shortly before he. returns to Chatter- 
box October 1 for. the winter season. 



Marian Marschante Dies 
In Spokane Auto Crash 

Spokane, May 2.*). 

Marian Marschante, 26, itery 
singer, was killed, here Friday (21 ) 
in an auto accident. Miss Marschante 
was singing in the Dessert hotel's 
Roundup Room here. 

Nev "Tanner, Roundup Room or- 
ganists was driving the car from 
which the sfnger was thrown into 
the path of another machine when 
the: two cars, collided. "Tanner^was 
held on ical charge of man- 

slaughter.. 



Fay's, PhiHy, Given 

One Week's Respite 

Philadelphia, May 25. 

Fay's theatre here, . vaudfllmer 
skedded for shutters last Thursday^ 
was held ppien additional week be- 
.cause of hot biz and cool weather 
last week. 

House closes definitely thi 
day (27), according . to manager, id 
Stanley. 



Philly Actors' Benefit 

F'hUadelphia, May 25. - 
United Entertainers' Assn., jtery 

and vaude performers' org here, will 

give itself benefit shbw and dance 

June 15 in Moose Hall. 
Special permission for show was 

granted by Mayor Wil.spn. 



WALDRON IN CHI 

Chicago, iviiiy i?>. 
. Jack Waldro.n opens Fridiiy <28) 
at the Yacht Club here for un in- 
definite engagement. 
Comes from Hollywood Rest., 



iladelphia, May 25, 
Nearly 500 operators of niteries 
and other entertainment places, 
called to a meeting in Mayor S. 
Davis Wilson's reception room Fri- 
day afternoon (21) for what was ex- 
pected to be a peaceful lecture on 
what kind of shows, they could and 
could not put on, were treated to a 
rare exhibition of fireworks instead. 

Excitement ended with the Mayor 
threatening to can the Director of 
Public Safety and Superintendent oi 
Police if the city isn't rid entirely 
of vice within a week. Niteries and 
other spots have put the lid down 
for 10 days as a result of the Mayor's 
orders. 

Mayor started things off pejace> 
fully enough by telling the as- 
sembled owners that he wanted to 
make a 'seven-day town of Philly* 
and inferred he wasn't going to 
bother anyone as long as they co- 
operated. He told of the conven- 
tions he brought to town and how 
they helped the nitery bizness. 

Then he went into the type shows 
he wanted outlawed. He declared 
he would permit no exhibitions of 
lesbians, female impersoil&tors or 
minors. He put the nix on papier 
mache decotation^ >imd said all 
places must comply with rules of the 
fire marshal's office. 

Then Hizzoner made a mistake. 
He asked if anyone had anything to 
say. Patrick J. McGee, counsel for 
the Retail Liquor Dealers' Associa* 
tion, arose. H* iliaid he represented 
half the liquor dealers in the cityi 
Then he lammed into the police de- 
partment. He charged wholesale sale 
of liquor on Sundays, lewd shows 
iahd gambling at many tapper ies, 

'Not only is the Sunday sale of 
liquor widespread,' he said, 'but cer- 
tainly must be with the knowledge 
of the police.' That's where Mayor 
Wilson threatened to fire the cops. 

Next day; representativeis of the 
Liquor Dealers admitted to the 
Mayor tha,t McGee was their coun-. 
sel, but denied, he had > any right to 
speak for them. They said they 
thought conditions In the city very 
good. The Mayor threatened to have' 
McGee disbarred and demanded 
proof ^f his charges. McGee had a 
conference with the Mayor yester- 
day (Monday) in which he agreed 
to provide the proof. He is sailing 
for Ireland today (25). 



ROBINSON SET 
FOR DALLAS 
BOWL SOLO 



Bill Robinson has been sighed by 
the Pah American-Greater Texas 
Exposition, Dallas, as a free-act. in 
the Cotton Bowl for two days begin- 
ning June 19. Colored dancer's sal- 
ary for the two-show engagement 
win be $2,500. 

June 19 is Emancipation Day. bi 
gest holiday for the colored race i 
the south, henge the Robinson book- 
ing. 

Cotton Bowl, seating nearly 60,000. 
is beinjg used as bait by the expo lo 
draw tourists and natives alike. Ad-, 
mission is free, with the e^po goi 
in heavily for harness 

A previous booking for the Bowl, 
though following Robinson's date, I 
that of Jack Benny and Mary Living- 
ston. Latter are skedded for three 
shows in three days starting July 3, 
at a total salary of $15,500. 



Dixieland Band Going 

On Tour of t-Niters 



Dropping out of the Paramount, 
N, y.; early last week on holdover 
of 'Internes Can't Take Money* 
(Par), because the management 
asked a 20% cut be taken, the Dixi 
land Jazz Band is gbing out on a 
lour of 'One-nighters that will wind 
up with a six-week booking at the 
I Ft. Worth' Frontier Days Celebration 
starting Juiie 27. 

I Bond leaves on the tour 
I guest appearance on the P'^n 
i {lir program June 8. 



48 



VARIETY 



YAUDE-NITE C£UBS 



Wednesday, May 26, I937 



Nitery Reviews 



CHEZ PAREE 

(CHICAGO) 

Chicago, May 19. 
Show started otit as the poorest 
is spot has had in some time, but 
now it's getting plenty p£ . notice. 
And all that was done was to switch 
the acts around a little and add 
Jimmy Durante. Particularly the 
latter, who has counted .lor so much 
that Joey Jacobs, iand Mike Ft-itzel- 
figure that a kind fate cut the run 
of Durante's show short for their 
particular benefit. At $3,500; he's the 
biggest biargairi the Chez has ever 
had. As proof) it was impossible to 
get either, a table or standinig room 
on Saturday and Sunday nights. 

Durante works only two shows, 
the nine o'clock, and the rnidnight, 



"Now Appearing 

CLEO BROWN 
ROY ELDRIDGE 

And Band 
At the 

"Home of Swing'* 

In Chicago 

FAMOUS 
THREE DEUCES 

222 North State St. 



AGENTS 



Everyday, Convalescent 
Greetlnl; C^rds 
rln Boxed ' Assortmentn 
Very Liberal Commtsslohs 
Wrlt« tor partlcalan) 

DOROTHEA ANTEL 
396 Wthi Kui St. Mew York. S. Y. 



dhow People All the firorld Over WUI 
Be Intereited to Kaow That 

SIDNEY FISHERr::.To% 

. (roniierly at t9, Wardoar StreetV 
Is Now Located at More Commodious 
PremlMli at 
75/77r Shafteibury Avenu* 
ncOADIXXX, LONDON. ENG. 



but that's enough to line up standees 
to last until , dawn. 

He does everything in great 
style. Carries drummer and pidnist, 
anfi does couple comedy ntimbers 
with the Chez line of girls. Besides 
the fast gab and song, l^e demon- 
strates hijw he once" committed may- 
hem 6n a piano in Chinatown, N. Y. 

Girl line is newly costumed, and 
surrounded by new scenery. Pres- 
ently going in for mpi:e leg display 
than is usual in Chez shows, biit, 
even .so, it is : doubtful . that ahy 
cover-up ciampaigris will ever affect 
this spot. Coronatibh number by, the 
girls is the best. , 

Next to Durante, the click of the 
show is provided by CrOSs and Diinn, 
who.se song repertoire is long and 
funny. Team .scores solidly with 
every appearance, and they're good 
for two engagements evei*y year. 

Uriiversal's Jack Williams is an 
other who's causing 'em to set down 
their forks. Big, good looking, and 
with plenty of personality, .the boy 
gets his dances over in dandy style. 
Two other dance acts are on the bill, 
John and Edna Torrence, and Thorrie 
and White. First do ballroom rou- 
tines in a clean-cut, almost star 
class. Girl helps act plenty with her 
wardrobe. In the three shows night- 
ly, she never repeats a gown, using 
10 per evening. 

She might have a nice little talk 
with Thomas and White, the other 
team. I'his act does all" types of 
dancing, and :swell, but doesn't add 
up to topline stuff because of so- 
so wardrobe. 

Also . Qn the show are Barbara 
Parks, fine rhythm singer, but better 
for radio than niteries^ and Pierre 
Andre, who announces show. Band 
is still Henry Busse.'s, almost a show 
in itself, and doing , a swell' job for 
both dancing and acts. Loop. 



picgAdilly room 

(PHILADELPHIA) 

.Philadelphia, May 19. 
Piccadilly Room, which opened 
here last, week is new idea to Philly 
Jiiteries. Ike Beifel continues white 
show girls in his upstairs reiar por- 
tion of the large converted house, 
.while Ben Rash has taken, over front 
room on commission basis, named it 
Piccadillyi and installed a colored 
show. 

At one end of the . room is medium- 
sized bat, at the other a small band- 
stand with a handkerchief-like dance 
floor in front of it*^ and in the center 
are . tables. Everything done in 
chronfie and leather, makes place at- 
tractive, although it isn't ultra-ultra. 
Seats about 100. 

Opening show boasts Gladys Bent-, 
ley as headliner. She's very disap- 
pointing. Just an oversized colored 
mammy, minus the mamitiy instinct. 



The THEATRE of the STARS 




ROSITA and FONTANA 

OPENING MAY 28 

SURFSIPE CLUB. Long Beach. L. I. 

xclusivo Management 
PAUL SMALL 

WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY, Inc. 



Makes her appearance in purple silk 
dress suit' and high hat, which is 
nice-looking enough, but not a lot 
else can be said for her. Her spe- 
cialty, of course, is blue songs. But 
what she offered -when caught were 
apparently neither blue enough nor 
clever enough. 

Most than can be. said of entire 
show is that it's loud. Roonfi is 
rather smiall and shouting by all the 
acts is guaranteed to whiff the ears 
a-plenty. This isn't entirely out of 
place, however, with type of. patrons 
Rash is attracting. Most of listeners 
at early morning shows are well 
oiled and' looking for gay timie. They 
take the noise for gaiety and are 
pleased. 

Tiny Bradshawi m.c, is f aii:ly sat- 
isfactory, for type of place. : He works 
hard and has a loud voice. Lula 
Mae is a chirpei: with squeaky pipes 
that meet wUh tod much interfer- 
ience in this ihtinriate spot. .L6ah 
White does some acrobatic, terping 
with her skin painted to reflect the 
blue light.. It'is a good nutnber. Phil 
Scott is one of those, singers and Ann 
Lewis does some fair to middlin' 
shouting. Both are loud. Fats and 
Cora Green do patter songs that are 
definitely shady. Numbers are fairly 
clever , and yank off good portion of 
applause. 

Tooting is provided by four Apiece 
outfit led by Johnny Hamilton and 
is very okay. Herb. 

HARLEM CASINO 

(PITTSBURGH) 

Pittsburgh, May 20. 
Pittsburgh's only colored spot con^ 
tinues to wo^-k on a policy of quan- 
tity gather than quality, but it's been 
profitable all season, and Lew Mer- 
cur, the operator, apparently sees 
no reason for changing. It's been so 
successful,' in fact, that the Casino 
remains one of the few iteries 
around still .knocking down a cover 
chai'ge and is making plans to in- 
stall a cooling plant in order to stay: 
open all summer. In past it's been 
closed during warm months of June, 
July and August. 

. Seven acts, in . addition to a chorus 
of six, double the entertainment to 
be found in any other late spot in 
town, but it all boils down to just a 
fair revue. It's so briskly paced, 
however, that, the paucity of real 
talent, isn't per itted to become very 
noticeable. 

Similarity of turns is thinly dis- 
guised by the revue form, produced 
neatly enough considering the ma- 
terial by Johnny Vigal, who doubles 
as m.c; and sticks to" straight an- 
nouncing. High spots are George 
Gould; singer of character songs and 
the inevitable 'Old Man River'; 
Charlie Alexander, feiifiale imper- 
sonator, who does a couple of slick 
impersonations of Clara Bow and 
Katharine Hepbutn, arid is also a 
nimble hoofet^ahd Louise Mann, 
piano-songstress, who dirties up 
lyrics of current hit tunes, always 
effective for a late, celebrity-laden 
spot- such, as this. 

Dancing predominates in the en- 
tertainment, with team of Snowball 
arid Johnny and Clarence Bubbles 
looking after the u6ual taps, and a 
hot torso slirtger labeled Mercia 
Marquez getting in the Cboch licks. 
Chorus of six gals, billed as the 
'Harlemites,* is a fast-stepping line 
with each of the kids stepping out 
in turn for. birief specialties. 

Music is by Sheridina Walker, at 
the piano,, and her all-male band, 
acceptable enough for both dancing 
and show but a little too heavy iit 
times on the brass. Show looks big, 
but talent niit is. really compara- 
tively low and smart operating 
methods have made it a mint fqr 
Mercur. Stays open well into the. 
a.m. and naturally attracts flock of 
show people, which j?ives the place 
an additional attractiveness for the 
natives. 

.Closing recently of a couple of 
other minor spots in Wylie avenue 
sector— Pittsburgh's Harlem— hasn't 
hurt Casino any, either. Cohen. 

Saranac Lake 

.Happy Ben way 

It'^ still snowing up Iiere.. 

Grand openmg of Johnny High- 
Ian 's St.. Regis Ladi ' Green Room, 
was a de luxe aff,air; place is 100% 
theatrical. 

Leon rottes (Loew's. lush- 

ing) getting quotati on 

camps up heie. 

Feed Rith, tlie baritone of many 
kno,w.n rtels, who has seeri 
.much ;6£ the bed thing during the 
past 10 years, ' •: at the Will Rogers 
Hospital. 

Dr. Dan Q'Neill. the actors' dentist 
here, threw away a pair of crutches 
only to get the mumps. 

William White, writer, hiibby of 
Ruth Morris, is here at Camp Inter- 
rnission flxiiig up things for the arr 
rival of Mrs. Williai (mother) 
Morris. " 

Mari ianchi a check- 

up. 

The Christy Maithewsons, ., are 
at the Mathewspn home Park 
Ave..'here. 

Buster Holt < Fenway,. Bostori) 
Tony Zinn <R.K,0., Boston) both 
angling for a summer vacash spot 
here. 

Write to those you know in Sara 
iiac and elsewhere who are sick. 



» IS YEARS AGO « 

(From YAmtt Bn4 Clippor} 



NeW' Famoug layers booking 
contracts called for percentage and 
guarantee, with .right to dictate ad- 
missibn iiicald. Exhibs no like. 



Rumor boys added United Artists, 
to that reported Goldwyn- First, Nat. 
deal. Matter fell through before they 
could bring in. thie rest of the busi- 
ness. 



There were ,17 stiates With new 
censorship bills and, three with ex- 
isting censorships had, bills to make 
'eriri tougher. Just to help aloiig, 10 
states sought to bar Sunday shows. 



him and h« had to hava them 
ejected. Rest of the audience 
though It was a part of the act. Girla 
sued, but lost., 



B'way swung into the summer 
season with 40 houses lighted. Soma 
of tha lights w«re flickering, though. 

Nitery Phcements 



Co.,: Congress 



Bert, Lahr' tackled yaude with a 
soubret. Simie said 'Strictly small 
timie in, work airid material.' Jiist out 
of burlesque. 



lice Brady, mpvied frorn Brook- 
lyn to the Palace and drew the class 
audience of the season. Bessie Clay- 
ton in her ninth week of the season 
at the same house, but not consecu- 
tive. 



Picture stocks carrie to life after 
several w&eks of doldi-ums. Famous 
Players up to 64. Loew's, now the 
old reliable, was regarded with dis- 
favor. 



Hilda, Spong the fronter for Na- 
tional Stage Women's Exchange, To 
help needy actresses^ Forerunner of 
the. current Stage Relief Fund, but 
alpng slightly different lineis. 
— — 

Famous Players offeired At Jolspn 
$150,000 and a percentage after costs 
for a single film. 



Players Assembly, co-op con>- 
posed of Equity members, in a jam. 
Played 10 weeks for $27 net. 



Bafneis' huge elephant, 
Tusko, on ai riot in Centrali , Wash. 
Kept the bull men out all night, but 
recaptured withbut having done 
much damage. Famous for his bad 
temper and his breaks. 



Marcus show ended its 40 week 
tour and glad of it. Had a tough 
time in spots, but carried through. 

Insiders discussing possible sale of 
Barniim show to Ballard-Mugivan. 
For once rumor had it right. 



State, with only Indifferent pro- 
grams, continued to pack 'em m. 
Had been doing it since the open- 
ing. 



Bill Dooley in a jam with six flap 
pers in Ciricy. They talked back at 



Frank Gaby, Luba Malina, Dan^i 
Gobdfelle, Texas Rockets^ Eleanor 
Knight, Caperton & Columbus, Jerry 
Goff;, Adelphia hotel, Philadelphia. 

Jack .G Wynne 
hotel, Chicago., 

AI Smiley has quit acting to open 
the Club Esquire in Hollywood. 

'^^L ^!?*?'^'**°^' Whirlin 

Top, N. y. 

Benny Fields; 
Paul Sydell; 
Beach, L. I. 

Three Dandies; nf, 
N. Y. • %■ 

Raye and Naldi, 
Room) N. Y. 

Aileeri Cook, singer; Le Mirage 
N. Y. ■ , ■ '■■ 

Brown and Ardsley, 
Central hotel, N, Y. 

Ruth May, sirigeif; Brewery,. N. Y. 

Daphne Ryan; Crisis, N. Y. 

Patricia Bowman, dancer; 
Travis, singer; Clyde Hager, 
Versailles, N» Y. 

Groiss and Dunn; Josephine Hus- 
ton, singer; Ben Yost's Collegians;' 
Marion Pierce; Buster Shaver (Olive 
and George); Lois Kay;. Ben Marden, 
Riviera, Englewood, N. J. 

Judy Starr, singer; Cyril Smith, 
comic; Gentlemen Songsters; Baron 
and Bliair, dancers; Swirig Kids, 
singers; Seab Wari , mimic; Astor 
hotel, N. Y. ■ 
^ l^ela Goodelle, si ; Plaza hotel, 



VIC HYDE 

**One Man Swing Bund'* 

HELD OVER 

PARAMOUNT, NEWYORK 

Doubling Into 19ih Week 
Club Mirador, New York 



June 4-ia, CHICAGO, CHICAGO 
yigt. RVDT TAL]:,BE COBP., N. T. C. 



ALWAYS WORKING 

'WHITEY' ROBERTS 

T..aet Week, Aubarii and Portland* Me. 
ThU Weeki rrlncess Theatre. 
St. Johns, Canada 



SMITH / DALE 

LOEW'S STATE 

NEW YORK 
This Week (May 20) 



Presenting Their HjlaHous 

"AMUSEMENT A LA CARTE" 

With MARIO and LAZARIH 



ion: 



WM. MORRIS OFFICE 



RICHARD (RED) SKELTON 

"HOW TO DUNK PROPERLY** 

ver for 5th Consecutive Week at Palace Theatre, 
(April 30 to June 3) 

Opening LOEW'S STATE, New York 

WEEK JUNE 



. , -Writer. 
BUKA SKKIil'ON 



Wednesdayr May 26, 1937 



VARIETY 



49 




Oills 



NEXT WEEK (Miy 31) 
THIS WEEK (May 24) 

with bills below indicate 
whether full or. split week 



day of 




(DificAtio 

rulMce (28) 

jiann Pupvfee & L . 
Kert SUelton 
r.yiiri MHTtin Co 
Rill R<)blnson 
7 DanwillK 

; <n) 

itcil Skellon 
Buiitei KhHVer 
Hve<lwln« • ■ 
Stanley 2 



Palace 

Chester Hale Co 
blck Don & D 
8 AmljasBadoi H 
Starnes & Annuvan 
Boreo 

Etbel Sliutta 

. (21) 
Cab- Calloway Bd 
Llndy Hoppeio 

KANSAS CITY. 

Malnstreet (28) 
,M6sul 




MEW YORK cm 

■ state (27) 

I,oulH-Sobol 
Jackie Heller 
Hftiiy King . 
Mcllsaa Maaon 
Sibyl Bowan . 
Joe win 
Boy Vcy 



Sinclair i ': 

iVashington 

CaPltoI (^8) 
6 Tip Top Girls 
Popeye 

Jesse Crawford Co 
Phil Began 
lilnie 3 



Radio City Miftic Ualli New York 
WEEK MAT Vitlt 

MY ROYCE 

Placed by LEDDY & SMITH. 



Paramount 



NEW YOBK CITS 

I'lkranipurtt (26) 
Ina k Hulton Bid 
(.Rondos Bros 
Vic Hyde . 
Mu|-y ' Small 
BOSTON 
etrvpolltan (28) 
Jack Williams ' 
Sylvia & Clemence 
Peter HlKElns. 
. Stadlei- & Rose 
Hons & Stone 
Uecurdos 



CHICAGO 
Chicago (28) 
Gene Autry . 
DETROIT 
MlchtKan (28) 
Clyd^. Lu.caa. Bd 
Masters & Rollins 
Marlorl 

Lillian Carmen 
MONTREAT* 
Xoew'8 (28) 

Camilla's Birds 

Paul Regan 

Marcy Bros & B 

tilazeed Arabs 




PHltAUEf^PHIA 
Alliambra ^7-28) 

Sally Rand Rev 
Earle (2iB) 
Btin MeroR Ore 
A una May .WOng 

(21) 
Allen & Kent 
Stepin Fetchit 
Calif Collegians 

Nix«n (26-28) 

Sully A: Thomas 
MclSH T;r ■ 

Oiford <3-5) 
FtHil & Esther 

(27-29) 
Osahi & Takl 



J.'Porrls & Seambn 
Balabanow .Rev 
PITTSBURG 
Stanley (28) 
Ben. Tost Co 
Norichalants 
Ice Ballet 
Mitchell & Durant 
(21) 

Shep Fields Ore 
WASHINGTON 
Earle (28) 

3 Jackson Boys 
Louise Mas.sey Co 
Grace & Nlcco. 
Calif Collegians 

(21) . 
Guy Lombardo Ore 




CHICAGO . 
8tat« KMke (28) 
•I'urlB on Parade 
IMMANAl'OLIS 
. liKlianu (28) 
Intfenues. 
Hiirry Savoy 
Sfa.nley 2 
u jrortH ■■■■■ 

rjrlc (28) 
P«ptto. 

.Hm'ge.MN gc I/aniorit 
'.lOHM tti Bai-r " . 



Jack Lenny C.o 
Dixie 4 

Danny & Eddie 
Smiles & Sniilea 
KANSAS CITY. MO 

Tower (28) 
Harry VanFossen 
Serge. Flash 
B. &, Beverly Benils 
Johnny Woods 
MEMPHIS 
rphenm (2n-3) 
Slums of Palls 




Week of May , 24 



.W.fslern Bros 

X»Mi Harvey 
.fH'i'oU K Howe 

'-'nga Singh Co 

Maurice 

Victoria Palnre 

Florence Desmond 
Will Mahoney 
VIo Oliver 
Uwrnloe stone 
Tfevncll ft West 
}yiiaoh. Keppcl & B 
f ain KemOa. Co 
'lalo Boys 
•Uic Gi'lHln 
Kvle Hayes 

Vic Paluco Gls 

mrixton 

ANtorIa 

llHllo & Foster 

CAMDEN TOWN 
tiaumont 

-Aot Superb 
3 Manley Bros 



EAST HAM 
. Granaila 

G & J D'Ornionile 
Loranna • 
Thorp & SCnnton 
Tex McLeod 

FINSBIIRV I'AKK 
Astoria , 

illmacs; 

iSI,INGTO>f 
Blue Hall 

1st half (2l-2fi) 
Jose Moreno. 
Joe Haatlnpfv 

2d' half. (27-29) ' 
3 VV'lllards 
Klngsltiy & Ford 

LEWISHAM 
Palace 

Jatk Lewis. Co 
Bll & Bil . 

tEYTOXSTONK 
Rlaito 

L<irahna ' 
Thorp() & Slahton 
OLI> KENT ItOAU 

Afttoria 
Anton Bd 
Will Russell 
STREATilAM 
' Astoria ' 
Teddy Joyce Bd 

Palac** 
Jack' Lewis Co 
Bll. & Bll 

TOOTING 
Granada 
' une in' 



TOTTENHAM 
COURT ROAD 
, .ParaniMiunt 

Anton- Bd' 

.4 Bi-llllant' Blondes ' 

3 ,Aluslc Hall Boyis 



WAl.THAaiSTpW 
Girnnaila 

Dave -Poole;^ . 
Joe Peterson 
Bin & Blum 




Week of May 24 



ABKKIIKEN 
Tivoll 

Dave Willis. 

Jimmy clvlnlay 

Florence Hunter ■■ 

i'liff Havley 

Jee Boys 

Vci'a McLean 

Tiller Gls 

P & J Desmond 

Roy Davc'y. 

CAKDIFF 
: CuOltul 

Al Bo wily 

EXETER 
'Pahive 

Dora DiiVid . 
GLASG 
Paramount 

Levis' Discoveries 
Pavltion 

4 Smith Bros 

Faldos 

ike Hutch 

(3bl»i & C^or 

Adair. & Br 

Edith "Thoni 



. TyEEDS. 
'Parani<Miiit 
Billy Bennett 
Lily Morris 
•(.'arlyle Cousins 
Anita Martell. 
.3 MataS 

7 Fredysons 

rJVERPOOI. 

Paramount 
EVfe Becke 

Sliakespeare 
Horace Goldin 
Paddy Drew 
ITrastonlans. ' 
.Randolph Sutton 
Kemble K^eah 
Campbell' & R 
MANCHESTER 

ParamOnnt 
Clapham i& Dwyer 
Beryl Orde 

8 Step Sis. 
Brooklne &' \An 

YEOVIf/ 
Pala:<>ie 
Irene Mansell. 



Cabaret Bills 



NEW YORK CITY 



Barney ;Gallant's 

June .Klkln.s 
Luan Oriilg' 
'3 Musical Kogoes 
•Merl '*t Meriani 
3 Dandies 

BertoloUi'f) 

Jimmy Whalen. Ore. 
To)iimy -Ilnrrls ore 
Yula' Floui-noy- 
Nysa Alna 
Joyce Faye 
Greta Lewis 

iir* Gay >M)> 

Eddie . Leonard 
.Joe Howard 
."Rudy ' Madison 
Spike Harrison 
ethel. GUben 

Caie BhII 

Chit- Farmer 
Rddia Lambert 
Roger Steele Ore 
Jack Wallace Ore 

Calient* 

Beth RaboVn 
Helen .Shaw 
RuUi. Wayh 
Corn! Sis 
3 llhythm Boys 
Calienie CabeJIeros 

Cliatenn Modern 

Louise.. Ttaymond 
AUaiv 'Foster 
Al Apollbn- prc- 

('Inremont Inii 

Jolly Coburn Ore 

iCUib Gaiiiiio 

V»cc|('ro'a Orch 
Jos:e DisiJf 
.Tilhl Plaza 
LI la Moya 
Helen Virgjl 
Ditiiltrl 

Club 

John Adarrts 
A I Benson 
Shirley Walls 
>*eil. Stone ' 

<'lub Mtrador 

Mai'ijie lljirt 
Buddy .Wiigher Ore 
Vic Hyde 
Almit Hr!iy 
Joan yickprs 
:lE!earI iftey iKilds 
Warr(»n .fe B.odee 
,Bed .McKei.izie Ore 
■ Riia Renmi 
.Phil Srixe 
iU.IIy Convey 

Club Viimiirl 

Aninnio Si Ci> rilo 
Sai-ilu llernii a. .- 
Ro}^Ita GrtouM 
Don l/IllinrU). 

C«ilton Clu 

RUiel Wal.eis 
(jeo I) Waslilhgton 
NicholJis Bros 
r)Ml<e.- I£llingt<in re- 
OfSKie 1/udley 
3 (>ianln :<if Fl'yih'm 
(vie Anderson 
Alun -As Anise 
Mardo .B.i;<nvfi 
Mny J'>Ikk''-'' . ' 
W»-n 'falDert CHrilr 
Kd M:i'll(n.'v Otih . 
B.Ill Biiilty 

Jack Denipsry't . 

E.; Ciirpehlcr Oi-c 
-|>ii Pierrot's 

Jo Fo.seiv In 
jane St«nlt-y 
'l.'oin & «:i)>irli 
[..oui.se Bridon" 

El Chico 

Chlla 

L(th nanrllcros I 
A'dt'irna Diirai) 
Carlos MonlCjtt 
(to'lsila. Kios'. 
Don Albei lo. Ore 

>|. Moro.cco' 
Ernie .H<jitt Oi.c 

Bi Tnrea«1or 

Don Jujcii Oic 
MaUIit Curie'/. 

TVeiicli Cat'ln0' ' 
Adalet 



Feral !B«nga' - 
Bitty^ Brite 
Betty: Bruc* 
Florence Chutnbecof 
Hilda Elfonte 
Rolf Holbein 
Johnny -Co 
Xavler LemercUr- 
7 Maravlllas 
Rekkdfs . 
Rhoehrada 
Florence .Spencer 
Tullah & Myl 
Iris Wayne 
Vega Asp 
Hugo Marlanl. Oro' 
V" Travera' Ore 
C Gromwell Ore 

.FroIiCH 

Ralph WatUlns Ore 
Martin's Rh'mba .Oi' 
Joe I..ewis 
Oshlns & Lessy 
Harriet DeGolt 
Palsy Ogden" 
Johnny Coy 

Glen T«land Casino. 

JQye. Mayhew; Ore 

Greenwich Village 
Oaelno 

Alle^n Cook 
Vera; Dunn 
Peter Randall 
Ann -ptiiart 
-Duryea's Doll 
Variety 4 

Clyde Brehnan Ore 

Harlem. Uproar 

Erekine H'wklna Bd 
Lillian Fitzgerald 
Edna Mae .Holley 
Eddie . Harron .. 
B; Castle & Scblt 
Mae Brown 
Willie Jackson 
Tiny Bunch 
Lovey Lane 
Fairbanks Sin 
bee L Mc.Ka.v 
Ebony Rascli lis - 
Fred ft GIn»fer 
Edwards Sis 
Pauline Brynnt 
I'helma Middlelbn 

lilchory UouKe 

Joe Marsala Ore 
AOele Gli'iird 
J I in MuOrehead 

li'ivw'd ReKtnurqrti 

M.iloheJl; Ayre.M Ore 
E Jelewnlck 'Ore 
Jean Sai'Kenn'l'-; 
'J une T.^or.ralhe 
Del .Oasi.ho 
»i : peljonalrs 
•ran'la &. KIrSoff 
L. j\lann.i.ng.& Mltzl 
«ay .Taylor ' 
Hobby -Joyce 
Teit. Adair. . 
filrida Gil 
Charnilpn 
Meloise Ma rl I n 
A(<nos & ;r Nip Jr 
Ituth Qaylor 

Hotel.. AmitH^satlor 

I.iirry . Siry Ore 
Jtl / W. ■ 'XJioitipson 



( 

Rndy Vailee 'Qrc ' 

Jiidv Starr-. 

Cyril Smi( 

< iPnl If-iuen . '.il.'s 

Haroii ■ li " 

.• ■■ Kids. 

S>; Warlnji 

Hutei lit 

Carl Ho ff Ore 
I'Morence' & Alvarez 

3 Intrrnalionuls 
AlbGrn'ice 

Hotel EdIiipD 

Bobby Hayes Ore 
Italph' Torres 
Theodora Brookd 
Oscar Deye 
Muriel Byrd 
Bob Berry ' 

llotel: Essei '.' MoiiRe 

Nat Brahdwynne O 
finrris & Anhburn 

4 Hhythym Iloj u 
Maitllne Tapplh 
rick Stone ' 



otel Firtli Air* 

Roy Strum Oro 

Hotel Gov. Clinton 

Phil D'Aroy Ore 
Stuart J nies 
Kay Marshall 

qiel I.eiingtoB 

Slil'riey T,Io'yd 
Jeno Barlal Ore.. 

otel rinculo- 

tahain Jones Oro 

Hotel McAlplb 

.Enoch Light .'Oro.'. 
Mary Dab Is' 
A. Gon'/alea Ens 
Muriel, ShernvHii ' 

Hotel Monlrliilr 
,(CaHinu-in-tlir4'-Alr) 
Coral - Islanders 
Kal Hope Org 
Herb AVpII 
"Elect ronlc- 

llotei 'Murray IIHI 
(Eountuin .< Koonv) 

.Toe Cappl- 
■Nancy Garner, • 

Htitol New .Yorker 
(Sunt er Terni<'e) 
Evelyn Chandler 
Baptie & Lamb 
Hotel Park Cent ral 
Jerry Blaine ' Oro • 
.Tanie.s i^os'pll.o 
Brown & Ar'd.siey 
'L'he (.'racker.lHi'K 
Elaine . & Barcy 

otel Park l.une 
Junior Raphael Ore 
Hotel .. PennaylvunlH 
Bunny Berigaii Ore 
otel Picoadllly 

Trent Patterson 
Tohl. Gaiye- .. .' 
Arno & - Zola 
Jerry Stewart 
Dave Schooler Ore 

Hotet I'ierre : 
(Root Gartlen) 

Basil -^Fomeeii -Pre 
Anne Heath - 
Pepplno & Cahillle 

■otei PInxa 
Veloz &-.Tolaniila 
Eddie Duehin.Orc 
Will McCune Ore 

Hotel RQoseyc|t: 

Freddie Starr Ore; 
Hotel Savo^-PlNKa . 
Ray & G McDonald 
Bmila! Petti Urc 
Hotel Slicltob 
Eddie Liaiie ' Ore 

Hotel St. George 
- (Br«H»klj'1t) 

Ell Dantzig Ore 
Martinez & A 
Omar 

C Barra Har re 
CaS Franklin 
-Patricia' M'orley 
Jay .John.s'on 

Hntel St. Mnriti 

(Sky. Gar«lenK) 

■Jack Sherr re 
Gris.ha 

Hotel St. Regis 
(VienneHe.Roof) 

Jacques Fray' -pre 
A Rasch Pancei' 
Ifenry. .Dick 
A. . Robliis 

Hotel Tafl 
GeOi Hall ro 
Dolly Dawn 
J.ohnny JIcKeever 

ilotel Vanilerhilt 

riddle. -Lane Oro 
Goodelle ft Farrles 
Dorothy Howe 
otel Waldwrt- 
Astorin 
(Starlight Roof) 
Leo Reishia.n- Oro 
Xavler Cugat. Ore 
lla:phael 

Hotel Wellington 

Ed'^-Alayehoft Olo 

If otel WeTliii 
Alex Fogarty 
Charlie . Wright 
Jininiy Keily'it 

Lionel Rand Ore 
.Toe Ciipeilo pre 
Monlniartre Hoys 
Carter ft Sclinuli 
Jlmn-ile Costello 
3 Raymonds 
Danny HiK'gin 

Larne 

Eddie D.nvis 'Ore 
lllrmlo f.irc 



XAur«l-ln-Pln>a 
(Lakewood. N.' Jv) 

Terry Cireen 
vio.na ft- Marina 
.Fred Berhena . Ore 

I,<e CO 
Hovacio '.ilo 
Le Mirage 

Harry Horton Oro , 
Cookie Williams Or 
Alleen Cook 
ChH.rle.o Ne»ile 
Blllle Haywood. 
rMn. Allen ' 
Ohiirles Kesn*. 
Sanlu ft . Al<rlyii 
Leon A Ctldle'a 

Witliaini Fa r«ier" Ore 
Eddie Davis ' 
Patricia- <iil'i»i<n- 
Billy Reed 
Nelsoh.H Cats. 
Lea -Perrlh • 
HiilheH 'J -ale 
Liine .ft .'a.i'roi 

Merrj- 

Nftdl.-i Koric'/'. 
Syl vie St ("111 ire 
Harry Rosenthal Or- 
-Moris Koret'/.kv Ens 
Tony,-' Sarjf- Co. 

-Mon Parle 

fiene Fdsdlifk Or' 
r^aurence White 
.Miii'Ioh Pierce 
Vtrr?4atile 3- ■ 

M.orl.'N ,.' 
Vine .'irey Ore. 
l/oiiiKc . ich rd'fon 
lioui.s CilDci'o 
Eddie liamonle 

Onyx Club. 

6 Spirits of .ilhyliiirn 
Paradise 

.lanlce Anorie 
Rlclmrd ft Carson 
Shea ft- Ray'n'iohd ■ 
'.roe &■ Betty Lee 
Mary ■ Roland 
Bliiy ft H. Bcnilp 
.-3 Cossacks. 
Florence ft ,AIV'are2 
Johnny Busseir 
■Jay Prieeman Oro- 
pince Elegante 

Bill: Farrell 
Marlo'-fja.sinl ,-- 
Toto ranglosl 
Rex Gavitte 
Lal-ry Mado Ore 

RalnboW; Orlli 
Emery Deutsch Ore 
Evalyn Tyner 
C ft L- Hohher 
Glbver- ft La Mae 

Rainbow Room 

Ruby Newman Ore 
Holland ft Hart 
Eleanor .Sheridan 
Dr. Sydney Ross 
Evelyn Tyner ■ 
Alec Tcnipleton 
Eddie LeBaron, Ore 

Stork - Clnl» 

Sbinny .Kendls .Ore' 
Gus Martel Ore 
Surf Hide 
(Atlantic rUy) 

Shep Fields Ore 
Benny Fields 
RoslUi -ft Font fin a 
Paul Sydell .ft Spot 

Tavern Oii (ireen 
(Ceiitnil Park) 

Huglile Iiarrctt Ore 

.. Vbnngl 4'lub 

dvle. Al'Ston Ore 
3 GobM 
-Otis Brown 
Ma.e .Tohnson 
TbndelayO . 
Gladys Beiilley 

Valhalla 

Maurice .''haw Ore 
Marlta. 

.'Lorraine ' Barrett 
.Rond Hal 

Versnlllee 

H- Rosenthal 
I'ati'lcia Bo Win 
Jean 'Crn vIh ' 
Clyde. Haii.er 

Village 
Larry - McMahbn 
S laiylng W.hirlos 
Willie .Solar, 
M. ^lonlKonie.r 
Barnet. ft Par 
Iva Kitchen 
BoUrboh ft 
.To!in Kirk 
Hank Uninsey 
.Tolinny Rus.se'U 
Uuth Ci'iive'n 
Tex r..cwiH Cowboys 
yillatre llrewery 

. Marly l-lerbert 
Hudi May 



Bill Zerker 
Camllle Saray 
Tbimy'a 

•Jhe Dee Slater 
Bonnie'. Lind 
Dorothy Roy 
Ginger Weldoh 



Pat Carroll 
Maxlne 'Manner 
r..eb'na' RU'e ■ 
Jane Morgiin 
Irene Berry 
Agnes Johnson '■ 
Al Eldredge Or.p 

Trncadero 

Phli Ohman Oro 



PHILADELPHIA 



LOS ANGELES 



Itnll 

Bruz Fletcher 
Charles Lawrence 
Vaclit Clu 

Jlnini'y Hurn.M 
Anil Pe nlnifion" 
;! Itac-ke'l-Oliecrs 
'I'iny W'.'olt- 
Oohnh.v- ft Ge.rir 
.'VrL Stanley 'urc.; 

Beverly tVllslilre 

Royii 1 - J-fa wn iiii fia - ' 
llarry Owens prc- 
Itlllmnre -Rowi 

3 .R.tdlo.. Roffiies' 
I'.ifA'rc 'IVinijie 
.Hofhlce Lynjie ' 
UIck '-\V-6I)NLcr 
.loy Ilbd^es 
3 Uhytiin) Rascals 
Fred Scoit 
■Knrlco. Illi'ha, Oro 
Jiiriniy Grier Ore 

. Cafe Cnsanoya- 

JSai'.I ft. .los Lynch' 
Casiihov.a Ore 
Beth , W.il.«on 
Ilex Weljii-r 

Cafe 
Park. Ave Boys 
Vi Bradley . 
Sian Clair Orb 
Clover Club 
Bob Grant Oro 



Rilth Roblh 
CilJKary Bro.i 
San I sell I ft BiicUley 
Phil llurrie Ore 

Kl .Mtrador 

Dorothy Cl.'ir«i 
Ram'sdell '(»irls 
Sllin_.Mai-tlii Oic. 

'umoiiB Door. 

.Eddie Beal 
Louis I'liiii 



HaU-'iiliuii Paradise 

\Vii nda 

Tiinnii.. Toy 

Sol Hi'IkIiIh Ore 

Llllie Club 
Tiny Meredith 
Jahe.^ Jones. 
Panl Kendiili 
HeI.en -.Wiii'iier 
Rose Valydti ' 

joey 

0 SI K nbn ..ft. .' HrO n Kh ' u 
IJonilhy Rol»ci't;K 
N.iionii Warner 
Speck Watkin 
.'l.'o'yce'.OiJihniii 
(JeorKe .Red ii.i u.n : O rc 

Paoiilc Sunset Cluir 

Pciigy. Vn' 
,\-lc.'l(i.. Fiiy- 
I\ in);, ' si.siM S' 
. ii net jVn'tllin 
Buddy La- 
Al Ilculli • 
^iiIoi'm 

Tlin Redd I n 
..lOll Burt.. • 
Sianlcji Hickniii 
Muzzy A'larcclllii 
.1 ■ DehntiintO'* 
ifiifljifin Meiy.n Is 
Ted: I'^lb Illto 

riirlfi In. 

Ooinlnlc Coluin 
Ken. llenryson 
ilabrielle ft ' Cellila 
y vohno 

Rnd'y & ;T,aToscrt 
Thbra 'Maltha Kdn 
Mai-Kucrliifi dol Rio- 
J nan do Al.trtlnls 
I'eto Contr.clli Or'< 

fi^veii fien». 
Lily Glb.son • 
Lohnle Mclnilre Or 

Somerset Hou«e 
Bt lly. Honlon 



Arcadia: Int'l 

May fair 'Girls (8) 
Marlon. Wilkin 
Jack Wallers - ' 
Patsy Ogden 
Cha>) Carrier 
I^ltirlo Villuni 
Mlltoh Kelleih.brc . 
Shav.o' Shernian ■ 
Don Rcniildo Or 

Uelievue-Stralford 
(Planet Room) ~. 

Meyer .Dayla Orb- 
Ren Eranklln .'Hotel 
(tieorglan Room) -. 

Mde\Jarre Ore" 

Beniiy tiie .Bum''e 

r.eo Zollo 

3 Roberts Brci 
, Milton Fronie 
Stuart :ft Lea 
Halpli Brown ., 
DJn'es Dilnclni; D,ebs. 

. Club Parrnkeet 

■Dorothy Day 
Audrey .Kennie.dy 
MArge Fox 
Babs Biibclte 
Joe King ' 
l'''.i'ah Caswell . 
Jluddy Fisher 
Al WIl.''Qh 
Billy Thornton pre 

Chet Michnud 

Joe Fbllmah "Or 
Walt Gallagher 
John Grady 

. . Colony .Club 

Margie Druniimond 
Gypsy Rita 
sunny. Ray 
Dorothy: Klaias'.: 
Dolly Delinont , 
Franeeis Mad<lu'x 
.3- Colonlala Ore 

Embaesy. Club 
Cllft Hall 
Linda King • ., 
Virginia RehauU 
L>ot Collins 
Judith Manning 
Kathryn Burkitt 
.Gloria Mausier 
Susan Austin 
Jill Rees. 
' ETerKrecii Casino 

Heialne ft D'n'l<ls'ii 

Tom Barry 
Kathleen May 
Betty Liine' 
Caddy LaVer 
Val -Dion 

Vincent -Norma r' 
Kay 'Hainllton 

. EYnnk Valumbo'e 

Eddie While 
Lee - Bnrtel 

4 Golden Gale Girls 
Dorothy , Barrett 
Winton ft Diane 
Carlton ft La P(i.ye 
Teddy Green 
Dorlta ft Klla , 

Ed die DeLuca pre 

Hotel Adelpbia JCoof 

riUba.-Mallna. 
Danze Goodell 
Frank Gaby - 
Eleanor Knight 
Caperton ft C'l'bus 
.ferry Goof 
Agnes' Tolle 
B Texas Rockets 
Vincent Rlzzo Ore 
Harold Kiilght Oro 
Evan B Fohlalne. 
KIt. Kat Kafe 

.'Tnck "Waidron 
tris Adrian - 
Jeanne Ijaridls 
-.Terry Krufier 
Val Bolton 
Bill Honey Ore 

Lambii Tavern 
joe Landy Orb 
MItle Ratbskellcr 
Jack Griffin pro 
' Marty Bolin 
Siiaw ft Meade 
<'leo Valenleen 
Leslie SIH 
Maude O'Malley 
Nancy. Lee 

inzH i^ociist 

Bobbles Shtlby 
Jan Fari'iir . 
Hazel lliii'inon. 
r.ln'dii Ray 
' I'ejppor till I'll t 
Kay Lavery 
Peanuts .Stcwnria 
3 SwliiK- -Kings Ore 
Min.-i Aloltz 
l.oiiiso Mll'ze 
(Tonsl.iinf'p Conwiiy 
Vli-glnlil- ■ yoiinj,' 

New Overl>r<Hi 
Villii 

(l/i'iidcntvoUl,: .1,) 

Caihprliie K aw 
Audrey '.lo.vte 
.foe: Cain lib 
RuilV Knye 
A.I Kali ri: Ore 
Ple.ciMlilly. ooi'n'' ' 
■(I52»:l;<»cu8t) 
.flladys Bentloy 
Julia McKenny. 
Tiny llrndKliii w- -. 
Phil S.<'0lt 
Liilii' an 
Liiirnn White" 
May Joison 
{•'His ft' - .M Sin lib 
Ell/iii>e| h .Hunt Inj;'; 
J ulin- 11 a Til II I on Or 
- riifrry's • 

- T a ny 'n,' Garth 
< ! ree' wood . ft, 
Rlxrbrd ft KinerlliiK 
Miin.va Alba, 
Dully .Delnioiit '-' 
.Pat .SiK-vliii t)rc 



Air Lawyers 



iie<l from page 



.. ,Rlt'/-Carlion 
. (C'ryHial -Room) 

Van Levis Oro 

Hejny Piitrlv 

George 'Oliver . 
Johnny ManK'u) 
Ted -.-Heiitlrex 
J<>i;ry ft Sonny.. 
Gene Osborne ■ 
Doc, D.duglieriy re 
Nicky GaHu'ccl 

Silver .f.^^ke Inn 
- (Cienientoii)-- 

Ollye While 
Vera Dunn 
Beth ('hnlllP 
Patricia ft :Ren" 
.lean - Good nie.r 
Buddy Roger 
Mystic Plata. - 
Mickey. Viol in. '2 
Mlekoy Faniliant Or- 

StreetM. of Puriii . 
Jean O'Nell 
inu'k' Caiho-iin 
Atidy . HusH.eir 
ttamnna ■ 
Harry Aldrldge 
Riiii; Ci'oseltl 
Hdw Carsoif' 
Jerry Fine . pre 
1214 Si»ru«:e 

FruncPS. Fay 
.Boomerang ' 
>lul Hixoii 
Jimmy Blake 
Prill ft Holmes 
20th Century. Tavern 

Barney 'Zeetnan Ore 
Esther Msrtln 
Rdseoe' Ails 
Hazel L^.onard. 
. W'lhif 'd ■ .& Ijorra ijie 
4 Esquires^' 
21 Club 

Tommy Monroe 
.;Sugar Marcelle 
Sally. LaMcirr 
Ann Rush. 
Helen Heath 
Warwick Sis 
Nancy Bari'y.- 
Richard Bach 
Peggy -Dniy ,.. > . 
Ubanil Club 

Doc Hyder'a Oro 
Gladys 

Lucille Howard 
Stump ft Siumpy 
Jackie' Mabley 
Mack ft Mack 
Palsy Hvnnn 
Bohby Eva nil 

ParrlNh 

Bbbhy Brown 
Detroit Red 
Visrnon'. Guy ■ 
Parisian Ore 

Tony Murray'* Cafe 

tnisriey Winter Ore 
Mann ft, '.Hsie 
Jewel Bllo 
Gabby L^-e 
Bunny Clair- 
Joe Doyle. ' 
Outkln'HitHlhskeller 
Dolly Vauirlian 
!Barbnra .loan 
Lois ft Ginger 
Freddie' J.ano 
Mllzl Barlli 
Viola KlaiHs Oro 
Frank Ponll 

r-ll CBib 

Bill Doggett Ore. 
.McClnln ft Ross 
Victoria Vigal 
Nubl ft Ubt 
George AVIIliai 
Reds & Curly 
3 Chocolate Drbjis 

Stamp'* 

Vic Earlsoh 
Flo Hnlse 
Maurice ft .T^ebna 
KIkl Diamond 
A nn Carol ' 
Stanley ft. ETain 
Jack Hulchln.Ho 

Venice . Grill 

Emily Rnye 

Billy ft Kitty DuVmI 

Jbo Ilpllly 

Marty BUrton Ore 

Walton' Hoof 

Tsa hello ft Octaves 

8 Walton Debs 

Phil Arnold 

li Mlhay GUIs 
■Royai ' Biio 

t'hai'les ft Bai'harn 

CliaH,' Vertia Ore . 
Weber's Hot llrau 
(('anideu) 

Bob Merrill 

VH.IUiy ft I.rt'p 

Burnhnin . Bio 
..lo<! ttnnidha 

Ilsft ll.iirt: 

l.otig .Sl.t 

Swiss Bt'll ers 
Eini'dund 3 
O rogory Cj ul n n Co 
f.oiils Challiln f)i'c. 
Itathskollcr El.dor'e 

V'orktoivne.. Tavern.. 

R.t)in.aln«: a:- <}" ' 
linrbl hy (la v 
Hilly. Stein <.)rc 

'Sunset., inn 

Cut til. t'lark 
;ll«i'fy ;Vii ll'one 

.leari NpIh.jiii 

Al (Jorriag. 

C tin's Mu.i l ha 
. IJan Dut'iciin Ore 

.Vuciit Club 

'iMiii'.v llulihai'd 
ratrli.'Ia' jiobliiMi 
Mhrcla Lee 
Sf'ol.ly Mj<ld|p|oh 
Mliiiin ch(i|ilti| 
-Mark'': r.aniOni 
• "olii ft '.Meln 
Viola KlaiHH Ore 



Jack Lindler Goes \Vest 

Jac .inder, who has tried his 
hand al pi-etty nearly every branch 
of the bu.siness, from indie vaUde 
bookin{( to ope rati nt; a ..stock hon-se 
at rit'hldn feeach, Brooklyn, is, now 
en route to the Coast for. a crack al 
picture agcntiiig.. 

Left by' car yesterday ydny) 
>vJth.his famity. 



that ovir cdhtJuct as priact^tioner^^ and 
Jawyci', ill bear any . scviiliny by 
the COmTnission or by any of the 
cduivis tjefpre which we have pra6|^. 
iiced for .many year.s,'. Segal sai 
•*We. aLsd feel certain that: Gbrnmis- 
.si ner Payne's colleagues on the 
Federal Cornmuhicatipns : Cqrnmis- 
si ill give us a: prprnpt and. fair 
heai'jng and the vindication to whi 
We are entitled* . We intend to 
evei'y cooperalipn.'' 

iaines Fayne 

lacing Jull blame on fayne, 
attoi-iiey recalled that Smith previ- 
ously had been reb.uked in a letter 
which said Iheire was no cause to 
cite him and declared the head of the' 
investigating group did not give 
other comrhissioriers full information 
about the way the probe had been 
conducted. Segal said .if he cotild 
hove been henrdi the CoifimishL 
would not have issued the citati 

Developments constitute the first 
cracking down on any radio lawyer 
\since broadcast regulation was stafl-. 
ed ten y^ars ago, came aftei' the 
special probers' declared their ipr> 
qiiiry. indicates the 'demeanor, ; good 
faith, and conduct' of th? legal team 
may amount to 'iirtbeconiingj uneth- 
ical, and unprofessional coiiduci and 
demeanor as practitioners before 
this Commission.' Citation.. charged, 
them w'^^ disregarding' their oath pt 
practice 'uprightly and acqording to 
law' and said their activities had the 
result, of eonoealing material facta 
about legal qualiflcatiohs, profession- 
al- standing, cH'articter, ' integrity^ 

Frihcipal balsis for the charges was 
the .study pt the 640 cases; combined 
with subseqUeht elIot;ts of the 
•Palmer Bt-oadcasting Syndicate' to ■ 
obtain conistructioin permits for three 
local stations, .and investigation into 
the paper-tampering incident which. 
0(:curred early this year in conned'* 
tion witb the request of Richard N. 
. Cast©,.: Johnson City, Tcnn., for 
franchise. ; 

its statement of particulars the 
Commish declared both Casto and 
Palmer Broadcasting were diimmi 
introduced for the purpose of de- 
cei ing and mlsleadinjg the Comtnisi- 
sion in. consideration, of applications 
and in .Order to delay ' and hinder 
Other applicants; Accusation said 
lawyers were . thoroughly aware of 
the.se facts when they represented 
Ca.sto . and Palmer. 

Palmer orgahia:a,tlons is declared 
to be a paper corporation set up by 
Segal iand Smith, staffed by three 
female employees of their law office. 
According to records, the stockhold- ' 
efs were Helen R. Duvall, Bthel C. 
Murphy arid £■ Z. Miller; and the ' 
corporation claimed to have as assets 
$1,000. in ca^h and $20,000 in securi- 
ties. ' 

Complai about the Palmer 
Broadcasting Syndicate bri inaljy 
was preferred last August by Port- 
land Bfoadcastirig System, which 
won piermission in the 640 de6ision 
to erect a 500>watter in the Maine 
nietropOli.<5. In an idavit asking 
the Commish to dismiss the Palmer 
plea for a 1210 local, CSeorge W. 
Marti . president, alleged the dum;- 
my was established to serve the i 
lere.sts . of the Eastland Co., whic 
owns the Congress Square Hotel Co.* 
liGen.see of WCSH, and which tried 
to win a iOO-watter on 640 at Porti 
land. Portland Brojidrn.stlng Sy.stern 
alleged that the Palmer Broadcasti 
Syndicate's 1210 plea Was filed. mere- 
ly io complicate the 640 (ia.ses, whic 
are .still pchdihj? in court. 

Phony corporation, which Segal 
was .charged with hiiving incoi'po- 
rated in Deiaware in June, 1934, was 
said to have failed to file any re- 
quiried .reports, to be delinquent, ih -: 
tfjxe.s, never to have rnaintained of'^ 
fice.s;. and to have failed to acknowl- 
edge corr'espond.encie. 

Never Carried Through 
CoThmis .irecords. ^hpw that nohiB 
of the. three Palnrier pleas— for star 
tiorts .at Cheyenne,. Wyo., tewiston. 
and Portland, Me.-^.ever was pressed 
io a conclusion. Cheyenne apiilica- 
tion^ ' ittied - June, 1034, was der^ 
faulled non-appearance;, the 

Lew i.ston. application, filed October, 
1934, was sent back because of con- 
flict with Commish rules; and . the 
Portland application, entered June, 
1934, was withdrawn after the Com- 
mish declined to dismiss in accord- 
iincc with . the Portland Broadcasti 
motion.' 

In "the. asto :inci(lentr' 
m jsh prcic'rred two. aecusation.s, ita-^ 
tioh.s' rricntipned both the 'Unauthor- 
ized. a»)d iinrawfiir ..substitution of 
tlociinlonl.s into F.C.C, records and 
liio fact that Casto was merely front- 
ing Jo; unknown parties. 



50 



VARIETY 



VARnSTY HOUSE REVIEWS 



Wvdnesdaj/ May 2<>, 1937 



1 PARAMOUNT, N. Y. 

Current stage setup goes away 
overboard on rhythm, but.not iriuch 
oC it; is otf a' standout quality. Ina 
Ray Huttoih iis the tdpljner. What 
her. band mixes is catchy enough 
dahsapation, but the crux ol the act 
remains this petite blonde's hips and 
'.surrounding territory. The gym- 
nastics that she puts- 'em through, 
.. whether stepping ojff or merely wav-^ 
ing the baton, assures of little optic 
wandering elsewhere from out front. 
Like the showmanwoman she is,; 
1a Hutton heightens the effect- by 
making one ganhent ihdre sleazy 
than the other between drchest'ral 
interludes. She als<> sings, but that 
doesn't distract ainy from the focal 
points of the act's interest. 

Other experts in rhythms, but of 
a varying sort, on the bill are . the 
Condos, Bros., Mary Small, Vic Hyde 
and the Wlnsteaid Trio. In the case 
t of the brothers, it's in their feet, and 
plenty of it. The two lads tap them- 
selves to. a brilliant faretheewelli un- 
corking the most involved twists, in 
broken and mixed rhythms. "They 
registered handsortiely and gave 
every indication of being on the way. 
to the top. of their ifleld. 

. Billed as a 'one-man swing band,' 
Hyde's specialty is playirijg three 
trumpets at the same time and ac- 
.. counting for an . arirestihg conglom- 
eration, of hot licks. Hyde also does 
rube patter,, centering, his humor on 
the fact that he hails froin Niles, 
Mich,, and; that he will plug any- 
thing from socks to all-purpose Hour 
as long as he gets the product gratis 
or it's put out by a: relative. 

In betwe<^ii the Condos diio and 
Hyde is the Winsfead Trlo« tw» boys 
and a girl, who lend heaps of zest 
to. their trick style of swing har- 
mohy. Theirs is a nicely balanced 
routine, wHh good judgment shown 
in the selection of their novelty 
numbers.. 

: As the holdovier from the previous 
stage show Mary Small takes 'em 
for whatever they have left in ap- 
;.plause. The youiigsteir shines, re- 
gardless of the' type of tune she un- 
dertakes. Her current repertdire 
goto frohv swing to ballad to blues, 
and for a richly earned encore she 
feeds 'em a medley of romantic dit- 
ties, 

rrum bflf the Moon' (Par) is the 
feature. Business Thursday night 
Was good. Od^c. 

STATE-LAKE, CHI 

Chicago, May 21. 

Thinking that his radio build-up 
will make Haven MacQuarrie b.o. in 
a big way. the State-Lake gives his 
■Do You Waint to Be Ah Actor?' turn 
some heavy exploitation^, the heaviiest 
this house has given anything irt 
some time. The pre^reception seemed 
to bear out their" Judgment, with the 
stage door alley holding a line all 
last week, of those who do want to 
he actors,- but after the first day, 
there's some doubt that MacQuarrie 
IS b.o., for, the early evening show 
saw only about half capacity, some- 
thmg very rare for this house. 

There is no doubt about the non- 
entertaming qualitieis • of 'Do You 
Want to Be an Actor?'. It is one of 
the most drab, imshownianly, half 
hours ever seen on the stage: ivhat- 
ever humor it. does hold is of the 
man-wearing-a-lady's-hat-at-ft-party 
type, and MacQuarrie himself lacks 
even a suspicion of the colorful 
personality needed to xn.c. a turn of 
this .nature. Stated-Lake audience 
usually makes no bones about sitting 
through two shows, but they're walk- 
mg out on this turn; 

Routine has the stage set with 12 
boys on one;side. and 12 girls on the 
other. In the show caught the 12 
girls were all allowed to read a line 
to see if they qualified for the part: 
boys were ^not so lucky, however 
only s« of them even getting a 
chance. Of these, three were allowed 
to rehearse a bit, and then do it be- 
fore the mike, bathed . in a spot, 
while^ the organ played soft inusic. 
The best from each .performance is 
told to come back on closing day at 
noon, to play iall four shows, and 
possibly win a. trip to Holly wbod. 
Winners in all cases are choseii by 
audience applause; 

In striving for color, MacQuarrie 
attempts - to teiach his winning per- 
formers how toi. kiss, not such a hot 
idea, considering he's dealing mainly 
with 17-year olds. But it, and things 
like it, are evidently, somebody's idea 
of humor, so. on and on they go, 
until, for no reason at all, the turn 
is over, and the curtain comes down. 

Thtee other acts are in therie work- 
,ing, and the house line does one fast 
routine to open the bill. 

Of the three acts, honors go to 
Tyler, Thorne and Post, two men and 
womian, dance team. . Get away to 
some neat tap and acrobatic with all 
three working the challenge stuff, 
then together in different combi- 
hations to good finish. Includes some 
knockabout, and a slow motion rou- 
tine. 

Randall Sisters, girl trio brought 
over from the Congress, jump from 
hillbilly to hot.-, numbers,' but hot 
entirely. Hillbilly is always ;in, and 
girls need a lot Of work and some re- 
routining before their abt clicks. 
. And then ■ comes Pinky Lee and 
Co., being introduced as from radio, 
which .iniakes raidiQ to blame for 
something else. Lee is a small-time 
small timer doing a vreak act with- 



out any artistry whatsoever, and . to 
make things worse has a compliete 
set of outworn . gags and lousiness, 
Eccentric comic docs bits, songs, and 
chatter, all in a half lisp-half 
stammer style. 

Pifeture is 'Let's Get Married' (Col), 
and business was not so good on 
opening day; Loop. 

l^RLE, PHILLY 

iPhiladelphia, May 23. 
After several weeks, with the 
vaiide ide .of its bills: featured by 
big names (Rand and Lbmbardo be 
ing. the last two), the Earle comes 
up this- week with a generally en 
tertaining fiesh show, b.ut one that 
is not so strong, probably, on the 
marquee draw. 'Callforni Colle- 
giaris' arid Stepi Fetchit are head- 
lined. Pic is 'Melody for Two' (WB) 
First show Friday found only a fair 
house with indications for' merely 
so-so biz. 

Fetchit, Who played two days at 
the same house a couple of rhonths 
ago and then had to cancel diie to 
an injury, incurred, in New. York, 
reappears with much of his usual 
'slow motion' routine, trimmed,; how- 
ever, this time by several minutes. 
Familiar highlights are stilt there. 
Gang- out front takes it extremely 
well. 

The Collegians are different from 
most outfits of their kind. In the 
putting over of straight numbers 
this band is okay but conventional 
and not distinguished in any par- 
ticular. They render a medley of 
uprto-date hit tunes, including num- 
bers from their pix, 'College Holi- 
day,' 'Top of the Town' and -Chaih- 
pagne Waltz,' ' following with their 
familiar burlesque, 'I'm Working My 
Way Through College' which first 
emphasizes . the comedy element 
which is: a keynote of the perform- 
ance, with the. 20 members of the 
orch doing' sidershow and acrobatic 
Characters and circus animals. 

Curtain falls but is raised again 
for the Collegians' real highlight of 
current offering. All in makerup of 
pie, political and radi headliners, 
they go' in for soine put-aiid-out 
clowning with plenty of laughs. 
Some of the impersonations, even 
though exaggerated, aren't half bad, 
including Groucho and Harpo tSarx, 
Haillie Selassie and Rudy Vdllee/ 

OfIering-niay. be a trifld too long 
but . there's no denying the CalU 
forni Collegians do click strongly 
in their comedy inoments. 

Only other act oh the bill is thait 
of Allen and Kent, with a better- 
ttian - ordinary tap offering, well 
routined and possessed of s| certain 
amount .of novelty. Wotcrs. 



FOX, DETROIT 

Detroit, May 

Switch from straight vaude to pro- 
duction type stage shows at. this spot 
gets off auspiciously this week. Also 
marks return of a permanent hotise 
line, after several years lapse, and 
from indication at early show caught 
Friday evening (21) payees are going 
to gobble it up. 

Change-over to Fanchon & Marco 
produced shows is for the summer 
shows. 

Local spot is in direct competish 
with Michigan (Par), and scarcity of 
naihes has been making ' it plenty 
tough for houies to yie on equal 
footing Under' the new setup, man- 
ager believes he's solved problem 
for the time being. Pat Mason and 
Eve Ross co-producing the shows, 
with house booking acts, as formerly. 

, Sixteen-girl line, billed as the Gaie 
Foster Girls, bubbles over with 
merit. Costuming is okay, routines 
nifty. Oh three times, for an amuse- 
ment park number, garbed in cute 
shorts; next, in flimsy gowns, carry- 
ing patterns of white palm leaves; 
and finally for a hotcha number. ° 

Line also forms background for 
two turns by Georges and Jalna,. one 
of the niftiest dance duos . here in 
long time. First is of the usual ball- 
room variety, followed by a jazzy 
number, both of which are spiffy. 
Femme especially is outstainding. 

Tod billing, in current show falls 
to Gene Autry, co'wboy - film hero, 
and his nag,; Champ Jr. A natural 
for. Kids, and a pleasant variety for 
grownups. Horse can terp oke, and 
Autry gets Over nicely with round; 
of western ballads, plus a little 
clowning by Audrey Davis, who 
hails from out front and contributes 
laughs along with cbupla tunes. 
Frankie Marvin offers some nice 
music, in company with the other 
two. Act is spotted next-to-closing, 
and wins encore., ; 

. Opening turn in hour's show goes 
to the Three Kings, male hoofers. 
Have nice appearance, but can stand 
better timing on collective tapping. 
Individually, boys are sock, but not 
ditto when •working together. This 
remedied, turn .could rate v. ith the 
best. 

The Radio Ramblers, mimics, 
familiar to Detroit, do okie with take- 
offs of Henry Armetta, Voice of Ex- 
perience and others*. But comedy 
heeds lot of bolstering before it's A-1. 

Sam Jack Kaufman's overture 
comorises a rhythmic arrangement 
of 'Poet and Peasant;' Frank Con- 
nors; -tenor with pit oreh past four 
yearsi on si^k list 

Downstairs nicely filled at early 
evening show. Friday evening (21).. 
On screen, 'Hit Parade' (Republic). 

Pete, 



JLOJ^W'S STATE,, N. Y, 

PoOr stage shows have been a 
rarity at the State in the past couple 
of years. Being the lone, strictly 
vaude 'house in . all Manhattan, 
Loew's Broadway spot has had the 
pick of variety acts and the picking 
has been pretty good— up until this 
week. Currently, it's not only the 
choice, but the combination of acts 
that's working a sight and sound 
hardship on the audiences. ^ 

It's one of those layouts that starts 
in . high gear with a fast daihcihg- 
novelty,;- and then, with the excep-. 
tion of a couple of highlights, drops 
with a thud and remains in the: light, 
trough. The slu.nb' starts with Ray- 
mond Wilbert in the deuce-^his hoop 
juggling I;>eing olcay, but the talk 
strietly from Dixie — and is made 
complete in NO. 3; where Anna May 
Wong clearly proves that singing 
isn't her business. Or, to look at it 
from another angle> she has no busi- 
niess. singing. 

Fiini players usually can get by 
with less than the average stage act. 
But it's next to impossible to get by 
with nothing at all.. Miss Wong 
comes into the Staite with her name, 
a Chinese costume and an off-key 
voice, and she . could have used a 
prayer. Her delivery of '.Half-Caste 
Woman,* for one thing, strikes piretty 
clOse to a new low in entertainment 
efforts on a main street stage. The 
corny Chinese by-plaiy opening the 
act, with her male white pianist in- 
terpreting, set: the stage for .the 
th.ings to come. 

. One. of vaude's better comedy acts 
of past and present, Sniith and Dale 
(Avon Comedy Four), strives hard 
to pirf: up the • broken threads in 
hext-to-closing. The restaurant and 
doctor's office routines are still 
plenty strong laUghs, with the Sing- 
ing of' Mario and Lazarin (waiters) 
okay support Dialectic team finds 
it a little tough at the beginning to 
rouse an audience gone apathetic at 
this Thurisday evening performance, 
but the house was hot for them at 
the bows. 

But here again the show reaches 
a cliff and drops off. Enoch Light's 
orchestra holds the ciirtain spot, and, 
with the exception of the eight-man 
glee club smging 'Beautiful Lady' 
and 'Ruthie Barnes' dancing, deliv- 
ers little that's impressive. Musically, 
the 1,2-piece cirew (including Light) 
is only fair oh a stage. Singing of 
Muriel Sherman is, perhaps, passable, 
but the duet with Light isn't; Act's 
highlight is Miss Barnes, . a red- 
headed heel 'n' toe'er who has plenty 
on' the hoof and looks like, ah excel- 
lent bet for a picture or inusical 
berth. She tied up the show at this 
catcljing, and, despite the fact that 
this was a comparative cinch^ rates 
the reception. 

Show's opener; is The Robins, two 
boys and girl, who combine fast 
acrobatics with dancing. They set 
a pace that the rest of the show 
isnt geared to follow. Wilber's 
deuce act, in which he makes hoops 
act as though they went to college., 
would look and sound much better 
if a good percentage of his talk was 
ehmmated. 

Current pic is 'Swing High. Swing 
Low* (Par) and biz at the bloW-off 
of the 79-ininute stage show was 
^'r. • Scho. 

ORIENTAL, CHI 

Chicago, May 22. 
When a headlinei: . on a vaude bill 
will frankly tell the audience that 
eveo^thing's a fake, it indicates that 
the growing policy of fooling the 
public is beginning to become obvi- 
ous to all concerned, and that it's 
time to call a halt. Billed all over 
the lot as the 'shower bath girl ' 
Heloise Martin was brought into the 
Oriental for the strip-seekers to gape 
at. 'They came, , expecting tb see a 
girl m some state of undress, as was 
tacitly promised in the advance bill- 
ing, What they got was a girl doing 
a pretty fair toe-tap routine for one 
number, and returning to do some 
flabby and meaningless talk with 
anybody who happens to be around. 
And this time the unlucky guy who 
happened to be^ around is Harry 
Savoy, who - besides doing .bis 
surefire turn, is put on the spot, and 
forced to ki itz with Miss Martin 
While she says nothing , of in- 
terest' to anybody. 

. With the booking of Miss Martin 
into this spot the practice of play- 
ing^ fluke attractions reaches some 
sort of record. It must react to the 
detriment., of the house and vaude 
due to the obvious inability of the 
persons thus booked to live up to 
their billing. The public may come 
m once or twice on these promises, 
but Lincoln was still i-ight. 

Rest of the show is good, solid var- 
riety stuff; headed by the never-miss 
Harry Savoy. His new vis-a-vis, 
.Louise Tobin, is a real eyeful, but 
from then on. it becomes not So easy 
because Miss Tobiti isn't strong 
enough to give and take with SavOy. 
On his own, however. Savoy re- 
mains a lowdown, surefire comic who 
knows how to use his audience and 
can keep them eating out of his 
hand at all times. 

Plenty of additional comedy on the 
■jhow from Fields, Smith arid Fields 
on. their kriockabout clowning. No 
finesse, but plenty of roughhouse. 
Could eliminate some of their slap- 
pirig routine, which has become 



pretty m^eaten in vaude lately. 
Kemper and Haggerty dig 'em up 
from way back lor their laughs. 

Fast hoofing act i& Gilbert >and 
Claire. Work hard and "energetically 
with considerable flash. Finish with 
a stair routine which has enough 
zing ;f or any house. 

Picture is 'Charlie Chan at the 
Olympics' (20th). Business good at 
the supper show, Friday. Gold. 

MET, BOSTON 

Boston, May 22. 

Benny Goodman's band is on the 
Met stage this week and, incident- 
ally, a picture, 'Go^Gettcr' (WB) on 
the siime, bill;. At least the film is 
incideiital to the thousands of; dance- 
dizzy, ing-silly youngsters who 
herded into the deluxer over the 
wetikend to sit in bn one sock., jam 
Session and musical cutaps by: the 
hot clarmet- kid's troupe. 

Added to the unit for the Hub 
date are Dale Winthrop, tapper, and 
Larry Blake, mimic. Peg LaCeritra 
is also back with the band. Miss 
Winthrop, as clever a femme terper 
as the vaude season has producied, 
pulls off one long sweet stop-time 
inning of buck and tip, with a low-^ 
down accompaniment from the Good- 
man orch. She's One of the. many 
ace elements oi this .show. , 

Then Larry Blake, the lad who 
eases into his characters while hie 
describes 'em. A . run-off of such 
screen stars as Lionel Barrymgre, 
Robinson, Lau^ton and Beery^ plus 
a variety of . dialects, all click with 
the mob. 

Miss LaCentra vocals charmingly 
'Lull in My Life ' and 'Let's Call the 
Whole Thing 0"/ and there was a 
demand for more. 

What the loyal disciples await 
with most anticipation is a torrid 
tune tangle by the trio and quartet. 
Goodman, Krupa and Wilson tear off 
'Body and Soul* and "Tiger Rag' for 
an opener, then Lionel Hampton, 
adds his vicious vibraphone to . the 
heating up of 'Stomjpin" and 'Naga- 
saki.' It's just too much for the 
gasping ticket holders who stop the 
parade -with their din. Goodman 
swings into the closing piece to chop 
off any encore. He has to. They're 
doing five shows daily .this weekend. 

'Bugle Call' and 'Sing^ Sing' are 
two of the siraight band numbers — 
if Goodman's music can be labeled 
'strai^t'; but most, ravenously ac- 
cepted, and litierally cheered in spots 
is 'Roll 'Em,' in which Gene Krupa 
rolls off ah extended heat . wave on 
his snate as a feature. He beats it 
to a pulp,' and the pew purchasers 
whack their mitts till they tingle. 

House packed on second Saturday 
show caught,, and not a few of these 
colored rooters. ■ Fox. 



PARAMOUNT, L. A. 

Los AngeleSr May 20. 
Celebrating his 59th birthday (25), 
Bill Robinson is headlining the Para- 
mount stage show currently, and 
mopping up as he always does. Bo- 
jahgles was in rare form at the 
opener and mob seemingly couldn't 
get enough of his Stepping arid his 
gagging. 

Another local favorite on the bill 
is Pinky Tomlin, offering a routine 
of new and old tunes of his. own 
composition, and registering for solid 
returns. 

Fanchonettes play an important 
part in current show, with a couple 
of outstanding production ensembles,, 
and a stepping number with Robi - 
son that rates them experts is 
hoofers. 

Girls' opening routine has them 
cavorting to a Tomlin tune, 'Edge 
of a Chair,' in which they dexter- 
ously manipulate chairs all over the 
stage while Tom Halligari warbles 
the. refrain. Halligan'S voice closely 
resembles that of Tomlin. 

Rube Wolf arid the orchestra open 
the musical part of the bill behind 
a scrim, with the maestro doing a bit 
of a trumpet sold, silliouetted on the 
drapes. Then Wolf puts the band 
into a medley of picture tunes, and 
(as customary with, him) asks for 
audience applause as the numbers 
are recognized, spoiling the effect 
by^loudly proclaiming the titles. 

Tony Romano accompanies hirti- 
self ori a guitar to sing Too Mar- 
velous,' and has to do an encore, 
nsing a number just composed with 
Tomhn, 'You're Pi-iceless.' 

Dick and Dottie Remy, equilibrists, 
Offer a fast routine Of turiibling arid 
balancing. Girl does a difficult 
roller skating , balance, while lad 
scores with his inverted stilt walking 
and a crawl across stage while bal- 
anced 0|n orie hand. 

Robinson offers a routine of step- 
ping, then has the femmes ori for a 
^"?ie-Q' routine and winds up with 
his.pldtime dancing On the stairs. 

Finale is a piroduction number 
based ori house's screen feature. 
•Turn Off the Moon' (Par)." well 
staged and closing the show with a 
iiasn. 

Screen also has Pair Cor-onation 
newsreel special, a Department of 
Commerce commercial, 'Safety in 
the Air, and cartoon. Biz oke at 
opening session, auguring for healthy 
week. JBdwa. 



ROXY. N. Y. 

With a not too strong feature film 
as the main attraction, there was a 
chance this week to bolster the stage 
show, but the letter is one of the 
weakest which the house has put 
On in some weeks. 

Minus ^^any central idea uoon 
which to string together into some 
crescendo the half;dozen viaudevilie 
turns, the 5|0 minutes given to staEe 
eritertainmerit is comprised of dis 
jointed riumbers without anv 
pointed climax either for the eye or 
the ear. 

Headlined is Lucile Manners so- 
prario, who lately has succeeded 
Jessica Diragonette on the Cities 
Service air program. She does her 
stint in stride, without effort and 
with some skill. For finale of her 
turn, Gae Foster Girls take up the 
inspiration of Argenti ian melody 
arid present a dancing number which 
is colorful. 

The veteran stiimp speaker/ Sena- 
tor Murphy, 'The People's Choice' 
gives a fivie-miriute hararigue on 
present day political issues which 
the audience Seems to enjoy greatly 
Dolores and Andre do a bit of 
adagio clowning and Tonimy Trent 
offers a puppet show with an un- 
usual finish. 

Cooke and Brown work harid for a 
miriimum of response to their ecv 
centric tapping. 

In between, and before and after, 
the Foster girls appear several ti 
in their fatniliar groupings, 
tumes are becoming. 

The newsreel is given almost ex- 
clusively to Coronation scenes as 
recorded by 'Universal. There is a 
cartoon, 'Spinach Roadster,' which is 
noisy,, and a Columbia : comedy re- 
lease called Three Dumb Clucks,' 
which is pretty, terrible: 

Feature film is 'As Good as Mar- 
ried,' (U). Flin. 



Embassy Newsreel, N. Y. 

Coroivition again is the principal 
feature of the week's pictorial news 
events; this time, however, the actual 
ceremony being depicted. Using the 
clips of Movietone, Metro and Para- 
mount, thie British pageant views iare 
repetitious. However, in orie release 
the newly cirowned king is shown 
wearing different' robes. Appar- 
ently in cutting both clips it. was dif- 
ficult to slice out certain footage. 
Crowning is shown twice and . also 
the handling of the crown by the 
Archbishop of . Canterbury, who 
turned it around several times so 
that he could be sure which was the 
front. Audience in on the know 
giggled, as the arinouncel* mentioned 
newspaper reports to that effect. 

There was supposed to be no 
sound recording apparatus in West- 
riiinister Abbey, nor did the lips of 
the church dignitaries move, but 
words of Canterbury in solemn 
tories are heard, evidently dubbed in. 
Prominent in the shots is the tall, 
beautiful brunet who attracted at- 
tention in pictures of the Coronation 
rehearsal. Queen Mother's throat 
flashes with fabulous diamonds, 
gems said to be valued at $2,000,000. 
Announcer describes the Coronation 
as the most gorgeous spectacle in the 
world, out-rivalinr' Hollywood. In 
two clips a British voice is heard, 
but it is mostly American. 

'Magic Carpet,* 20th-Fox's release, 
shows the glories of the mountains 
and giant ' trees of California and 
the miracle land of Yellowstone 
Park. . 

Color would be a 'vast improvc'- 
ment and. when generally adopted 
for newsreels, will permit the re- 
taking of many scenic sh.ots. Bal- 
ance of the clips are all short and 
mostly militaristic. II Duce is shown 
reviewing troops On the anniverisary, 
of the Ethiopian, invasion, prompting 
some determined hissing- from the 
audience. Dick' Merrill's return 
from his roiind trip' to England is 
brief. Dr. Hugo> . Eckener is shown, 
and a flash of the burning Hinden- 
burg. -There is a repeat on Eckener, 
and one of the shots could easily 
have been cut. 

There is an excellent flash of Mrs. 
Wallis Warfleld; Outboard motor 
boat derby start on the Hudson, 
middies sailing at Annapolis, Al 
iSmith going ■ abroad for the tst 
time, evacuation, of. children from 
Bilbao, flash of the Pacific fleet, 
folding boat enthusiasts, Japanese 
Emperor reviewing trOopsi arid Bob 
Feller being graduated from high 
school are the current events in a 
program mildljr diverting. Pho- 
tography of the' Coronation is not. 
toif>s because of the weather and 
British restrictions. , Technicolor 
•views take by Movietone should be 
much superior — not to be released as ' 
a newsreel. Jbce. 



lOOG Nitery Burns 

Spokane, May 25. 
The $i00,600 Ambassador Club lo- 
cated just outside the . city iimits on 
the Appleway, burned to the ground 
last Wednesday (19). The club was 
closed when the fire started. 

Ambassador was in receivership- 
Jack Boggs, of Seattle, was operator 
until few days ago, when V. D. Allen 
took over. 



Wedneulay, May, 26, 1937 



VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS 



wmiETir 



51 



EMPIRE* PARIS 

Paris, May 10.. 
Not as many name acts as usually 
presented here on this bill, but the 
variety o£ those offered help it round 
into a show that pleases on the 
whole. Toppers are the Schwarz 
Sisters, who have been seen fre- 
quently in Paris and have estab- 
lished themselves as first-class enter- 
jhiriers. 

Openers are the Trio Vblaiir, aerial 
acrobats. Routine has riot changed 
since last time seen at thie Alhambra, 
but act has improved considerably; 
Comic still overacts, b|Ut his. drinks 
out bf pockets and lake, falls are' 
gpdd enough for fair (juota of 
laughs. 

PancetSi Joan and Steve, fplldw 
with an acrobatic routine. Both, are 
covered with coat of sparkling crys- 
tal, Avhiich reflects the colored lights 
played upon them. Beneath their 
glittering paint they reyeal a pair 
of hekrly peirfect: bodies which glide 
in shining mbvemeht. .As is the case , 
too frequently; the girl outdanced 
her partner. 

A' switch in the program, diie to 
the absence of both the. Mackweys, 
American comedy act and the Boyer 
Sisters, puts the Lai-Foun, three 
men, threes women Chinese acrobats, 
next in , line. Acrobatics of troupe 
zTz entirely different from those of 
the act before them, so hp conflict is 
noticeable. Their .stunts with plates 
balanced on top of slender sticks are 
well received; . 

Sanison Fainsilber- drops his usual 
picture drawing apd .imitatibiis this 
time for recitations. Offering in- 
cludes two of his, own poems which 
weigh heavy on the sentimental ^ide; 

The ^hort play, Avhich - invades the. 
miisic halls here; from time to time,; 
enters this trip in the form of a bur- 
lesque on opera. These, burlesques 
originated in England last ; 'ihter 
and were called operia. for business 
men. The , one on this bill, a con- 
glorrieratipn of opiera selections and 
semi-classical offerings, is sung by 
.^E. Savona, Jean Mourier and R. Tul- 
man. t'arce is . introduced . by N. 
Moyseenko.! 

.intermission entertainment at the 
.opening of the second halt is in the 
foirm of a solo by a trumpet player 
in the house orchestra under the di- 
rection of Serge Glyksbn. Miss 
Tamaira follows - with a cbllectibn of 
turns on the trapeze, .which includes 
hanging by her heels from a swing- 
ing bar. Her ahnoiincing each stunt 
in broken French helps, instead of 
hindering, a good hand. 

Lilly and Emy .Schwarz click ais 
headliners should with their songs, 
piano .playing, iniitatiohs and 
dancing. Part of repertoire includes 
mimicking tourists While visiting 
various citieis. On. night caught an 
onlooker voiced objections to the act 
more than once, finally causi iris 
to quit and walk 6S.. 

Lapp and Habei, silent comedians, 
open with some slow hat and cane 
tricks.' Faked acrobatics at close 
bring laughs in good quantity. Habel 
is one bf the best dead-pan artists 
seen here. 

Achilles arid Newman wind- up 
with a" combination of strong man 
and . comedy offerings. Achilles 
tosses iron balls around, catching 
them with all parts of his body. At 
windup he uses buUiet-shaped weight 
for similar stunts. Newman makes 
himself, general nuisance instead '.of 
useful assistant to Achilles during 
balahcing tricks to help the act g^t 
across, nicetly.. 

Girl toe dahcer now totes number 
cards for acts instead of them being 
placed at sides of stage. Hugo. 

CHIGAGO, CHI 

„ , Chicago. May 21. 

Good, clean-cut bill herie this week, 
packmg plenty of color, novelty; and, 
more important, plenty of entertain- 
ment. A number of changes have 
been made in the 'St. Moritz Ice Fol- 
lies unit, all seemingly for the bet- 
ter. And here, Balabaii & Katz has 
-J/.®^ ail Alpine scene production 
Which, somewhat related., blends 
nicely to unify arid lengthen the 
stage bill. 

Have spotted Alpine scehe first. 
Ppens with 16 Jgirls ^working in the 
elaborate Swiss set, doing a n<sat, 
inpugh simple, routine to yodeling 
of George Pammert. While air still 
on the. stage Fox and.Lui, couple of 
'H Swiss outfits, do a slap dance 
tngt s ^okay. Whole thing has color 
andv atmosphere. 

Also in keeping with the Swiss at- 
;mosphere, but only because of their 
costumes, are Novak arid Fay, com- 
eay. handbalancirig turn. Turn by 
Novak and Fay is tops. The dead 
pans, timing, and smooth routine add 
to a standout. 

Working in one, for switch iri 
scenes, Paul Howard does a contor- 
tion^ dance routine that's okair. Best 
is^. the somersault to split bit, and 
encore leg throwing stuff. 

Carnival set is snow covered pine 
■ M background affair, and opens 
V.Jth scrim for first few seconds of 
girl routine. When raised, the 16- 
girl. line on skates does , a formation 
routine that ha.s class and novelty. 
* inish IS a .wheel fbrmatiori i called 
snowflake here) with overhead spot 
lighting, . 

Specialty performers include Doug- 
Jas puffy, on twice, once for a drurik 
loutine, and again to dance with a 
life-size rag doll; Bobby Hearn. bar- 
'ei- ]umper; Dick and Irene Meister, 
exhibition team, and Kit Klein, for- 



mer Olympic champion. All have 
plehty of stuff, and sell it with show- 
maiiship. Kit Klein, especially, but 
she shouldn't he allowed to talk. 
While dbing her impersonations of 
Japanese, HvrSsian, ■ Swedish and 
Scotch skaters, a better effect could 
be obtained by having a commenta- 
tbr talk over musit. Girl firiishes 
with speed deriibristration that is 
shbwriianship itself. 

Picture is 'Prince and. Pauper' 
.(WB), arid busiriess last ishow. open- 
ing day almost capacity. ; Loop. 



HIPP, BALTIMORE 

• Baltimore, May 21;. 

It's Majbr Bowes again at the 
Hipp, this time the International 
Revue. Working full stage jn cyd, 
acts eriter through globe centered on 
platform. and-»banked by flags of all 
nations on both sides. Doings run a 
bit over 45 minutes.. 

Jack Squires b.ack as im. ., using- 
straight introductions throughout 
with no attempt to gag or be funny; 
Show moves along at a fair pace 
presenting the usual Bowes type of 
amate;ur entertainment, mild and 
rather mediocre. :• 

Opens, with the Riissiah Dub, ,two 
girls iri some so-so hock stepping, 
followed by William McCollough in 
an bid time Swiss bell ringing stunt. 
Next in order are Huey Kong, 
Chinese singer, in a native number, 
followed by 'Mandalay'; The Cana- 
dian Caparettes, two fenime hoofers, 
in ordinary hoof rbutines- and the 
Rigoletto Qiiartette, two men and 
two girls, givinig out with that well 
done selection. 

Johnny arid Juliiis,. two youths, one 
with a trumpet a la Clyde McCoy; 
arid ttie' other imitating a similar in- 
strument, follow to itair returns, with 
Joan Zap{>a, on her. toes, in a 
travesty on a ballet dancer showing 
some fair spinners as a finish, next. 
G.bod spot hiere for Rby Richards 
with some okay impersonatibns inr 
eluding all the old standbys Of Wi - 
chell, the Shado.w, Penner, Arliss, 
F. D.: R. and Arm6tta. Earns a; nice 
seindoff for his efforts. 

Danny Drayson, iriost professional 
appearing, member of the cast, on 
next with well-sold hard-shoe hoof 
routines rounded out by fair comedy. 
Supplies only real sock in the show. 
An instrumental foursome follows 
>with' simulations of Wayne King, 
Casa Lpma; Rubinoff, Ted Lewis and 
Fired Waring in Order, bringing on 
the finale, shpwing tableau of Spirit 
bf '76, Statue of Liberty and Colum- 
bia ori a shield lowered through the 
flies. The barid plays 'Dixie.' And 
how! . 



Film 
(RKO). 



Headlines' 
Burm. 



LOEW'S, MONTREAL 

Montreal, May 
Acts mostly new to Montreal and 
a girl line so well turned out and 
drilled that it puts„Qn,an extra act 
that gets a rousing hand ffeature the 
show hbrb currently. Every turn is 
well risceiyed, although the holiday 
week-end (Victoria Day, Monday) 
held down attendances. 

£ddie Sariborn orch is good iri sup- 
port throughout, leadeir. stooging and 
ad li.bbing as needed. Sixteen-girl 
line raises curtain in formation of 
fours, sixes, tens and full line in 
stamping routirie to range itself in 
half circles front stage for opening 
turn of the Little.iohns, Melba and 
Frank, jugglers, who have standard- 
act varied, by going through stunts 
standing on silver-clothed baUs. 
They toss clubs, balance p{ates oh 
parasols and .fling sharp axes and 
get a brace of call.s. Barr and Estes. 
in the deuce, clown freak dances r(nd 
tap; the femme a looker who makes 
a hit imriiediately on face and figure. 
They build -up to a fa.st whirling 
finish that brings a bunch of calls 
and could have had an encore. This 
team returns in the next to closing 
act and gets encore. 

Line com<»s in for butterfly diarice 
with painted silk \yings, which; with 
light, effects; make one" of the pretti- 
est turns seen bn .this stage in years. 

Maude Hilton arid Gladys Fox- 
well kribwn here and liked, have a 
ribbing act with Eddie Sariboi'n 
stooging that the fans find quite to 
their taste* Some of. the. gags are 
oldish, but: anything, goes- and the 
turn takes several calls. 

The Girls iri the Moori, well 
lighted arid staged, ing out over 
the stage and first couple of rows in 
front, new here, arid well received, 
making a nice variety turn. Show 
closes, with Lester Cole arid his eight 
midshipmen siriging in iriike. from 
'Lucia Sextet' to college songs. He 
gives the crowd plenty and gets 
plenty in return. 

'No Man of Her Own' (Par) and 
'The Hills of Old- Wyoriii (Par) 
on screen. ne. 



Harry Lauder 



.(Contiriued front page 1) 



New College Inn Show 

Chicago, May 2.5. 

New show for the College Inn 
(Hotel Sherrnan) bpening Jiine- 2 
wjU -comprise ~ the Paul Batcheller 
line of girls, Paul and . Eva Reye.s, 
Three . Heat Waves, Stanley JacobsOri 
and the Coleman Clark- table-tennis 
h.o., plus th<e 23-piece orchestra led 
by A I Tracie. 

Set through Music Corp. of Amer- 
ica, here. 



turie greats, in the eritertairirinent 
field will be Great Britain, and Aus- 
trali . In those coufttries. burlesque 
is not dead. Understaiid riie, 1. 
dori't niean burlesque as tho word is 
.understood . iri. this country^ By bur- 
lesque I. riieari- high class farce en- 
tertaininerit with music. 

"The condition in Ameirica is bad 
because the individual finds himself 
buried , in a crowd arid does .not any 
longer have an bpportunity. to show 
Ayhat .his do. V^iriety shows 

dovetail the revue and; tht! 

whole is p.otpouri'.i. Performers, 
can no longer hold the stage by 
them.selves. The single has van- 
ished.'. 

;. 'Personality is ing that gets 

a perfoi-mier over,' -says Sir Harry- 
arid 'hjerice 'th^ popularity of Harry 
Lauder yeafr after yeair.' 
- He recalled early struggles 
when he imself out of the 

Lanarkshire coal Mines onto the 
stage of the Scotia Music Hall in 
Glasgow ais a ybung iriari of 231 
. 'Th^. night- I did my first turn.' 
he said, 'I went to 'Mrs.. Bayiis, the 
proprietress, for the verdict on my 
future,, She said to mb, -Laddie, gO 
home and practice.' I made up my 
mind that mtist have .Seen 

sonjething in me to go that far. I 
y/erit home .and did practice,, rid 
I've been practising ever since. I'rii 
still pracitisi • 

The Hjiiiban Touch 

secret of projecting onesielf 
across the footlights, he asserted, is, 
to get the sincere human toiich into 
your work. Laudei^: is doing for the 
Scottish people and for the wOrld 
via the medium of the stage th^ 
same thing that Bobbie Burriis id 
for, ari earlier generation with the 
pen. He has constantly felt for the 
heart of humanity. To illustrate 
his method he delivered a parable, 
one of his favorite ways of pointing 
up what,lie has to say. : 

The first: time Sir VHarry iinder- 
took to portray .the character of a 
baker and sing a baker's sOng he 
took counsel with his brother-in- 
law, whose ife- was a baker's 
daughter. He bouight a suit of clothes 
and daube4 it over with dbugh and 
flour for. his characterization: of 
'Doughy, the Baker^ He learned all 
there was to be learned \bf the chat- 
aOteristics, thife problems, the life of 
the bakier clari. 

A Rib-Bashin* Dame 

The night he introduced the song 
the parents bf hi.s brother!s wife 
were there> sitting in the third row. 
All through th^ performance the 
wife kept 'bashing her man in the 
[ ribs .until by the ti ' the show was 
oyer his. ribs were well bashed in.' 
The wife wouldn't speak to her hus- 
band for two weeks. At the erid of 
that time he asked her what was. the 
riiatter. 

'How,' -she demanded in a dudgeon., 
'would Harry Lauder know so much 
about our lives and what passes be- 
tween the two of us if ybu didn't tell 
him?' 

Sir Harry told the aniecdote to 
illustrate why folks helieve in him 
because he will be at no end of pains 
to make hi.s material ring true. 

'That's why,' he says, 'when I was 
earning 21 pounds a week in my 
early, days in London I was . getting 
anothiir hundred guineas every night 
from; the biggest iords . of the N vri 
at their after-the-theatriB parties. No 
matter .how high they cOm^ '^^ bow 
low, it's always, in human riistture 
to recpghize umari ' riatUrei. And 
they love it;' 

A William Morris iscovery 

It's all of ; 30 year.s^ arid more now 
since William 'Morris first heard of 
a droll little Scotch .comedian Who 
was having, great success, on thb 
other ide, went over there, . and 
bought up all of Lauder's. British 
contracts; , In the. yeairs hetweeri; Sir 
Harry claims to have Seen .mOre of 
the! United Stales than probably any- 
other personal ity. in the amusenient 
biz. He's. ti;ouped from the St. LaWr. 
rence headwaters to Puget Sound 
arid from Edmonton to Florida, 
Hence he clai s to knbw America 
better than "riio.st. The years have 
brought him a philosophical mellov- 
irig despite that 'I feel that I am as 
good at my. business as. I was 30 
years ago.' 

He'll i ulge him.self these days in 
a maxi two. He has the true 
Scotsman's complete faith in his own 
sagacity. .skeVl. vi^hat his greatest 
pleasure is nowadays, he said: 

uildi up my performances and 
writing and composing iriy songs, 
talking about myself. and my cajr^er.' 

is proudest memory is bf a day 
i 1904 when his mother came to 
j visit him. in London and he drove 
' her around Hyde Park and through 



Vaudeyille Marches On 

(CAPITOL, ATLANTA) 

tlanta. May 22. 
is unit i» the ., third one Art 
GleasOri.has brOught to Cisp this .sea- 
son and takes the . palm over h is 
other tvyo, ^ 'Town Scandals' and 
.'FoUes de Jour.' It boasts .sock acts 
that please the custom^r.s and moves 
along snappily in 48 minutes. 

Traveler parts to re.veal band on 
car behind scrim follow.ihg farifare. 
Gleason,: backstage, spiels, over p.a.: 
system anerit 'Vaudeville; marching 
bn' despite vlci.ssitUdes that, have be- 
set it in . last decade ' arid that's cue. 
for Lillia'n Mayfairi Viy iari Manrier.s, 
Irene Roriier and Julie Alien tb comei 
on for military dance number,;finish- 
irig up to routine done to commands 
frotri Gleason, still backstage. 

Femmes are followed by Ray 
Zeller and Ruth Wilburh who juggle 
hats individually and collectively, 
Zeller working in a lot of comedy. 
They are on 11. minutes/ a lot of the 
time being taken up Avith Zeller. 
hurling hats into audierice, including 
the balcony, 

Bobby Graham/pehsonablelfl-ybar'^ 
old band leader, takes over- at this 
point and moves down to mike and 
sirigs 'LoniesOme Road,' .ericOririg by 
rattling th^ bones to- 'Chinatown,' 
while steppirig oft a fast tap routirie. 

The four girls come back with 
baby dolls in their arms and after 
offeririg a bit, of daribe to 'Sirig; 
Baby; Sing,' puttinig the dolls throiigh 
their paces to the tune 'Doll 
Dance.' ' 

Nick Darso and Marie Leed follow 
with a comedy act, former uses 
Italian dialect to good advantage in. 
his cross-fire with femme. Sings a 
parody on 'Oh, Marie,' wbrking 'in 
bits of arias frorri practically every 
pbpUlar .opera. , 

Lillian Mayfair arid Vivian Man- 
ners are back in change of costiime 
and go through a quick challenge 
daribe routine that scores well and 
Graham brings band car down frorit 
for a number. Spot is' placed ori 
Steve Rogers,; who tootles, clarinet 
and sax 9t same tinie, Rogers is then 
joined by Bandsmen Gay,, Hackler 
and ; Sbrenson in a novelty ocarina 
number that clicks. Lillian Mayfair 
trots i out and warbles 'Hqw Could 
You".", U!?ing Graham as her, foil, and 
they dance a b|t to close the num.ber 
to a good harid' 

Honey Payne,, nb' stranger :to Cap 
customers, is on next with impersona- 
tions in front of the mike Of Popeye, 
Olive Oyl, Stepin, F6tchit, Joe 
Pehrier, Bob - Burns arid winds up 
with iibund effects .'of :an airplane 
battle. Lad fixes himself up to lOok 
like those he's impersonating and 
audience like;.<i his Work -tremen- 
dously. Scheduled for eight minutes, 
he was forced back to go through a 
comic routine of a lady taking a bath 
and then had to rieturn for an imi- 
tation Of a drunk Watching a vaude 
show. He was Oh 11 minutes in all 
and had to beg, off. 

With - audience yelping for more, 
Payne, Mayfair and Mariners . cohie 
on for a speedy acrobatic routine 
that finally quiets the house, the 
other two girls walk their doll babies 
on for a bow and the re.st of the 
company comes on for a perfunctory 
finale. 

There are 18 In the company, riot 



counting Gleasori, who take.s no par 
in the show outside of making thai 
backstage anriouncements. Iri .spite ot 
two ll-minitte acts, show '.s tempo is 
all that can be desired arid unit 
ranks big calibre. Music, too, is better 
than ^vlsual. ' vcc. 



PARLEZ VOUS PAREE 

(FAY'S, PHILLY) 

Philadelphi May 
This j.s a good iriiddlc-cla.«'.«; variety 
show, billed as predominately girl 
.stuff,, but actually a well-rounded 59. 
minutes of terping, hinsic. novelties 
arid acrobatics. It is all prelt.y clean, 
well away from the blue, but flexible 
as to aud,, 

Featuring 22 girls, they pr 
sented iri three production numbttrs: 
at curtain raising, iniddle arid finale. 
Make presentable line and back- 
ground without being thrown al and. 
Precision stuff is a little better than 
iri avbrage uriit.; 

Top billing goes to Babette Fori- 
tairie, who, does girl-in-'bionze act. 
Painted golden brown and wearing, 
fig leaf effbbt Orily, burtain.s part on 
tableau , of hier standing on a pedestal 
as fountain, with line in frbrit; 
Afteii' girls dance, stage lights sink 
and Babette, spotted in deep blue^ 
gets off pedestal and does revealing 
terp number. Near fini.sh. lightis 
come up to red and curtains in back* 
ground part for a tableau. 

Opener Is nothing pretenti u.«i, 
merely showing bff of line and terp- 
irig. FoUbwed by Harry Harper^ 
barijo plucker. Starts off - .slow with 
usual stuff, but Wiris hand at end 
on trick iriiitations with the instru- 
merit. 

Two guys arid a girl tapping, Con?* 
nie Cella and Boys, follow. Gbod 
hoofers with eritertaining routine, 
but nothing, socko, -Production num'^ 
ber next, iritroed by girl chirping 
into mike. After usual hoofing, get 
Rome baritone singing and theii 
biallet; All warbling and co.stumes 
are Russian. Why they go to Moscow 
in a unit tagged 'Parlez Vou.s Paree' 
isn't exiplained, but it's riOt a ba4 
hit. 

Comedian Roy Sedley is next turn* 
Starts off with some gOqd belly 
stuff for Fay's arid by working witJi 
stooge in a balcony box. Presentation - 
is too matter bf fact and gag.s too 
fast. Much of his stuff is pretty old 
and what wiasri't went Over house 
without a ripple, Few gag.s rather 
darkly tinted, but not particularly, 
offensive. 

Followed by Curley Slade. who 
uses two roUed-up pieces of bris<tol 
board to do some imitations of mu- 
sical instruments. Final bit, mimic 
of entire Wayne Kirig signature, a 
pipf Bronze girt bit on next, -arid 
then Murray, King and Roberta. 
Trio, consists of two felloWs and a 
gii'l, who terp and roughhouse. 
Thby're tops on this type comedy 
stuff, .especially the femme. 

Parker Bros, are showmanly pair 
of. acrobatic hand-to-hand strOng 
men. They are followed by Sedley 
agairi and then the repiribe. 

Unit is owned by Earle Taylbr, 
Has two Other routines with same 
company, billed as 'Oo LaLa Conti- 
nental' and 'The Taylor Show.* 
Booked for about half the suriiriier. 

Herb. 



Piccadilly Circua In his . own motor 
car, with the shouts of the London! 
populace's acclaim ringing in both 
theii- ears. 

, 'I ^yas a wee boy jUst when my 
father died and my mOther said to 
me. 'Harry, you're the head of a 
faniily riow and ybu'll have. to earn 
the living for all of us.' Maybe that's 
how I know the butts-and-bens of 
Scotland so well— I lived in them. 
So, being all of 11 years oid, and 
doing a man's, work, 1 bought me a 
mari'.s ipe and tobaccO; the brand 
I stilt 

Sir Harry plans to remai r 
lywood. until, .around, the fir.st of 
Jurie! He has to get back to London 
and Glasgow .for erigageriienis arid 
looks forward to being ' occupied 
much of riext year by appearanices 
at the World Scottish Exhibit iri 
Glasgow. 

Scottish population of Los Angelas 
and -all Southerri Calif ornia heard Of 
Sir Harryls advent here with glee; 
/They have .kept the telephone in. his 
suite ringi s.tantly ' itll J-e- 

qiiests for personal 
speeches, ■ ., here It 
wouldn't be. so bad, Harry, 
'except that lot call up 

collects*. 



Johii Schiiltz Ailini^ 

Schultz,. head Of Faiichon & 
Marco's agency end in New York,: 
has been confined to his home with 
ain eye ailment. 

Expected back at his in 
the next couple of weeks^ 



Helen Meinardi and Hoatiy Car- 
michaei collabed on 'April in My 
Heart' 




<ContInued trom page 33) 



as possible out of the hands of Pi'esi- 
dent Petrillo when he goes to face 
the national (convention of the 
American Federation of Musici ^ in 
LbulsVille next month. 

No Employ meni Aid 

By refusing .to make 
whibh Utiiize uniOri musiciari.s 
recorders feel that Petrillo will n 
be able to gO before the AFM and 
.shbw the asSbmbled unions what he 
.has -bc^ri able to accomp.li.s thi 
Way of obtairiing control of reeor 
ed niusic in Chicago; .specially 
in the .way bf getting standby rrui- 
sicians for recorded progiamj; 
other: local union )urisdiction.<>-; 
cago "recording studios ar 
to. illustrate: to the Unio 
throughbut the Country that 
Chicago recording ban has not tey 
suited in increased employment for' 
mu-siciaris in other cities through the 
enforced booking of standby musi- 
ciaris, but has actually resulted 
a lo.sS of work to Chicago music- 
makers. 

To this end, they are doi 
with riiusic entirely wherever 
.sible. For music' they ar 
ukeleles,. . sweet potatoes, ha r 
A Cappella choirs, and whi.stierH. 

Some' of the recording studios are 
talking among themselve.s possibility 
of^ making a general protest tb. Jo- 
seph Wbber, president of the AFMi 
against the Chicago musicians ai)ti> 
recbtd'irig campaign, by stating that 
nori-recor-ding drive on the part of 
the musicians' union is restraint of 
Uade and unfair trade practice. 



$2 



yARBBTY 



LEGITIMATE 



Wieclne^day, May 26, 19a("7 



Legit Actors Find Radio a Memma; 




Br liOBE MORRISON 

WitK the revival oif the road for 
legitj growing headache lor actors 
and mahagers is'' the gratis; 'radio 
. guest: appearance ttiing. Requests 
. for appearances on hon-paying radio 
shdws have long been nuisance to 
legit" ' pl^yers^^ in New Yorfc. . But 
they're befter able ito protect selves. 
"Within thie confines of Broadway. 
Out of tbivn,. however, they're fair 
game' for . eyery broadcaster and 
evej^y house press iagent.. ; 

What lays, the legiters . low on the 
ibi^ \k the' number and complexity 
df the angled involved. inVthe radio 
setup. In. unfamiliar surroundings 
play^i'S ' aren't able to distinguish 
'Worthwhile stations from the others^ 
To a stage h'anrie one set of call let< 
ters is apt to sound jpretty much lik<i 
another. Result is .actors tend to 
haVe; set policy of either olcayinij of- 
nixing ail bids regardless. Compli- 
cating thinig§ .for the legit player 
who ii-ies to piclc bigger stations or 
to nix requests ' aire the Various local 
newspaper ownership 'angles .and 
tie-ups. 

Actor that turns thumbs ddwn on 
a request to guest- gratis on news- 
paper statibn ' almost • Certain to 
lind; hiiiiself in the doghouse with 
the dramatic editbr. Even if he cto 
stand that, the show's press; agent 
usually howls for -help rather than, 
risk , having the shoW feel editorial 
displeasure.. 

/Radie llhelr Sile-Llnie 
_ , ; Another , angle on the road i? the 
number of drama ^and (^mmentj ta- 
dio . shows handled by drama and 
pix critics and .other »6ribes. Show 
criticism is no. gold mine In ttie 
road, towns and the boys and gals 
-who sit on the aisle for a living fre- 
quently turn to radio to bolster their 
bankrolls. .All of which is just too 
|>ad for the actors.. . , 

iPosdibility the newly -iormed New 
"Yorlc'legit pr^ agents group miay 
take some action to curb what many 
of its .metnbers teA is a racket 
preying on stage players.. .Publicity 
'inen : are currently absorbed with 
their efforts tdi effe<:t hasic contract 
deal With the Broadway managers. 
When that's completed, several mat^ 
ters will come up for attention by 
the assoc^ation^ Onc^ niay be the ra- 
did! setup, although unlikely any- 
thing startling will come of it since 
membership is understood to hold 
widely conflicting, view^ regarding 
ballyhdo value.'of radio at the b.o.' 

In New York requests for gratis 
radio stints usually come to. legit 
players rather than pix names. La^' 
ter are generally in for brief ' stay 
and frequently contrive to hide put 
to- get privacy. Added fact is thdt 
Hollywood makes them experts at 
ducking unwelcome demands and at 
tention. And film press depart- 
intents are inclined to dish out the 
f ree7.e to minor radio lights. 

' Among legit names, certain play- 
ers get reputation for being blank 
prospects lor the free guestee, rou- 
tine. Some, like Katharine Cornell, 
are -known to nix ail bids lor ahy 
kind oC appearance. Miss Cornell, 
in iact, has never once faced a mike. 
Other names, such as Helen Hayes, 
Be.atrice I<iUie and so; oii, ar.e so well 
associa.ted ih p^ublic and broadcaster 
.inind.with big money programs that 
not : .a sustaining impresario 

to ask themi for a 'bene- 



Geoirge Abbott Makes 
Two-Play Agency Deal 

An unusual ticket deal fof the 
end. of the season was entered into 
f oir *Ilo.oni Service,' hew comedy .hit 
which George Abbott opened at the 
Cort, N. Y. last week. Arrangement 
witti the brokers is coupled with 
'Brother Rat/ also aii Abbott show, 
at the Biltmore^ First proposal was 
for the agencies to buy the same 
amount of tickets for both attrac- 
tions, A comjpromise was made, 
whereby the agencies gaur^ntee to 
sell 100 'Rat' tickets nightly and will 
buy 350 tickets for 'Service* for each 
evening pierf orniance. Usual percent- 
age of returns applies. 

''Service' is the first comedy about 
shoe-string shoW business to click, 
while 'Rat- is the first play about 
life in niilitairy acadeniles to land, 
in the moneyl Latter attraction while 
not up with the straight show lead 
iers, has been a consisteht money- 
maker. Both were produced without, 
name, players and both are slated tb 
stick through summer^ 

Abbott is the only ihanager to 
enter summer with three attractions, 
l^e also having 'Boy . Meets Girl/; 
Warners ' are interested ih 'Boy' and 
♦Rat' but- are not " in on 'Service.' 



Colo. Sinrings PfaiBS 
Smnmer Stock Co. 
Witb Fibn Hayers 



Billy Sbeehan Passes 

W; k; roadway character, known 
particularly front 6f the 

house, passed last week when Billy 
Sheehan, known as the gardenia 
king, died. Said to be the first one 
to popularize that flower in Timeis 
Square. He had a' wholesale florist 
connection and purchased blooms 
for many box bffice mep, supplying 
them with carnations, too. 

Sheehan was ihost recently em- 
ployed as stage doormavi at the Lit- 
tle theatre, ; 



'OF MICE AND HEN' 
DEBUTS IN FRISCO 



San Francisco, May 25. 
John teinbeck's hovel; 'Of Mice 
and Men,' had its world premiere in 
dramatic fonni at the Greeh St thea- 
tre here last Friday <21>; The play, 
which marks iSteihbeck's .debut as a 
playwright, is being presented by the 
San Francisco, Theatre iUfnion oh Fri- 
day and Saturday ights ^ for . a 
limited v.peridid. . The.' cast includes 
Wellman Farley, -Sal! Pizzo, Mary 
Liles, A.lice:Hult, Joel.Coffield, Verne 
Kennedy^ Stanley lilorris and Charles. 
Crawford. 

'Of Mice and Men' is to have a 
production on Broadway ■ this fall. 



' Judgmen t Day ^ 



(Continued from page 1 ) 



Troupers Chib Holds 
Its Animal Election 



roupers CI Ass'ii, grotip of 
traveiing stage employees, held its 
regular annual elections head? 
quarters;May 16; 

ftiaiHy Gibbons was elected presi- 
deiit. Robert Welch, v.-p.; Louis J. 
Thamas and ; Charles : C. J^ichols, 
flnaiicial secretaries; bedrge G. 
O'Neill,, treasurer; Harry B. Mc- 
GranCi assistant treasurer; Joseph 
Kennedy and Alec Borden, recording 
secretaries.; Robert. Doll, sergeant. 
Pivactot-s Ben Beerwald,^ Al 

Glacdoh,. Hugh Scollan, Fred R. Le 
Vai-ge, Ei-niie Trace arid. Rex Owen. 



Season of legit stock,;. .with, film 
names as guest stars and perma- 
nent company of .picture .contract 
players . will be given this , summer 
at Colorado Springs. Opening- is 
tentatively set for July 12 (may be 
a week earlier if a.Hollywopd -hame 
and the proper play are available) 
and will continue, at least six weeks. 
Will continue until liabor. Day if 
successful. 

Hunter Gardner, '. legit actor and 
director, will be managing director. 
Actor wound up long. tour,. in 'First 
Ijady* last week and aif ter acquiring 
play rights in New York, left for 
Colorado Springs to supervise pre- 
liminary preparations at the Fine 
Arts Center there. Expects to,, arrive 
in Hollywood next Saturday (29) to 
begin lining up picture names, and 
supporting players. 

Opening bill will be chosen from 
•Idiot's DeighV Tonight at 8.30' or 
'Personal AppearanCie,' depending on 
what film names are : available. 
Balance of the season wiU be picked 
from 'End of Summer,' 'Biography,' 
'Goodbye Agai ,' 'Accent on Youth,' 
serious play, such as either 'The 
Shining Hour' or 'He Who Gets 
Slapped,^ and, if possible, a Broad- 
way tryput. Understood a numbei: 
of film names* have tentatively 
agreed to guest-star. Also that sev- 
eral studios are anxious to set their 
contract players tor legit seasoning. 

Factor in the wiUinghess . of pix 
players to trek to (jolorado Springs 
is its comparative ptoximity to Hol- 
lywood (Cour hours by plane), yet 
the absence of critics from the Coast 
or New Yorki Name piayers with 
legit traihi figure they can - 
turn to stage without losing, too 
much time and . tiiose without legit 
experiience hope to" get stage testing, 
without irisk pf Critical shellacking. 
Added incentive "the theatre, 
$1,000,000 project ith complete 
technical equi ment arid the , last 
word ill actor's conifort an 
venierices. 

In additiori to irectirig pr 
tions, Gardner will probably design 
the set.?. Top price; will be $2.50, 
with bill.s being changed weekly. 
Theatre \vi|l not be ..run to show 
profit, Colorado Spri rigs Fi lie. Arts 
Center bein,? amply endowed insti- 
tution. Resort's normal population 
of .25,000 i.s muUipjied diiring su - 
riici* season. 



stajffs, other writers and columnists 
praising the play , after the first lipe 
critics had turned thumbs down. In- 
stance is that of the late Percy Ham- 
mond of the Herald Tribune who 
didn^t like the thing, but Richard 
Watts, Jr., his successor, in a Sunday 
column,, thought it the 'most stirring ' 

and exciting evening in the theatre 
since, the screen took more of' the 
stage's excitement off to Holly vvood.' 

Another case was that of John 
Anderson (Journal) who wrote: 'I 
hiave only one. neck and Mr. Rice's 
play has giveh me a pain in it.' Yet 
Louis Sobol^ the sheet's. Broadway 
columnist, telegraphed Rice that it 
wais a 'swell melodrama/ while Gil- 
bert Seldes oh the .same sheet de- 
voted a column in praise of it. Three 
critics raved over 'Day,' but all the 
others panned it to burnt toast. 

When the O'Casey. uprising start- 
ed. Rice hopped aboard again and 



Thomson's Time Out 



Barry Thomson has left the cast 
of 'Idiot'js Delight' on- tour arid is in 
Hollywood.: Seeing the dentist and 
will rejoin the show on the Coast. 

Actor will ,hav,e the title , role in 
*Amphitryon„ 38,f the Lunts' next for 
the Thieatre Guild. 



Denver's '37-*3d Legits 

Denver, May 25. 
For the. corining sea.son Arthur M. 
Obertelder has booked seven legits 
for Denver. They include 'Brother 
Rat,' Aug. 20; 'Toyarich,' Nov. /5-6; 
'Lady Precious Stream,' December; 
'Frederika,' Jan. 25-26; *You Can't- 
Take It With You,' Feb, 25-26; 'The 
Women,*' March 4-5; 'Victoi'ia Re- 
gina,' April 25-26-27. 



Maybe It's Tnie 



'Judgment Day,' review- in 
Variety, issue of Sept. 18, 1934, 
by Ibee was adverse t6 the 
drama. Reviewer wrote: 'Per- 
haps the play is too foreign and 
the impression was it might 
have been much better received 
in some sppts abroad than 
here.' 

Although the play ran 12 
weeks, it lost money steadily 
and Elmer R.ice, its author 
producer, turned the play over 
to actors. It was then 

moved from the Belasco to the. 
Fulton, but quickly , folded. 



Inside Stuif-Legit 



'Room Service,' which was presented a* the Corl, N. Y., last week by 
George Abbott and was accorded rave/notices, was tried out in Philadel- 
phia last season by, Sam H, Harris. Latter recognized thie comedy's possi- 
bilities, but. when first and. third act weakriesses were not revised to his 
liking, he let thei: rights reVert to the authors. Harris previously asked 
Abbott ia consider collaborating but the present praducer yas too miuch 
occupied with other shows at the time. Understood that Abbptt's sug- 
gestions wei:e followed by Murraiy and BOretz, the authors, in rewriting 
the sci-ipt to its present forin. 

When first tried ouV by Harris -Service* was a three-set show but it is 
now played in one set, original: prpduction haying befen discarded .en jtirely. 
It 'was one of the plays produced, by Harris under an arrangement with. 
Metro, with Max Gordon also, interested. Film end stood the loss. Abbojlt: 
is pattikl to the Cbrt, hiaving a 4ash ,of superstition,, that theatre . having 
housed his "Boy Meets Girl,' in . which Warner^ is also ;a partner. 'Boy' 
moved from the, Cort tp the Anita 

After 'Service* foWed but of town,. Harris wanted GeOrge S. Kaufman 
to doctor the script aind restage the show. Kaufman, however,, said at the 
time that\he didn't think the play*$ possibilities warranted jsiving the 
necessary time to it. FifEured it CoUld only be ia 'moderate' success. Also-' 
remarked that he . was./too old to' take any interest, in those light farces,.' 
Added that of course helalways likes to Work- with Moss -Hart. Was busy 
ait the time putting the finishing touches on 'You Can't Take It With You,' 
with^ the lattei*; 

Quick siiccess of 'Service' provides unusually fast takeoff for play agency 
of Liebling and Wood.; Was the. agency's iirst sale. Show, at the Cort, is 
expected to gross an average of nearly $15,000 a week into the fall. That ' 
will give co-authors royalties of $1^00 a week. 



Number of legit house inahajgers are visiting New York for rst- 
ti.me in-years, attending the cohvention under the auspi(:es of the^National 
Theiatre Council.. Among them are Hari^ .Brown, manager of the I>^ixon, 
Pittsi>urgh; Con LiUle, Maryland, Baltimore; Eddie Plohn, asisigried to 
handle the. 'National, Washington, this season; Paul Beesmah, American, 
St. Louis, and Robert Stevenson, Jr., Erlanger's, Buffalo. Most of the 
house men are with rlanger theatres and were called , iii' by the mai 
office. . ' 

Younger tevenson ill leave for the Coast after the seisi^ions. to visit 
his father, who is seriously; ailing. Latter was formerly one of Broad- 
way's best known box ofticce; men. 



'Seia Legs,' one-set jnusicaV which opened at the Mansfield, ^f. Y., last 
week, was doubtful of continuing up to Saturday night when the bankroll 
came through^ although the sliow management cailled on Equity for halif 
the salary guarantee money to pay salaries. Claimed the show will stick 
another- three weeks and, . if business develops, engagement will go 
through summer as anticipated. 

A. ;N. Smallwood, the reputed backer, is said to be a realtor. Hany 
Bannister and J. Edmund Byrne^re the presenters. Show was first called 
•When the Cait's Away.' As a farce, 'The Cat Came Back,' it was tried but 
several years ago, by A. H. ^/76ods. 



Dance Digest takes the New York dance critics over the jumps. Saying 
'we conscientiously object to the flippant, wisecracking attitude such as 
Dantoii Walker on the Daily News, Samuel Chotzinoff on the Post, thie 
narrative substitute for criticism as in the American, the *on the fence* 
attitude of John Martin (Times) blowing hot and then cold, the irritable 
condemnation of the baUet-omahiac, Irving peakin oh the Daily Mirror; 
the preoccupation with the music to ttie exclusion of the dance as exem- 
plified by the music critics who covered the ballet, such as Pitts San- 
born .of . the World-Telegram, llenriette Weber in the Evening Journal, 
Sir; Crotzinoff in the Post, and I. K. of the New York Sun.' 



Backstage side of the curtain of the Martin Beck theatre, N. Y, where 
■High Tor' is housed, has crossed American . and Canadian, flags sewed to 
it. Although two members of the 'Tor' cast are British Empire subjects, , 
Peggy Ashcroft, English, and Hume Cronyrt, Canadian/ they had nothing 
to do with, placing flaigs there. Was done during last summer and fall 
run of the D'Oyly Carte Opera company, English Gilbert and Sullivan 
troupe, at the Beck. Used a Canadian flag because they couldn't find an 
English one in the neighborhood. 



_ F^derial claims for admissions tax against a revival of 'As Husbands 
Go,* when presented at the Forrest, N. Y., several seasons ago, has been 
dropped. Collector estimated that around $1,000 was due the government. 
Play was put on by Wee & Leventhal, but was taken over during the 
Forrest engagement. 

Murray Winkler, an attorney, signed the contracts and because of that 
the clairii was made agai im. 



in a speech at Columbia University 
•said ariiprig other things:- -Critics are 
drama's -worst enemies. They are 
stupid, jaded, ■illiterate drunkards... 
One is a professipnal keyhole peelper' 
; .but 'three or fPur may have sori\c: 
sense theatre sensitivity.' Rice 
explained his remarks as being the 
'culmination of 20 years of hate' and 
that 'few dramatic critics know- any-' 
thing about acting or directing: or 
have any idea .of what goes. ihto tiie 
mak ing of a perf orriiance.' 

The critics were prompt, to. retort 
and reminded Rice that it took him 
a long while to make up his mind, 
since he made objectiph to the 
praise of such plays of his as 'Street 
Scene' arid 'Courisellpr at Law,- In 
the lattei". show Rice had a piece oj 
the managerial end and together 
with, royalties is. . id to have made 
a fortiiiie. One reviewer cpniJooed 
the attacks, pointing out that the au- 
thor iiad turned manager and in 
renting the Belasco wais taking a 
double chance in presenting' his own 
'plays there, Rice also thought that 
first-nighters were the -scuni of the 
earth' and that Hollywood scouts 
were 'worse than the Critics.: It ap- 
pears that when Rice started' writing 
Pl'Ppdgartda plays he failed to strike 
a; popular .note and had 'three flops 
in a row. 



, Alex. Ypkel. who leased the Fulton and recently sublet to the Miriskys 
foir two-a-day burlesque, says he is unworried over the situation cau-sed 
by the commissionej's refusal' to renew hurley licenses. Minsky people 
anticipate securing a licensie as i indicated by their having paid two weeks' 
rent. 

They posted $10,000 in cash as security for the payments on the lease. 



Eddie Dpwling and Rae Dooley have 
new 'papa,' the kid was only si 
up the infant. 

Understood that the baby; now three months of age, is of Polish - 
parentage. 



Strawhat Digs Talent 
Instead of New Plays 

reedman and Julian B. Tut- 
H'll. of the Hartford 

Times; are sponsoring a re-verse surri- 
mer Avery 
Mei vial -theatre, using new talent 
and old plays jnst new plays 

^" .of regulation straw- 

hatlers. ight (Wednesday). 

. Pair have hit i;ppn gag of testing 
radi yaUdeville nd butley per- 
foVfners in dramatic- roles at their 
freak spot. There will be no stand- 
ard legit people employed, but in- 
stead, alt roles in revivals will go to 
prpte.ssibnals of other fields in their 
first legit attempts. 



FEDS to BUILD OWN 
THEATRE ON COAST 



.Lp,s Angeles, May 25. 
. HPward Miller, western regional 
director of the Federal Theati-e 
Project, has announced plsins for 
erection of a 25Q-seat theatre here, 
early next fall.. Musart will be cod- 
yerted into a Negro house, produc- 
ing plays written nd. iscted by 
Negroes. 

• Miller announced that FTP^ ill 
Open George Bernard . Shaw's 
True to Be. Good' at tlve Holly wood 
Playhouse in September. .Also ai» 
Ftp company will begin a ' togr .of 
11 western states playing "The Mer- 
chant of Venice' around Sept. 15. 

Following the annouiicenicnl.-'. 
Miller left for New York. 



ITeclneisdayf May 193? 



B'WAY 



LEGITIMATE 



VARIETY 



ts 





Something to Hunk About 



povernor Lehnun of New Yot-k has vetoed the Buanigaii bill which, in 
effect, sought to establish orie-mah cenispirship of the legitimate stage. 
Without doubt he took into account the protest frotn the public, press and 
nearly, every organized group , ' the theatre. His nix of the bill is the 
occasion for some gratification, but there will be little permanent joy 
until the lesson is absoirbed by^ the men and wonlen whosie profession is 
the stage.. 

An assiault of this character must be avoided in the futurei And there 
/only one way-eternal vigilance. 



The handwriting was oh the wall several :weeks ago, when the burleisque 
mess began to make the front pages of the dailies. What was everybody is 
business turned out to be nobody'is business, aihd the Dunhigan bill, revo- 
lutionary in character and vicious in intent, was slipped through both 
houses of the legislature without public , hearing or industry protest. Ap- 
parently no one connected in a responsible way with the theatre knew 
anything about the bill until after its passage. 

Then there were hurried call;s for mass meetings, petitions by theatre- 
goers and solicitation for- support: from the press. The job of defense, 
once.organi2ed,,was ably, handled.. The stage was in a tight spot aiid the 
Lebman veto, saved its neck. 

Biit the issue never should have, developed to the deisperate. situation 
where a. Veto was necessary. Someone sho it earlien 



The events which gave the opponents of the theatre a chance to slip 
through, the Dunhigan measure .were the accumulation of a Broadway 
Kandal \vith respect to operation of ' buries^jue shows: Week by week 
the strip shows with their disgusting dialog were building up a hydrogen 
isupply which needed only one spark- of decency to 'make an . explosion to 
threaten the entire amusement world. 



It isn't pleasant to yell 'copper,' but sbmetinies it is essential. very one 
with ftny interest in show .business knew that burlesque, . once a. sturdy 
and respectable branch of show business, was galloping, red-eyed, to cer» 
tain doom. The penal laws, easily enforced upon complaint, were for- 
gotten. A liberal city government was content to let matters run along. 
Then the blow-off. 



Tbt legitimate theatre, to. which press and public gave: unanimous sup? 
port in the veto campai . might well look iiito its own affairs 'with some 
misgivings. If the crisis just paissed serves to awaken a higher sehse of 
responsibility among those who operate the stage, then the turmoil^ un- 
certainty and aroused sentiment ' may well hiave been worth v/hile. It's 
something to think about, something to be concerned about. 



One Nan Censorship Meets Defeat 
With Dunn^an Veto; And in Omaha 



One man censorship was knocked 
out twice last week, the points be- 
ing' distant but almost simultaheouS. 
Governor Lehman vetoed the Dun- 
nigun bill In New York, a measure 
which aroused the letgit theatre and 
the press of the metropolis to frantic 
protest. In Omaha, the mayor who 
demsinded that last season's Pulitzer 
prize winner, 'Hiot*? Delight,' de- 
lete a number of passages, suddenly 
changed his mind after being up- 
braided, indicating that the sticks 
are against censorship as much as 
Broadway. 

In the Western city it was first an- 
nounced 'that the play had can- 
celled the date and the Theatre 
Guild in N. Y. declared it would 
never book Omaha agai Late in 
the afternooh Omaha's mayor,: Dan 
Butler, was visited by Alfred Luiit, 
"ivhoi with Lynn Fontanne, is 
starring in 'Delight.' He had agreed 
to Cut some lines but when in- 
formed of the number, said it 
couldn't be done: Lunt told hizzoner 
that the horrors of war ias ekipressed 
in the play are 'indecent and inten- 
tionally so.' It appears "the mayor 
also objected to a mention of an af- 
fair in the Governor Bryan hotel, 
Omaha, in the play., Thei'e no 
such hotel. 

Mayor Butler, who stopped the 
first performance of 'Tobacco Road,' 
which, however, after" ge1;ting a 
coui:t writ played two performances 
anyhow. Was criticized by Bishop 
G. Bromiy Oxman, who took . ex- 
ception to his. remarks that no One 
would dare take a IT-year-old child 
*o see -such garbage,' Glergynlan 
said he Was taking his 14-^year-old^ 
daughter to see the performance 
along with sortie other' adolescents, 
from her school. The Rev. Oxman's 
comment was along the lines ex- 
pressed in New York against cen- 
sorship, Among other things he said 
'successful politician should be 

.ise enough to, know that censorship 
IS more dangerous than an occa- 
sional realistic line... Persons or 
'"ganlzations who turn to censor- 
(Continued on page 57) 



Campaign Costs 



Cost of the ' legit theatre's 
protest of the Dunnigan one- 
man-censor bill was around 
$600. Most , of the expenditure 
went to the printing of slips 
;which were signatured by audi* 
ences. Another item was the 
purchase of 210. gross small 
pencils whiph were also handed 
to theatre-goers. It is expected 
the bill will be paid by the 
League of New York Theatres, 

After some 60,000 slips had 
been sent to Albany, Governor 
Lehman's office advised the 
Joint Committee of the. Legiti- 
mate Theatre Opposed to Cen- 
sorship, not to send the balance 
wbich kept pili in the 

League's! offices. 



OFFER AUSSIE TOUR TO 
LUNT AND FONTANNE 



Sydney, May 11. 
ir Ben Fuller has made an offer 
to Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne 
for a iseason covering Australia and 
New Zealand. 

American stars have not as yet 
indicated, ho.wever, whether they 
will accept. 



Sam Byrd in Maine 

: .Sam Byr who ^yill produce a 
new Paul Green drama in the Fall, 
left last Week (19) for Skowhegan, 
Me;, where he'll remain until ready 
to begin casting it late in the Sum- 
mer for an Out-of-town tryout. Just 
returned from South Carolina, where 
he huddled With Green about the 
latter's script. 

Will have the lead in 'Rollo's Wild 
Oats,' opening bill at the Lakewood 
Theatre, Skowhegan, beginning May 
29. 




Speakers Stress Need for 
Drastic Measures to Bet- 
ter Legit Setup in N. Y; 
and on the Road 



OPPOSE HOLLYWOOD 



By JACK PULASKI 

Convention of the legitimate thea- 
tre, under. the auspices .of the pro- 
posed American Theatre Council, be^ 
gan its foUr-day sessions at the Astor 



hotel, Y., Monday 



At- 



tendance, was Under-estimated arid 
it was necessary, to set up more tab- 
les for luncheon,, during which the 
keynote of the convention was 
veyed in. brief addresses. All groups 

end: unions were represented except 
the musicians, but stagehands 
head forcefully spoke in support of 
the convention's objectives and said 
the -'theatre may have to lock hOrns 
with the picture people.' 

That was . not the only reference 
to Hollywood. The picture end was 
mentipned again, during the. luncheon 
and later, at the business session 
which extended during the after- 
noon,' Sidney Howard . just back, 
from the Coast said: 'I wonder why 
we are here — managers, authors, 
stagehands, designers and others. I 
wonder why we are riot in Holly- 
wood, but there -is a good reason— 
like Bernard. ShaW, we are all stage- 
strUck. 

'There are enough factions to start 
one of the. finest of free-for-all 
fights,. but we are here to fight, for 
more freedom from the domination 
of Hollywood.' He mentioned the 
number of people from but of town 
being present and felt the 'New 
York theatre wants to be told where 
to get off.' 

riiie Back to Road 

. James J. Brennan, a vice-president 
of the lATSE (stagehands union) 
and reTelecled head of number one 
local, said his people welcome, the 
opportunity to take part in any pro- 
ceeding which will bring back the 
road, for that is where niost of lA's 
people are interested. He added: 

(Continued on page 56) 



SHUBERTS SUED BY 
PIRANDELLO ESTATE 



Select Theatres Corp, and Lee and 
J. J. Shiubert Were named defendants 
Friday (21) in N, Y. Supreme Court 
by StefariO Pirandello, who: seeks an 
injunction to stop the Shuberts from 
producing the play, 'Travarsi.' 
Plaintiff is acting for the estate, of 
his dead brother, Luigi Pirarideilo, 
author'.: of thie.play. Claims play- 
wright contracted with ilbert 
Miller to ' produce play, the latter 
pajfing; $1,000 advancie. 

Pirandello wants Miller to con- 
tinue contract and. the Shuberts to 
lay off, 



Dramatists Guild's New 
Assessment Schedule 



,Members of the Dramatists Guild, 
at a meeting this week, voted an in- 
crease of assessments - as folloWs: $5 
a week for plays grossing up -to 
$9,000 a week; $10 per week for 
play^s grossing from $9,000. to $15,000; 
and $15 a week for "productions 
grossing over $15,000 a- week. 

Musical show assessments, based 
on royalty, will be each $1 per week 
on grosses of $18,000 to $25,000; and 
$3 per week over $25,000. 

Members Of the Guild still remain 
exempt on the first $2,500 of annual 
earning. 




To Aid Spanish Loyalists' Cause 



LYTELL QUITS PLAY 



Leaves One Golden Play for Another 
— On Radio This Summer 



Bert Ly tell haS withdrawri from 
the cast of 'Suzanne and God;' John 
Golden play,, due to script revision. 
Piece, by Rachael .Crothers, opens in 
New York this fall, starring Ger- 
trude Lawrence. It .recently .tried 
out fO|r two weeks ;in Philadelphia 

Lytiell will do 'Jimmy Valentine' 
as- a. radio serial for a sponsor this 
summer, and likely another play for 
Golden next autumn. 







Plan to. reopen 'The Eternal Road' 
at the Manhattan O. H. next Mon- 
day (31) has been deferred, with a 
decision to be made later this week 
whether the costly biblical spectacle 
will be relighted in New York. Ar- 
rangeriients had been made to cut 
the operating cost again, and re- 
duce the ticket scale to $2.20 top. 

Future of 'Eternal Road' appears 
to be up to the creditors other than 
those who backed the $500,000. pro- 
duction, Approximately $100,000 is 
owed, an accumulation of red during 
the erigagenrient. Creditors have 
been adVised that the only way they 
can be paid in part or whole would 
be frorh . anticipatedi profits if and 
when • the show resumes. 



JERSEY COAST DATES 
FOR ANTIQUE MELLERS 



Two old type melodramas, used -as 
cabaret- attractions, are islated for 
seashore resorts this summer. 
'Naughty Naught,' winding up at the 
converted church known, as the 
American Music Hall, N. Y., will 
probably be spotted at the Rltz 
Gardens, Atlantic City. Latter is a 
boardwalk night spot adjacent to 
the Ritz hotel. 

■Murder in thfe Red. Barn.' which 
preceded -Naught' at the Music Hall, 
is being angled for Asbury Park's 
convention hall. Both attractions will 
have accompanying olios. Contracts 
for both mellers are due to be sig- 
riatured this week. 



By ROBERT REINHARt 

roadway is het up about Spalm 
Not only hot, but worked up and. . 
doing things. That 1$ to say, cer- 
tain section of Broadway is, ut it's 
a cross section. It's not Just the pro* 
fesslorial tadlcals, or the down arid 
outers, or the independents,:' but all 
kinds and Ipu of them with jobs-^ 
some of them top-notch jobs. Some- 
thing seems to have hit the actors 
who haVe been sitting around the 
45th street piibs for years indulging 
in sipali talk. Maybe it's a social 
conscience. Anyhow/ whatever it is, 
last week there was the Dunnigan 
bill to fight. Now and for some time 
before this, however, juveniles and 
ingenues seem, to some extent, 
havie dropped Hollywood considera- 
tions and are rushing around pro- 
moting meetings in some cases^'For 
Spain.' 

There was such a midnight meet- 
ing on Monday (24) at the Belnsco 
to which nearly 300 people came and / 
stayed for Hlmost two hours. It was 
a dramatic, picturesque sight. The 
house was dimly lighted, as the Be- 
lasco alAvays ii. On. the stage, turned 
into a platform for the occasion, sat 
(Conthiued on page 57) 




LEGIT CONTROL 



Candid Camera Addicts 
Picking Their Shots 

Ticket., agency, men haVe often 
wondered at the . peculiar requests 
for tickets in certairi locations, espe- 
cially aisle seatsi on thie last rows. 
Recently, there has been a wave 6f 
requests for such tickets and it was 
finally discerned that the requests 
c."/me froio candid camera add' otsi- 
An electric gadget .makes it easy to 
take interior shots ithout special 
lighting and amateiir photographers 
spot celebrities as quickly as auto-: 
graph hounds. 

Formerly thci"e were frequent re- 
quests for the back row aisle seats 
from ti id persons who in.sisted on 
those locations because of the possi-^ 
bility of fire or other casualty. With 
such occurrences rare, the requests 
finally dropped to zero. 



John Root Gives Up 

Margaret Mullen, of the cast of 
'Room Service;' will be married on 
Sunday (30) to John Root, legit 
isccne designer. Wedding is to take, 
place 'somewhere in Pennsylvani 

Root id the siets for 'Red 
Harvest,' in which MisS Mullen re- 
cently appeared on Broadway. 



New censorship setup for Phila- 
delphia was seen last week in Mayor 
S. Davis Wilson's dictuni before a 
gathering of several hundred theatre 
and hitery men. According to Hiz- 
zdner's ruling, producers must sub- 
mit a script for approval before any 
legit show may open in a Phila-i^ 
delphia theatre. Violation of the rule 
would make the theatre owner liable 
to revocation of his license. 

While Wilson still maintains the 
.smoke screen of his so-called Theatre 
Control Board, the fact that he is 
the real and active boss of the situa- 
tion was revealed again recently 
when he abruptly closed 'Orchias 
Preferred' entirely on his own in- 
itiative. Understood the censor board 
membership, previously known for • 
its liberal views, concurred in Wil* 
son's action, but on previous oc- 
casions (such as the case of 'Mulatto' >. 
the board favored allowing plays to 
go, but was overruled by the Mayor. 

As It now stands, Philly'.s legit 
censor situation i$ virtually the same 
as^duririg J. Hampton Moore's blue- 
nose mayorality administration, when 
scripts had to" be okayed by . Henry 
Starr Richardspn, the mayor's 'per- 
sonal one-mari .censor board.' At 
the incepti of his term, Mayor 
Wilson made a show of liberality, 
appointing an .'independent and 
broad-minded' board, which speedljy 
permitted the showing in Philly of 
'Tobacco. Road' and .'Sailor, Bewnre,' 
both of which had .been nixed by 
the. previous regime; 

But 'Wiison tipped hLs' mitt com- 
pletely last fall in the ease of 'New 
Faces,' rising in his third-row scat 
to stamp wrathfiiliy out of the For- 
rest theatre in protest against the 
skit in which Mrs. Franklin D. 
Roosevelt was . portrayed. That and 
the 'Mulatto' incident are known to 
haye .caused considerable friction 
between the Mayor arid his board, 
whose members serve without pay. 
Understood they grumbled to friends 
about being 'stooges' and 'goats' f.ot 
Wilson's private censorshi 



L. I. Student Strawhat 

StUdio'of Acting, N. Y., is form- 
ing student stock company for the 
summer season at the John Drew 
Memorial Theatre, East Hampton, 
L. I. 

Sarah .Enright, Maynat-d Morris 
and Reginald Lawrence o.o.-lng can- 
didates. 



54 



Plays 




THE DARK MARE 

I>asadena, May 17- 

Comedy In,. three Acta (seven soenesV hy 
Soaeph Carole, preeentecl May 17.. "iJ, ni 
J.Hlmratoi-y tfientrc of Pasadena Commuiiiiy 
iPIayhouse; directed by Gustnve Schlrnier; 
"VVaHer AUen, art dltector, . 

Frntik Bayes .Jimmy Judapn 

Mary Bayes , . . .V.Patay ClinllBreii 

Clara Eagari. v. .Mildred .Touhgr 
Katie I i... . ,,. . i . . . .Barbara. Parniley- 

Rlchard Bayes; Stephen" Poiveia 

Tjoiiello: Bayes. i .Phyllis .C'6oi>er 

Desmond Basmusseh. .. . r. , .Gustave Tweer 
Albert Dunhlil;; i .. .Barton Bbolh 
£dward Moss George ReynoUla 



Premised on the ancient story of 
the wife who opposes her politiciah 
husband, 'Thei Dark Mare,' by Joseph 
Carole,, bienefltis from a treatrjient 
tyned to modern family and political 
trends and emerges as good pro- 
spective riiaterial for further stage or 
screien consideration. As presented 
in the Jjaboratory Theatre . of the 
Pasadena Gommunity Playhouse by 
.student players, it is pretty rough 
and in rnainy instances obviously' in 
need of further: scripting, but the 
elements of sound entertainment are 
at all times visible, . 

'.Frank Bayes is mayor of a small 
city and a. very, egotistical and boast- 
ful husband 'whose family is quite 
.tired bf his eloquence; Obviously in 
the hands of political sharpshooters, 
he faces a $tifl campaign . for re- 
electioin. When reporters visit the 
hdme^. his wife, Mary Bayes,. tires of 
hearing his boasts and remarks that 
sh£\couId run aigaiinst him and beat 
hinw The next day It is all over the 
front pages of the local papers. 

Political opponents grab at: the op- 
portunity ancf talk her into, running. 
After i. spirited campaign she wins, 
but hei: defeated husband departs for 
parts tinknown. Assuming office, she 
sets the politicians in their places 
and . aims to .isave ^e t6wn from 
bankruptcy. When ..firemen go on 
strike^ she puts their iwives on the 

{*Qbs until they tire of doing the 
lousehold chores and beg to be al- 
lowed to return to work. 

Her son, Richard, turns loose a 
dangeroils criminal from the city 
jail and is. gone for days, but returns 
a hero when he brings back not oiily 
the liberated scoundrel but a flock of 
hunted gang killers; Her sister, Clara 
Eagan, decide)? to take a hand in 
municipal affairs and moves in as 
Unpaid secretary but marries the 
paid secretary and . then they .both 
BiQve into the mayor's home. A 
daughter, Louella Bayes, marries a 
young communist who changes his 
views and makes good when his 
mother-in-law puts him to work 
driving a city truck. 

In the final scene the husband re- 
turns home j'ust as political leaders 
are drafting his wife as. a congres- 
sional candidate. Unable to resist a 
chance to boast, he recites his wife's 
acceptance and then goes into a long 
personal eulogy as the family yawns 
. and the curtain, drops. 

Initial show had benefit of several 
good performances, particularly those 
by Patsy Challgren, Barbara Parm- 
ley, Louella Bayes, Gustave Tweer 
and Barton Booth. Mur/. 

THE LONELY MAN 

Chicago, May 25. 

Draina fantasy In three acts aiid a pro- 
log (nine scon es) by Howard Koch. Pre- 
sented by WPA Federal Theatre Project. 
Directed by Robert Mllton, under the su- 
pervision of George KohdoU. Settings,. 
Olive RlckaVaugh; Ughtlngt, Duncan Whlte- 
Ide. At Blaclcstone, Chicago, May 10, '37. 

Cast: E. M. Johnstohis, .Tohn Allmnn, 
May Adams, Lucille Colbert, George I.ewia, 
Victor Sutherland, William Courneen, Al- 
fred Clarke, Charles Lum, Michael ICIngB- 
toh, Otis Gordlnler, Tom Broivne, Forrest 
Smith, Art Smith, Harold Rogers, Oliver 
Kenning, Lester Portewell, Brent Wrcnn, 
Everett Marshall, I3dgar Tegner, Glen 
Beverldge, Pat Devlin, Charles Gordlnler, 
Grant Foreman, Charles Conkllh, Henry 
Latler, Hubert Stumpf, Willlart Pollavd, 
Barbara Burruss, Kay Ewing, John HUa- 
ton, Henri Hartzel, Tom McDermott, Lea- 
He Spears, Herbert Sladc, Jack Herman, 

lltMj Pollack; Gertrude Lyall, May Enst- 
jni»n. Vera Pollitt, Albert Storch, Jack 
Bean,' Hclene Jordon. June Rose, William 
Pitts, William Hllllard, Patrick BuUer, 
Ed. Santoro, ..George Dayton, Larry Brooks, 
Guy Hlcknihnr Albert Storch, Maurice Gaz- 
<lRn, Silas Phelps. Clara Tlngr^en, Clara 
Onefawa, GertrUde Lyall, Besisile Tlbblls, 
Violet I>eClRlre, Virginia Robinson,. Op.il 
Walker, Patricia O'Heatn, John Allmnn, 
Marlon Cashnmni Betty Sexton, Patricia 
Swisher, Dgrothy . Karl, Helen Hopkins, 
Ruth Siny the, R'Aert -Anderaon, Sam lanU 
tello, Charles. Ernst, Henry. DUworlli, Li»- 
roy Toms, Sr., Lloyd Co.bbell, and Samuel 
Clark. 



tipn on the part of casti settings 
and careful planning. jjL 

KondolE and his assoRates have 
taken ai fqhtasy, and have wrought 
out 6t i t a play .whitih is completely 
interesting to the most humble, ini the 
audience. It has taken the fantasy 
of the return of . Abraham Lincoln to 
these Uhited .States, arid has made ol 
that a. living depiction of the ■ Great 
Emancipator's reactions and' strug- 
gles to and with the problems of the 
modern day. 

Rather leftist, per-haps, in the key-r 
note 'of the play, leaning frankly to-, 
ward labor as; being held in capitisl- 
istic slavery; but it is, nevertheless, 
down-torciarth and aimed completsly 
for the hearts of the cpmmbhest -per- 
son in the audience. Robert Milton 
has directed the show at a funeral 
pace and the long waits between the 
many scene changes; work an unf drr 
tUnate handicap on the smooth fldw 
of the play. Many of the show's 
faults are due to these wpeful waits, 
and much of the early lethargy of 
the play is the fault of thfr staging. 

But through it all blooms the sin- 
cerity bf the purpose that makes the 
'Loiiely Man' ride as the true herald 
of. the WPA theatre projects. This 
sincerity of purpose is what, makes 
the work of John Huston, son of 
Walter Huston, ■ so , forceful i > the 
role, of the reincarnate Lincoln, re- 
turned to earth, as David Hildebrand, 
instructor .in political economy, at: 
Lincoih University in Kentucky. 
Huston -gives an "excellent account 
of himself.- 

It is up , to the WPA theatre group 
to produce such plays . as 'Lonely 
Mail'; plays which deal with vital, 
industrial, prbblenis touching the 
lives of ail men; plays which the 
commercial theatre backs away from 
as from, the plague. And the cour- 
age and vision of . the Kondblf unit ih 
presenting this play to, the public 
must be admired. 

To discuss frankly the quiestidn of 
the industrial slavery of coail miners 
in the midwest, and to depict the re- 
incarnate Lincoln's attempt to eman- 
cipate them, even, in the face of cap- 
italistic opposition takes consider- 
able (Courage; particularly for a gov- 
ernmental project. Yet Kbndolf and 
his company have faced the qiiestion 
squarely and have cione a bang-up 
job of it. They have here not only 
a pldiy which Will arouse consider- 
able public' comment, but > which 
must necessarily be admired for a 
precision of producti Loop. 



DOUBLE BED 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Farce comedy jn. three acts br Samuel 
.Tessw Warahawsky. Presented at Little 
theatre of Beverly Hills Mjiy 10, '37. i- 
rected by I'rederick Cehrmann. 
Geprgn Wp.slon. . ......... . . .Pat O'Malley 

Joe Schell. .Peter Potter 

Pauline Stliell .Rose Ijdve 

Blanche Schell,...;, ...Louise Lannlng 

Dr. Dnvid sholt. .Charles Brewster 

(^or^ Slioit. ..Kathleen Nelson 

Julius Shott i .Joel Frledklii 

Ella Bomi ...Ethel Bell 

Fivd Bond.... alcoijn Graham 

Randolph Miu'.slmll .Doug Spencer 

Emily Caney. Josephine Dlx 



EGITIMATE 



G*bo,| which is another of the Ben 
BaK '4ving cast' plays. 

^JthAred by Ralph .Birchard and 
Bej^alJi Pie<is is a. travesty in five 
sceK mkt often makes previous 
plaHkBing Hollywood lukewarm. 
It 'H^nntertaining ofTering foi- 
tho^^^Hnf ' activities of. 
the J^feTnlilm plant and those who 
toil within the gates. 

AS a popular offering,, however* it 
is a dud. So technical; are most of 
the scenes and; dialog that thie gen- 
eral public would miss their point 
by seven leagues. But for those . in 
the trade there are plenty of genu- 
inely appreciated laughs; 
. Rather lengthy, play gives Bard 
actors plenty of opportunity to dis- 
play- tjhieir. wares and the front is 
nicely niounted for the agents aiiid 
the talent scouts. 

. Story itself does not imprec;s. It is 
strictly, . characterization and ^ ialog 
throughout. Everything happ.ehs in 
a picture studio. 

As the chest-beating and desk- 
pounding producer. Jack Carson is 
acceptable'" Edmund Gloyer and 
Julian Madison also perform well, 
Ben Bard directed.' Barr, 



Wediiesdaj, May ^6, .\9^^ 



Plays on 




PLAYS ABROAD 



IL DESERTO TENTATO 



('THE 

ystei-y 
llni, viiith 
reeted by 
direction^ 
dlre<;tion| 
V^^gnett 1. 
Florence,' 



DESERT AtTEWlPTED') 

Florence. May. 11. 
plnv in. one art by CorV.'ido Pavo-' 
muali- by Alfredo fasel.la. DI- 
Dr. Lolhac Wullcr.'^lPln; danc'e. 
MarghPrllu Wallman; musical 
AnloplQ GaarhlPi'i; settings, 
At T^alro Vitrorlti- EninhuPle, 
rin the M.iy' Miislc.-.Festl.vnl. 



'Lonely ManMs the culmination of 
a successive -upward seriies of .steps 
oh the,; part .of the local Federal 
Theatre Project. It marks the high 
mark for production on the part of 
the WPA theatre groUp, and. it, 
along with other efforts of the Chi- 
cago FTP, ranks as solid theatre. 

Local WPA group has done many 
fine things in the theatre sinpe com- 
ing Under the leadership of George 
kondblf, but 'Lonely Man' rates as 
the best of all these things. 

Play, while not a corhmercial in 
that sehse of the word, iSj neverthe- 
less, worthy bf good; solid produc- 
tion. And the local FTP group de- 
serve- plenty of credits for its fine 
presentation of a difficult play. For 
here is a play which probably would 
find no producer on Broadway, and 
if such a producer could be found 
—to present it so whole-heartedly, 
and give it the complete co-opera- 



*Double Bed' is a trite, inconse- 
quential and thoroughly boring dust- 
ing off of the timeWorh story of a 
yoUng couple suffering from inter- 
ference of in-laws. The play, pre- 
sented for the first time by a cast 
largely, composed of student players 
at the Little Theatre of Beverly 
Hills, is nothing more than an ordi- 
nary dud. It will last as long as the 
personal fans of a large cast care to 
show up, but it has no potentialities 
for future presentations. 

Play, authored by Samuel Jesse 
Warshawsky, has no surprises and 
no previously unexplored situations. 
The lines are devoid of mirth-pro- 
Vokiiig qualities. 

Story is built aroUnd a young doc- 
tor who returns with his bride ifrom 
a honeymoon in Europe to have his 
practice ruined, his home broken Up, 
his. personal fortune stolen and his 
own reputation blackened by med- 
dling inrlaws. With this drab Drem- 
ise for coihedy, the author sends the 
happy coiiple OUt to Texas to start 
life anew. 

Pat O'Malley, Peter Potter and 
Charles Brewster struggle through 
the awkward script to give the best 
performances possible under the cir- 
cumstances, but their efforts come to, 
naught. MiLTf. 

Greatest Find Since Garbo 

■Beverly Hills, May 22. 
. alii'lciil rnmccTy In Hve. .scene.s. Written 
by liiilpli 1lli-(-.hi\'r(l nnd Ben BHrd, Pre- 
.sciUpil unci (ilrrclcit by Ucii Bard at the. 
..iJiU'd. |ilftyli6us<», 



This play.hiis been much publi- 
cized in advance as an attempt to 
represent the Italian conquest of 
Ethiopia in the form of an old myis- 
tery or morality play; .: The mUsic 
was said to Be the equivalent of a 
church oratorio in lectures and inr 
terviews by both Pavolini and 
Casella on the drama being dead as 
a form of artistic expression. Their 
play was to be something: entirely 
riew and different. 

Premiere shows, however, that the 
public here is not ready for an 
oddity of this sort. Reaction was 
unfavorable, and the critics were 
unimpressed.. Poetry without dra- 
matic conflict and music without 
dramatic, quality do. hot blend well 
oh the stage in tWs instance. 

Everything in wte performance is 
supposed to be so significant that it 
is rather a straiti to follow \t. Trees 
talk, the earth speaks apd fcrplanes 
aire piersonified and become lloquent 
alongside the aviators. ThVe are 
beautiful poetic passages anoLsome 
delightful musical interludes, pit the 
whole thing does riot hang to. 
as a theatrical production. 

The work of Dr. Lothar Waller 
stein as director; of Marghe|j.ta 
WaUman as diredtress of the dan 
Antonio Ouarnierl, orchestral c<. 
dUctor, and Vagnetti, set desigrii 
was commendable. Heln: 

COLAS BREUGNON 

Moscow, May 7. 

Play adapted by N. Itfemrhenko and . V. 
NoviHOva frujti Hoiiiain Iftnlland's novel 6( 
the. same name. DlrPi-leE by N. Okhlopkov. 
At the Reall.sllc theatreBMoscow. 
Colas. .................. . .;. .. V. Noylko* 

W Belefte. . . .'. .'..;;....¥....... .Beleiikaya 

Cure Chainu i 1 le A r-zha no v 



7 



I.POholil (Suatiiv (! 
•BUrk l-iPlMllnKi . , .'. 
Kenny Janiisoii , . ; 

.Uuby Nash ... 

I*ug 

T,:\rry T-tuv p. , , . . 
lilnda T.iin,-".. . ... , . . 

C'yntfii;i dir.'.-. ... . 

U(M) '-r;rrf>i|. . ... .... 

Lorfv I'iirkor. . , . , . 

ArUiur Conwny 

T:i(f 

f^tPVP iVntli.'Pw's. . . . 
.(•iwl Si-huUz../.. .. 
Jr;>rliiir KlInK. .. . . 
Si.llv Crj.MM-ri. . .', ; . 
K. K. (irillln 



. . . . . .-. .Jack Ctiraon 

. . , . .I'Mmund Glover 
, . . .'. Julltin M.-xdlson 

' 1''^rmi(;e.s .RhKll.«h 

Jnmca McNolIy 

.;. . . Jock . Cordon 

...... Blria lievel 

.TiOe Pnrdridpe 

....... Hal Mf.nd 

.Tcinne Kcltor 

....... .Bob tnslcy 

. .Ilimllpy llobortson 

, . . , ; WliUnm On- 

.Jack Mullor 

, . ... ; .ICva MrVcngli 
. . .;. . . .Tom i^andv.Tll 
. . . . . i . .Arthur. Knox. 
, Clhrice. Itbma 



Newest play to give the inside 
workings of a studio and rib sa*- 
tiricully is 'The Greatest Find Since 



Okhlopkov, witl^ his stark, natural- 
istic direction and modern staging 
methods, which suit most modern 
Soviet plays, makes a difficult choice 
when he sets oUt to capture, by Ihe 
same, manners, the spirit and philos- 
ophy of Romain Rolland's charming 
play of the 17 th century. The re- 
sult is riot entirely satisfactory. 

Novikov and Belenkaya deserve 
miich credit : for excellent work in 
trying parts, the latter especially be- 
cause she has to grow from gii'l- 
hood through 30. years to the borders 
bf old age in the course of. the play. 
Novikov does well, in conveying the 
rebellious capricious soul of a cabi- 
net-maker .who IS a poet arid a gour- 
met in the fashion of Rabelais. 

OkhlOpkov studied the novel close- 
ly and catches the details, but sacri- 
ficeis Rolland's complicated .develop- 
ment of a philosophical point of 
view in doing, so. It is probably, 
something that demands the space 
of a novel and can't really be han- 
dled on the stage at all. Mill. 

IGM LlEBE DIGH 

('I LOVE YOU') 

V Berlin. May 10.. 
roincdy. In.three aeUs l>y ISonmn Niewiar. 
owioz. .Uerniun .adaptntUip l>y Julius Ilorst. 
DIt-eclod- by .sialil-NaohliKur. '.^ctitngH, 
(Jolirrled 7.UI ' Wlnkel. l^-e.senied at 
Kompdle, Berlin.- ay 3. r ■ 

Evn rji'ftiv Wi'lspr 

I'erc.-:....... ................. . iioic IMiiiie. 



This comedy in one set, a PolLsh 
slant on shrews and how to tarhe 
them, presents one of the trickiest 
problems that directors £all heir to, 
namely, a cast for two. What sleep- 
less nights may have been spent are 
not in evidence in the finished pro- 
.ducti , for Stahi-Nachbaur has not 
only overcome plenty of . hefty ob- 
stacles, but also steers the siiow into 
the stream of commercial appeal. 

Rudolf Platte, as the mule' lead, 
had : never before set foot on the 
rostrum as a straight juv. With 'I 
Love You' one is aware that he ha.s 
a good speaking voice, a «oneror,s 
I (Continuod on page 58) 



ROOM SERVICE 

Faroe in three acts (foiir acenpsl by .fohn 
Murray, Allen Boreti!, piesented anil ataged 
b^' Ueorge Abbo<t at Corl. N-'-y,-: >'«y ?». 
'.; ; set, Clrkor and Bobbins; top. . 

Sasha Smirnoff , , . . ... . Al^x^nUer Aaro 

Gordon MUler. . . . .. . . .. •:• ^' V^f.i! Vln^fr* 

Joseph Cribble .... . . i V i • • 

Harry Blnlon. . ... . . ... . • • .Phl»P 

i'aker Ehglund . . ;.. . ... , .. . ... , • •• • ^^f.^^ 

Christine Jlarlbwe . . . . . . . - ^^^'^^S^yfy^"}}^Il 

] ,Po Davis ...... . . . :■. . . . V. . .. . . • I'-^dle A Ibert 

Hilda Munney . . ... . . . . . . , ; . • • • ;?e(}y Fl^ld 

Greffory Wasnfr... . . '1^'^"?'?. 

. .Simon Jenkins; . ........... ... .Phil p Wood 

Tlniolhy Hogai th, . ,. . . , ; Jack .^BYine 

T)r Glass.. ................. .■••'H«ns Robert 

l^a'nic Mesfienererv ... . ; . : . .WlllJain Mendrek 

^Senator Blak?. ........... . .Bi«lPh Morehouse 

•Room Service' is a wacky' comedy 
with a lot of laughs; so much; so that 
it should goodly time on 

Broadway. "There's no rhyme' hoir 
reason it— but Ifs a farce, so 
what's the di 

ical of the George Abbott han- 
dling, 'Room Service' has, moee than 
anything, pace and action. There are 
very few dead moments. . if the 
action sometimes borders on the in- 
gane^ifs action.. And it's fun. 

Alien Boretz and John Murray, irt 
the writing, have taken one of those 
typical Broadway shoestringer yarns 
and crossed it With giddy hotel- 
keeping;: It Works. Especially;, as 
cast from what begins to look like 
the George Abbott stock company. 

Sam Levene is the priaducer who 
has everything except money. His 
brdther-in-laW happens to he the 
manager Of a hotel so Leven nibVes 
iri, cast and all. And, in order to 
hold the cast, he lets them eat on 
the house. Just about the time 
they're all to be thrown out a money 
man shows up. They've got to get 
the "show on in five days or lose 
everything. They, do. But in ber 
tween are three acts of screwy ups 
and downs in the life of a hectic 
i)usin6ssi 

Most show biz farces of this sort 
(there have been dozens tried) suf- 
fer from being too local; the writers 
too frequently forget that the lads 
but frbnt don't ; know the wacky 
things that go on backstage and 
therefore can't laugh at them. In 
this play, this isn't quite true. The 
inside stuff is there for; the show J 
wise mob, hut there are plenty of 
laughs and dOwn-tO'-the-norm situ-' 
ations. Thus, a lot of the old plays 
of this type, which flopped, made, 
flip cracks about Vareety in a casual 
rrianrier. But in their play its a; real 
laugh when the producer says to the 
playwright, 'Don't you ever read 
Variety?' and the scribe replies 'I 
jyueht . one once, but -I couldn't un- 
oerstarid the damn thing.' 

£evene, as the producer, is part- 
nered by Philip Loeb, A-I. as a come- 
and-get^it stage director, and Teddy 
Hart as a stooge. Looks almost like 
this part was written in for Teddy, 
Larry's brother, but it's Worth it; as 
handled. That makes a triumvirate 
reminiscent bf ' the same stager's 
'Three Men oh a Horse' — and that's 
okay, too. In fact, the play could 
almost be called 'Three Men oh a 
Script.' 

Cast is complemented l>y DOnald 
MacBride, who does a Sock job as 
the apopletic hotel nianager and Ed-' 
die Albert (out of the same pro- 
ducer's 'Brother Rat') who makes a 
grand sap author. There are others, 
all good, with Alexander Asro ex- 
cellent in a bit, but those are the reai 
fun-makers-r-and between 'em they 
keep the giggles coming , loud and. 
long. In fact, on opening night, es- 
pecially in the second act, the laughs 
were coming too fast; some of the 
lines were lost; practice and timing 
should take care of that in the fu- 
ture. 

One scene in the second act. In 
which Albert, Loeb and Levene eat 
a dinner on stage, after having gone 
hungry a day or two, is just about 
tops for pantomiriiic comedy in re- 
cent . years. It is perfectly directed 
and timed. 

While, the .acting is good, and the 
writing good^the fact, nevertheless, 
remains that the stagirig arid produc- 
tion, are what count. George Abbott 
IS the baby to reihembe.r.. Kaii/. 

MONEY MAD 

. Comedy in three acts (four «o«peM) bv 
Pi llz Blockl. Presented by Kdwln A. Ber- 
kin; staged, by Rowland -G. Kdwards- aeti- 
tinKa, Staceoraft Studloij; At 40Lh St 
X. Y,, May 24, '37; $2;75 lop 
Alllton Chance. . . . . . . : - ■ - 

Bcrnlce' Chance ; . . . 
• luanc. Burton 1 ...... . 

M: Chat^ce. ...... . 

Loii .Ohiincp. . 

'(."olp.ijraph Boy 

Uruco Humbersloii. 

Glailys. , , . . . ; . . 

Wi^'K^ina. ; . ; 

.Tiilir-ttP. . . .. . ...... 

Baxtpr. . . . .;. .'V. ^ . 

ifcCaulPy. ........ ,, 

CyruM .1'.. Wallij..,, 



David- illon 
....... .BerntPe (^a ryl 

. ; . .I.ane Allan 

, r r .. oris - Undenvood 
-. . ..... . LudwiR Sat?: 

. . . . ...t. .Tohn Foster 

• ... .... . ..Tohn -cinrlte 

. . . .Gladys Shelley 

..^William Valentine 
. . ..^..lullPUe Howell 

. ..i i . , Waller li^pnner 
.., ....... Scot t oore 

.Leslie King 



. IRewntten by Fritz Blocki, recast 
and otherwise retailored for another 
on Broadway, the Block!-. 
Wilhc Howard comedy. 'Bet Your 
Lite, Comes up under the question- 
ably enticing title of 'Money Mad' 
and tries to point a moral as a 
means of varying poor burlesque. 
Play offers some promi.se in its first 
act, uv spite of Ludwig Satz's slap- 
stick, but.^ with the arrival of the 
.second act, this promise is getting 



distant, and with the third it is gone 
entirely. . " 

Satz, star bf the Yi ish stiige 
does the family head of Simple means 
who cashes a sweepstakes ticket for 
$150,000 and carries his family 
through a spending spree fbir a Jew 
months, then returning to poverty 
only to have an oil Well investment 
come, through for a finish. Sajx 
varies his acting ?6 much it is diffi- 
cult to figure ou.t what kind; ' 
character he really ' playi 
never is very deflri|te, 
. , with the exception of three per- 
sons, John Clarke; WiUiamVa lent iiie 
and Scott Moore, the rest of the cast 
is also new. A ne'w director, figures 
as well, Rowland G; Edwards. The 
ison daughter of Lou Chance, 
who wins the sweeps ticket, 'are I)a- 
vid Milton ..and Bernice Caryl, re- 
spectively. . They prove satisfactory 
but add- nothing brilliant to the 
.scenes here and .theire where Satz is 
an interesting, appealing chiaracter. 
On the Occasions Where Sati: arid the 
rest are moving, oyer from comedy 
to teai'-jerker draina, no one proves 
interesting. The mother, who goes . 
dafiy over bridge and parties, is done 
well by Doris Underwood, The pert 
maid, is Gladys Shelley. 

The Wirihing of a sweeps by a faimT 
ily such as headed by Satz could be 
much more effective comedy than 
it. is i 'Money Mad,' iand no moral, 
is required to make it entertainment. 
Blocki attempts to show, how un- 
fortunate a lot of money,, suddenly 
achieved, can be. for the kind of faih- 
iiy he has written his piece aroiirid.: 
Dunipirig the whole structure of 
'Money .Mad' and doing it all- over 
again> as broad farce, leaving o.ut all 
thought of tearrjerking or tragedy, 
might bring desired tesults. 
: The play, as standing, has aU the 
odds against it even with a low nut 
■arid a $2.75 top. Chor'. 

SEA LEGS 

Musical coniedy in two parts presented 
by Albert Bannister and J. Edmund Byine; 
book and lyrics by Arthur Swanstrom; 
music by .Michael H. Cleary; staged by 
Bertram -Harrison; dances, -Johnny. Maltl- 
aoh; Dorothy Stone, Charlos . Collins and 
Rosco Ates starred. . At Mansfield, N. Y.', 
May 18, '37; *3.30 top. 

Captain J^ordstrom. Charles King ' 

Mrs. Alice Wytcherly. ....... .Mary -SarRent 

Georjfe W. Tuttlfe. . ..... . Walter N. Grea/a 

Val Tuttle, Jr. ....Derek FAirman 

Mildred ..... i . . Bosie ■ Morim 

James McC'racken ; Rosco A tes. 

Bill HallUlay. Charles ColUna 

Isobel We.'rt..........;...Kathryn Mayneld 

Barbara Deeds. . ....... . . .... Dorothy Simio 

Deeiice.'.. . . . ". . .Dp 

Pat. . . .• ; . Patricia Khi 

And Ben Yost's Catallna Elg:ht 



An economical musical comedy is 
the affair called 'Sea liegs.* That it 
was produced in. one set does not 
necessarily put it out of the running, 
but the story about a black cat all 
tut wait^rlogs the yacht Pi 
the Of which are mirthless 

goings is fair, but the 

cast oh warblers, While 

dancing is more to the: fore. 

The matron who . owns the. boat 
has a bad-tempered tomcat named. 
Henry VIII, and the cruising party 
becomes involved in a plot to toss 
the feline into the drink. A cat 
doctor is summoned, but turns out 
to be a young man infatuated with 
the hostess' niece, then changes his 
mind and goes for her daughter. He 
also is supposed to have a wooden 
leg and gimps about except when 
hoofing. 

'Sea Legs* is the second musical 
show within a week, the first 
('Orchids Prief erred') having been 
promptly shuttered.. It is the initial 
musical try by the presenters, 
although one was identified with 
several low-cost comedies. 'Legs,' 
however, has several names' which 
are calculated to be box-office. 

Dorothy Stone arid Charles Collins 
are back on Broadway for the first 
time since they stepped into 'As 
Thousands Gheer,' and it is their 
dancing that easily tops the, per- 
formance. RbscO Ates, who is also 
starred, has the cOmedy assignmeht, 
which misses fire. He plays a loose- 
lipped,, sloppy steward with too 
rriariy lines, mostly concerning that 
cat. 

■ There w:ere favorable reports after 
a Weak, opening in .Boston, but prob.^ 
ably from those wearing rose-colored 
glasses. Charles King, as the cap- 
tain; tries, but cannot recapture the 
spirit that was displayed in ahother 
nautical musical of other seasons, 
'Hit the Deck.' Rosie Moran, of the 
..music halls, coritributes some of the 
worthwhile dancing, and two cho- 
rines are aliso specialists in that line. 
Kathr^n Mayfield, as the prima 
;.d6nna,. does not impress early in the 
show, but is better later on. 

■ Duets mo.stly go to Miss Stone and 
Collins, with Ben YOst's male singing 
eight coming in on most of the 
choruses. They do best with 'Ten 
O'clock Town'- and 'Touched in the 
Head and Smitten in .the . Heart, 
about the show's standout tunes 
along with 'Infatuation.' ' sung by 
Miss Mayfield arid Collins. Kinff 
gets something with 'The Opposite 
Sex,' also a rather catchy melody. 

'Sea Legs,' bogged down with it.< 
book, is a doubtful summer entry., 

Ibce. 



Vednesdny, May 26, . 1937 



tEGITIMATiE 



VARIETY 



5S 



Equity Indies CaD for Caucus 

June 2; More Protests Issued 



with the idea of whooping up the 
TEquity electioii* to be held June 4, 
the opposition party composed ol the 
younger militants in the association 
will hold a rally at the Victoria 
hotel, N. Y.; June 2. Indies whq aim 
to sp'bt half a dozen candidates on 
the council will .be addressed by 
nominees . and those who named 

them, ' ^ . .L 

Opposition came out with another 
protest over the. claims oiE the com- 
mittee supporting the administra- 
tion, particularly the interptetation 
of Morris Ernst's opinion of , the 
. meaning of the proposed constitu- 
tional amendment on the secret vote 
now in process of decfision by ref- 
erendum. In a letter to the inde- 
pents Ernst again stated he did not 
think that the amendment meant 
that all mbtions at meetings would 
have to be voted on by the secret 
ballot method. Indies insist the idea 
only goes for elections and referen- 
duips. 

In a circular sent put by the regu- 
lars it is charged that the misin- 
terpretation; of Ernst's, views was re- 
peated. Girciilar has it ■ that 'four 
eminent law^yers* had; examined th^ 
prdposed amendnrient and thought 
that 'every motion of any kind tX 
any regular meeting' would require 
the secret vote method. Ernst was 
one of the four lay/yers, whose 
opi ibni had been, set , fbrth in the 
Equity house prgart at his request. 
Previously an admihistratidn circu^ 
lar had garbled his opi ' , it was 
alleged. 

Regular platform in addition to 'a 
militant campaign, against disunity 
in the associaition;' includes .'a prac- 
tical secret ballot, a campaign to 
increase the number of voters in 
Equity, a government of Equity by 
a majority for the majority, no com- 
petitive mass .readings; Equity shop 
'"'for 'radio artists and co-Qperation 
with the proposed American Theatre 
Council.' 

Third party ticket with E. J. 
Blunkall opposing Frank Gillmore 
lor presidency and also having coun- 
cil candidates, did not open offices 
*! as planned, but is operating from 
th& Lambs cliib. 

REINHARDT CALLS OFF 
FED OPUS; TO SALZBURG 

Hollywood, May 25. 

Max Reinhardt is setting put for 
Salzburg July 1 with his jproposed 
production of von HofTmanstahrs 
'Great World Theatre' for the Fed- 
eral Theatre Project washed up at 
least until next year. 

Walter Huston had to pass up the 
play due to picture commitments. 



LeUang Estate Plans 
New Broadway Hotel 



Times Square may have, a new 
hotel, if plans go, through concern- 
ing the office site at 1482 Broadway, 
formerly kno\vn as the Fitzgerald 
building. Tenants have been told 
to vacate all quarters above the 
second floor. Idea is to cOnyert the 
tipper floors to hotel usage, on the; 
theory that midto\yn New York is 
over officed but that more, hotel 
space could bie made profitable in 
the 42nd street zone, especially in 
light of the World's Fair of 1939. 

Building of the Joe Leb- 

lang estate is operated under 

the guidance the bank holding 
the first mprtgages ' of that property 
and the adjoining Longacre. building 
(1476) -at. the cprner pf Broadway 
and 42nd street. Late ticket mag-, 
nate's affairs became involved aftier 
the purchase of the Longacre build- 
ing, when the depreiss.lpn slumped 
realty values. Combined, properties 
at the time of that purchasev how-: 
were valued at $15,000,000. 



Council Meeting Deferred 

There will be no meeting of 
Equity's council this week because 
on the convention, of the. legitimate 
theatre which opened at the Astor 
hotel, . N. Y. on Monday (24 ). Num- 
ber of Equity leaders are delegates 
to the meetings sponsored by the 
Ainerican The.atre Councri, 

•Next council session will be held 
next Tuesday (June 1). After the 
annual meeting and election it is 
usual for the council to hold sessions 
every other week until falL 



Two B'way Hits Close 



Saturday will see the end a 
great xvai of . 'Victoria Regina' which 
wiir clPse. -at the. Broadhurst, N. Y. 
after a split run Pf. 65 weeks. Show 
opened last season; layed off for 
thr^e months last summer and 
spanned ariothef season. Drew iex- 
celient grossies and is clPsing with ii 
pace of $li9,000 or more. 

Another iwithdrawal 'ik 'King Rich- 
ard, whiph was a surprise suc- 
cess and which also calls it a season; 
Saturday. Got as hi^h as $23^000 and 
is.- also closing to $19,000 .better. 
Shakespearean reviyal had not been 
presented in New. York for 50 years. 
.It .will have played slightly inore 
than 16 weeks, a neW consecutive 
playing record for the dramai. 






Auditor's repprt submitted to 
Equity's council last week showed, 
the issociatioh's financial status io 
be in better condition than for years. 
Surplus on hand for . the year ending 
March 31, 1937, amounted to $24,000, 
as against none earned during the 
previous fiscal year. That ciash, 
added to assets of $325,000,. gives 
Equity a current, surplus of $349,000. 

Most Pf the money gain came from 
British actors who are estimated to 
have paid Equity over $20,000. Alien 
players are required to pay 5% of 
their weekly salaries, lini imum 
weekly nick being $10, 

Britishers, who thus, cohtributed, 
include such visitors as Maurice 
Evans, who appeared' in 'StAiHelena* 
and 'king Richard.ll.' whichTis end- 
ing a high-gross engagement at the 
St. James, N. Y. this week, also John 
Gielgud, ^yhq^ scored strongly in 
'Hamlet.* Other British stars such as 
Noel Coward, Gertrude Lawrence 
and' Lesli H6\yard have resident 
alien $tanding and are not. required 
to pay the. Equity percentage. Unit 
importations, such as the D'Oyly 
Carte opera company, are similai'ly 
exempted frpm payment, but are re- 
quired to pay Equity dues. 

British Equity is considering im^ 
posing a similar requirement from 
American players in England. For 
some time thiat body has collected 
approximately $5 for each engage- 
ment played by visiting profession- 
als. Therie is no affiliation between 
the two actor organizations, but the 
British grbupi has closely followed 
Equity's set'-uj). 

Equity's surplus includes the head- 
quarters building on West 47th street, 
N. Y. valued about $225,000. Balancte 
is invested in bonds and other se- 
curities. 



Princess Troubefzkoy 
Wins St L. Play Prize 



, Ma 

•The Young Elizabeth,* a four-act 
play by Princess. .Ameli Rives 
Troubeizkoy Of Virgini ad- 
judged winner pf St. Loui itlle 
Tiieat.re's iaiiriual contest 
Wrights. 

' Cash award of $250 is made to. 
writer of play selected by William 
C. B. Carson, pres. of Little Theatre's 
Board of ' Directors and Barbara 
Ypre, Mrs. F; Ray Leimkuehlery Gor- 
don Carter; Max Muench, Percy 
Ramsey, John ith and Risdon.Til- 
lery, 



Washer to Indpts, 



Ben Washer, p;a. for . Norman el 
Geddes and the latter's production, 
'Dead End,' at the Belasco Thealrev 
N. Y., went- to Indianapolis last. 
Saturday (22) to do advance work 
for the: film version of the idncy 
Kingsliey drania. Then expects to go 
to Hollywood,- returnina to New 
York in about a month. May return 
to the .(^oast again' after a ^hori stay 
in the east. 

During Washer's absence. 'Dead 
End' i^ being handled by Harry 
Davies and Walter Fleischmann. 



Brady's Air Date 

William A. Brady is slated to re 
turn to weekly radio, broadcasts and 
is considering an offer from one of 
the networks. Veteran showman will 
be on the Rudy Vallee' program 
"Thursday (27) under a one-time ar- 
rangement. 

Brady has outlined a series of talks 
w.hich range from the theatre to the 
prize ring and includeis personalities. 



■ — OHT P's Desenring Pro PersouM 



THAT MEMBERS 





First meeting of the. Theatrical 
Managers, , Agents and Treasurers 
Union sinbei 200 of the box^ office, 
company managers and agents 
joined; was held: Sunday (23) after-, 
noon at the K. of C, hall, N. Y. Ses- 
sion was addressed by . a number of 
linion leaders, including James J. 
Brennan, representing the lATSE.. 
They were welcomed into the stage 
hands group; although the affiliation 
has not yet been cbnsummated. 

TMAT gathering was told that, 
when it gets its 'house in order,' the 
union will be absorbed by the lA. 
Impression giyeri was that the TMAT 
would flirst have to show^that it was 
functioning, along union linesi Wage 
Scales and wprking cpnditions will 
have to be adopted then . absorption 
into the lA will be in., order. While 
the union will be a part of the lA 
the plan calls for it having autonomy. 

Brennan told the meeting that if 
those people, holding back .'delayed 
niuch longer they thight find them- 
selves Ipoking for jobs ' othei: 
fields. 

The Chicago treasurers union will 
also be taken into the lA^ it was 
stated by one of the latter's leaders, 
and there : is the likelihood of the 
TMAT becoming national in scope, 
Chicago union , is rated thle only , ef- 
fective p^ 0 tec t i V e group for 
treasurers ever formed. There was a 
charter issued for New York bpx 
office people by the American Fed- 
eration pf Laboi* about. 10 years ago, 
but it was withdrawn when the 
sponsors failed to inake prpgreiss. 



EQUITY WILL CONTROL 
PROPOSED ONE-ACTERS 



Equity has. declared Jts jurisdiction 
over bpats (riyer shoW-boats) and 
the presentation . of one act plays, 
there behig precedent for both. Boat 
which will start from Chicago with 
'Tobacco Road' will be the first 
within the .Equity stock rule§ this 
season and regular contracts will be 
given the cast. Previously Equity 
iriciuded boats along With tents and 
rep shows, many of which have dis- 
appeared. It was found to be so 
difficult to follow the craft for 
checking up that boats were Vir- 
tually forgotten Until 'Road' decided 
to tour that way, 

.One acters which were success- 
fully presented this season with Noel 
<3owji^rd and Gertrude Lawrence at 
th^' national, N. Y., were under the 
Equity rules.. The. Grand Guigriol 
one-act thrillers, formerly played at 
the Princess, were also under ' the 
association's- rules.. Equity figures 
that if such, shows are presented in 
legit theatres using a similar scale 
and on an eight perfprmance basis, 
the playlet shows properly 
within its ken; 

A Hun g;a t\ a n actor-manager, 
EUgerie Endrey, proposes. iBstablishT 
ing a one act theatre in New York, 
Although around 100 - sUch playlets 
wci^e done abroad, shbWrnen here 
were not interested in the idea until 
the Coward ipne-actors CTpnight at 
8:30') landed so strongly. It is con- 
tended that comparable success ^'is 
possible if the right names and casts 
ai'e .secured, A second grPUp, known 
as the One-Act Play Theatre, alsp 
schediiied that type of bill. Alfred 
.Kreymhorg and 'William Kozlenko 
were named among the spohsprs, lotr 
ter being editor of the One-Act Play 
magazine. 



Equity Advocates Continiiation 



'Twelfth Night' Stars 



iSchenectady, May 25. 

Frances Siarr and Blanche Yurl:a 
are the first two names engaged by 
Charles D. Coburn for the -third sea- 
son of the Mohawk Drama Festival. 

Opens in the Outdoor theatre on 
the Union College campus, July 6. 
with Shakespeare'is. 'Twelfth Night.' 



With the works progress depart- 
ment, the government's vast relief 
bureaUj cPrriniitted to a budget of 
$1,500,000,000, about one-half the 
sum appropri last year, the 
members of Federal Theatre Project 
of the WpA have started protesting 
against dimi , its activities. 

One dembristriati stag.ed in 

New York last week, ut came from 
branch of the relief theatre that has 
been under question. its pro- 

feSsi 

Equity, which sought 
and secured governmental relief for 
actors, although it denied direct . con- 
nection at first, has taken the lead 
in appealing for continuation of the 
relief theatre. It addressed a com- 
municatipn to Congress asking that 
the theatre project be maintained as 
is. reviously letters had. been sent 
to every senator and . congressman 
to the effect that if thiere is to be. a 
reduction in the WPA theatre projr 
ect, those dismissed should be the 
alleged amateurs. 

'. It is admitted that a percentage 
df amateurs or piersoris not formerly 
identified with the theatre have 
crept! into, the relief stage project. 
That they have been kept on- the 
payrolls is explained by their hav- 
ing proven the need for relief,, but 
critics of the FTP point out that the 



WOODS' BlAY 
PLAY IN JULY 



A. H, Woods has returned from 
the Coast with, two plays, one of 
which will be presented during the 
summer. Plays are 'Censored' and 
'Rhyme Without Reason.' First 
named is slated to reach the Broad- 
way boards about mid-July, because 
the title and part pf the subject 
matter aire timely. 

. 'Censored' was originally done on 
the Coast by the WPA theatre proj- 
ect. It has since been rewritten by 
Max Marcin, Who" formerly figured 
in a number of Wpods' successes. 
Piece calls for a large cast, * 



LOOP NEGOTIATES 
FOR SUMMER STOCK 



thicago. May 25, 
Growing talk in Chicago Of the 
possibility for a stock company in the 
downtown sector, with Equity's head 
here, Frank Dare, conducting a per- 
sonal campaigh. to get some stock, 
activity started once mpre around 
this vicinityi Particular looming pos- 
si ility to head a Chicago stock ven- 
ture is Robert Henderson; whose 
spring drama festival in Ann Arbor, 
Mich.i has proven an annual click in 
Detroit's, distant suburb. 

Another likelihood being discussed 
is, that of a stock venture at SolWyn 
under the' guiding hand . of the 
Shuberts, who are in a pretty tough 
spot at present trying to dig up at- 
tractions to keep the Selwyn and 
tl\e Grand lighted this spring, and 
Slimmer. Harri is being taken care 
of for some time with the Ipcal cpm- 
pany of 'You Can't Take it With 
You,^but litllie /in the offing for the 
other two houses. 



Lunts' $9,000 Di&te 

DCs Moi ., May "25. 

The lai'gest .audience ever to see a 
noil- ufiical legit attraction at the 
Shrine auditorium here cheered the 
Lunts in 'Idiot's Delight' for 11 cur- 
tain call.? on May l7. The 4,200 per;>^: 
.sons paid irt ever $9,000 (approxi- 
mately) and was .a. larger audience 
than those . breaking, records here 
for Katharine CorneU or Helen 
HayeK. also equaling the record at- 
tendance ..set by the 'Ziegfeld Follies' 
at the Shrine this season. 

Audience was the largest to which 
'Idiot's DcliKhl' ever played, their 
previous record in receipts for a sin- 
gle performance being $G,C0O, 



appropriation was .'jpecifically. .mad*; 
f or professipriai players, only. . , 

Tenor pf the replies received by 
Equity from the legislators is to the 
effect that' they hoped to retain the. 
pros on the relief theatre jobs It i.s 
not unlikely that ah ..investigating 
committee will be assigned to the 
WPA theatre or its executives pr-. 
dered to make another* check-up of 
those rightfully pn. the payroll. In 
weekly statiistlcal reports there, is a 
heading 'air professiphal and non- 
professional shows.' There are 1,076 
community groups" which are classed 
as "educational activities.' Claimled 
by WPA executives that that branch 
is important in that it is cultural and 
because it promotes the desire to 
attend theatres. 

Seven theatres operated, by the 
WPA in New York Had, during a re-' 
cent week pf six perfprmanCes each, 
a widely varying attendance. One ' 
attraction., drew 98% pf capacity, 
though its. gross receipts were $1,630. 
Another played to 97.% of capacity; 
while, the poPrest draw was around 
21%, takings being but $198/ Grpss 
oh. the week for all seven phows \va,s 
$6,274, when after ejcpenses were 
paid (not salaries) the net was $4,777* 
Spot shows, booked here and ther 
and playing, froni one to three per- 
formances, shoAVed far lesser figurcvS. 
Eight such attractions got $792,. . On 
of the Vaudeville units got $60 i 
one perfprmance, another getting 
$207 jn two times. With some attrac- 
tions going off, the plans of the FTP 
in. New York are to be .determined 
and probably awaits Washington, 
although the prbgriim for outdoor 
performances is fairly well sched- 
uled.. 

At a Sunday (23) .session of the 
City Projects Council, a body formed 
to represent all WPA groups in New 
York in contacting the various gov- 
ernment relief official!?, it was de- 
cided to attempt a pne-night .strike 
next 'Thursday (27) night. Intention 
is to; cair off all WPA performances 
in theatres operated by the FTP and 
in churches, clubs and halls Where 
relief shows are scheduled to go on. 

Strike is aimed to emphasize the 
protest against cutting down the ap- 
propriation, it being figured that the 
reduction would mean dropping be- 
tween 50,000 and 100,000 people from 
the relief projects in the greater 
city. Pickiet lines will be established 
at all WPA theatres, with actors and 
stagehands asked not to appear. The 
'stoppage' will be. followed by a rally 
at the .Union church on West: 49tK 
street. 

Equity resolved sonie weeks ago 
that its people pn the Federal relief 
project are not to go on strike unless 
ordered by the council. Actpls' asso- 
ciation may. attempt to prevent 
members from participating in the 
dempnstration in light of its efforts 
to gain recognition by Washington's 
legislators in the allocation of fresh 
funds. There are now 5,700 persons 
on the WPA theatre project rolls in 
New York city. Included are 300 mu- 
sicians attached tp the theatres and 
attractions. 

Indications point to other WPA 
groups using the theatre units as 
spectacular means of stagi the. pro-' 
test^ 

A sit-down strike of member.s. of a 
dance unit playing 'Chndide' and 
'How Long, Brethren' at the Bayos 
(roof theatre) was held in protest 
of feared reduction in the comple- 
nient.. Company sat on the sta,'.r 
until, dawn and most of the audience 
remained "tn the .seats. Outside on 
the payemeiit there were more thr 
100 pickets carrying commu isti 
flags and chanting .'WPA mu.st go on:' 
Spot . is opposite the Astor hotel on 
:44th istrect. Hotel reported its guests 
were disturbed by the nplse and po- 
lice arrived. Cops, hpwever, did not 
interfere With the noi.sy pickets.. In- 
stead; they roped off the block and 
diverted traffic, which roused, the 
business people of the section to. 
re.'iistering a strohR protest/" It was 
claimed that the pickets came frftrn 
another denionstratioo ' ined. 

up, 

■ .TThe WpA dance unit said 
have, a hi^gcT ptercenta.iic of semi- 
pro fcssionals. and amateurs .than any 
other, group in the relief theatre set- 
up. People from certai dance 
schools are alleged to have been 
promised jobs in the it. This 
grouD is one pif those Which Eauity 
people and other profe.ssipnals claim 
has been bdnefltcd while needy act- 
ors have not been able to got 07i'i 
the payrolls. 



S« VARIETr 



LGGITIMATE 



Wednesdaj, JVfaj 26^ I937 



B^way Challenges Coast 



(Continued from page 53) 



'We'd like to ;find some mieans to 
make it possible for the fellow with; 
a show to find place to play .it,' He 
then told How. the., stage hands of 
Rochester tiried a way out. They 
employed 50 people more than half 
buing actors and rah shows for 14 
weeks, the coist to the union being 
$15,000— same thing happened in two 
other similar attempts by stage- 
hands in Columbus and Birmihghami 
'I plecige tl)6 stage employees , wilt 
-not be found wanting when the time 
comes to bring back, the theatre,' 
concluded . Bren'nan. 

Frank Gillmore was the first chair- 
inan, saying 'We of the theatre are 
too conservative; We should follow 
the other industries and arts, re- 
adjust ourselves and work through 
a united organization.. After read^ 
ing telegrams from Governor Leh- 
rnian who was forced to decline the 
invitation, to,. iattend because bf . hav- 
ing to act on 600 bills before June 
6 and from Mayor XiaGuardia, Gill- 
more introduced Helen Hayes, 'her 
iriost racious majesty Victoria Re- 
gi 

eleh. Hayes Speaks 

Misf Hayes was the ; iftrst of sev- 
eral tb. state that the demands for 
drania . around the country far ex- 
ceeds the supply, apparently judging 
from her tours! iShe stlluded to the 
combination of all the theatre's 
forces as being: the right idea as 
shown by . the protesting and defeat 
of the Durinigan pne-man-cehsor bill. 
Shie reiad: 'There are many things 
wrong with the relations between 
the public and the theatre. We have 
fbur days and 11 sessions in which 
to hear "the public's ideas and sug-r 
gestidns, as welt^^s those of the thea- 
tre.' At the luncheon Marcus Hei- 
man, of the League of New York 
Theatres, and Walter PercivaV, of the 
ic artists union, also, spoke, 
rock Pemberton opened the af ter^- 
noon . meeting, with remarks concern- 
ing producers, his, address not being 
programed although he was chair- 
man. Having 'done some homevirork' 
he came to offer a five point pro- 
gram, after putting forth the idea 
that 'this is a changing world, times 
when people are forced to be>come 
social minded, what with the spread 
of ?hare the. wealth theories. Many 
problems confront us and since the 
prpduber cannot be anything else 
than a rugged individualist, the 
American Theatre Council must be 
pat in a position to advise producers, 
eVen up to the point where it would 
bis well for hirh to take off a ques- 
tionable show, or force such action.' 

Touching on the; ticket situation 
he felt that it isn't the; brokers' fault 
buit rather the nianagers', since 'the 
poor fellows (brokers) must pay ice 
in order to do busineest paying as 
high as $2 per ticket tor the privilege 
of dPihg business. The producer can- 
not correct this situation alone; it 
needs concerted action. 

On . what he called his five point 
prpgram.v Pemberton suggested that 
the ATC give prizes for the best 
play, best acting and 10 other prizes 
for other bests, 'Hollywood does it, 
th^ Pulitzer comimittee and critics 
also. We should also inake awards, 
for it might mean much desirable 
publicity for the theatre and the 
ATC. There, top, should be a seal 
of approval placed on shows going to 
the road,' something he thought 
would be a proper function of the 
ATC's board. 

Pemberton's two main points were 



in conclusion. He believes that hew 
fprnis of contracts should be created 
so that Broadway may retain newly- 
deyeloped talent for at least a rea 
sohable period and stop the rapic 
absorptipn by Hollywood. He fig' 
ui-es that an author should be obli- 
gated to write at least twP plays fpr 
the stage and new players remain in 
New York' for about two seasons, so 
that they could learn stage technique. 

Fihal; suggestion was for the ATG 
tp secure an arrangement with the 
publishers ot New. York dailies, 
whereby the producer would have 
the . right to have his plays covered 
as hews events. Having been a re 
viewer he said: 'Critics shoqldn't get 
ntjad if they cannot . lays to 

pieces,' 

Lawrence Langner of the Theatre 
Guild titled his talk 'Streamlining 
the American- Theatre,' one time 
patent atfprney saying that was an 
invention. He referred to the rail 
roads haying protested when coach 
fares were ordered reduced by one- 
third but the result is. that it . has 
boosted rail transpprtation to virtual 
capacity, and the . same thing might 
happen to the tTtieatre, Langner be- 
lieyes the theatres have the most 
antiquated .of :econ6mic ideas ahd 
ventured that if abtors were" assured 
fairly cpntihubus engagements . on 
Broa^Way it would keep them here. 
He thinks the .converting of legit, 
houses intp picture theatres is a sort 
of paralysis but 'can be dealt with 
if we get. dow;n to brass tacks.' 
Promotion Maiuiffer 

Speaker's principal contention wais 
that a promotion manager, might 
bring back the theatre similar, to the 
upturn in rail passenger, traffic. He 
sketched the field of a. promotional 
department, such as a rebuilding 
program with theatres air-conditioned 
and otherwise modern, subsidies for 
authors and actors, perfect acoustics. 
Langner said he talked to actors who 
couldn't be heard, they, replying that 
thie critics might say they were over- 
acting, so maybe it xfoiild be okay to 
put the critics on the last row. He 
predicted a theatre shortage by next 
October not only in New York but 
out of town, also advocating, houses 
for the, masses as well as the classes. 

Williani A. Brady, though not 
scheduled to speak, was introduced 
by Pemberton as being 'a bit shaky 
on his pins but with a mind as 
nimble as ever.' in answer to the 
question 'What's wrong with the 
theatre,' Brady started with: 'No one 
can underestimate what you are try- 
ing to do, nor what you dp from now 
on. There have been ma'iiy attempts 
to organize the theatre but they all 
failed, because of the commercialism 
of thpse connected with it. Main 
thing the matter with us is that 
when we start out to do sPmething 
for the theatre, we think only of 
New York. 

'It is an Uhfortuhate thing that 
productions are first offered in New. 
York and labelled by what the first- 
nighters think.' Although realising 
that the Theatre League includes 
producers, he thinks producers Should 
have an organization of their own. 
He urged organization, however, as 
sought by the ATC, reminding the 
convention that the theatre is one of 
the strongest forces In the country, 
mention being made of work during 
the war and bringing in the recent 
successful censorship protest. Vet- 
eran also pleaded for the develop- 
ment of young players, on« of the 



This Summer;) 
a son da I. j 



an 





till 




teammate for Country Cliib clothes that youMl love 
"tipped toe" shortens your foot by nn irichr 
White, Coronati Red or Royal blue, Siucko. 

L } «*l HFTH AVI. 450 FIFTH AVI. 4t W. 34Hi ». 



theatre^s most vital needs. Pro 
ceedihgs at the .luncheon session 
went on the air over. NBC, Tuesday's 
mid-day section being similarly 
broadcast WMCA was carded^ tp 
radiP phe of. the remaining sessions 
Young Actor Talks 
excitement during the latter 
portion of the opening day's session 
was Burgess Meredith's talk on 
'what an actpr has to say about pro 
ducers.' Actor called the present 
crop of' managelrs relics of a vanished, 
era. If the. pirpducers were any good- 
as prompters, he claimed, they wPuld 
be in Hollywood, where the money, 
oppbrtunities and vision are greater. 

Meredith's brief speech, was greets 
ed by repeated .bursts b£ applause, 
hot only from: numerous actors in 
the audience, but from the producers 
themselves. rPck Pemberton, 'chair- 
man of the meeting, was among those 
cohgratulatirig the actor \yhen he left 
the platform. Steady stream of con- 
vention visitors,' which had been 
trickling put of the meeting, as the 
succession of speakers • droned on 
through the late afternoon^ paused to 
listen to the verbal fireworks. 

Actor listed the following sugges- 
tions for the producers:' 

Begin to guarantee actors and play- 
wrights lohger-lastihg:, cp-operatiye 
schemes. 

.Prprnbtei money to assure a cer- 
tain number of actors and play- 
vvrights a decent living over a period 
of months. 

Imprbve theatres and Ibwer box 
office prices^ 

Examine the artistic needs of the- 
theatre. Lean toward the experi- 
ment of repertory and tiy to elim- 
inate the horror -which has long con- : 
fronted the actor of playing until he 
is sick of the work. Because 'when 
he is sick of his work he will go to 
Hollywood, logically, where he can 
be well paid for his illness.' 

Raise money to bring some of the 
actors into experimental try outs, iat 
matinee and Sunday nights^ of new 
plays and new forttis. 

Cease fighting Equity .demand for 
setter actor conditions, because every 
effort to better these conditiPns 
make it more plausible for actors to 
stay oh Broadway. 'You complain 
■hat actors leave for the Coast, yet 
you fight their union jn its efforts to 
make conditions better here.' 
Stop fighting the Dramatists Guild. 
Form CP-operative theatres and en- 
courage and finance apprentice 
groups of actors, and playwrights. 
'But it feaily won't make any differ- 
ence if you don't. The movement is 
already under way. There are a few 
already started'— Katharine Cornell, 
Guthrie McGlintic, Maurice Evans 
Helen Hayies, George Abbott, the 
Lunts, the Actors Repertory, Bennb 
Schneider, the Group Theatre and 
mdividual groups promoted by Le- 
land Hayward, Cheryl Crawford and 
others. 

Other speakers included Paul Hol- 
lister, executive vice-jpresident of 
Macy's dept. store, on 'New Slants 
on Theatre Merchandising'; Worth- 
mgton Miner, on 'The Problem of 
the Director'; Oliver Saylor, propos- 
mg a theatre festival in New York 
next year; James R. Ullman. on 'Is It 
Possible -to Earn a Living Producing 
Plays?' and Frank Gillmore, ropos- 
mg one 7 o'clock plerformance a week 
for suburban theatregoers. 

Tuesday A. M. 
Morning session oh Tuesday (25) 
was opened by Brock Pemberton 
presidmg and. meeting was turned 
^' Breniian, of 
lATSE, chairman. Speakers 

heard were Sidney Harmon, Leonard 
Sil|nian, S. M. ChartPck, Theodore 
Mitchell, Walter Percival J p 
Stanton, of ERPI, Herman Seidi 
representing air conditioning ihtety 
ests; Jo JMielziher, scenic designer, 
and Harold B. Myers of Stevens 
Inst; of Technology. 

Principal interest of yesterday 
(Tuesday) morning's session WaS oc- 
casioned by speeches by three mem- 
bers of the stagehands union, The- 
atrical Protective Union No. 1. Trio 
included J, G. McDowell, secretary: 

»n^^^v- y^r'^^''^ Vice-president, 
and Vincent Jacobi. business agent! 
All three were the most outspoken 
of the meeting's speakers. James J 
Brennan, vice-president of the 
t^rnational Alliance of Theatrical 
Stage Employees, presided, 
iu-*!^'' explaining the' functions pf 
tJie stagehands union, Jacobi- charged 
certain stj>ge designers .(whom he 
didnt name) with deliberately de- 
ceivmg producers about the probable 
cost of settings and -prodiictions and 
of stagehands that 
Should be necessary to shift scenes, 
That always results,, he said, in the 
stagehands being blamed for ineffi- 
ciency, when in reality it is the pro- 
ducer who doesn't know his busi- 
ness Pr he wouldn't be deceived. 

McDowell likewise named no 
names, but asserted the lho?iti*e 
shPuld not be controlled by a few 



individuals. He called for improvec 
trade practices in the theatre so tha ; 
no aiclor, .'ho matter how lihportiaht 
*he may be;' can' walk out Of a show, 
possibly to go to Hollywood, and pu 
a number _Qf people Oiit of work 
AlsP jsuggested.mpre 'and better pro 
motion and advertising for legit. 
Meeker claimed the Stage hands 
want more shoWa produced, rather 
than' big. productipnsi 

Jo Mielziper spoke , on procluctipn 
w^ste^ duplication of effort and: un 
necessary waste in theatre produe 
tibri. Other speakers at the session 
included Sidney Harmon, Leonard 
Sillman, S. M. Chartock^ Theodore 
Mitchell (suggested organization bf 
audiences, on the road), Walter Per- 
cival, J. P. Stanton, of the ^liectrical 
Research Prbdiicts Institute; Herman 
Seid,' of the Glarrier air conditioning 
firm; Harold B. Myers, of the Stev 
ens Institute bf TecRpnology, and: J. 
E. Bloom, advertising exec. Meeting 
was sparseiiy attended at the open 
iiigv but filled up as Imicheon 
proached. 

Critics at Noon^ 

With Frank Crpwningshieid, ed- 
itor of Vogue in the chair, the noon- 
day session Tuesday following lunch 
Was devoted mostly, to addresses by 
critics. Chairman said he would in- 
troduce a selected group of the best 
dressed critics, then mentioned the 
story about Beerbphm , Triee, the 
British star* who ^gured a notice 111 
inches long , highly praiseWbrthy 
while one of th!:;;^: inches a very ba4 
notice. 

JPhn Anderson Was • described as 
having the stigma of being a Virginia 
gentleman, having been reviewer for 
the N. Y. Journal for nine years, 
after having been the Post for 
five years. Anderson started with: 
'There was some talk of an author 
attending with a bulletrproof vest- 
that is ordinary equipnient.for critics. 

People in show business al- 
ways believe that it is all the critic's 
fault, that we are the laughing hye- 
nas of Broadway . . . critics have no 
friends; no one speaks to them and 
they hardly speak to each other . . , 
everyone can Write better than the 
critics. . . . SPme yearS; ago Channihg 
Pollock alluded; to vis as back seat 
drivers and Ethel Barrymore said 
We were those things that crawl 
among stones in the night. 

'Now the current idea is that we 
remove the spats and go to the play 
as reporters. Let me say that critics 
are as hunian as other people. They 
go to the theatre to give their direct 
reaction to the play. I might go so 
far as to say they have helped keep 
the theatre alive by Increasing the 
interest among the public. I be- 
lieve the only bad critic is the oiily 
one who likes every play— of course 
you may say that the only good 
critic is the one who liked your last 
play.' 

Burns Mantle, for 30 years a re- 
viewer first from the Chicago Trib- 
une and latterly of the; N. Y. Daily 
News, arose first and remarked that 
it looked like the convention had 
already gone Hollywood, because 
'instead of 50 or 60 friendly souls in 
attendance it has become colossal. . . 
critics^never talk well unless baited. 
Now if there were a couple of man- 
agers here to pan the critics they 
could better defend themselves. FPr 
30 years I haye been called many 
things— and how I am called the 
dean. . . . I agree with an idea that 
the word critic should be expunged 
from the language. . . In other 
days the reviewer wrote with leisure 
but as the theatre changed so did 
the. critics and have hecome play 
reporters.' 

Mantle named a number of well 
known critics of fpriher generations, 
mostly in other cities, whp wrote 

inr!. ^ As: the lighter 

forms^ of . drama evolVed, . editors 
turned tp lighter reviews which ad- 
yanced the interest ih the theatre. 
I have heard said that the only 
good critics are dead critics— or are 
in anpther city.' 

Mantle did not think Brock Pem- 
berton's scheme Would be practical 
because if a reviewer does not ex- 
press an opinion, it is Valueless. 

Tuesday Afterhoph 

iggest ovation 90 fai* during the 
convention was given Jasper -Deeter, 
director of HedgerPw theatre, Moy- 
lan. Pa., at the .Conclusion of his 
speech pn 'What Price Repertory''' at 
ye.sterday (Tuesday.) afternoon's ses- 
sion. Applau.se and .cheeri lasted 
several minutes. 

Charge that much of the present 
agitatipn for repertPry is insincere 
was leveled at the meeting. Deeter 
said most people don't even know 
what, real repertory is . and that the 
cui'renl convention, like preyious efr 
forts in behalf, pf the theatre, would' 
come to nothing. 'Considering the 
brilliance among you of Broadway ' 
h^ remarked, 'if you had wanted the 



American"' theatre changed, 
would . have changed it.' 

Director estimated the operatihi* 
cost Of repertory in New Yprk at 
several' tinies that of ^ present con*, 
mercial theatre and^iJpncluded with 
statement that formation pf any 
repertory' company on Broadway 
would sobn find the 'greedy' mem- 
bers stepping but to leave the project 
to those -\vhp really Ipve; the theatre ' 

Kenneth MaCKenna, speaking oh 
'Improving the Economic Status of 
the Actor,' callied for 'lower salaries 
but higher annual incomes for 
actors.' He suggested formation of a 
pool among a group of active pro^ 
ducers to hire players .by the sea- 
son, guarantee them steady iemplpy- 
ment and Ciit down the operating 
cost of production by paying smaller 
weekly salaries. Also envisibned the 
pool engaging 'promising npyices' for 
developmient in smaller, parts. 

Laugh Was provided when an at- 
tendant entered the ropr to adjust 
the microphone for lahche Yurka 
after MacKenna had sai 'nb actor 
wbrthy of the name shpuld . require 
ah amplifying system to make him- 
self heard.' Actress continued to 
ust the. mi Other speakers at the 
afternoon session included James J* 
Brenhah, Paul N. Turner, Charles 
Coburn, Margot Stevbhson and The- 
resa Helburh, 



Hpllyvoood Idea 



(Cpriitinued f rom page 25 ) 



fpuhdati . While not set on - an an- 
nual schedule, they appear at less 
than two year intervals and have, 
generally clicked Well; Same studi 
has established«.,Glenda FarreU in the 
Torchy lane, girl reporter, char- 
acter,: suppprted by Barton MacLahe 
and "Tom Kennedy^ First two Were 
'Smart Blonde' aind ' ly Away Baby.' 
These hit a good b.p. stride and .the 
third is 'Adventurous Blonde.' 

Third 'Thin-Man' 

Metro has Ipng concentrated on its 
'Broadway Melody' pictures, cutting 
loPse budget strings to get big time 
results. First two 'Thin Man' pic- 
tures. With William Ppwell and 
Myrna Loy brought such a response 
that a third is in. the. offing, 

RKO Radio is . joining the parade 
with its 'New Faces of 1937/ which 
S. J. Briskin hopes to turn, into an 
annual. Radio has also registered 
well with its Hildegard Withers-In- 
spector Oscar Piper pix from the 
whodunits by Stuart Palmer. Jim- 
my Gleason has held th* role of 
Piper throughout, but studio 
switched in different films bh the 
other principal character, using. Edna 
May Oliver in the first, Helen 
Broderick in the second and ZaSu 
Pitts in the third, with likelihpod 
that/ the latter will, now remain in 
the Hildegard Withers role. 

Grand T^^ational, planning its 1937- 
'38 program, has set down six 
series of four pix each With char- 
acters and titles ' which will be 
familiar after the first productions. 
Nagel Series Set 

George Hirliman will continue hi 
'Federal Agent' series, with Con- 
rad Nagel and Eleanor Hunt in the 
top roles. Biid Barsky will make 
the 'Wallaby Jim' sea stories with 
George Houstpn in the role w.k. to 
magazine readers 'Renfrew of the 
Mounted' will leave the comic strips 
for production by Al Herman, with 
the title role still unassigned. Max 
Alexander will introduce Eric Lin- 
den as lash Casey' and the same 
producer! is making 'The ShadPw' 
series Wiht Rod La Rocque. Last of 
these Series is the 'Stars arid Stripes' 
pictures, iCh will somewhat re- 
semble the old Quirt and Flagg 
characterizations , of VictPr McLag- 
len and Edmund Lowe, Players for 
the parts have; not yet been rianied. 

Samuel Goldwyn plans to ihake 
his 'Geldwyn FPlUeS' a regular 
feature and Walter Wanger expects 
tb do the same With, his 'Vbgues.' 
Republic, basking in b.o. reaction tp 
'Hit Parade,' "is already planni 
'Hit Parade of 1938^ 




Mgt.: LOU CLAYTON 
Berkshire Hotel, New York 



Wtinee3»r, May 26, 193T 



LEGITIMATE GROS«B8 



VAglETr 



KaAarine Cornell SocklZOjlOO, 




Chicago. May 25. 

Kathatine Cornell cpntinufes 'her. 
record o£ an annual ' sellout fo?r her 
shows, no matter what they are, in 

icago. In with her two-play rep- 
ertoire 'Wingless Victory' and 
•Candida* she . proceeded td pack 'eirn 
throu^out thie week at the Girand 
and will rtiake it a sell-out currently 
also, for a fortnight's capalcity. 

Other show in town is 'You Can't 
Take It With You' in its . 16th week 
in town and still in the' five figure 
class for excellent coin. 

WPA project's 'Lonely Man' got 
away last w;eek at the Blackstone to 
fine comments and notices, and looks 
able to draw 'em. 

Estimates for Last Week 
Kaiharlike Cornell Repertory, Grand 
(1300; $3.30) (2nd and final week). 
Cinch clean-.up last week with a 
mightly $20,000, powerful take even 
for a sell-out. Will hold to that figure 
currently also from, all indications. 

<Toa Can't Take It With Yoii,' 
Harris (1,000; $2.75) (16th week). 
Holding up well bh strong publicity 
pounding. At $13,000, okay in every 
way. 

'Lonely Man.' Blackstone; Good 
notices for this 6ne attracting sonie 
play- 

'Mississippi Rainbow,' rincess. 
Colored comedy continues; 



DEAD END' lOG 
SAN FRANCISCO 



San Frahcisco, May 25. 
'Dead End,' which opened a short 
engagement at the Curran theatre 
on May 18,. isn't exciting very much 
attention here. The same company 
which offered the Sidney Kingsley 
play in Chicago is making a tour of 
the Coast i *Dead End.' Lack of 
names, and deletion of some of the 
rough language taking its toll on biz. 
Frisco night life has been off for 
some time. A strike which has 
closed lis of the town's first-class 
hoteli Is sending plenty of tourists 
elsewhere. Qut-of-towners generally 
pass up the films in favor of 'flesh' 
entertainment when in from the 
sticks. 

'Swing Parade,' which the Federal 
Theatre Project is Offering at the 
Alcazar, is ' holding up fairly well. 
Although the rumors have been 
fairly persistent about the govern- 
ment curtailing its theatre project, 
announcement has already be6h 
posted of the opening of 'Blind 
Alley,' which the Los Angeles FTP 
wiU .bring in here on June 9. Listed 
to follow on June 129 will be a home- 
grown production of the N. Y. FTP 
Living Newspaper show on the TVA, 
•Power.' 

Estimates for Last Week 

*Dcad End,* Curran (Ist week) 
(1,700; 2.50). Frisco isn't showing a 
great deal of interest in this play* 
even though it- has been widely 
ballyhooed as the hit which has bieen 
on Broadway , for two years. : Audi- 
ences seem slow in warming up to 
it. Had to be satisfied with consid- 
erably less than $10,000. 

WPA 

. 'Swingr Paraiie,' Akazai: (Sth week) 
(1,700; 50c), Biz has held up re- 
markably well considering the hotel 
strike and the approach of the vaca- 
tiQji season. Did $3,000 last week 
With things looking even brighter 
during the coming week when sev- 
eral hundred thousands visitors are 
expected here for the eight-day 
Fiesta in honor of the completion of 
the Golden Gate Bridgie. 

Current Road Shows 



(Week of May Zi) 
rother Bat,' Plymouth, 



'Follies/ Mosque, ichmond, 
24-25; Community, Hershey, Pa., 
26. 

Katharine Cornell Repertory, 

rand Opera Housie, Chicago. 

'Idiot's Delight' (Lunt and 
Fontanne), Biltmore, Los An- 
geles. 

•Yon Can't Take It With You,' 

Harris, Chicago. 



Mrs, F. D. Jl. Says 



In her syndicated column, ap- 
pearing in the Scripps^Howard 
papers, Mrs., Franklin D. Roose- 
velt, had this to say about the 
Dunnigan bill veto; 

'I am hapi)y tb - see thal the 
theatre censorship ill in New 
York has been vetoed. The 
language in which Governor 
Lehman couched his veto mes- 
sage seems to me altogether ad^ 
liiirable. No one can quarrel 
■With those who 'desire to mai 
tain the theatre on a proper 
morail plane,' but there is. too. 
much effort in the world today 
to regulate too. minutely by law 
the lives- and morals of whole 
groups of people.' 



KROTHER RAT' $6,000 
OKAY BOSTON WEEK 



Boston, May 25. 
rother Rat' finishes 15- week run 
Saturday (29), leaving the local 
boards bare except for. WPA's 
'Johnny Johnson' postponed to to- 
night' (25) because of a backstagie 
fire last .week when the show was 
skedded to opeh ' Thursday at the 
Majestic. 

. Katharine Cornell is slated for the 
Shubert next Week i 'Candida' and 
'Wingless Victory.'. 

Estimate for Last Week. 
• 'Brother Rat,' Plymouth ($2.75; 
14th week )-^Making graceful exit On 
good run. Last week $6,000, One 
more week. 



Censorship 



(Continued from page 53) 



ship are turning away from Amer- 
ican democracy and toward the dic- 
tatorships of Europe.' 

Prompt Action 
CJovernbr Lehman did libt wait 
until the theatre sent ail of its evi- 
dei^ce of popular protest to the 
Dunnigan bill, which would, have 
made the license commission a 
virtual one-man censor. In writing 
veto oyer the measure he said: 
'While I fully appreciate the high 
purpose of those supporting this 
bill... it, nevertheless, seems to me 
that the specific provisions. . .are too 
broad and too susceptible of abuse 
in administration.' Latter idiea was 
one of the strongest points of show- 
men opposing the measure. Bill 
would have forced a thieatre dark 
until court proceedings were re- 
sorted to, whereas under the pfesr 
ent law, the license may not be re- 
voked until after conyiction. Church 
element which favoried the Dunni- 
gan bill had little to say other than 
it was 'sorry the governor vetoed 
it.' 

Committee Action 

The combined or joint committee 
of aU. theatre groups and unions 
which >yas accorded the most com- 
plete support of the press in the 
ahnials of the theatre in protesting 
the one-man censor measure, hield 
a meeting Friday (21) with the Idea 
of forming a permanent .organiza- 
tiph. It is prdpoised to keep tabs on 
all ariti- theatre legislation and op- 
pose censorshi " .measures in' all 
Stiates and citi Actual formation 
of such a body must wiaiit the okay 
from the various groups, it was de- 
termined after considerable discus- 
sion. 

Pointed oiit that the proper pro- 
cedure would be to oppose, such leg- 
islation before passage, that 
similar situations such -arose, 
when the Dunnigan bill was rushed 
through the Nevv' York Assembly 
and Senate, could not occur. 

It was not brought put the 
meeting; that . information from Al- 
bany containing the then pending 
Dunnigan bill, had been received 
but little pr ^no iattention had been 
given the memorandu , laimed 
by several newspapermen that they 
had advised hot only several man-, 
agerg, but an attorney conjlected 
with the League of New York the- 
atres, that the Dunnigan biU was In 
committee, in return from which the 
informants were told by the show- 
men that they were 'too busy' 
vestigate and seek a hearing. 

Aifter the performance of 'Deiight' 
in Omaha, Lunt read the mayor's 
speech in first opposing the play. 
Audiencie expressed its idea of cen- 
sorship by jeers and catcalls. 



(Continued from page 53) 



the sjpeakers. "They were backed by 
the 'Dead TEhd' set, against which 
had been plastered colorful Spanish 
posters.' theiStrohg lights from above 
arid from the sides of the stage cast 
curiously ' effective shadpWs on those 
sealed back of 'Deiad End's' 
front. 

'This,' read the leaflet prpgrarii; 'is 
an. activity of the theatre cPrnmit- 
tee for aid to Spanish Democracy 
invit\emory of Ben Leider, America's 
heroic flyi reporter, killed in 
Spai 

Moffet Prcsidfis 

Harold Moffet, in a black tie, pre- 
sided and introduced Professor Villa 
Fernandez, Giralomo Valenti, Joris 
Ivens, Martin Wolf son, Martha Gell- 
horn and Adelaide Bean, the last ty/O 
young women iri; attractive evening 
dressies. Acting as ushers; and also 
decked out in glad rags for the oc- 
casion Drina Hill, Blanche 
Gladstone, Sonya Jaffe, Margot Stev^ 
ensoh, Jean Stevenson, JSylvia Field, 
Rose Keaiie, Paula Bauersmith, 
Norma Chambers, Sandra Gould and 
others. Not a few might have won- 
dered what these girls were making 
such an pccasipn.of this. rpeeting.fpr. 

It's all part of the; stint, however, 
and these girls mean busiiiess. From 
this medium-sized crowd, Martin 
Wolfson, to whom fell the job of 
making the collection speech, ex- 
tracted, with the actresses' help, 
more than $750 in about half an 
hour. The exact amount was .$780, 
which is a pretty good take from a 
crowd, mostly of actors, for such a 
purpose. The gross to date . 'For 
Spain' is more than $2,600 from ral- 
lies,, meetings in other theatres and 
before the week is out, with a. bene- 
fit party scheduled tomprrow at 
Tony's, there's going to he a nice, 
tidy purse for the Loyalists, 

A quiet tenseness prevailed 
throughout the two-hour meeting, 
and those in the audience seemed, to 
make the occasion one of earnest 
serioushess. Each speaker Was. re- 
ceived with a rare attention^ and this 
the more rerharkable considering 
that many of those in the audience 
had been attending sessions of the 
ATC convention earlier in the- day, 
and had played In a show that night. 
Eye-Witness Account 

When Martha Gellhorn, author of 
'The Trouble I've Seeri,' and just 
back from Madrid, spoke in guiet, 
cultured tones, with an upper, class 
accent of the most recent trouble 
she's seen, there was scarcely sound 
in the house as the audience literally 
reached out to catch every, word of 
her account. It was a compelling, 
highly effective speech given with 
ah excited, rapid delivery of a 
young woman who was sure of hier 
ground, but a little scared to be talk-, 
ing about it In public to ah audience. 
Its enormous sincerity got across to 
those in the house. 

The excitement, the seeming seri- 
ousness of the occasion lent this 
meeting considerable dignity and 
weight. One felt that this was some- 
thing important, vital and that sud- 
denly the fight, not for Commuriism 
but against Fascism, had hit Broad- 
way with the smack that some plays 
with social impliQjations do. Only this 
time the actors were not just pliaying^ 
parts, but right in the center of the 
fight. The actors iseemed to be de- 
termined people, who meant what 
they were doi , and seemed to be 
deriving^ n^ich satisfaction out Of it. 

The sponspi-s of the meeting in- 
cluded Alan : (iorelli, Cheryl Craw- 
ford, Clarence perwerit, Sylvia Field, 
Berihy Goodman, Ruth Gordon^ Jed 
Hari'is, Moss Hart, Theresa Helburn, 
Burgess Meredith, Warren Munsell, 
Theodore Newton, John Peter T66- 
hey, Richard Watts, Jr., and sohie 50 
more, "fhese \yere only a few' of the 
theatrical personalities back of the 
Theatre People's Rally on Monday 
night at the Belasco; 

Carrying on . the. campaign .<5ans 
publicity saye ^ wprd-o'-mouth, .four 
parties have: been tossed so far. On 
May 8. a get-together at the Bayes 
theatre rietted $600, from two-bit 
admishes arid contributions. Philip 
Merivale acted as host. Another 
party gathered $500, arid the cast of 
'Eternal - Road' recently tossed a 
.cihiridig that netted $400. On 
Thursday a 'dri ihg: party' will hold 
forth on the second floor of Tony's 
52d St. 

Heading the lineyp' pf show iz- 
zfij-.s interested in lending aid to the 
Lpyalists fighting for the Iberian 
Peninsula is a '(Committee of 87.' 
Best known among 'em are; 

From legit: Walter Abel, Glenn 
Anders, Helen Arthur, Adelaide 
Bean, Phoebe Brand, Tony Brown, 
Morris Carnovsky, Ilka Chiase, 
Cheryl Crawford, Clarence Derwent, 




lips BVay Grosses; 
'Room Service New Comedy Success 



While two successes are going off 
the roadway; bpards this week, 
'Room Service,* a . clearly indicated 
new hit, arrived last Wednesday (19) 
and by the time the curtain rings 
down on the pair, the' newcomer, at 
the Cort .should be set for a run de- 
spite its late May. entry. 'Service' 
got $10,000 in its first, five i)erform- 
dncies a;rid if holding the starting , pace 
should gross around $16,000 ot better 
weekly. ' 

Coi-t has a coolirig system and if 
'Service' lands it will prove that sucr 
ces-ses" need not be i'med for debut 
during the fall or winter in order to 
click. It is a question, however, how 
rilany hits could be prejiented. during 
the> summer season, although in boom 
years the heated peiriod did not stop 
the presentation of costly i-eVues. . 

Thie outgoing tpppers are 'Victoria 
Regina,' Broadhurst, and 'King Rich- 
ard II.' St. James. While the latter 
made a record for plays of its kind, 
'Regina' is one of the wondier. plays 
of years with an Interrupted run 
(layed off ; last summer) which vir- 
tually spanned two seasons. . 

Summer heat clipped grosses last 
Saturday after some attractions had 
picked up lost momentum earlier in 
the week. 'The Show Is On,' how^ 
ever, upped its gross and was rjited 
over $?if)00, with indication? that it 
got a goodly share of out of tbwriers. 

Two other attractions came in lik&i 
•week, one a- revival of 'Damaged 
Goods,' going off after eight perform- 
ances at the 48th St. 'Sea Legs,' at 
the Mansfield, drew a pannihg and 
got sriiall money for a miisicall yet 
its sponsors decided to keep the sho^y 
going. 

First week of the revived 'Abie's 
Irish Rose' did not get the best : of 
it f rorirt the weather and drew a mild 
gross. Management, however, claims 
the advance sale is steadily increas- 
ing and that expectations are that 
the record run comedy will improve. 

WPA's 'Dr. Faustus' will close at 
the Elliott this week, but is due later 
to .alternate with another show. 
'Naughty Naught.' a meller in a cab- 
aret, is also, stopping. Only one show 
slated to come in next week, it be- 
ing a revival of 'The Bat' at the 
Majestic. 

Estimates fqr Last Week 
'Babes in Arms,' Shubert (7th 
week) (M-l,382-$3;85). Not strong 
ticket In agencies; buy , helping in 
keeping grogs up to good figure: 
$18,000.; 

'Boy Meets Girl/ Ambassador (79th . 
week) (C-l,156-$1.65). Drawing niote 
people at reduced scale with gross 
reported as good, as; recently at CJort; 
$7,000; expectant of sticking through 
second summer. 

'Behind Red Lights,' 46th St. (20th 
week) (D-l,375.$2.20). Getting cut 
rate support and probably betteirihg 
even .break with operati costs 
down; rated around $5,500. 

'Brother Rat,' Biltmore (24th week) 
(C-991-$3.30). Has been holding to 
$10,000 pace and Is listed for summer 



Elsie May Gordon, Walter Greaza, 
Ed Harris, Theresa Helburn, George 
Heller, Sylvia Field, Elspeth Eric, 
Ruth Gordon, Hugh Rennie, Joanna 
Rpos, Virginia Steyens, Rex Ingram, 
Clifford Cane, Philip Loeb, Burgess 
Meredith, Harold Moffet, Ted New- 
ton, Bob Read, Irving Levy, Shep- 
pard Strudwick, Tamara, Philip 
Truex: 

Writers: Albert Bei , George 
Sklar,'. John Howard La wson, Clif- 
ford Odets, Archibald MacLeiSh.. 

Press agents: Helen Deutsch, 
Molly Steinberg, John PetC'r Tpohey, 
Bernard Simpn. 

Dancers:: Dori.s Humphrey.s, Angna 
Enters, Charles Weidman, Taririaris. 

Others iriclude Herman Shumlinj 
George lYen.s, the Dutch film direc-.: 
tor; Sol Hurok, concert booker; 
Benny Gpodman, prch batoneer whp 
brought )ii crew to play gratis at 
one of the benefits; Ailecn Mac- 
Mahpn from films; Earl McGill, liv- 
ing Reis from. CBS; annoimcer.s'Kerir 
rieth Roberts and Vincent Sherman, 
and Paul Strand, .tjirector of 'The 
Wave,' recently released radical 
propaganda Mexican pic. 

Apparently interest expended by 
.show bizziers in Spani.sh Insurgents 
is meager. The American Commit- 
tee for Spanish Relief held a 
ma.ss meeting last , week at Madi- 
sori Square Garden. Walter Hamp- 
den, had been .secured to be the 
narrator ' 'Spirit of Spain' 

pageant, withdrew after the 

show bjzzers interested in tlie Loyal- 
ists prevailed upon- him that he was 
working for an allegedly pro-Fascist 
cau.se; The Spanish Relief group 
them .secured Pedro de Cordoba, 
also Icgiter, to replace Hampden. 

On the Coast another- group of 
filmites is also' rai.sing funds for the 
government forces i "the civil strife. 
Donald Ogden' Stewart is the. chair- 
man of the Hollywood assembly. 



stay; agency dieal coupled, with new 
success 'Room Service.' 

/Dead End,' Belasco (83rd week ) 
(CD-1,000-$1.65). Another long stayer 
which is going along well enough at 
reduced fate; approximattiy $5,500. 

'Excursion,' Vanderbilt , (8th week) 
(GI)-804-$3;30). 0nly money 
jshOw, despite - fine sumhier 
chances riot definite; rated .around 
$8,000 which is profitable. 

'Having Wonderful Time,' Lyceum 
(14th week) (CD-1,006-$.1.30 ). Ea.sed 
off with weather conditions a cori-, 
tributory factor; around $11,000 iand 
airiied for summer stay. *' 

'Hish Tor,' Beck (20th week) 
(D-l,124-$3.30). Another week to go; 
got real money when awarded critics 
prize but slipjped down; estimated 
under $10,000. 

^Money Mad,' 49th St, (l.st week) 
(C-7p8-$3.30). Presented by Edwi 
J.. Relkin; written by Fritz Blocki, 
Was recently presented under title of 
'Bet Your Life'; .operied Monday. 

'Penny Wlse,^ Morbsco (6th week) 
(C-961-$3.30). Ihtentioh ST'id con- 
tinue thirough June; busiiBs -modest 
with last week's takit^^ ' around 
$4,000 mark. 

'Room Service,' Cbrt MUd week) 
(C-l,059-$3.30). Clicked Kriediately 
and rated socko despitcMHt^ entity; 
pace should top $16,000ftot $10,00(1 
in first five pjerforriiahceMf ^ 

'Sea Legs,' Mansfield Blkd week) 
(M-1,097-$3.3Q). Pannedfhid was In 
doubt up. to Saturday nght when 
continuance was decidcd^n; claimed 
over $6,000 in seyen times; little for 
musical. 

- 'Show Is On,' Winter Garden (24th 
week) (M-l,671-$4.40). Packed a 
punch late in the week and gtoss 
advainced to nearly $29,000; leader 
looks set well into. Etummer how. 

'The: Women/ Barryriiore (2ind 
week) (C-l,048-$3.30). Was ahead of 
previous week up to Saturday when 
warm weather affected all shows; 
but again close to $20,000 and tops 
straight shows. 

'Tobacco Road,' Forrest (181st 
week) (D-l,017-$1.65). Getting $5,000 
and mo.re. weekly , with draw np« 
parently inexhaustible; may go 
through ianother summier. 

'Tovarich,' Plymouth (33rd Week) 
(CD-l,036-$3.30). Holding to rather 
good moriey though under pace bf 
earlier, months; gross arourid $14^000 
agfiin. : 

'Victoria Regina,' Broadhurst (rer 
sumed eng.) (65th week) (D-1,110- 
$3.30). Final week; picked \ip as 
expected and takings around $19,000 
or about $4,000 over previous weeks. 

'Yes, My Darling .DauKbier,' Play- 
house (16th week) (C-878-$3i30). 
Weather has affected laugh hit some- 
what with gross over $14,500; big 
money for show of its class. 

'You Can't Take It WUli You,* 
Booth (24th week) (C-704-$3.30). 
Best of season's laugh shows and 
Pulitzer prize winner rides along to 
capacity every performance; oVer 
$15,000. 

Reylvals, Etc. 

Ving Richard, II,* St. James: Anal 
week for record run of this Shake- 
spearean play; rated around $10,O0O. 

'Abie's' Irish Rose,' Littlie; not as 
much as expected but got by; around 
$4,000 at $2.75. 

'Damaged Goods,' 48th 
yanked Saturday; one week. 

'Naughty Naught,' American Music 
Hall; final week; aimed for Atlanti 
City. 

WPA 
'Pow^r,* Rits!,* 

'Dr. Faastas,'* Elliott; final week. 
'Prof. Mamloek,* Daly's. 
'Candlde' and 'Hew Long Brethern^' 

dance unit; Bayes. 





$20,100, BALTO 



Baltimore, May 25. , 
Seaison washed Up here with 'Zieg- 
feld Follies' getting $20,100 at Ford's 
for the wind-up. Coming a bit too 
late for this cllme^ reyiie built stead- 
ily after Opening show and general 
good reception f rom crix. Season on 
the whole, both at Ford's and Maryr 
land, towp's other legit house, has 
been one of best in recent years, 
with both houses chalking up an 
operating profltv 

Estimat0 for Last Week 
'Ziegfcld Follies,* Ford's (1,988; 
$3.33). Built strongly from opening 
to $20,100. In earlier; would have got 
more, but takings okay for season's 
wind lip. 



N.\y. Shpwboat Mellers 

Sei-ieis of 'gaslight meller' revivnls 
on a showboat on Lake Union; Scat-r 
tie, will be given thi.s summer by 
Prof. Glenn Hughes, directdr of the 
division of drama at the University 
of Washington, 

The prof, has authored several 
plays. 



58 



St. Maitin'ii riace. TnifaldttT Sqnara 



IMTERMAMOMAI. SHOW MEWS 



Cable AddMw: TARIKTT.XOKDOH 
XelepboBe Temple Iter GMl-SMiS 




SPURTS; W 




. May 25, 
This has been, an active, period of 
playropenihgs in London, cbmirig 
close on the heels of the Coronatidn 
festiviti 'Ladies and ; Gentlemen' 
made its debut, at the Strand the- 
ati-V last Tuesday (18) and, while 
■ ' iiis numer<)us; lines that are 
ingly witty, is described as a 
'jfeatir and, hot given mych of a. 
chance .to succeed. 

On the other , Elifier ice't 
.melodrama, 'judg;ment Day f' ive-" 
its first British showing Wednesd: 
(19), at the Embassy theatre, plea, 
ing its firist audience and the critic:. 
•Oti the sanrie evening,: Somerset 
Maugham's ?The Constaint Wife' 
openeid at ^the. Globe and . proved a 
Veritable personal tnumph for Huth 
Chatter.to'n,. the American - actress, 
in the title role. Play failed here 
but it Is expected that 
rievival will do busi- 

•Road' was shown prii 
vately at the Gate theatre, also on 
the ievenihg pf Ma/ 19. The Lord 
Chamberlain had previously' refused 
the play a license for a regular Lon- 
. don run. Piece would seem to have 
little interest here, one critic de- 
• ing it as the 'grubbiest play' he 
iiad' ever seen in his life. 

rahz Lehar's new bpei-etta, -PaT 
ganihi,' bowed at the Lyceum thea- 
tre on iTiiirsday (19) under Charles 
B, Cochran's auspices. Starring Rich- 
ard Tauber And Evelyn Laye, it is 
a gorgeous production and was en- 
thusiastically received. Adaptation 
from the. Germa;n l)as been made 
by A; .p. Herbert iaiid ; Reginald 
Arkell,, with, the formeir .providing 
the lyrifes. Tyrone Guthrie directed 
tl)e. prodiation in . which Tauber 
piays the title foLe, with Miss, Laye 
as Napoleon's; sister,, the Princess 
de Lucca. 

. Eight more shows 6re folding here 
jvithi the next fortnight, making a 
i;0t9l of 12 in all. Closing notices 
have beeiik posted ^or 'Swing Along/ 
fWise Tomorrow,,' 'Aiid the Music 
Stopped,' . 'Ho use m a s t e r,' 'Night 
Alone,' 'Careles^ Rapture,' 'Big Busi 
i^ess' and Chatles Cochran's revue, 
' *Home aiidv Beauty.' 

Surprise was occaisioned by the 
-Hippodrome, terminating the employ- 
iheijit of its entire staff, back iand 
front, including employees, who had 
iserved ten yeat periods iat the house, 
With the arrival of summer, prac- 
tically 3,0!% of the 'theattes'in the 
West, End are likely to go dark 
Firth Sheperd, who topped West End 
■With ^bur shows in a row, will have 
no productions in town by the middle 
of June. 

Other closing^ are 'A Good Fairy! 
at the Royalty and 'Ladies and 
Gsntlemeh' at the Strand, both last^ 
ing but a few days each. 



King George Knights 
Marie Tempest, Waljiole 

London, May 16. 

In king George's Coronation 
Honors are Hugh Walpole, author, 
script writer Shd serpen actor,, who 
receives a knighthood for services to 
literature and Marie Tempest, named 
Dame of the British Empire, -for 
services to the istage. 

I^ouis Sterling was also knighted 
for .piblitical and public service. 








Up Stage Shows 




Londprti May 18. - 
Pall^diimi prpgram for this year is 
practically complete. Current' Jack 
Hylton show, originally in fpr I'i 
weeks is likely to stay till early 
July. Thien: there %yilL be -few 
weekS: of straight Vaudeville, ith 
several Aiherican names being, nego- 
tiated fon. 

For the month of Augusi; it Is 
likely the entire Cotton Club show 
will come in !/rom Paris, where it 
has a six week's bpolcing at the Ex- 
hibition beginning middle of June. 

Then cpmes the 'Crazy' show, 
which hias a preliminary nin at the 
Hippiodrpme, Brighton, August lb, 
for two weeks^. Several Americans 
are contemplated, .^yith Cardini al- 
ready set. This show M expected to 
stay over Christmas. 



MOLLY PICON SOCK 
ON LONDON RETURN 



London^ , May 25. 
Mollv icon, back from an extend 
ed South African tour«. is a .big click 
at the Jlolbom Empire, holding the 
stage when caught 26 mihs., • instead 
of her usual 16. Mob wouldn't let 
her off. 

Terry Lawlor did \yeil at the open 
ing show (Monday), despite handi 
cappied in being spotted on the bill 
in bet\sreen the Bierinoff and An 
geline dance routines. 

Angeline was ai diecidedly big click 
with the customers'. 



, May 18. 
Whether the Exposition is. going 
to be in time oir not, night 

life is town is booming. .Two 
new niteries opened this week; an- 
pther .and a new revue is scheduled 
for the fpUowing week, and more 
are planned for the. near future. 

First of thpse to hang out the signv 
this . week ■■ Vir a s the Bagatelle. 
Formerly known as the Montmartre, 
and With ^ax Sprio recently at 
Mpnte-Cristo as manager, this spot 
^ent American in a bijg way in 
talent, with Haywood Powers' band, 
and Don Brynes and Alice Swanson, 
dance team. Also there is Rosita 
Montenegro, Spanish dancer, and Les 
Gars de Paris^ the tango band. 

Second iS; further Up the hiU near, 
the Plaice Pigalle on the riie Pigalle, 
This one is called the Cotton Club 
and althPugh the band there is that 
of Leon Abbey,; just back from India, 
and such, colored acts as Vance and 
Romia.'the show tan hardly be com- 
pared to. that of the same name, on 
the other side of the pond. Miss 
Dolly is headlined; while others in-, 
elude Mariette and .lRuddy, and .Suzy 
and jenny. Alternating band is tha.t 
Of Jebn' Bibault. 

The scheduled opening, this week 
is the Restaurant des- Ambassadeurs, 
where; Clifford Fischer is staging the 
show. The Abbot. Dancers, Darip 
'and Diane, George Camp and A. 
Itobins are scheduled to top the! 
show, with the Willie ^Lewiis aind 
Dtena. Musette bands. \ 

Lillian Ellis, I>anish singer and 
dancer,, has been signed by- Henri 
Varna , to star in a new revue he 
plans to open at . the Alcazar at the 
end of the week. Other openings 
scheduled for the near future is the 
former., Chez^ Josephine- Baker spot 
in the . Champs-Elysees district, ~ 
well as the Villa d'Est. 





ICH UifiE DICH 

(Continued frpm page 54) 

smile and charm* Grete Weiser, oh 
the other hand, " is director-proof. 
And this part has ' catapulted her 
from the films right onto the top as 
a first-rate legit comedienne. In her 
element, as a wise-cracking chorine, 
she has hefe a go at being a lady, 
and even though she hais little in 
commPn with those of the 400, her 
performance - was that of a real 
trouper.' 

Play opens with Eva coming to 
in a strange villa; Percy, a young 
Ameirican millionaire sojourning in 
Germany, admits having doped her 
champagne with a sleeping potion; 
the only means to get her away from 
a' legion of admirers long enough to 
impress her with his high-powered 
love. . Doors are' locked, windows 
bairred. She is - dopmed. to pass the 
week-end there, after which he 
hopes to honeyinoon with her to 
America. But she turns the tables 
on hini with i sleeping powder and 
escapes. But on second thought 
finds the cave-man tactics okay and 
.returns. A dPuble cabin is reserved 
New-'Yorkward.. 

The .play - is ably staged, though 
one might question the director's de- 
cision to burlesque the last. act. His 
SAVitch from straight comedy is . un^ 
doubtedly fear' that three acts w.ith 
only two players to carry it Off is 
asking too much of any audience. 

Small cast and dearth of German 
comedies will car,ry this' well on, into 
the warm weather. 



LUCE 

Rome, May 11. 
Play In one att by Sabatlno liopez. stars 
Ermett* and Krnes Zaoc-onl. Pieaentod at 
the fillseo theatre Iti Uonie. • 



A short play that makes a good 
5how-bfl piece for the two actors 
one nian and one woman; who in- 
terpret it. Story is that of a middle- 
aged disillusioned business man 
whose -young secretary, Luce, sud- 
denly reveals that she is his illegiti- 
mate daughter and persuades him to 
return to her mother. 

The mother never apoears on the 
stage; she is only called by long 
distance telephone at the end; but 
through the dialog between father 
and daughter the audience is made 
to realize her character. 

Luce's mother, earlier in life, 
had had an UnfPrtunate love affair. 
She gave up her career in. art for 
the sake of a lover who h'ad been 
untrue. After her child was born 
She had given -up hoping for a re- 
union, but when Luce grew up she 
had gone in search of her father. 

When she finds the man, at a time 
when he is disconsolate and alone, 
she! prevails unon.him to return to 
the mother. Play is acted by the 
Zaccphis; who are father and 
daughter. The girl is . especially 
good; the father inclined to act his 
role , too heavily. ' He In.. 



as 



lleatre Changes 



(Continued from page 23) 



Hlfomen' for Vienna 



Vienna, May 14. 

'The Women,' by Claire Booth, will 
be produced by the, Josef stadt thea- 
tre in. October. 

Management plans on Mady Chris- 
tians for lead part. 



comes from Warner's Memphis to 
take over management of the Gra-r 
nada, Santa Barbara, replacing Vic 
tor Roseh, who goes to the Beverly 
Hills. Harry Schlinker goes, from the 
BeveHy Hills to the San Pedro and 
Eiarl Cook to the Huntington Park, 
vice J. Hale Cavanaugh, resigned 
Dick Pritchard, former Fox-West 
Coast house manager, takes over the 
new Mission soon to open in Santa 
Barbara. ' . 

Ed Boffino, retiring from the ex 
hibitioh field, has disposed of his 
Yosemite theatre, Eagle Rock, to 
Harry Vinnicof. 



MARCUS SHOW'S BIZ 
STILL OK AT $2 TOP 



New Zealand, May 11. 

Marcus turning in 

high grosses, rbupe will, play ' one 
or t\yp. smaller centres oh the 'way 
from Audkland to Weilingtph,' Transr 
portation is bothering the 

sp Elisors some w , but it is thought 
the show ■ ill come into the black 
quite okay. 

Admission,, top has been tilted to $2. 



X^artigue Rejoins Fischer 

Paris, May 16. 

Henri, Lartigue, who- presently 
hplds the concession of the • (^asino 
at Biai'ritz and was formerly with 
Clifford C. Fischer, is coming back to, 
the old setup in the Fischer estab- 
lishment here this fall. 

Get-tpgether is due to Fischer's 
expansion here and the - increased 
business he will, have later in year 
when he opens his casino -in the . old 
Bal Moulin Rouge Stand early in 
Au ust. ' ' 



Spokane. 

Rex is. dark, proving a financial 
failure after maintaihg a 'sex' picture 
policy almost continuously since the 
first of the year. J. W. Allendar 
operated. 

Sylvania, Ga., 
William S. Karrh, of Swainsboro, 
Ga., added Np. & to: his chai |, ith 
purchase of Straiid theatre here; . 



PARISIBRINNEN 

('WOMEN FROM PARIS.') 

Vienna, May 8i 

Com.edy .wUh music by: Ralph BenatzUy: 
adapted, from tlie. French comedy 'Les 
Paiialenncs' by Armodt and Gerbldon; pro- 
duced by Paul Kivlbeck In Joscfntqdt thea- 
tre, Vienna; settrn^s. H. Nledermoser; or- 
chestra director. Flank Vox. . 

Jiquellne. ; Chrlstl Mardayn 

Jiaxlm;. Sr NcueebaUer 

Mnxini, Jr. .Karlweisa 

KJiieile. v. " . ... .Jane TUden 



When summertime nears. the 
classically inclined Josef stadt theatre 
looks towards more sex appeal plays. 
Benatzky, of world fame through his 
'White Horse Inn' adaptation and 
music, chooses, this time the plot of 
Armondt's and Gerbidon's amusing 
play around which to write a few 
catchy songs. 'My Girl Friend, 
Lizzie, Suffers of Love,* 'In the Years 
Gone Bye' and 'Individualities' pre 
outstanding numbers. • Especially 
the latter, manufactured— if this 
term can be applied— after 'Gebuh- 
dene Haendie^' tRe song by Axel, 
which was outstanding hit of the 
season here. 

Plot is an oldtime mixup; Maxim, 
Jr., goes to a ball, wants to make 
love to a midinette, but falls in love 
with a lady of society (Mardayn), 
who had IPoked .for the samie adven- 
tiii-e of iPve with the other class of 
people. Same thing occurs to the 
other couple. Neugebauer and Til 
den and one laughs heartily. 

Frank Fox's orchestra, first time 
this popular stage; does: excellent 
work. Nledermoser. who has iset the 
scenes, did not stint himself— some 
thing quite extraordinary at this 
time of the late season. Maass. 



|BEI KERZENLICHT 

('With Candle Liffht') 

■r, , . . Vienna, IHiay 10. 

on^^T/'/ 'Roheit Katscher 

and r.hlens. Produced Jn Deutsche Volka 
i^h 9" April 30, -37, by Heln 

rich Schnitzler; orchestra. Walter Hahn- 
ltur''tvev!'-''*' ^^^'^^ Pfundmeyer; settings! 

S^;;'"" • • • .M.TX Hansen 

MnV?? Hans Olden 

Mnrift ...i.. Gus^tl Huber 

............ .^iiriil Shorp 

. ..Va lerle Kchneck 

Rebber Fritz Helnlsch, 



Gamby's Commahd Show 

ome, May 
Mari Gambarelli, who was 
brouight to Italj^ to become a 
filrii star, gave a cpnimand per.; 
formance this week before thp King 
and Queen of Italy. The entire royal 
family was. invited to the royal villa 
for this occasion. 

Miss . .Ganibarelli's" dances .lasted 
two hours, and included two special 
Compositions dedicated to the Queen 
and the Princess Mafalda. 



Hary Jane Walsh Okay 

London, May 25. 

Mary Jane Walsh opened at the 
Mayfair Cabaret last. night (Monday) 
And sailed over splendidly. 

Set for four weeks at the spot. 
This is Miss Walsh's first London ap- 
pear^nce.;^ 



Moscow Invites Japanese 

Tokiyo, May 5, 
Ichizo Kobayas 1, Toho prez; Shi- 
getpshi Kawataka, directot- of Wa- 
seda University theatrical museum; 
ShitP -Kidp, Shpchiku managing <ai- 
rectPr and Koko Sonoike, w.k. pro-: 
ducer* have been invited by the 
Soyiet Government , to attend the 
annual theatrical festiyai to be held 
in Moscow in Septembei". 
All four are expected to attend. 



Los Angeles, 
Nate Sch^inberg sold Canpga Park 
Theatre to Dave Cantor; operatoi: of 
Park Theatre in Highland Park dis- 
tract of Los. Ahgeles, Scheinberg's 
twp Van Nuys houses , how being 
operated by Fox-West Coast. 



ItAUAN TKOUPE TO S.A. 

Rome, May 14. 

Anton Giulio Bragaglia's Italian 
Dramatic Company sailed from 
(ienoa for Itis South American tour; 
It will make its debut in South 
America, May 27, at. The! San Paolo 
municipal theatre as part of that 
city's celebration of .'Italian Week.' 

Thereafter, the company will go 
on to Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, 
Buenos Aires and other South 
American cities. 



New Orleans. 
After a fun , of six months, the 
Strand theatre here closed Thursday 
(20) on account of poor business. It 
was operated by the Newman inter- 
ests. Three hours later the house 
was leased by the Joy Houck dircuit 
and reopened the next day with a 
10-ccnt admission for double-feature 
policy. 



Houston. 

Interstate Amusement Company 
today announced construction of its 
ninth theatre in Houston. 



Ticonderoga, N. Y. 
Kallet- Commerford Corp., of 
Oneida, N. Y., has leased the Play- 
house from Alvin M. Barton. 



Philadelphia, May 25. 
New house to seat 1.200 will be 
ejected in Bloomsburg, Pa., by Com 
erford. Will be ready fo> fall open 
ing. Warners is reported erecting 
2,000-seatec In Wilmington. 



Frau. V. 
Ida 

And . 
Mlhal Popeseii 



^Title: original; music: Ori inal, 
plot: not bad. Authors iised in part 
story; pf Austrian author Siegfric 
Geyer.s comedy, 'Candle Light;' pro- 
duced on same stage years ago. J. J 
Shubcit recently purchased this mu- 
sical production for. showing in VS. 
next season. 

^Gaston, the lackey, plays the role 
of Baron, while the Baron, amUsed 
at the Idea, voluntarily plays role of 
lackey. Same thing happens to 
women m plot. It is very entertain- 
ing, mainly so when Max Hansen is 
on stage, and he is on most of the 
time. Singes 'I Am No Dictator, 
which_ draws much applause 
Together with pretty Mimi Shorp, 
Love When, the Candle Is Burning 
and , On the Piano'. Katscher^s niu 
SIC IS excellent, though not of 'Won 
derbar' quality. , 

Hans Olden and Gusti Ituber, the 
second couple* have also various 
songs to sing. They, too, sing anc 
dance excellently. Valerie Schneck 
and Josef Rehberger, in a short 
scene, are very fine, too, Hedy 
Pfundmeyer, of the state opera, in- 
vented a few new steps that are 
clever. Author Number tw6, 'Rid- 
ens,' turn out to be Karl Farkas 
outstanding revue writer of Vienna 
Jokes he adds to the play have 
grown, beards, but they still cause 
laughter. Maas$, 



And the Music Stopped 

Londpn, May- 4. 
Mystery dramai In three ajCtfl by Noel 
Sbott, .presented by Percy' Hutchison and 
Herbert Joy at the .NeAy theatre, iJondon, 
May 3, '37. Directed by Bernard Nedoil. 



Harris 
Bob Severn 

.fames. Caravai;.. .i.'. ... 
Margery Endcan . . .'. .■ . ; 
Liady Charity: Carstaii 
Dr. Peter Mariow...... 

Richard Fabian ^...Kdwnrd .Ashley 

.Sergeant Wade, CM.D. Edwin Morton 

Detective-Inspector Klnnelr. . .Bernard Lee 

Dr. Grant.' ...'Douglas Stewart 

Daniel. Cnraval , .Edmund ■ Wlllard 

Chief Inspector ...Sidney Mohckton 



.Franola .Itoberts 
..... .John AVoQd 

.Edmund Willard 
. . . . . .Renee Oadd 

.....Phyllis Dare 

. .Ian Flemtiig 



Alternately farcical.and tragic, this 
hew mystery play thrills in spots. A. 
man of dubious pursuits invites four 
friends to his house, announcing he 
expects to° be murdered .before the 
night is out. He is killed and the 
play unfolds the various reasons why 
the, guests had good reason to do 
away with their hpst. 

Actually the man takes a drug that 
gives the effect of: death, as he 
anticipates' imminent arrest for his 
own misdeeds,, and plans to substitute 
another bpdy for his own when his 
trance terminates, but an unfortu- 
nate, well aimed stabbing while he is 
comotose, robs his cunning scheme of 
fruition. 

Generally . well acted, and warmly 
received with a fair chance of making 
good. 



U. S. Play's London 

Suburban Break-In 

London, May 16. 

Theron Bamberger, in conjunction 
with Ronald Adam, will produce at 
the latter's Embassy theatre, Swiss 
Cottage, 'Lover's Meeting,' American 
play tried out in stock there some 
seasons ago. 

Margaret Webster is to do the 
staging and . cast will include Gina 
Malo and Ed Ryan. If it clicks, will 
immediately go to the West End. 



Hurt in Japan 

Tokyo, May 5. 

Mrs. Mary Florency Micker, 37,. 
member of the *Humah Propeller' 
troupe : from America, now playihg 
Pan-F'acifio Peace Expo at Nagoya, 
was seripusly injured April 30 while 
practicing new routine on 80 foot 
tower. Performer .fell from height 
of ,50 feet and sustained severe con- 
tusions besides internal ' injuries. 
Was rushed to . Citiziens' hospital 
where she will be confined for about 
three mpnths. 

Act revamped and continues en- 
gagement which closes . May 30. 



Vallee 'S Headaches 



Lon , May 16. 

Rudy Vallee met with plenty of 
trouble at his various debuts, over 
here. His openings at Holborn Em- 
pire and Finsbury Park coincided. 
\yith a big bus stri dislocating. 
LPndon traffic. 

To top this came the Giro's Club 
ppening, when just about an hour 
before he was due . to appear a 
waiter got tangled with the mike 
wires, putting the whole p.a. system 
but of action, with no possibility of 
repairs that night.. 



1 



Wedncsdiy, May 2(5, 1937 



IJTERATI--CONGERT 



VARIETY 



59 



Literati 



Philly Bnllctiii Shakeup 

Radical shaKeiip ia the staff of the; 

venirig Bulletin, Philadelphia, has 
just been completed. William. G. 
Zeamer haS been imported from 
Memphis to becomie (executive editor, 
takjhg oyer some of the duties of 
Robert McLean, publisher. William 
B^CT^igrBm^\t^s as managing editor, 
but unde)rst<>od h6 will not be active. 
George S. Seltzer, fbtmer assistant 
itor, becomes assistant manag- 
ing editor. Charles Israel continues 
as: city editor, Leo Murphy is. now 
assistant city editor. 
senderfer, sports editbr, takes on 
' added stint of; dramatic critic, with 
Jerome Carson, former first :fedition 
iriafceup editor,, moving to assistaht 
sports editor" diesk. Vie!, is replaced 
oii the makeup post by George 
Davies, formerly assistant; 
Gebrge Thompson, formerly as- 

istant sports editor; becpmes as- 
sistant city editor. Laura. Lee, fea- 
ture writer, is now film critic. 
■ Donald W. Brooke; formei--. assistant 
city ;edi^or, heads the copy desk. 
Hugh McMillin, heretofore called 
news editor, becomes Wire editor, 
duties remaining Unchanged. His as^ 

istant is Raymond. DeVries. News 
editor, a new job, is Percy Kegel. 

Sheet's traditionally conservative 
makeup and typography policy has 
been hypoed; Understood thiat tfiei 
Bulletin, always a. prime headache to 
show business press agents, will also 
loosen the. column in. that regard. 
Both legit and pix will get more 
space and more liberal commient. 
Ni on art for (irama and pix is 
also in the basket. Paper's cii-cula- 
tiori tops 520,000 daily. 



Coronation .Press Luncheon . 
The Association of Americari. Cor- 
respondents in London gave a lun- 
cheon May 14, for .the ' American 
newspapermen and Women who came 
to the English . metropolis for the 
Coronation. Wiliiam Hillman, of the. 
Hearst newspapers, was in the chair 
and while the iiifair was entirely in- 
formal, a few visitors were called 
upon for brief addresses. 

The first was Her Imjperi igh- 
ness Gfahd Duchesis Marie, niece of 
the late Czar; who covered , the Cor- 
onation. for the Hearst outfit; second, 
was Henry J. Ha^skell of the Kansas 
City Star. He wjeis followed by Wil- 
liam Phipps Sims, foreign editor of 

- Scripps-Howard papers, Karl yon 
Wiegand was next called upon and 
congratulated upon having cancelled 

Jbis seat on the ill-fated airship Hin- 
denburgi The. last speaker was Dor- 
othy Kilgallen. 

President Hillman, In his opening 
•ddress, mentioned that the U. S. 
correspondents were allotted three 
times as many seats in the Abbey as 
•ny other nation. 



Bcorffanication Saggestion 

Plan, to reorganize the New York 
Woman has been suggeisted by Sen- 
atoi; Joseph Esquirol of N. Y., who 
would give creditors common stock 
loi: their indebtedness and attempt to 
continue the mag after raising $200,- 
000. Judge Patterson told him at a 
hearing on Monday (24) in the Fed- 
eral Court building in N.Y. that a 
bond of $5r,000 would have 'to be 
posted , against dissipation of the as- 
sets. iSamuel H. Kaufman was ap- 
pointed trustee in the case last week 
tp. prevent any such reduction. 

Liabilities at present are of; about 
$175,000, exclusive of $750,000 out- 
standing common stock. William E. 
Wheeler, president of the - publish- 
ing corporation iheahwhile is in jail 
for non-payment of alimony. 



Wants Prize for 

National bounty on poets i.s idea 
behind a bill offered in Congress by 
Oregon's lady lawmaker. Represen- 
.tative. Nan .Honeyman, as means of 
encouraging versifiers. Congress- 
woman, would authorize annual prize 
for. the author of book of poetry 
which comes clpse to 'sufficiently 
high standard' fixed by a committee 
headed by the librarian of the Li- 
brary pf Congress; 

Award' would be restricted to 
natiye-born Americans. Bill pro- 
poses annual appropriation of $2,000 
to buy the medal and pay expenses 
of the judging giroup, stipulating that 
any year when no award occurs the 
..balance shall be dumped back to the 
Treasury. No cash will accompany 
ine honor. • 



. Two New Monthly Maes 

Public Relations is a new monthly 
V magazine published this month by. 
E. W, Pryor with Colby D.. Dam as 
itor, iMag alms to be broader in 
scope .-than a mere trade paper for 
P-a-' . Idea was tried\out last year 
with the. tiUe Publicity News. ..Price 
^3 50 cents a copyi 



,■ A. Times Draws Gqild Fire 

Drive of Los Angeles Newspaper 
Guild chapter to unionize the edi- 
torial staff of the Times, citadel of 
anti-uhiohism, is said to be. bearing 
firuit and soon will come into the 
open. Several key performers- on 
the Times staff already are said to 
be secret Guildsters. Go signal for 
Open, formation oi . a Guild unit is 
said to be. awaiting only the signing 
UP of a inajority. - 

SituatiQh on thie imes was 
brbught to a head by the annourice- 
ment that the Examiher' boys had 
formed a Guild unit with James Lee, 
ace , Tewriter, as chairman. Times 
under the Harry Chiandler maiiage- 
ment is' sd bitter anti-union that itis 
owners refused to sell out to J. M. 
Patterson's ISfew York News and 
Robert R. McCormick's Chicago 
Tribune .for $15,000,000 because, it 
was reported, prospective buyers 
would not agree to bar all- union 
labor from the plant. Heritage comes 
down' from General Harrison Gray 
Otis, founder of the Times* Paper 
has .already sounded off i editorial 
blasts against the Guild. 

Famous Stories is a new pocket- 
size monthly pulp juist out, and pub- 
lished by Review of Reviews. It's 
edited by the staff of Reyiew of 
Reviews, and is the first 10c pocket- 
size mag on the market. . 

Material is entirely reprint, and 
aims to .be an inexpensive tivpe of 
Goldeh Book. 



A Friend a Day 

Executives of the N;Y. Herald 
Tribune are amused by the regular- 
ity of the. correspondence they have 
been receiving in regard to the drop- 
ping, of FPA's column. For the past 
three Weeks, one letter a day has 
come t.6 the office, never more nor 
less. In the first few Weeks after the 
dropping of the column the Trib re-, 
ceived some 200 letters, mostly kicks. 

No substitute coluriin has yet. been 
decided ,on, and Graftort Wilcox, 
managing editor, denies the possi- 
bility, of . Stanley Walker taking oyer 
such a jstint, ' which Is a current 
rumor. Trib management would like 
to find a suitable, column, but is 
currently doing nothing more than 
giving the matteir consideration. 



Guild I.E.B. Meets 

International Executive Board of 
the Newspaper Guild met in Cin- 
cinnati On Sunday .(23) and voted 
to recommend that the Guild affiliate 
with the C.I.O. Matter will" come 
up at the Guild's June convention, 
the Guild meanwhile seinding no 
delegates to the .A.F. of L. conven- 
tion, in Cincinnati, although Jona- 
thaii Eddy, Guild's exec, sec, ill 
listen in. 

The I.E.B. will also recommend 
that changes be made in the Guild's 
constitution allowing members of the 
business departmnts. to join. 



Fifth Estate Club 

Fourth Estate Club in New York, 
recently requested by attorneys for 
Editor and Publisher to change its 
name, since trade publication is 
merged with ahother mag titled the 
Fourth Estate, has switched to the 
name Fifth Estate Club. 

First thought that the name would 
be Town Criers, but James W. Brown 
of E. and P. suggested the new name 
as bigger and more inclusive than 
Fourth. Estate and sold the club bh 
the idea. 



Schenectady Guild Pact 
Management of the Schenectady 
Gazette has reached an agreement 
with the Tri-City Newspaper Griiild 
on nii imum wages and: working 
hours. Previdusly the.: Guild had 
come to terms with the three Albany 
papers. Schenectady' other daily is 
the Union Star. 

Troy is the third city represented 
in the Guild local. The Record 
Newspapers . are the only Troy- 
owned dailies. 



WFA Writers Buisy 
To give writers on Federal Project 
something to , the WPA radio, 
wing is .sihippi down its original 
air dramatizatidhs aftei: ^use and 
.haying them transtribed into short- 
story form. 

Yarns are then sent out to small- 
town, newspapers,, editors, being 
given pieces free if they'll carry 
them and credit source. 



Linton Wells' Autobiog: 

intpn Wells' 'Bipod on the Moon' 
has . been published , by Houghton, 
Mifl'lirt Co.; N..Y. 

■ 'Book is an autobiography of the 
new press ageiit jfor Sam Goldwyn, 
who tells of h'^s adventures, .experi: 
ences ap'd life while newspaper, cor- 
responding aj-ound;the globe, in. 400 
pages^ 



LITERATI DEATHS THIS WEEK 
Lewis Browne, 61, uthbr, 

dramatist, film scenarist and news- 
paperman, died in Englewobd, N, J., 
on May . 24, aher an emergency in- 
testinal pperatipn.' He was the 
author, of the picture 'Land of Op- 
portu ity' first picture ever shown 
in the halls , of Congiress. 

Capt. Harry |:ilsworth Smltb, 68, 

pioneer agency exec; and publisher, 
died at. his home in Atlantic City on 
May 23. Born in Tuckahoe, Smith 
went to Allan ti City at the age of 
'20, and four years later became, 
business manager of an ad agency 
owned by Ambassador Walter E. 
Edge: in l90a he purchased Siinday 
Gazette. .After building it up con- 
siderably^ he. merged it with the At- 
lantic City Review in 19l6. 

Mertoh Robbins, 62, publisher 
of industrial, magazines, and founder 
of the Bobbins Publishing Co., pub- 
lishers of Advertising and Selling, 
died on May 20 in New ' York of . a 
heart ailment following a. long illr 
ness, lie was one of the founders of 
the Audit Bureau of Circuliation. 
' IVirs^- Elizabeth int Snyder 

Daly, 48, former manager of The 
Delineator magazine's art depart- 
ment, died of heart disease on; May 
20 in New Yprk. She. was the widow 
of William IWI., Daly,- forrherly man- 
aging editor of Every bddy's. Her 
first novel titled ' igh Goal' was 
published in' 1935; 



to 



to the 



CHATTER 

Erika Manw sailing Eri .<,28) for 
Europe'. 

Leslie 
England; 

Burton Rascoe on 
Middle West. 

Maysie ibrieg and her husband 
have returned to England. 

Rion Bercovici has finished his 
hovel about a publicity office. 

Lyle Saxon- has fitiished his new 
novel titled 'Children of Strangers.' 

ine Dunn, Im player, will 
be ah associate of new Charm mag. 

John Hall ' Wheelock unanimously 
Voted the annual award of the New 
England Poetry Society. 

Don Tracy pf Trans-Radio Press 
has sold his second stpry in a month 
to the Saturday Evening Post.. 

Ludwig Bemelmahs oh an expedi- 
tion in the Andes, jungle; , headed 
for the source of the Amazon River, 

Alva Johnston's series on Samiiel 
Goldwyn in . the Satevep'ost will be 
pubiished' in book form by Random 
House. 

James Thurbier's new book due out 
in Sept. titled 'Let, Your Mind AlOnel 
And Other More or .Lefes Inspira- 
tional Pieces.' 

Eugene Lyons has finished his au-' 
tbbiography tentatively titled 'As- 
signment Utopi ,' Harcourt 
Brace will publishi 

Lee Ettelson, form.erly with the 
L,. A. Examiner and other Hearst 
sheets, is assistant -m.e. of the San 
Francisco Call-Bulleti 

Adelaide Kerr, woniah's editor of 
the AP; returning June 1 from Eng- 
land where she covered, fashion 
angles of the Cbronati 

Richard Gilbert, ed of Popular 
Songs for Dell Publications, is back 
after one month through the mid- 
west, 

Fanya Graham ships- round the 
globe on a. freighter June 15 with 
typewriter and paper in duffle to jot 
down fact and: fiction en route. 

Lloyd Graham, for 15. years, free 
lance magazine and radio writer of 
Buffalb, has been ticketecl by Chi- 
cago YMCA in. a putjlic relatipns job, 

Milt Morris, who replaced Noel 
Sickles as-political caripohist for the 
Asspciated Press on a. trial basis, has 
been given the permanent assign- 
ment. 

Frederic Piokosch sailing for a 
year in Europe and Asia on a Gug- 
genheim Fellowship. Will stop over 
iii England to play tennis at Win^- 
bledon. 

Lawre.nce Jaysori is pseudonym 
for a prpminerit lawyer who has. just 
wi-itteh a story about life, in- art 
asylum titled 'Mania,'- Funk &' Wag-; 
halls will publish. 

Wayne W, Parrish is leaving the 
National: Aeronautical A.ssn. ^in 
Washington to istart a trade maga- 
zine of his own titled American Avi- 
ation, .put twice a month. 

Paiil Mallon will leave .NANA in 
September jand^ Join King 'j^eatUres. 
Washington cbrrespbnclent writes a 
column titled News Behind the NeWs 
for more than 400 papers. 

Marc T, .Greene, 'cofllrib of, travel 
articles^ to AmcTicaril and ritish 
jinag-s, Is again visiting Japan. Now 
Writing bpok on . Europe skedded' to 



Radio Fans, Concert Managers \ 
Still Irked by Australian Policy 



Buffalo's Muisic HaO 



Buffalo, May 25. 
Latest site for Buffalo's hew music 
hall to be built from a million dollar 
bequest of Edward Kleinhans . is 
Delaware. Park opposite the' present 
art gallery, Plans call for erection 
of a building to y be patterned after 
the Peristyle of Toledo Art Musjeum. 

itorium will- seat 2,500 with 
every modern deyipe both fore, arid 
backstage. 




UP LECTURERS 



, May 25. 
Walter Hampden, in ramatiq 
sketches from 'Cyrano,' 'Hamlet' and 
other jplays, heads the annual. Town 
Hall series of 20 prograniis at the 
Fisher theatre, here, 

' Others include Alec Templetori, 
blind piahist; Mrs^ Martin Johnson, 
Mercadb's Tipica orchestra with 
singers and dancers; Dale Carnegie, 
David Seaibury, . Frank. Crowning- 
Shield, William Lyoh_, Phelps,, arid 
Louis Untermeyer. 

Others lined - up; Grand Duchess 
Marie, Felix Morley, Lady Drum- 
mOhd-Hay, John B. Kennedy, Sir 
Evelyn Wrench, publisher of London 
Spectator; Capt. John D. Craig, film 
producer; Dr, Henry J. Fry, of N, 
Y. U.; Mary Paul, reporter; and 
Mauirice Hindus. 



Denver's Bookings 

Denver, May 25. 

Concert series booked for is 
winter for Denver - by '■. Arthur M, 
Oberfeldef and Robert Slack include 
Kirsten Flagsted, JCyrl Symphony 
Orchestra (50); Ma.ry McCoi^mic, 
Jposs European Ballett; (40); Jo.sef 
Hofmanh; Salzburg Opera Co. (75); 
Marian Anderson, contralto; and 
John Charles Thomas. 

Series uses munici itorium. 



b0 published ing 
Press, N. Y. 

. Robert S. Brown, for the last three 
years Washington correspondent for 
the Scripps-Hpward • newspapei-s in 
Ohio, has been made editoi: of The 
Columbus Citizen. He succeeds Nel- 
son P. Poynter. 

Hollywood studiO' publicity de- 
partments are groaning over oe- 
mands from all oyer the country 
for 'guest columns' by ifilm names to. 
fill space while regular columnists 
are on vacations. 

Helen Br'own Norden riting a 
book titled 'Latins Are Lousy Lovers' 
to be. published by Farrar ine- 
hart. Article by same author with 
that title appeared in Esquire, caus- 
ing suppression of the issue in Cuba, 

"ITiurstbn Macauley, for eight 
years a London correspondent for 
the N. Y. "Times, is npiv.. working 
for Alexander Korda's London Films 
in Denham, England. Presently co)- 
laborating 1th Wolfgang Wiihelm 
on scri 

Lpwrance, ife of Herbert 
Drake,.critic for Cue and the Herald- 
TribUne's drama fepofter, flew back 
from Hollywood last Saturday (22). 
She was there to interview picture 
personaliti for Young ; 
jiive mag; 

Dr; Liiy Abegg, correspprident of 
Frankfurter Zeitung arid author of 
' Sehdungsglaube des Japani- 
schen Vplkes;' left Japan recently 
for Berli Author's book \s to be 
translated into English and published 
in New. York. 

ihgway, from 
■Spain, will speak at a mass meeting 
ot the American iWritejs. Congress 
at Carnegiie Hall in. N: Y;, next 'week 
(4). Other speakers . include Archi- 
bald MacLeish, . Dpriaid Ogden Stew- 
art and Gerald P. .Nye, Films of the 
Spanish war, talcen by Joris Iv,ens. 
Will be shown. 



Sydney, May • 
io fans are kicking agai 
policy of the . Australian Broadcast*^ 
ing Commission of only airing ppr- 
ti employing highly 

paid imported artists. Fans say that 
the ABC is using tax money, to Im-r 
port such artists aiid that listeners, 
should be the berieflt of 

complete broadcasts. 
. Policy of fyRQ is to release oho 
hour only of each concert to tho 
fans and fade to sbmething else. 

Legit concert managers have al.so 
kicked strongly about the ABC-^ 
putely radio operators — being perr 
mitted ;to compete with them in the 
concert field. As the ABC is mainly 
under the control of the governnient 
no action has ever been taken oh, 
concerts. ABC collects from public 
on. .licenses .($5 yearly), imports 
hiehly paid artists, sponsors .con-: 
certs at high admittance raiteis and 
ojniy gives the fans a portion of each, 
concert over the ether. That's the 
reason Why the ABC Is always Ih, 
the clear and; turns in huge profits 
every year* 

' Because, of. such government con-\ 
trol'the fans and the concert nrien 
can't: Secure , satisfaction from those 
in high command. It's a good bi 
proposition to the ABC and the gov* 
ernment. 

Concerts are mainly attended by 
the- ritzy mob. .Unfortunately; the 
nabe family cahiipt afiord . the cash 
to attend such concerts .and has to 
be quite isatisfled to take what the 
ABC gives and" like it. 



Outdoor Concerts' Payroll 
Boosted $6,000 Annually 

St. Louis, May 25< 
It will cdst St. Louis . Municipal 
Opera Assn., which fosters al fresco 
stage preseiitations in Forest Park» 
$6,000 more for tboters during 1937. 
season than any time since 1932. 
Recent agreement between execs pi 
assn. and AFM, Local No. 2 boosted 

antc^ of 50 tooters from $55 to $65 
per .week for 12-weelc - season. Total 
pay tot tooters during season is 
around $39,000. 

Pay hike for muny .opera toolera 
is in . line with that recently grantect 
members of St. Louis Symphony, 
Orch, who now receive i mlnimuri* 
of $65 per week; 



Milan's 103 Performances 



Milan,, May 14. 

Milan Scala has closed down for 
the season after giving 103 perform- 
ances ih 130 days. Season, -which be-, 
gan with Verdi's 'Falstall,' shut doWm 
with Resphighi's Trlptlch* at. Flor- 
ence, May 4, with Maria Eglziaca, 
Lucrczia .arid the ballet GU UcccUi. 

Reason for going to Florence was 
the famous Magglo musicale. Twen- 
ty-five operas were iflven; 20 Ital- 
ian and five foreign. 



Elman in So. Africa 

Capetown, .May 
. Mischa Elman, violinist, is due In 
South Africa June 25. 

Recitals set in Durbi?|n, Johannes- 
burg and Capetown for African Con- 
solidated Theatres. 



Tibbett tQ Antipodes, 

J May 

Williamsbn-'Tait will bring Law- 
rence Tibbett here for a concert sea- 
son after singer gets through with 
his. English dates, Australian Broad- . 
.ca.sting Commission will bring out 
Hubcrman, Rubinstein and Kurtz. 

Lottie Lehmarin,. Essie Ackland 
and. Georg Schneevbight are alreiady 
hcj'c"... 



Leonora Corona, Metropolitan, so- 
prano, made her i itial 'iBufl'alo ap- 
pearance at the Lafayette Commun- 
ity House Monday, everting under 
the auspices of William J. 'Neill, Jr. 



Rosette for Bailly 

Philadelphia, May 25. 
Lpui.9 Bailly, head of chamber 
mu.sic department of Curtis Institute,, 
is to be made, a Chevalier of the 
Legion of Honor of France, 

Forrnerly .was a soloist with" 
Philly Ore. 



60 



VAMJETY 



CHATTER 



Wednesday, May 26, 1937 



Broadway 



Hazel Flynn on vacation. 

Miltbn Berle back from the Coast, 

Donald Ogden Stewart : in from 
Coast; V ^, , ... ' , 

A. M. Bdtsfords in New YorH on a 
vacation. ... 

Cary Grant in town on a snort 
vacation. 

Kelly, flagpole sitter, is back again, 
squatting at 53rd street. 

Elizabeth Love joining ; the Mt. 
Kiflco strawhatters for the summer. 

Lewis Martin and Helen Brooks 
wiU strawhat at Stpckbridge for the 
summer. .. . 

Tony Soma has shaved o|t his. 
beard, by 'popular demand' of the 
customers. ' . • 

Earl W. Wingart is a bachelor 
tor a While, with the wife out west 
on a visit;. 

They never di And Monroe 
Grdenthal's stolien car sp he bought 
a hew. Buick. - „ 

Jlarriet Hoctor is spending Mem- 
orial Day at Hppsick Falls', N> Y., 
her home town. ; ^ . 

Joseph Bulofl is set for the Guild's 
fall production of Beii Hecht's 'To 
Quito arid Back.' . 

Walt Disniey representative film- 
ing the Douglas Leigh animated sign 
in Times Square. ' 

Tom Kearns in from Chi after 
stretch of -p.a.'ing Casino Parisien; 
in Morrispn hptel. _^ - 

Stanley Gilkey, McClinlic-Cprnell 
general manager, is planning a brief 
Europesin vacation.; ^ ;v 

Arthur M^iyer is waiting for the 
kids to get out of school so he can 
move to the country. . . _ 
' New "cpoling plant at ZOth Cen- 
tury-Fox home office given a trial 
run on warm Friday last week; 

Ned E. Depinetv armed with a 

clegraph and other aids, trying to 
piclc winners at BelmPht Park. 

Al Sherman of Columbia. Pictures 
named -press relatlonist for Aissocia- 
tion of Foreign Press Correspondents. 

Al Lichtman had the winner of the 
Withers stake race at Belmont Satur- 
day but Leo Spitz's horse ran third. 

Robert Osso, Loew messenger, 

ragging about his grandfather, 

ory, winning a photograph prize 
contest. --'^ 

Sign at bpx bfltiee of Strand, N. Y., 
for engagement of 'The Prince and 
the Paupet,' reads 'a toad show • at 
popular: prices.' - . ^ 

Oscar Liese has retumed from 
Hollywood where ; he opiened a 
branch of the Liese-Meha Co., with 
Stewart Grow in charge. 

Taimara Geva has joined Benno 
Schneider's . dramatic classes. Dancer 
is iaklso leairhing sleight-of-hand, but 

rily to puzzle her friends. 

Jpe Weil, U's "explPitatloh chief, 
stopped off in -Galveston to attend 
Interstate Circuit convehtipn on his 
way back frpm the Cpast. 

Jpseph f»incus, talent executive fbr 
20th-Fox, headed for the Coast in 
advance of convention party, due to 
leave today CWednesday)v 

Neai Folwell, son of Arthur Fol- 
well, drama editor for Herald 
Tribune, now Working in Radio City 
Miisic Hall'^ publicity department. 

.Group composed of Arthur De 
Bray, Tom Waller, Al Wilkie and 
Alec' Moss spent the Week-end go- 
ing after weakflsh in Pecpnic Bay. 

N. Y.'s due bill agents have nixed 
handling any paper from Bermuda 
hotels because ol .the recent antir 
Jewish declaration of the island inns. 

International Golden. Gloves, ama- 
teur fighters, at Yankee Stadium 
June 9. Walter O'Connor, Frankie 
Fraycr and Willie Metz handling 

tickets.. 

Max Gendel set to p.a. Province- 
town Playhouse, Cape Cod, this sum- 
mer. Says he's the only strawhat 
.press agent who. doesn't claim he's 
going to direct. 

Elf rida and Clarence Derwent sail 
tbmoiTow (Thursday) foe a . six 
weeks' stay in Mexico City^ Return 
in July for engagements at Walter 
Hartwig's Ogbnquit (Me.) Playhouse 

Par's golf tournament Thursday 
(20) resulted in a drawing Pf lucky 
numbers to pick the winner, CJharles 
Gartner coming but on top, Herb 
Berg drawing second atrid' Vincent 
Trotta thirdi 

Dick Martey, acting foi? Billy Rose 
has invited aU N. Y. drama critics 
and columnists for a cuflEo weekend 
at the Cleveland, O., Expo. Boys 
have option of plane or . train $nd all 
on the house. 

Richard licahey, exhi itor of Bay 
City, Mich., and Floyd Gibbons, 
■who s his nephew, met for the first 
time in 15 years at the Warner con- 
vention, in New York and laid plans 
under Which . Uncle Leahey is going 
to give all breaks possible to 
Gibbons' shorts whert they eome 
along. 



and Niebelungen; Rings and Tietjen 
will be in charge of the LohengrinS. 

Shirley Temple's 'Stowaway' at I 
two Berlin houses. . i 

Operetta 'Don Cesar' packing them 
in at the. Rose theatre. 

Margitta Kunnekes overl 
lead in 'Lady Hamilton.' 

WPlf Neumeister's latest pie manu-; 
script tagged 'Hussaren Heraus.' 

Elly Ney to take part in the Mo- 
zart festival in Heidelberg, first week 
in June. . • , .• . ■ 

Dorothea Wieck has leading- role | 
in 'Fiesta,' premiering .at the Horst- 
Wessel theatre; . i 

Franz Esterhazy comppsmg the 
music for ah opera based, on Schil- 
ler's 'Walienstei .' , . . 

Hepfner sisters, dance duo of the | 
Deiitsches opera to play in Neu- 
meister's film, 'Hussaren .Heraus,' 

Over 16,000,000 meters of film, al- 
most enough to girdle half the| 
equator, stored ' Ufa's ; vaults. 

Fita Benkhbff sighed by Heinz Hil- 
pert for the coming season at the 
Dtsutsches theatre and Kammer- 
spiele. 

'March of the Veterans,'" Bethge's l 
play, which r received the National 
Book Prize for 1937, to be filmed 
by Tobis. 
Hans Schwieger, general music di-l 



Paris 



rector bf the Danzig State theatre, London 



Harold Smith to Rome. 
Jean Gabih in from Nice; 
Violet Perdue to Brussels. 
Gaby Tyra bfl for Brussels. 
Reine Paulet back in town. 
Claridge Hotel open agai • 
Paul Lukas back to America. 
Lily Damita off for MProcco. 
Tenia Navar at Lune RouSse. 
Jenny Noma at Monte Cristo. 
Conde Kast in fi:om America. 
Millie Bennett off for Valenci 
Lily Damita back from London. 
Olive May. at Capr-ice Viennois. 
Lucienne Boyer in from Bei-li 
Else Argal back from America; 
Ernest Hemmingway back home.. 
Mignbne planning return home. 
Igor Stravinsky in. from America. 
Ernest Hemingway in frpm Spain. 
Fred Hilgers returning to America. 
Mprely and Pelot on North African 
^Our. 

Adelai Hall at . 
Toit. ^ 

RUth Page in from inavian 
tour. 

Libby Holmari Iboki - 
telle. 

Elizabeth Arden from New 
York. 

Irvin Marks back frpni quickie to 



to Tokyo as first conductor of the | 
Imperial Uene- Academy orch. 



LondoD 



be 



Lbndbn 

televised. . 

Lpu Wolf son off to Paris to meet 
Lew Lipstone. 

Violet Vanbrugh ' cielebrating 50 
yeairs On the stage. . 
. Gracie Fields made first television 
appearance May 22. , 

J. J. Shubert ihi Vienna, but ex- 
pected here- any day. 

Lpndon overrun With giiys wear- 
ing camelshair overcoats. . 

The Shuberts want Valerie Taylor 
for lead in 'Love of Women,' 

Gracie Fields started off the six 
day bicycle race at Wembley. 

Max and his Gang off to Paris for 
four weeks at.the Ambassadeurs. ' 

Muriel Abbott, Palmer House, Chi- 
cago, booker expected in London 
s(H>n. 

The Walter Br i ants (Briant 
Brothers) -ready for stork visit any 
minute now. 

Over 20 actors signed cable of 
congratulations to Ben Dova on his 
lucky. Zeppelin escape. 

Gene . Sheldon is an added at- 
traction at the Victoria Palace in the 
Kurt . Robitschek revue; 



Lou Wolf son in^ town and off to 
London. 

Josephine flj'ing 
lessons. 

Jim Witteried member of Crpix de 
Qiierrie;. 

'Mary p'ostcardi frpni 

Muhich.- 

Nardo Padio at Cabaret de. Mbn- 
seigheur. v 

Mirielle broadcastiiig over Pbste 
Parisiien. 

Annabella signing contract with 
20th-Fox., 

Schwartz Sisters: Im 
cbntria'cts^ 

Michel Arlen in' for a. visit on way 
to Riviera. 

Greta Keller postcarding from Co- 
penhagen; 

Brick Top out bf hospital back at 
her cabaret. 

Teddy Weatherford in from India 
on vacation. 

Theatres des Arts celebrating 100th 
anniversary. 

Quatuor Loewenguth concerting at 
Salle Gaveau. 

'Tovarich' closing at Marigny end 
of this month.- 

Sadha Giiitry Ipoki over New 
Bagatelle nitery. 

Lillian Ellis to star in Varna's next 
revUe at Alcaziar. 

Restaurant des Ambassadeurs sold 
out opening night. 

Jean Tranchant. offering new rep 
ertoire at Bagdad. 
Luna Park doubli admission 



Party of London exhibs left for 
extended tour of New York, Chicago I ^rke To two francs 

Doris'Niles and Serge Leslie plan 
ning another concert. 
Pierre Mortier named ssistant 



and points west, 20 strong. 

Cardini played fortnight at the. 
Savoy hotel, and immediately bobked 
to return: for three more weeks. . 

Bertram Mills en route, for hi;^ 
American tour for talent for his 
annual Christmas circus at Qlympia. 



commissioner of expo, 

Rene Bardy of Chez Eve on talent 
hunt in central Europe. 
Maurice Chevalier dancing with 



the Alexandeir Korda management.] 
"'entati've title. ' is 'Who Kissed Me.' 

Billy 'Pop Eye' Costello to play I 
African tour Sept, 10, and will be I 
On the Bebe Daniels-Ben Lyon unit. 

Kiirt Robitschek after the Duncan I 
Sisters to replace Will Mahoney in 
the Victoria Palace show. Mahoney 
in hospital. 



Berliii 



Jack Hulbert to do a picture under jjita Raya at Bagatelle 



ital, 



Harry Leashim ' out of 
planning New York visit. 

(jrorki's 'Ma Mere' in rehearsal at 
Theatre de la . Renaissance 

Ballet Jobs scheduled to celebrate 
5th anniversary here in June. 

Eric and Ruth Burhadt booked for 
five months, at Bal iTabarin. 
\ Ballets de Monte Carlo rehearsinig 



him in WB advertising department. 

Pittsburgh Playhouse introduced 
new director, Frederick Burleigh, to 
press at a cocktail party, Sunday 
(23) 

Ben Kalmehson will be hoStfed at 
a testimonial dinner June 4 before 
he pulls out for N. Y., and his new 
WB post. , 

Eddie Selzer here for a day on 
his way back to the Coast from the 
WB convention; wedding this week 
of his cousi 

Phil" Regan i)reparing an answer 
to Rian James* 'Cavailcade' article, 
'Going Broke Hollywood pn 

$1,500 a Week.' 



By C. W« Lane 

Corey Thompson to K Y, a 
short vacation. 

Eddie RheaUmie appointed manager 
Princess theatre, Montreal,. 

Mark Plottell, from Winnipeg, api- 
pointed Montreal maniaiger RKO ex- 
change. 

Rex Billmgs managing Belmont 
Park summer resort opened Satur- 
day (22). . _ 

Hamid^Morton Animal Show, first 
circus of year, opened for week 
SatUrdaiy (22) at Forum, Montreal, 
to .big hoiises. 

Gene Curtis leaves management of 
Loew's theatre, where he has been 
four years,' to take over manage- 
ment of Regent, Ottawa. 

Harold Vance moved trom man- 
agement Princess,. Montreal, to that 
'of Ariequin theatre, Quebec. Suc- 
ceeded by Eddie Rheaume at Pri • 
cess/-' 

Loew's, Montreal, direction taken 
over by Harry Aiiger with Paul 
GUenette as house manager. ' Gene 
Curtis, former manager, to Regent, 
Ottawa. 



Sydney 

By Erie Gorrlck 

Frahk Neil to London. 
Herbie Hayward; recovering. 
George Gee will lead in 'Swing 
Along.' 

Joe Joel readying 'Lost Horizon*, 
premiere for Col. 

Williamson-Tait reviving 'Katja' 
with Gladys Moncrieiff. ... 

Stuart F. Doyle on the. lookout for 
more commercial radio units to add 
to his chain. 

. Cam Pratt is handling publicity for 
Greater Union during ttie.absence of 
Herbie Hayward. 

Jack Percivalj^ Snider-Dean, will 
handle the publicity lor the Marcus 
show, in Australia. . 

Walter Byron has been engaged by 
Cihesound to play maile lead in 
'Lovers and Luggers.* 

Frank Tait, Williamson-Tait, is 
expected to bring back a host of 
new shows with him froiiri England 
and America. 

Lord GoWrie, Governor-General, 
paid a special visit to the State, 
Sydney, to view 'Beloved Enemy' 
(UA), Manager Orrie Perry did the 
honors., 



New Haven 

By jforold M. Bone 



Ed Ryan gpihg from set to set at at Theatre des Champs-Elysees. 



Wilde's 'Bunbury' doing big biz. 
.Stahl Nachbaur to Hiddensee fpr 
Whitsun. 

Michael Bohnen celebrating 50th 
birthday. 

■Elizabeth Wendt in 'Mein Sohn, 
der Minister.' 

Gleseklng giving Schumann and 
Schubert prpgram. 

At the Bayreuth festival, Furtr 
waogler is to baton all the Parsifals 



Pinewood Studios. Playing in a Jack 
Buchanan film arid the latest Jessie 
Matthews GB pic. 

The Frank Capras expecting ad. 
dition to the family, an^ day now, 
which, is likely to hold up their re- 
turn to New York 

Chill prevented Franz Lehar from 
coming, from Vienna to conduct the 
first night, of his operetta 'Paganini' 
at .the Lyceum,:May 20. 

■ Charlotte. Greenwood and husband, 
Martin Broones, ;in town. . Strictly 
vacationing and taking in shows, in^ 
eluding the Coronation. 

Josephine Baker returns . to the 
Cafe de Paris for. the month of No- 
vember at: $2,000 per, and will dou- 
ble for General Theatres Corp 

John Golden dickering 'with HUgh 
Sinclair: to .. play opposite Gertrude 
Lawrence in ; his Broadway . show 
which he is doing in September. 

Bert Ambrose and band at the 
Restaurant de LlHte, Paris, for the 
Exposition. Opens early June itor _ 
three- weeks, with Leo Reisinan fol- la Courpnne.' 
lowing. Liam O'Flaherty . sayi 

Frank Neil flew jfrom Australia up with Hollywood an 
to London in nine days, tp be in time ] settle in France 
for the Corpnatipn. Booked act ill 
Barsa fpr Australia while plane was 
refueling, 

Paul Gerrits Was to haVe do.libled 
frpm the Grosvelior ' House cabaret 
into the Victoria Palace, but. Min- 
istry of Labor against the tWb- 
places idea. 

i)wight Deere Wiman and Lee 
Ephraim have Amei-ican rights to 
'The Two Bouquets,' which they will 
do On Broadway, in fall, with the 
"Three Music Hall Boys to play parts. 

David Powell; son of Jack Powell, 
contracted measles while, on the way 
here, with Ppp. having a lot of trou- 
ble in getting permission to get. son' 
landing permit here., Boy is now 
confined to his room. 

Martin 'Beck due in to negbtiate 
American rights for 'Balalaika,' to be 
done in his theatre in the fall. 
Fi-ehch, Scandinavian, Central Euro- 
pean and Australian rights have al- 
ready been disposed of. 



Jean Mur'at, Aimps. and Danielle 
Parola' back from North Africa. 

Bets being made that expo will not 
be completely finished by July 1. 

Max Francesco opened former 
Chez Josephine Baker, May 21. 

Vance and Romia on .opening bill 
of Cotton club, new hitery oh the 
hill. 

M. Bardy, director of Chez- ve, 
back from centrstl European talent 
hunt." 

Max Francesbp opening former 
Chez Josephine Baker without Jose- 
phine. 

Acrobat Ernst Asbock accidentally 
killed while performing at Cirque 
d'Hiver. 

Fei'hand Gravet in Switzerland to 
make scenes of 'Mesonge de Nina 
Petrovna.' 

Lucienne Bbyer tov appear In revue 
to be produced at Theatre Capucines 
during expb. 

President Lebfu presiding at 
ppenihg of Guitry's 'Sept Perles de 



is fied 
ing to 



al Cohej) 

Florence Fi'shei* Pa rry , P ress : c r ick 
and . columnist^ tb Hollywood; 

. Si Steinhausei-s celebrate their 
twentieth wedding anniversary on 
June 1. 

Harry Brown in New York as a 
delegate to American Theatre Coun 
cil convention. 

Johnny,. Harris furnis ing Variety 
club's new lounge room as a mem- 
orial to his father. 

Carmen has checked out of Plaza 
after two months for a spot at the 
Chez Ami in Buffalo. 

Mike Cullens back from their 
Florida fishing trip, with Orville 
Crouch returning to Kansas City. 

Martin Shearan to Regent as as."?! 
mgr., with Larry Lcouardi replacing 



the 



Savin Rock outdoor spot going full 
blast. 

Bob Carney has fallen for 
bike-riding craze. 

Gus Baiimah putting on annual 
revue at Shubert, June 11. 

Sam Horwarth again mulling that 
session with the surgeon. 

Mrs. Martin Johnson'js June 4-5 
stand at Shubert cancelled. 

Helen Bashta has graduated to 
Roger Sherman cashier spot. 

Bill O'Connell in seventh heaven 
now that baseball is under way. 

Ex-Miss America, Marion Bai- 
geron, broke out in local dramatic 
production. 

Frank Kelly again to handle back 
stage end of Chapel Playhouse, Guil- 
ford's straw hat. 

Stony Creek Playhouse, Chapel in 
Guilford, Plymouth in Milford open 
summer season, June 28. 



Minneapolis 

. .By- Les Ree^ 



Hollywood 



.will isport at 
Ybunk planed in from 



Neil Agnew. hieaded east. 
Madge Evans cbpling off at Arrpw, 
head. 

Dick Young plonied In from Ber- 
muda. 

Walter Wbolf King parted with his 
ton.sils; • • 

Robert 
Waikiki. 

Loretta 
Bermuda. 

The. Louis Factors cahal^d Irom 
New York. 

Joe Micciche will honeymoon In 
Mexico City. ,' 

Bryan Foy wending west via Cuba 
and the Canal. 

Eleanore Whitney ciestalng h^re 
after p.a. tour.. 

Borrah Minevitch and wife at the 
Catalina IsthmUs. 

Ronald Waggoner, U. P. So. Calif, 
chief, in Chicago. 

Clare Boothe Brokaw i a Metro 
scribbling, cubicle. 

The Fenton Gressers back from 
their honeymoon. 

John Monk Saunders floated in vi 
American Airlines. 

John Boles dtide-ranching on his 
Calabasas acreage. 

Homer Dickinson, actor, buhjged up 
by a hlt-and-runner. 

Harold Hurley back at work after 
vacation in hulaland. . 

John: McMaiius, here from K.C. for 
grander at the studios. 

Dick Pittihger how planting for 
Harry Brand in L. Ai- • 
Sylvia Sidney went for a Palo 
Verde summer shack. 

Ray Clune, Henry Ginsberg's aide 
at S-I, minus appendix. . . 

Clark Wales planed back to his 
Detrbit Free Press desk. 

Bess Meredyth fed the swans in 
Lake Xochimilcoi Mexico. 

'Charles Kenyoh: chasing the'' gutta 
percha sphere at Del Monte. 

Arthur Hornblow and Myrna. Loy 
back from Times Sq. meanders. 

Freddie Bartholomew being initi- 
ated into the secrets of fly-flshing. 

Metro signed' Jockey Bobby Mer- 
ritt for 'SaratOgai' racehorse ^riding. 

Spyrbs, Charlie aind George Skouras 
reunited ' here for 20th-Fox sales 
sesh. 

Mike Jackson brinied from Aca- 
pulco after three months in Mexico 
City, 

Joe Weil setting yhiversal's exr- 
ploitation campaign for 'The Road 
Back.' 

Bill Meiklejohn best-manning for 
George Givot aiud Maryon Curtis, 
June 2. 

John Stone on. hand in Frisco to 
greet Sol Wurtzel, back from the 
Orient. 

Eve Greene, Paramount scribbler, 
and sister Babettie en route to 
Eneland. 

French fruit show at Aix-les-Bai 
flrst-prized Irving Cummings' 
oranges. 

Maria Ouspenskaya went east to 
close, her dramatic schppl lor the 
summer. 

Sam Briskin installing a gym at 
Radio with Faiisto Acke as 
structor, 

Allan jbnes 'went for a swimming 
pool, badminton court and rnidget 
golf course on his place. 

William Townes, Cleveland Pres3_ 
political reporter, treating himself to 
the sights around the studios. 

Leif Henie, brpther of Sonja, here 
to return ashes of Wilhelm Heme, 
their father, back to Sweden. ' 

The Elmer Dyers choochooing to 
N. Y., thence London. He has a 
camera assignment for Metro.^ 

Clarence Brown hosting his old 
army boss. Col. Desmond Newsom, 
on the 'Walewski' set at Metro. 

Leopold Stokowski took time but 
from his pix toil to accept an LL.D. 
from thje University of California. 

Jerry Hoffman bacheler-binged for 
Lester Ziffren as a pre-riuptial be- 
fore Ziffren's marriage .to Edith 
Wurtzel. 



Fishing trips lure exhibs all over 
territory. 

Phil Dunasi Colymbi istrict man- 
ager, a visitor. 

Twin City Variety club held last 
open house of season. 

Merle Potter, Journal film editor, 
now a W.restling addict. 

Ted Ayer, Paramount salesman, 
back from Philadelphia vacation. 

Don Koehler, fbriher Shubert 
dramatic stock juve lead, in town. 

Gale Sondergaardi former Univer- 
sity of Minnesota; actress, planning 
visit, here. 

W. O. McPhall, Warner checking 
supervisor, completed inspection 
tour of territory. 

Richard Harrity, U. A. exploiteer 
trPm N. Y., here worki on 'Star 
Is Born' at Minnesota. 

Bud Lohteriz,- Warner Brothers' 
branch manager, fiew back from 
N. y. sales convention. 

John Thoma, Columbia exploiteer, 
off to Duluth to handle 'Lost Hori- 
zon roadshow engagement. 

Gilbert Nathanson off to Los An- 
geles to Republic franchise holders' 
nieeting and then will attend re- 
gional meeting in Chicago, June 9. 



Al Williamspn nipped with a touch 
of ptomaine. '■. 

Betty Mitbhell horieymponing 
Day tona Beach: " 

Hazel Flynn' stppped- o# . 
way to the Coast. 

Dale Carnegie now honorary 
member of CAPA. 

Bill Hampton heading- 
western slope, sunshine. 

Lbu Lipstone due back from his 
European vacsish on June 1.. 

Jones, Linick & Schaefer giving 
the Woods a fancy moderne front. 

David Sarnoff in town for two-day 
RCA Dealers' Convention at Drake. 

Teresa Rudolph closing Stevens 
three days early for trip to Hong- 
kbnjg. 

Harry Sihythe in the loop once 
more after a six- week tour o% the 
nation. 

Sam Gersbn into N. Y. to hunt up 
spmie shpws for the Ipcal Shubert 
houses. ' 

Joe Sherman planed to Detroit to 
ogle a couple of Jack Kearns fisti- 
cuffshows. 

Norman' Rockwell in ahead of new 
shpwbdat production venture of 'To- 
bacco Road.' ■ 

Lloyd Lewis gathering sunshine as 
a ba.sebaill writer now that the legit 
biz has faded with the snow. 

Jack Dowling, Eddie Dowling s 
son. making good on the Chi . tab 
Times with an almost regular bj- 
line these days. 



Wednewlay, M«y 26, 1937 



OUTDOORS 



VARIEir 



Cleveland Expo Is AD Set to Go; 
, bhibits m Place and Shows Ready 



Cleveland, May 25. 
Three-fourths of exhi its in Great 

takes open 
tomorrow although Saturday (i29) is 
official premiere of its second season 
bii city's made-over iakefrohl. New 
features like Billy Rose's Aquacade, 
Palace, and Winterland, 
ill tbpline the fair, are hay- 
in* tonstruction work pushed by 
double shifts. Everything Vi^ill be 
definitely set by tomorrow (Wedhes- 
flay). Backers' no't taking any 
chances on being caught like last 
year when half of, exhibits were in- 
Qomplete; boomeranging plenty of 
harmful publicity. 

Smash ojpening nikht is . guaran- 
teed by fact that President Rpose- 
belt in Washinjgton will push the 
button that turns on the Expo's new 
lighting display. Event is being 

ired by WHK, WTAM and WGAR 
ill networks' in broadcasts be- 
gini at five, with Roosevelt and 
Grover Whalen making complimeh-. 
tary send-off speeches to be ampli- 
fied : over fair's grounds.' 

Tqp attpacti^on getting the heaviest 
type of circus ballyhoo the 
Aqiiacade, illy Rose's gift . . old 
Moses Cleveland's city. Evin the 
most conservative newspajper ijnuggs 
are hauling out all of Hollywood's 
colossal adjectives to describie it. 
Cost is estiniated at about $350,000, 
including talent, a record figure in 

is section. 

Building on lakefront.wbich houses 
the theatre auditorium and Ralph 
Hitz's casino covers a city block, 
large enough to seat 3,000 spectators 
on bench-chairs and 2,000 diners at 
tables. Floating stage 160 feet wide 
is ancHbrfed 60 feet from thie shore> 
with two six-§toi*y stiDer towers on 
each side for high-divers and 
name-bands on first levels. 

Revolving stage in middle has five 
Albert Johnson sets of scenery, 
ranging from scenes of Coney Island 
ill 1908 to Miami; and Malibu Beach 
scenes, a colored water curtain al- 
lowing quick shifts. After ^ per 
formances it will be puUcid into 
building by a donkey engine, trans 
forming the entire float into a huge 
dance floor. 

Plenty of Talent 

iStage designed by "Winckler is al- 
ready finished and rehearsals of 200 
mermaids and chorus have been 
going on it for last week. Total 
cast runs up to 485, headed by 
Eleanor Holm^ Dick Degener, Bob 
Lawrence, Frazee Sisters, Dick 
Degener, Johnny . (Tarzan) Weis- 
muller, tubby Krueger, Walter 

(Continued on page 63) 



H-W GOADS NEWSPAPERS 



Service Ciur^e bn Oakleys .Stirs Up 
' V». Sheet— Stuns Newsboys 



Parkersburg, W. .,-May 25. 
Hagenbeck-Waiiace s'.iovv took an 
elegant drubbing from the local pa- 
pei^s when -it played here last week. 
Newspapers arranged \yith the 
vance to fatten the free publicity 
for tht, show in return foir a suf- 
flcient nuniber of admissions to 
cover carriers and street sales boys. 
It Syas understood that the holders 
were, to pay the tax. 

When the ki up • at the 

bi top on circus day they were 
confronted with a notice that all 
passes were subject to a service 
tax .of two . bits; greatly in excess 
of the stipulated amusement tax. 
Many of the kids did not have the 
quarter and were turned away be- 
fore the piapers could something 
about it. 

Show was eiaboratety lambasted 
in editorial columns and it; is going 
to be .tough for any . other outfit in 
this vicinity, papers contending that 
the service charge was ^practically 
clear firofit.* 



Ringtiiig Under Auspices 



Dover, ., May 
Al Butler, general, contracting 
agent for thie Ringling Bros.-Barnum 
& Bailey circus, pulled^ a surprise 
on the some .iD;O0O natives of thhi 
Tuscarawas county town, by con- 
tracting .it .for the appearance heie 
Sunday, July, it, of big one. ill 
be the smallest town ever played 
by the big show, Butler dcclareii. 
Engagement here ; of the show will 
be under the auspices of the Ameri-. 
c^n Legion: post here. 

Show is picking up this town 
rather.^ than moving .from Canton 
Saturday to Pittsburgh for the Usual 
Sunday lay-off. The Pittsburgh dates 
are July 12-13. 



Dallas Expo Eager to Get Started, 
With Three Weeks Stf to Pass 



TIGER CLAWS BYSTANDER 

Reaches Throuch Bar^ and lile^ 
Mgr. City Auditorium 





DATA 



Hagenbeck in Berlin 

Berlin, May 16. 

Deutsehlandballe, With a seating 
capacity of 6,000, housing the 
Hagenbeck circus nw, .' umans, 
imals and Sensations.' The super- 
sized sawdust oval has been sliced in 
two, one part serving for vaudeville 
and sensational stunts, the other £.>r 
straight animal ibits, Hagen- 
beck's: speciaityi 

•Heading the' list sensalidhal 
stunts is the trapeze, act of the Bo- 
nellys, together with Cherrlos. Two 
Races cavort on their Rhoen wheel 
directly under" the - high roof while 
Miss QUincy, does . dive from 
a §i -foot ■platform into a dimi- 
nutive, flaming , pool. The show ends 
With Kprin^a, femal(e^ Svengah, 
Whose magic powers arc supposed 
to put even the most ferocious of 
beasts ihto a stupor, 
is doi 



Indiianapolis, May 25. 

Indiahapolis Speedway cash foi* 
lucky and surviving wi this 
year is about $100,000. Henry T. 
Davis, who runs the city's conven- 
tion bureau, is faced wjth. worst 
problem to date. Besides the 100,000 
or so for the race expected in town, 
hje's confronted with 10,000 delegates 
to National Conference of Siacial 
Work convention week before the 
race. They're expected to pour 
$750,000 into cash register tills while 
here. iE^otels here, numbering about 
75, with total of 7,000 or 8,000 robms, 
are booked soli and most down- 
towner's bear printed signs: This 
room cannot be reserved between 
May 23 and ilune 1^ Davis has culled 
the city for available rooms to rent 
out tb the visitors, . and has listed 
about 1,000 to date. 

Last year's race crowd was bie- 
tween 140,000 and 160,000, They look 
for more this year, judging from 
advance ticket sales. And thiey've 
figured out that eacli race day visi- 
tor spends while, in Indianapolis 
somewhere around $20 or better. 
That doesn't include the money that 
changes hands when certain drivers 
.don't win certain laps, or don't fin- 
ish in the money. 

ick Merrill will act as ofTicifil 
starter of the race, assisted by Seth 
Klei 



Trisco Benefit 

San. Francisco, May 25. 
. ^ tagie, radio and screen stars have 
joined hands with iisiness and. 
labor leaders in staging a grand ball 
to aid. widows and orphans of work- 
men killed in construction of the 
Golderi Gate International Exposi- 
tion. To be held in the Civic Audi- 
torium on May 29. The ball will be 
one of the big attractions of the. 
jg^t-day Golden* Gate jBridge Fiesta 
ich opens the day before* 
Al Jol.son will be the' m.c. He will 
or'm:t along with him a contingent 
ot Hollywood personalities, includ- 
. Parkyakaikas, Thelma Leeds, 
Victor Young and possibly Martha 
«aye and Anita Louise. 



Ohio's Coney Starfs 

innati. May 25, 
Coney Island, up-river amusement 
park, opened its 50th season Satur- 
day (22). Edward Xi- Schott, son of 
the late George Schbtt, is manager. 

Spot, hard bit by the. Ohio river 
record flood last January, ha? hew 
clubhouse, darisant and several rides. 
Bert Block's . orch is the first road 
band for the park. Forrest Brad- 
ford's local iombo plays dance music 
on the Island Queen, which Conveys 
patrons from Cincy's muhy wharf. 



DEMPSEY BACKS DOGS 

Detroit, May 25. 
Jack Dempsey, whose cash backed 
dog racing bill, was defeated last 
week in the state senate, made a be- 
lated Visit to Lansing Friday f21), 
invited half of the legislators to 
lunch and opined 'everybody's en- 
titled to his opinion, , but it seems 
Michigan might as. well get the mil- 
lion dollar dog racing would bring 
i .' 

immicdiatcly after the eats, talk 
was revived of re-introducing the 
mutt measure as an amendment to 
a pending bill to place hoxse racing 
under control of a Ibrcc-man com- 
ish instead of a single commi ioner. 



GRAHAM CIRCUS 

Dallas, May 22, . 

Stanley raham's International 
Midgets Circus opened its break-in 
date here Friday (21) and will 
smooth out wrinkles through Wednes- 
day (26) before moving to San An- 
tonio for first stop on tour which is 
booked solid through, October, Man- 
agement repbrts dates at Toronto, ex- 
position and claims two weeks are 
set .in November for Madison Squire 
Gai*den, New York. 

Show ran , slightly less, than two 
hours night caught and was plenty 
rough in routine, J[ohn Lester, pro- 
duction .manager brought over from 
England,, plans to^build show tin to a 
littJ.o more than two hours. Midgets 
are all. over the three rings but most 
of them haven't caught the drift of 
things -yet. 

Big appeal in the show is. the. four- 
teen, elephants, the liberty act 
worked, by Max Chrysler, and the. 
aerial . work of Mary Patricia Finn 
and .Marie Lbhgdon. This trio is 
over from the Continent ' and were 
supposed to. have been brought by 
Lester. Chrysler alstr goes into cage 
of Snake King's lions in ojpening act 
and makes gesture toward doing a 
Clyde Beattv; but he retires shortly 
—but in good order. This midget 
apparently is willing to try anything, 
...Elephants 'were obtained from 
Robinson, . CJhrysty and, Powers. The 
combined herd appears to be the best 
performing elephants seen in any 
circus' by this big-top fan. .Garland 
Slatten, midget, handles one- of the 
Robinson group and sticks his head 
in the maw for a quick turn around 
the ring. The troupe of liberty 
horses algo came from, the Chrysty 
outfit: 

Graham has merged: most of the 
midget performers he used in his 
several exposition villages and had 
about 124 of: the tribesmen on hand 
at last count He uses a flock in a 
midget band and all of them jpartic- 
ipate in opening parade, called Caval- 
cade of America... Clown school also 
numbers 24. ' 

Acrobatic work features the Boer 
Brothers and severial of the midgets 
are worked , into the' Dudley act. 
Horsemanship is demonstrated by 
the McLaughlin Brotheris and by Ben 
Brown, a midget from- an Oklahoma 
Indian reservation, according to the 
advertising, 

.. Circus offers some good entertain- 
ment in the work of Chrysler With 
lions and horses and the aerial stuff 
of Finn and Longdon. The Slatten 
routine also is to the good. Sheer 
circus sensations of the number one 
tops are missing, however, Graham 
has sought for novelty and contrast 
and in last direction has a main top 
which is new and which is exceeded 
in size only by Gole-Bieatty and 
Ringling, he claims. New canvas 
also is up for sideshow, menagerie 
and cook tents. He went heavy for 
elephants to put across circuis angle. 

Moist trade interest in hew circus 
will be. inspired by sales promotion 
idea back of enterprise, this isid^ be- 
ing, handled by Johnny McMahon. 
Jn each town booked by McMahon 
he ties up a chain, of stores or a 
newspaper to promote advance sale 
of tickets, giving .sponsor igo.pd dis- 
count, on wholesale purchases, This 
plan not bnly helps circus ^et off 
nut before it opens; i^pot but it al.so 
is open sesame to newspaper adver-. 
tising at low rate. He works with 
chains Which go heavy for advertis- 
ing anyway, and will take big space 
to ballyhoo their connection with 
affair. Show will .remain usually in 
each spot lor five or six days. To 
keep newspapers from getting too 
hot over this evasion, of customary 
hi Ph transient rates levied, on circus 
oiitiits, the Graham tent will buy 
space on its. own at regular rates. 

Jean Finley, exploitation man 
identified for' vears in this section 
with film worfc, is in front of the 
show. 



St. Louis, May 25. . . 

H,. . G^tchell, , mgr. of City 
Auditorium, . St.. Joseph,- Mo. died 
May 21. from wouhds suffered when 
clawed by a tiger oh arena floor of 
an indoor circus auditorium 
May 20. 

Gretchel), was attacked as hie 
walked close to cage. Tiger reached 
through, bars with both- paws, drew 
Gretchell against cage and claWed 
at his .I'lght arm before attendants 
drbve animal off. Aged man suffered 
five deep wounds in arm and loss of 
blood and shock resulted in death 24 
hours later. 







EXPOS. 



Circus Routes 



Week of May 31 



ili'llinKlmnv. Wash.; SI; )ii:oitv*-r, 

(1. '.. .tune 1-2; .\lt. VoriiD. '.i-si., ,; 
f-:v»'r»"li'. Tuf.-om , B-C. 

Ringli ros.-Barnum & Bailey 

A\'0'-;t TMillmlPlpllia, Sl-.Iiine .J-2; 

\Vll)iilii(jton, J)e),i 3; arrluli ', J'. ' .; 
IlKAtling, t. 



Wa.shihgtoni May 25; 
itures for partici- 
pation ill reach 
hi , although curi-eht econ- 
omy wave is causHhg fears that ear- 
marked outlays may be chopped ma- 
terially. 

Spending upwards of $500,000 this 
yeair fbr.exhibs at three fairs, gov- 
ernment is readying to use: close , to 
$10,000,000 to help out the rival ex;- 
pos at San. Francisco ind New York 
two years hence. Already $5,000,000. 
has been voted,, but bill has been 
vetoed by President Roosevelt. Un- 
derstood Grover Whalen ill ap-' 
ply for $3,000,000. 

. is.an Francisco appropriation of 
$3,000,000 has hot been brought up 
i ither branch of Congress, biit is 
due for favorable action. Other bills 
paving way for foreign participation 
havie; however, received the hod. 
The request for $2,500,0()0 With 
which to dredgie: channels and yacht 
basin, build water gate, and perform 
other improvements on the water- 
front of the N. Y. site is still Slum- 
bering at the . Capitol. 

"This year's government fair activ- 
ities are mostly a hang^oyer. Con- 
gress has reappropiriated unexpended 
balance of last year's $3,000,000 al- 
lotment for the Texas centennial, 
making $326,00O available. Fund of 
$135,000 is on hand for further gov- 
ernment representation at the repeat 
Cleveland expo. Only new outlay 
will be for U. S. exhibits at Paris, 
$200,000 having been set aside for 
this purpose. 



Dallas, May 25. 

With only three 

before Dallas exposition opens June 

12^ most of the enter inmeht spots 

claim they Will be ready i 

of the openi . Latin American 
theme will prevail in some shows 
but others will stick to the teistcd 
routi 

Road to Jllo: will occupy 
mcrly held by Streets of Paris;, 
place will have 'village' 
Spanish -flavbr and will have a clulj 
on mezzanihe to catch the extra- 
dough crowd. This place ill be 
the number one spot with setup i 
line ith expo ballyhoo and will be 
the prize exhibit the Midway., 
which has been renamed La Rambia. 

.Nat Rogers has taken over the 
concession which, will be knoWn as 
The Bowery and he is ottemiiting to 
round up all the oldtimers for . 
show. He says the choriis will be 
Marge, but no beet U'usti' S... 

Show Bbat will be bitck again, of- 
fering 'Murder in the. Old Red Barn* 
instead of 'The Drunkard,, which 
was the bill last year; The cast is 
being brought up from San Antonio 
where It has been playing the old. 
meller for the past three months. 

Black Forest is undergoing some 
carpenter work ich will be fin- 
ished by manage.meht 
claims. 

. Cast for 'Cavalcade- is. in rehearsal 
and most of the sets are completed, 
according to Producer A. L^ VoU- 
man. He. says, a 60-f6ot volcano will 
•erupt* in. the first . scene merely as 
an eye-opener for the audience. In 
the finale another scene announced 
is the wedding, of. Wally Simpson 
and the king, who played . hooky 
from a throne. Mr.: Vollman hash't 
expli&ined how is episode jiv ill be 
tied in With Pan-: American .{^ istory» 
Stage sets and turntable Qiiit tor 
the Casino are being constructed in 
New York and are expected shortly 
after June 1, it Is iannounced, 

Another entertainment note is- the 
contracting with Major Bowes by a 
major oil cpmpany exhibitor for fbur 
amateur acts daily in its lounge. A 
complete change in acts Is promised 
each two weeks. 



Kicking the Hounds 

Detroit, May 25. 
Aifter several attempts to browbeat 
legislators into line, the state senate 
last week killed the promotor- 
backed dbg. racing, bill. Which would 
have allowed two dog tracks in. each 
county of the state. ^ 

The hill, which, previously . had 
been pnssed by the house, lost In 
the kenate by 17 to 14. / -niarkeci 
the clcsest the perennial measure 
had been beatert i .past several 
yciU'S..' 



LOOKING AHEAp 

t, Paul, May 25. 
Putting itself into the big'-timb 
circle of civic pageantry together 
With New Orleans* Mardi Gras and 
Pasadena's Tournament of Roses; this 
burg has signed up Martin J; Kelly, 
vet theatre ad man, full-time 
mnnaging. director Ppul's 
Winter Carnival, 

Event skeded. for eight days, Jan- 
uary. 29 through February 5,. 1930, 
but preparations are ^:urrcntly, going 
on apace. 



Helping the'Exhibs 



aul. May. 
Municipal Cbnnimuniiy Sing gets 
under way' May 31, - Tunning five 
nights a week for eight weeks ajtd 
alternating every night from one to 
another of the city's five park.<?. 

Going into its third season, the 
Sing last summer attracted nightly 
crowds as. high as 10,000. Season 
wound up costing the Department 
$1,370. 

Commissioner red M, Trunx 
Saturday (22) clo.scd n den I -with 
First National Bank of this bur;; to 
foot this season's tqtal hi\U St, Paiil 
rags. Pioneer Press and Dispatch are- 
putting up the trophies and putting, 
on. the publicity campaign. At wind-' 
up, four musical .scholarship.s go to 
untrained voices and two to trained 
ones. 



Fair Idea Sticks 

Charlotte, N, C., May 25. 

The possi ility that North . Caro- 
lina may. stage a .stale expeditions of 
natibnal importance within the next 
few years was rcsscd again 
week by Governoir Hocy. 

A legi.slativc commission,, author- 
ized by the Gpcncral' Assembly to in- 
vestigate the possibility of thi.'» 
State's participating bn the. ?l'cw 
York World's; Fair and -^the G.-.-'dca 
Gate exposition W'H be ri.sl;.f '.l to 
'look into the qticstiorj of 
position here,' 



DANVILLE DOOMS CARNEYS 

Lynchbili-g, May 25. 
Lifting a cVwpter frotn Lynchburg, 
where iiarncys have been stifled by 
a prbhi itbry tax, neighboring town 
of Danville i-s sUulyihg an Ordinance 
banning all Tail's, carnivals and cir- 
ciLses within city limits.' 



NICKING THE HABES 

I St. Louis, May 25. 

Forest Paik Highlands, lowi\'si 
only amusement park, after a .slow 
getaway due tb cold and rainy 
wpather, is enjoying prpspcr9M«; hit 
that is nicking the nabes. Park, 
newly decorated and boa.sting of half 
a dozen new amusement .'devices, is 
spot where school picnics are held 
annually. 

A 10c admission is charged after 
7 p.m. on weekdays and after t n.m. 
Sunday and a niifnc band fut\ '.cs 
free concerts in Japanese pay. .ori» 



63 



VARIETY 



Wedneisdajt May 26, 1937 



ews From the Dailies 

This iiepaTtrriBni eontaiiis rewritten theatrical news itevxs as PMt>-; 
liah^d during the week, in the daily papers of New Itork, Chicago, 
San Frmeiseo, Hollywood and London. VARiEtY takes no credit for 
these news items; each has been rewritten from d dailjif paper. 



East 



Charles H. Miller, Village cabaret 
owner, testified that when he heard 
that his wite's. alleged sweetie was 
wearing Miller's own pyjamas he 
fainted and stayed .under four hours. 
He is suing his wiife, the former Vera 
Pierso'n, for divorce on the confes- 
sion 61 Joe Rose, which was later 
revoked. She is suing him for di- 
vorce and $250 a week. 

Musicians* Fund elects Dr. Darh- 
rosch' chairman ) of the board and 
Mrs. Vincent Astor: acting prexy^ 

Alice Nielsen, one-time light opera 
star, gets right to foreclose on a 
mortgage given her by her divorced 
Husband, Leroy R. Stoddard; as part 
of the property settlement. 

Chirdi-ien's playground on site of^ 
the old Gentrai Park jGasind opened 
last week. 

Brian Aherhe back from a Medi- 
terranean criiise. Had planned pix 
:in England, but says the flhandal, 
$ituatibh is too uncertain; so he's go- 
ing to Holly>vopd. 

Irish Repertory Players celebrated 
their first birthdjay ' Sunday with a 
party at the Parkside. Alfred 
Krey'mbbrg, guest of honor. 

Ronald King plans a. Strawhat for 
the kiddies at Montclair, N. J. Will 
givie performances with local kids, 
on Wednesday, 'Thursdiay and Satur- 
day afternoons. 

Jersey Central iiiaugurates a 
ightseeing train toiir. Loudspeakers 
in each' car to relay .the barker;- Riin 
is 325' miles. 

Irene Castle McLaughlin ptomaine 
victim in Baltimbre, but getting bet- 
ter. There for a meeting of humane 
society. 

Atlantic City tells men bathers to 
keep their shirts on .this year. Wq- 
tneti bathers told to be modest. . 

Louise Grobdy planning to build 
« $25,000: strawhat at Skytop, Pa. 
Not to open this season. She'll man- 
age and appear in some of the plays, 

Irving Berkowitz, born blind, 
visited Radio City Music Hall last 
week and played the huge organ. 
Stops were all new to him, l>ut ex- 
plained by his instructor, Theodore 
A. Taferner, also blind. Did very 
nicely and surprised Dick Liebert. 

George Hamid to do the booking 
at Palisades Park this summer. 

Leon and Eddiia threw a party for 
Al Trahan at their spot last Sunday. 

International Ladies Garment 
Workers. Union announces a prize 
play contest ending July I. Top 
prize is . $2,000, with another half 
that. Play must deal With social 
cohilict. 

. Revived talk of .. the Marx ros. 
hitting Broadway in the fall in 
Peter Arno's 'Some Like It Hot.' But 
they have not settled definitely. 

Lusschanya Mobley, Chickasaw In- 
dian girl, made her .operatic debut in 
Trieste last week. Uses her front 
moniker for her stage name. 

Dance pavilion at. Palisades Park 
destroyed by' fire Sunday night. Loss 
about $20,000. Park is owned, by 
Kick Schenck. 

The Shuberts and Fortune Gallo 
adding more seats to the Jones Beach 
Bude. Expect ^ore biz. 

Arthur Hopkins and Orson Welles 
plaiining a production of 'King Lear' 
next season. Welles. in the name part. 

Stage Relief Fund moves to Hud- 
son theatrie Friday. Sam Grisnian 
provides three rooms rent free. 

Policp took 267 men and six. women 
from one of the lodge rooms in 
Mecca Temple last Friday. The 
women and four of the men held for 
special, sessions charged with giving 
an indecent performance; Other mien 
sprung in West Side court. Building 
is rented by representative of the 
Manutacturers Trust, holder of the 
mortgage and not by the Shriners. 

Governors Island to be scene of a 
pageant to rnark its tercentenary. 
June 13-20. 

Latest special train, idea Is the 
Jungle Tram put of Boston to a wild 
animal farni in New Hampshire. 
First .one ran last Sunday. 



geics. Couifi apprpyed a property 
settlement. 

Richard I. Gorman, seeking an i 
junction in, L. A;- Federal court, 
charged. Paramount's 'The Old- 
Fashioned Way' uses ideas con- 
taiped in his p^i ihal play, ' 
br'ette.' 

Barbara Stanwyck was thrown 
and injured when Her mount stepped : 
into.a gopher hole. 

Califprnia tax officials were i- 
rected, to search for any properties 
belonging to John Barrymore .to sat- 
isfy an income tax deficiency of 
$4,500 for 1936. 

Charles Frederick Gebhard asked 
permission of the L. A. Superior 
Court to change his. name legally to 
Charles Buck Jones. . 

:Mrs. Elizabeth. Young Mankiewicz 
was granted a divorce from Josejih 
L. Mankiewicz in L.. A. on cruelty 
charges. She Was awarded $1,00Q a 
month for 50 months, custody of 10- 
mOnths-old child and $500 a month 
for the chilu's support. 

MARRIAGES 

Edith Caldwell to Marti Floyd, 
May 14, in Houston. Groom is a mu- 
sician with George Olsen'^s ' orch. 
Bride is a singer with the band. 

Eloise Haigler, member of sister 
sihgihjg team on WSFA, Montgomr 
ery, Alai, and Caldwell Stewart, 
program manaiger on same station, on 
May i4, in Montgomery. 

Judith Anderson,' legit actress; to 
Prof. Benjamin Harrison Lehman of 
University of. Californi , May 16, 
Kingman, Ariz.' 

Constance Worth to George Brent,' 
May 10, linsenada, Mexico. Groom 
formerly married to Ruth Chatter- 
ton. Both in pictures. 

Lola Pertson to Jack Leighter, 
Hollywood agent, at Laguha Beach,- 
May 22. Bride is L. A. Times society 
writer. . 

ith Haskins. to Russell Metty at 
Yuma, Ariz., May 21. Bride is a 
film actress and groom a cameraman. 

Edythe Wurtzel to Lester Ziffr en, 
in Los. Angeles, May 21. Bride is 
daughter of Harry Wurtzel, agent, 
Groom is a writer at 20th-Fox. 

Ruth Levy to Joseph Hoffman, at 
Yuma, May 22. Bride Is secretary to 
Harry Sherman. Groom is a writer 
at Radio. 

Marie Mitchell Shipley to Arthur 
McLaglen, actor and formier pugilist. 
May .22, in Pasadena. Groom is a 
brother of Victor McLaglen. 

Nina Quartero^ screen actresis, to 
Joe Shea, Grand National national 
publicity head, March 6 in Tia Juana. 

Mary Eaton to Charles A. Emery, 
May 24, in New York. Bride is 
former musical star. Gi'oom is a 
California rancher. 



'Jack RahhiV 



(Continued from page 5) 



Frank .Wallace suffered a setback 
In his action to settle his alleged 
marital status with. Mae West wheh 
Superior Judge Kenny, in Los Ange- 
les sustained a deAiurrer brought by 
the actress and gave Wallace 20 days 
to amend his complaint. 

BarOii Long, owner of the Agua 
Caliente hotel, signed • contracts with 
.CROM, Mexican labor organization, 
and announced in L. A. that the hotel 
will reopen about July 1. 

Adrienne Ames suffefred , a: 
wrenched back in an automobile ac- 
cident in Holly wood* 

Oliver Hardy was granted ah in- 
terlocutory decree of divorce from 
Mrs. Myvi\9 Lee -Hardy- in Los An- 



. itinerant showmen, traveling about 
the country, stop at certain, institutes 
On a previously arranged schedule 
but without permitting the dis- 
tributor to know of them. 

Rushinff the Print 
'■■ Hospitals, penitentiaries, reform 
schools, public and private schools, 
collegesj town halls, CCC camps; 
sahitoriums and private homes are 
included .in the list of these non- 
theatrical locations for, showings, 
instances have been reported where 
the chiseling exhibitor has. obtained 
.$15 $20 on. a piicture for a Sat- 
urday morning showing when he did 
not need ii is I'egular house pri . 

In a : recent case reported to the 
CPB, ■ found that a private 

iiidivi uai made a. practice of enter- 
taining his guests each week around 
midnight in .his dwn private projec- 
tion I'oom. Print was obtained 
from traveling or itinerant ex- 
hibitor, who in turn got the film 
froin a theatre " an adjoining 
state. The theatre manager was ac- 
customed to booking the picture pre- 
sumably for his theatre but in re-, 
'atity he turned the print over to the 
traveling 'jackTrabbit' who then ex- 
hibited it at the private estate ob- 
taining' $200 to $300 for the show- 
ing. Distributor, only isecured $15 
for the supposed exhibition in the 
regular theatre. 

Check . by icials has revealed 
that the only re^.spn that such a 
large sum is paid by the .private in- 
dividual for one showing i.s the mis- 
taken belief, quite prevalent among 
such, that there is only one print, 
or two or three at the most, avail- 
able for most feature productions, 



BURLEYS WAITING 

TO SEE HIZZONER 



Unable to get to the licen.se com- 
mis.sioner, Tom . Phillips, prez of 
Burlesque Artists^ Associati i is 
waiiting the return 'of Mayor Fiorello 
H. LaGuardia. for arv appeal agaiiist 
clbseout of pierforrhers since N: Y. 
theatre licenses were refu.sed, He is 
expected back from Mayors' Con- 
vention, in Sah Franciso at the end 
of this .week. 

Meanwhile, since the !flat was iS': 
sued, managers have, done little; l- 
tinge and Irving 'iPlace operat6i*s 
tried to force the issue in Su reime 
Court, but were' nixed when justice, 
reversing his original .opihioh. Upr 
held the commish. Mainagements of 
tiie Oriental and Gaiety theatres 
tried for vaudeville, licenses under 
their .original corporate setups, but 
are also still waiting ttie pleasure of 
the. commish. 

'There havei been reports of secret 
meetings, at Moss' office With H.^ K. 
and Mdrt Minsky. regarding, reopen- 
ing of the Oriental as. a vaude house. 
Hpweveir, nothing has come of the 
sessions. 

■ There is nojpanic .among perform- 
ers With showgirls and peelers head-, 
ihig for remoter parts. Choristers, 
comics;^ sihgers, et al.i are also seekr 
ihg out: usual sumrner employment 
in other fields. Seasonal folding of 
majority . see's lots of latter, hitting 
hiteries, honky tonks and mountain 
resorts. Procedure w'a^ little rushed 
this year, but girls and boys are 
making 'the most, of it. dthers ara 
waiting around hoping for the best. 



Talent Famine 



(Continuied from' page I> 



stepped into star prominence with 
his dummy. 

Season has also witnessed the 
coming ahead of Marion, and., Jim 
Jordoh^ Veteran radio act of Chi-^ 
cago, whose 'Fibber McGee and 
Molly' for 'Johnson Wax started to 
click belatedly. This forms a rather 
conspicuous exception to the 
generality that radio itself does not 
groorh winners; 

W. C. Fields, patched up and' bet- 
ter than new after a long siege, 
has within the past three weeks 
presented! himself as a candidate 
for top rating: Bob Burns has come 
ahead strong during the season. 
Charley BUtterworth was another to 
rprhp ahead in '36-'37, although not 
new to radio this year. 

Novelties Score 

As predicted last summer, hovel- 
ties Were: the chief innovation or 
trend of '36-'37 season. Phillips 
Lord clicked with *We; The People,' 
while his 'Gang Busters' also ranked. 
Novelty got two major setbacks, 
however, in the difficulties of Good 
Will Court and Haven MacQuarrie. 
Major Bowes remained head niah in 
the 'make-the-publiCTdo-.the-enter- 
taining' branch. 

Emphasis on sports and news 
probably brought forth more in divi- 
dends than any other type^ of pro- 
gram. Women such as Kathryn 
Cravens, Greta Palmer, joined the 
parade still led by Carter -Thonias- 
Hiil. Sheer gab had its chief apostle 
restored tp sponsorship when Alex 
Woollcbtt came put from behind a 
platoon of Vermont Yankees and 
went back to woirk. John McPher- 
son .(Mystery Chjef), George Rector, 
Charles K. Field (Cheerio), Floyd 
Gibbons, Ted Husing, Nellie Re- 
vell, Graham McNamee, Paul Doug- 
lass, Clem McCarthy, June Baker; 
John Bk Kennedy, Edgar Guest, Ted 
MalOiie, Frankiia MeCormick, cia- 
briel Heatter, Deems Taylor, Dick 
Fishell,' Uncle Don, Capt. Tim 
Healy, Charles Lyons, Milton Cross, 
Ben rauer, Jean Ring, Rush 
Hughes, 'Walter Winchell, Jimmy 
Fidler, Martha. Deane, Don Ameche, 
Jimmy Waliington, Francis D. Bow- 
man were among, the jaw-exercisers 
who' did okay for themselves in '36- 
•37. 

. Highlights or • .'37 

Seiason \yas notable in a taleiit 
sen.se for the following: 

Eddie Cantoris jockeying for posi- 
tion and his nltimnte return id hit/h 
ranking in C. A. B. 

Failure of Martha Raye to du- 
plicate her pictiire popularity on the 
radio 

Athos ' ■year of 

won 

What the Fred Astaire series did 
foi- Charley Butterwdrthli 

Eclipse of Cicira, Lu and Ein. i. 

Kate Smith's showinanly fi^hi 
againsi the Vallee hour. \ 

Previews 6J film plots on 'Holly- 
wood Hotel.' 

Cu&st star headactm for Sealtest 




EDIMOND G. CpRBIN 

Edmorid Gilmpre Gorbin, for many 
years a niusiciah, actpr, and sketch 
writer,': died May 19 at Troy, N, Y;j 
after a brief illness.. 

Born in the nearby village of 
Greeri Island. .Corbin went to New 
York City early in life. For several 
years he conducted a schpbt of 
music. Later he entered valideville 
and .b.ecahie known in. minstrel and 
other, musicar acts. , He also' wrote 
many sketches. He retired about six 
years ago and returned to Troy to 
live. His WidoWi the former Anna 
Sullivan, surviveis. 



/OHN iSDWARD KPAADY) STRINE 

John Edward (jPiaddy) Striiie, 67, 
veteran slack wire artist, .. died at 
his honne at Ne.W jPhiladelphi ', May 
15, after an illness of several months. 

He trouped with the old Sun Bros, 
circus more than 50 years ago as 
Well as other tent . shows, ' and w&s 
one of the feature acts on the .mid- 
way at the Chicago Worlds fair in 
1893. 

"His widow, th.ree brothers and 
three sisters survive. 



CHESTER BISHOP 

Chester Bishop, 79, legit veteran 
and character actor in pictures, died 
May 23 in I^os; Angeles after a year's 
illness. 

Bjshop.was .oh the N. Y; stage for 
years and in films past 12 years. He 
appeared with Sarah Bernhardt and 
toured ith own ' stock company; 
Services, burial Los Angeles, 
May 25. 

NOAH BEERT.JSR. 

Noah Beery, Sr., .86, father of Wal- 
lace, Noah and William Beery, led 
in Hollywood, May 19. 

He went to California 22 years ago 
front Kansas City where he had re- 
tired': from the police force; He suf- 
fered broken hip seven months 



ago and never recovered from the 
iiijury. 



ERNIE MATNE 

Ernie Mayne (Perpy Barratt), pon^ 
ular music hall comedian of pre-war 
days, died at Brighton, Eng., May 
15, fpllpwih^ Appendicitis operation 

He was one of the putstanding 
vaudeville names of his day. He 
had in retirement f pr many 

■years. ■ ' 



JOHN CLYMER 

John Clymeir, 50, film writer for 
20 years, died of a heart attack May 
24 in Hollywood. 

He started in the buisiness with In- 
ternational ilm. and had many 
screen plays ta his credit. His widow 
survives. 



■ H. STOKES LO-TT, JR. 

H. tokes Lott, Jr., 3«, former 
mi , radio writer and air actor, 
died jn Switzerland, May 18. * 
■ Survived by his widow, inother, 
son- and three ' ' 



jOHN PHILIP 

Jphn Philip Spusa, , son of the; 
bandmaster, died at La Jolla, CiUt, 
pf a heart attack. May 17. 



Mother of Rebecca of Rebecca & 
SiltOn, Hollywood agents, died i 
Brooklyn, May 19. She was 58 yeark 
old and is survived by ; four other 
daughters. 



Father of Pete Nelson, time buyer 
foi: Chicago office of Blackett-Sam- 
plerHummert agency, died May 18, 

Father of (Grladys Birown, vaude- 
ville agent, died at his home in West 
End, N. J., May 19. 



Mrs. Doilie. Arminta Barnes, 

first Wife pf' Al G. Barnes, died i 
Glehdale, Calif., May 19. 



and Shell in New York and guest 
star prices in Hollywood^ 

Erno Rdpee^s snappy 'compromise' 
concert policy for General Motors. 

The new Bing Crosby. 

Ponfia:c's exploitation of college 
talent via John Held, Jr's visits to 
campuses all over V. S. 

Navigation ditficulties of Maxwell 
Showboat. 

Continuance of what D. P. SmeU 
ser of Procter & Gamble quips is 
'the negative correlation of Va- 
riety reviews of daytime programs 
and popularity,' 

Among the singers, quite .a few 
were newly or freshly prominent; 
Fred MacMurray and James Melton 
stepped out as singing emCees. 
Lucille Manners' replacement of 
Jessica Dragonette pn Cities Service 
has focussed attehti Helen Jep- 
son has become a top-ranking radio 
singer in the past season. Lily Pons 
and Richard Crobks were among the 
most active guest warblers all sea 
son, while Nelson Eddy was a per- 
manent broadbaster, with the dames 
still swooning on schedule. 
. New Singers 

Jerry Cooper is recently estab- 
lished on Hollywood Hotel, which 
seems likely to provide him with a 
springboard; Donald Dickson, Jan 
Peerce, Vir ia Rae, Marion Talley 
Jack Fulton, Nino Martini, Ruth 
Etting, Barry McKiniey, Ralph Kir^ 
bery, Cpnrad ThibaUlt, Fraricia 
White. Jane Pickens, Deanna Dur- 
bm, Patti Chapih, Barry Wood, Mo- 
rin Sisters, Tito Guizar, Kitty Carlisle 
Edward MacHugh.. Landt Trio and 
White (reduced by death), Igor Go- 
V , rudy Wood;. Pinky Tomlin, 
Gene Austi . Dorothy Lamour, JRay 
Heathertpn and Frank Parlcer were 
among the. radio singers who should 
be listed, in., any hosecoUnting 
for 1936.'37. Buddy Clark from Bos- 
ton, copped some spot-lighting for 
his radip .Work and also as the Holly- 
wood voice double of Jack Haley, 
Lanny Ross has made several hoity- 
toity, concert appearances arid has 
increased his prestige as an. artist. 

Swing trend in pop music has 
brought celebrity and the financial 
benefits that customarily tag along 
to a number of apostles of the art. 
Benny Goodman perhaps leads; iShep 
Field, Russ Morgan, Jacques Fray, 
Bunny Berigan, Joseph Cherniavsky, 
Lindsay McPhail are some of the 
'newer' radio, musicians. Shock 
n-oops still numbered. WhitemaiV 
Reisman, Himber, Goodman, Haen- 
schen, Rubinoff, Greeri; Lombard©, 
Kemp, Busse, Kassel, Heidt, Johnson, 
ftyser. King, Lyman, Casa Loma, 
puchui Sosnik, Kostelahetz, War- 

King. Roy 

bhield, Willspn, Paige, Cugat, War- 



ing, CJri , Janssen, Bestpr, 
Renard. A shift from afternoon to. 
evening broadcasting in late season 
came to the Phil Spitalny all-girl 
Orchestra; 

Radio programs invariably include 
unclassifiable items. Of such was "Dr. 
Allan Dafoe> a baby doctor who by 
the Unanimous . indulgence of the 
medical profession is permitted to. 
brbadcast commercially; Bob Rip- 
ley, Warden Lawes, Ruth,. 
Crosby Gaige, James . raddock 
were radio recruits the curiosa 
kind during 1936-'37. 

Comedians— always the rarest item 
in all branches of entertainment- 
remained; few and far between. Bob. 
Burns was notable new made- 
gopder. Bert Lahr returned and was 
again handicapped by wrong i«a- 
terial. Beatrice Lillie, Bob Hope, 
Joe (ipok, Walter O'Keefe, East and 
Dumke, Ken Murray and Oswald 
(whose catchphrases were picked up 
hy kids, etc.), Ed Fitzgerald, 
Charley Butterworth, Stoophagle and 
Budd, Fishface and Figbottom, Vic- 
tor Moore-Helen Broderick, Jack 
Pearl, Joe Penner, Uncle Ezra, Ed- 
die Green, Jack Oakie, Phil Cook, 
Al Pearce, Joe Rines^ Ed Wynn, Tirrt 
and Irene, Howard and Shelton, Mil- 
ton Berle, Jimmy Durante, Block 
and Sully, PiC and Pat, Parkyakar- 
kas^it sounds like a. song list when 
assembled in one paragraph. But it 
spreads pretty thin over the brpad- 
casting biscuit;, . 

Helen Hayes arid: .Helen Menken 
have pocketed spme" of. radio's lucre 
for dishing out scripts that rate 
artistic . slumming.. 



PIRTHS 



Mr. and Mrs. Fred iSaidy, son. 
May 16, in Hollywood. Father Is a 
script writer on the Republic lot; 

Mr. and Mrs, David Stem, '3d, jspn, 
i Philadelphia, May 16. Under 
name of Peter Stirling, father Is legit 
critic of the Philadelphia Record and 
son of J. David Stern, publisher of 
that paper and N. V. Post. 

Mr. and Mi:S. Jack Gertzm.an,. soil, 
Los Angeles, May 19. Father is an 
assistant director at Metro; 

Mr, and Mrs. Al Raboch, daughter. 
May 23, in Lo.s Angele.s. Father is 
production manager for David Loew 
Prods, 

Mr. and T^rs. S. N. Bachelin, son. 
May 22, in Sapita Monica. Father is 
Paramount art director. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fier, son. May 
24, in HoHyWood. Father is a film 
production exec. 

Mr. and Mrs. Val Lewton, son; 
May 24, in Santa Monica. Father is 
story editor for Selznicks Interna- 
tional. 



Wtdaesd^Jr May 26, 1937 



FORUM 



VARIETY 



€9 



Cleveland Expo 



(CJontlnucd from page 61) 

mre WahU Ray Eulii^g's seal, and 

Seen Blffii i«» ^J^^'^^* °* Z^^"™- 
wSig chorus. John Murray Ander. 

15 holding final rehearsals 
Thursday (27) and Friday on the 

^^Although Rose's prices are in 
keeping with spectacle's scale, first 
night is already sold out. Af ternoon 
i<^ish tax is 75c. jumping ^o; $1 eye- 
• ■ $1,50 Saturdays, and minimum 

inner .is -$1.25. ; ' u 

Bands linied up for Aquaqade by 
Ralph B; Humphrey, radio director 
of Expo, begin with Wayne King for 
Initial two weeks; June 12, Joe 
•vVenuti; June 28, Xayier Cugat; July 
6 Ted Weems; , Shep. Fields; 

Aug. 3w isham Jones; Aug. 17, Bob 
Crosby; Aug. 26 ta xlosiJig on Sept. 
6 Casa Loma. Stubby <Lee) Gor- 
don's band irbim WTAM cueinjg the 
revues. 

Midway under charge Of Almon 
Shaffer is hiving "its entiriE face 
lifted, repaint^ and looks like a 
better money-maker for concesr 
sibnaires. Nudity and peep-shows 
banned this summer, but around a 
dozen hew features are more prom 
ising. Harry . Harrison's 'Winter 
land,' erected in Ed Huhgerford's 
qid Pagieant of the Years site, is 
closest rival to Aquacade for size ais 
well as hbveltyy Jce-skatirig theatre 
covering nearly half a block ill 
have .4,000 ""siquare feet of ice. 

Forty ice champs are glorified in 
it,, including Marfbei Yerxa Vinson; 
figure-skating champ; Francis 
Claudet; Walter. Arian also as direc 
tor, puke and Noble and two 
hockey exhibition teams, Olympic 
stars are , being presented in ah 
operetta-fantasy. Written . .by Isaac 
(Vanny) Van GrOVe froni 'Eternal 
Road.' Harry Horner is designer; 
'Malcomb V. Lonvax, technical direc 
tor and manager; Dr. Leo Kopp, or 
chestra conductor; Thomas E. Wil- 
liams, lelectrician. Ralph Jameson, 
who sang in 'Eternal Road,' to. play 
a Prince Charming in . show which 
has a 4Pc. admission. 

Reports that Theodoi^e DeWitt's 
floating Showboat wouldn't be in 
circulation were kicked'. Out when 
Herman Pirchner, nitery operator, 
made a last-minute deal to take it 
over. Converted two-deck! ferry 
.boat has been anchored in .Midway's 
lagoon. Instead of the exclusive, 
costly -atmosphere it had last year, 
Pirchner Showboat will feature 
low. priced, dance-and-dine. policy in- 
cluding L; Nazaar Kurkdjie's con 
cert ensemble as one of two orches: 
tras. In addition promoter is run- 
ning Alpine Village, beer garden 
further down the line with Otto 
Thurn's Tyroleans, 

Swank society club that had its 
1936 headquarters in the Showboat 
will move its Recess Club into the 
Horticultural Building. Harry Har 
rison is another doubler-in-brass, in 
stalling Tony Sarg's Marionettes in 
former Old Globe theatre besides 
having a., finger in Winterland, 
Fourth idramatic attraction to be 
production Of 'Drunkard' in a new 
1,500 Capacity theatre sponsored by 
Hargraves and Reicher, who also 
are putting in ride called 
RIgolarium. 

Because city's civic auditorium 
^as too inconvenient i '36, 'Radio 
land' has moved' down to .a more 
central location in Sherwin-Williams 
symphony shelL AH broadcasts by 
guest name bands. Including Guy 
Lbmbardo and James Melton, to be 
staged here by Ralph B. Humphrey 
and Art Cook, aissistant director. 



Agents Use WPA 



WHAT THEY THINK 



Clean Burlesque Paid 

Hollywood,. May 20. 
Editor, Vauibty: 

It was with great interest I read 
in Variety of May 12,. the article 
entitled 'The Killer of Burlcesque— 
in 1931,' written by Sime, I spen» 
neairly a life., time in that branch 
of the businesis always standing for 
and producing nothing but clean 
shdws; so it isn't strange that I 
should feel a trifle sentimentzil' aboyt 
it all- 

Variexy stairted in .1905 whiChi was. 
also the year I made by debut -as a 
burlesque manager of Tom Miner's 
Bohemians. I sent -a . column to 
Variexy from every town, which. I 
signed The Big Scream/ VARifc-nrr 
continually hamm<ercd that type tot 
show and it is a pity that when the- 
article was .first printed in 1931 that 
the authorities did not' take action' 
to clean up those shows so that; the 
waning days of .burlesque would not 
be dragged in the mud. 

Those shows miist have been pretty 
raw when art old timer like 'Beef 
Trust' Watson , and Others send in 
squawks, for 'Philip' you -know could 
handl<e double entendre as no one 
else could. 

I wonder 'what poor -Millie De 
Leon, The irl in Blue' would say 
if she got a peek at those strip 
teasers. Millie was supposed to be 
quite notorious as a dancer, but she 
was as tanie as . a Quakeress at a 
Sunday sch<)ol picnic compared to 
the teaser ot today. 

When I first produced 'Follies of 
the Day' i 1908, at the Standard 
l^eatre in . St Louis,, old timers 
said , the show would be. razzed 
ofl! the stage. Standard was a Istag. 
house \ of the worst kind. My show 
did not.contain a hell, damn, obscene 
joke oir even, a pair of tights, the 
costumes being confined to knee and 
ankle length It was claimed by old 
timers that the stag; audiences- would 
not go for that kind of a show^ On 
thci opening; night, which .was a hot 
one in Augiist. that audience re- 
ceived the show so enthusiastically 
that Jim Butler, Owner of the the- 
atre and president of the 'western 
wheel, offered to buy our share of 
the gross for the entire week. 

Success of that show infiuenced 
the directors of thie Columbia Cir- 
cuit, at that time a rival o£ the Em- 
pire . Circuit, to build the Columbia 
Theatre. It was from the. Lincoln 
Square engagement Of the 'Follies' 
that Dillingham engaged Harry Fox 
who later starred with the Dolly 
Sisters. 

Statistics prove that dirty shows 
never survived and while in the 
early nineties burlesque receipts av- 
eraged from $1,700 to $3,5C|0 or there- 
abouts, in the heyday Of Columbia 
shows grosses ran as high as $16,000. 

What a shame all that has been 
swept away by the hew order of 
things. Sime was right when he 
wrote in his article that burlesque 
was dead and would never come 
back under that name. It should be 
said however^ that the passing of 
burlesque has deprived the rest of 
the amusement business of a de- 
/Veloping ground for future talent. 
Executives in pictures and in radio 
here in Cialifornia are lamenting that 
fact You can't blame them when it 
is remembered that they realize bur- 
lesque developed such stars as W, C. 
Fields, Joe E. Brown, Clark & Mc- 
Cullough, Bert Lahr, Al Jolsoai, 
Eddie Cantor, Jack Pearl, Fannie 
Brice, Joe Penner, Dolly Siisters, 
Watson Sisters and evir so many 
others, all graduates from the burr 
lesque that was— and in no way re- 
lated to what they call burlesque 
today... 

Barney Gerdtd. 



(Continued from" page 1*) 



Agent's office just acts as a stopoff 
for labeling of the R. F. D. product. 
Project readers, of which there arc 
15 in. N. Y., central reading head^ 
quarters for all PWA activity 
throughout the country, must wade 
. through .every piece of tripe' which 
comes into the office. There is no 
slipshod handling because of writ-, 
ten reports, etc. In that way agent 
gets all for nil while Uncle Sam 
pays the till and gets no guarantee 
that what he likes he can have.,. 

Reported that 70% of the plays 
handled by the bureau now are side- 
tracked into the WPA by agents. 
Thei-e are some writers who try to 
peddle their wares directly to the 
Project because of the nation-wide 
cognizance that arty play will get 
consideration. Heretofore, plays 
were rejected on sight by agents, 
hut, now they have the opportunity 
ol not missing a surprise hit au- 
thored by an -unknown without the 
-I'Gsponsi ility or cost of too miich 
consideration for the would -bcs. 



these calculations are various typeir 
of credits and those for our song are 
same kind as for other songs. 

Aifdent Lov?, 

Jack Robbies. 



xplanation- of incident iRobbini 
mientions is contained in news Mtory 
printed currently in mu«ic dept) 



, Miss Ager 

York, May 21. 

Editor, Variety: 

For months I've been reading Ce- 
celia. Ager's stuff... and for months 
I've bieen. yelling 'here's a gal that 
h^s every thi '..'here's critician 
what criticism'. . ."here's a gal 
who's slipped -her typewriter ribbon 
in rattlesniake's blood'. . iand 'what 
do I. get? .1 ask you? 
'It begins iti/lopk like Misa Rogers 
fiai: at lost'- 

■ ■ soldier's 'uniforms IboH like 
they've been'; 

'It looks like the luck of the small 
boys has' 
F«r God's Sake« Miss Alger 
Don't use 'li -a conjunction! 

Don't say 'it lodiks li '...say 'it 
looks as if.' 

PULEEZE, MISS. ACER. 

Donald M. Hobsqn. 
The sanie to you. 



lioris Ar«inSon Didn't Accept 

Editor Variety: 

New York City* May 22: 
May 19th issue of Variety carries 
iah article on the personnel of thi^ 
Chicago branch of the Federal "The- 
atre Project which describes me as 
its chief designer. 

Will you be good enough to cor- 
rect that portion of the story? A 
short time ago the position was of- 
fered, biit declined. I am continuing 
to work in N«w York Citjr and pres- 
ent plans do hot contemplate a 
change of scene. 

Boris Afonsoh. 



ja«k RcliibiBS' Ardent Love 

New York, May 21. 
Editor, Variety: 

issue Variety a 
grievous error has been made which 
causes incalculable harm to one of. 
our subsidiaries. Feist has taken 
first lug .song of oiir new 20-year 
deal with Universal Pictures and 
worked so conscientiously and unre- 
mittingiy on it that last week it be- 
came number onei sphg. if^ 
'Where re You?' ifrom of 
Town.' 

In ydiir box 'Most Played on the 
Air' you placed this song number 
three. Oiir professional manager 
claimed it \yas number one. So we 
had our accountant go through li.st 
and check carefully, and he found 
that song was number one. 

Tiie.se performances are backbone 
of our business. It so happens that 
this is second time this year an error 
of this kind hai been made with a 
Feist !?ong. I know it is not delib- 
erate, but it is serious. Basis of 



NcwsreclB Sans News 

New York, May 21. 
Editor, Variety: 

Burlesque giyes you the bare facts: 
But all you get from the news reels 
is bare-faced fraud. Take this week's 
exhibit ait TransrLux. I paid two 
bits to have the following junk 
pawned off on me: 

1. A press agent release on Feller, 
the boy baseball wonder. Publicity 
item No. 16S5, Series M. 

2. Press agent release on Miami, 
done with that supreme touch of 
diiUriess of which Lbwell Thomais is 
the World's . Great Master. 

.3. Press agent release of another 
racetrack— I don't know which one, 
for I always sleep peacefully through 
the ponies. 

4^ Press ageiit release of Russia's 
Military Power, Same old shots of 
same old Red Square. No go for a 
customer in search of news. 

5. Ten tons of pre;ss agent releases 
on the coronation— the world's dull- 
est and stupidest pinny-pinny-poppy 
show. 

6. The tenth, eleventh^ or twelfth 
showing of the Hindenburg disaster 
— no hits, no runs, no errors, no 
news. 

7. The 19th or 27th release of the 
Walt Disney ORPHANS' PICNIC, a 
hOble work of art when you see it 
the first nine times, but abbut as im- 
pressive as a subway station when 
yoU sit through the 19th to 27th re- 
peater. 

I know that Old Testanient rule: 
'Never giye a sucker a.' break* (Jere- 
miah 1*7:29) , ut after all, how can 
I see some news pictures? 

"Like the mproh who persists end- 
lessly enterprises fiir beyond his 
abilities, I still go to the news ireels 
in the hope of .seeing hews reels. 
After all, though, Webster taught me 
that 'news' means 'fresh inforrnatiOn.. 
Hqw was he to know that the pub- 
licity boys have a new defihitiqh for 
it? I like tripe— but I want it 
stewed, 



cast to which you refer, may . I say 
that we would appreciate it if you 
would correct this, which must have 
created a false impression in the 
minds of your readers regarding the 
broadcasts of the Carnival itself: 
The broiadcast to which you refer, 
was sponsored by a local paper and, 
as stated above, the Carnival had 
nothing to do with it. 

Paul Renshaw,, 
Chairman, Publicity iDiv., 
Memphis Cotton Carnival. 



Bostan's Ncwsreel Theatre 

, Ma.ss, May 22.: 

Editor, Variety: 

In reviewing the ^operiing of the 
Grand Central Theatre in Ne\y York 
on May 11th,. an error was made that 
deserves correction. Yoiir reviewer 
states that the Grande Central is the 
'largeist,: regularly operated news- 
reel, house: in the world.' Iii the 
same breath he says that it seats 
245. 

Theatre located in the South Sta- 
tion, Bcstph, Mass., seats 550 and 
presents a two and a half hour show 
consisting of three newsfeelis and se- 
lected short subjects. 

' Keith Southard. 



The •iF'lrst* Film <S«SRlp Show 

Los . Angeles, - May .20. : 
Editor, Variet.y: 

Now- that. Hollywood biroadcasts, 
giving news of the latest films, can- 
did comments, and with proniinent 
stars on the program, have, becomie^ 
the rag;e I ' have observed various 
statements and controversies as to 
which of the Hollywood commenta- 
tors was the first to launch this type 
of program, Louella Parsons. Jimmy 
Fidler, Elza Schallert, or Walter 
Winchell, etc. 

Tamar Lane pioneered this . type 
of program in 1929 over station 
KMTR, Hollywood. In siibstance, 
Lane creatied 'and launched a typie 
of program Which was basically the 
same as those which have followed. 

Many of the stars of Hollywood 
appeared On these programs for the 
first time over the air, as did a num- 
ber of America's foremost song 
composers. Program lasted for a full 
hour and also used background 
miisic. 

Helena Basstn. 



Mirth 

Philadelphia, May 22. 
Editor^ Variety: 

I have been a reader of Variety 
for the past 15 years, but if the two 
items in 'Literati' in. your issue of 
May 19th, concerning Mr. Stern and 
the Philadelphia Record, are indica- 
tive of the general ri^portorial ac- 
curacy of the sheet- 
Well, r won't stop buying Variety: 
I'll simply continue to read it and 
laugh like hell! 

Frank M. Murphy, 
Secretary to th6 Publisher. 

Philadelphia Record. 



Exploitation 



(Continued from page 23 ) 



into a discussion of the psychological 
quirks of the principal . chait-acters, 
flnishfaig with an invitation to. the 
profs to write letters to the theatre 
setting forth their opinions of 'Night 
Must Fall.' 

Follow-up was a: radio round-table 
discussion of the picture from the 
layman's point of view broadca,st 
over WCOL a couple days after the 
film opened. Oestreichec lined up a 
cross-section of audi«nce.s who had 
seen the picture and had them inter- 
viewed by Bob Seal of the WCOL 
staff, . . 

With, little to advertise in the way 
of names, approach to 'Night Must 
Fall' from the ^pathological side built 
up high-brow inti^rest in the film at 
little expense. 

Fitted In 

Time-hbhored RafTles stunt worked 
in nicely on *Womitn Chases Man' at 
Loew's Broad; Columbus, Ohio. Man 
was supposed to be on the street 
with $25 to the woman who hr^t 
spotted him. Reward Ay as increa.sed 
by the same sum daily. Man went 
out the fourth ' day, and the lucky 
woman took down a century. 
- Ohio State Journal back of the 
stunt, giving 30,000 lines of space, 
but the other papers: were liberal 
and it was pie for the radio stations. 
Several times traffic was stopped, 
along thie lin^ of the RaC'Ies travel. 



Qfigi Won Out 

Charlotte. N. C. 

Carolina here,' in cooperation with 
The .News, staged a jgag contest in 
conjunction with the, Wincttell- 
Bernie picture 'Wake. Up and Live.' 

A total of 23 prizes, ranging from 
$5 to pairs of tickets, were supplied 
by the theatre. The paper supplied 
the ump-tah. A aerlep ef photographs 
were published, each with a gag lihe 
for either Winchell or Bernie, . and 
contestants siippHed the answers. 

The stunt not original here, but 
extra jgood beemu9e of the manner in 
which Manager Amel Bernstecker of 
the Carolina can get The News to go 
down the line with him on coupons 
iind prombtibhals. 



.Ovcrieeked Anne JamlMon 

Guelph, Ont, May. 
Editor, 'Variety: 

For your information Anne Jami- 
son has been on -Hollywood Hotel' 
for over two years. 1 just read your 
review of this pi-pgram in the May 
12 issue/of Variety and came to the 
inclusion that you reviewer must 
be a new writer to have ignored 
Miss Jamison so completely. Perhaps 
you are unaware yet that a lot of 
listeners, like myseif, 'tune in* on 
this program simply to hear her 
beautiful voicie, and I think her ren- 
dition Of 'Gilda' was perfect 

I hope that in.:your future reviews 
you will at Ica.st have the courtesy 
to list Miss Jami.son as a member of 
the cast of 'Hollywood Hole!:' 

Yours for correct and just re- 
views, 



icia.1 Broadcast 
Memphis, May 20. 

Editor, VArnr.TY; 

In your i.ssue of Mny 12, we ob- 
serve your article relating to 'Mem- 
phis Cotton Festival.' Evidently this 
'Fe.sliv.'il' ha.s been confu.sed with the 
Memphis Cotton Carnival, which you 
refer to as a 'Cotton Fete.' 

As Publicily Director for the Cot- 
ton Carriivjil which was not con- 
nected in .any wiiy with the broad- 



Editor : 

About ten days a^'o my partner 
and I wrote a letter to your 'What 
They Think' department in art.swcr 
to J. J, Robbins' letter. We don't 
know whether you intend using the 
iettei: or not but we wish and would 
appreciate it very much ii' you don't 
publish it. 

Wiriat was meant to be a humorous 
and clever letter appears, on second 
thought to be iicithor iimorou.*: nor 
clever. 



rite Stuff 

Irving WindiiKh. of the N. Y. 
Strand, reports excellent results from 
a. stunt suggested by S. Charles Ein- 
feld, <>f Warners, on 'Kid. Galahad.' 

Fight acenes aire reputed to:be tops 
in thai, line, and all of the .sports 
writers were invited to see a pre- 
view in the Warher projection room 
and then were fed. About 90% re- 
sponse, and those who- came gave 
cordial mention in, their various 
papers. . 

Any manager should work for the 
sports writers 01) this picture. They 
are ntore important. In a way, than 
the pix cds in this Instance.' 



Tied to Air Act 

New Haven. 
Bob Russell ic»rOmoted a neat bit 
of publicity, for . 'Hit Parade,' at 
Poll s. Singled out Al Pearce, who 
appears in film and also on Ford 
radio program, and tied in with local 
Ford dealer on « hit piarade of autos 
carrying banners boosting Pearce 
and the picture. Parade drew extra 
attention by parking In front of 
house during opening day man-in- 
street broadcast. 

Russell's best stunt on 'Romeo' was 
a tie-in with local organization run- 
ning an annual affair. Event gave 
plenty space to picture, including 
window cards ana verbal publicity 
at no cost to house. Russell also 
boosted matinees on this one by 
group ticket buyis to high schools and 
literary clubs. 

Sneak T«ke-a-Cluuice 

Attanta. 

Experiment with Hollywood's sneak 
test, preview idea netted good box 
office take Saturday (22) lilght when 
Loew's Grand showed. Metro's 'Night 
Must Fall.' Title of pic . was not re- 
vealed in trailer plugging event 10 
days ahead and handbills distribuled 
day of showing. 

Public was Inyited to lay its 40c. 
per hiead on the line and take a 
chance, which many did. Further 
carrying out West Coast pt*e-*-/<E-A»', 
motif, comment cards, were dis- 
tributed following showing of .film. 



Badiation 

ittsburgh, 
Joe Feldmian, WB advertising chief, 
wais quick ' to tie in with Sun-Tele-, 
graph on the Hearst paper's intro- 
duction of Soundphoto, grabbini; off 
more, than two columns of space i 
behalf of 'Kid Gallahad' at Penn. 
Feldman arranged .telephone intc''' 
view for Karl Krug, Sun-Tele crick 
and columnist, with Bette Davi.s on 
Coast and had a photographer in 
star's dressing-room oh Burbahk lot 
to snap a . picture, of her talkin ' to 
Krug. 

Still y/as. immediatply ru.shed 16 
INS OiTice in Los Angeles and trans- 
mitted here in. tinie to catch the 
following edition of afternOoh d.-ily. 
Story of interview carried a lojin 
with pictures of Miss Davis ;i>id 
(Krug at ciich end of .the line.. 




64 



VARIETY 



Wednesdaff May 26, 19,^7 



AND WHEN THEY 
FEEL TIRED THEY 




WHAT THESE ACE 1MERMAIDS SAY- 

Dorothy Poynton Hill speaking: "I'm always in 
training -with good condition in mind. Camel is 
my cigarette. I prefer Camels for their mildness. 
They never jangle my nerves. I can enjoy smok- 
ing as often as I wish. Another advantage of 



smoking Camels is the invigorating 'lift' they 
give me when I'm tired after a workout." 

Lenore Right Wingard— ont of the greatest, yet 
most modest, American woman athletes of our 
times — adds this: *'I really get fun out of swim- 
ming. Hard work is part of the game and I enjoy 



that too. It's grand the way Camels help me en- 
|oy my food no matter how tired of strained I 
may be. Oh! Another thing! Being ia the water 
so much is hard on the throat, but even under 
those trying conditions, I've found Camels do 
not irritate my throat." 



CoDyiliflit, 1937 



. Itt;no1i]s Tobacco Coniptfiy, Vlnston-Silam, Martii OuoIlM 




Camels are made from finer, MORE 
EXPENSIVE TOBACCOS -Turkish and 
Domestic— than any othor popular brand 



^im^ ^f^mt /^^ii^ 



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••'••'.*: 

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